Hunger a Forgotten feeling: Is it Possible to Rediscover?

When was the last time you felt hungry? 

Not just the urge to snack, not emotional cravings, not boredom—but the pure, bodily call for nourishment. In today’s world, we rarely listen to this natural signal. Eating has become an act of habit, convenience or even entertainment.

The Lost Feeling of Hunger

Hunger was once a simple biological signal—a way our body asked for real food to sustain life. But now, the word "hunger" is often used only in political or social contexts to describe food shortages, poverty or famine. For the rest of us, hunger has been masked by convenience, fast food, constant snacking and emotional triggers. A more of a time based ritual to be accomplished. The true feeling of hunger has quietly disappeared from daily life.

Why Did We Lose the Sense of Hunger?

Is it the influence of external factors like processed food, 24/7 availability and marketing? Or is it our internal insensitivity and emotional eating patterns? or it is the technology influence? The truth is—it’s all combined. Our bodies are no longer trusted to signal hunger because our minds have taken control of when and why we eat. Hunger is more of a feeling associated with actions that fulfill our basic physical and emotional needs. It is not material-driven as we think today.

The Hidden Risks of Ignoring Real Hunger

While the concept of healthy living is gaining widespread attention, in reality, we are drifting away from the essence of natural living. A simple lesson still available to us comes from the animals we see around us every day—like street dogs and cats. These creatures instinctively respond to hunger, expressing it openly at specific times of the day, just as illustrated in Pavlov’s theory. Avoiding the sense of real hunger poses a real danger in our lives in the long run. Various reasons that contribute to this syndrome is mentioned below.

• Metabolic Confusion: Eating without true hunger disturbs digestion and hormonal balance.
• Unnecessary Weight Gain: Constant eating leads to excess fat storage and chronic inflammation.
• Mental Fatigue: Poor gut health affects brain clarity and mood regulation.
• Loss of Joy: Food becomes routine and tasteless when not consumed with genuine hunger.

How to Reclaim True Hunger

It's utmost important that every effort be made consciously to regain the sense and be sensitive to hunger to avoid health and mental complications and regain a healthy lifestyle.

1. Wait for real signals: Stomach rumbling, emptiness, light-headedness—not boredom or habit.
2. Hydrate first: Often thirst is mistaken for hunger.
3. Choose whole foods: Natural, unprocessed, seasonal food resets hunger patterns.
4. Check emotions: Ask yourself if you are truly hungry or just filling a void.
5. Slow down meals: Eat mindfully, chew well, enjoy the taste and respect your food.

Why It Matters for You and the World

The real gain is the preservation of nature. It is our primary role as human beings is to protect the earth & environment. Therefore, reclaiming hunger isn’t just personal. It impacts the environment, food production and social habits. Eating only when hungry means less food waste, lower consumption and more sustainable choices. 

Conclusion: Make Hunger Your Friend and Rediscover

Hunger is not your enemy. It’s your body’s most honest messenger. When you rediscover this feeling, you reconnect with life itself—your health, your mind, joy in eating and your respect for food and its journey. It's a full ecosystem that hunger commands as we live and grow. Exercise this choice of Hunger consciously!

"To feel hungry is to be alive. Honor it, and nourish your body with care."

Free Download:

📝 Hunger Awareness Tracker (Printable PDF)

Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes.

AI and the Illusion of Ease: Reclaiming Life in the Age of Algorithms

Is AI really helping us live better lives, or just making life easier to the point of emptiness? As the next generation grows increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence, we are beginning to lose sight of engagement, emotion and effort — the very pillars of a meaningful human experience.

The Hidden Cost of Ease

AI has streamlined our lives with personalized search, automated tasks, and 24/7 assistance. But this convenience comes at a cost. The less we struggle, the less we grow. We are outsourcing not just tasks, but our ability to think critically, solve problems and connect deeply.

Engagement: Comfort or Collapse?

AI-driven social media is one of the biggest disruptors. Designed to maximize engagement, these platforms are creating a generation addicted to dopamine spikes and algorithmic approval. This is not engagement — it’s entrapment.

• Loss of attention span
• Distorted self-image
• Reduced emotional tolerance
• Social comparison and mental illness

Generation Next: Digital Natives, Emotional Refugees

Young people today have access to knowledge, but not always wisdom. They know how to use tools but often lack the emotional grounding to navigate complexity. If AI makes all decisions, where do human values, intuition and growth fit in?

What Are We Losing?

