I AM TRYING HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT BUT....

How many of you agree with me? I know most of you. When I put those extra kilos , like everyone I spent the entire search engine for the solution. I got millions of tips and thousands of people from different companies to help me through their products. They all claim to be the best. There were hundreds of advertisements on television for a healthy lifestyle. I was in a total dilemma, I tried some of the solutions but didn't get the results. There are certain points which are overlooked. What can we do?

Pray - Since ages all the religions pray to God for the food. Chew your food and the 'fast food 'slowly. Chew the morsel and thank the persons who have made the effort to bring it to your plate. It takes around 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it's full. If you finish your food quickly within 10 minutes, the brain doesn't get the message that you have finished the meal.

Eat your meals -When we  sit down to eat at mealtimes, a part of the mind is busy telling us to lose weight, if we eat two chapatis or bread , unknowingly we eat one and cut down the calories, now it's a catch. Couple of hours gone , we feel hungry, irritated and crave anything which is available at the house. Eat a complete meal at mealtimes to avoid those cravings later.

Avoid fat burners -One of my friends came to meet me. We went shopping, and she enjoyed the street food. Back home, she drank a big cup of green tea to burn the extra fat of the greasy street food. She complains later that she is having plenty of green tea but she is not losing. There is no such foodstuffs as 'fat burner.' So eating mindlessly for the whole day and then relying on apple cider vinegar or green tea or green coffee etc etc will not help to lose weight

No cheat day -One of my patients told me to give her a very strict diet for a few days and one day would be a cheat day.It's our God gifted body not a mobile phone. we cannot put our body on the power saving mode. Imagine half of my heart is taking rest because I am consuming half of the calories and working efficiently on the weekends because of my overeating. Our real healthy body does not showcase the zero figure, colored hair or expensive facial beauty, beautiful designer tattooed body but the body which contains the healthy heart, lungs, liver and the vital organs in it. These organs need the necessary amino acids, calories ,macronutrients , micro nutrients and vitamins so how can we rely on shakes , soups, pills and weird things for the week and two days of cheat day.

No sneaking or peeking other's diets - I have known a girl for many years. She has a good job, earns well ,is a foodie, finds the normal food obsolete or out of fashion, spends on the new fitness gadgets ,likes to follow all the diet trends, hops to all dietitians hoping  for something new ,she loses weight and regains. Trying all the diet regimens makes weight loss difficult. Weight loss is a slow process. We have not gain the excess weight in a day or week so how can we lose the entire excess weight in a week.There will be ups and downs in the weight loss process and there will be stagnant periods at a time.Having patience and sticking on a balanced diet regime will help in losing weight gradually .

Use physical exercises as a help -Along with proper diet, physical activity helps to lose weight. It increases the basal metabolic rate so that the excess fat burns but spending lots of time in the gym doesn't help. Overdoing gym activities harms the body and running every time on the treadmill after eating junk foods is of no use.  Eating a balanced diet with proper physical activity will help lose.Sometimes people do rigorous workout in a day and reward themselves with a piece of  chocolate cake. This type of lifestyle affects weight loss.

Suffering from hormonal imbalance -Some medical problems, certain medications slows down the weight loss process. Fad diets or weird diet trends or supplements may be injurious to health. The main concern should be to improve  the medical condition with gradual weight loss. If I am not losing weight despite all the effort, I would go to a medical practitioner so that he can advise me on a few medical tests to confirm any hormonal imbalance.

Many enzymes, hormones are present in our body. They help in different functions in the body . We don't know what is going inside our body. The food undergoes chemical reactions in the body. Excess protein may help you to lose weight but it might not help me.  I might suffer from bloated feeling or feel uncomfortable with excess protein. Millets may help to lose weight in some and create puffiness in few.

There can be many reasons for not losing the excess weight, a qualified dietitian can solve the problem. Weight can be affected by age,sex,occupation, the physical activity, sleep , stress, medical issues, food related issues and many more.

New Year RESOLUTION?

 IT’S NEW YEAR!!

 LET’S CELEBRATE!!

 How many of you are thinking of the New Year RESOLUTION?

# Diet Consultation: Achieving a Healthy Lifestyle

As the new year begins, many of us set resolutions to improve our lives. One of the most common resolutions made, and unfortunately broken, is to adopt a healthier lifestyle. This entails making conscious choices about our diet, exercise, and overall well-being. If you are determined to make this resolution a reality, I can help you on your journey towards a healthy lifestyle through lifestyle management, diet consultation, and sharing nutritious recipes.

## Lifestyle Management: The Key to Success

To achieve a healthy lifestyle, it is essential to manage various aspects of our lives effectively. From our diet to our daily routines, every detail matters. Through lifestyle management, I can guide you in developing healthy habits and making sustainable changes that fit seamlessly into your routine. By understanding your unique needs and goals, we can create a personalized plan that ensures long-term success.

