Acharya Mahaprajna
Like a modern physiologist or a nutrition scientist, Bhagvan Mahavira did not go into the details of the proportions of vitamins, salt, and alkaline elements required as nutrients for the body. But he gave two important terms: beneficial food and temperance in food. The person, who takes beneficial food and exercises temperance in eating, remains healthy. No physician is needed for his treatment. He treats himself. He is his own physician. Although these two terms regarding food have been given for ascetics, they hold good for all human beings. The modem physiologists also support this view. They say that a person need not take milk, curd, ghee, butter, sweetmeats etc. everyday. These food items are not beneficial health. They bring acidity and have a toxic effect. The daily consumption of these items results in the accumulation of the toxic substances, which are the root cause of the diseases. Occasionally, these food items should be avoided. The modem physicians, whileprescribing medicines, also instinct the patient to stop taking ghee and sugar and reduce the intake of milk. This only means that the heavier the food one takes, the shorter would be the lifespan and health too would continuously deteriorate.
