Food is something everyone needs, every day. But the way that it is processed and marketed can have a big effect on health and economics. In some parts of the world, a lack of access of food is the tragedy, while in countries like US, unhealthy eating is cited as the second biggest killer after smoking.
In India going with the western tradition, nowadays the prevalence of obesity and overweight is increasing day by day. Genetically modified foods, novel foods and nano-materials pose new challenges for traditional safety assessment processes but, as the food supply is increasing globally, food regulations and food safety are becoming more harmonized internationally. Along with over nutrition, food poisoning in the form of food adulterants and additive agents has also been increased now a days. Food borne toxins may occur naturally, or may be chemical or biological contaminants, or may be metabolic products of infectious agents that are present in the food. Very few of the foods that we commonly eat have been subjected to any toxicological testing and yet they are generally accepted as being safe to eat.
The most dangerous contaminants are those produced by infestations of bacteria or moulds in food, which can produce toxins that remain in the food even after the biological source has been destroyed. Some naturally occurring secondary metabolites like Aflatoxins from Aspergillus flavus or BOAA in Lathyrus sativus also becomes responsible for major mortality and morbidity among thousands of people. Another aspect of food toxicity happening today is the threat posed by the presence of vast amount of chemicals being added to food articles for various purposes like preservation, flavoring, coloring etc.
According to Ayurveda, Aahara is considered as Parama bhesaja. Aahara dusti can occur in 2 ways. When we take aahara which is deranged by microbial contaminants it will result in immediate toxic manifestations and it can be correlated as Visha lipta anna (Poisoned food). When we are continuously administering food containing adulterants and other colouring agents, it gets deposited in body as visha (Poison). When it stays for long time, some of them may lose its original properties and ultimately gets converted into low potency poison by the process of metabolic conversions leading to formation of Dooshivisha (Cumulative toxicity). Acharyas had explained in detail about dooshitha anna (Poisoned food) as the major aggravating factor for this.
Ayurveda had also emphasized that, bacterial toxins and drugs like antibiotics, steroids, etc, adhyasana(excessive food intake), Virudhaahara( intaking incompatible foods) ajeerna avastha(taking in food without digesting the previous food) all comes under dooshi visha.
Major food items what we eat daily, can also acts adversely due to their mutually contradictory properties, some by method of preparations, some by virtue of the place, time, dose and some by their nature. Ayurveda has concluded these types of food items into a major heading “Virudhaahara”. The intake of virudhaahara (Incompatible foods) can cause many dreadful diseases like swelling all over the body, skin diseases like Psoariasis, recurrent fever, low immunity and eventually leading to infertility, cancer like conditions. It can even destroy memory, complexion and lusture of a person. It is as potent as visha and kills the individual like visha. It will be surprised to know that, many of our day to day food items are virudha as per Ayurveda. For eg daily intake of Dahivada can cause sinusitis like disorders. Fermented foods like khaman dhokla , idli, dosa are good but it should not be accompanied by imli chutneys like sour tastes as mixing both is virudha and causes digestive problems , heartburn like symptoms later on developing to major dreadful diseases. Similarly salads are nutritious but if we are adding dahi and converting to raita, then it is unhealthy. As per Ayurveda daily intake of chaas is recommended, but that of dahi is contraindicated. Many at times, people are addicted with junk foods like Puffs, milkshakes, pizzas etc which are rich in Trans fats when deposited in body for long time can cause kidney and liver damage. Fatty liver syndrome, PCOD etc like lifestyle disorders are now very common due to our daily unhealthy food intake. Acharyas had clearly mentioned of edema in upper and lower limbs with facial edema as the major symptom of dushivisha which is one of the cardinal feature of kidney failures.
Ayurveda describes type of food to be taken, when and how it should be taken, what all things can be taken daily etc thereby emphasizing the importance of food rather than medicine. Yet in current era with changing lifestyle people are giving more importance to taste, texture, freshness and eye appeal. As a result diseases including food poisoning became common phenomena. Following our ancient traditions is the need of the hour, going back to our cultures with the support of Ayurveda will lead us to a healthy life.
