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Food is the very fundamental element that is needed by every living being to live, whether it is in solid, liquid or even in gaseous form. For example, most of the organisms consume either plant based or other organism based form of solid foods, some consume food in the form of milk, and to almost every vegetation, food is in the form of carbon dioxide gas apart from soil nutrients.
Humans consume food that range from vast variety of solid or liquid foods, whether it be plant based or organism based. What we eat is directly related to our growth and health, not only physical health but mental health also. Modern science has helped us much in determining the nutrient values of the foods we consume and suggest us what we should consider to eat and what not. The lifestyles of the people have also changed much, and we prefer to eat what appears to be convenient to eat, easily accessible, does not require much preparation times, tastes good, has nutritional values etc.
But sometimes our food habits and the foods we consume, ignorance in inquiring the side effects of the food items or ignoring them if we know, result in bad effects on the health and growth. For example the fast foods or junk foods, soft drinks or cold drinks, tea, coffee etc.
Let us consider some common food products we consume throughout a day.
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. Fast food is food from a take-out restaurant that is quick, convenient, and usually cheap. These are also called as Junk food, which is a term applied to some foods which are perceived to have little or no nutritional value, or to products considered unhealthy to consume at all. They are typically ready-to-eat convenience foods containing high levels of saturated fats, salt, sugar and little or no fruit, vegetables or dietary fibre.
Almost every age group prefers to eat fast foods whether it be children, young or even aged persons. People prefer to eat them while watching TV and also save themselves a lot of hassles and time. There might be no educated person, who might be the only class that consume the fast foods in developing countries, who is not aware of the harmful effects of them, if not in detail then at least having an idea of the same.
Let us see the harmful effects of fast food or junk food consumption in some detail. Some of them are long-term while the remaining are short-term effects.
Lack of energy:
The first effect of eating Junk Food is its impact on energy levels. Junk foods do not contain any nutrients that are beneficial to the human body. Many people skip breakfast and other important meals choosing instead to grab a quick snack. The Junk Food causes energy level to spike, which people like but then energy levels drop equally fast, causing a person to go back for another quick snack.
In most cases, these foods are filled with harmful carbohydrates, fats and cholesterol that do not provide any useful energy. As a result, anyone consuming junk food has reduced levels of essential nutrients thereby causing weakness in the body. This is known as a short-term adverse effect resulting from eating junk foods. As junk foods do not provide you with essential nutrients, even though they can be very much sufficing, you feel weakened.
In addition, junk foods can disturb the sleep cycle, making it difficult to get enough sleep at night, so energy levels are never restored to normal.
Poor Concentration:
Research has suggested that diets high in fat may also impair essential brain functions, like concentration and memory. One disadvantage of consuming junk food is that it contains high amount of oil and fat. As a result, human body finds this food difficult to digest and needs to spend high amount of blood and enzymes. When a person consumes junk food in excess, a major portion of blood in the body is diverted to the intestine. As a result, the person feels drowsy and suffers with reduced concentration.
Sustained junk food eating over time causes blood circulation to drop due to fat accumulation. Lack of vital oxygen, nutrients and proteins particularly can stale the grey cells of the brain temporarily.
Heart Diseases:
Junk foods have been identified as a major cause of heart diseases including cardiac arrest. This is due to the fact that junk food contains excessive amount of low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol that get deposited on the inner linings of blood vessels. This result in formation of plaques and the heart is required to put an extra effort for pumping blood through the arteries. Presence of fat in the blood also causes reduced oxygen levels. Another harmful factor present in junk foods is excess concentration of sugars and salt. Excessive concentration of sodium ions causes an increased heart blood pressure.
Other Effects:
Apart from forming plaques and constricting arteries, cholesterol present in fast foods also affects liver where it is metabolized. High cholesterol from junk food and diet strains liver damaging it eventually, this is a long term effect. Junk foods also cause damage to the pancreas resulting in diabetes. Another disadvantage of eating Junk Food is weight gain, which can lead to obesity overtime. Regular consumption of junk food is one of the leading factors responsible for obesity. Fast food is grossly filled with refined foods, sugars and salts and these may prove like a poison to those who have high blood pressure or cholesterol. Fried foods fried in partially hydrogenated or trans fat oils lower good cholesterol and increase bad cholesterol. A bag of chips contains over 230 milligrams of sodium and 10 grams of trans fat per serving, regular consumption of chips can lead to obesity, heart attack, high blood pressure, and water retention.
