The Food-Health Link: From Nutrition To Nourishing Existence

Joy, empathy, compassion, sympathy, and most importantly, food, nourish you. The food you ingest, in turn, translates into your thoughts, deeds, and attitude

“We need to make people aware that food is not just about nutrition but nourishment, which nourishes our existence and soul,” said Dr Ajay Sankhe, Dean, Bhaktivedanta Hospitals & Research Institute, at the C20 Food and LiFE Conference.

Commenting on identifying the right food for oneself, Dr. Sankha mentioned that the body itself is a doctor. He added, "It knows what signal to convey. So, if you are not hungry, don't eat. Although, contrary to this, our eating habits are also dependent on the influence of advertising."

Speaking on the centralisation of dietetic knowledge, Dr. Sankha explained that we do not necessarily need to consume non-vegetarian food based on the narrative that if you want to gain muscle mass or if you are continuing gym, you have to take non-vegetarian food. India is a place where decentralise knowledge thrived. Hence, centralised knowledge or information should not be followed blindly.

Explaining the importance of the right diet and lifestyle, Dr. Mickey Mehta, FIT India Ambassador, conveyed, "Being optimistic nourishes you. Joy, empathy, compassion, sympathy, and most importantly, food, nourish you. The food you ingest, in turn, translates into your thoughts, deeds, and attitude."

Yogesh Sawant, Senior Thematic Programme Executive, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune, India, underlining the dietary problems in tribal areas, said, "One of the key causes of health problems like anaemia, malnutrition, stunting, etc. in the tribal areas was the lack of diversity in food and nutrition. Tribal populations have traditionally relied heavily on forest-based foods. With vast deforestation, the diversity has been lost, and they are bereft of the nutritious fruits, berries, and vegetables from the forest."

“In order to resolve this, we intend to develop an integrated farming system that not only addresses nutrition but also aids in the livelihood of the tribal family,” Sawant delineated.