Namaste!
Ayurveda, Hindu scriptures and treatises have laid great emphasis on one’s mental and physical health. The benefits of a nutritious diet combined with daily exercise, yoga, pranāyama, dhyāna (meditation) and timely sleep have been written about in detail.
Dhyāna, in particular has been deemed to be the key to ensure a healthy mental and physical frame. Dhyāna preceded by pranāyama helps one to improve their concentration and ability to grasp things and increase one’s productivity.
One needs to eat food that is most suited for their constitution, available in the land of residence and prepare it with a dispassionate mind that can be achieved through dhyāna to attain contentment of both mind and body. A full stomach (contentment) gives one the required motivation to seek the goal of the object of human pursuit (Puruṣārtha).
Phalāhāra (fruit diet) is the most recommended diet by Rishis, jnanis, saints and jeevanmuktas. A healthy diet of fruits partaken with milk, curds, butter, ghee, honey and jaggery has been considered for long to be the best for the physical and mental body.
In the ancient times, a delicious concoction called madhuparka made from milk, curds, ghee, sugar, honey and water used to be offered in religious ceremonies and festivities and to revered guests that was widely accepted to bestow a disease-free life. Eating leaves and fruits that had fallen on the ground was a way of life for the forest dwellers.
Unfortunately, the ancient system of taking from nature only as much as required has since been lost. Please find below a few write-ups highlighting our ancient knowledge that is based purely on science and hence the term Vedic Sciences:
sahasa.in 