HEALTH CONCERN:
As might be expected, cancer and heart disease topped the survey: 35 % of
those that replied indicated that cancer was their main health concern, while 25
% were worried about heart problems. Arthritis concerns were at 15% were
followed by vision at 12%. Menopause was indicated by 4%, AIDS by 3% and
bone problems by 2%. This sort of data is valuable to us to understand the
current health concerns prevailing among people.
AWARENESS ABOUT MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF FOODS:
the pie chart above reveals that about 98% of our respondents are aware of the
fact that food can be used as medicine. And also they know that food has a role
to play in preventing diseases. Many of them have expressed that our Indian
food ingredients are loaded with medicinal properties. Most of them could list
down at least 5 medicinal properties of the food they know. People of lower
economic status seem to be more aware of the medicinal properties compared to
the higher classes. In fact when we interviewed few of the servant maids they
seemed to know the cure for even severe ailments and diseases like fungal
infections, impotency/ infertility, kidney stones, hepatitis etc. one of the very
interesting people we interviewed was a carpenter from a village near salem. He
was over 70 years and knew to cure even poisonous snake bites by just using
lemon seeds and other ingredients.
People who resort to taking food as medicine: