About

Why I’m on the Journey of “Food as Medicine”?

By Mamatha Shekar, Ph.D                      Original: Nov 2022        Updated: Aug 2025
Founder, Maadhev Inc.

A Personal Awakening

My path into the world of “Food as Medicine” began not in a laboratory, but at home—during one of the most painful periods of my life. My father, Dr. M. Mahadevappa, a respected scientist and recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, was undergoing cancer treatment. As we searched for ways to support his healing, I found myself introduced to alternative and natural medicines through many well-wishers.

At the same time, I was quietly struggling with a chronic skin condition—melasma. Over the course of 2 years, it worsened significantly, likely aggravated by the emotional stress of caregiving and eventually grieving his loss. Every dermatologist I consulted—both in the U.S. and India—offered only topical chemical and laser treatments and little hope. The root cause remained a mystery.

But then, something changed.

A Simple Yet Powerful Shift

In July 2022, I attended a talk by Dr. Khadar Vali in the SFO Bay Area. His talk on ancient Indian dietary practices and gut health resonated deeply with my own scientific background—35+ years in genomics, the gut microbiome, and precision medicine (retired as Vice-President of a biotech company in silicon valley, have Ph.D in molecular genetics).

He spoke about Ambali, a fermented porridge made from millets. Though I had been consuming millets for nearly a decade—eliminating gluten and white rice—this was different. I began consuming Ambali daily in late July.

The Game Changer: Bull-Driven ULTRA Cold Pressed Oils

In November 2022, I added another of his recommended practice to my routine: one tablespoon of bull-driven ULTRA cold-pressed oil every morning on an empty stomach. The results were undeniable. My skin cleared up further. 

Here’s how I rotated the oils: Week 1: Sesame oil.    Week 2: Niger oil — brought a surprising sense of calm and drowsiness (I later discovered it aids sleep).
Week 3: Safflower oil  Week 4: Flaxseed oil

I didn't know what Bull-driven oil was.  So in the Fall of 2022, I started researching on it and in October 2022, I visited multiple oil extraction sites near Mysore. Among them, Desiri Naturals stood out. Their approach—scientific, passionate, and rooted in tradition—left a lasting impression. I understood why Dr. Khadar so strongly advocates for bull-driven oils over cold pressed oils. Refined oils are a big NO.

MAADHEV Is Born

Back in the U.S., friends quickly noticed the improvement in my skin and wanted to try the same oils—but sourcing fresh, bull-driven oil was a challenge. That’s what led me to start Maadhev Inc. in February 2023, initially taking orders through a simple spreadsheet. Interest grew rapidly, with health enthusiasts requesting more authentic, traditionally prepared products. This demand expanded our offerings to over 50 items. Our functional website launched in December 2023, with generous help from a volunteer for the second version. We continue to keep overhead low to stay true to our mission of giving back to the farming community.

BEST FIT FOR MY DREAM AND EXPERIENCE
This initiative perfectly aligned with my professional background and my dream to continue my father's legacy—supporting farmers while improving health in the U.S.

What began as a personal journey has become a growing movement. As of July 2025, Maadhev has grown from just 10 to over 1,500 patrons, purely through word of mouth. The greatest validation? Customers buying the same oils and products for their parents in India.

Maadhev's UNIQUE Offering

Maadhev has always focused on providing fresh food and hence it is MADE to ORDER and AIR-LIFTED. We might be the only company that provides Manufacturing date along with expiry.

Over time, I continued to uncover more foods and practices from ancient Indian wisdom that align perfectly with today’s scientific understanding of health. Our product range has now expanded to over 40 items, including:

  • ULTRA Cold-pressed oils (bull-driven, wood-pressed)
  • Snacks: Millet-based, nutritious nut bars, laddoos, chivdas and natural protein rich snacks (Sev, Lilva Papdi bean fries, etc.)
  • Pure best quality Kashmir origin products like Mongra saffron, single-clove garlic, almonds, walnuts kahwa tea, etc.
  • Personal care products made with herbal ingredients and oils like soaps, henna, Indigo, multan mitty, lip balm, lipsticks, etv.
  • Purely Plant based Cleaning Supplies (coming soon).

I believe bull-driven seed oils are nature’s original supplements—rich in essential fatty acids (OMEGA 3 and 6) and micronutrients. They're not just cooking ingredients; they’re functional foods.

Everything Maadhev carries is something we personally use and stand behind. Maadhev sources mostly from FPO (Farmer Produce Organization) and rural cottage industries empowered by women and 100% from only ethical small businesses whose mission is also rooted in helping community first.

Looking Ahead: Clean Snacking & Community Healing

One of the most overlooked sources of modern ailments is the constant snacking on foods made with refined oils. Dry skin, bloating, hormonal imbalance, fatigue—these are not just random symptoms. They’re clues from the body. That’s why we’re working on creating snacks that use cold-pressed oils and whole ingredients—foods that nourish instead of harming.
It’s a movement. A return to wisdom for good health. A journey back to the roots.

Lady Farmer Awards

With the help of Maadhev patrons, through our family trust, we have increased the number of awards given to progressive small-scale lady farmers in Karnataka and Bihar to 40 in the year 2025.  With your support, we plan to expand to 100 including the states of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.  The program is implemented through government grass root level NGOs called as KVK (Krishi Vignyana Kendra) run under the umbrella of ICAR.

Please view the picture captures of the LADY FARMER AWARDS given in the past 3 years by clicking here.

Learn, Share, and heal together

Maadhev hosts free Info Sessions throughout the year—about 8 annually—featuring experts and occasionally patients who’ve experienced healing with natural products. Past recordings are available here, and upcoming sessions are announced in our WhatsApp group.

I welcome you to join and participate in this active WhatsApp group where members share their healing journeys—from skin and gut issues to thyroid, sleep, and menopause-related symptoms, etc.

Final Thoughts

I started Maadhev not as a business venture, but as a heartfelt response to a personal health symptom of Melasma and to honor requests from friends. Along the way, I discovered something much larger—a return to the wisdom of food not only as the first medicine but as preventive medicine.

Eating healthy leads to mental clarity as WE ARE WHAT WE EAT. Hence if you’re looking for fresh, authentic and chemical-free foods that support the health of your family specially child's and grandchild's well-being, I invite you to explore MAADHEV's offerings. This is not just a store.  

Let’s NOURISH TO FLOURISH —one step, one meal, one family at a time.