Junk Foods thus have little or no health benefits. The biggest irony regarding the Junk Food is the fact that it is mostly prepared out of healthy food. Consider a Pizza loaded with thick vegetable topping.
Although occasional or once in a while eating of fast foods is not harmful, and our bodies have enough stamina to take care of occasional junk food eating. At the same time, we should keep a good control on our habits, otherwise we might not realize as to when we became habituated to fast foods. Moreover, the term 'Junk Food' itself implies that the food article has no good factor and should not be consumed.
Similarly, soft drinks or cold drinks are also harmful to the health. Cold drinks are mainly carbonated water, which makes up the main ingredient in many soft drinks. Water is carbonated by carbon dioxide gas, carbon dioxide mixes in with the water until it dissolves because of a high amount of pressure added to the mix. Other ingredients include sweeteners, caffeine, phosphoric or citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, tartaric acid and some other chemicals like coloring agents, which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The chemicals like saccharine, sorbitol, manitol etc are also used, to increase the sweetness of the soft drinks, which are not hygienic.
Let us see the harmful effects of cold drinks or soft drinks:
The added carbon dioxide gives the water a fizzy quality and introduces bubbles into the liquid. The gas leaves no color or odor so it is usually undetectable. All gases do not come out when the cork is opened, thus the harmful carbon dioxide gas enters into the body when we take soft drinks.
Excess amounts of sodium bicarbonate goes in to the blood and creates systemic alkalosis which causes kidney diseases, anxiety, disturbances in inhalation and other complexities. Sodium bicarbonate also increases blood pressure. For this reason, hypertensive patients should not take cold drinks.
Cold drinks are high in phosphates but contain virtually no calcium. This leads to lower calcium levels and higher phosphate levels in the blood. When phosphate levels are high and calcium levels are low, calcium is pulled out of the bones, thus damaging the bones. Research has also suggested that soft drink consumption may be a major factor for osteoporosis.
Drinking cold drinks regularly over a long time may lead to devastating and permanent damage to teeth. The carbonated water of soft drinks has a mild acidic quality and sipping or holding acidic drinks in the mouth before swallowing increases the risk of erosion on dental enamel. Due to lack of understanding, we often take lemon or orange flavoured cold drinks, these drinks also decay the enamel of our teeth.
Due to high phosphorous and phosphoric acid levels, soft drinks infiltrate bodily fluids and corrode stomach linings, upset the alkaline-acid balance of the kidneys and damage the liver.
Cold drinks reduce the therapeutic action of drugs which are used in the treatment of analgesic, antiseptic, tuberculosis etc.
The gas which is formed in the stomach after taking soft drinks may cause vomiting.
The assumption that cold drinks help in digestion after having meal is wrong and has no scientific proof.
There is no scientific evidence that cold drinks help a player in recovering from tiredness. The fact is that it possesses only cooling property (that too because it is cooled-down by ice etc.).
Apart from the above effects, consumption of soft drinks (containing sugar) has been associated with excess weight gain, contributing to obesity and an elevated risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. The cardiac patients who are suffering from atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure and other cardiac diseases should not take cold drinks.
Thus Soft Drinks are far from being soft and should be avoided. Also, any drink that is packed in plastic bottles should also be avoided because of the chemicals present in the plastics, like vinyl chloride and dioxin used in the production of PVC plastics are known human carcinogens (cancer causing).
Some people are specific about the flavours of the food and prefer to eat spicy foods at restaurants or even cooking the spicy foods at home. These foods appear to have minimal negative effects on health, but long term consumption of spicy foods also have bad effects of health. Some of the harmful effects are as below:
Spicy foods can stimulate heart burn or acid reflux. If your body cannot withstand the effects of spicy hot foods, it can trigger acid reflux. Normal symptom is too much burping after a good meal.
People who frequently eat hot spicy cuisines develop gastritis. It is caused by too much inflammation in the stomach lining which are mostly caused by infections that came from eating hot spicy foods.
Spicy foods are not good for sleep. Heavily spiced food can cause problems like acidity and after having such food in the dinner, the sleep gets disturbed. It can raise the body temperature in long period of time specially at night and can cause sleep deprivation.
The constant consumption of hot, spicy food can damage the taste buds, causing a reduced sensation of taste, and making it difficult to discern subtle flavor differences.
Hot chili peppers produce burning sensation not only in our body skin but inside our mouth also.
