Combination of food
We investigated the contents and character of the various foodstuffs. We also ascertained what drinks were beneficial. These investigations by themselves cannot give benefit. The almanac will contain how much rain will be had in each season. But when you twist the neck of the almanac, water will not flow out. Only when the concerned articles of food get into the stomach in accordance with our investigation. Health will be ours.
Living to eat
The aims of existence will vary with each indvidual. There are many who are self-centred in the stomach. They think that birth is taken to live and enjoy and accordingly spend their time like that. With these the first aim in life is to eat belly-full! There will be minor additions in this daily act. That would come by way of drink. Not water only! They do not require what is called uncivilised pangs of real hunger! There is also no time fixed for eating. Whenever articles or estables are available, the eating time sets in.
To induce false appetite
Some may speculate whether these gentry grow bandicoots in their cavernous stomachs’! If by any chance these bandicoots fall asleep, it appears these send big rats in to find out the reason and if necessary to rouse this sleeping thing! We do not mean actually rats. These rats take the form and shape of ‘Moraba’, Green chilli chutney, Mashed chilli, Oil-mango-pickles, soup, Cochi pepper. These rats are sent in to rouse hunger. But what is stimulated in the stomach is really not Nature’s hunger. This is some false appetite made up for the occasion. Real hunger can be recognised easily. When there is real hunger, the food will be relished and taken in and digested, in an unadorned, simple condition without waiting for condiments, seasoning and specialities. Not even the proportion of tamarind or salt will be judged. Nor will the eater insist on having four varieties of pickles, five varieties of chutneys and six varieties of seasoning.
Eat to live and not live to eat
Only when there is real hunger one should take food. Man eats to live and does not live to eat! The thought that food should bloat the stomach for strength is wrong. There is also no necessity that one should sit for food four or five times a day whether there is hunger or not. When food is consumed in the absence of hunger, then what is taken in remains as devitalising burden on the digestive organs. These are not sent out easily or speedily. High quality energy is thus wasted on this unnecessary task.
Nature will get angry
Nature does not keep quiet. The eater gets swelling of the stomach, burning sensation, acidity and belching, wind and stomach-ache. Through these, Nature tries to teach this consumer better sense and health-manners. Many go to the Doctors, threatening Nature with the whip of medicine. But they seldom reform their dietetic habits.
Relish your food
Food should be relished and taken. When taste is healthily satisfied then the digestive organs get ready automatically and are stimulated to do their function in proper time. Saliva will secrete in time and in good quantity.
Gastric juice will be generated according to need. Digestion will proceed well. There will also be proper absorption. On hearing these the Chilli Snob, Brother Mustard, Mr.Asafoetida and Sir Tamarind Bag, and all men and women enslaved by these, will jump up and shout.
“What did I tell you then alone? If chillies and mustard are given up, then one should begin the march to the cemetery!”
Do not bloat your belly
The reality is not like that. The evil of discarding bad taste is not much. To fear even this small amount of reaction and become slaves to these Satanic products, will result in the destruction of the body. Food can be made relishable if the bad tongue is reformed. If one likes sweets, should he commence drinking treacle? Honey can be added.
It is bad to over eat. Those who relish the food and take, those who really eat to satisfy the hunger, and a man with pure tongue, will not over eat. Even one fistful taken in excess will produce evil results. One should eat three-fourth stomach in the day time and in the night only half a stomach. No special benefit ensues to health nor strength by filling the belly to the brim. Only when there is proper absorption, life is maintained by the process of eating. Let those who suffer by eating too much, eat a little less. They will find that their comfort and energy shoot up. Those who over eat without gaining any weight, will now begin to put on weight with normalising. Those who suffer from over weight will reduce their weight and feel comfortable.
Prolonged life-span
It is estimated that life would increase by 10 to 40 years by eating moderately according to needs. The body is a wonderful creation. It procures its needs and also is able to get first aid within itself. When time and fashion do not spoil the sensibility and health of these organs they would automatically limit and choose the food to a comfortable limit. Most of the diseases arise from the system which has been maltreated. They become chronic. When the stomach gets deranged, blood poisoning also results. This poison spreads through the circulation to the various organs and inflicts suffering. Is there anything to wonder when health deteriorates?
1. WHITE FLOUR AND DEFECTIVE TEETH
We must eat such articles as will be wholesome. It is not enough if the articles appear to be neat and attractive. The articles which are devoid of its natural qualities are not good for health. The world is filled with white flour products. These create havoc in the health of the people. The Bread of the Bazaar Bakeries is made out of this flour. The Atta or the wheat flour vended in the bazaar and American Flour maida are commonly used in our houses. For all types of preparations at home these flours are used freely. This type of flour is designated as the mainstay of life falsely. If this flours is used as the staple diet, then the teeth will gradually meet their doom. This does not contain the ingredient necessary to maintain and protect the teeth. The teeth have to serve throughout a lifetime. Why set gloating eyes on ivory teeth? What is this philanthrophy evidenced towards the Dentist Doctors?
