Health & Diet

by Swami Sivananda

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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

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

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.


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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