Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines for Diabetes: Evidence Based Ayurvedic Perspective

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims: Ayurveda strongly emphasize on preventive and promotive aspects of health rather than curative. Centuries ago, Ayurveda laid the concepts of Dinacharya (daily regimen for healthy living), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen for healthy living), Sadvaritta (moral conducts) and Achara Rasayana (social conducts) as well established guidelines for healthy diet and lifestyle; but in current era, hardly anyone aptly follow it. As a result, there is tremendous rise in lifestyle disorders as pandemics, diabetes being the most menacing among them. The aim of this review is to bring into the limelight the Ayurvedic dietary and lifestyle guidelines for prevention of type 2 diabetes and available factual research evidence validating it. Materials and methods: Ayurvedic recommendations for prevention of diabetes were rationally reviewed in light of published information from several articles. Publications in Pubmed, Scopemed, Dhara online and other allied databases covering fields of therapeutics, pharmacology, biomedicine and health were also screened and taken into study for the report. Conclusion: Ayurvedic lifestyle guidelines of adopting a healthy dietary pattern together with physical activity are valuable tools in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.