The secret to a healthy life

What according to you, is the first thing one should do as soon as one wakes up?

How we wake up often depends on how we go to bed the previous night. To wake up right, we need to eat on time, go to bed early, keep technology out of the room, and breathe fresh air — all of which shape how we feel the next day.

On waking, the first thing should be a glass of water, as this is the most dehydrating time of the 24 hours. We lose moisture while we sleep, so keep a glass by your bedside. Another tip is placing a tiny crystal of Celtic salt on the tongue and washing it down with water. The mineral gases in these crystals support bone health. Even those with blood pressure issues can start with a sesame seed-sized amount, as mineral imbalance contributes to high blood pressure. Always listen to your body and act accordingly

What’s a good bedtime ritual?

We should try to get to bed early, most definitely. The main reason we’ve become night owls is technology. Traditionally, people always slept early. In a country like India, cool mornings are the best time to get work done.

It’s important to avoid watching movies or scrolling through screens late at night, as this wakes the brain and makes natural sleep harder. Even going to bed two hours before midnight can greatly benefit health. Dinner should be the lightest meal of the day, ideally eaten at least three hours before bedtime.

How can we counter the effect of artificial light that we are exposed to through our phones and electronic gadgets, which have become a necessary evil in our lives?

One of the most important aspects of using technology is to sleep in an electromagnetic field-free zone. Phones should not be charged in the bedroom, nor should devices be next to you while you sleep. If you need your phone as an alarm, place it in the bathroom or hallway nearby. Airplane mode is an option, but it should still be kept away.

Be mindful of what you watch before bed, as that information goes straight to your brain and may not be conducive to sleep. Instead, consider reading spiritual books, using soft light, and filling your mind with lovely thoughts before drifting off.

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They say there is also a way to drink water. What would that be?

We should not flood our bodies with water; drinking ideally about half a glass at a time or even less. Just as the ground can handle a gentle rain but cannot handle a torrential downpour, the same holds true for the body. The body can access the water better when we drink small quantities at a time. In fact, we should also sip on the water instead of gulping it down.

In our busy lives today, what according to you, are aspects that we should totally avoid to maintain good health?

One of them is certainly going to bed late. So many cases of Alzheimer’s are being detected off late, and it’s well-documented that lack of sleep is a contributing factor. Ideally, we should have eight hours of sleep, though six to seven hours occasionally is fine — eight hours is always the ideal.

Being hydrated is also very important for a good lifestyle. Dehydration depletes energy, often leading us to stimulants, with caffeine being the most common. It gives a lift, then a drop. The effects may not appear overnight, but 20 years of 3-4 cups a day can leave you exhausted and aged. One cup a week is harmless.

Refined sugar should be avoided; in India, jaggery is far better. Fermented foods like idlis and dosas and vegetable meals are great. Alcohol and tobacco should be avoided, and reducing technology time is also very important.

What are the must-dos every day to keep healthy?

I have coined the acronym SUSTAIN ME, and here’s a summary:

Sunshine every day – but neither too much nor too little. Hydrate with ideally eight glasses of water daily. Sleep for eight hours. Trust in God – this nurtures our emotional health, reducing anxiety that can harm the body. Abstain from harmful substances, and keep our homes, clothes, and bodies chemical-free, as chemical fabrics damage the skin.

Breathing through the nose is vital. The nose purifies air, optimises it for the lungs, and stimulates the calming parasympathetic nervous system. Mouth breathing triggers the sympathetic system, keeping us in fight-or-flight mode.

Nutrition matters – fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds maintain body balance. Moderation in all pleasures is key. Exercise strengthens the body. Gentle stretches, squats, or high-intensity workouts with recovery and stretching work, even in just 15 minutes a day. Lastly, give your mind and body one day off from work.

They say our body has the capability to heal itself. Is there any disease then that can be labelled incurable?

One lady came to me in Romania; she was only 40 and using a walking stick. She shared that she had an autoimmune condition, undergone a bone marrow transplant, and had multiple surgeries. She said, “I watched one of your programmes where you said the body is designed to heal itself, and that gave me hope. That’s when I decided no more procedures. I am alive, and little by little my body is responding.”

The only incurable disease is a mind unwilling to believe in the body’s ability to heal. Simple natural remedies can be powerful — the body will revive and respond.

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Text by Sanghita Singh