## Diet Consultation: Nourishing Your Body

One of the most crucial components of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a balanced diet. With my diet consultation services, I can assist you in creating a customized meal plan that suits your taste preferences and dietary requirements. We will focus on incorporating nutrient-rich foods while eliminating unnecessary additives and excess sugar. Together, we will explore healthier alternatives and discover new recipes that both satisfy your cravings and nourish your body.

### Benefits of Diet Consultation:

- Personalized meal plans tailored to your specific needs

- Expert guidance to make informed food choices

- Increased energy levels and improved overall health

- Weight management and control

- Reduced risk of chronic illnesses

## Healthy Recipes: 

Fueling Your Body with Goodness

A major challenge in adopting a healthy lifestyle is finding nutritious yet delicious recipes. I have curated an extensive collection of healthy recipes that are both easy to prepare and packed with flavor. From mouthwatering salads to hearty main courses, these recipes cover a wide range of cuisines and dietary preferences. By incorporating these recipes into your diet, you can enjoy wholesome meals without compromising on taste or nutrition.

## Transitioning to a Healthy Lifestyle

Transitioning to a healthy lifestyle may seem daunting at first, but with the right mindset and support, it can become a seamless process. Here are some key steps to help you on your journey:

1. **Set Clear Goals**:

 Define your health goals and establish a timeline for achieving them. This will provide you with focus and motivation throughout the process.

2. **Make Gradual Changes**: 

Instead of completely overhauling your diet overnight, introduce small changes gradually. This approach ensures sustainability and makes the transition easier to adapt to.

 - Start by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your meals

 - Swap refined grains for whole grains

 - Opt for lean protein sources such as fish, poultry, and legumes.

3. **Stay Hydrated**: 

Drinking an adequate amount of water is crucial for maintaining good health. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and limit sugary beverages.

4. **Stay Active**: 

Regular exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Find activities you enjoy and make them a part of your routine. Whether it's going for a walk, practicing yoga, or hitting the gym, find what works for you and stick to it.

## Conclusion

Embarking on the journey towards a healthy lifestyle requires dedication, commitment, and expert guidance. By connecting with me for lifestyle management, diet consultation, and access to healthy recipes, you can take the first step towards achieving your new year resolution. Remember, a healthy lifestyle is not a temporary fix but a long-term commitment that will benefit you in countless ways.

 Make this year the year you prioritize your health and well-being.

Is omitting Carbohydrates from our diet really beneficial for health?

When I was doing my Master's in Food , Nutrition and Dietetics , the internet was there but smartphones were not. Food was considered as food at that time. With the advancement of technology , synthetic foods are there and along with it the wrong concerns about food has increased. Earlier fad diets like GM diets , Liquid protein diet , Atkins diet , etc were there but the common people were unaware of it .Now almost everyone has a smartphone and every body is attached to social media and everyone is a diet guru.

A few years ago, I met a boy about 20 , he was unemployed. He didn't have money for food. He got a job in a small fitness centre. His work was to clean the centre and it's machine. The other staff helped him financially. When he got his first salary, he was so influenced by the gym trainers that he spent his salary on a big jar of protein powder. In developing countries like ours , people like this boy know about carbs and proteins . Amazing.

But does everybody know what carbohydrates are and its importance?

Carbohydrates as the name suggests contain carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are formed into units known as saccharide groups. Carbohydrates are classified according to the saccharide groups and it is further classified into the number of saccharide groups present.

First being the Monosaccharides containing only one saccharide group. It's the simplest one. The simple sugar but the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen present in it combines differently to form different simple sugars. They are

D-Glucose (Dextrose or grape sugar). It does not require digestion and can to a limited extent be absorbed by the stomach.

■Fructose (Levulose or fruit sugar). Present in honey , fruits and vegetables. It is an important commercial sweetner used particularly in soft drinks.

■Galactose Lactose breaks down into glucose and galactose.

■Sorbitol -occurs naturally in red seaweed, pears , apples , prunes and peaches. It does not raise blood sugar. It is used as a sweetener for diabetics. It also acts as a laxative .

■Mannitol -found in seaweed, pumpkin, mushroom and onions. It is very slowly absorbed from the digestive tract. It has a purgative effect. It is used to increase the urine output in patients with swelling due to fluid of the brain.

■Mannose -found in some food such as manna plants.

■Pentoses -nutritionally they are not important.

■Xylitol -present in small amounts in some fruits and vegetables. It is used in chewing gums. It decreases food intake and delays emptying of the stomach. It stimulates intestinal motility and may produce diarrhoea.

Disaccharides containing two saccharides are found in

●Sucrose (Table sugar or cane sugar or household sugar or beetroot sugar) , everyone's favourite. Inexpensive source of energy. High sucrose intake damages the liver and increases ALT /SGPT or AST /SGOT enzymes. High intake also leads to dental decay.