Spicy foods should be avoided, especially in the evening.
When we wake up in the morning we prefer to take coffee or tea in the breakfast. It appears as we have been made awake by tea or coffee. Coffee, tea and sodas contain caffeine, a stimulant that promotes the adrenal glands and makes us feel more awake and alert. Caffeine is already known to have degrading effects on health, some of them are listed below:
Increased Heart Rate
Caffeine provides with a heightened sense of alertness by stimulating the adrenal glands, filling the bloodstream with adrenaline. Normally adrenaline activates only during times of stress or agitation, and the increased alertness allows to act quickly to survive a potentially dangerous situation. During an adrenaline rush, the heart rate and breathing increase to provide more energy and strength to the muscles. The heart undergoes more stress than normal.
Sleep Deprivation
If you drink caffeine at night to keep yourself awake and finish an important task, you risk depriving yourself of the sleep your body needs to recover. Coupled with the spike in adrenaline that caffeine causes, sleep deprivation lowers the body's ability to function once the increased energy production dissipates.
Dehydration
Caffeine causes water to be expelled from the body and results in dehydration. Thirst commonly occurs when drinking caffeinated drinks, this is the body's attempts to replenish its water supply.
Hunger
High caffeine increases metabolism. This uses up supplies of energy, which need replenishing, so a person feels hungry following caffeine consumption.
Addiction
Caffeine is considered to be a mildly addictive substance. A person can start to feel the symptoms of withdrawal within 18 to 24 hours. These can be as mild as a headache or as serious as depression and a loss of focus. Fatigue is also a common effect when a person did not had caffeine for awhile. If a person is attempting to give up caffeine, it is recommended that he do so gradually to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal.
Other Effects
Caffeine in general has a number of effects on the natural processes of the body. For starters it can quickly and easily raise a person's blood pressure. It can also irritate the lining of a person's stomach because it causes more stomach acid than normal to be produced. This can result in stomach aches and even ulcers. Large amounts of caffeine can also slow down the digestive processes of the body, making digestion more difficult because it causes the muscles found in the intestines to relax themselves.
Too much of this stimulant can cause an irregular heartbeat, excess sweating, jitters and anxiousness, which is hardly ideal if anyone wants to concentrate for an exam. On top of that, high amounts of caffeine can reduce the coordination and balance.
There are more than 1,000 chemicals in a cup of coffee, of these, only 26 have been tested. A new line of drinks introduced which are not very common are the energy drinks, which conatin high amounts of caffeine and can prove more harmful than tea or coffee. Apart from caffeine it contains guarana and taurine, these are the ingredients which are aimed to provide a person with an increased spurt of energy. However, these same energy boosters have been shown to have some bad effects on the body’s systems and on the short-term memory.
Energy drinks which are high in sugar appear good for a short-term activity or tasks, as they stimulate the nervous system quickly, which usually makes a person feel more energetic at first. However, the sugar is used up in a short period, and the persons are often left feeling more fatigued than they were to begin with. Also, due to high amounts of sugar, regular consumption of these drinks will lead to dental health problems such as cavities. Thus, instead of providing energy to a person, these Energy Drinks on the contrary reduce the energy levels.
Therefore, drinks which contain caffeine should be avoided especially the energy drinks. Reducing the intake of tea or coffee per day would be a good start, and the person should drink one or two glasses of water before taking tea or coffee to neutralize their effects. Switching to herbal teas would also be a good option. But again, one should not develop dependency on them also, since this product is also newly introduced and long term effects of them would require time and research and are not known as of now.
Food products that contain preservatives and artificial flavours should also be avoided. Flavor enhancers, and the additives and preservatives added to today’s food actually
stimulate the appetite, making people feel more hungry. Many preservatives can cause health problems. They can cause different allergies and conditions such as hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder in some people who are sensitive to specific chemicals. The foods containing additives can cause asthma, hay fever and certain reactions such as rashes, vomiting, headache etc. The food additives are all synthesized chemicals that do not even have common names. Most artificial flavorings are derived from petroleum. Most artificial flavors actually contain many chemical ingredients, not just one. Many of those chemicals are volatile. Their impact on health range from negligible to adverse.
For example sodium benzoate is used as a preservative (microbial control) in foods, including soft drinks, fruit juices, margarine, confections, pickles and jams. Sodium preservatives add sodium to the diet and reduce the availability of potassium. Some reported reactions to sodium benzoate include recurring rash, asthma and eczema. The chemicals or artificial flavours present in the food product as additives can suppress the natural flavour detection of the taste buds and thus flavours of the natural food products might not appear so good in taste. Thus foods containing additives should be avoided.
