Why Gandhi Can Be Seen As The First Diet Guru?

For a frail man, who undertook days of fasting on several occasions during India’s struggle to become independent – the longest one continuing for 21 days – Mahatma Gandhi lived a healthy and active life for most of the years. A number of books that he wrote in a lifetime, including ‘Key to Health’, ‘Diet and Diet Reforms’, and ‘The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism’ talk about the importance of eating a healthy diet. 

Gandhi was known as many things – an activist, a peacemaker, a national hero, and a spiritual leader. The man helped India gain independence in 1947. To keep his energy levels high and yet follow a simple lifestyle, Gandhi experimented with different diets before narrowing down his preferences. His dietary approach and preferences have inspired many in the past, and continue to do so even today.

Here is why Gandhi can be seen as the first diet guru –

• Embraced a Vegetarian Diet

Born in a Vaishnav family, Gandhi spent all his life eating complete vegetarian food. He abstained from non-vegetarian food items, like meat, poultry and fish. However, that did not stop him from obtaining the daily required amount of nutrients. A vegetarian diet is typically low in saturated fats and animal proteins and rich in fibre, vitamins, and complex carbohydrates. Today, several research studies state that people who follow vegetarian diet have a lower risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and hypertension. 

• Consumed Raw Food Instead of Cooked Food

Gandhi believed strongly in pure, ‘sattvic’ food. He condemned the idea of consuming cooked food – food items that caused the temper to rise. Instead, he preferred eating raw food. Gandhi liked his vegetables boiled and avoided adding oil or salt. A raw diet mostly consists of plant-based, unprocessed food that is either heated at very low temperature or is completely raw. The diet is essentially rich in vegetables and fruits, seeds and nuts, legumes and sprouted grains. Minimally heated and raw food items are more nutritious than cooked food items. Boiled beetroot and radish were among Gandhi’s favourite vegetables. 

• Ate in Small Portions 

Gandhi measured his meal and ate in small portions twice a day. His daily diet included 80gms each of germinated wheat, sweet almonds, and leafy greens, 2 ounces of naturally sweetened honey, and 6 pieces of lemon. Apart from this, an integral part of Gandhi’s staple diet was dal and rice, which are high in protein and carbohydrates. Gandhi would divide his meal into two parts – he took his first meal at 11 in the morning and consumed the second meal at 6.15 in the evening. He would also consume a small bowl of curd following a meal, as it helped in digestion and soothed the stomach. A health freak, Gandhi would start his day by drinking a glass of warm, boiled water with honey and lemon. 

• Consumed Low-Fat Milk 

Fitness experts recommend drinking low fat, skimmed milk to avoid consuming extra calories – but Gandhi had been doing it from his early days. Instead of consuming cow or sheep’s milk, he preferred drinking goat’s milk. Creamy and equally delicious, goat’s milk is a natural, nutritious alternative to cow’s milk with the same levels of vitamins, minerals, and calcium but relatively fewer calories – per serving of goat’s milk contains only a hundred calories. Besides, it aids digestion and makes for a healthier option when trying to reduce cholesterol levels and saturated fat intake. 

Much like his views on justice, truth, non-violence, and freedom struggle, the food on Mahatma Gandhi’s plate was opinionated and never without a cause. Looking back at his daily eating habits, one can certainly state, Gandhi indeed was the first ‘Diet Guru’ that people from his generation and the ones thereafter has ever seen. One can draw inspiration from him and take a step closer to living a healthier, happier life.