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Paperback: 230 pages
ISBN: 81-7052-183-1
Book Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.44 inches
Shipping Weight: 240 grams

HEALTH & DIET

by Swami Sivananda

Table of Contents

About This Book (Back Cover)
Chapter I
Health Is Above Wealth	11
Diet and Health	12
Nutrition and Health	16
The Body Machine	18
Food and Body	20
The Mysterious Palace of Brahman	22
Upanishads on Food	25
Digestion, Absorption and Assimilation	29
Masticate Well	34
Care of the Teeth	34
Avoid Over-Eating	37
Dietetic Rules	39
Give up Meat-Eating at once	42
The Inner Factory	46
Chapter II
Constituents of Food	49
Chapter III
Diet in Diseases	107
Growth and Development of Children	129
Chapter IV
Health Menu	135
Chapter V
Milk-Kalpa	143
Moderate Diet (Mitahara)	144
Yogic Diet	146
Diet for Immortality	146
Chapter VI
Invalid Food Recipes	150
Chapter VII
Acid and Alkali Forming Foods	154
Foods Deficient in Sodium Chloride	155
Foods Rich in Iron	155
Diet and Health Alphabets	156
Yogic Diet	160
Chapter VIII
Thanksgiving to the Lord	166
Salutations to the Lord	167
Inner Ruler	167
Body-Temple	168
Most Perfect Food	168
Currents of Vegetarianism	169
Vegetarianism and the Hindu View of Life	175
Ancient Indian Analysis	176
Chapter IX
Hints on Health	182
Place of Diet in Ancient India	203
What to Eat and Why	203
Proteins and Minerals	203
Fats and Carbohydrates	204
Vitamins—Their Sources and Functions	205
Rare Values of Common Articles of Diet	210
How Much to Eat	211
Food Habits	213
Appendix
Landmarks in the Growth of Children	219
A Wise Man	220
Yogi’s Cure	221
Success Tonic	222
Anti-Divorce Tonic	222
Diet and Health	222

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About This Book

Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj was a doctor before he embraced the holy Order of Sannyasa. Even before he began his medical career, he enthusiastically conducted a medical journal called "Ambrosia" in which he published regularly articles on health and hygiene, diet and healing.

This volume from the pen of the sage-doctor is of the greatest value, not only to the members of the medical profession, but to the layman as well who will gain immense knowledge from it, for enjoying good health and long life.

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Health Is Above Wealth

Health is the greatest wealth and asset for you. Without good health and strength, you cannot achieve success in life and God-realisation. Without good health, you cannot enjoy life. Good health comes from following definite rules. Those who ignore the rules of health, suffer much and die prematurely. Even for spiritual pursuits good health is the prerequisite. Without good health you cannot penetrate into the hidden depths of the vast ocean of life within and attain the final beatitude of life. Without good health you cannot wage war against the turbulent senses and the boisterous mind.

Health is wealth. Health is a covetable possession indeed. Good health is a valuable asset for one and all. You should have physical as well as mental health. If you do not possess good health you cannot prosper in any walk of life.

Health is that state in which a man sleeps well, digests his food well, is quite at ease, is free from any kind of disease or uneasiness. When you are in a state of perfect health all the organs, viz., heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, intestines, work in perfect harmony and concord and discharge their functions satisfactorily. The pulse rate and the rate of respiration are in perfect order. The bodily temperature is normal. A healthy man smiles and laughs. He is cheerful and happy. He discharges his daily duties with ease and comfort. A healthy man is capable of doing work for a long time without getting fatigued. His bowels move very freely every day. He possesses the highest kind of mental and physical efficiency.

Health is a positive state. It is not simply negation of disease. A healthy man can turn out more physical and mental work. He can practise good meditation for a long time. A healthy man need not be necessarily strong and robust and a strong and robust man need not be necessarily healthy. Health is a gift from Mother Nature or Lord who is the power behind life. Health is your birthright but not disease. It is as natural to be well as to be born.

Health is above all gold and infinite wealth and treasure. It enlarges the soul and opens all its powers to receive instructions and relish virtues. "This Atman cannot be attained by a weak and unhealthy man." This is the emphatic declaration of the Upanishads. Emerson says, "The first wealth is health. Give me health and a day I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous." He who has good health has nothing more to wish for. He is really a blessed man. Ramalingaswami sings, "I want a life with health and without disease." The first requisite in life is good health. Health is a sine qua non to every kind of enjoyment in life.

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 25-Mar-2008 00:58:12 EDT
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