1. Meaning: Everything becomes transactional, including relationships.
2. Mental Health: Escapism through screens leads to anxiety, depression and identity loss.
3. Resilience: The ability to struggle, adapt and grow is fading.

The Way Forward: Conscious Digital Living

We must reclaim what makes us human. The solution lies in using AI as a tool — not a crutch. We need to bring friction, effort and presence back into our lives.

5 Steps to Reclaim Reality

• Embrace Friction: Don’t automate everything. Cook, write by hand, walk.
• Redefine Engagement: Seek meaningful, face-to-face conversations.
• Practice Digital Mindfulness: Use screens, don’t let them use you. Embrace Spirituality. 
• Raise Resilient Youth: Let kids fail, reflect and try again.
• Use AI Creatively: Co-create with it — don’t just consume.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this document is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, guidance or treatment related to mental health, medical conditions or religious practices.

While every effort has been made to present accurate and insightful content, the author and publisher make no guarantees regarding the completeness, reliability or applicability of the information provided.

Readers are encouraged to use their personal discretion, consult qualified professionals where necessary and consider their individual beliefs and circumstances before applying any of the ideas or practices suggested.

The views expressed herein are personal interpretations intended to inspire reflection and inner growth. They are not representative of any specific religious, spiritual or philosophical doctrine.

Use of this content is at your own discretion and responsibility.

© 2025 [Arunendu / Living in the present]. All Rights Reserved

The Art and Science of Spirituality: A Roadmap for the Reluctant Soul

"Why do I need spirituality? I already have faith. Life's hard enough. Isn't that enough?"

These are real, honest questions. And they deserve honest answers.

What Is Spirituality?

Spirituality is not religion, ritual or belief. It's the art of inward awareness and the science of inner alignment — a deep connection with your own essence, beyond mind, ego and body.

Why Is It Important?

Because life is more than survival. Spirituality turns survival into meaning, challenges into growth and existence into realization.

Is Spirituality Necessary?

You don't need it to survive, but you may need it to understand life. It's not a burden — it's a way to drop burdens like stress, ego and constant comparison.

What Differentiates It from Mental Strength?

Mental strength withstands storms. Spiritual depth dissolves them. The mind helps you fight the challenges. The spirit helps you transcend.

Where Does Spirituality Reside?

In the quiet space between your thoughts. In awareness. In the silence that listens.

How to Become Spiritual (Without Becoming a Monk)

Use the R.E.A.L. Spirituality Framework:

• R – Reflect: Who am I beyond my roles and labels?
• E – Experience: Meditate. Be still. Just observe.
• A – Align: Act with your inner truth and values.
• L – Let Go: Drop one illusion, guilt or expectation a week.

Prayer vs. Spirituality

Prayer is asking. Spirituality is listening. One calls out to God; the other receives God. Both are essential, but spirituality completes the circle.

Closing Thought

You don’t need spirituality to exist, but maybe to understand why you exist.

“The most powerful journey is not across lands or skies — It’s the quiet pilgrimage inward.”

📄 Downloadable One-Pager PDF

Disclaimer

The information provided in this document is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, guidance or treatment related to mental health, medical conditions or religious practices.

While every effort has been made to present accurate and insightful content, the author and publisher make no guarantees regarding the completeness, reliability or applicability of the information provided.

Readers are encouraged to use their personal discretion, consult qualified professionals where necessary and consider their individual beliefs and circumstances before applying any of the ideas or practices suggested.

The views expressed herein are personal interpretations intended to inspire reflection and inner growth. They are not representative of any specific religious, spiritual or philosophical doctrine.

Use of this content is at your own discretion and responsibility.

© 2025 [Arunendu / Living in the present]. All Rights Reserved

Gut-Heart Connection: How Panchabhoota Lifestyle Enhances Digestion, Blood Pressure & Wellness

Introduction: A Scientific Discovery with Ancient Roots

A recent study from Johns Hopkins University has revealed that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)—a gas produced in the gut during digestion—can relax blood vessels and help lower blood pressure. This finding sheds new light on how gut health affects cardiovascular health.

Interestingly, this knowledge and connection is not new to Ayurveda. Ancient Indian texts have long emphasized that digestion (Agni), movement (Vayu) and elimination are central to maintaining Ojas—the essence of health and immunity. In the language of Ayurveda, this is the Panchabhoota principle in action.

“Read the foundational blog on https://myfirstblogspace.blogspot.com/2025/05/is-healthy-eating-enough-panchabhoota.html, how Panchabhoota completes the food & nutrition cycle.”

