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WELLNESS
The hidden truth
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Food Know what to eat to stay healthy
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Photo: S. S. Kumar
tip Avoid junk food, eat traditional meal instead
Every time you carefully chose a packet of ready-to-eat food that said ‘No added trans-fat’ ‘No added MSG’, you probably chuckled at your smartness and thought, “See, how aware I am”. But you didn’t realise you had missed a bigger point. No doubt, trans-fats are bad for health but the bigger enemy is the saturated fat. Any food item can be considered healthy only if it is devoid of bad saturated fats but there are very few food items in the supermarket that are free from it. The first National Health Writers and Communication Convention, organised by HEAL (Health Essayist and Authors League), had the audience thinking as doctors from across the country got together to discuss vitals health issues that concern India today at ASSOCHAM House in the Capital recently.
Obesity and diabetes are two major concerns in India today. HPS Sachdev, Consultant, Paediatrics and Clinical Epidemology, pointed out, “You don’t develop diabetes overnight. The seeds are sown right from childhood.”
Shashank Joshi, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, provided some pointers. “India is essentially a carbohydrates country, be it the consumption of rice or wheat. And to make that carb tasty we add fat. More the quantity of carb, more are the chances of heart attack or diabetes.”
On the other hand, proteins, which have a high satiety index, are lacking in our diet. What are also missing are essential vitamins — B12, folate and D. This lack can be directly linked to heart diseases. Calcium is yet another deficient vital element in our meals. “Increasing number of dietary habits without milk and curd are main reasons for calcium deficiency,” said Shashank.
The solution
That a return to nature is the best principle to follow was the unanimous opinion. Stick to whole cereals, cook in traditional oils like groundnut, sesame and mustard oil, and avoid substances with invisible fat like coconut, peanut and paneer as the advice. Increase the protein intake by adding different kind of dals, sprouts, curd, soya and tofu to your diet. More fibre-rich food like oats and soya will help fight diabetes. Also eat enough peas, beans and buttermilk. While vitamin B12 can be found in abundance in cheese, milk, fish and meat, folate content is high in spinach, cabbage, tomatoes and eggs. Remember it is not about eating a lot but about eating right. “All the vital nutrients can be found in nature. We don’t need to take supplements and pills to gain them,” said Sachdev.
The Japanese secret to a long healthy life was quoted — no smoking, reduce fried food and alcohol and increase exercise. And this works for everyone. Try it.
MANGALA RAMAMOORTHY
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