Food Habits and The Coronavirus

“Life is a miracle and every breath we take is a gift from God.”

Never before in history have the Allopathic medical professionals in India been subjected to so much abuse as in 1920-21; all due to the dreaded Coronavirus or Covid 19.

From carelessness to the nonavailability of oxygen they are blamed. They are also part of society and human beings and blood flows in their veins too, not water. They too suffer from human weaknesses. We talk of them, amassing wealth at the time of crisis.

Imagine the risk they take in life, how they are prepared for that worst, in fact, happened in hundreds. Only a few specialists, associated with lungs, chest, diabetes, and heart are in demand.

Professionals who have to examine the patients face to face, like dental, oncology, and ophthalmology, almost by order or circumstances are compelled to close their shops.

Those who started their practice afresh with the latest equipment are unable to pay the bank installments. My intention is not to discuss the synthesis of the disease, nor do I hold a brief for the black sheep in the medical profession. Tell me one literate profession in which members are only transparently honest individuals.  Let us with calm and patience consider ourselves stepping into the shoes of the doctors.

It is a justifiable and genuine complaint against the governments that both the central and the states have miserably failed to combat the unforeseen eventualities of the Coronavirus.

Have we ever sincerely and seriously asked for better medical and educational facilities? Did we demand nutritious food? Did we urge for environmental upgradation? Did we raise our voice for safe drinking water and hygienic surroundings?  We approved the political agenda of freebies, concessions, temple, masjid, and church.  Oft repeated Telugu proverb is relevant: “Even the mother won’t feed unless asked! (అడగనిది అమ్మైన పెట్టదు.)

However, this shall not be an excuse for any Govt in a Welfare State to forgo its elementary obligation of providing primary health services to all, at any cost.

Nor am I holding a brief for the black sheep among the doctors and the govt for their lapses. All sorts of medical reimbursements shall be stopped forthwith. From the Primary Health Centres upwards the public health system must be toned up.  All VIPs, right from the President of India down to the Panchayat President, shall be asked to avail the treatment available in the public sector.

The resources thus saved are sufficient to build a sound medical system. If a VIP requires specialized treatment, it can be established; for, the next day an ordinary citizen gets the facility.

The Governments in the developing countries are expected to spend 6% and 4% of their GDP, respectively on education and medical, and health. We are not spending even half of it.

Indian mentality:

It is widely advised, both by the doctors and all forms of media, to follow the Covid protocol. We blame the Govt and the Police for enforcing it. Not only in the case of Covid 19, but in all other cases as well every doctor indirectly advises the patients: “Please try not to visit me again.”

Repeated millions of times every day: “Prevention is better than cure.”  Food habits and vices are the sources of many diseases. By avoiding vices and following good food habits we can maintain good health. Individuals’ role is minimal in environmental degradation, another source of diseases. Do we substantially follow the advice of the doctors, not only during the illness, even after the cure? We are advised to consume fresh green vegetables, milk, egg, fruits, and other nutritious foods and follow limited non-vegetarianism.  Our ancestors insulated religious sentiments to our health and allotted some days to different gods to avoid non-vegetarianism. e.g. Ekadashi (total fast), Monday, Siva; Thursday, Raghavendra Swamy and Saibaba; Friday, Durga Devi and Saturday, Venkateswaraswamy.

Vendors knock on our door with fresh Vegetables. Bargain fails with a difference of half or one rupee. He is turned away.  We stand in the queue at the More markets, D marts, and departmental stores to purchase the stale commodities with ‘fixed prices’.  The doctor does not invite us. We wait at the door of the doctor for our turn, pay his consultation fee, undergo clinical tests, and purchase prescriptions at MRP.  No doctor has ever advised alcohol, tobacco, and other vices. Have we stopped them? The Government has not banned them.

At the same time, it has not compelled us to be habituated to them. Every doctor advises only native food as a diet.  Why should we yearn for an unhealthy body? If the hours and days of wine shops and bars are restricted, there is a huge queue the previous day or during the relaxed hours. Industrialist, philanthropist, and social scientist Ratan Tata is reported to have suggested: “Liquor to be sold through Aadhaar card. And all those subsidies and facilities should be closed to those who buy liquor. We give food and they drink wine. This is not fair.”

