How many times a day?

We often develop habits over time, influenced by our culture and society. But do we ever stop to evaluate these habits to see if they truly meet our needs? Take eating, for instance. It's a lifelong process, yet how often do we strive to improve it?

Our parents taught us to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner—perfect. They also included tea, coffee, and snacks in our daily routine. Special occasions come with their own unique feasts. Over time, we've become slaves to our food habits, fueling a booming medical industry.

Today's message is simple: decide how many times you need to engage your mouth, throat, and stomach each day. Base this on:

  • Age and body conditions
  • Your character and mood
  • Your work nature and habits

Why? Good question. Age isn't just a number for us—our minds might stay young, but our bodies inevitably age. So, listen to your body and feed it according to its digestive capacity. Character and mood are influenced by the variety of foods we consume; a soldier's diet differs from that of a preacher. Work nature also plays a crucial role in shaping our food habits. Unlike our forefathers, many of us now work indoors, leading less physically demanding lives. This change doesn't require us to maintain a three-to-five-meal routine. However, breaking old habits is notoriously challenging.

So, what is suggested for an office worker aged 30-40 living in a temperate country like India?

  • Breakfast: Light tiffin items (avoid heavy lunch/dinner-like foods)
  • Lunch: Heavy, with rice or wheat meals, side dishes, and curd
  • Dinner: The lightest meal of the day; ideally, have only fruits

Remember, avoid mixing acidic fruits with sweet ones to prevent gastric issues. Cut out extra snacks and addictive drinks like tea, coffee, and sodas. Instead, opt for fruit juice, sugar cane juice, or vegetable juice. Lastly, finish your dinner early to free your stomach from digestion before midnight. Aim to finish eating by 8 pm, allowing four hours for digestion.

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