Towards an Immune India

Immunity is a very important aspect of life. It plays a vital role in health and general well being of a person. I recently read a book by Jared Diamond "Guns, germs and Steel". In this book, he explains how the Europeans were able to overthrow South Americans with the usage of appropriate germs like pox virus. South Americans who were not immune to these new germs from Europe were wiped out in a matter of days. The context of immunity in the book was a bit different. However, I wrote this just to stress the importance of immunity. We are facing a lot of unusual germs today. Our bodies may not get stronger fighting these germs. Hence, it is a good idea to build a better immune system following healthy practices.

Immunity can be improved by many ways. Common ways include a healthy lifestyle, good food practices and ample rest. Fresh fruits, vegetables, balanced diet and other aspects can have a positive impact on immunity. Several ayurvedic supplements like Chyawanprash can also have a positive impact on the immunity of a person. Chyawanprash is formulated based on ancient methods and is known to improve immunity and metabolism. It is a very good supplement for young children and healthy adults. It fights bacteria, virus and protozoa and helps in building better health. However, for them to work perfectly a good diet is very important. A person cannot be healthy by taking a spoon of chyawanprash and intake junk like sugary drinks, alcohol, fatty fast food etc.  

Considerable improvement in immunity can be seen by people who follow healthy practices. My views on health and fitness are quite different from conventional views. I don't consider it healthy to eat five small meals every day. I don't consider it healthy to eat the same amount of food every day. On some days, I eat a lot while on some others, I eat like a bird. I have noticed a significant improvement in my immunity and overall health by including randomness in my daily life.

I like to include a lot of variety in my diet. I don't abhor carbohydrates. I take rice, wheat, millet, corn, pulses, eggs and nuts regularly. I try to avoid sugar, sweets, colas, alcohol, processed foods like bread, burgers, pizzas etc. I include vegetables, fruits and supplements like chyawanprash. It is advised to consult a doctor before using any form of supplements. I also occasionally take other supplements like vitamins, fish oil etc. However none of these are taken regularly. I stress the importance of variation and randomness in diet and exercise as well. On some days I take a lot of protein and very little carbohydrates. On some other days, I do the exact opposite. I learnt about most of these after reading books by Nassim Taleb and Arthur De Vany. I also learnt cooking and started eating wholesome meals rather than fast food. I rarely eat out these days. On days I do, I watch my portions and don't overeat.

I have strong views on health and fitness. Eating a pizza may not harm much in the short run. However the unhealthy habits don't go so easily. Eating fast food increases the cravings and hampers our health. We need to guide young children who are lured into fast food corners for celebrating birthdays. The toys offered by these outlets add to the charm. We want our children to be happy. So we oblige and take them to the fast food center. But we are just encouraging them to get addicted to unhealthy food and sugary drinks. It is important to start eating healthy and take the right kind of supplements. These aspects are important for building an Immune India.

For more information on Dabur Chyawanprash, please visit:

http://www.daburchyawanprash.com/