AN INSIGHT INTO AYURVEDA DIETETICS TO FIGHT THE IMPACT OF ABNORMAL DIETARY HABITS ON MENSTRUAL HEALTH: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

Menstrual health is fundamental to women’s sexual and reproductive health. Diet constitutes the life of living beings and influences the human lifestyle as well as individual quality of life. Dietary habits and choices play a significant role during adolescence for normal functioning of reproductive potential and significantly affect menstrual functioning in young women. In today’s era, over consumption of high calorie dense food popularly called as junk food, disordered eating habits, meal skipping are major causes of menstrual disorders which are on increasing trend amongst teenagers. These abnormal eating habits have carved up the developing nations and posing great threat to human health. Only way to cope up with this nutritional pandemic is to focus on Ayurveda dietetics which not only emphasizes on nutritional value of food but even places greater emphasis on type of food, quantity, digestive capacity, dietary customs, habitat, food processing, meal intake timings etc. for the promotion of positive health and prevention and management of wide range of ailments. It is imperative to reinvigorate the ancient science of dietetics to obtain its prime benefits for mankind. Knowledge emphasizing about the eating habits, nutritional diet, disadvantages of unhealthy foods, their impact and preventive measures should be given to create awareness and render health education for a change towards healthy eating practices. Therefore, this review summarizes the ancient and current scientific evidence on association between dietary habits and reproductive potential as well as preventive management approach through Ayurveda.