Behaviours Which Sustain Good Health

In modern life, scientific and technological advances have created many facilities for comfort. However, if we develop dependency on them, our lifestyle becomes very sedentary and fragile. In order to overcome the risks involved in such a life we should observe certain precautions and engage in behaviours which promote and sustain good health.

Ayurveda, the science of Indian medicine, deals with four aspects of lifestyle which can ensure good health in us. These include right food (Ahara), right recreation (Vihara), right routine (Achara), and right thinking (Vichara). Observing certain practices ensures a healthy and happy life.

1. Food (Ahara)

Food is the most important aspect of life. Compared to non-vegetarian food vegetarian food is safe and invigorating for a healthy body. For better health one must eat fresh fruits and vegetables with enough fiber content.

Oily, spicy, junk and processed food causes obesity, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, gastric ulcer and even cancer. Our daily food should contain green vegetables, fresh fruits, beans, honey, curd, milk, butter oil which provide enough of vitamins, minerals, iron, antioxidants and fibers. In addition there should be a balanced proportion of each category of food in our daily intake.

We should also maintain fixed meal times. Chewing food properly and eating in controlled manner are good for health.

2. Routine (Achara)

Routine consists of three kinds of activities in which an individual indulges in. These are taking food and doing activities as per the seasonal demands called Ritucharya. It means taking food and doing activities in accordance with seasons.

We must eat and act according to the characteristics of seasons. Thus, in summer we should take light food containing little oil but plenty of fluids such as curd, fruit juice, rice curry and beans. During the winter and autumn seasons sweet and salty food can be taken in larger quantity such as milk products, vegetable soup, ghee, rice and oily food. During the spring season light food with less content of oil should be taken such as preparation containing gram and rice. During the rainy season food with astringent, acidic, salty and sweet taste are taken.

Day routine (Dincharya) and night routine (Ratricharya) refer to eating and doing activities according to the time of day and night. One should get up early in the morning before sunrise. Drinking water should be the first act after waking. It ensures smooth excretion of body waste, and is a sure remedy for constipation.

After excretion of feaces and cleaning of teeth, massage of the body should be done before taking bath. Thus, there should be proper time for each and every activity in the cycle of twenty four hours.

3. Recreation (Vihara)

Doing exercise and morning walk are the most important components of recreation. It makes the body light and strong. It increases the immunity, resistance power of the body and capability to work.

During exercise toxins of the body are excreted with perspiration. It increases the appetite of the individual. The health problems such as heart disease and diabetes are also controlled by daily exercise. Exercise delays the ageing process and prevents impotence. It helps in purifying blood as the increased intake of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide helps removal of dead cells from the body. Recreational activities like music also help in maintaining good health.

4. Thinking (Vichara)

Sound and positive mental health can only be maintained with right kind of thinking. A person who is mentally fit and healthy has self satisfaction, accommodative intellect, ability to accept criticism, understanding of the emotional needs of others, and self-control. Such individuals are neither driven by greed or lust nor dominated by fear, anger, attachment, jealousy, guilt or worry.

On the social front an individual with positive thinking enjoys good friendships and earns respect from everybody.