Dr. Mukul Chandra Bora, M.Tech (IIT-KGP), Ph.D. (IITG), FIE (IN), MISTAM (IN)
State Project Administrator, State Project Implementation Unit – North East
(A unit of MHRD in Technical Education, Government of India)
Centre for Educational Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
Phone No: 0361-2583016/3010
Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual practice that originated and developed by our great Indian Rishi Muni (Saints) and is in practice for more than 5000 years as a pathway to achieve spiritual enlightenment and union of the mind, body, and spirit. Although it is invented in India, but it has not gained the importance within our country until its acceptance by the United Nations. This is mainly due to our failure to recognise the difference between gold and golden materials as golden materials look brighter than gold materials. Due to the universal nature of Yoga, it is now accepted as a scientific method of health management throughout the world, especially in developed countries like the US, Germany, UK, etc. and is not related to any religion or faith. It is the high time for all the Indians to realise our potential and contribution towards reinforcing our gifts given by ancient saints. A nation cannot become great by imitating others but it is to stand on its own and not a single country of the world is developed from imitation. This is not only the Yoga which is accepted globally as a Health Management measure but a lot more are there which we Indians were put in the dustbin of knowledge and belief. Indians prefer short cut methods for success and hence increases the issue of corruption, imitation, and adaptability. This article will provide a detailed outline of the research on Yoga in global perspectives towards mitigation of Chronic and other diseases.
Yoga is primarily divided into eight limbs which include (a) Yama (universal moral commandments), (b) Niyama (self-purification by discipline), (c) Asanas (body postures), (d)
Pranayama (breath control), (e) Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), (f) Dharana (concentration and cultivating inner awareness), (g) Dhyana (devotion and meditation on the
Divine), and (h) Samadhi. Yoga is a lifestyle that can be performed by individuals of all ages and fitness levels and promotes a healthy lifestyle through the practice of postures and breathing techniques and the adoption of a vegetarian diet (Iyengar, 1976). These practices should be used for preventative medicine and also integrated into health care by establishing yoga as a vital and sustainable lifestyle for children and adults of all ages, ethnicities, and income levels that not only is health-promoting but is also environmentally sound and sustainable. As Yoga is associated with the control of food habits and insists on vegetarian foods, it is being accepted by many European countries like Germany and Sweden and already integrated health and sustainability initiatives in dietary consumption practices (Clonan & Holdsworth, 2012).
As per the Yoga principles, the practice of Yoga with proper dietary will make our body more resilient for diseases and make the human being possible to live beyond 100 years of age. It is true that the modern health care system has got the capability of acute management of diseases in case of trauma and emergency and hence this should be appreciated and may be considered as a gift of modern medical science. The food habit plays an important role in making our body strong towards resistance and building immunity and us of raw food instead of process one. The research on food habits reveals so many vital points which are briefly furnished here. According to O’Kane (2012), “the current, globalised food system supplies ‘cheap’ food to a large proportion of the world’s population, but with significant social, environmental and health costs that are poorly understood” (p. 268). High consumption of animal meat and fat has been correlated with the development of many chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease (Horrigan et al., 2002). Agricultural pesticides have been associated with cancer development and endocrine disruption in consumers and workers (Horrigan et al., 2002). These current traditional food production practices are not sustainable (Horrigan et al., 2002). In fact, due to the inextricable link between human health and the environment, Fowler and Hobbs (2003) concluded that humanity is simply not sustainable (as cited in Marlow et al., 2009).
Health Benefits of Yoga and Indian Food Habit: Chronic diseases continue to be the greatest cause for morbidity and mortality not only in India but also the country like the United States and it is projected that chronic diseases will account for about 75% of deaths worldwide by 2020 (Verkerk, 2009). The current medical and technological advances, such as early diagnostic testing and drug treatment, have failed to reduce rates of chronic diseases in the U.S. as well as in other countries including India. Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer are three leading causes of morbidity and mortality even in developed countries like
United States (CDC, 2009). It is found that lifestyle and behavioural factors are the most significant contributors to the development of the majority of chronic diseases (CDC, 2009). As per WHO (2005), 80% of all heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes and 40% of cancers could be prevented if the risk factors for these diseases were eliminated.
