Organics and Ayurveda

According to Hippocrates, a Greek Physician and Philosopher, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” emphasizes the importance of nutrition to prevent or cure diseases. Your food is the medicine and medicine is your food. Any error in your food will result in the dysfunction of your mind, body, and soul. Lately, in our 21st century, the fast-moving world has pushed us to embrace everything abruptly. The advent of Mass food manufacturing and Industrial agriculture has drastically changed our way of food production. These innovations have led to greater food availability but on inorganic methods, including synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and chemical preservatives. All the Inorganic substances that we add to shorten the food production time and increase the quantity. The widespread intake of inorganic foods is linked to numerous health and environmental issues. Understanding these effects helps us appreciate the need to shift toward organic eating and holistic wellness practices such as Ayurveda.

At seven days a week, you should work six days with one day as a week off. Eight to Twelve hours of work is essential for a day.  You cannot easily take your medical or festive leave even though it is required of you. And this process will continue till 60 years, which is your retirement age in most of our nations. Say you are working from age 18 to 60 with your average estimated life span of 76 years. Standing array of queues at pharmacies and paying humungous bills are normal.  And you will never know what exactly your food is and where it is coming from. This is the normal per se situation for a working-class person. And you should know, that it all starts with the food.

Health Impacts of Inorganic Foods

An Enormous quantity of synthetic chemicals are found in inorganic foods. A human body cannot completely process synthetic chemicals. Overtime consumption of such foods will lead to severe adverse health effects:

 

Toxic Build-up: Pesticides, Heavy Metals, and Artificial Additives are the major components of inorganic foods. These toxic traces may accumulate and result in cancer, hormonal imbalances, and neurological disorders.

 

Nutritional Deficiencies: The soil nutrients are depleted due to inorganic farming. As a result, the soil becomes infertile. The food that grows under this condition often lacks necessary vitamins and minerals, leading to nutritional deficiencies.

 

Hormonal Disruptions: Endocrine disruptors are the primary components of conventional farming. These substances interfere with the body’s hormonal balance, which can lead to fertility issues, early puberty, and other hormonal disorders.

 

Antibiotic Resistance: There is an excessive rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to the use of antibiotics in inorganic farming. This makes treating bacterial infections more difficult and results threat to public health.

 

Digestive Issues: Severe gut-related issues, bloating, and food intolerances are various digestive problems that will be triggered due to inorganic foods. It is primarily due to the presence of preservatives, artificial flavors, and additives.

 

Environmental concerns: The use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides deteriorates the end-to-end fertility of the soil. Beyond personal health, it affects nature’s overall biodiversity.

 

The above are some of the notable effects we experience due to inorganic farming and foods. But the effects have the ability to go beyond generations.

Ayurveda and Organic Foods: A Perfect Synergy for Wellness

Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of India, advocates a diet that is as close to nature as possible, making organic foods an ideal choice. Thus, Ayurveda supports the body’s natural healing mechanisms while promoting overall well-being.

The Ayurvedic Perspective on Food

The utmost preferred health at Ayurveda is achieved and maintained with the help of organic food. Ayurvedic philosophy holds that food should be fresh, unprocessed, and consumed mindfully to nourish not only the body but also the mind and soul. Hence, organic foods align perfectly with this philosophy, which are grown without harmful chemicals.

The Synergy between Ayurveda and Organic Foods

  1. Balancing the Doshas: Maintaining the balance between the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) is key to health in Ayurveda. Organic foods are more natural and less processed. This helps in maintaining the balance between the three doshas.

  2. Prana (Vital Life Force): According to Ayurveda, Pure Organic Foods contains “prana,” or life force energy. This predominantly enhances vitality, improves digestion, and boosts mental clarity.

  3. Detoxification and Purity: The toxic contaminants in Ayurveda are known as “ama” in Ayurveda. It is usually accumulated from external factors such as chemicals, pollution, and poor diet. Detoxification is attained by eating organic foods that ensure you are not introducing any new toxins into your systems.

  4. Digestion and Agni: “Agni,” is known as the digestive fire in Ayurveda, which is essential for good health. Since organic foods are free from synthetic chemicals and preservatives. The intake of healthy organic foods will help our body to digest easily.  

     5.  Mind-Body Connection: Ayurveda emphasizes mind, body, and soul interconnections. Organic foods that are rich in nutrients, and free from chemical pesticides help to create Sattva, a state of mental purity and clarity.

The Long-Term Benefits of Organic Foods in Ayurveda:

There are profound benefits if organic foods are consumed as a part of daily lifestyle. It nourishes the body and strengthens the immune system at a deeper level. With higher nutrient content and prana, it helps us to attain Greater energy levels easily. It also drastically reduces mental health by calming the nervous system and enhancing mental clarity. Organic foods do not only benefit individual health but for the environment as well. Organic farming promotes biodiversity, soil health, and ecological balance.

The Current effects and statistics of Inorganic farming in India:

    1. Studies from 2023, highlight that India is one among the top 10 global pesticide users. Organophosphate pesticides, widely used in agriculture, have been linked to various health risks, including neurological, reproductive, and developmental issues.

    2. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have emphasized the need for stricter regulations to limit pesticide use in food. However, India continues to face challenges in monitoring and controlling pesticide residues.

    3. In India, Punjab is a state with the use of high pesticides due to intensive inorganic agriculture and mass production. It has been dubbed as India’s cancer belt. In Punjab, 18 out of every 100,000 people have cancer, compared to the national average of 80-90 per 100,00

    4. A 2023 study published in PLOS ONE found that infertility rates have been surging due to lifestyle and environmental factors, including the consumption of chemically laden inorganic foods. Southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have some of the highest infertility rates.

                            The effects of inorganic foods surge at higher rates every second. So, now is the right time to know what your food is and how it is produced. It is true nowadays that fetching organic food has become a tedious task but this is our high priority.

    Effects of inorganic foods on individuals and the environment cannot be ignored. By embracing the synergy between Ayurveda and organic foods, we can return to a more natural state of wellness, aligning our bodies and minds with the rhythms of nature. Through this holistic approach, we can create a healthier future for ourselves and the planet.