Whether we are healthy or sick, proper food is always necessary. When we are sick, it is more important to pay attention to food than medicine.
Food is required to keep the body normal and healthy. Energy is lost by doing labour, body tissues get damaged and to repair them we need special type of food, eating food repairs the decay in the body. As age increases, the quantity of food consumed decreases. We need very little food but to satisfy our hunger we eat more than required.
On occasions like marriage, gathering, Jiman etc. we eat more food than required for the sake of taste, which is harmful. Continuously eating more than required spoils the digestive system. The stomach and intestines swell up, their functioning slows down and gas starts forming. Fat starts accumulating, obesity increases, the walls of the stomach which should be strong and flexible become thick and heavy. The stomach should never be allowed to become thicker than the waist line. The simple way to avoid all these troubles is to eat less.
How much to eat- It has been found from tests that eating while laughing or eating more for taste is harmful for the body. Eating less than what can be eaten as per the hunger nourishes the body and gives strength. Very little of the food that is eaten is digested and of that which is digested, very little comes in the form of nutrition. Therefore, eat less than what you are capable of eating as per your hunger.
Eating and sleeping- Sleeping soon after eating does not give good sleep and the intestines do not get the complete rest that they get in sleep. Therefore, food should be eaten three hours before sleeping. Eat three times a day. Do not eat anything in between. Never eat without feeling very hungry. Eat chewing well. Do not eat when you are worried or angry. Drink only warm water. Eat in a happy mood. Breakfast should be rich in starch and lunch should be rich in protein. For dinner, eat raw fruits, raw vegetables and salad.
