Ayurveda and Obesity

The tendency toward obesity is encouraged by two bad habits namely:
1. Lack of physical activity
2. High-calorie, low-cost foods.

In ayurveda the swastha-vritta guidelines are very useful in preventing obesity:

FOOD GUIDELINES

1. The selection of food items should be intelligently done. Any obsession or compulsion in food matters should strictly be controlled.

2. Moong and Masoor in one’s diet are a good means to treat obesity.

3. Obese people should avoid very sweet, salty or oily food especially at night.

4. One should avoid curd and take buttermilk instead.

5. One should always try and drink warm water.

6. Guduchi, Triphala or Musta should be taken mixed with honey. Takrarishta is also advisable. Triphala churna is best advisable at bedtime.

7. Bruhat Panchamoola powder taken mixed with honey may be beneficial too.

8. Amla powder is also useful in reducing obesity.

OTHER GUIDELINES

1. A person desirous of losing weight should stay awake at night. Should try and indulge in more sexual activity, do more physical and mental exercises.

2. Diet control and regular exercises like swimming, jogging, cycling, yoga or a combination of more than one of these is the key in controlling obesity.

3. Sleeping during the daytime should be avoided at all costs.

4. One should join a group that can encourage weight loss in a positive and motivating manner.

5. Initial weight loss should not be the therapeutic goal. The major challenge should be to find out an effective way to sustain this weight loss.

6. It is very important for obese people to get their lipid and sugar levels routinely checked along with blood pressure and other tests related to heart.