My father was fitter in his nineties than many in their late seventies. He took adequate care of himself. Just for the fun of it, he even rode a bicycle well past his ninetieth birthday. Unto his last days he was an enthusiastic learner. He tried using a tablet and a smartphone to be able to net-surf and Google for the knowledge he sought to acquire.

He was in decent health until he passed away at 93. For a sound body and a sound mind he believed in three things: Eating less, setting aside ego and, being flexible in thoughts. Among other things, he recommended consumption of Triphala for good health and longevity. Triphala is an Ayurvedic mix in powdered form.

Here is an extract of his advice on consumption of Triphala.

Dosage (in gms): One eighth (¹/₈) of one’s weight in kgs. It is to be taken every morning (empty stomach) with fresh water. No food must be consumed until one hour after taking the dose. Note: Initial use can cause loose motions.

The effects are pronounced if Triphala is consumed with seasonal additives as follows:

• August & September: with Rock Salt (¹/₆ of the dose of Triphala by weight).
• (For example: If the weight of an individual is 80 kgs, then the quantity of Triphala to be consumed by the person is ¹/₈ of 80 kgs (in gms) i.e., 10 gms. And the quantity of Rock Salt to be added is ¹/₆ of 10 gms i.e., 1.7 gms (approx.).
• October & November: with Sugar (¹/₆ of the dose of Triphala by weight).
• December & January: with Ginger Powder (¹/₆ of the dose of Triphala by weight).
• February & March: with Bengal pepper/ Long Pepper (less than ¹/₆ of the dose of Triphala by weight).
• April & May: with Honey (¹/₆ of the dose of Triphala by weight).
• June & July: with Jaggery (Gur) (¹/₆ of the dose of Triphala by weight).

Health Benefits: Regular consumption of Triphala as described above improves strength, stamina, immunity and vitality. It is said to improve eyesight, attentiveness and texture of the skin.