October 21, 2011
School of Medicine, Kochi
 

Can proper diet be a substitute for medicine? Proper diet is the best medicine; this was the theme of the one-day CME (Continuing Medical Education) session organized by the Department of Biochemistry at the Amrita School of Medicine on October 15, 2011.
 

The session highlighted the importance of adopting proper dietary habits for healthy living. Participants included doctors and students who also learned about dietary therapeutic interventions for the treatment of several diseases.
 

“Healthy diet plays a major role in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases,” stated Dr. K. N. Subhakumari, Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry.
 

Dr. Jagathlal P. C., Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry cautioned that obesity, hypertension, malignancy and osteoporosis could result from acidic pH levels in the blood. “My recommendation is to have a pure vegetarian diet,” he stated.
 

Dr. Kannan Vaidyanathan, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry suggested that a diet rich in vitamins and minerals could be used to mitigate cancer and prevent the manifestation of genetic disorders.
 

Bri. Nivedita, Chief Dietician, elaborated on therapeutic diet that was generally prescribed for diabetic patients.
 

“This body is given to us for attaining the highest purpose of life, but nowadays, we have to be so dependent on medicines,” noted Br. Dr. Sankhara Chaitanya, Medical Director at the Amrita School of Ayurveda, who explained the relationship between diet and good health.
 

“If one follows a regimen of good food, many diseases will be prevented,” he reiterated. “It is possible to cure many diseases by correcting the food itself.”
 

Participants also watched a video presentation that highlighted how diet played a crucial role in the physical and mental makeup of a person.
 

Participants, both doctors and students, appreciated the CME session.
 

“Overall the lectures were truly informative with an underlying message that proper dietary habits can definitely result in one’s physical and mental well-being,” noted Mr. Jayachandran, a postgraduate student of nutrition and dietetics who attended.