Cardiovascular Disease: The risk factors associated with Cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertensive disease, and heart failure (CDC, 2009) includes metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of three of the following conditions: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic states (Ervon, 2009), obesity, and sedentary behaviours (CDC, 2009). Cardiovascular diseases are the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. for both men and women, resulting in 600,000 deaths each year, or one in four deaths (CDC, 2013b). Each year 715,000 Americans suffer heart attacks (CDC, 2013b).
Half of all deaths in men are due to heart disease (CDC, 2013b) in a country like the US and these statistics reveal the need for preventive measures to promote longevity, prevent premature mortality, reduce healthcare costs, and improve quality and years of healthy life (CDC, 2012a).
Diabetes: Diabetes is a group of diseases distinguished by high levels of glucose in the blood and includes type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (CDC, 2011a). Type I diabetes mellitus is an insulin-dependent disease where the pancreas does not secrete insulin due to an autoimmune disorder, is typically diagnosed in childhood, and accounts for about 5% of diabetes cases (CDC, 2011a). Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition that begins with insulin resistance, typically associated with older age, family history of diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical activity, obesity, and race/ethnicity (CDC, 2011a). Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases and has been diagnosed in 11.3% of individuals age 20 years and 26.9% of individuals of more than 65 years of age or older (CDC, 2011a). Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death and complications of the disease include heart disease, hypertension, blindness, kidney disease, amputations, dental disease, nervous system disease, pregnancy complications, and depression (CDC, 2011a).
Cancer: Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality, resulting in nearly 575,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2010 (CDC, 2013a). Cancer also accounted for 13.0% of deaths worldwide in 2004, which is roughly 7.4 million people (Lanao & Svenson, 2011). Moreover, deaths are projected to increase to 12 million by 2030 (Lanao & Svenson, 2011). Approximately 90%–95% of cancer can be prevented by reducing environmental and lifestyle risks (Lanao & Svenson, 2011).
Lifestyle factors include “tobacco use, diet, alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity” (Lanao & Svenson, 2011, p. 1). It is estimated that diet accounts for 35.0% of cancers in the U.S. (Lanao & Svenson, 2011). Specifically, diet may be attributed to 70.0% of colorectal and prostate cancers and 50.0% of breast, endometrial, pancreatic, and gallbladder cancers (Lanao & Svenson, 2011, p. 1).
Yoga for Health and Disease Prevention: Many research studies have uncovered the numerous health benefits of yoga in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes (Bijlani et al., 2005; Duraiswamy, Balasubramaniam, Subbiah, & Veeranki, 2011; Kyizom, Singh, Singh, Tandon, & Kumar, 2010). Research studies have also examined how yoga practice promotes healthy behaviors that reduce risks for disease such as positive stress management techniques, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and physical activity, all of which improve antioxidant status and promote a healthy weight (Herur, Kolagi, & Chinagudi, 2010; Patel, Newstead, & Ferrer, 2012). However, while several meta-analyses and systematic reviews on the effects of yoga interventions on mental and physical health found yoga to be beneficial, due to varying styles, population groups, and the nature of the study, random control trial or cross-sectional study, it is difficult to pin point exactly which aspects of yoga are most beneficial (Büssing, Michalsen, Khalsa, Telles, & Sherman, 2012).
Yoga for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease: Short term yoga practice interventions have successfully improved tertiary cardiovascular health measures in diseased individuals. For example, a yoga intervention in as few as ten days resulted in reduced LDL cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol (Bijlani et al., 2005). Moreover, the changes were more greatly improved in those who were hyperglycaemic or had hypercholesterolemia (Bijlani et al., 2005). A 16-week yoga exercise intervention aimed at obese postmenopausal women resulted in improved levels of serum adiponectin, lipids, and other metabolic syndrome factors (Lee, Kim, & Kim, 2012). Additionally, as a means of primary prevention, yoga was effective at reducing risks for morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals over age 30 (Herur et al., 2010). A six-month yoga intervention yielded significant reductions in resting heart rate and blood pressure in participants and also improved quality of life (Herur et al., 2010).
