Page 13 - Anandamela 2019

Be Healthy – Stay happy

Ancient wisdom from the Bhagavad‐gita

kāmasya nendriya-prī r / lābho jīveta yāvata
jīvasya ta va-jijñāsa / nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ (SB 1.2.10)

Life’s desires should never be directed toward sense gra fica on. One should
desire only a healthy life, or self-preserva on, since a human being is meant
for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s
works.

Step #1 ‐ Lifestyle reorganiza on

The Vedic lifestyle is ideal for maintaining health, vitality and a posi ve a -
tude based on tangible spiritual enlightenment. The following list of regulat-
ed daily prac ces exemplify the Vedic lifestyle:

a-Early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy, happy and
wise. Sleep before 10 PM at night and wake up 1.5 hours before sunrise.

b-Ea ng at regulated mes. It takes at least four hours to digest food. If one
snacks between meals the diges ve process is disrupted causing health prob-
lems like acid reflux, cons pa on, colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syn-
drome, ulcera ve coli s and dysentery. The last meal should be before 6
PM so that one can finish the diges on by 10 PM at night. Going to bed with
a full stomach may inhibit restora ve sleep and affect brain health. A er
food is digested one can experience a very res ul and rejuvena ng sleep for
six hours and wake up refreshed and energized.
c-Followers of the Vedas fast at least two days a month called Ekadasi – elev-
en days a er the full moon and eleven days a er the new moon. These two
days are very auspicious for spiritual advancement and health. There are ad-
di onal fast days for auspicious holy holidays. If one calculates all the fast
days for Vedic dharma, there are over 31 every year. The benefits derived
from fas ng follow: promotes blood sugar control by reducing insulin re-
sistance, be er health by figh ng Inflamma on, heart health by improv-
ing blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which can may im-
prove brain func on and prevent neuro-degenera ve disorders, weight loss

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