I am on a ketos diet so I avoid sugar, dairy products, wheat

In the disciplined words of Puneet Issar, there lies a reflection of ancient self-mastery and modern awareness: “I am on a ketos diet, so I avoid sugar, dairy products, wheat, grain, or pulses.” Though born of contemporary science, this declaration carries the spirit of timeless wisdom—the recognition that strength of body and clarity of mind come not from indulgence, but from control, balance, and purposeful restraint. His words echo the age-old truth that the path to mastery begins not in the world outside, but in the inner kingdom of desire.

To declare that one “avoids” is not an act of denial—it is an act of choice, of sovereignty. The ketos diet, known today for its focus on fats and the exclusion of carbohydrates, is not merely a regimen of food but a practice of discipline, echoing the austerities of the ancient world. The warriors of Sparta, the monks of the East, the ascetics of the Himalayas—all knew that self-control was the first weapon in the arsenal of greatness. Issar’s restraint, though modern in form, stands in the same lineage: a decision to rise above appetite and to shape the body not as a prisoner of craving, but as a vessel of will.

In the age of abundance, where food is not a struggle but a constant temptation, such restraint becomes even more heroic. To reject sugar, wheat, and grain—the very symbols of comfort and convenience—is to turn away from the easy path. It is to confront the restless spirit within that seeks pleasure in excess. The ancients called this battle the war of the flesh and the spirit. The Stoic philosopher Seneca warned that indulgence weakens not only the body but also the soul, making one a servant of desire. Issar’s diet, then, is not only about nutrition—it is a declaration of freedom. He eats with intention, not compulsion; he nourishes his purpose, not his impulses.

This way of eating—rooted in ketosis, where the body burns fat instead of sugar—mirrors the transformation that all seekers of discipline must undergo. For the body, when denied its easy fuel, adapts; it becomes stronger, more efficient, more self-reliant. So too does the soul, when denied indulgence, learn to draw energy from deeper wells of peace and clarity. The ancients would call this alchemy—the art of turning what is coarse into what is pure, of converting need into strength. Just as gold is refined by fire, so is character refined by discipline. Issar’s practice is, therefore, not mere dietary preference—it is the flame of transformation made manifest in the flesh.

Consider the example of Milarepa, the great Tibetan mystic, who lived for years in solitude, sustaining himself on nothing but wild nettles. He grew so lean that his body turned green from the herbs he consumed, yet from that austerity arose enlightenment and power. His story, though extreme, mirrors the truth that Issar’s words imply: when one aligns one’s intake with one’s intention, the body becomes a tool of the will, and the spirit gains dominion over matter. The modern seeker may not live in caves or fast for days, but the principle remains eternal—discipline transforms hunger into focus, and focus into power.

Issar’s avoidance of dairy, grains, and pulses also hints at another wisdom: the understanding that not everything that is good for one is good for all. He knows his body, its needs, and its responses. This awareness—the union of knowledge and intuition—is what the ancients called sophrosyne, or “wise moderation.” To follow the body’s truth rather than fashion’s whim is to live in harmony with nature. The Greek physician Hippocrates taught that each man must eat according to his constitution, that balance is the key to health. Issar’s example is a call to the same harmony: to listen, to understand, and to nourish the self with awareness rather than imitation.

The lesson from his words is clear: discipline is liberation. In mastering what we consume, we reclaim mastery over who we are. Whether through a ketos diet or another form of mindful living, the essence is the same—awareness, intention, and balance. Do not eat to fill emptiness; eat to fuel purpose. Do not indulge to escape your struggles; strengthen yourself to face them. Let your diet, your habits, and your choices all serve a higher order—the cultivation of a life that is whole, deliberate, and free.

So, let Puneet Issar’s words stand as a modern echo of ancient truth: that the body is both temple and weapon, and what we put into it determines what we can draw forth from it. To live with discipline is not to renounce joy—it is to refine it, to make it sacred. Eat simply, think clearly, and live deliberately. For the one who rules his appetite rules himself, and the one who rules himself holds the quiet power of a king.