Difference between revisions of "Gramya Ahara (ग्राम्य आहारः)"

Revision as of 18:04, 26 March 2019

Gramya Ahara is a special category of such dietary habits and food stuffs, that adversely and directly affect one's strength, immunity, health and well-being. Ayurveda scholars were able to identify those dietary factors as well as lifestyle components which when consumed and practiced over time, can lead to all types of illnesses due to their direct effect of Dhatus (vital body tissues). such dietary factors are known as Gramya Ahara while such lifestyle factors are called as Gramya vihara. Ayurveda acharyas have advised each and every individual to refrain from such practices if one wants to achieve the best possible life.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

Gramya Ahara refers to such dietary factors which are responsible for making individual prone to diseases and reduce one’s fitness as well as wellness. This specific term ‘Gramya’ has been used in association with diet as well as lifestyle factors that produce the similar effect on one’s life. This concept has been described while describing Rasayana treatment in Ayurveda. Thus, it implies the specific dietary and lifestyle components in individual’s life which necessitate use of Rasayanas in order to bring back the natural state of equilibrium of life forces and strength of physical body.

व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology

Gramya is the term derived from root word Grama. In ancient times Grama was considered as the civilized domestic part of area where people started residing in a group to form community in order to achieve the stability of life. Today, the term 'Grama' also refers to village.

Ahara denotes Food

Vihara refers to all types of activities other than diet which form the part of one's lifestyle.

Thus, when the term Gramya is used in conjunction with Ahara and Vihara, it suggests the specific type of diet and lifestyle that is prevalent or found predominantly in individuals residing in Grama. Domestic food and lifestyle is another alternative term used to explain Gramya ahara and vihara.

Significance of Gramya Ahara and Gramya vihara

These factors play important role as causative agents in making one’s life weak on the front of energy, strength, vigour, vitality and other wellness parameters. Diet and lifestyle of this type render Dhatus weak and fragile which are the building blocks of the body, thus reducing immunity and increasing the chances of easy capture of various diseases.

Acharya Charaka has made a clear statement that, any type of ill health can be rooted in use of Gramya ahara and vihara.

सर्वे शरीरदोषा भवन्ति ग्राम्याहारात्। (Char. Samh. 1.2.3)^[1]

sarve śarīradoṣā bhavanti grāmyāhārāt।

Meaning: Gramya Ahara can be responsible for all types of detrimental effects in body.

Gramya Ahara (List of unwholesome diet)

After highlighting its significance and serious nature Ayurveda samhitas have described properties and examples of food stuffs that are inlcuded under the category of Gramya Ahara. Listed following are considered to be Gramya aharas according to Acharya Charaka,

Food stuffs that are sour, salty, pungent and highly alkaline in nature.
Dried vegetables
Dried meat
Sesame paste
Preparations of (rice) flour, processed food
Germinated (sprouted) or fresh, awned or leguminous cereals,
incompatible,
unsuitable,
rough,
alkaline and
channel blocking substances,
decomposed,
heavy,
Putrefied/ and
Staled food items,
indulging in irregular diet or eating while the previous food is undigested

Lifestyle factors included under Gramya Vihara

Acharya Charaka has also stated the lifestyle factors that can cause similar damege as Gramya ahara in one's body, making one prone to various diseases and low in life energies.

Daytime sleep
Overindulgence in women and alcohol (One should abide by the rules and follow the guidelines given regarding how, what, when, where and when of carnal pleasures and use of alcohol described in Ayurveda)
Performing irregular and excessive physical exercise causing agitation in the body,
Loss of control over emotions of fear, anger, grief, greed, indecisiveness and
Indulging in activities leading to over exhaustion

Effects of Gramya Ahara and Gramya Vihara

Gramya Ahara and vihara i.e this type of unhealthy dietary and lifestyle factors are believed to vitiate almost all the Dhatus (Body tissues) required to achieve optimum health and wellness. Once vitiated by external factors these tissues become liable for further damage, degeneration and become host for vriety of diseases owing to their poor immunity. In this phase such individual may complain of variety of symptoms that are commonly observed these days.

