Diet Tips

Therapeutic diets are prepared to optimize the nutritional requirements of an individual in order to treat a range of ailments or to improve one’s ability to eat. A diet prescribed by a physician is a part of the treatment plan for a clinical condition or a disease to eliminate, increase, or decrease specific nutritional needs in the diet and minimize the risk of injuries.

Dieticians recommend therapeutic diets either to improve the patient’s overall health or to maintain a healthful lifestyle. For example, many patients undergoing dialysis are on diets that are therapeutic to their cure so that they observe maximum improvement in condition from the dialysis.

Purpose of Therapeutic Diet:

The following are the main purposes of therapeutic diet-

1. To maintain good nutrition
2. To rectify any deficiencies that may have occurred
3. To boost the metabolism
4. To help you maintain a healthy weight

Therapeutic diets can prove beneficial to certain conditions such as-

• Cardiovascular disorders - Coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attacks
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal disorders – Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis
• Allergy from certain types of food can also be managed by restricted dietary management

Along with dietary management, injury and safety concerns are also a major factor. The capability of swallowing food may affect the choice of diet consistency that needs to be followed. Dieticians recommend particular therapeutic diets for patients who have difficulty swallowing. They should be served foods that are chopped, thickened liquids, or pureed, to reduce the risk of choking.

Types of Therapeutic Diet:

A therapeutic diet, also known as a clinical diet, refers to a special diet plan that manages the intake of certain nutrients or foods. It is usually an alteration of one’s regular diet. Some common clinical diet examples include-

• Gluten-free diet – includes legumes, lentils and beans; grains like millet, quinoa; carrots, parsnips; berries, and apricots
• Clear liquid diet – includes plain, flavoured, or carbonated water; fruit juices excluding the pulp (apple juice or grape juice); fruit-flavoured beverages like lemonade
• Full liquid diet – fruit juices; butter, custard and pudding; ice cream and frozen yoghurt, sherbet; soup, broth, and syrups
• Diabetic diet – healthy fats that come from fish oils, olive oil, nuts, flaxseeds, and avocados; high-fibre cereals made from whole grains; fresh fruits and veggies
• Low-fat diet – whole grains, vegetables and fruits; dairy and meat products; legumes and beans; sweet potatoes, egg whites, and mushrooms

The dietician or physician may recommend changes in one’s therapeutic diet, depending on the patient’s response and development in overall health condition. Remember, a specific diet that may suit one person may not be ideal for another. It is best to leave up to your physician/dietician to decide which particular diet you should stick to.

Everyone knows that drinking a cup of coffee before bed can leave you tossing and turning for hours. Eating the right food not only gives the body the right kind of nutrition, it also affects the quality of your sleep. While some foods are sleep deprivers, others are sleep enhancers. Here are a few such types of food that you can include in your diet to improve your sleep.

1. Cherries: Cherries are rich sources of melatonin. This is the chemical responsible for controlling the body’s internal clock. A serving of tart cherries in their raw, whole form or a glass of cherry juice(without added sugars) can improve sleep quality and help treat chronic insomnia. It can also be used to fight jet lag.
2. Walnuts: These nuts are rich sources of an amino acid known as trytophan. Trytophan boosts serotonin and melatonin production thus regulating the body’s sleep-wake cycle. This can help you fall asleep faster and avoid tossing and turning.
3. Milk: A glass of warm milk is a well-known home remedy for insomnia. Milk or any form of dairy is rich in tryptophan. As mentioned above, this helps people fall asleep faster by regularizing their circadian rhythm. Additionally, calcium also helps regulate muscle movements and calms the body by fighting stress and stabilizing nerve fibers. If you don’t like the thought of plain milk, you could try other forms of dairy like cheese and yoghurt.
4. Rice: Jasmine rice and other forms of white rice have a high glycemic index. This means that the body digests rice slowly and hence releases glucose produced during digestion very gradually into the body. This helps cut down the time it takes to fall asleep. A gradual absorption of glucose in the body also prevents a ‘sugar high’ and its accompanying crash. This helps prevent waking up in the middle of the night and ensures that you sleep through the night comfortably.
5. Bananas: Bananas are great not only for your overall health but also for your sleep cycle. Bananas are rich sources of magnesium and potassium. These are natural muscle relaxants that promote sleep. They also help fight sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome and muscle cramps to give you a more restful sleep. Bananas are also rich in carbohydrates that are slow to digest and hence make people fall asleep faster. Combining bananas and milk is a sure shot way of falling asleep faster.

