THIRUKKURAL ON CALORIE CONSCIOUSNESS

  Thirukkural on  CALORIE CONSCIOUSNESS

Thiruvalluvar in the kurals  947 , 943, 945 speaks of 
healthy living.Recently I had been to an authentic 
Italian Restaurant in San Francisco.

Hot garlic breads and olive oil were served at first.
The olive oil as the property of reducing the fat ( cholesterol )  
even garlic has the same property. Before any  rich main 
food, as an anti cholesterol ,olive oil and garlic bread 
are served. 

In Tamil Nadu hotels,  the rice cake ( Idly ) is served 
with gingelly oil and karapodi, gingelly oil has 
the same property of olive oil.That is the reason

why the gingelly oil is called good oil or nal ennai 
( எள் oil = Sesame oil.)

In the menu card kept in the restaurant,  
by the side of some food items,

olive branches were printed to indicate that 
these food stuffs are of lesscalories. People with 
'calorie consciousness' order these food .

The calorie is the energy content in any food. 
A normal adult with regularphysical activities 
need 2500- 3000 calories per day. others need  less.

Excess of calories consumed should be burnt  
by physical work,if not,  it will accumulate  and form 
fat leading to obesity, cardiovascular problems 
( heart problems ), etc .

Thiruvaluvar speaks of calorie consciousness 
in the kural 947. 

A person who eats beyond body's capacity
to burn  the energy, 

will develop all kinds of diseases.

( For body's  capacity to burn the energy, Thiruvalluvar uses
 the term தீயளவு of the body, that is the amount of ' fire ' 
in the body that burns the energy in calories,

both joules and calories are the units of energy,
 people believed that  physical activities 

generate fire in the body which burns the energy . 
1 calorie = 4.18400 joules )


தீ அளவு அன்றித் தெரியான் பெரிது உண்ணின்
நோய் அளவு இன்றிப் படும்(947)


(தீ அளவு = fire in the body that burns the energy (calories)

பெரிது உண்ணின்=eating beyond required calories
 அளவு இன்றிப் படும=will develop many diseases)

The modern medical science had done a lot 
of research on calories content of various edible 
items and guide the people to select the food

items according to their calorie requirement. 
Food stuffs with more fibre content is recommended 
for healthy living. Fibre foods increase the good 
fat HDL and reduces bad fat LDL  in the body 
( see foot note ). 

There are calorie conscious  people who eat fiber 
foods like oats, lentils, apple, guava, kiwi,prune,
avocado, broccolli, bran flakes, kidney beans ,

Horse gram ( kollu ) etc It should be noted  that  
meat contains no fiber (fibre ).

High fiber foods reduce the risk of heart problems. 
Fibres can not be digested,so fibres have zero calorie.
(Refer Google to know about soluble and insoluble fibres)

( Thiruvallur had written 10 kurals insisting the 
avoidance of meat eating )

In the kural 943, he advises to eat next food 

only when the previously consumed  food 
is completely digested. 
If the lunch taken is not properly digested, 
the supper should be avoided. This guidance 
will help every one to avoid indigestion and 
acidity problems.

In the kural 945, Thiruvalluvar speaks of 
'non agreeing foods or allergic foods. 
Every human is an unique entity, the constitution 
differs, for some individuals , some food stuffs 
become 'non agreeing'. People must know

the non agreeing food stuffs of their body 
and avoid them for healthy living.

There are people who develop rashes after 
consuming some foods for which they are allergic. 
Some foods cause wheezing problems, some

digestive problems, some gastritis problems, 
some arthritis problems, etc.

Diabetic and heart patients should avoid 
certain food stuffs and remain on

restricted diet. Ordinary sugar contains more calories, 
diet sugar contain 

less calories .Thiruvalluvar says in the kural 945-

If  non agreeing foods  are refused,

there is no health problems to the livings. ( 945 )

I know one person who was suffering from wheezing 
problem for many years,

he went for a allergy  test and found  'dog fir ' 
causes allergy, The pet dog in his house was 
shifted and the wheezing disappeared.

Another person developed red rashes on the body 
when ever he attended  buffet dinners, 
it was found out that he is allergic to sea foods.

Whenever one old lady ate potato, developed 
swelling of  the knees.

One person use to develop itching on 
the body whenever he ate brinjal.

Another person's ankle eczema aggravated 
whenever he ate fish.

Another person who is a wheat eater developed 
running nose whenever he ate rice.

2000 years ago Valluvar had advised to identify 
non agreeing food stuffs and avoid.

In tamil     Marupadu illatha undi maruthunnin

                Urupadu illai uyirkku

மாறுபாடு இல்லாத உண்டி மறுத்து உண்ணின் 

ஊறுபாடு இல்லை உயிர்ககு ( 945 )

மாறுபாடு இல்லாத உண்டி  = non agreeing food stuffs.                                  

மறுத்து = avoided 

உண்ணின் = other foods are consumed

ஊறுபாடுஇல்லை = no health problems

உயிர்ககு = for living beings

====================================

                   For students referance

1) Some oils like coconut oil, ground nut oil , 
     dalda consist of saturated fat which is harmful

2) Oils like, olive, gingelly, saffola, sun flower seed , 
     contains unsaturated fat which is good.

3) Even in unsaturated fat there are two kinds, 
     mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated,

    Mono unsaturated fat is very good to remove
      the bad cholesterol in the body, 
    Olive oil is rich in mono unsaturated fat. 
    Poly unsaturated fat is also good,
     it is found in fish ( Omega 3)

4) Saturated fat is found in all red meats, ghee, butter, 
    cheese, egg yolk, etc which is bad

    Unsaturated fat is found in fish,
     white chicken breast etc which  is good.

   

5) In the blood HDL ( High density Lipoprotein )
     is the good cholesterol, it should be more.

     LDL( Low Density Lipoprotein) is bad cholesterol, 
     it should be less

 6) More LDL in the body  will lead to  coronary blockages 
     ( heart problems )  Daily walking reduces LDL 

 7) Those who have crossed 30 years should have 
      the knowledge about Cholesterol, Triglicerate,

     HDL, LDL to prevent future heart problems. 
     A blood test by name LIPID PROFILE has to be

     done to know these levels..
     ( In India this test  costs Rs 400 ).

 ===============

Calorie content in fruits-

100 grm banana 95 calories

one sapota         95 calories 

one orange         35 calories 

one lime              15 calories

100 grm mushroom  13 calories

100 cucumber    10 calories

100 papaya         35 calories

100 grm sugar    400 calories

==========================

1 gram sugar contains 4 calories

1 gram protein            4 calories

1 gram fat                   9 calories

1 gram alcohol            7 calories

1 gram carbohydrate   4 calories 

1 gram fibre                 0 calorie   

============================US 5th July 2010