Abstract Food and drinks exert profound effects on both physical and mental well-being and play a central role in preserving human health. Although modern nutritional science focuses on biochemical components such as macro-and micronutrients, the Unani medical system integrates a holistic framework that features individualized and dynamic dietary regulation. Firmly grounded in the doctrine of Mizāj (temperament), Akhlāṭ Arba‘a (four humors), and Asbāb Sitta Darūriyya (six essential factors), Unani dietetics considers not only what to consume, but also when, how, and under what conditions food should be consumed. Acknowledging the concept of Ilāj bil Taghdhiya (dietotherapy), Unani scholars such as Rāzī, Ibn Sīna, and Rabban Tabarī considered food as both the source of nourishment and the medicine, a central pillar to health preservation and disease prevention. This review explores general dietary guidelines enumerated in Unani classical texts and correlates them with scientific evidence from contemporary nutritional science. Through an extensive review and analysis of classical Unani texts and modern literature, key dietary dimensions are identified, which include meal timing and quantity, food quality, emotional state during eating, food selection based on temperament and season, fluid intake, and postmeal practices. The findings revealed striking coherence between Unani principles and modern concepts such as chrononutrition, personalized nutrition, and mindful eating. These convergences indicate the enduring scientific relevance of traditional dietary wisdom and its potential integration into modern preventive and therapeutic nutrition strategies.
Anwar et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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