Drinking ice cold water immediately after having food is also harmful to the health. Cold water decreases the normal body temperature and a part of the energy is wasted to restore the body temperature to the normal levels for proper digestion to take place. It solidifies food granules to some extent and causes food and liquid to be digested poorly. Like the fuel of a car which does not get combusted properly results in sludge, similar is the food which is not digested properly and results in a 'Stagnant food' or 'sludge'. This 'sludge' is often the root cause of problems such as a weak immune system, weight gain, fatigue and certain types of headaches.
Refrigerators are a recent invention, having its own advantages and is an artificial system to cool down things, whereas cold water due to climatic conditions like cold weather, snowy areas etc. is naturally cold. The body adjusts itself to the climatic conditions, so such water is not harmful. But then also, the above stated fact applies to those areas also. Drinking water should be at room temperature and it is best to drink water thirty minutes before or after the food. Having moderately cold water in summer and slightly warm water in winter seasons is also helpful to control body temperatures.
Everybody likes sweets such as chocolates, cakes, pastries, candies etc, especially children. Let us see some effects of eating chocolate:
Heart Diseases
Pure cocoa has positive effects on blood pressure and cholesterol and also prevents heart disease. However, processed chocolate is what the majority of people are eating, and it contains added sugar, milk fats, saturated fats and corn syrup. These ingredients actually promote heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Weight gain
Even the dark chocolate, which is considered to be safe to eat, is packed with calories. Its fat content may not cause cardiovascular disease, but eating it in large quantities can result in weight gain, which is not good for the health.
Cavities
The refined sugar in processed chocolate can be detrimental to the teeth when eaten often without regular and proper teeth brushing. Sugar plays a
harmful role in tooth decay by providing the bacteria in the mouth with energy. The bacteria begin to multiply faster, and plaque begins to grow in size and thickens the teeth. Bacteria can also use sugar as a type of glue to cling to the teeth, making it difficult to get rid of it with just a toothbrush. Sugar present in the sweets can cause and aggravate gum disease.
Researchers have found that eating or drinking sweets may decrease the production of the stress related hormone glucocorticoid. Sweets also interrupt the sleep patterns. When the blood sugar levels increase, a steady diet of refined carbohydrates and sweets can cause loss of elasticity in the skin tissues.
Milk chocolate, along with other sweets, should be consumed only in moderate amounts. It is especially important to monitor the amount of sweets consumed by children to prevent them from getting habitual to sweets and avoid gum problems later on.
Let us consider the non-vegetarian foods now. If ever consuming meat was safe‚ it definitely is not safe now. The liability to take disease is increased tenfold by meat eating. Cancers‚ tumors and all inflammatory diseases are broadly caused by consuming meats and non-vegetarian food products. There are two main reasons for this, first is the contamination levels that exist today. The air, water and soil are contaminated today due to man's activities, inventions and chemicals. This contamination is the least in the plant based diets and increases as the food cycle progresses to the organisms based diets. Thus the non-vegetarian foods are high in contamination levels. Secondly, the sedentary or physically inactive life styles of the people today do not require the high saturated fat and high cholesterol diets which the non-vegetarian foods provide. Sometimes people stop eating meat but continue to eat fish, thinking that it is healthier. But unfortunately, many times fish have higher levels of pesticides than meat and by eating nearly any fish, a person is exposed to high levels of mercury that can damage the brain, kidney and lungs. Thus non-vegetarian foods should be avoided, especially by those people who have high cholesterol and by those who want to prevent themselves from heart diseases.
One more area of food is the Genetically modified (GM) foods, which have been shown to change the genetic makeup of the consumer and should not be consumed.
Health supplements or food supplements are designed to help us with the daily nutrition requirements. Many people take vitamins and minerals daily for a myriad of health
issues. There are herbs and pills for sleep, eye health and general well-being. The problem stands affront when it comes to the actual contents of the pills. Some contain heavy metals and toxins that can counteract pharmaceutical prescriptions.
With any medication, it is important to do the homework. Look at the severity of the side effects and decide for yourself if you are willing to deal with them. Consult with the doctor and ask friends if they have used these supplements and what side effects they have experienced.
