Archive October 4, 2019

I typed the word – nutrition – in the Google search bar. About 1,480,000,000 results (0.63 seconds) appeared with a display of the first 11 links.

Whoa! I paused, then I typed –  Nutrition for South Asians. About 97,700,000 results (0.60 seconds) was the result.  I let this number sink in. What could I tell readers about nutrition in 1000 words or less that would actually be useful?

I narrowed my research to four questions.  What are the principal do’s and don’ts for nutrition and healthy eating? What restrictions do health conditions pose? Are credible, well-researched guides available to help us develop individualized plans? Can we adapt these guidelines to cuisines we enjoy?

This article is about healthy eating using Indian, South-Asian and other preferred diets. In a nutshell, abide by these overarching rules:

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 Scholars of Sanskrit give us various meanings for the word Prana including breath (or life-force), energy, spirit and soul. A simple meaning of Pranayama is breath control. An important text in Hindu tradition compiled prior to 400 CE, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, describes the theory and practice of Yoga. The section on practice, or Sadhana Pada, describes Pranayama – breathing techniques to control the prana or life force – as the fourth of eight branches or limbs of Yoga, preliminary to the subsequent branches of withdrawal of the senses and concentration.

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Aging is not an event – it’s a continuous process. It can creep up on you, sometimes in a disruptive fashion. However, it is an inexorable process. Have you noticed, however that although we’re all aging, some people feel older or younger than they are? How old do you feel? Would you like to know if there’s a better way to age?  To age well? 

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“Where’s my phone?”  “I’m positive my keys were right here!” “What’s that password?” We’ve all experienced such “senior moments” or watched another’s frustration as he or she draws a complete blank about something. Read More

Julie Beck tells us that throughout much of history the heart was the essence of what made humans human. We use heart metaphors very often: “he has a heart of stone,” or a “heart of a lion,” or a “heart of gold.”’  She “poured her heart out.”‘“He broke my heart.” Read More

Mahatma Gandhi said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Let’s think about that. People who willingly give their time to help always make a difference in the lives of others, in ways big and small. Read More

Greg Kaufman manages the Music Program at Stanford Hospital. He recalls being stopped in the hallway by a patient who was going to be discharged. “Aren’t you the music man?” the patient asked Greg.  “Yes,” Greg replied. “There are a lot of great doctors here who cured my body,” the patient continued, “but the music cured my soul!” Read More