Vikram Journal 1974 05 11

SR No.: 523101
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rammurti Tripathi
Publisher: Vikram University Ujjain
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 200
Language: Hindi, English
Classification: Magazine, India_Vikram Journal, & India
File Size: 11 MB

Page 142

the Vikram Vol. XVIII No. 2 & 4, 1974
SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF FOOD AND DIET IN
LORD MAHAVEER'S TIMES
Dr. N. L. Bordia, Emeritus Professor of Tuberculosis, M.G.M. Medical College, Indore (M. P.)
We all need food because we have to grow physically from birth and to maintain a sound health in life. We need to eat not because we feel hungry but hunger is a nature's mechanism to call for taking in food. Similarly we feel thirsty because the system needs fluid which we take as water or other water containing drinks. The purpose of eating is therefore simple. We should eat only those foods which are necessary for main. taining sound health.
In the growing child certain essential elements for growth are required much more than in the later ages. Once the full growth is attained we need those essential elements in lesser quantity to replace and provide for repair of destroyed tissues which is a constant daily process of life. We need calories to provide for maintaining heat for keeping our body warm and to give us physical energy to work. It is culculated that every red cell which gives the red colour to our blood is completely replaced in the body within a month. That means the destruction and repair of the entire body cells is going on daily in any situation or state we may be in.
ure impleth
The basis of in take of varieties of foods and formulation of dietic system in Jain literature which appears to have taken roots from Lord Mahaveer's times are two. (1) The first is on the principle of doing no harm to any living, moving creature that means on Ahinsa (feat) of highest order and which is necessary for accomplishment of the aim of life. (II) On maintenance of sound health. It is on these two basic principles that foods selected from the universe as available in different regions form the basic of recommendations of what to eat and not to eat have developed Another important consideration is that food should be such which may not put servere strain on digestion and should not cause unnecessary stimulation to various vital organs.
The human machine has many charateristics. It has remarkable power of accommodation. Even in our own country we find the eating habits of the North are entirely different that the South Indian population who are in no way less healthy. In fact we hear very often people crossing a century among the poor who have lived on cheap vegetarian diet all their life with sound health even at 100 years of age and who perform their daily duties and take care of themselves regularly through out life. The human machine, apart from a few essential elements like protein, vitamins and a few salts and water does not need any special type of food. It entirely depends on the habits to which a person becomes accustomed to eat whether on rice or Juar, Wheat or ragi, Bajari or maize. They are just the same to the body. All that the body of grown up adult needs is a cereal like wheat or Juar or rice in natural coarse form, supplemented with any legumes like Dal, peas, Chapa or Moong or black grain; some green fresh leaves like coriender (for) or Mint (at leaves or fresh