One can realize how harmful a diet can be which includes spicy fast foods followed by an ice cold bottle of soft drink or a cup of coffee. We should eat for not only to taste but to health also.
Clever advertising of such products and heavy commercialization of fast foods, along with the ease of accessibility, addictive taste and lack of awareness among the people are the major reasons that these products exist.
Some of these foods are popular also among the people, sometimes considering them as standard items, on occasions like party, celebrations etc.
Searching further on the internet will provide more details regarding the disadvantages of them and of similar food products.
One might get afraid after reading the various facts about the food products that we consume and get confused as to what should we consider to eat and what not. The rule of thumb would be to keep at a distance from any synthetically processed food products to be on the safe side and prefer to eat them as least as possible if required, no matter how much convincing and attractive their advertisements might appear, and consume the food products in as natural form as possible to avoid the effects that come in while processing them.
Let us now consider the good food products, recommended food habits and the alternatives to commonly available unhealthy or synthetic foods and how the scriptures help us in the same.
The holy scriptures provide the fact that man was first provided with a complete plant based diet.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. {Genesis 1:29}
Plant based diet include all the fruits, vegetables, food grains and pulses. These are as discussed below:
Fruits and Vegetables:
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of our daily diet. They are naturally good and contain vitamins and minerals, that can help to keep us healthy.
Research shows they can also help protect against some diseases. There are many varieties of fruit and vegetables available and, if you buy them in season, they need not be expensive. Although, now many fruits and vegetables are available throughout a year, it is best to consume only seasonal fruits and vegetables. They can be prepared, cooked and served in a variety of ways. If possible, eat five kinds of vegetable and two kinds of fruit every day for good health. Fruits are usually eaten raw, although some varieties can be cooked. They come in a wide variety of colours, shapes and flavours. Common types of fruits that are sometimes readily available include apples, pears, oranges, grapefruits, mandarins, limes, apricots, peaches, bananas, mangoes, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwifruit, watermelons, avocados etc.
Vegetables are often cooked, although some kinds (salad vegetables) are eaten raw. Vegetables are available in many varieties, common varieties include lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, brussel sprouts, broccoli, pumpkin, cucumber, potato, sweet potato, asparagus, onion, garlic etc.
Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals that are good for the health. These include vitamins A (beta-carotene and riboflavin), B, C and E, folate, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous and folic acid. Eat more fruit and vegetables for your health as they are low in fat, salt and sugar and provide a good source of dietary fibre. As part of a well-balanced, regular diet and a healthy active lifestyle, a high intake of fruits and vegetables can help:
Reduce obesity and maintain a healthy weight
Lower your cholesterol
Lower your blood pressure
Protect against diseases
Vegetables and fruits contain phytochemicals or plant chemicals. These biologically active substances can help to protect you from some diseases. Scientific research shows that if you regularly eat lots of fruit and vegetables, you have a lower risk of:
Type 2 diabetes
Stroke
Heart (cardiovascular) disease
Cancer (some forms)
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Colour is the key to healthy food. Maximum protection comes from eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Eat a rainbow of colourful fruits and vegetables every day to get the full range of health benefits. For example:
Red foods like tomatoes and watermelon, contain lycopene, which is thought to be important for fighting heart disease.
Green vegetables like spinach contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which may help protect against age-related eye disease.
Blue and purple foods like blueberries contain anthocyanins, which may help protect the body from cancer.
White foods like cauliflower contain sulforaphane, which may also help protect against cancer.
Children have a smaller stomach capacity and higher energy needs. They will not be able to eat the same serving sizes as adults, however, they should be encouraged to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. By eating well, the children will have the energy they need to play, concentrate better, learn, sleep better and build stronger teeth and bones.
Fruits and vegetables can also be used to avoid fast foods and act as an alternative to them. Some suggestions include:
Keep fresh fruits on the bench or table.
Add fruits and vegetables to your favourite family recipes or as additions to your usual menus.
Consider to prepare vegetable and fruit salads or vegetable soups.
Some may feel that eating fruits and vegetables daily will not be so taste effective, and a person might feel loss of appetite by eating them daily. To avoid such situations, think up new ways to serve fruits and vegetables, including trying out a new recipe, fruit and vegetable salads, raw fruits and vegetables, vegetable soups, dried fruits etc.
Food grains and pulses:
Pulses are part of the food grain family known as legumes and include foods such as peas, lentils, beans and peanuts. Pulses are an important source of nutrition and are a good source of protein, fiber and essential nutrients, making them a healthy addition to the diet.
