Sitting
in my balcony one fine Sunday morning I looked out. The courtyard in the 80+
Apartments Complex was deserted. The silence, the closed windows of other
apartments, the lack of human activity around sent me back down memory lane.
Time was when we used to wait for that Sunday morning just to get out of the
house and have fun with friends in sun, in sand, in mud, in water. The
neighbourhood would be alive by 5 in the morning with the ‘Suprabhatham.’ I
felt pity for the innumerable children restricted to such Apartment complexes
and houses. They are brought up in closed units of 400 to 2000 sq.ft. right
from their birth. They grow up as caged beings thereby losing out on health
both mental and physical..
The strength of a building as we all know depends upon the
strength of its foundation. A building cannot be erected in a single day. Each
part requires some time to set before the next stage of work can begin. Same is
the case with the human body. To build a race of strong, healthy and immune
individuals we have to lay a strong foundation. This takes time but it is worth
it.
Beginning of Life:
For some life starts when the seed is sown in the mother’s womb,
for others when a baby enters the world. But for me life starts the day two
people decide to tie the knot. Why?
The other day a young couple came to meet me with their child of
two. The child looked thoroughly malnourished. The couple was healthy, but the
child looked sickly. I did not have to go far to know the reason. The couple
was first cousins. Now what is wrong in that? From the social and cultural angle maybe there
is nothing wrong. But from the health aspect, yes everything is wrong. Children
of first cousin marriages are at a higher risk of genetic disorders because
married couples that possess higher than normal consanguinity share identical
DNA and genetic material. They have an increased chance of sharing genes for
recessive traits.
The increased risk of birth defects and mortality that children of
such marriages face is comparable to the risk of birth defect and mortality
that the children of a woman who conceives them at 40+ face. Hence it is not
advisable to marry within the family. This is the first step towards building a
strong, healthy, immune and vibrant nation. Necessary awareness is to be
created among the people in this respect.
Immunity building and the mother:
The seed is sown. You need to water it, nourish it and provide it
with sufficient sunlight to enable it grow strong. How?
The mother starts taking care of the child even before he/she is
born. She sends her own regiment of soldiers to protect the baby, in the form
of antibodies. These are sent through the placenta. The immune
system of the foetus starts developing from the 9th week and is
totally dependent on the mother until the 14th week by when its own
immune system is nourished and trained to take care of itself. The T and B
lymphocytes and the antigen presenting cells are gradually developed during the
intra – uterine life of the child. These help in the development of the various
defense mechanisms of specific immunity.
Nutrition provided in the prenatal stage plays a vital role in the
development of the foetus. Apart from transporting
antibodies from mother to child, the placenta also transports the much needed nourishment.
Hence pregnant women should consume food rich in Iron, folate, choline,
potassium, Vitamins, Omega-3, Magnesium, Calcium, protein, copper,
beta-carotene and zinc. Regular intake of eggs, fish rich in Omega -3, nuts,
sweet potatoes, orange juice, yoghurt, green leafy vegetables, beans and fruits,
broccoli, tomatoes, papaya, berries etc. is advisable. Each of the above have
an important role to play in the baby’s overall development. Lack/ insufficient
supply of any one element can have disastrous consequences. Example.- lack/
insufficient supply of magnesium can affect the baby’s nervous system, short
supply of Vitamin A can result in poor eyesight, bone structure and skin
quality.
However, while consuming fish one needs to be
careful against the possibility of mercury contamination.
Immunity, Growth and Development - Post Natal
and later stage
The larva feeds on leaves but the butterfly
seeks nectar. Similar is the case with a baby. Till such time it is in the womb
it takes in anything supplied by the mother through the placenta. But once out,
its needs change; its tastes become more refined. The meaning of care changes.
Breast feeding-
The initial milk produced by the mother is
known as colostrum. Colostrum is a thin yellowish fluid packed with
Immunoglobulin IgA and proteins. Immunoglobulin IgA coats the gastrointestinal
tract of the baby and provides the baby the required immunity till such time its
own immune system is ready to take over. It also contributes to the growth of
the baby’s digestive system. After the initial 3-4 days the colour and
consistency of breast milk changes. The benefits of breast feeding are long
lasting. Some o the benefits are lowered risk of SIDS, asthma, dental problems,
obesity in later life and autism.
Though the WHO recommends exclusive breast
feeding for the first six months of life, in Kerala right from the 28th
day of birth till the “annaprasam”” day, the child is fed on Ragi/ dried banana
( Nenthravazha type) pudding or smashed baked banana in addition to mother’s
milk twice a day. This is said to help make the baby strong.
