Pollution and Diabetes Courtesy Dr Krishan Kumar Aggarwal Today India is the diabetic capital of the world. The number of diabetics diagnosed every year is also increasing. If we go back to the era of Ramayana and Mahabharata, we find none of the Devtas or Asurs suffering from diabetes. Though diabetes does get a mention in Ayurveda, the incidence and prevalence in Indian society was very low. Today diabetes is considered to be a lifestyle disease and is linked to potbelly obesity. Lord Ganesha and Kuber both had potbelly obesity yet did not suffer from diabetes. Lord Ganesha had uncontrolled appetite to eat sweets and yet he had no diabetes and same comes from one of his prayer which talks about why people in that era did not suffer from diabetes. Following is a gist of one of my write–ups on the same: Gajananam Bhoota Ganadi Sevitam; Kapittha Jambu phalasara bhakshitam; Umasutam Shoka Vinasha karanam; Namami Vighneswara pada pankajam. The Mantra means a. Oh Elephant–faced, worshiped by the existing beings, of all living beings, tasting the elephant apple (kaith) and jambolana (jamun), the Son of Uma, destroyer of grief, I bow to the lotus feet of Ganesha who is lord of all. b. Or Gajananam (the big tummy one worshipped by all) Bhoota (Durva grass and Bilva patra used for worshipping Ganesha) Ganadi (in equal quantity) Sevitam (if consumed); Kapittha (Kaith) Jambu (Jamun) phalasara (fruits) bhakshitam (to be consumed); Umasutam (son of Uma) Shoka (diseases) Vinasha karanam (get rid of); Namami (I bow to) Vighneswara (destroyer of grief) pada pankajam (feet of lord) The mantra talks about four medicinal herbs: Durva grass and Bilva patra ( Bel leaves) used for Ganesha worship; fruit of elephant apple (Kaith) and fruit of Jambolona ( or Jamun). All four have anti diabetic properties and can be mixed in equal quantity and prepared as a medicinal juice. Medically Durva grass (Cynodon dactylon) has been shown to possess anti diabetic, cholesterol owering, immune-modulatory, DNA protective, aphrodisiac, male fertility, anti cancer and anti inflammatory activities. Similarly Bilva Patra has both anti diabetic and fertility promoting properties. Elephant apple (Limonia acidissima) also named as Wood Apple, Elephant Apple, Monkey Fruit, Curd Fruit, Koth Bel, Kaitha and Kath Bel, has been shown to possess strong anti diabetic properties. Jamun (Syzygium cumini) also has DNA protective, anti oxidant and anti diabetic properties and is an essential ingredient of most anti diabetic Ayurveda preparations. Apart from the above, two things have also happened in the current Kaliyuga era which deviates from the Vedic era. Firstly, environmental pollution and secondly people have adopted to eat carbohydrates on a daily basis and there is also a shift of complex carbohydrates to refined carbohydrates. Environmental pollution, especially with high particulate matter PM 2.5 exposure, is linked with diabetes. Any particulate matter of less than 2.5 micro m3 in size can get absorbed from respiratory system, enter into the blood and release pro–inflammatory products leading to endothelial dysfunction and resultant diabetes and heart disease. As per WHO, the air content of PM2.5 should be less than 10 μg/m3 but in India the levels are always more than 60 μg/m3 as 60 μg/m3 concentration has been accepted as normal in India. That means that an Indian is already six times more exposed to PM2.5 particulate. In India, we can see values as high as 300–400 μg/m3 in selected areas on a daily basis. Constant exposure to PM 2.5 particulates leads to endothelial dysfunction, one of the major factors for increasing diabetics. As per Chandok Upanishad, food is Brahman. Food contains same consciousness as that of human body. Fruit remains alive for upto 40 minutes after they are plucked from the tree unless they are refrigerated or frozen at the same time. A fruit without consciousness is a dead food and does not have protective nutritional value. PM2.5 particulates can also gets absorbed in the fruits, reducing its nutritional value. If the same food is also devoid of consciousness, it will not be able to prevent and protect human being from various diseases. To prevent oneself from diabetes, therefore, one should avoid eating refined carbohydrates, omit carbohydrates 80 days in a year from diet and avoid exposure to high PM2.5 pollution matter (which can be checked from the website), exercise more and try to eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables which are live, locally grown and seasonal.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 03:46:28 +0000
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