Nature and Nutrition

Man is a part of nature. The vital energies of nature – air, light, food,water and space influencehis physical and emotional well being.There is a mention in atharvaveda and ayurveda that these vital energies facilitate self healing in man. Our ancestors, the rishis and yogies lived completely immersed in the forces of nature and respected them as divine.

They believed :-

• Sun is the greastest physician. He is the protector of all life.
• The water of river gangas is true medicine.
• Fasting is the best treatment.

The rishis and yogis lived near rivers, subsisted in seasonal fruits and roots, maintained peace of mind by prayer and meditation and maintained a healthy body by fasting once in a while. Hence they lived in eqilibrium and harmony with nature.

In the physical body, there are five motor organs of action -to speak, grasp, move, procreate and excrete. The subjective world comprises of the subtle body which is the mind and ahamkara – the awareness of the self.

Every things in this nature is composed of five great elements known as Ether(space), air,fire, water and earth and so is man. Therefore, there is a great inter-relationship between nature and the man. With this awareness, man can maintain good health and in case of ill-health, he can maintain himself with a natural heeling regimen – nature cure.

Small things matter much. When one has the knowledge of small things in life one can achieve great with insight, and the future will be safe. For example – the expectant mother should eat plenty of seasonal fruit and vegetables with balalnced food in order to get natural vitamins and calcium for the baby in the womb. Hence the couple will be rewarded with a healthy baby without any determination in the body.

Change is inevitable in nature and so it is in the human body.

Water is one of the five elements in the body and is called 'San-jeevan' – which gives life, the life itself. Our body is mainly made up of the earth element, but there is 70% water in our body. If there is any decreases of water element in our body we becomes restless. In nature, too, there is 2/3 of water in the surface of the earth in the form of lakes, seas and oceans. There is constant change in water because of its quality of flowing.

The earth's surface visible is only 1/3. The earth's surface is also changing because of mind, water and sunlight. Similarly air, water and food ingested in the body from the external world, cause changes in the body. After digestion, food is changed into nourishment, which is utilised by the body tissues. The wastes material which remains is expelled out of the body.

The digestive power in the body is fire. Fire encompasses changes and causes refinements in the body and mind, from the gross to subtle. Such change includes the digestion and absorption of food in the gastro intestinal tract and in cellular transmission, as well as assimilation of sensory preceptions, mental and emotional experiences.

Air is another great element in the body. The special quality of the air is mobility. The earthquacks caused on the seas and oceans are due to the mobility of air. In the same manner, air is mobile even in the body. Though one seems to be sleeping, there is constant activity of respiration and water metabolism going on the body through the mobility of air. It also transports the waste material to the particular organ and expels it with its force.

Space assumes the highest importance for all these activities in the body to function. If the space is clogged or closed nutririon cannot reach certain parts of the body because the blood cannot circulate. This causes diseases. So space has to be maintained in balance, giving place for various activities to be carried out in the body.

The proper nutrition of the body and elimination of the waste materials keep the body fit. If the waste material is not eliminated on time, it accumulates in the body resulting ultimately in a diseased condition. Therefore , detoxifying the body, assumes great importance.

All the five elements in the body are equally important and are interdependent. But as far as digestion is concerned, space assumes greater importance. If required space is made available in the stomach, the food gets well mixed with enzymes. The digestion process takes place for about three hours. The space works as a strainer. The nutrients and the waste material are separated and the space helps the movement of nutrients to reach all parts of the body, as well as elimination of waste waste materials. Thus creating place for the next feed. Therefore we have to give enough time for digestion. Some people eat without rhyme and reason although there is no real hunger. Then the space will not be enough for proper digestion of the previous meal. Hence the food remains undigested and starts fermenting, leading to problems like gases, pain, feeling of fullness, etc. Therefore nutrients do not reach every part of the body. Hence body feels inert and dull.

References

The above mentioned information is added from the book called "MUDRAS & HEALTH PERSPECTIVES" by "SUMAN.K.CHIPLUNKAR".