Experiences general feeling of Malaise and lassitude
Feeling of constant Fatigue and depressed mood
Untimely and excessive sleepiness, sluggishness and lethargy
lack of enthusiasm
Expresses incapacity of physical activities and also finds oneself unable to perform activities that involve mental strength
Complains of memory loss
Intellectual weakness
loss of luster
Easily gets tired
Becomes prone to various diseases due to lack of immunity

Thus, ultimately such individual can not enjoy the normal life with health, well-being and satisfaction. Those individuals who resort to such unhealthy practices can not achieve the maximum life span with fulfillment of life goals.

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-Gramya Ahara refers to those dietary factors which are responsible for making individual prone to diseases and reduce one’s fitness as well as wellness. This specific term ‘Gramya’ has been used in association with diet as well as lifestyle factors that produce the similar effect on one’s life. This concept has been described while describing Rasayana treatment in Ayurveda. Thus, it implies the specific dietary and lifestyle components in individual’s life which necessitate use of Rasayanas in order to bring back the natural state of equilibrium of life forces and strength of physical body.
+Gramya Ahara is a special category of such dietary habits and food stuffs, that adversely and directly affect one's strength, immunity, health and well-being. Ayurveda scholars were able to identify those dietary factors as well as lifestyle components which when consumed and practiced over time, can lead to all types of illnesses due to their direct effect of Dhatus (vital body tissues). such dietary factors are known as Gramya Ahara while such lifestyle factors are called as Gramya vihara. Ayurveda acharyas have advised each and every individual to refrain from such practices if one wants to achieve the best possible life.
-Significance of Gramya Ahara and Gramya vihara:
-These factors play important role as causative agents in making one’s life weak on the front of energy, strength, vigour, vitality and other wellness parameters. Diet and lifestyle of this type render Dhatus weak and fragile which are the building blocks of the body, thus reducing immunity and increasing the chances of easy capture of various diseases.
-Acharya Charaka has made a clear statement saying that, all types of undesired effects in body can result due to Gramya ahara and vihara.
-Gramya Ahara (List of unwholesome diet)
+== '''परिचयः ॥ Introduction''' ==
+Gramya Ahara refers to such dietary factors which are responsible for making individual prone to diseases and reduce one’s fitness as well as wellness. This specific term ‘Gramya’ has been used in association with diet as well as lifestyle factors that produce the similar effect on one’s life. This concept has been described while describing Rasayana treatment in Ayurveda. Thus, it implies the specific dietary and lifestyle components in individual’s life which necessitate use of Rasayanas in order to bring back the natural state of equilibrium of life forces and strength of physical body.
+== '''व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology''' ==
+Gramya is the term derived from root word Grama. In ancient times Grama was considered as the civilized domestic part of area where people started residing in a group to form community in order to achieve the stability of life. Today, the term 'Grama' also refers to village.
+Ahara denotes Food
-सर्वे शरीरदोषा भवन्ति ग्राम्याहारादम्ललवणकटुकक्षारशुष्कशाकमांसतिलपललपिष्टान्नभोजिनांविरूढनवशूकशमीधान्यविरुद्धासात्म्यरूक्षक्षाराभिष्यन्दिभोजिनांक्लिन्नगुरुपूतिपर्युषितभोजिनां विषमाध्यशनप्रायाणां दिवास्वप्नस्त्रीमद्यनित्यानांविषमातिमात्रव्यायामसङ्क्षोभितशरीराणांभयक्रोधशोकलोभमोहायासबहुलानाम्; अतोनिमित्तं हि शिथिलीभवन्ति मांसानि, विमुच्यन्ते सन्धयः, विदह्यते रक्तं, विष्यन्दते चानल्पं मेदः, नसन्धीयतेऽस्थिषुमज्जा, शुक्रं न प्रवर्तते, क्षयमुपैत्योजः; स एवम्भूतो ग्लायति, सीदति, निद्रातन्द्रालस्यसमन्वितो निरुत्साहः श्वसिति, असमर्थश्चेष्टानां शारीरमानसीनां, नष्टस्मृतिबुद्धिच्छायो रोगाणामधिष्ठानभूतो न सर्वमायुरवाप्नोति| तस्मादेतान् दोषानवेक्षमाणः सर्वान् यथोक्तानहितानपास्याहारविहारान् रसायनानि प्रयोक्तुमर्हतीत्युक्त्वा भगवान् पुनर्वसुरात्रेय उवाच-|| (Char. Samh. Chik. 1.2.3)
