“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”

Did you know that…

Bapu prepared his medicines from herbs. His dietary advice was ‘Bhajikhao, chachpio, mittilagao’ (Eat vegetables, drink buttermilk and apply mud). He wrote a book, Guide to Health, and also nursed his wife, Kasturba, when she fell seriously ill.

Here are some recommendations from ‘Dr.’ Gandhi:

• Doctors should not use medicines prepared by killing animals.
• Don’t merely take medicine but understand why you fall sick. For example, if you are suffering from acidity, try to understand why you got acidity (because of eating too much spicy food) and take corrective action.
• Learn about your body and how to control it by understanding various organs and their functioning.

For example, an important body organ is the liver. But how much do we know about it or its care? Here are some pointers:

Liver
The liver is located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. It is dark reddish-brown and serves multiple functions. It regulates blood chemistry and secretes bile to the pancreas and intestines. All the blood that leaves the stomach or intestines passes through the liver which processes it for use by the entire body.

Simple ways to keep your liver healthy:

• The liver stores glucose for four hours. Therefore, ensure that you eat every four hours.
• Breakfast literally means the body is breaking its fast after a night’s sleep. If you skip breakfast, the liver is forced to use its stored glycogen to keep the body healthy. So, don’t skip breakfast.
• Avoid eating hard-boiled sweets as digestion of hard sugar bypasses the liver. The more hard-boiled sugar in your diet, the more the liver is bypassed, and it becomes sluggish.
• Drink adequate water — six glasses every day.
• Eat healthy for a healthy liver.
• Exercise regularly.

If you like healing people, you could even grow up to be a doctor and choose medical practice as a career.

If you like the idea of becoming a healer, here are some other options you could explore:

Nurse. A nurse is a healthcare professional trained to provide medical care to the sick, especially in hospitals/clinics. Nurses administer medication, observe and record patients’ medical conditions, assist doctors in medical procedures, etc.

Anesthesiologist. An anesthesiologist is a medical practitioner who administers a local or general anesthetic to ensure a patient is safe and pain-free during surgery.

Dentist. A dentist specializes in oral health and diagnoses and treats problems related to teeth, gums, and the mouth.

Neurobiologist. A neurobiologist studies the biology of the nervous system to understand how to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Chemist. A chemist engages in chemical research and experiments. She creates new chemical compounds that can lead to advancements in several industries, including pharmaceuticals and materials science.