Do not swallow at Express-speed
Some transform eating into a piece of jugglery! This minute one will find the plate or leaf full of food stuffs and the next minute they would become empty. We may be surprised and see all round whether the stuffs have been thrown away or hidden. But no article will be visible. Then will we understand that the entire stuff has been swallowed at Express-speed. Gulping food is very bad. This trick is fit only for the Ragi Ball. Mastication forms part of the process of digestion. The food then mixes with saliva. The starch has to be fully digested through saliva only. This starch is very much available in rice diet. Even if the gulping is a feet accommodated by the throat, still it strains, the stomach and the other digestive organs to a very great extent. It is possible that this gulped stuff is sent out without digestion.
Chew well
Mr. Horace Fletcher has conducted a lot of research in this connection and published his experiences for the benefit of the world. He has specified that the food should be masticated in the mouth till it becomes semi-liquid slush and then allowed to slip into the food pipe. If this is carried out then so much of the quantity of extra food could be easily chopped. From this reduced food but well masticated, more energy and health are obtained. This ostrich trick of swallowing, must have come by some silly tradition or habit. Yet it is commonly known that want of time in the hurry-bury world of today is given as the excuse.
Time saving
“What Sir, perhaps Mr. Fletchehr had nothing else to do but eat!” Perhaps Fletcher only has got a body and these own Steel built mechanism! If even this hurried eating is stopped some more time and energy ensues in unwise saving of time in the process of gulping! What an amount of health is wasted by this false economy in the matter of time by gulping! Do not hurry your food into the stomach! The stomach is a very bad person! when one eats in a hurry he is sure to get ill. And then what of time will have to be wasted on the sick bed?
It appears that people in America take three full meals a day. In Germany it is said that more than a quarter of a century ago, they used to take any number of full meals a day. Mr. Bernarr MacFadden declares that gluttons as you find in America will not be found anywhere in the world!
Daily fasting
In India it is impossible to specify the quantity of food. The glutton goes on eating. And there are the millions who seem to thrive on Fasting, than on Food! Poverty dances on all sides and gluttony in many places. There are people who take three full meals, three more tiffins and extra drinks.
Static life
What quantity of the food is necessary for health and growth for each individual everyday? Is it possible to take in all this food in one full meal or should it be taken in several parts? Animals and the ancient savage had the habit of eating when food was available. The food then was different in quantity, quality and variety. Digestion also then was very good due to exacting physical labour caused by the struggle for the survival of the fittest. Under Modern conditions the food has become a big question mark. The bodily exertion has become the minimum. For the many this is entirely absent.
Two meals a day
Through the Physical Culture Magazine of America an enquiry was set afoot. Many intimated that they got several benefits by eating twice a day. The quantity is reduced. Health increases and the weight of the body gets to a suitable equilibrium. Digestive disorders disappear.
2. IS IT STOMACH OR DUSTBIN?
Experienced way
They say that he who eats once is a YOGI; one who eats two meals a BHOGI (Enjoyer) and he who eats thrice a day is classed as a ROGI (diseased man). This is some ancient proverb. Yet under present conditions of existence and industry and labour these eating habits have to be changed and the old proverb modified. The meals have to be spaced arid quantity adjusted according to each man’s work and hours of labour. A pure tongue should become the Chief Minister in advising edibles and rejecting the unwanted stuffs. It is impossible to lay down hard and fast rules.
One meal a day
A man who has got ordinary physical exertion can eat in one meal his bodily requirements with reference to quality and quantity. But when this is done the digestive organs of modern man are put to undue strain. The man who has to eat to fill the stomach in one meal becomes unfit for intellectual or other sensitive labour, and he is able only, for a long time in the day, to rest and sleep. He may be discounted for labours in the intellectual or artistic field. His abdomen also will swell and become unsightly in shape. This is also unfit for this hurry of modern existence. We can reject the idea of one meal and three meals per day for office workers and domestic workers.
Modern condition of the day
There is no fixity of time and regulation of meals due to the trend of modern conditions of existence. It is common with the well to do middle classes, to have bed. This will be brought by the ‘Darling Wife’ or the ‘Butler Boy’. At about 8 A.M. there will be heavy tiffin with coffee. At the Office, Brother the Hotel-wala will bring the usual heavy meals. Over that will come the light coffee. Following the midday rest, there will be tea with sweet halva ‘kesari’, Bajji, ‘Keer’, etc. The night will supply this individual with a good dinner accompanied by a variety of dishes. Just before going to bed this good soul in his amiability and not to disobey the Doctor, will take a big cup of almond milk! There are lakhs and lakhs of Lords living day in and day out like this!
