For most of his life as a doctor, administrator, researcher and strategic leader, he has been compelled to spend 18-plus hours a day on schedule. “I have learnt from a young age the influence of diet on my daily activity. Growing up with memories of eating three meals a day with love from my mother and her incredibly delicious home cooking later transcended into a one-time eater,” he says, emphasising the importance of limited eating and calorie control to maintain an active lifestyle. His one meal a day, which he started in his 20s, was criticised for being unhealthy and impractical. “It is interesting, however, that after several decades, the recent concept of eating when hungry, called ‘demand feeding, has been endorsed vehemently.”

Eating right

“My breakfast routine consists of a bowl of mixed fruit (apple, pear, pomegranate, blueberries, and avocado), along with a sprinkle of almonds and walnuts, and one wholesome egg in any style. For lunch, I drink a glass of coconut water and occasionally have a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals with guests. For dinner, I eat measured basmati or brown rice or quinoa, about 150 gms cooked, along with either grilled chicken, fish or lamb and a vegetable. I am very careful with the quantity of oil in cooking. It is now recommended that after age 60, one consume 100-200 gms of protein per day.”

Health and Longevity

While he has learnt to balance his diet, he also understands the importance of exercise for good health and longevity. “Unfortunately, I had neglected this for almost six decades of my life, consumed by work and myriad professional responsibilities. My children truly influenced me as they began daily workouts in their teens and not only excelled with Ivy League education but also nurtured a sense of calm, a happy outlook and a balanced life. I began exercising about 7-8 years ago (although very late in life). I do so with the help of a personal trainer. I have seen a transformation in my endurance, stress levels, happiness, and ability to cope easily with the daily challenges of life.”

It is also important to realise that exercising does not require being in a gym or being surrounded by machines, he says and adds, “If I miss my exercise for a few days, I can feel the aches and pains in my muscles, altered sleep, variant mood and perhaps increased perception of stress.”