Lightening the load using vegetarian diets

Consultant Cardiologist Dr. D. P. Atukorale

VEGETARIANS: Obesity is a worldwide problem and affects developed countries more than developing countries. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that a total of 1.2 billion people are overweight or obese and these numbers are rapidly increasing.

Better eating habits lead to slimmer bodies. Vegetarians have a body weight that is on average 0.3 per cent to 20 per cent lower than that of non-vegetarians.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) or body weight of vegetarians was observed to be lower than that of non-vegetarians in both genders in blacks (both African-Americans and Nigerians), whites and Asians.

Similar observations have been reported in widely separated geographical areas according to a review by Susan Berkow Phd. and Neal Bernard MD (President, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine). The above authors found that obesity rates in vegetarian population range from 0 per cent to 6 per cent.

On average, vegans (pure vegetarians who don't consume any animal products including dairy products, bee's honey and don't use leather goods, fur and silk sarees) have a lower BMI than lacto - vegetarians, lacto -ovo - vegetarians (who eat eggs and dairy) who in turn have a lower BMI than meat eaters).

Clinical trials

The authors also examined randomized control trials that put the vegetarian diet to test. In a 12 week study that compared a group of individuals on a vegetarian diet deriving 10 per cent of calories from fat with a control group of individuals following guidelines of the American Diabetes Association.

The vegetarians lost 15.9 pounds while the control group lost 8.4 pounds. Both groups in this study were asked not to alter their exercise habits. Vegan diets seem to lead to weight loss even without restriction of calories intake.

In clinical studies of low fat vegan diets mean body weight dropped significantly even though energy intake and portion size was not limited.

Some research has combined a vegetarian diet with other lifestyle interventions. For example Dean Ornish MD (President Clinton's official physician and advisor on diet to White House, and who was the author famous best seller 'Reversing Heart Disease') compared adults with coronary heart disease (CHD) on a low fat vegetarian diet and walking programme with adults with CHD receiving care from their physicians.

After one year those in the vegetarian diet group had lost an average of 23.7 pounds compared with a gain of 3.2 pounds in the physicians care group.

Dean Ornish proved to the world that comprehensive life style changes can reverse the progression of even severe coronary heart disease without cholesterol lowering drugs, angiography before and after life style changes and was surprised that in majority of his CHD patients coronary artery blocks have either regressed or disappeared.

His research has been published in Lancet, JAMA, Circulation and American Journal of Cardiology and elsewhere.

How do vegetarian diets aid weight loss

One important mechanism may be a high intake of vegetables, fruits and other high fibre foods which are filling but in low in calories contribute to weight loss.

Vegan diet also increases insulin sensitively which lets nutrients to enter cells more quickly to be converted to heat instead of fat. Evidence suggests that a vegan diet causes an increased calorie burn after meals which means that plant - based foods are being used more efficiently as opposed to being stored as fat.

The simplicity of vegan diet which excludes meat, dairy products and eggs appeals to people busy with work and family. At least from studies published in peer reviewed journals show that people give a high rating in terms of acceptability and transition only takes about 3 weeks or less.

Of course, meat-less meals can do more for health than just creating a slimmer body. Vegetarians also have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure and at a lower risk for some forms of cancer such as prostrate cancer, cancer of breast, cancer of large bowel and cancer of ovaries.

Mind in medical view

Dr. A. R. Azeem (Phd.) writes:

Mind

The mind is a subtle entity of our body. Mind has not an anatomical structure in body to show its place. Even some think that the mind has to be placed along with the brain or the heart.

They explain why it is that these two organs are mostly related with emotional and feeling of senses. Where our concentration flows, there the mind already is.

Types of mind in medical systems

Mind explained in unani medicine

Unani medicine speaks about the mind by using the word NAFS. Actually this is an Arabic word and the word has been used in noble Quran too. The mind has divided into following.

1. Ammara (Outer Mind)

2. Lawwama (Inner Mind

3. Muthuma-inna (Hidden Mind)

Mind explained in Siddhayurveda

Siddhayurveda explains the mind as instinct. These are -

1. Rajasguna

2. Satwaguna

3. Thamasguna

Mind explained in allopathic medicine

Allopathic medicine explains the mind as 3 stages. These ares,

1. Conscious mind

2. Sub-conscious mind

3. Super conscious mind

Mind explained in psychology

Psychology is a department in allopathic medicine and it has well developed nowadays. Psyche Means mind in Latin terminology. Psychology has developed from this word. Even it is known about 'soulless psychology' because they neglect the soul who accept only the mind.

Mind is based on consciousness in allopathic medicine by the theory of Sigmond Freud who is the father of or the pioneer of psychology. Although, Sigmond Freud's Concept of Personality speaks about the stages of ID, EGO, Super Ego.

ID

Id is explained as pleasure principle in concept of personality. It shows pros and cons and it needs the external world always.

Ego

Ego is explained as Reality Principle in concept of personality. It shows the real status of man and it balances in-between id and Super Ego.

Super Ego

Super Ego is explained as Moral Principle in concept of personality. Super Ego works with honesty and justice during when the Ego try to do something invain induced by Id.

Mind explained in philosophy

We can define the philosophy and seek the truth and understand it. Mind is related with the explanation of Sir. William James who is an American psychologist, "we can reach whatever we thought through holistically thinking it always".

Philosophers consider the mind as a powerful energy. The Law of Politeness in philosophy speaks about "the man lives how he thinks" and expresses the mind as a vital force.

Philosophy tells the Muthuma-Inna or Super Ego or Super conscious mind as only it is a Highness mind. Also explains, it is difficult to define and is out of man's energy. It relates the mind with following sentence which have a deep explanation. "A painting speaks a thousand words".

Psychosomatic disorder

This is a confusable stage that the medical world faces. World Health Organisation (WHO) wonders about patients and diseases have increased even as well developed doctors, medicines and technologies. Why? You may laugh about that the mind is also a cause of it for why.

But the recent medical issues testify that it is the truth. The medicines are not only the treatment for diseases such as headache. But also must find the root of disease while the origin of headache may be caused due to stress in home or office.

How the mind causes disease

Stress is caused by mental or emotional conflict between the domination of feelings in mind. The conflict is caused between two types of mind that have explained above.

This is said to be why that the secretion of Neurotransmitters due to induced of Interocepters through induced Exterocepters. For an example ACETYLCHOLINE which is an important chemical secretion in body.

Chronic secretion of acetylcholine changes the internal environment of body. Therefore it causes mental trauma, anxiety neurosis and stress as are the psychic disorders also peptic ulcer, and hypertension and thyrotoxicosis such as physiological disorders.

Treatments only for the physiological disorders are never said to be the best. It is dangerous that the Etiology of diseases becoming Psychological affect.

The psychological medicines such as counselling, stress management and psychotherapy also have to be included. Prevention is better than cure through thinking well with the conation and try to live as a good man.