Food, Mind and Wellness: IKS-Based Health Education for Modern India

Description

This book presents an Indian Knowledge System-based framework for understanding the relationship between food, mind, wellness, nutrition education, and modern health challenges in India. It argues that food is not only a source of calories or nutrients, but also a cultural, psychological, ecological, familial, and educational resource.

Drawing upon Indian food wisdom, Ayurveda, mindful eating, indigenous grains, traditional thali concepts, spices, herbs, fermented foods, seasonal eating, regional food systems, and Satvik–Rajsik–Tamsik food classifications, the book explains how traditional knowledge can contribute to contemporary health education. It connects these traditions with modern concerns such as lifestyle disorders, obesity, diabetes, processed foods, weakening dietary diversity, climate stress, nutrition security, and the need for culturally meaningful wellness education.

The book follows a conceptual, educational, interdisciplinary, and synthesis-based approach. It does not present itself as a clinical manual, medical textbook, diet prescription, or therapeutic guide. Instead, it provides a structured educational resource for interpreting Indian food traditions responsibly in relation to modern nutrition science, public health, psychology, sustainability, school wellness, and community education.

The chapters examine food, mind and wellness as an IKS-based health education framework; food as medicine in Ayurveda; indigenous grains and regional food systems; spices, herbs and everyday nutrition; Satvik, Rajsik and Tamsik food traditions; traditional diets and climate resilience; nutritional security through indigenous foods; and nutrition education through IKS.

The book is intended for educators, teacher educators, students, researchers, school leaders, wellness educators, health educators, parents, community workers, NGOs, public health professionals, and general readers. It is meant for educational, informational, academic, and awareness-building purposes only and does not replace medical, nutritional, psychological, Ayurvedic, therapeutic, or professional healthcare advice.