Baby bath and massage:
Ayurveda strongly advocates Abhyanga or massage with baby oil for
promoting the growth and overall development of the baby. There are a number of
traditional as well as branded ayurvedic baby oils to choose from. Some of them
are Balathailam, Ksheerabalathailam, Shashtika Tailam Balaswagandhadhi Thailam,
Lakshadi Tailam and Dabur Lal Tail. Olive oil and virgin coconut oil are also
used for massaging the baby. Regular massage contributes to proper blood
circulation and the proper development of the bones and muscles.
In most Keralalite Hindu homes the baby is administered ‘Vayambu’
after massage and bath from the 28th day till the “annaprasam” day.
What is ‘Vayambu?’
Vayambu is a collection of ten ayurvedic/ herbal items i.e Vayambu (Vacha), Erattimadhuram (Mulhati, Jetimad), Kadukka (Harad), Masikka (Muphal), Nellikka (Amla),
Thannikka (Bahera), idam piri valam piri ( Marorphali),, Rudraksham, sandal and gold. These are rubbed
on a ‘channa’ (a stone on which we rub sandal wood to make a paste) to get a
small quantity of paste. This paste is then mixed with breast milk and
administered on the babies tongue. The goodness of all these contribute to the
baby’s heath and development both mental and physical.
After 6 months of age
From the 6th month
onwards babies should be fed with solid food rich in nutrition. Some Ayurvedic practitioners also recommend
the administering of Balaguti for a period of one year to improve the baby’s
immunity.
Children should be fed on foods
rich in carbohydrates, proteins, calcium, iron, vitamins and essential fatty
acids. The best solution is organically grown vegetables and fruits. They are
not only free from harmful chemicals but are also rich in minerals. Paneer,
milk and pulses provide the much required protein and strength. Nuts, brown rice,
raisins, amla, ginger and turmeric are highly recommended. These items help in
the growth and development of the immune system. One should also recognize the
benefits of Neem, Aswagandha, Giloy, Mulethi and Tulsi and include them in their
daily life.
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| Image courtesy of Suat Eman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Children can be provided some
additional nutritional supplements also in consultation with a doctor. Older
children as well as adults can take ayurvedic supplements such as ‘Chyawanprash.’
Laced with the goodness of the innumerable ingredients that go in its making, ‘Chyawanarash’
is said to have anti oxidant properties. It also helps strengthen the body’s internal
defense mechanism. There are many brands of Chyawanaprash in the market today.
Some of the most trusted ones are from the House of Dabur, Kotakal Arya Vaidya
Sala and Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Sala.
Apart from the above adequate intake
of pure water and proper immunization in the form of vaccinations prescribed by
Doctors and Authorities are also necessary to ensure good health.
Physical
exercise and good health-
There was a time when children climbed
trees at a very tender age, played all sorts of rough games, were close to
Mother Nature. Children went to school on foot enjoying each bit of that
exercise, falling and fighting, caring and sharing. My mother tells me that
they often fell on the way and searched for their own remedy in the wayside
plants. They would just pluck some leaves, rub it on the palm and squeeze the
juice on the wound. Of course they were all well aware of the harmful weeds and
plants and never touched those. Their immunity level was high and so was their
knowledge of the benefits of herbs and shrubs.
Only yesterday I read an
advertisement in a leading National Daily about The Springs Continental
School in Manjeri organizing ‘Mud Day’. Now isn’t that great? A day dedicated to mud. A day when the
children and adults are invited to splash in mud, enjoy the feeling of being
close to Mother Earth and revel in her goodness. In olden days children reveled
in mud, played in wet fields in fact some also tasted mud. Yet, they were
strong and healthy. We miss those sights these days. Forget playing in mud, children
don’t have the time and inclination for outdoor games and activities. They are
just busy poking on their electronic gadgets.
Playtime and PT time in schools
are not what they used to be earlier. Today children try to make all sorts of
excuses to avoid them. They try and avoid the sun which itself is a great
source of immunity. Just as the brain
needs books to feed on, the body needs regular exercise, fresh air and the
goodness of mud to ensure the proper development of the physique and mental
health. The inhalation of fresh air makes the body’s power house, the lungs
strong. The Heart too is at an advantage. Hence it is not advisable to restrict
children from coming into contact with mud and water.
In the end I would just like to
say that the key to a strong, healthy, immune and vibrant nation is there in ourselves
and in Nature, We just have to understand it, explore it and put it into
practice, We also need to be patient. No shortcuts.
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