Healthy Eating Isn’t Enough: Why Functionality Matters

Modern health advice often focuses on:

• Eating “clean” or “superfoods,”
• Doing moderate exercise,
• Sleeping well.

But here’s the truth: These actions are not sufficient unless the body's entire functional cycle is respected and harmonized. Just consuming healthy food doesn’t guarantee health if:

• It's poorly digested,
• Not properly assimilated,
• Or inefficiently eliminated.

"Rogah sarve api mande agnau"

(All diseases begin due to impaired digestion) – Charaka Samhita

The Panchabhoota Framework and Internal Physiology

Ayurveda identifies five core elements (Panchabhootas)—Earth (Prithvi), Water (Apas), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu) and Ether (Akasha)—as foundational to life. These elements manifest through various functions of the human body:

• Prithvi (Earth): The structure of the body; linked to the food we eat and its source.
• Apas (Water): All fluids—blood, lymph, gastric juices.
• Agni (Fire): Metabolism and digestion.
• Vayu (Air): Movement—of gases, blood, and nerve signals.
• Akasha (Ether): The internal spaces—the gut, blood vessels, respiratory tract.

The formation of gases like hydrogen sulfide reflects the interplay between Agni (digestion) and Vayu (movement). If balanced, this supports circulation and heart health. If disturbed, it can result in bloating, inflammation or even high blood pressure.

Phases of a Balanced Lifestyle: Completing the Nutrition Cycle

True wellness comes from honoring every phase of the nutrition cycle:

1. Sourcing (Prithvi): Food grown in chemical-laden soil affects gut flora and increases toxin load.
2. Cooking (Agni + Apas): Cooking methods determine whether food nourishes or burdens digestion.
3. Mindful Eating (Vayu + Akasha): Eating calmly with attention improves absorption and reduces gas formation.
4. Resting (Akasha): Sleep and stillness are crucial for repair and digestion.
5. Movement (Vayu): Exercise promotes proper gas and blood circulation—essential for blood pressure regulation.
6. Elimination (Apas + Vayu): Proper bowel movements and detox are vital. Gas accumulation due to improper elimination is a red flag.

"Ahara-sambhavaan vaataan"

(Vayu or gas is produced by food habits) – Sushruta Samhita

Modern Misalignments: Disturbing the Elemental Harmony

Most urban lifestyles are misaligned with the Panchabhoota model:

• Processed food disturbs Earth and Fire.
• Dehydration or erratic drinking affects Water and Agni.
• Lack of movement disturbs Air and Ether.
• Mental overstimulation blocks Akasha, the internal spaciousness needed for clarity and healing.

The result? A systemic imbalance, which may show up as:

• Excess gas production (Vayu disturbance),
• Poor digestion (Agni deficit),
• Toxin buildup,
• Cardiovascular strain due to gas-induced arterial tension.

Scientific Proof Supporting Ancient Wisdom

The Johns Hopkins study confirmed that hydrogen sulfide, when introduced in small quantities, promotes vasodilation—widening of blood vessels, reducing blood pressure. This modern validation beautifully aligns with Ayurveda’s insight that gut imbalance affects blood flow, mood and immunity.

Conclusion: Living the Panchabhoota Way

Health is not built in the gym or just in the kitchen—it is built across all functions of life. By realigning our daily routine with the five elements, we restore our natural intelligence and reduce our dependence on synthetic fixes.

Start small:

• ☑ Choose seasonal, local foods.
• ☑ Chew thoroughly and eat without screens.
• ☑ Stay hydrated and exercise daily.
• ☑ Respect rest and regular bowel movement.

When you live in tune with Prithvi, Apas, Agni, Vayu and Akasha, you don’t chase health. Health becomes who you are.

References:

1. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Gas Emitted by Rotten Eggs Found to Lower Blood Pressure. Link
2. Charaka Samhita – Sutrasthana 28/3: “Rogah Sarve Api Mande Agnau”
3. Sushruta Samhita – Chikitsa Sthana 24: “Ahara Sambhavan Vataan”

Disclaimer:
This blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content integrates Ayurvedic concepts and modern scientific findings to promote holistic awareness. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle or treatment plan, especially if you have existing health conditions.

Ayurvedic references are drawn from classical texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita and the scientific study referenced is published by Johns Hopkins Medicine. The interpretation provided here is a synthesis intended to spark personal reflection and wellness literacy.