The stomach of these two types of eaters could be compared to the Dust-bin of the Municipality. This bin has no life and no feeling. This also can be cleaned very easily. The stomach-bin is impossible of reach. And the intestines are seated drains, the stomach is set into troublesome vibrations on account of natural stimulation each time food is thrown in. The tortured man inflicts on this stomach, he suffers himself ten fold latter on in life. Even a morsel of food sets the stomach in motion and mixes it with digestive juices. When the stomach thinks of resting after an hour thoughtless man sends in something. Again it is thrown into convulsions. Man, till he retires to sleep goes on munching one thing after another without rest and destroys the life and vitality of the stomach.
Food will pass into the intestines, in this process of ill-treatment, partly digested and undigested. Poison from undigested articles will circulate into the system. Numerous disorders will crop up. When repeatedly goaded the gastric juice refuses to come. The juice that may come out will not be good in quality. No wonder the system gets into a dangerous condition! There is no necessity for the excuse that what is thrown into the stomach each time is only very little. The stomach in its entirety has to work whatever the quantity of stuff thrown in. This stomach must have its periodical complete rest. When one goes on pouring into the mouth now and again, this rest will not be available and there will be no hunger.
Restrained eating
Meals should be timed with reference to work and necessity and then food should be taken only at those times. The mouth should not be opened for any sundry eating in the interval, once the regular meals are finished. The stomach should not be betrayed for the sake of any friend or any delicious eatable. This principle should not be compromised under any circumstances. Sleep and food should be regulated without yielding to any one. The rule fixed for one’s own benefit should not in any manner be relaxed. Nature is merciless. Even when others mock there should be no relaxation. Those who scout this discipline are ignorant people and do not know what is good for themselves. When disease and pain come, these scoffers will not come into share this pain and suffering. Why should we sacrifice the stomach and torture it and lose the wealth of health for the sake of senseless people and tyrannous tongue?
Plannings
Under modern conditions we can suggest that men and women should take in two meals and one tiffin. The children come under a different category. The labourer who digs, carries, wood-cutter and others with exhausting physical labour can have three full meals per day. This could be had in the morning, noon and in the night.
Is breakfast immediately after wake-up?
As soon as one gets up from bed, the stomach is not fit for food. Evil follows if food or drink is thrown into the stomach while on bed immediately after waking or soon after getting up from bed. The stomach does not get ready for digestion at least two or there hours after getting up from bed. We see many getting up only at about 8 in the morning. It may be necessary for many of these to run to office for work at about 9 a.m. They cannot go starving. Laziness must be put aside. They must get up at 5 a.m. Then the stomach will be fit to receive food before office time. These may say that they go to bed at about 12 midnight. Why do these celebrate such wakeful nights? For what exalted purpose? After 10 p.m. what goes on ger ;rally is gossip. This will lead directly to ill health. The sleep that the body gets before midnight is the most essential and most needed.
Sleep
Sleep and digestion go hand in hand. Digestion will surely get spoilt if sleep deteriorates. No amount of dieting will be of any help. If the night meal is taken after ten in the night, digestion will suffer. If by any chance meals could not be had in time in the night, it would be better to take some liquid like milk in the night. To roll on the bed immediately after a meal will not give any benefit. A couple of hours after meals must elapse before one takes to bed in the night.
For children
Children must get their food at regulated fixed intervals, normally. It is not possible to fix their necessity as meals and tiffin. Till teething gets completed and the child ages two or three years, rice food and hard substances should not be given for eating. Milk and fruit juices and conji are the best for such children. The quantity of milk should be limited to that what the child takes with relish. If milk or porridge is given till the child vomits, its digestion will be upset. There will be no growth. Whenever the child weeps out of hunger, food can be given. The child depending on the mother only, could be suckled every two hours during day. The other children could have milk or juice every three hours when it is awake and moving. The children which have commenced growing into boys and adults need a lot of food.
Mixed diet
There are some fads prevalent in our country. Some will boast of eating only one article and profess to get the elixir of life. We have to call the habit of blindly sticking to some useless articles, as a worse than useless fad. Some find their elixirs in Badam Halva and Curds-vadai. Let these take to whatever habits they like. But these methods would lead if adopted by teachers, students, labourers only to the burial ground. These require many different types of food articles. All these cannot be had in only one stuff. There should be a mixed diet which would give them all essential ingredients for a healthy life. Rice, dhal, other millets and grains, vegetable greens, Milk, curds and fruits should be combined to make up the daily food.