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The first class of foods (meat soups and others) is said to be of high nutritive value conducive for the formation of healthy ''rasa''. The second class of foods (''syamaka'' and others) is said to be otherwise.

The first class of foods (meat soups and others) is said to be of high nutritive value conducive for the formation of healthy ''rasa''. The second class of foods (''syamaka'' and others) is said to be otherwise.

It is known that folic acid supplementation starting before pregnancy can reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Even deficient maternal vitamin B (12) status has been reported to be associated with a significantly increased risk of neural tube defects. [2] [3] These studies are suggestive of the fact that maternal nutrition plays an important role in embryogenesis. The factor rasa in this context, in fact is indicative of maternal nutrition.  

It is known that folic acid supplementation starting before pregnancy can reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Even deficient maternal vitamin B (12) status has been reported to be associated with a significantly increased risk of neural tube defects. <ref>MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. Lancet.1991;338 (8760):131– 137 </ref> <ref>Molloy AM, Kirke PN, Troendle JF, Burke H, Sutton M, Brody LC, Scott JM, Mills JL. Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification. Pediatrics 2009;123:917–23. </ref>These studies are suggestive of the fact that maternal nutrition plays an important role in embryogenesis. The factor rasa in this context, in fact is indicative of maternal nutrition.  

It may be noted that the nuclear genome is characterized by homologous pairs of chromosomes of biparental origin. However, the mitochondrial DNA is transferred exclusively from the mother to the offspring without undergoing any recombination as the paternal mitochondrial DNA undergoes degradation during fertilization. It is interesting to note that the organs afflicted by the diseases transmitted through mitochondrial inheritance are skeletal muscles, brain, heart, eye, colon, pancreas, inner ear, liver, kidney and blood. [4]

It may be noted that the nuclear genome is characterized by homologous pairs of chromosomes of biparental origin. However, the mitochondrial DNA is transferred exclusively from the mother to the offspring without undergoing any recombination as the paternal mitochondrial DNA undergoes degradation during fertilization. It is interesting to note that the organs afflicted by the diseases transmitted through mitochondrial inheritance are skeletal muscles, brain, heart, eye, colon, pancreas, inner ear, liver, kidney and blood.<ref>Mitochondrial DNA and Heritable Traits and Diseases. Anthony S. Fauci, Dennis L. Kasper, Dan L. Longo et al. (Editors) in: Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. Seventeenth Edition. 2008. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. USA. ISBN 978-0-07-146633-2 </ref>

The term ''shukra'' has been described to be of two forms in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] textbooks:  

The term ''shukra'' has been described to be of two forms in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] textbooks:  

#The one that is ejaculated during the process of mating, which is responsible for fertilization of ovum and thus embryogenesis, and  

#The one that is ejaculated during the process of mating, which is responsible for fertilization of ovum and thus embryogenesis, and  

#The one that is formed from ''majja'' (marrow, or the tissue that fills up bone cavities) which in turn circulates all over the body both in males and females. Reproduction is the function of this second form of ''shukra'' also. Therefore, on careful examination, it seems that the first form of ''shukra'' stands for semen in general and for sperms in particular and, the second form of ''shukra'' stands for hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of hormones that circulates all over the body. For instance, the GnRH of the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete LH which in turn stimulates testes and ovaries to form hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. As per  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] classics, the brain, and thus, the hypothalamus, is obviously a part of ''majja'' which is enclosed in ''mastaka''. [5]

#The one that is formed from ''majja'' (marrow, or the tissue that fills up bone cavities) which in turn circulates all over the body both in males and females. Reproduction is the function of this second form of ''shukra'' also. Therefore, on careful examination, it seems that the first form of ''shukra'' stands for semen in general and for sperms in particular and, the second form of ''shukra'' stands for hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of hormones that circulates all over the body. For instance, the GnRH of the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete LH which in turn stimulates testes and ovaries to form hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. As per  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] classics, the brain, and thus, the hypothalamus, is obviously a part of ''majja'' which is enclosed in ''mastaka''. <ref>Patwardhan K. Human Physiology in Ayurveda. Varanasi, India: Chaukhambha Orientalia, 2008, Jiakrishnadas series no. 134. </ref>

The term ''rasa'' has been translated by various authors as chyme, chyle, lymph, plasma etc. However, it is difficult to restrict the meaning of this term to any of such specific fluids. As ''rasa'' has been described to be a colorless fluid that gets propelled out of the heart by ''vyana vayu'' into the vascular tree, it is more logical to translate it as plasma. However, the fluids in the interstitial spaces and the fluid in the lymphatic vessels also are to be included under ''rasa'' because we find no other apt term that describes these fluids. Moreover, the word ''rasa'' includes all those bodily fluids that flow. As the major function of ''rasa'' is to nourish the other tissues, we have translated it as nutritive fluid in this context. [6]

The term ''rasa'' has been translated by various authors as chyme, chyle, lymph, plasma etc. However, it is difficult to restrict the meaning of this term to any of such specific fluids. As ''rasa'' has been described to be a colorless fluid that gets propelled out of the heart by ''vyana vayu'' into the vascular tree, it is more logical to translate it as plasma. However, the fluids in the interstitial spaces and the fluid in the lymphatic vessels also are to be included under ''rasa'' because we find no other apt term that describes these fluids. Moreover, the word ''rasa'' includes all those bodily fluids that flow. As the major function of ''rasa'' is to nourish the other tissues, we have translated it as nutritive fluid in this context. <ref>Patwardhan K. The history of the discovery of blood circulation: unrecognized contributions of Ayurveda masters. Adv Physiol Educ. 2012;36:77–82. </ref>

=== References ===

=== References ===