Eat a variety of foods everyday

Eat a variety of foods everyday

Eating a variety of foods is very important for a balanced diet. I keep on stressing this point very often with my clients too, that by eating only one or two kinds of foods, you will not get the proper balance in your diet that you should have. As each food has different nutrients in it like grains are rich in carbs, dals in proteins, fruits and veges in vitamins (as can also be seen in the image).

Also by eating only one kind of food, the aspect of boredom will arise. Say, for instance, you have a banana for a snack every day for a month. You will get bored and tired of eating banans. Instead, try a variety of fruit.

Eating many different foods helps maintain a healthy, well-balanced and interesting diet that provides adequate nutrition, also by getting a variety of foods you will make eating a lot more enjoyable. 

So go ahead try a new fruit like star fruit or introduce a new grain which you haven't tried yet say nachni(ragi), Jav(barley)...do share your experience too.

Mrs Shilpa Mittal
Nutritionist and Diet Consultant
Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

Eating too much protein and not enough carbohydrates

Eating too much protein and not enough carbohydrates. 

The “low or no” carbohydrate diets are very popular and many people try to replace carbs in their diet by high protein foods. But carbohydrates are essential as they have PROTEIN SPARING ACTION.

The main function of the carbohydrate is to provide energy and the main function of protein is growth, building, repair wear n tear and thus maintain the body. But if sufficient amount of carbs are not consumed (like high protein low carb diet) proteins are used by the body for energy purpose. Proteins might be an expensive source of energy as compared to other energy sources such as carbohydrates or fats

So, adequate amount of carbohydrates in our diet supplies required energy to the body and thus proteins are spared for muscle building and repair rather for energy purposes.

Athletes cannot go on low carb, high protein diet as there are chances of losing lean body mass. Since carb will be low , amino acids will be used to provide energy. Hence in their diet carb form an essential component which will spare the protein to help in building and repair of muscles.

Benefits of Dates Fruit (Khajoor)

Benefits of Dates Fruit (Khajoor) 

Dates are a type of sweet fruit that grows on palm trees. They have been cultivated since approximately 6000 B.C. They grow on the tree for six or seven months before they are ripe enough to eat. There are three main types of dates, which are classified based on the moisture of the flesh: dry, semi-dry and soft. The health benefits of dates are derived from the nutrients they provide.

 Fresh vs. Dried Dates

	Fresh Dates	Dried Dates
Shelf life	If kept in an airtight container, stay fresh for up to 8 months if kept refrigerated, or for up to year in the freezer	If refrigerated in an airtight container stay fresh for up to one year, and if in the freezer can last up to five years
Calories 100 gm	144 calories	317 calories
Macronutrients
Carbohydrate	33.8 g of carbohydrates	75.8 g of carbohydrate
Fibre	3.7g fibre	3.9g fibre
Protein	1.2 g of protein	2.5 g of protein
Fat	0.4g fat	0.4g fat
Micronutrients
Calcium	22 mg of calcium	120 mg of calcium
Iron	0.96 g of iron	7.3 mg of iron

Source:- Nutritive value of indian foods

 

Carbohydrates

Dates are a good source of energy. Up to 80 percent of the date flesh is sugar that the body can easily access for energy. Fresh dates have a somewhat lower percentage of sugar because they contain more moisture than dried dates, and the sugar in dried dates is more concentrated, but fresh dates are still a good source of carbohydrates. Fresh date is made of soft, easily digestible flesh with simple sugars like fructose and dextrose that when eaten replenishes energy and revitalizes the body instantly; thus, for these qualities, dates are being used to breakfast during Ramadan months. 

Minerals

Dates are a particularly good source of calcium, which helps promote strong teeth and bones. Dried Dates are an excellent source of iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

In addition, They are good in potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.

 Fiber

The fruit is rich in dietary fiber. Most of the fiber is of the insoluble type, meaning that its major health-promoting effect is to add bulk to stool and help food move through the intestinal tract. The fiber content helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time and as well as binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon. It prevents dietary LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut.

They contain many health benefitting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent easy bleeding tendencies) properties.

Low Fat

Another health benefit of dates is that they are low fat. In 100 g of dates, only a fraction of a gram is saturated fats.

 

Muslims generally break their fast by eating dates. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “Break your fast by eating dates as it is purifying.”

So go ahead have a few dates everyday whether dried or fresh as u wish just enjoy the benefits.............