+Vihara refers to all types of activities other than diet which form the part of one's lifestyle.
-Meaning: All morbidity arise due to domestic food in those eating sour, saline, pungent, alkaline, dried vegetables, meat, sesame, sesame paste and preparation of (rice) flour, germinated or fresh, awned or leguminous cereals, incompatible, unsuitable, rough, alkaline and channel blocking substances, decomposed, heavy, putrefied, and staled food items, indulging in irregular diet or eating while the previous food is undigested, day sleep, women and wine, performing irregular and excessive physical exercise causing agitation in the body, affected with fear, anger, grief, greed, confusion and exhaustion. Because of this the muscles get laxed, joints get loosened, blood gets burnt, fat becomes abundant and liquefied, marrow does not mature in bones, semen does not manifest and ojas deteriorates. Thus, the person subdued with malaise, depression, sleep, drowsiness, lassitude, lack of enthusiasm, dyspnea, incapability in physical and mental activities, loss of memory, intellect and luster, becomes resort of illness and thus does not enjoy the normal life span. Hence looking to these defects, one should abstain from all the said unwholesome diet and activities so that he becomes fit for using the rasayana treatment- saying this Lord Punarvasu Atreya further added.
+Thus, when the term Gramya is used in conjunction with Ahara and Vihara, it suggests the specific type of diet and lifestyle that is prevalent or found predominantly in individuals residing in Grama. Domestic food and lifestyle is another alternative term used to explain Gramya ahara and vihara.
-What does gramya aahar include?
+== '''Significance of Gramya Ahara and Gramya vihara''' ==
+These factors play important role as causative agents in making one’s life weak on the front of energy, strength, vigour, vitality and other wellness parameters. Diet and lifestyle of this type render Dhatus weak and fragile which are the building blocks of the body, thus reducing immunity and increasing the chances of easy capture of various diseases.
-Charak in Rasayan adhyaya has describe gramya aahar to be consist of –
-–         Amla, lavana, katu, kshar pradhan aahar
-–         Shuska shaka, shuska mansa, teel-tail & kalka and ruksha content which have a very low nutritional value
-–         Klinna, guru, pishtanna, adhyasana, avyayam and abhisyandi aahar which are source of extra calories.
-–         Virudha, asatmya, visham aahar, and paryushit anna which have an impact on our immune system.
-–         Day sleeping, Indulging in excessive exercise and sex, Alcohol intake, which increases oxidation process and release oxidants and free radicals.
-–         Pshycological factors such as bhaya, krodha, lobha, shoka, moha which are cause for the neuro-hormonal imbalance, for example excess adrenaline secretion and inturn over sympathetic activity.
-Pathophysiology due to gramya aahar
-Due to intake of gramya aahar following changes occur in the sharir.
-A)              Mansani shithilibhavanti – Lack of exercise causes muscle atrophy ( abhadha, anibhida mansa)
-Shrinking and weakening of the muscles causes increasing susceptibility to physical injury.
-B)               Vimuchyante sandhaya – Joints are vitiated so does the physic reducing the body activity.
-C)               Vidahyate raktam – Due to nutritional deficiency shudha rakta utpatti does not takes place. One can easily compare the hetus explain in vidhishonitiya adhyaya, pandu roga and gramya aahar.
-Formed rakta dhatu is unable to carryout proper jeevan karma, poshan karma and unable to increase bala.
-D)              Vishyandate cha-analpam meda – Due to samanya between klinna, guru, pishtamay aahar with meda dhatu, drava guna vridhi takes place and that is the reason why syandan word has been used to explain vridha medha dhatu.
-The hetus are similar to sthaulya and prameha hetu as explained in sutrasthan 17th chapter.
-E)               Na – Sandhiyate ashtishu – Majja – Majja dhatu is unable to reside in ashtidhatu. Due to nutritional deficiency bone marrow does not get properly stimulated and is unable to form normal erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets leading to pancytopenia.