●Maltose-  is formed during the breakdown of starch in the process of malting barley. It is also an intermediate product formed in the process of conversion of starch into glucose.

●Lactose - (milk sugar ) sugar of human and animal milk. Easily digestible. Excess of lactose produces diarrhoea.

●Trehalose -found only in mushrooms and insects. Nutritionally not important.

Polysaccharides composed of many molecules of monosaccharides linked together.

○Starch-is the storage form of carbohydrates in the vegetable kingdom , the counterpart of glycogen in the animal kingdom. Starch is found not only in rice but in all the cereals. So it's a myth that a person is overweight by eating rice . If consumed properly rice doesn't harm the body. Starch is also found in pulses. It is found in potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, tapioca , sago , greater yams , lesser yams , and arrowroot. So the people who shout for "no carb diet" have to leave most of the foods found in this world .

○Glycogen -stored mainly in the liver and muscles. It is stored as glycogen or a reserve form of carbohydrates fuel for animals. In a normal person, any amount utilized is replenished immediately.

○Cellulose -forms the cell walls of vegetables, fruit and cereals. It is accomplished by cooking or by mastication , which mechanically breaks down the cellulose. Constipated person can be helped by cellulose which provides an unabsorbable bulk , distends the intestine and stimulates peristalsis.

○Isaphgul is cellulose which can absorb over 25 times its weight of water.

○Agar agar obtained from seaweed has properties similar to Isaphgul.

Liquid glucose complex carbohydrate predigested by hydrolysis of starch into tri , tetra -penta or higher saccharides are desired. It is widely used for the preparation of various foods.

Carbohydrates are really very important for our life . The main work of carbohydrate is to

♡ It supplies energy for the immediate use of the body.

♡ Glycogen protects the liver against bacterial toxins and poisonous substances.

♡The brain use glucose for energy at a rate of about 5g/hr

♡The efficiency of the heart as a pump depends upon the availability of carbohydrate as fuel.

♡Carbohydrate is the most efficient and economical fuel for muscles, energy is derived from glycogen in the muscles.

♡When carbohydrates and fats are supplied to meet the demand for energy, proteins are spared for growth and repair. When carbohydrates are insufficient to meet the requirements amino acids are deaminated for glucose formation and nitrogen is converted into urea by the liver and excreted by the kidneys.

♡When carbohydrates are not readily available as in starvation or cannot be utilised , fats are broken down in greater quantities for energy and an increased amount of ketone bodies are produced. These may accumulate in the blood as ketonemia or excreted in the urine as ketonuria . Therefore keto diet should be followed under the supervision of qualified dietician.

What happens when you stop eating to achieve zero figure or to become like supermodels ?

You have low blood sugar. Happens after 3-4 hours after breakfast or lunch. It gives rise to a feeling of weakness, palpitations, sweating, tremulousness , hunger and nausea. These symptoms may disappear in a short time as a result of conversion of liver glycogen into glucose. The symptoms are distressing but no physical signs are noted by the physician , you are diagnosed as 'neurotic '. Amazing isn't it?

Migraine attacks may be precipitated by low blood sugar.

What happens when boys like to workout with dumbbells and want to make macho figures but ... avoid carbohydrates ?

You will feel fatigued ,irritable. So what's the use of this type of show off when you are not feeling well from inside. To avoid muscle cramps during intense workouts, good carbohydrates are required by the body. Proteins should be spared for the growth of the muscles and carbohydrates should be included for energy utilisation.

"So avoid all the myths and fads , eat a well balanced diet and be healthy and fit forever."

 

PROTEIN : "Everybody knows about it, but how much"

PROTEIN : "Everybody knows about it, but how much"

Nowadays , everyone is a fitness guru, and can give diet knowledge on any health issues or diet issues. The most interesting thing is the food items are categorised as good food and bad food by them. In recent years, food has been graded and advertised as such. Protein is the superstar. Carbohydrate and Fat are the villain . Vitamin and mineral are in the supporting role. Antioxidants in the leading role. The best part is that one food item gets into the special appearance category. Tried by all the fitness freaks and health freaks. This year it's the green coffee; hyped by the media and these health gurus . Last year it was apple cider vinegar. The trend goes for a year and then gradually forgotten.

But I am talking about the superstar, the PROTEIN.

What is Protein?

The word protein is derived from the Greek word 'protos ' meaning first. It is the basic chemical unit of living organisms.

They are the most important constituent of food.

What does Protein do?

• -Build and maintain muscles, tendons , blood , skin , nails .

• -Help to form secretions from glands , ductless glands, hormones, enzymes, digestive juices.

• -Help in forming antibodies to build resistance to diseases.

• -Supplies energy to the body when the body is deprived of Carbs and fats. So Carbs and fats are necessary for the body so the protein is spared for its own function.

