Dr K. K. Aggarwal
Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee
President, Heart Care Foundation of India
“You are what you eat” is an old saying. This is based on a teaching from our shastras including Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Bhagwad Gita, and the various Upanishads. To acquire health and happiness, one needs to live a balanced life. This typically comes from Bhagwad Gita chapter 6 shloka 17 where Krishna says to Arjuna “Yukaharaviharasya yuktachestasya karmasu. Yuktasvapnavabodhasya yoga bhavati duhkhaha”. It means “the one, whose diet and movements are balanced, whose actions are proper., whose hours of sleeping and waking up are regular, and who follows the path of meditation, is the destroyer of pain or unhappiness.” The message is relevant even today, validated by modern scientific research and analysis of data.
Moderation and variety is the mantra of the present day concept of dieticians. Moderation in diet, as well as moderation in thinking, recreation and actions is the secret to healthy living. Lord Krishna further clarifies this (chapter 6 shloka 16) by saying that, eating too much food or starving, and sleeping too much or remaining awake all the time is not health friendly. Such people cannot concentrate or do sadhana.
Every person is distinct as his or her personality depends upon three attributes called satva, rajas and tamas. The food one eats and one’s personality are related (shloka 17.7). People with predominant satwa eat food which is greasy, nourishing, appealing and succulent (shloka 17.8). People with predominant rajas eat food which is bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning. Excess amount of these foods makes one miserable and sick (17.9). People with predominant tamas in the body prefer to eat half cooked food which is dry, bad-smelling, stale, defiled and impure.
The Bhagwad Gita also explains how to eat: “while eating, one should concentrate only on eating as the food is served to one’s consciousness” (9.27). Lord Krishna says that even eating leaves, fruits, and water suffice to keep us healthy”.
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