-F)                Shukram na pravartate – Due to nutritional deficiency sarvottam dhatu is unable to be formed completely does leading to shukra apravartan.
-In context of sthaulya too Charak has explained shukra bahutwat and due to aavaran by meda dhatu person feels impairment in ejaculation of semen.
-G)              Oja kshaya – Essential nutrients are not made available in required quantity does leading to symptoms of oja kshaya or depressed immune system.
-Physical fitness is correlated with immune system function, a reduction in physical fitness is generally accompanied by a weakening of the immune system.
-Lakshana produced by gramya dosha:
-–         Glayati
-–         Sidati (depression)
-–         Nidra
-–         Tandra (Drowsiness)
-–         Aalasya (Lassitude)
-–         Nirutsaha (Loss of interest)
-–         Swashiti (Dyspnoea on simple exertion)
-–         Asamartha chesta sharir manasinam – Reduced physical & mental activity.
+Acharya Charaka has made a clear statement that, any type of ill health can be rooted in use of Gramya ahara and vihara. <blockquote>सर्वे शरीरदोषा भवन्ति ग्राम्याहारात्। (Char. Samh. 1.2.3)<sup>[1]</sup></blockquote><blockquote>sarve śarīradoṣā bhavanti grāmyāhārāt।</blockquote>Meaning: Gramya Ahara can be responsible for all types of detrimental effects in body.
-–         Nasta smriti, budhi – loss of memory & reduced intellect
+== '''Gramya Ahara (List of unwholesome diet)''' ==
+After highlighting its significance and serious nature Ayurveda samhitas have described properties and examples of food stuffs that are inlcuded under the category of Gramya Ahara. Listed following are considered to be Gramya aharas according to Acharya Charaka,
+# Food stuffs that are sour,     salty, pungent and highly alkaline in nature.
+# Dried vegetables
+# Dried meat
+# Sesame paste
+# Preparations of (rice)     flour, processed food
+# Germinated (sprouted) or     fresh, awned or leguminous cereals,
+# incompatible,
+# unsuitable,
+# rough,
+# alkaline and
+# channel blocking substances,
+# decomposed,
+# heavy,
+# Putrefied/ and
+# Staled food items,
+# indulging in irregular diet     or eating while the previous food is undigested
-–         Nasta chaya – Loss of lusture
+== '''Lifestyle factors included under Gramya Vihara''' ==
+Acharya Charaka has also stated the lifestyle factors that can cause similar damege as Gramya ahara in one's body, making one prone to various diseases and low in life energies.
+# Daytime sleep
+# Overindulgence in women and alcohol (One should abide by the rules and follow the guidelines given regarding how, what, when, where and when of carnal pleasures and use of alcohol described in Ayurveda)
+# Performing irregular and excessive physical exercise causing agitation in the body,
+# Loss of control over emotions of fear, anger, grief, greed, indecisiveness and
+# Indulging in activities leading to over exhaustion
-–         Roganam adhistanabhutam – Cause for various preventable diseases.
+== '''Effects of Gramya Ahara and Gramya Vihara''' ==
+Gramya Ahara and vihara i.e this type of unhealthy dietary and lifestyle factors are believed to vitiate almost all the Dhatus (Body tissues) required to achieve optimum health and wellness. Once vitiated by external factors these tissues become liable for further damage, degeneration and become host for vriety of diseases owing to their poor immunity. In this phase such individual may complain of variety of symptoms that are commonly observed these days.
+* Experiences general feeling of Malaise and lassitude
+* Feeling of constant Fatigue and depressed mood
+* Untimely and excessive sleepiness, sluggishness and lethargy
+* lack of enthusiasm
+* Expresses incapacity of physical activities and also finds oneself unable to perform activities     that involve mental strength
+* Complains of memory loss
+* Intellectual weakness
+* loss of luster
+* Easily gets tired
+* Becomes prone to various diseases due to lack of immunity
+Thus, ultimately such individual can not enjoy the normal life with health, well-being and satisfaction. Those individuals who resort to such unhealthy practices can not achieve the maximum life span with fulfillment of life goals.