But what actually is Protein?

They are nitrogenous compounds containing nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Protein contains nitrogen but the nutritive value of protein rich foods does not depend upon the total nitrogen content but on the constituent amino acids. Gelatin is rich in nitrogen but does not contain all the essential amino acids and so is of little nutritive value.

Made up of a large number of amino acids. There are about 21 amino acids in protein of which 8 are essential, 2 are semi essential . The rest can be synthesised by the body.

During the process of digestion, proteins are broken down to amino acids by the gastric, intestinal , pancreatic juices and enzymes.

The tissues and organs select the amino acids they need for building, sustaining and repairing their own structure.

How much Protein is needed?

Earlier it was assumed that we need 1gm per kg of body weight but then the expert researchers calculated the requirements and stated that an adult person needs 0.8 grams of protein per kg body weight. We do not need a high protein diet as advertised.

So what are the facts related to Proteins ?

We will not talk about the myths.

• We do not need a high protein diet as stated earlier. If a person is of 5'8``height the sufficient amount of protein required is 55 grams to 60 gms .

• The quantity of protein is not important. The quality of protein is important. The food should contain all the essential amino acids.

• Infants and children need 1.2 g per kg body weight of protein.

• Animal protein is the same as vegetarian protein because all the protein in the diet is broken down to amino acids and supplied to the tissues and muscle.

• Physical and mental efficiency don't increase with more intake of protein. So it's a waste to have a high protein diet.

• The athletes after building up their musculature and being accustomed to physical activity do not require extra protein. So eating extra protein is a waste. It is a body building food and should not be misused to supply energy.

• Vegetarian proteins are not deficient in essential amino acids. They limit in one or more amino acids but if the diet is adequate in cereals, pulses , legumes and leafy vegetables the protein requirement with all the essential amino acids can be easily provided.

• The cereal bran and germ are rich in protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals so we should not use refined cereals. Leafy vegetables are rich source of essential amino acids. But they should be combined with other food.

• Younger children and infants should be given milk because they cannot consume cereals and leafy vegetables.

• The protein content of pulses are almost the same . Soyabean is exceptional , it contains almost double the amount of protein per 100 gms that is 43.2 g . Pulses contain about 24 g per 100 gms.

• Food should supply not only the quota of essential amino acids but also the non essential amino acids for optimal results.

• The mere administration of protein rich food does not mean that the proteins are adequately digested and utilized. The unused amino acids are not stored but deaminated and metabolized within a few hours.

• The protein requirement is closely linked with energy intake. If the energy supplied by carbohydrate and fats are adequate, the protein is utilised for its own work.

So to be fit and healthy stop counting the number of egg whites but have a well balanced diet . Enjoy your food.

"Nature, in her own wisdom, has never created a food which is entirely protein, starch or sugar."

DIET!! DIETING!! DIETITIAN!!

It always happens to me! I think it happens to most of the dietitians. Whenever I go to a social gathering and introduce myself as a dietitian, the first reaction is "oh !you are a dietitian. Suggest something, I am gaining weight. " Is diet just related to weight gain or weight loss ?

I did my internship from a government hospital to take care of patients who did not have sufficient food to eat. It was a challenging task to prescribe a diet , a nutritious diet to patients who cannot afford food. Most of them were daily wagers.Two decades later , things have changed a bit. We have globalised. We are growing economically. We are getting food items from all over the world. We have so much to choose from. The mass media is full of such advertisements which suggest what to eat and what not to.

The most interesting part is that the people suggest anybody anytime about the pros and cons of the food. Thanks to the search engines which advertise certain food items. We have become self conscious because of this diet. If you search the word "diet" in the best dictionaries of the world, it is stated as the food and drinks which is consumed on a regular basis. But the common theory of dieting is limiting your food intake and the dietitian is one who restricts the food intake. But is this the proper definition of a dietitian?

We dietitians are meant to help the people with their food so that they can lead a healthy lifestyle. Dietitians are trained for at least 5 to 6 years so that we can guide other people. Food and diet has a crucial role in our life . People need food as soon they enter this world and eat till the day they are living. And the whole journey is not dependent upon soups and salads and health drinks , etc. They do eat the real food according to the age , sex , caste , cultural beliefs , health conditions. We qualified dietitians are there for suggesting diet to people of all age groups according to their sex , caste , cultural beliefs , health conditions. Dietitians calculate the nutrients to give a balanced diet to each and every one. They calculate the micronutrients and the macronutrient for a weaning child or a school going one or a teenager or an office going person or an elderly person. Dietitians are of various types and work in various places like hospitals, health centres, fitness centers , sports nutrition, researchers, schools, food industries, etc.

Dietitians are specified as

Clinical dietitians, Community dietitians, Food service dietitians, Gerontological dietitian, Neonatal dietitians, Paediatric dietitian, Research dietitian, Administrative dietitian , Business Dietitian, Consultant dietitian. And the work is to provide a proper meal plan by calculating the nutrients.

