Medicinal Value of Food

All foods offer us benefits other than simple energy, but some foods have great healing power than others. To put it simple, if we don’t eat, we can not live. But aside from serving that most basic need- that of keeping us alive and our taste buds happy-the best foods keep us healthy, happy and whole. These are super foods, a cross between food and medicine.

Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest and still more practical health treatises, had always connected food with medicine. But over the years, we lost that connection and forgot about the healing power of the food.

However, we have regained that knowledge to an extent now, but we tend to focus only on the energy component of the food-its caloric count. That’s not the only attribute of food however. Food gives us the vitality to function; builds our bodies; protects us from the environment by creating a layer of fat; affects our moods; fights diseases at a cellular and metabolic level; improves body rejuvenation and so delays ageing; and cures diseases.

All foods have a medicinal value, but certain plants that may not ordinarily be part of our daily diets have an immense capacity to affect us positively in various ways. I will discuss about some superfoods in my future posts.

Food and Personality- Relationship

Eating healthy foods is good for your personality. Your personality affects your relationship with food, your eating behavior and your dieting behavior. This is probably something we may all have experienced at a subconscious level. The persons with good personality like to eat healthy foods. We should learn how to eat healthy and nutritional food.

In my personal experience, it is interesting to note the patterns that emerge with regard to eating behavior. People with type ‘A’ personalities tend to be ambitious, hardworking and less tolerant of their own or other’s mistakes. They plan a healthy diet that work as metabolism booster. They are acutely conscious of body image and will not allow their weight to spiral out of control. However, such people tend to be very fond of food, and will also overeat on occasion. This type of personality has a fondness for spicy and crispy food, perhaps non-vegetarian dishes. They may dislike sweet or mushy foods. Such people are also active and may enjoy exercise.

The slight problem is they are given to flashes of anger and may indulge in binge eating. Such people can follow a simple plan with a drive that is unique to them. They are also at the highest risks of following fad diets.

Then there is the creative personality. Such people crave variety. They crave new menu plans-even if the suggested plan is very difficult, they do it, but only once. Such people tend to enjoy travelling and trying healthy food dishes. They love small portions, and are fond of sweets. They also try numerous diet plans and consultants as they are always looking for change. The good news is that if they follow the plans that increase metabolism, their bodies respond quickly.

The third type of people I see are very calm and patient. Such people lose weight slowly, but do not get worried or angry. They are not big eaters but are fond of rich foods and feel deprived if they do not get to eat their favorite foods every now and then.

They are most vulnerable to temptation and the sight of good food spells doom for their diets. They tend to be emotional and also tend to eat when they are upset. Such people also tend to think that being healthy is more important than being a particular size.