There is a lot of sense in it. Let us concentrate more on health, good habits than on medical aid.  The irony of India: 1. People want alcohol at any cost; 2. medicines at discount and  3. lifesaver vaccine for FREE.

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” –Confucius.

Nature has commanded us to eat a particular food, in a particular season, that is grown in the region and the season.    Doctors advise the local seasonal diet; never the  Chinese, Western and continental food.  Food science, i.e. Pakasasthra is an inseparable part of Health Science: “What, when and how to eat and what and when not to eat”.  ‘Healthy Food; Healthy Body; Healthy Mind’, is an ancient slogan, relevant for all times, places, and seasons.

Right food varies from man to man ( body condition) and region to region and season to season, (weather conditions).  Food culture depends upon religion and caste too. There are different varieties of food in different regions and castes for different festivals and auspicious occasions.

The ancient food habits are evident in offerings (Naivedyams) to the deities in the temples. The same Sriramachandara or Hanuman or Shiva or Krishan are offered on different kinds of menus in different places and in different seasons. In any serious attempt at economic recovery,  the focus must be on the food supply and not the money supply.

In short, it is said: “To maintain a healthy body, Nutritious and hygienic food is necessary ”. (आहार शुद्धौ; दॆह शुद्धिः) The civilized world also accepts this principle. 1.Hita buk; ( हित बुक्;); Food that you like and suitable to the region and season. 2.Kala buk; (काल बुक्;); Timely food; seasonal and daily. 3. Mita book. ( मित बुक्) (Optimum food)

According to taste, our ancestors have divided the food into six categories;  Shadrasas; Hot, Bit, Sweet, Salt, Amla, and Odor.

According to nature and qualities, the foods are divided into three qualities: SATHVIKA, RAJASA, and TAMASA. So all the food is eaten by human beings, all over the world, vegetarian or non-vegetarian are categorized under the above 6 tastes (Shadarasas) and 3 qualities. (Gunas)  The influence of food on the human body and mind is explained in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad-Gita. Geetharacharya, whoever it may be, has clearly stated the harmonious relationship between the body, food, and the mind. They are not independent of each other. They are dependent on each other. There are prescribed Diets for patients suffering from different kinds of diseases, congenital or acquired, who require food for their survival and for their way of thinking and cure. “When the body does not cooperate, the mind refuses to function”, is an age-old proverb. Even spirituality requires food to generate stamina and strength. In Meghaduta of Kalidasa, the cloud, the messenger advises Yaksha, the lover separated from his beloved, Yakshini; “Physique or body is the source for achievements of all Dharmas. (Sariramadhye Khalu Dharma Sadhanam – शरीरमाध्ये खलु धर्म साधनं.).

Humanity is divided into some races:  African, Mongolian, Dravidian, Australoid, etc. This is not intended to encroach upon Anthropology or to dwell into the arena of Charles Darwin.  Since ages, to whichever race he may belong to, whatever his food habits may be, wherever he may be, and whatever the season may be, with dissimilar appearances, the man has identical body features, parts, and limbs.

This is due to the genetics and regeneration laws of nature.  He also maintains the same body temperature, blood groups, blood sugar level, pulse beatings, oxygen level, etc.

He may be an Eskimo in the North Pole or an African in the equatorial region or an African living in Australia or an Indian living in Canada in ‘0 minuses’ temperature or a Kiwi living in Africa at more than half the boiling point temperature.

These diabolical adjusting natures of the body, called acclimatization and standard health conditions are due to the food the man consumes; vegetarian or non-vegetarian and solid or liquid; six tastes and three qualities. The human body vis-a-vis the Food Culture is an excellent example of “Unity in Diversity.”; A Creator’s marvel.  This theory is universal.

Violation of Nature’s Law is an open invitation to untold miseries. More and more Pizza Huts, Pani Puri centers, Kabab outlets, Continental, Chinese and Western cuisines in India, the country is turning into the Diabetic Capital of the World. Should we welcome it?

Along with the poverty alleviation program, social security measures also must be strengthened.

Health is not everything.  But without health everything is nothing. Let us improve the immunity level and avoid doctors and their lengthy and costly prescriptions.

Do you blame the Medical profession and the Govt for all these wayward ways of life? “If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls who live under tyranny”. Thomas Jefferson, Late President of the USA.

(KC Kalkura is a Kurnool based Advocate and Telugu language activist)