- At the age of 70, he weighed 46.7 kg, his BMI 17.1 and blood pressure 220/110.
- Gandhi walked 18 km every day for 36 years covering a distance of 79,000 km – the equivalent of walking around the planet, twice. But was that enough to calm his high blood pressure?
The recently published health records of Gandhi in the form of a book titled ‘Gandhi & Health @150’ released by the Indian Council of Medical Research reveal astonishing facts about the world leader. Gandhi suffered from high blood pressure which was recorded to be 220/110 mm of Hg., as against a healthy blood pressure of under 120/80 mm of Hg.
That’s not all! Gandhi also suffered from several health problems, including constipation, malaria, and pleurisy. It claims that he suffered from malaria on three occasions – 1925, 1936 and 1944. In 1919, he was operated for piles and for appendicitis in 1924. Despite these records, why doctor’s claim Gandhi to be the unbelievably healthy man?
Gandhi was a staunch follower of Ayurveda. Be it following the path of vegetarianism or living a disciplined life, practicing regular yoga or preaching the efficacy of Indian herbs. Gandhi hailed Ayurveda for his health.
Despite having such high BP and poor BMI, the apostle of peace was able to continue with his workload possibly because of the healthy life he chose to live. Gandhi refused to take any modern medicine to contain his high blood pressure and low blood sugar but he relied on nature to maintain his health.
He opted for Ayurvedic remedies like eating garlic and Sarpgandha (Indian snakeroot). “Bapu himself wrote about his Sarpagandha treatment to his personal physician Sushila Nayyar.”
Sarpagandha has the ability to reduce the heart rate and dilate blood vessels thereby loweringthebloodpressure. Several pieces of research have established the anti-hypertensive effects of sarpagandha.
The book on Gandhi’s health records, “The good health he enjoyed was mostly attributed to his vegetarian diet and exercise in the open air”. Today, Gandhi’s principles of nutritious food being the key to good health has been taken as the ethos of the research undertaken by both ICMR and NITI Aayog.