Leonardo Da Vinci's Prescription for Life

Today I came across a nice article entitled Leonardo Da Vinci's Prescription for Life by Barbara L. Minton at http://www.naturalnews.com/z023570.html. I am reproducing part of it here and inserting my comments. The original source can be found here: http://www.free-ebook-download.net/history-personality/4173-story-civili....

Leonardo was interested in everything. "All postures and actions of the human body, all expressions of the face in the young and old, all the organs and movements of animals and plants from the waving of wheat in the field to the flight of birds in the air, all the cyclical erosion and elevation of mountains, all the currents and eddies of water and wind, the moods of the weather, the shades of the atmosphere, and the inexhaustible kaleidoscope of the sky –- all these seemed endlessly wonderful to him," wrote historian Will Durant.

In 1515, four years before his death and when he was ill in Rome, Leonardo wrote his Prescription for Life. Many of these principles closely parallel the time honored and proven recommendations of Ayurveda.

Here is Leonardo's prescription with my additional commentary:

If you want to be healthy observe this regime.

• Do not eat when you have no appetite, and dine lightly.
  • [Dave - systematic undereating has been proven to extend healthy lifespan.]
    
• Chew well
  • [Dave - proper digestion is the foundation of health and digestion starts with saliva that comes from chewing well. In addition, eat only when sitting down and relaxing.]
    
• and whatever you take into you should be well-cooked and of simple ingredients.
  • [Dave - today we would say "natural, organic" ingredients. Surely Leonardo would agree that genetically modified foods and laboratory-created artificial ingredients are not "simple ingredients." Furthermore, Ayurveda is very clear that all foods except fruits should be well-cooked. My own experience supports this.]
    
• He who takes medicine is ill advised.
  • [Dave - iatrogenic disease is the #3 cause of death in the US. By some counts iatrogenic disease is the #1 ranked killer.]
    
• Beware anger.
  • [Dave - our group has a tremendous amount of intraocular pressure data showing that anger increases intraocular pressure. Diverse research is showing that anger damages our health. Leonardo pinpointed one of the most important causes of disease when he identified anger. I cannot over-emphasize the wisdom in this statement by Leonardo.]
    
• Avoid stuffy air.
• Stay standing a while when you get up from a meal.
  • [Dave - Ayurveda recommends walking after eating. A walk of at least 5 to 15 minutes is preferred, but if that isn't possible, even 100 steps is helpful.]
    
• Make sure you do not sleep at midday.
  • [Dave - Ayurveda offers the exact same advice.] 
    
• Let your wine be mixed with water, take little at a time...
  • [Dave - today this advice applies to fruit juices and all our sugary drinks.]
    
• Not between meals, nor on an empty stomach.
• Neither delay nor prolong your visit to the toilet.
  • [Dave - again, digestion is the foundation of health. Proper elimination (daily at the same time of day) is a key element of this.]
    
• If you take exercise, let it not be too strenuous.
  • [Dave - many of us approach exercise as a challenge and we encourage ourselves to "hit it hard." This approach to exercise produces detrimental stress hormones and those harmful chemicals offset some (even all) of the beneficial effects of exercise. Exercise should be fun and relaxing, not stressful. It should be as Leonardo said.]
    
• Do not lie with your stomach upward and your head downward. Be well covered at night.
  • [Dave - hmmmm... sounds like he knew something about taking care of the eyes.]
• And rest your head and keep your mind cheerful.
  • [Dave - powerful advice. Don't underestimate the importance of this.]
• Avoid wantonness and keep to this diet.

Wow! A very impressive list of recommendations.