Myths and speculations : Dietitian’s Diary

 Myths and speculations 

Nature has its own way of reviving the old ways and teaching us its importance. Recent reports of annual health checkups gave an alarming signal. It was like या तो सुधर जाओ नहीं तो हम जबरन सुधार देंगे 😁. Anyways we ( me and my partner in crime, my better half 🤪) decided to abide by the suggested rectifications in our distorted diet. Our physician was astonished by the similarity in the medical reports we both had. We had similar discrepancies and similar deficiencies. अब एक जैसा खाएँगे तो एक सी बीमारियाँ भी तो होंगी 😉. It’s said, after 15 years of marriage husband wife become the mirror image of each other. That’s why they start fighting more like brother and sister on trivial issues 😳. Even we were having identical medicines for common diseases. 

Sunshine vitamin ( Vit D) deficiency has become very common. Somehow we very categorically flaunt it in public, just in case people don’t know that we have an air-conditioned house and office 😅😅. But the myth associated with it is that it helps in weight loss which is a persistent problem for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. We become obese because of our excessive calorie intake or reduced physical activity, this is the prime cause, other reasons just play a minimal role. It’s absolutely true that it is an immunity booster and also a mood enhancer as it helps in increasing the production of the hormone serotonin, responsible for mood enhancers. Few pieces of research also supported the fact that Vit D helps in lowering the blood sugar level. So you see many lifestyle diseases (Diabetes, depression, bone loss, hair loss, muscle cramps, etc.) are associated with our sunshine vitamin. 

We stay indoors for our comfort but later repent it by taking supplements. Nature has taught us to spend some time in the sun or pay for it. The decision rests with us individuals. Salmon fish, egg, white mushroom, cheese, and fortified food are diet-based sources of Vit D. 

Hospitals are a pretty dreadful place to be. For a decade hospitals have changed their look. Now central air conditioning has made it a more bearable place. Charges are very high but in terms of facilities, it’s praiseworthy. इसलिए annual health checkup करवाने में कोई बुरी बात नहीं है , कमस्कम fasting blood sugar test के बाद पोषक नाश्ते की झलक और स्वाद  मिल जाता है , that is bonus 😋😋. Its been regularly advised to get necessary health checkups done at least yearly so as to keep an eye on the basic parameters. Prevention is better than cure, we all know🤓 hence follow it. 

Why preferred way to lose weight is intermittent fasting? Not advisable at all, unless it’s an absolute necessity. It has become sought-after practice amongst the younger lot as they want everything to happen super-fast. कहते हैं ना, हथेली पर आम ज़माना. But do they ever realize shortcuts are temporary? Gradual weight loss sustains. Heard from many youngsters that they don’t want to get up in the morning just to pass the fasting hours sleeping and eventually convenient to stay hungry. So for them, every day is करवाचौथ का व्रत 🤩 where they are not pampered by their respective spouse😂😂. Staying hungry for a long duration may increase the weight or increase weakness and later create complications or deficiencies in the body. 

We are reverting back to our village food grains. My granny told me “गाँव में लोबिया तो गाए खाती है जिससे दूध अधिक हो और शहरों में आदमी लोग खाते हैं ?”  Was difficult to explain to her that we eat it to improve protein intake. We are now   Adding various millets like bajra, jowar, ragi, etc. to our Daily diet as a wheat flour replacement. Every other individual finds himself Gluten allergic. Earlier polished lentils were preferred but nowadays, grains with skin in most natural form are recommended by the nutritionists, produced using manure of cow dung, devoid of chemical fertilizers popularly known as organic farm produce available at upmarket Kirana stores by paying an exorbitant price. How uncool it is?

Similarly, we have many myths regarding the timing of our food we consume and the latest is, finish dinner by 8 pm. The body is not time-conscious but yes, it takes a certain period to digest, so being active at least for an hour after having dinner, is most important. Carbs are not fattening but the calories associated with them have to be checked. It’s a myth to avoid carbs and having a keto diet or high protein diet for lowering blood sugar and for weight loss. We should remember carbs are quickest source of energy, so choose appropriately. 

The simple formula for weight loss is 

input of the body < output of the body 

( Calorie intake)  ( Calorie burning)

Hence follow this rule to stay heart-healthy, in shape and pocket-friendly. 

We speculate about myths and risks associated with our food science before finding the truth in it. 

Please feel free to ask any queries related to diet .....I am here to answer 🙏🙏