South Asian cuisine is rich in flavours and delicious, but it also comes with certain dietary habits that can be harmful to our health, if not managed properly.
Recently, I did a webinar hosted by Westminster Council for South Asian Heritage Month. We explored how to prepare healthy Indian meals that are both delicious and nutritious, without feeling hungry or needing to count calories.
Here are some common issues that I looked at:
Fried Foods
Popular snacks like samosas, pakoras, chakri, etc are often deep-fried, contributing to high levels of unhealthy fats in our diet. These fats can lead to increased cholesterol levels, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Breakfast Choices
Snack foods like biscuits, chevda, and gathia are often eaten for breakfast, leading to a high intake of processed and fried foods right at the start of the day. Such foods are low in essential nutrients and high in fats, which can negatively affect heart health and weight management.
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Sugary Foods
Desserts such as gulab jamun, jalebi, and barfi are high in sugar, which can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of diabetes. High sugar intake can also lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Health Implications
Many studies have shown a strong association between diet, lifestyle, and the risk of these diseases.
Regularly having fried and sugary foods, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, significantly raises the risk of these health issues. Additionally, our dietary staples, such as white rice, white bread, and other refined grains, can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to insulin resistance and an increased risk of diabetes.
It does not need to be this way as you can still enjoy your Indian meals and lose weight.
If you are looking for practical and achievable suggestions on how to improve your Indian meals, join me on August 7 for an online webinar organised by Lohana Community north London.
In this you will learn more about maintaining a healthy diet without sacrificing the flavours you love.
I will go deeper into practical tips and strategies to make healthier food choices while enjoying traditional South Asian cuisine.
Sujata Din is a Certified Health Coach and Certified Professional Cancer Coach. In this regular column for iGlobal, she offers some special insights, from useful wellness tips to recipes for creations that are not only delicious but also healthy.
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