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activity level, and whether one is trying to gain, maintain, or lose weight. Calories restriction keeps function of metabolism in order. Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) the body burns to maintain itself. Research in some animals has shown calorie restriction of up to 40 percent fewer calories than normal to have an impressive positive effect on disease, markers of aging, and, perhaps, life span. Also a diet lower in calories greatly retard most forms of cancer and forestalls many signs of aging in animals.
Abstain from dainties and indifferent to Taste: According to broader view of this type of penance the practitioner is to minimize the number of tastes (sweet, sour...) and control on number of daily eatables. It can be done partially or in total for a short time or prolonged period of time. The reason being that one should eat to live and not live to eat. Mahavira preferred left-over food from people's meals rather than complete meal. Mahavira told to eat stale food, food which \is still edible but has lost its deliciousness, effervescence or palatability. As per medical science, body makes many proteins itself. Body can itself fulfil its requirement of many needed nutrients.
The purpose of this penance is emasculation of the senses subduing sleep and unobstructed pursuance of study. The reason for this is that the digestive system does not have the capacity to digest so many different type of food properties. It gets over-burdened. It needs extra energy to digest and one feel drowsy after meal. The digestion is governed by physiological chemistry. It is not what we eat that is crucial to our health, but what we digest and assimilate. After a meal, the body
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