Constituents of food and disorders related to food
Preface
Hindu Dharma considers food to be Divine. ‘DeeefÜÙeles Devveveef}keâeefoefYeŠ Fefle DeenejŠ ~’, meaning,
whatever goes to the stomach through the food pipe etc. is known as ‘diet’. To help the body function properly, ‘diet’ is a
very important aspect.
Every medical science looks at ‘diet’ from a different perspective. In the first text of this series, we understood the
perspective of Ayurveda on diet and partial points from the perspective of modern medical science. In this fourth part of
the series, we will obtain information on the detailed analysis of ‘diet’ and some related diseases.
Detailed information is provided on the analysis according to modern medical science on the constituents of the body
and diet, such as proportion and function of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. Details have
also been provided on the harmful effects of consuming more or less of these items, what is a balanced diet and in what
proportion should we consume it.
Information in this text will not only be useful for Vaidyas, Doctors and students, but also for every individual. Bhagawan
Vishnu is the Deity of nutrients in the diet.
We earnestly pray at the Holy feet of Bhagawan Vishnu – ‘May everyone get good quality food and progress physically,
psychologically & spiritually and experience the taste and happiness of Divine nutrients in food’.
- Author
Index
SECTION I - Dietary Components and their functions
Chapter 1 : Calories 13
1. How does food supply energy ? 13
2. What is a calorie in the context of food ? How does food supply energy to sustain all the body activities ? 13
3. How many calories are supplied by common food items ? 14
4. Which factors affect one’s food requirements ? 15
5. How many calories and proteins do children and adults normally require ? 16
6. How does one’s activity affect the caloric and protein requirements of one’s body ? 16
7. What are the manifestations of deficiency in calories ? 17
8. What are the manifestations of taking food, i.e. calories in excess ? 18
9. How is it that some people eat a lot and yet are thin, whereas others may eat very little and yet gain weight ? 18
Chapter 2 : Proteins 19
1. What are the functions of proteins ? 19
2. What are the sources of proteins ? 20
3. Why are animal proteins rated as first class proteins and vegetable proteins as second class proteins ? 20
4. Can vegetable proteins replace animal proteins 21
5. What are the symptoms of protein deficiency ? 21
6. Is it risky to consume proteins in excess ? 22
Chapter 3 : Fats 23
1. Components of fats 23
2. What are the dietary sources of fat ? 24
3. What are essential fatty acids ? 25
4. What are the symptoms of fat deficiency ? 25
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5. What are the symptoms of excessive intake of fat ? 26
Chapter 4 : Carbohydrates 27
1. Types of carbohydrates 27
2. What are the functions of carbohydrates ? 29
Chapter 5 : Minerals 30
1. What are the types, functions of minerals and diseases due to their deficiency ? 30
2. Salt (Lavan) 33
3. Caustic salts (Ksharas) 36
Chapter 6 : Vitamins 37
1. Effects of medicines 37
2. Requirement of Vitamins and there effects after taking in less or more quantity 38
3. Types of Vitamins their functions, Diseases & treatment 39
Chapter 7 : Water 51
1. What are the functions of water ? 51
2. Types of water and property 51
3. Testing water 53
4. Purification of water 54
5. How much water should one drink daily ? 54
6. Who should drink less water ? 55
7. What are the symptoms of drinking excessive water ? 55
8. What are the symptoms of deficiency of water in the body ? 56
9. Cold and warm water 56
10. Boiling of water 57
11. Who should drink water which is cooled after boiling 58
Chapter 8. Balanced diet 59
1. What is good nutrition ? 59
2. Principles for calculating calories in the diet 59
3. Food exchanges 60
4. Principles for selection of diet 64
5. Outline of food exchanges 65
6. Having a proper budget 66
7. Useful tips in the kitchen 66
SECTION 2 Diseases related to diet
Chapter 9 : Diet and diseases 69
1. Not following the dictates of one’s own conscience 69
2. Deviating from natural food items 70
3. Pesticides 4. Hormones 70
5. Salt 70
6. Sugar 7. Tea and coffee 71
8. Chemical preservatives 71
9. Tasty dishes 10. Juices 71
11. Artificial flavours and colours 72
12. Refrigerated food 72
13. Tonics 72
Chapter 10 : Indigestion 73
1. Causes of indigestion 73
2. Manifestations of indigestion 73
3. Types of indigestion 74
4. Medicines useful in indigestion 75
5. Treatment of indigestion caused by specific food items 76
6. Vishtabdha ajirna - indigestion caused by Vata humour (dosha) 77
7. Vishtabdha ajirna - indigestion caused by Pitta humour (dosha) 80
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8. Ama ajirna - indigestion caused by kapha humour (dosha) 81
9. Spiritual therapy (karmavipak) 82
Chapter 11 : Food poisoning and food allergy 84
1. What is food poisoning ? 84
2. Symptoms of food poisoning 85
3. What is food allergy ? 86
Chapter 12 : Obesity 87
1. What is obesity ? 87
2. What are the causes of obesity ? 87
3. Pathogenesis of obesity 89
4. Symptoms associated with obesity 89
5. Complications of obesity 90
6. Some instructions for weight reduction 91
7. Treatment 92
8. Medicines in obesity 95
9. Treatment of foul odour due to excessive sweating in obese individuals 98
10. What is the role of exercise in controlling weight ? 98
11. Is surgery of any use in reducing body weight ? 98
Chapter 13 : Emaciation and malnutrition 99
1. Causes 99
2. Mild to moderate malnutrition and marasmus 99
3. Protein energy malnutrition - kwashiorkor 100
4. Complications 101
5. Treatment 101
6. Ayurvedic concept 101
7. Aetiology 102
8. Clinical manifestations 102
9. Associated illness or complications 103
10. Treatment 103
Reasons why consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian food is mentioned in Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a science and
hence, it includes the description of the qualities of alcohol and non-vegetarian food. Use of these items in day-to-day
life is prohibited by Hindu scriptures as well as by Ayurveda. However, from the beginning, these items have been used
as a last resort to save the lives of people. These two items are mentioned in this Holy text too in this context
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