Right eating habits and good nutrition crucial for achieving good health

Team L&M

With an objective to generate greater awareness on the issue of eating right and eating healthy,  ASSOCHAM organised a webinar on Sahi Bhojan Behtar Jeevan – What India Eats. The webinar was a part of its Illness to Wellness Campaign.

Good health can be achieved only by eating the right kind of food for nutrition. It is apparent that everyone desires to feel great, energetic, and prevent common infections, however people are not very careful about what they consume. And, without the right nutrition basics good health can hardly be achieved. One must plan meal as it enables one to avoid junk food and encourages a consistent healthy diet.

Indian food has evolved over centuries witnessing influences from outside. In fact, our food systems and traditional recipes which are built around the Ayurveda way of living are healthy, diverse and balanced leading to good gut health and well-being. It is therefore imperative to generate greater awareness on this issue for eating right and eating healthy,” said Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, beginning the webinar.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sikha Sharma, Founder and Managing Director Dr Sikha’s Nutrihealth, said that “Good Nutrition for Health is a fundamental right, responsibility and health insurance of every Family. It is high time we wake up to the importance of bringing nutrition into mainstream healthcare.”.

Advocating the half-plat rule, Clinical Nutritionist Ishi Khosla remarked, “Everyone must follow the half-plate rule and fill up half their plate with vegetables/ salads/ fruits. Also, one must choose a rainbow diet with brightly colored vegetables, fruits and spices.”

We need to revisit, review & rethink our strategies to reduce the burden of chronic inflammatory diseases and malnutrition. Unless we address the root cause of the problems, we will not be able to make a difference to our nation’s health. For example, why is there Anaemia in spite of so much attention to iron supplementation? Pay attention to not only what you eat but also what you digest. Hidden food allergies could be the reason for nutrient malabsorption and malnutrition.

Sharing a few tips about how to eat, Seema Singh, Founder Director, Seema Singh Nutrition Clinic, said, “Watch your plate composition and portion wise, serve small portions first, then start eating mindfully that means use all your senses while eating. Chew well and eat slowly, take almost 20-30 minutes to get satiety to stay away from overeating. Use healthy sweets or snacks for in between hungers and taste buds like kishmish, munakka, figs, seeds, berries, curd, fruit yogurt/ smoothies, makhana. Plan your meals in advance to avoid poor choices of food. Have enough water throughout the day to avoid confusion between thirst & hunger. Protein intake is important, and it can be easily achieved by natural foods. Supplements are not compulsory to meet protein requirements of the 9

“Yes, also avoid three whites as much as possible – maida, sugar and salt – excess of which leads to many modern-day diseases liked obesity, diabetes and high BP,” added Dr Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control Delhi.