Yoga for Diabetes: Yoga has been found to help manage type 2 diabetes mellitus and cause a significant decrease in levels of glucose, cortisol, and Malone-di-aldehyde (MDA), and an increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (Duraiswamy et al., 2011). Moreover, the effects were more pronounced in subjects with poor glycaemic control (Duraiswamy et al., 2011). A short, 45-day intervention using yoga pranayama and asana improved cognitive brain function and glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes (Kyizom et al., 2010).
Yoga for Antioxidant Status: Oxidative stress is correlated with cancer formation (Wang et al., 2011). Oxidative stress can contribute to the accumulation of free radicals that can promote cellular harm and also a reduction in antioxidant status (Wang et al., 2011). High antioxidant status can provide protection against the accumulation of free radicals that can promote the development of cancer (Wang, et al., 2011). Antioxidants can be produced within the body or consumed in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (Wang, et al., 2011). Research studies have identified yoga practice results in increased or improved antioxidant status (Sinha et al., 2007). Yoga has been successfully used to increase antioxidant status and also decrease stress and anxiety and improve overall wellbeing (Agte & Chiplonkar, 2008).
Yoga Healthy Weight: The yoga philosophy of yama ahisma, or nonviolence, promotes vegetarianism (Chopra, 2006; Dykema, 2011). Another guiding principle of yoga nutrition is to eat small quantities of high-quality foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts to promote the life force (prana) in the body without producing toxins (Agte & Chiplonkar, 2007). Yoga has been linked to positive impacts on mental status and promoting good nutrition in adult practitioners, which supports the diet–mind inter-relationship concept of yoga (Agte & Chiplonkar, 2007). Because of the mind-body connection, yoga has also been successful in treating individuals with eating disorders (Dittmann & Freedman, 2009). Those who practice yoga regularly typically have a normal BMI and improved food choices (Herur et al., 2010). These factors may also help to explain why yoga practitioners also have lower fasting glucose levels, normal triglyceride levels, and decreased blood pressure (Herur et al., 2010). Yoga practice for four or more years was found to result in attenuated weight gain in middle age (Kristal et al., 2005).
Yoga for Quality of Life and Reduction of Stress: According to the CDC (2012), “health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (para. 4). Yoga has the ability to elicit physical and mental well-being. Yoga has been found to be more effective than walking to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and increase brain GABA levels (Streeter et al., 2010). Yoga was found to be as good or better than other forms of exercise in reducing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in healthy and diseased individuals (Ross & Thomas, 2010). Yoga breathing reduces physical and mental stress and is helpful in the treatment of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and for those involved in disasters (Brown & Gerbargb, 2009). Yoga practice during early breast cancer treatment was found to reduce stress and anxiety (Rao et al., 2009).
Conclusion: In short it can be concluded that an unhealthy diet and lifestyle behaviours are contributing to an increased incidence of obesity and chronic disease. Unsustainable food production practices contribute to deteriorating environmental conditions. Both of these factors contribute to healthcare costs and it is unaffordable for a country like India with a population of more than 125 crores and will be increasing in an exponential way and this practice of Yoga of ancient Saints of India may lead to being a wealthy country in the world. Results of different studies and a recent study carried out the US shows that a holistic Yogic lifestyle can be the most effective preventative and alternative medicine that can provide improvements in many health conditions and quality of life, as well as promote a healthy weight, dietary and lifestyle choices. Yoga education and practice should be accessible to all people regardless of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Recent studies further reveal that Yoga practice can be more than mere exercise; it can be a way of life that guides actions such as lifestyle and dietary choices.
So this is the time to accept the gifts of our forefathers and we should work together for a Healthy, Wealthy, and Sustainable India to make our nation dream destinations for the people of the rest of the world like we do to migrate to other developed countries.