Pulses are high in fiber. For example, a 1 cup serving of cooked lentils contains more than 15 g of fiber, meeting 60 percent of the daily value. The fiber in the pulses may improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. Pulses also are high in potassium. Including more potassium-rich foods in the diet can lower blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium.
Pulses lower the risk of diabetes, are a good source of folate (a B vitamin needed to produce and maintain new cells), are high in protein and thus are a very good alternative to non-vegetarian food products.
Food grains as rice and wheat, are a staple food for majority of the population and are a good source of carbohydrates.
Organic Foods:
The finest source of nourishment for the body is eating fresh organic food harvested straight from the garden. Commercial farming depletes the soil and is often not fresh by the time we eat it. Growing a garden is the best investment a person can make. Where a small garden place is available, it will be ideal to use the same for growing vegetables or fruits, otherwise a smallest plot of land available can also be considered for the same. Else, one can even grow a few things indoor also. It will not appear as a burden if the person makes it a habit or considers it as a recreational work, just like gardening.
Cooking:
Avoid cookware treated with anti-stick chemicals. This can include such coatings as 'Teflon' commonly found in frying pans. Stainless steel or cast iron cookware should be used and to keep food from sticking to the pan, a little olive oil can be used. It is better to use a little oil and then clean the utensil with some cleansing agents like powders or dish wash bars, then ingesting chemicals found in the non-stick coatings.
Cooking and processing can damage some nutrients and phytochemicals of the plant foods. It is important to prepare and cook the fruits and vegetables in a way to retain maximum vitamin and mineral content. Food should be cooked moderately, since over-cooking can burn up the nutrients or alter their structures and such food will not prove to be very healthy.
Drinks:
Plain water is the best drink. It rehydrates the body, cells and tissues and cleanses the body from the toxic elements, if it is not from any untrusted or unclean source. Since it is a universal solvent, it is able to drain out the toxic elements in the blood by dissolving them. A normal person should consume plenty amount of water, even if the person has to spend most of the time sitting.
Apart from it, the second most best natural drink is the coconut water. It contains high levels of minerals and electrolytes, in particular, potassium. Electrolytes are the minerals required to regulate the water, muscular functions and nerve transmissions. During exercise, the body tends to lose electrolytes through perspiration. People sweat out the body minerals during physical activity, so rehydrating is essential when exercising. Coconut water is excellent for rehydration and is a natural isotonic beverage.
The electrolyte profile of coconut water makes it a very effective post-exercise drink. The replenishing of electrolytes is the concept behind commercial sports drinks, therefore many believe that coconut water should be marketed as the natural sports drink. It is a very effective drink in the areas where it is naturally available and it will be more beneficial when directly consumed from the coconut with a straw etc. Coconut water can well be called the natural soft drink as well as the energy drink.
Then would come the fresh fruit juices. Since coconut water is not available at all places, fresh fruit juices are the best alternatives to be considered for drinking. There are many pacekd juice brands in the market, but they contain preservatives and sometime some flavours to enhance their tastes. Thus, to enjoy the benefits of the fruit juices, it is be best to prepare them directly from the fresh fruits and at home. Apart from their good taste and variety of flavours, fresh fruit juices are healthy also, having good quantity and quality of minerals etc. Although they might not contain the same amount of nutrients as the fresh fruits, they can be considered for occasional drinking and to refresh the taste buds.
Apart from the above listed food products, dairy products like milk, butter etc. and honey from the trusted sources can also be considered for consumption as per requirements.
Regular meal times:
It is important to eat the food at regular times. Just like what are we eating is important for the growth of our body and health, the same way at what times we eat is also important. Eating at irregular times and over eating are harmful to the health and result in lack of concentration, lack of energy and stamina, loss of appetite etc, since the body cycle is disturbed and the stomach and digestive system are busy at irregular times to digest the food.
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! {Ecclesiastes 10:17}
The practice of eating but two meals a day is generally found to be a benefit to health. A second meal should never be eaten until the stomach has had time to recover from the labor of digesting the preceding meal. At least five or six hours should intervene between the meals; and most persons who give the plan a trial‚ will find that two meals a day are better than three. Those who are changing from three meals a day to two‚ will at first be troubled more or less with faintness‚ especially about the time they have been in the habit of eating their third meal. But if they persevere for a short time‚ this faintness will disappear. Yet under some circumstances‚ some persons may require a third meal. If taken, this should be very light‚ and of food most easily digested.