So eat properly, respect the food . There is no miracle diet or food . No bad food or good food either. Food is a necessity and diet is vital. In schools we are taught to thank God for the food. It should be followed till later.

Enjoy your food and "Diet" well and let the Dietitian do the calculation for your "Diet -ing"

Are we really hungry at times?

HUNGER or APPETITE or SATIETY 

On weekends we go to watch movies or go shopping at the mall. What a pleasant aroma of buttered popcorn or burgers! We feel instant hunger and . munch. The aroma is irresistible. Actually we are unable to differentiate between "hunger","appetite","satiety".

Hunger is usually an unpleasant sensation that compels a person to seek food and eat it. It is a physiological condition which is associated with the contraction of the stomach. The contractions are forceful and occur for a period and then die away as the stomach passes into a resting stage. If food is not eaten , the contractions reappear later and with great intensity. There is a rumbling ,tense feeling and a feeling of emptiness. It further leads to weakness, irritability, occasional headache or even nausea.

Appetite is a pleasant sensation. It is for a certain kind of food. It is a desire.It is basically a psychological state. It is less localized than hunger.Temptation of eating chocolates or gulab jamuns or ice cream after a full meal is an appetite. Eating four rotis with the favorite veggies  instead of two normally is an appetite.

Satiety is the sensation accompanying the satisfaction of the desire for food that comes after eating. In Hindi, it is known as" tripti"or "santripti". It is basically not hunger but has less sensation than it. Hunger builds up slowly but satiety occurs rapidly.It is best observed when we are with our family and friends enjoying our favorite food.  Absence of this desire is an abnormal condition and termed as Anorexia.

Do not be HUNGRY, curb your APPETITE,feel the SATIETY from the food

Bitter gourd or Bitter melon(Momordica charantia)

Bitter gourd or Bitter melon

(Momordica charantia)

(Balsam pear; Karela;Hagalkai;Kaippakka; Karle;Kalara; Pavakkai; Kakara kayi)

India is known for its multiculturalism. The cuisine is also different in all Indian states.  In Bengali cuisine , the meal starts from a bitter food like boiled or fried bitter gourd or neem leaves or drumstick flowers followed by a vegetable,then dal ,then fish,  mutton and ends up with a sweet note like chutney and dessert. Neem leaves and drumstick flowers are seasonal but bitter gourd is available almost most of the  year so it is served daily. "It's a SuperFood."

Nutritional value: (small variety) (per 100 gms)

Moisture (83.2g) Fat (1g) Calcium (23 mg) 

Has low sodium(2.4mg) and cholesterol. 

Good amount of thiamin(0.07mg), riboflavin(0.06mg), pantothenic acid, dietary fiber(1.7gm), vitamin A,C(96mg),folates,B6,iron(2mg) , phosphorus(38mg), zinc(0.39 mg), potassium(171 mg), manganese(0.08mg).

It is a poor source of magnesium (17 mg)

According to the exchange lists in dietary calculations bitter gourd is a low carbohydrate vegetable providing 7 gms of carbohydrate, 2 gms protein and 32 calories and comes under the category of "other vegetables" and the serving amount is 150 gms. 

Good for health:

Bitter gourd helps in overall health care. 

In Gheranda Samhita, bitter gourd is prescribed in a yogic menu for a yogic practitioner.

Bitter gourd is recommended in Constipation. 

Bitter gourd is considered to be useful in intestinal worm infestations.

Remedy for Piles.

In chronic gastritis, bitter gourd is found useful. 

Bitter gourd is helpful for people suffering from Bile stones.

Very good for people with Diabetes. Juice of the fruit and the leaves is recommended in some cases. Karela bark juice is prescribed in Unani medicine. 

It was found that bitter gourd was effective in lowering blood sugar. The result was reported in the Indian journal of medical research (vol.90.1989).It contains a chemical which acts like insulin. 

People suffering from Rheumatism can have bitter gourd.

Bitter gourd is a good source in prevention of Dietary deficiency anaemia .

Low in calories promotes  weight loss. 

Bitter gourd is allowed in Respiratory disorders and asthma.

It maintains a healthy liver and bladder.

It builds immunity. 

It lowers bad cholesterol. It was found that bitter gourds have a preventive value against lipid peroxidation by hydrogen radicals. Results were published in Fitoterapia (1991)

It prevents cancer. 

It energies naturally. 

It purifies blood.

It is anti-aging. 

It has healing qualities. 

It cures hangovers. 

It is great for eye health. 

It prevents skin problems like rosacea,eczema, acne and deep skin infections. 

Bitter gourd prevents hair problems,  treats dandruff and split ends, treats dry and itchy scalp, treats hair loss, treats rough and tangled hair, treats gray hair and oily hair and makes the hair shiny.

