DIET – This is something which people are skeptical about. It is actually not
altering one’s present diet altogether. But, Eating the Right Quantity of Food
at the Right Time.
Rather, it should be termed as “NUTRITION” which nourishes your body with
proper eating. This nourishment is done with the help of six nutrients found in
nature – Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals & last but not the
least WATER.
All these nutrients play an important role in our body to function properly. So,
there should not be a ‘NO CARB’ or ‘ONLY PROTEIN’ diet (a FAD diet) that
needs to be followed to get down on your weight. A right proportion of all
these nutrients should be taken care of. It is also the quality of Carbohydrates
that matters, as they are the source of energy given to us. The Simple
Carbohydrates found in Sugar and White flour needs to be cut down,
replacing this with Complex ones found in Whole wheat, Jowar, Ragi, Bajra
and Oats.
Also, it is important to understand the importance of Protein in our diet. These
are the building blocks and repair agents. Every cell needs protein to maintain
its life. Protein, however, needs to be complete to give the desired benefits to
our body. The complete proteins are those which contain all the eight
essential amino acids. These are found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk and
all dairy products, soya and sprouts. Nuts and legumes (peas and beans)
contain some but not all the essential amino acids; these are known as
incomplete proteins. Protein is also the primary substance used to replace
worn-out or dead cells.
FATS again play a very important role, though it is always considered with
doubts. Everywhere you look, fat-free is in! But, anything in excess is bad,
and so is the elimination of a basic food group from your diet. Rather,
replacing the bad fat with good fat that is something to be done in the diet.
Eating the right type of fatty acid (polyunsaturated) is important for excellent
cardiac and other organ functions. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids,
omega-3 is with extreme benefits for maintaining good health. Flax is one of
the richest sources of omega-3. Flaxseeds can be roasted and ground before
consuming.
Vitamins and Minerals though classified under Micronutrients act as
antioxidants and are equally important for life. Vitamins need to be
supplemented in small quantities every day for optimum health of the skin and
body. They are of types – A, B, C, D, E and K. These are found in brightcoloured fruits, green leafy vegetables, brown rice, whole grains, eggs, dairy
products, nuts and oilseeds, fortified cereals. Minerals are needed for the
stability and functioning of various vitamins. Some minerals are also good
antioxidants and help maintain healthy skin by capturing free radicals. Some
important ones are Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, Manganese,
Copper, and Iron.
Water despite being one of the most important is always avoided. This
Nutrient is again important to balance the electrolytes. Also, being a good
metabolic booster helps to rid of the excess fat stored in the adipose tissue. It
also maintains the health of the skin giving it a more glowing and younger
look. So, do not make THIRST as your indicator of having water, as it is a sign
of DEHYDRATION.
Eat to Live Healthily