Packing a healthy lunch, whether for work or for school, is always a good option if you want to stay fit and healthy. Working for long hours can take a toll on your health. You should eat foods which are low in calories and fats; try and eat more veggies and fruits. Eating your lunch outside every day can result in an upset stomach whereas home-made foods are both tasty and healthier. Here are some foods which you should definitely consider for a healthy you.

1. Sandwiches: Cheese and tomato sandwiches are a great source of protein; especially cottage cheese, as it is an awesome low-fat source of protein. Tomato is good for your skin and also prevents cancer. You can also consider a healthier version by swapping mayonnaise with avocado as it is full of healthy mono saturated fats.
2. Salads: Salad, especially green salad, is one of the healthiest foods you can pack for lunch. It is simple to make and is a great appetizer as well. You can also add flavour to your salads by adding lots of fruits and vegetables that you like to eat.
3. Eggplant Pizza: Instead of having the greasy one, you can make your own vegetarian pizza including your favourite vegetables. You can also opt for whole wheat pita-pocket rather than the heavy pizza dough. And diced eggplant acts as a rich source of fibre and potassium.
4. Chicken Wraps: These are one of the best if you are in a rush and want to eat something spicy and healthy. Chicken is also a rich source of protein; you can add some ketchup to lend some extra flavour to your wraps. You can also include frozen corns, lettuce leaves and peas if you want.
5. Fruits: If you want to maintain a healthy diet, you should surely include fruits in your lunch. It decreases the appetite for the actual meal. The fructose present in the fruits gives an energy boost and the fibre creates a feeling of fullness. Since most fruits are high on dietary fibres and low on calories, they help to keep your weight in control.

Health Benefits Of Apricot!

Not all fats are bad for you. Dietary fat is the important key to have good health. All you need to do is eat the right amount.

How Fat Functions?

Fat is a macronutrient that provides calories and energy to the body. Primary function is that it's an energy reserve stored in adipose tissues. If you work out, your body first uses carbohydrates and then fat.
Good Dietary fat can be obtained from butter, ghee and oils. Other sources are unprocessed nuts and seeds, for example, almonds, pistachios and walnuts. Other amazing natural sources of fat are olives, avocados and coconuts.

Essence of Dietary Fat

1. Fats are an excellent source of energy.
2. Fats containing coconut oil help in weight loss. Good fats can increase the process of fat burning and reduce unhealthy cravings, preventing unhealthy fat storage.
3. If you are underweight, good fats are helpful to gain weight.
4. Fats maintain the body temperature.
5. Fats save your excess protein that may be used as fuel.
6. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) are absorbed in the body with the help of healthy fats.

Remember that Vitamin A is very important for vision.

1. Interestingly, fats are considered as lubricant, preventing dryness and dehydration.
2. Healthy fats protect the body from experiencing inflammation, improving immunity.
3. Cell membranes as well as hormones need healthy fats. Fat is required for the overall metabolism of insulin, regulating healthy blood sugar levels.
4. Caprylic acid in fat acts as antiviral substance, while lauric acid has anti-bacterial effects.
5. If you want to lower your cholesterol level, opt for foods with palmitic and stearic acid.
6. Butyric acid may help in the reduction of risk of cancer.
7. Certain fats such as ghee or castor oil give lubrication to the colon. This supports digestion and the elimination process.
8. Oils have a property to act as a carrier of medicine and also carry herbs effectively to the preferred organ or any tissue.
9. Pregnant women should have fats as these are a brilliant source of food helping in the development of the child's brain.
10. Healthy fats indorse stamina and elasticity. This act interestingly for those who work out or even for those who work for long shifts in their jobs demanding physical work.
11. Good fats boost cognition, memory as well as happiness. These help in the improvement of mental functions and your learning abilities.

