Blog Content is inspired from a Podcast Review -Famine Cuisine Dr Sameer Dossani in conversation with Dr. Manoshi Bhattacharya. Dr. Manoshi is a medical Doctor, History researcher & Author.
This blog will act as a time machine that takes you through the Mesolithic period, the Neolithic period and the Colonial Period. Let’s go back to the stone age, where people were hunters and gatherers, tracking wild animals for their meat, catching fish, and collecting nuts, fruit, and insects from the forest. Think about what types of food are available to us now and how eating habits have changed over thousands of years.
In the Mesolithic period, i.e., 7000 BCE, people had a small appetite – fat + protein and little carbs. Only 2 meals a day due to fatty protein food, they have a bountiful amount of energy for the next couple of days and won’t need to go hunting. Today we all know how our lifestyle & eating habits are.
As per research, in 7000 BCE, the food regime consisted of Game meat, wild veggies, Yams, etc. People had a small appetite – Fat + protein and carbs in small amounts. Usually, on the day of the kill, they had two meals a day, some leftovers the next day.
In 8000 BCE beginning of the Neolithic period, rudimentary agriculture came into existence. The food regime for the working-age adult population was OMAD (one meal a day) most days, several fasting days in a month which consisted of unlimited game meats, alcohol & sugar.
The game meat, even consumed in small portions, provided them with abundant energy, on which they could continue for days without having any food for the next few days.
If you wonder what game meats are? Game meats are from non-domesticated, free-ranging, and farm-raised wild animals and birds. Game species include bear, bison, antelope, caribou, deer, elk, moose, reindeer, wild boar, snake, alligator, rabbit, squirrel, beaver, and birds (pheasant, grouse, quail, wild turkey, wild geese, and ducks). These are nothing less than superfoods for them.
As per research, very few vegetarians were there until 8000 BCE and were primarily ascetics – sit, pray and meditate. Working people used to bring veggies to them so that they could meditate. Veggies were not a very useful source of energy for working people, as their energy requirements were higher due to extensive physical activities.
Being vegetarian and doing lots of physical activities need an abundance of food, which wasn’t possible without agriculture. India is the first country that identified Madhu meha / Diabetes by Sushruta. 600 BC (2500+ years back)
According to Sushruta (an ancient Indian physician), below are the remedies for Diabetes that we didn’t realize till 2010:
- If you have Diabetes, reduce grains – pick up the grains which have dropped from the plants & eat in less quantity.
- Soup served with Game meats
- Long walks are the best physical activity
A few centuries later, in 100 AD, from a health & wellness standpoint, Manusmruti mentions :
- Reduced agriculture and food consumption.
- If one is consuming more agricultural foods, then fast repeatedly.
- Fasting is not a punishment, but one should seize the advantage of fasting.
According to a book titled – Soup Shastra by the King Of Mysore, Mangarasa 3 (~1600 AD):
- Yogi: OMAD (One Meal a Day)
- Bhogi: 2 MAD (2 Meals)
- Rogi: 3 MAD (3 Meals)
- Rakshasa: 4 MAD (4 Meals)
During the Colonial Period (~1850), most populations across the economic or social strata followed the OMAD (One Meal A Day) lifestyle. The Maharajas or the Kings had some alcohol in the evening with a few meaty snacks.
The common populations, including workers and soldiers in the Mughal Army – used to have OMAD – mostly just the khichadi (rice). Most parts of India followed a great food regime until the 19th Century. Eventually, the scenario changed to date.
- Takeaways from this blog –
- The human body doesn’t require a lot of food. Our bodies are thrifty. Once corrected, it will survive on a small quantity of food. So, we need to consume wholesome, healthy & nutritious food.
- The Indian Diabetogenic Diet is primarily associated with Plant foods: grains, starchy veggies, and fruits.
- The carbs you eat convert into fat that reflects on your body. The fat you eat gets burnt up.
- Your lifestyle plays an important role in your health.
- Achieve long-term health goals by paying attention to what we eat & at what time we eat.
