Lessons for a lifetime: Taking a leaf out of Mahatma Gandhi's book for good health

New Delhi: It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver. – Mahatma Gandhi

These words hold more truth and validity in present times, when we have all become slaves to a modern lifestyle.

Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu – as the nation fondly remembers him – is arguably one of India’s most revered figures around the world.

Remembered more for his teachings on ahimsa and non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi has inspired generations across the world, individuals as great as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and former US President Barack Obama.

His views on health, however, have rarely been mentioned. Looking at the world's stance on health at present, it is suffice to say that Gandhiji wouldn't have been pleased with the situation.

Diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, etc, have slowly strengthened their hold on the world and are indeed posing a bigger threat.

Gandhi led a very simple and frugal lifestyle, setting a perfect example for all of us to follow and on his 148th birth anniversary, we remember Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's life as more than a story of a great and outstanding personality.

Today, let us look back at Bapu’s life to get inspiration and draw motivation for a long and healthy life.

Fasting:

Mahatma Gandhi push his body to physical extremes to enact political change and his strength is the factor that draws emphasis.

He fasted all of 17 times during India's freedom movement, and his longest fasts lasted 21 days, which took place in Delhi for the unity of Hindus and Muslims.

Fasting was a part of Gandhi's philosophy of Ahimsa and has many health benefits, including weight loss, lower blood pressure and reduced cholesterol. Furthermore, it gives your body the time to detox, use up unused sources of nutrition like fat, cleanses the stomach, helps it cope with any infections that might be present and can help relieve constipation.

According to Ayurvedic principles, one should fast at least once a week, and the type of fasting should be based on the person’s dosha – vata, pitta or kapha.

In general it states that a vata person should not fast aggressively as it can cause more harm than good and people with pitta or kapha bodies can afford to fast more aggressively, to see benefits.

Diet:

In Gandhi's words, 'The body was never meant to be treated as a refuse bin, holding all the foods that the palate demands.'

He deeply believed that our diet should be healthy, since for him, it was also a key part of learning self-restraint.

He experimented with a variety of diets throughout his life and went completely vegan for six years refusing to even touch milk products.

Finally, he gave in to his doctor’s demands and starting consuming goat milk which he found strengthening. Realising the folly of his youth, he went on to include a host of milk products in his diet.

His everyday food comprised a litre of goat’s milk, 150 gm cereals, 75 gm leafy vegetables, 125 gm other vegetables, 25 gm salad, 40 gm ghee or butter, and 40-50 gm jaggery or sugar.

Meditation:

While anyone would say that his life was full of stressful situations, he derived his strength from meditation.

He meditated regularly and prayed for long hours. Studies have effectively shown meditation to be healing and relaxing for the body as well as the mind.

It is a known practice that can help cleanse the body and soul spiritually and is also one of the top recommendations and advise given to patients by doctors.

Early to bed, early to rise:

Though Gandhiji himself needed only four to five hours of sleep, he believed that this pattern of sleeping early and rising before sunrise is the best way to optimise one’s body and mind.

A good, appropriate amount of shut-eye is one of the best things required for the human body to function well.

Waking up early helps you gives you more time at hand, to do the umpteen things you normally don’t have time or energy to; like working out.

Research has shown that people who sleep in time and rise early in the morning are also more successful and better in dealing with negativity.

Walking: 

The Dandi March, spearheaded by Bapuji is probably the most well known movements to oppose the salt tax and one of the best examples of walking.

Gandhi walked a whopping 390 kilometres in protest and even though he started with only a few, a crowd of over 10,000 people had soon joined him.

Walking is probably the most beneficial cardio workout and is recommended by doctors across the world. It keeps the heart rate up, burns calories, and strengthens your core, thigh and calf muscles.

Non-violence:

Last, but not the least, his teachings of non-violence or ahimsa in themself teach us a lot about how violence can affect us and our mental health negatively.

Non-violent behavior brings peace and calm to our life and reduces stress by a considerable margin. Supporting the same, studies have shown that calm people are less likely to get hypertension and heart disease.