Therefore, a balanced amount of fat is equally important for your body as that of other elements. Hence, eat right and stay healthy.

Importance Of Healthy Diet!

When it comes to losing weight, most people tend to follow crash diets – some of them downright dangerous – only to find that these do not work as effectively as they should. Instead, many times, following a strict diet promotes drastic weight loss in a short span of time, which is not healthy. In due course, this can further lead to several health problems. But the good news is there are ways to transform your body without losing weight drastically!

They are -

• Change Your Diet Focus on eating foods that are high in protein and low in saturated fat and calories. Make sure your daily diet includes lean protein, leafy vegetables, and seasonal fruits. Try to eat every few hours to keep your metabolism high. That will help burn fat faster and keep you full so that you do not feel the urge to munch on unhealthy snacks in between meals.

• Follow a Detox Regime Your body needs to flush out toxins from the system to promote weight loss and muscle toning. And nothing works better than a natural detox regime. Squeeze a few drops of lemon in a glass of lukewarm water, and drink it every morning on an empty stomach. Add to it a spoonful of honey, and see the results yourself in a few weeks. Lime and honey water is a great detoxifying drink that promotes weight loss while cleansing your system from within. Green tea also works great for detox and weight loss.

• Keep Your First Meal of the Day Heavy If you think you can shed those extra kilos and get back in shape by skipping your meals and starving yourself, you are wrong. Nutritionists suggest you keep your breakfast heavy and eat light as the day progresses. This is because the first meal you have keeps you full for longer, and you do not go through constant hunger pangs the rest of the day. Include eggs, oats, soymilk etc. in your breakfast and limit your lunch and dinner to lean proteins, salad, curd, soup or broth.

• Say ‘NO’ to Alcohol Your body transformation goal will not be successful unless you cut back on alcohol. Reducing alcohol consumption helps burn calories and reduces bloating, thus aiding weight loss.

• Exercise Regularly If you are aiming for a drastic transformation, you must make it a habit to exercise regularly. Weight training and cardio work best for weight loss. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help stave off a number of health complications like diabetes and obesity. However, before you start with your body transformation journey, understand that weight loss and fat loss are not the same things. Following these tips will aid in fat loss while ensuring that you do not lose much weight.

Packing a healthy lunch, whether for work or for school, is always a good option if you want to stay fit and healthy. Working for long hours can take a toll on your health. You should eat foods which are low in fats and high in nutrition; try and eat more veggies and fruits. Eating your lunch outside every day can result in an upset stomach whereas home-made foods are both tasty and healthier. Here are some foods which you should definitely consider for a healthy you.

1. Sandwiches: Cheese and tomato sandwiches are a great source of protein; especially cottage cheese, as it is an awesome low-fat source of protein. Tomato is good for your skin and also prevents cancer. You can also consider a healthier version by swapping mayonnaise with avocado as it is full of healthy monosaturated fats.
2. Salads: Salad, especially green salad, is one of the healthiest foods you can pack for lunch. It is simple to make and is a great appetizer as well. You can also add flavour to your salads by adding lots of fruits and vegetables that you like to eat.
3. Eggplant Pizza: Instead of having the greasy one, you can make your own vegetarian pizza including your favourite vegetables. You can also opt for whole wheat pita-pocket rather than the heavy pizza dough. And diced eggplant acts as a rich source of fibre and potassium.
4. Chicken Wraps: These are one of the best if you are in a rush and want to eat something spicy and healthy. Chicken is also a rich source of protein; you can add some ketchup to lend some extra flavour to your wraps. You can also include frozen corns, lettuce leaves and peas if you want.
5. Fruits: If you want to maintain a healthy diet, you should surely include fruits in your lunch. It decreases the appetite for the actual meal. The fructose present in the fruits gives an energy boost and the fibre creates a feeling of fullness. Since most fruits are high on dietary fibres, they help to keep your weight in control.

