Preventive measures advise needed - #25965
Dear Doctor: I need advise on my food habits. Me and my wife take spicy and more oil food for taste and couldn't compromise for health reasons. Please suggest what is to be taken to equalise fat and other complications on daily basis. More details are given below:- Daily Routine: I am 70, and my wife is 61. We stay at home most of the time, except for doing household chores. We do not engage in any physically demanding outdoor work. We walk around our apartment complex a few times a day. We also have a small garden on the ground floor, which we maintain. Food Intake: We consume both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. We have a morning tiffin and drink coffee or tea twice a day. Our food is either spicy or cooked with more oil. We avoid eating at hotels or restaurants. Diagnosis: For monitoring blood sugar, we use a glucometer and check readings twice daily, adjusting our medication accordingly. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) readings are typically between 100-120 mg/dL, and postprandial (PP) readings never exceed 200 mg/dL. In short, we are conscious of the issue but struggle to maintain sugar levels within the recommended parameters. Present Discomfort, Weight, and Height: Height and Weight: Me: 5'2" and 66 kg Wife: 5'0" and 80 kg Discomforts: Me: Knee joint pain Dust allergy, nasal congestion throughout the year High blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes Calcaneal spur Heart pumping is fine, but there is a distribution issue Bipolar disorder Neck and lumbar spondylitis Occasional vertigo Spending 45-60 minutes in the toilet, 3-4 times a day Wife: Diabetes High blood pressure Heart blockage Knee joint pain
100% Anonymous
completely confidential.
No sign-up needed.

Doctors’ responses
Diet and Lifestyle Advice for You (Age 70) and Your Wife (Age 61) Concerns: Diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, joint pain, overweight, constipation, heart issues, sedentary lifestyle
Key Problem: Spicy and oily food is affecting your digestion, sugar levels, cholesterol, and joint health. You enjoy the taste, which is fine — but it must be balanced with simple corrections in food and daily habits to avoid further complications.
1. Morning Routine (Empty Stomach): Choose one of the following: Warm water with 1 teaspoon soaked fenugreek seeds Warm water boiled with 5 tulsi leaves and a pinch of cinnamon powder This helps in reducing sugar and fat buildup and improves digestion.
2. Breakfast Suggestions: Continue with your regular tiffin Add a small bowl of steamed or boiled vegetables (such as bottle gourd, ridge gourd, or ash gourd Soak and eat 5 almonds and 1 dry fig or date (remove skin from almonds)
3. Tea/Coffee Intake: Limit to two times a day Replace one tea/coffee with herbal tea (tulsi or cinnamon) at least 3–4 times a week
4. Lunch Suggestions: Continue your regular meals Add 1–2 teaspoons of ground flaxseed (alsi) powder to cooked rice or curry Use curry leaves, methi (fenugreek), jeera (cumin), and ajwain regularly while cooking
5. Evening Time: Walk for at least 10–15 minutes after tea You may take roasted chana or a small fruit as a snack Avoid fried or heavy snacks in the evening
6. Dinner Tips: Eat before 8 PM if possible Before dinner, take a bowl of light vegetable soup or steamed vegetables Avoid curd or heavy non-veg items at night
7. General Food Guidelines Use cold-pressed oil in small quantities (groundnut or sesame oil preferred) Use less red chilli; replace it with black pepper, dry mango powder, or coriander powder Avoid deep-fried items as a regular habit (limit to once a week, small portion only) Reduce salt and sugar intake where possible
8. Physical Activity: Walk for 10–15 minutes after each meal inside your house or around your garden Maintain your garden regularly as light activity Avoid sleeping in the daytime Sit in morning sunlight for 10–15 minutes daily for bone and mood support
9. Specific Remedies for Discomforts: For joint pain and heel spur: Massage legs and feet with warm sesame oil before bath Use warm (not hot) water for bathing For bloating and frequent toilet visits: Chew fennel (saunf) seeds after meals Add hing and ajwain while cooking dal or vegetables For cholesterol and blood sugar control: Add cinnamon, methi seeds, and curry leaves regularly in cooking Take 1 teaspoon dry roasted flax seeds after meals
10. Mental and Emotional Wellness: Practice light breathing exercises like Anulom Vilom or Bhramari for 10 minutes every morning Keep your routine consistent and peaceful Avoid excessive TV or mobile use at night
Final Note: You do not need to give up your taste — just make a few daily changes to balance it. These simple practices can protect your heart, reduce sugar and fat levels, ease joint pain, and improve digestion without taking away the joy of food.
Given the details you’ve provided, integrating Ayurvedic principles into your lifestyle can be beneficial. However, it is critical you continue monitoring your medical conditions with your current healthcare providers, as some of your health issues might require immediate attention.
Firstly, it’s essential to address the prakriti (constitution) and imbalances (vikriti) in both individuals. Based on your described conditions and food habits, your doshas might be significantly influenced by Kapha and Pitta. Here are some personalized recommendations:
For Both:
1. Adjustments in Diet: Focus on reducing the amount of spicy and heavy/oily foods. Favor warm, light, and digestible meals such as steamed vegetables and soups with minimal oil. Opt for spices like ginger, turmeric, and coriander which are beneficial without exacerbating heat or heaviness in the body.
2. Portion Control: Eat smaller, more frequent meals to help manage blood sugar levels. Incorporate more fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, leaning towards those that are non-starchy and high in fiber.
3. Hydration and Herbal Infusions: Drink plenty of lukewarm water throughout the day to aid digestion and detoxification. Herbal teas like fenugreek, cumin, and cardamom can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion.
For You (with Knee Pain, Allergies etc.):
1. Joint Support: Incorporate gentle exercises or yoga practices focusing on joint mobility. Applying warm sesame oil to affected areas before bathing can also provide relief.
2. Allergy Management: Consider daily steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil to alleviate nasal congestion. Nasya, the Ayurvedic practice of applying medicated oil in the nostrils, may also prove beneficial. Consult your physician for appropriate nasya oil.
For Your Wife (with Heart Blockage, Diabetes):
1. Heart Health: Engage in gentle, cardiovascular activities, such as walking or gardening, that do not intensify knee pain. Ensure a diet rich in garlic and onions which can support heart health.
2. Sugar Cravings and Regulation: Snack on soaked almonds or fresh fruits to curb cravings. Ensure meals are scheduled at regular intervals to prevent large fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
Both of you should engage in pranayama (breathing exercises) like Anulom Vilom to enhance lung function and aid in overall relaxation and equilibrium. It’s essential to gradually incorporate these lifestyle and dietary changes and consult your healthcare provider where medical conditions intersect. Adjustments might be required based on ongoing monitoring of your health parameters.
KNDLY ADVISED TO TAKE PERSONAL CONSULTATION FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CONDITION AND PLAN TREATMENT ACCORDINGLY
Lessen intake of oily foods, and the Oi l used should be Cold pressed or filtered oil Your diet should not have sugar, jaggery or honey in any form Night have soups, salads, vegetable, dal/ or tandoor nonveg. Walking atleast 30 mins daily after food will help Do pranayam lom -vilom bhastrika kapalbhati daily 5-10 minutes twice. Take triphala tablet 0-0-1 at bedtime with water, later can increase to 0-0-2 , if comfortable. Drink warm water through out the day.

100% Anonymous
600+ certified Ayurvedic experts. No sign-up.
About our doctors
Only qualified ayurvedic doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.