Food Guru: Your Guide to Eating Right

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Rupali Panse B.A.M.S.is a renowned Ayurveda Doctor from India, the birth land of Yoga and Ayurveda. Currently settled in Orlando, Florida, USA, she continues her legacy of 20+ years of Ayurveda, Panchakarma and Nutrition practice. Associated with prominent universities both from India and USA, she is an active educator and propagator of Ayurveda for body- mind wellness. She has mentored thousands of her clients and students globally to bring mindful changes in lifestyle and diet. Blogger, author and educator, she has been a keen contributor in community wellness through simple nutritional and lifestyle corrections.

They say, first love stays in your heart forever. Trust me, the first patient for a new doctor is more impactful than first love. The sight of a first patient gave me butterflies in the stomach and my heart was racing just like the way a person in love feels. I refer to my first patient as 'Guru' as her case changed the course of my practice. I was all excited to use the knowledge of Ayurvedic medicine, on day one itself. I felt like a warrior loaded with weapons (in my case it was strictly herbs and decoctions!). My first patient was a chronic case of colitis. Initially, I tried to combat the ailment with the best of medicines but it did not work. I had to break the culprit's (read colitis) strength, which I soon realized was 'wrong food' and 'stress'. Simple enduring changes in my patient's food habits, stress management methods and minimal medicine was inculcated in her daily regime. My course of treatment worked and she recovered completely!

This was an eye opener for an Ayurvedic practitioner like me, to realize that it's not enough to keep the knowledge of Ayurveda to oneself. That's how my journey of writing started. Along with practicing medicine, I began to write. Initially it was only for my patients but slowly I graduated to writing articles in newspapers, journals, blogs and social media. The massive followers of my social media handles are a testament to the fact that people read, follow and trust the Ayurvedic way of healthy eating/ ayurvedic way of life. Ayurvedic nutrition is a major part of all my writings along with psychology and Ayurvedic lifestyle. These topics were brought together in a modest but practical book on Ayurveda nutrition. I wrote my first book 4 years back in Marathi (Indian regional language) and the expedition of writing continued as I began to connect with a global audience. This helped me understand the various food habits around the world.

The last three years have been an amazing roller coaster ride as destiny took me to the other side of the world i.e., USA. Neck deep in a teaching job and academic writing, I was exploring this wonderful land of dreams. I soon realized that the whole world was facing a severe lifestyle disorder with America claiming a major portion of this pie. Covid came as a rude shock which opened our eyes towards the importance of nutrition and immunity. However, it's very difficult for individuals to make healthy choices when society continues to promote unhealthy options. Every time we eat, we are either feeding the disease or fighting against it. While some people are blatantly unmindful, few are conscious about health and food habits but remain unaware of the solution.

Currently, we are in the midst of a Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016- 2025) announced by the United Nations (UN). This Decade is expected to Increase the visibility of nutrition action, strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration, create synergies and measure progress towards sustainable food systems, food and nutrition security for all.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly recommended the reduction of salt/sodium intake and elimination of industrially produced trans-fats and ultrafine processed foods from the food supply as priority actions. The value of natural foods, their diversity, affordability and cultural relevance are indisputable. Emerging data support the importance of gut microflora, pre and problotics and diet and immunity. The famous philosopher and artist, Leonardo da Vinci, compared the process of metabolism in the body to the burning of a candle, which has a striking similarity to the concept of gut health and Agni in Ayurveda. Ayurveda considers diet and nutrition specific to the individual constitution, which is similar to the modern nutrigenomics approach. The Ayurveda concepts of Prakriti and Agni as regulators of metabolism are unique.

To live a healthy and happy life, it is crucial to know these nuances of food and mindful nutrition. Ayurveda - an ancient science of life prescribes several dos and don'ts regarding diet based on principles to maintain, and regain homeostasis. To get the essence of Ayurvedic advice on food and nutrition we need the help of a master or a GURU to authoritatively tell what, when, how, and how much to eat in a simplified form as a Guide to Eating Right.

In an excellent book Food Guru: Your Guide to Eating Right! Dr Rupali Panse unlocks the Ayurvedic wisdom of Nutrition. This book is written for curious global readers with a high appeal to learn holistic nutrition and apply the knowledge in day-to-day cooking and eating. This book may help to know more about the simpler, safer and scientific ways to protect health, prevent diseases and promote wellbeing. This book is useful for medical practitioners, students and researchers. The book is imaginatively divided in three sections. Section 1 titled Unlocking Ayurvedic Wisdom of Nutrition provides interesting Information and insights to the concept of Calories, Conscious Nutrition, Agni: The Eternal Flame of Life, Personalized diet, Trinity of Food Nature, Six Tastes, Food Compatibility, Diet Etiquette, the Power of Gut and Unique Spice Formulae.