Bitter gourd is allowed for pain sufferers of the neck and lower back.

Eating Bitter gourd 

It should be cooked as a vegetable with seeds. The vegetable should be covered while cooking to avoid the loss of nutrients. Mostly it is soaked in salt water to reduce the bitterness. When young, it may be sliced and preserved after drying for use in the off-season. The fruit is also pickled.

Avoid bitter gourd 

It is better to avoid bitter gourds in  a bland low residue diet. The bland low residue diet is prescribed to patients suffering from Gastrointestinal disorders such as gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery, ulcerative colitis and diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome. 

It can create Side effects which :

Causes headache 

Causes gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Can cause stomach ulcers.

It might be toxic to children 

Pregnant women should not consume it as it can bring about menstruation and abortion. 

People with Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may develop "Favism " after eating its seeds.

It can dangerously lower blood sugar levels. 

It can also interact with some chemotherapy medicines as well as Paclitaxel and vinblastine medicines. 

Mango tree is beneficial too"Aam ke aam guthliyon ke daam "

MANGO 

This word only reminds of a big ripe mango,  just sink your teeth into the flesh and indulge into the juiciness of the delicacy. It's really the best dessert fruit. Just think of summer and the mango. But why only the fruit ?

The huge tree with It's branches open wide to give relief from the scorching heat and give shade to everyone in need .

The whole tree is beneficial for health. According to Ayurveda,  the bark, leaves, shoots, roots , flowers, the unripe fruit, and the ripe fruit are very healthy. 

 Just consult an Ayurveda professional before trying on yourself. 

Mango has its significance in Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Purana .

During religious occasions,  the bunch of leaves or the pallava is placed on the pot .The leaves symbolise life.

Bark is burnt in Havana to purify the air, the wood is used to burn pyres. The wood is used to make durable furniture.

The whole tree is anti viral, anti parasitic, antiseptic, antitussive,antiasthmatics, expectorant,cardiotonic,contraceptive,  aphrodisiac, hypotensive, laxative,beneficial to digestion. 

Mango Leaves 

• Treats diabetes (contains tannins and anthocyanin)

• Treat high uric acid or gout

• Treats unhealthy gums and teeth (mouthwash)

• Refresh the body and relieves restlessness 

• As a fertility drugs 

• Reduce the risk of hypertension 

• Overcomes nervousness 

• Treats gallstones and kidney stones 

• Cures respiratory ailments 

• Cures dysentery 

• Relieves ear pain 

• Heal burns

• Prevent hiccups 

• Strengthen the stomach 

• Good source of vitamins 

• Rich in antioxidants 

• Treating vascular apathies and retinopathy 

Research has been done on young leaves, the effect has been observed in gastrointestinal disorders such as infection due to E.coli, Salmonella typhi NCTC 74, Salmonella typhi 62, Vibrio cholerae 1023 , Salmonella sanei NK 4010.

Mango young leaf shoots 

• Improves taste 

• Useful in anorexia 

• Absorbent, astringent, bowel binding, useful in irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhoea 

• Balance kapha and pitta doshas

 Tender leaves in the form of a powder are believed to be effective against diabetes. 

The local application of the ashes of the leaves is considered to be useful against burns and scalds.

Mango bark

• Absorbent,  bowel binding, useful in IBS, diarrhoea, bleeding from the intestine,  uterus, lungs or piles,for leucorrhoea,skin diseases, inflammation of the throat and nose.

• It is a good tonic. The dose of the liquid extract is 5 to 10 drops.

The bark contains tannin.

Mango root

• Absorbent 

• Bowel binding ,useful in irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhoea 

• Balance kapha and pitta doshas 

Mango flower 

• Detoxify blood. 

• Relieves cold

• Improves taste, appetiser, useful in anorexia. 

• Absorbent, bowel binding, useful in IBS and diarrhoea. 

• Indicated in diarrhoea, dysentery, urinary tract disorders, diabetes.

Dried  Flowers of the mango are prescribed for chronic dysentery and inflammation of the urinary bladder.

Unripe mangoes 

Contains gallic acid in it which imparts a sour taste to the food .

It contains cellulose,  potassium hydroxide, mallic, citric and tartaric acids. 

• Improves taste, useful in anorexia 

• Vitiates vata doshas 

• Increases Pitta doshas 

• May cause blood disorders such as nasal bleeding or heavy periods. 

• Acts as cardiac tonic,  congenial for heart. 

• Improve skin tone and complexion 

• Useful in throat disorders 

• Improve muscle tissues, blood tissues, strengthen immunity. 

Excessive consumption of sour mango fruit causes weak digestion, strength, recurrent chronic fever,vitamin disorders, bleeding disorders, constipation, bloating, eye disorders. 

