Food and Wellness

In many traditions, it is said that the center of health is digestion. In Ayurvedic medicine, the physical body is called the “food body” because it is built on the basis of the food we eat and disappears if we stop eating. In this tradition of great scientific understanding, digestion is also compared to a cooking pot that is heated by the sun. It’s the same principle of having breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

From the Americas to Asia, it can be seen that this is how food is traditionally eaten, especially by elders in rural towns. Also, the hottest hours are spent indoors at rest. Only in city centers that revolve around commerce, is lunch something quick and minimal, with many workers eating at restaurants or gas stations. It is also of note that in previous eras, many schools let children eat lunch at home and also provided time for a nap, now it is less common.

Although the world has changed dramatically, our bodies have the same needs and follow the same rhythms as always. Although we do not always have the possibility of making our own schedules, we can make some choices that allow us to more closely follow our natural cycles in order to optimize health. Bringing lunch from home is a healthy and economical option. And if we can’t decide the schedule, at least we can work a little more gently during the hottest hours of the day, or organize ourselves in a way that has our wellbeing in mind. And above all, it is essential to hydrate ourselves thoroughly, especially during these hot months.