The Hindu Business Line : Food for thought?

There has been much discussion regarding certain foods directly affecting our thoughts - example: fresh fruits enhance positivity, whereas onion- and garlic-based foods promote temper and aggression. How far is this true? Please guide me as to which foods promote positive, healthy thoughts and banish negativity. How do we stop negative thoughts from creeping in and focus on good things??

Urvashi

There is no compelling evidence to show that garlic and onion directly promote aggression or negativity. Be mindful though that any food eaten beyond the body's requirement can cause gas, acidity, heaviness and this discomfort can make you grumpy, dull, irritable, aggressive. So, pitch your beautiful urge for a pure and peaceful mind on these healing practices:

Eat moderate portions. In the muscle of moderation lie strength of body and steel of will.

Choose easily digestible food: fresh fruits, raw salad vegetables, rice, wheat, moong, de-fatted dairy products, chowli beans, lady fingers. At social functions, eat (moderately) with grace whatever is offered.

If you find any regular food causes allergy, swelling, bloating, heartburn, or headache, knock it unhesitatingly out of your shopping list.

Drink 1-2 litres of water daily. Buttermilk is highly recommended too.

Keep your food light, soothing and warm so that it makes you fully satisfied. Chew slowly and relish the food. Appreciate the miracle of being able to eat. Take 1-2 triphala tablets after every meal to aid digestion.

Please understand with great upliftment that you - not the food - have the power to banish negativity. Be vigilant -when a negative thought creeps in, say, "Stop!" Nurture the abundance mentality - feel secure and rooted in the truth that there is plenty of everything for everybody. Freely share recognition that comes your way by warmly acknowledging others. Adopt the philosophy, "Life is short, do what's important." Make a daily list (please include exercise and meditation) and tick off each task as you finish it. Focused on worthwhile priorities, your mind will blossom in positivity. You won't do things for happiness, you will express your happiness through doing things.

Please advise how I can reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides. What food habits do you recommend? How does walking help??

Ghouse

Triglycerides and cholesterol, major fat sources, are required by the body for energy and for strengthening cells respectively. But when both remain at high levels for long periods, they could cause heart disease. Fortunately, both can be reduced by a common lifestyle programme:

The rice-fruit diet. If your triglyceride levels are over 500 mg/dl, please go on a steamed rice-fresh fruit diet. It reduces fats in the blood within 3-7 days. After that, opt for a long-term plan:

Reduce fats and sweets. Don't have more than 2 teaspoons of oil (ricebran or olive oil preferred over others) daily. Avoid fries, pickles, papads, sugar, chocolates, cookies, sweetmeats. If there is an improvement after a month, make this a lifelong habit. If not, cut down further.

Eat healthy Have carbs - potatoes, rice, wheat, corn, oats and pulses. Pulses lower cholesterol; carbs give energy. Include fruits and vegetables - carrots, cabbage, broccoli, onions, garlic, grapefruit, apple and orange lower cholesterol. Fish or omega-3 capsules lower triglycerides. Two Spirulina tablets taken after every meal reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Have eggs without yolks (one yolk contains 275-300 mg of cholesterol).

Watch your beverages. Knock out alcohol totally - it's bad for triglycerides. Replace high-fat milk with skimmed milk to lower cholesterol levels.

Walk for great health. Walking briskly 45-60 minutes daily raises good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) as also triglycerides. During monsoons, jog on the spot at home at 80 steps per minute for 20 minutes. As exercise speeds up metabolism, the fats cannot linger in the blood and, hence, cannot deposit themselves on the artery walls. Interestingly, it has been found that even if there is no weight-loss, triglyceride levels drop after exercising. So, my friend, walk to a beautiful healthy life!

I have minus numbers in both eyes and sometimes see waves moving from right to left across my eye. Please suggest how to improve my eyesight and do away with the waves.?

Nandhu

Do this exercise only after consulting an eye specialist: Within half hour of post-sunrise/pre-sunset, gaze unblinkingly, without straining, at the sun for one minute. Imagine you are drawing the healing rays into your eyes. Turn your back to the sun, blink rapidly 130 times. Close your eyes, cover them with your hands and gaze into the bright after-image as long as it lasts. Uncover. Slowly rotate eyes left, up, right, down - three times. Squeeze eyes shut and imagine you are sending energy to them from your brain. Open and stare at any object for a few seconds. Then, repeat the squeezing and staring process three times. Blink 170 times. Affirm: "I heal my eyes. The waves are gone. I have 6/6 vision." The sages say, deep in the core of our cells is absolute, perfect joyous health which we can invoke only with positive attention and affirmation.

The writer is co-author of the book `Fitness for Life'.

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