To counter the side effects ginger water is advised or cumin seeds with sochal salt is advised 

Dry mango powder is useful in constipation. 

Mango seeds 

Indicated vomiting, diarrhoea, burning sensation in chest. 

Mango seed kernel is useful in diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome and relieves burning sensation in the chest.

The mango seed has been described as a valuable remedy for roundworms.

Mango oil

Useful in oral disorders,oral ulcers and bad breath. It has a good smell. Pacifies kapha and vata doshas. 

During excessive external bleeding ,injury and wound, bark, flowers, leaves, seed kernel dry powders are applied externally.  Due to the astringent properties they stop bleeding and heal wounds quickly. 

Mango trees are precious. Due to globalisation,  the big trees are cut down so that the rising human population can accommodate, but we can try to plant it in the garden or road side so that the future generations can benefit from it.

The very special "Aam" fruit , Mango, "The king of fruits"..

The term fruit derives its name from 'fructua' means to enjoy. The edible envelope contains the seeds of a plant or a tree. 

Mango (Mangifera indica) is the best loved and choicest fruits of India and occupies a prominent place among the fruits of the world. It is a tropical fruit available during the hot season. It has been cultivated in India for more than 4000 years and it is believed to have originated from the foothills of Himalayas. 

The fruit is a large drupe in varied shape ,size, colour and flavour. 

The shape is normally round,oval or oblong and the size ranges from small ones to giant ones. 

The skin of the fruit may be thin or thick, leathery, green, yellow or red or a fanciful combination of these colours. The flesh may be whitish, yellow or orange. 

The pulp of some may be fibrous throughout while may be absent or very little in others. The flesh may be firm , soft or juicy or subacid or sweet and richly sweet smelling. 

The fruit contains a solitary seed (stone) ovoid ,oblique enclosed in a hard compressed endocarp. 

About 1000 types of mangoes are grown all over India,  each having its own peculiar smell, taste, flavour and consistency of pulp. The famous and the commercial varieties are Alphanso, Malda, Chousa, Dussehri, Pairi,Neelam, Malgova, Safeda, Banganpalli, Totapuri, Neelam and Langda.

Mango has a rich luscious aromatic flavour and a delicious taste in which sweetness and acidity are delicately blended. This makes the mango fruit one of the most highly prized dessert fruits of the tropics. 

It is the National fruit of India. 

It is commonly eaten in large quantities and provides a good source of calories during the season. It has a subtle astringent taste.

 A whole fruit supplies about 50 to 100 kcal, mainly derived from fructose. These are more than in fruits like oranges and papaya which range from 30 to 40 kcal and slightly less than in the bananas (80 to 150 kcal ) . It supplies about 25 mg vitamin C . Mango contains beta carotene,  a precursor of vitamin A. Carotenoids in mango total 12.5 g per 100 g fresh pulp;about 60% is present as beta carotene, which is higher than in any other fruit. 

A question might arise that how can nutritionists state the exact nutritive value of a particular food? Carotene is estimated by extraction of the total pigments with alcohol and partitioning it with petroleum ether after saponification. The other pigments were removed by treatment with calcium carbonate and the yellow colour was measured as carotene. 

The mango fruit, like most fruits, has low values of protein( 0.6 ) and fats (0.4), 0.4 minerals, 0.7 g fibre, 16.9 carbohydrates, 14 mg calcium, 16 mg phosphorus, 1.3 mg iron per 100 gms.

Nicotinic acid (a vitamin of the B group ) is fairly high in Alphonso mango and vitamin C is high in the Langra mango variety. 

Mango is a good source of copper. (0.11mg/ 100 gms) and fluoride (1.3 ppm/100gms) 

The fruit is considered to be a laxative and to have diuretic properties. 

It is prescribed for increasing the weight particularly in children who are underweight. In the case of infants and very young children who cannot eat and digest leafy vegetables 50 to 100 grams of mangoes can be given. 

The powder of the skin of the unripe fruit is given in dysentery or other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also given as a cure for excessive menstrual bleeding. 

For skin diseases,  the application of liquid oozing out on cutting the stalk of the fruit, mixed with lime juice is recommended. 

The gum of the tree is also used for skin diseases. 

The local application of the gum resin mixed with lime juice is particularly effective against scabies. 

 The beta carotene of mango acts as an antioxidant by neutralising harmful elements that could damage skin. It acts as an arsenal for eczema.

In view of the demonstration of the protective effect of antioxidants in prevention of cancer and Ischaemic Heart disease special attention needs to be given to mangoes. 

In the Unani system of medicine, the mango fruit is believed to have strong antispasmodic, weight increasing and antipyretic properties. 

Useful in treating disorders of vata doshas imbalance such as neuralgia, paralysis, neuropathy, constipation, bloating, etc.

Nourishing and calming.

Does not increase Pitta.

Improves sperm and semen quantity and quality. 

