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Growing Epidemic of Mind-Body Fracturing

Ayurvedic physician Sushruta correlated obesity to diabetes and heart disease thousands of years ago. The main causes of obesity relate directly to lifestyle, with people becoming more sedentary in addition to eating meat-based diets. When will Americans learn that fixed and strict diets don’t work?

Everyone has to eat and the concept of one diet that works for everyone is another American dream. This is where the wisdom of Ayurveda’s tri-dosha science is very effective. It is endorses eating a diet specifically attuned to our individual constitutional (prakriti) needs and nature’s seasonal cycle.

What is American food? It’s everything and anything we want to eat, as we do not have a staple food. Such variety plays havoc on our stomachs, the most sensitive organ in the body. The American diet is influenced by a diverse range of cultures and countries, as is also the case with large urban areas that attract a diverse population. These buffet-style diets disturb and over-burden the human digestive system, never really giving it a chance to get acclimated or habituated to a type of food. Such is the crux of the ever-expanding body and the weakening of the digestive fire or jatharagni.

These destructive dietary patterns are no longer limited to America, but are slowly developing in all major international cities, as globalization continues. Only the adoption of a natural system like Ayurveda can save us. Yoga preaches simple living, and Ayurveda preaches a simple diet and seasonal eating. Yoga recommends fasting occasionally on fresh juices and teas, and both sciences adhere to a vegetarian diet and cooking with herbs and spices. Even though vegetarianism is regarded as vital to purifying the mind and body, meat is eaten in Ayurveda in cases of specific medical conditions.

There is no question that obesity is a growing epidemic in America and around the world, particularly in the last thirty years. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death, after smoking. The United States leads the world in obesity, which affects over 30% of the population. Obesity among adolescents has tripled. This is not a disease brought on by an infection or foreign agent, but is attributed to lack of cardiovascular function or type-two diabetes. It is also a lifestyle issue of over-eating and large food portions.

Food Consumerism

A plant-based or vegetarian diet has become a growing part of our mainstream culture. Many studies have proven it can lead to greater health. A greater number of people are choosing to eat vegetarian because it makes sense intellectually. Vegetarianism is also tied into the growing environmental or “green” movement. A community of people who are living more consciously is emerging as the voice of environmental issues, and their influence is also extending to medicine and politics.

Well-researched studies have proven that meat is difficult to digest, contains toxins present the blood of the animals, and is high in fats that can promote diabetes and increase cholesterol and the incidence heart disease. According to yoga and Ayurvedic principles, meat is considered a low nutritional grade, karma-increasing (tamasic) food that has many health implications and is contrary to the principle of nonviolence.

A common problem with the standard American diet is quantity. Meals are simply too large and highly caloric. Large quantities of food consumed at a single meal bog down the digestive system. If the meal includes red meat, it slows the system even more, leading to increased weight and body fat.

Animals raised in feedlots, like 43% of the world's beef, accumulate omega 6 fatty acids,1a family of unsaturated fatty acids (“bad fats”) that have been linked with cancer, diabetes, obesity, and immune disorders. Approximately 70% of all antibiotics in the United States are fed to pigs, poultry, and cattle, to increase growth and to counter sanitation issues caused by animals being confined to atrocious living conditions. The US is the largest consumer of beef in the world. In 2001, Eric Schlosser published his bookFast Food Nation, which gives a very raw account of today’s factory-farm system.

There are many ecological drawbacks to producing meat as well. The amount of water and land required is enormous. Meat products have to be trucked great distances as farms and slaughterhouses are located in less costly commercial and rural areas.

In a New York Times article, “Rethinking the Meat Guzzler,” Mark Bittman writes, “Americans eat about the same amount of meat as we have for some time, about eight ounces a day, roughly twice the global average. At about 5 percent of the world’s population, we ’process’ (that is, grow and kill) nearly 10 billion animals a year, more than 15 percent of the world’s total.” Bittman is the author of a great book entitled How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, with many simple recipes for those looking for alternatives to a meat-based diet. The repercussions of America’s approach to diet are clear and obviously a major cause of many chronic diseases and our dependence on a healthcare system with major disparities.

Changing the Diet Trend

There are many things we can do to begin to change our health and our society’s habits. The first and foremost is to change your own diet and set an example for others to live by. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Others will follow your example. I have seen how my own example has influenced many others to eat less meat, because, as a vegetarian, I excelled as a competitive athlete and was able to maintain substantial muscle mass, disproving a common myth about a non- meat diet. The myth of needing a high-quantity protein diet will eventually be dispelled, but many Americans now have little education on where to find protein in non-meat foods, like almonds, lentils, eggs, and many types of grains. Meat-eating societies have become fearful of not maintaining enough protein in their diets out of fear of losing muscle mass and strength: another huge myth. In fact, most Americans and meat-eaters in general eat more protein than they can actually digest, bogging the digestive organs down and stressing the liver and kidneys.

According to Ayurvedic principles each constitutional type (dosha) has different requirements in order to keep balance of the elements (air, fire, water, earth). The tri- dosha system is comprised of vata (air), pitta (fire) and kapha (water and earth) and each has its unique qualities that influence the body and mind.

Vata types are influenced by the central nervous system and, having the lowest amount of body fat and muscular density, are delicate and can be sensitive and generally very lean. As a result they can benefit most from bulking foods such as dairy products, pastas, oils, and nuts, which are higher in fat and calories. Vata types have a tendency to struggle when digesting large portions, or dry or cold foods, as their digestive fires can be a bit weak. Therefore, it is best if they eat warm, cooked, hearty foods.

Pitta types are hot. Being muscular and very focused, with strong digestive systems, usually get away with eating anything they like. As their digestion is viscous, they usually fall prey to over-eating at meals. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and cooling green salads are good for these fire types.

Kapha types are stable, naturally hold more body fat and tend to eat more slowly and frequently. Their digestive systems are generally the most consistent, but in the evening they should try to eat foods that minimize dairy content, oil, salt, and most particularly starch, such as breads, pastas, potatoes and so on.

There are specific foods from each food group—nuts, legumes, grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy—that each dosha should be cautioned against during appropriate seasons and in certain locations Much of this can be found in Ayurvedic cookbooks, and is usually also included in consultations with practitioners.

“One-for-all” fixed diet plans don’t work, because they force different body types with different metabolisms to adjust to the same foods. Much is compromised by forcing individuals to adhere to foods that do not accord with the elements and qualities of their dosha. One of Ayurveda’s basic, essential dietary wisdom tenets is learning which foods are most beneficial to your system, according to the season, in order to attain balanced digestion. It is crucial to follow dietary rules that take a person’s imbalances (vikriti) into account, in order not to create discomfort and disease.