Mindful Eating

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent advice to the citizens of the country is to embrace mindful eating. Though he has not termed it as another way of achieving the target of Viksit Bharat by 2047, when the country completes one hundred years of independence, the fact remains that health is one area which can contribute immensely towards fulfilling this. But that the Prime Minister has called upon the people to adopt mindful eating practices and prioritise healthier living is in itself food for thought, which, as he has pointed out, can lead to making a big difference to both body and mind, if not the soul too. The occasion when he made this appeal was World Liver Day, and given the fact that a large number of Indians are faced with various kinds of liver diseases, the prime minister's advice should come in handy for many. Liver diseases, including conditions like Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and viral hepatitis, have emerged as major public health concerns in India in recent years, leading to high rates of incidence, prevalence and mortality. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, which has been identified as the leading cause of liver failure across the globe, has also affected a substantial portion of the Indian population, with prevalence estimates ranging from 9 per percent to 32 per percent. Similarly, viral hepatitis, particularly B and C, also contributes significantly to the increasing burden of liver disease, with millions of people getting affected every year across the globe and thousands dying every year due to related complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is also important to note that besides Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), the incidence of liver problems in India has also been increasing due to increased consumption of alcohol in recent years. Other factors like obesity, diabetes and unhealthy lifestyles, including consumption of fried, oily and spicy food and meat of all kinds, have also added to the complicated situation. That alcohol consumption has been increasing in Assam at quite a rapid pace is yet another factor which has been contributing towards the increasing trend of liver disorders.