Improves strength and immunity.

Improves skin quality.

Indicated in excessive thirst and tiredness 

Squeezed mango juice is laxative. 

 Can even be applied over hair to improve shine and strength. 

Adequate intake of Vitamin A not only prevents cancer of the epithelial cells or skin cancer but also reverse it. 

Sweet mango with milk is aphrodisiac. 

Fleshy fruits like mango can be given to patients suffering from ulcerative colitis, irritable colon syndrome, tropical sprue,viral hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, jaundice, type 1 and 2 nephritis, surgical operation, severe injury. As it is gluten free it can be given in celiac disease. It can be given to children suffering from the first or second stage of cirrhosis of the liver.

The vegetarians obtain the required amount of carotene which is easily supplied by 100 g of mango. 

Among the poor in India, the ingestion of carotene rich mango in season builds up liver stores and helps tide over the deficiency during the rest of the year. The cheaper varieties of mangoes,  which frequently grow wild in villages are the best source of carotenoids but are regrettably becoming scarce. Planting mango trees in scarcity areas will make the most positive long term contribution to alleviating blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. 

The deficiency of vitamin A is common among children of the poor in the country and is a public health problem leading to blindness. As an effective approach to prevent vitamin A deficiency among the children in rural areas daily consumption of mangoes is recommended in the season. A proper and an effective education of the mother in the use of carotene rich foods is essential to fight the deficiency. The advice given to the mothers should be practical and should emphasise the use of carotene rich foods locally available in different seasons and readily acceptable. 

Excessive ingestion of carotene containing mangoes may produce carotenemia. In hypothyroidism and diabetes, carotene is not converted to vitamin A and carotenemia may develop. 

Excess intake may cause indigestion and diarrhoea. 

Some people with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract can react violently to this and should therefore learn from experience the quantity of mango that they can tolerate. 

Mango juice is Not good for the heart in excess amounts. 

Some children are very fond of eating unripe mangoes.  This may aggravate any preexisting inflammation of the throat and the tonsils.

Raw mangoes should be avoided by asthmatics. 

An average mango contains more calories and is usually best avoided in diabetes.  Fibre rich fruits with low glycemic index such as guava, amla, papaya, pomegranate and apple are preferable than fruits such as banana, mango ,custard apple, sapota.

Mangoes have to be avoided by diabetics .If the sugar is controlled, a few pieces of the fruit may be allowed twice a week instead of the regular quota of fruit. 

 Mango is best enjoyed as a dessert fruit. It can be enjoyed as a mango drink,  smoothie, shakes, aamras,aam ki kadhi, salsa,and salad.

Enjoy the summers in India with a glass of chilled mango shake . 

White sugar , oh no!!

It's not the only cause of ill health or diabetes

My granny had about a hundred cousins! ! It's not so surprising. At those times ,about a  century  ago, parents had more than half a dozen children, they further had their families which resulted in so many cousins and siblings. But the amazing fact is that the healthier individuals among them had their average age of eighty-five. I can recall, when I was a child, there were occasional get together and people used to enjoy the meals. Some of them ate about a dozen sweets in a few minutes. They didn't suffer from hypertension, diabetes or these trendy diseases. Both of my grandparents had a natural death due to old age and most of  their siblings are healthy otherwise. Few of them inherited diabetes or hypertension from their parents. But the rest were healthy till they lived.

The reason for their good  health was that they didn't know much about the technology and ate everything that was available at those times. But unfortunately, the availability was lesser than in recent years. They had sugar , fried foods , snacks and savoury but it was not available in the market. Nothing was processed or refined so the snacks and all had to be prepared at home. With so many mouths to feed the portion lessened. Now we have more money than them and fewer people to feed and we can have the big portion for ourselves. We can blame the normal sugar or wheat or rice for our bad health and can indulge in chips , diet foods , ice cream, packets ready to cook and eat. 

So ,is sugar the main culprit or something else?

Does consumption of sugar in tea or coffee lead to high blood sugar levels? 

Not exactly. We consume "hidden sugar " through many food items. But eating sugar doesn't lead to diabetes or high blood sugar.

So what is Diabetes ?

Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus means diabetes =flow through; mel =honey is a chronic metabolic disorder with a strong hereditary basis associated with high blood sugar and usually with a passage of sugar in the urine.

Classification of Diabetes -

Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus  (IDDM)

Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus  (NIDDM)

Malnutrition related Diabetes Mellitus  (MRDM)

Fibrocalculous Diabetes Mellitus  (FCDM)

Protein Deficient Diabetes Mellitus  (PDDM)

Impaired Glucose Tolerance  (IGT)

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus  (GDM)

The meal should be planned according to the type of diabetes and the herbs and supplements should be taken under the supervision of medical professionals.

Healthy, natural food along with physical activity is best advised. The information on the food packaging is important so it is better to check the labels while shopping.