Meals should be taken in the daylight only. When we lie down for sleep, the reclining position causes the weight of the internal organs to press against the very large nerve trunks on each side of the spinal column and shuts off the mechanism that keeps the digestive system working. Before retiring the stomach should have finished all its work of digestion so that it can join the rest of the body. But if a person eats before sleep‚ the digestive organs have to work through the night and the sleep is often disturbed with unpleasant dreams‚ and in the morning the person awakes un-refreshed.
At the time of breakfast, the stomach and the digestive organs are in a better position to take care of food, thus the breakfast should be the heartiest meal of the day.
Snacking between meals damages the healthful tone of the digestive organs and negatively affects the health and cheerfulness of the person. One who cannot control his eating habits will not be able to control his feelings and temper. Avoid eating even fruits between meals, as it reduces the appetite for the regular meal.
Chew more:
The benefit derived from food does not depend so much on the quantity eaten‚ as on its thorough digestion. Moreover, the taste and flavour of the food does not depend on the amount of food consumed, but on the thorough chewing of the food. Digestion starts in the mouth, thorough chewing allows digestive enzymes in the saliva to thoroughly mix with the food‚ an essential first step for optimal digestion. Those who wish to avoid indigestion‚ will remember that if time to eat is limited‚ not to bolt down food‚ rather eat less and chew slowly. When anxious or in a hurry‚ it is better not to eat until we get rest or relief‚ because the vital powers‚ already severely taxed‚ cannot supply the necessary digestive liquids. Chewing gum is unhealthful and should not be consumed, as it overworks the salivary glands and confuses the digestive system.
Fasting:
Those who were consuming non-vegetarian food products, will find it a difficult task to completely rely on the plain, wholesome and nutritious vegetarian diet. In such a situation, it is best to put the digestive system to relax, giving the stomach it's needed rest by keeping a fast.
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. {Proverbs 27:7}
Fasting refreshes the taste buds, restores the appetite and makes the body feel the natural hunger. When anyone changes the diet from organism based to the plant based diet, the person may experience a sense of weakness and a lack of vitality. This is a temporary state, the body recovers itself from the same state and it is not harmful to the health in anyway. Just make sure to drink plenty of water, get enough rest and discard all empty calories (i.e. foods/drinks that contain refined sugar, commercial oil etc.) and include plenty of nutrient-dense foods like green leafy vegetables, fruits, raw nuts and seeds. And sooner than later the person will be feeling better than ever felt before. Those who are already relying on the vegetarian diet can also consider to fast. One thing of concern is the duration and time to fast, like one should not fast when suffering from disease etc. and keep a good track of time, like keeping the fast for a complete day and night or for the daytime only, depending on the state of the body etc. Apart from it, consulting the doctor would also be good, since the doctor will guide specifically keeping in mind the body state, age etc. of the person keeping fast.
Eat with a grateful heart:
Most importantly enough, is to eat the food with a cheerful heart, giving gratitude and thanks to the almighty for making provisions for our daily bread. It is important that a person relishes what is consumed. If you eat mechanically‚ your body will fail to receive proper nourishment.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. {Psalms 34:8}
Eating while watching TV‚ reading a magazine‚ having an intense discussion with a companion or the focus diverted to other important tasks or tensions is harmful to the digestion and health. The body-mind relationship cannot be separated. Depressing emotions interfere with the body's ability to assimilate nutrition. At mealtimes, cast off care and anxious thoughts, eat slowly and with a cheerful heart filled with gratitude to the almighty for all His blessings.
Temperance:
All the above listed healthy foods will also become harmful when consumed in excessive amounts. Those who can not control their appetite are on the path to ruin self.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. {1 Corinthians 9:25}
True temperance does not only refer to eating and drinking. It touches all aspects of life - your work‚ play‚ socializing, sleep, eating, drinking, thoughts, words, speech etc.
When it comes to diet‚ nothing should be put into the human system that will leave a harmful or destructive influence behind.
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. {1 Corinthians 3:17}
To take one's life instantly is no greater sin in the sight of heaven than to destroy it gradually, but surely.
The food we eat can be the best form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. We should be careful about the food we consume and about the recommended food habits.
Apart from the food we eat, we should also rely on and trust the Word of Yahuwah. Moreover, as the scriptures declare, we do not live by bread alone, but by every Word of Yahuwah.
That he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. {Deuteronomy 8:3}
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