Cumin seed is a culinary herb that is local to Asia and is particularly used in India on everyday basis. Cumin seeds are otherwise called jeera, caraway and kummel. It is a product of the cumin herb, however, it transforms into a seed only once it has dried. Cumin is an esteemed spice as it has numerous health advantages, usually for digestive conditions like colic, dyspepsia and flatulence. Nevertheless, consuming cumin seeds can have numerous side effects as well; so consult your specialist before you use it for medicinal purposes, as it can cause certain side effects as well, such:

1. Acidity or heartburn: Cumin seeds are known for their gas easing properties, yet it can bring about one of the most widely recognized digestive issue that is heartburn. It tends to facilitate the escape of more gas into your gastrointestinal tract.
2. Liver damage: Oil present in the cumin seeds is very unstable and can bring about liver and kidney damage, in case one consumes cumin seed in huge quantities for a long stretch of time. Cumin oil is used for animals to prevent or reduce muscle fits and spasms.
3. Burping: The carminative impact of cumin seed may bring about excessive burping. Also, burping is sometimes referred as a ructus or belching, which includes too much bloating. Gas from the intestinal tract and stomach is released through the mouth. At times, burping has an awful smell and a trademark sound.
4. Abortifacient effects: Cumin seeds may also affect pregnant ladies. Consuming a lot of cumin seeds can prompt an unnatural birth cycle or instigate untimely or premature labor.
5. Low blood sugar level: Consuming cumin seeds in large quantities can bring down the glucose level in the body. One must remember this in case you are setting out toward a surgery in the near future. During surgery, it is crucial to keep up the glucose level.
6. Narcotic effects: Cumin seed has opiate properties. They need to be consumed with precaution, as they can be addictive. Opposite reactions of cumin seed are mental blurring, sleepiness and nausea.
7. Heavy menstrual cycle: Cumin seeds may cause heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle. In the event of cumin seeds being consumed in large amounts, you may experience heavier periods.
8. Causes allergy: Utilization of cumin seeds can bring about skin rashes and sensitivity. So individuals with skin sensitivity need to consume less cumin seeds to improve the condition.
9. Not good for diabetics: Diabetic patients need to control their glucose level. They must maintain regular glucose levels to stay sound. Fluctuating glucose levels are a strict no for most diabetics. As mentioned recently, cumin seeds may diminish your glucose level rapidly.

We all look forward to the burst of rain after a long hot summer and the cool autumn breeze that follows the rains. What we don’t look forward to is the sneezing runny noses and coughs that accompany this change in weather. Seasonal flus are very common but they can be prevented by eating right. Some foods that can help prevent colds and coughs include:

1. Garlic: Garlic is a powerful antioxidant that can boost the immune system and help you fight the flu. One of the major compounds found in garlic is known as allicin. This has antibacterial and anti-microbial properties. Garlic also promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria that keeps your digestive system functioning efficiently and prevents toxins from accumulating inside your body. Garlic can be easily added to your diet by using fresh garlic pods to flavor your food.
2. Turmeric: Turmeric is one of the healthiest spices known to man. This is rich in anti-oxidants and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric helps remove toxins from the body and is known to boost the immune system. It is a popular ingredient in many curries and is typically used in its powdered form.
3. Green Leafy Vegetables: Green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and arugula are rich sources of vitamin C. This vitamin is known to fight viruses and reduce the risk of catching a cold. These vegetables are also rich in fiber and aid in digestion and removal of waste from the body. When picking green vegetables it is important to note that the darker the shade of green, the higher the nutrient content.
4. Chicken Soup: Chicken soup is a popular home remedy for the flu. It can also be used to prevent a flu and boost the immune system. This is because a clear chicken soup or broth has concentrated amounts of proteins and vitamins that boost the immune system. Chicken soup should always be consumed while it is hot so that the hot liquid can loosen mucus secretions soothe an itchy throat.
5. Salmon: Fish such as salmon, canned tuna and sardines and egg yolks have a high level of Vitamin D. As the length of a day reduces and grey clouds hide the sun, it is important for your body to get enough vitamin D through your diet. This vitamin helps fight colds and coughs and helps those suffering from it to recover faster.
6. Water: In addition to eating right, it is also important to keep your body hydrated. This allows the nutrients to reach all the parts of your body and aids in the removal of waste and toxins. Thus, though you may not feel thirsty, it is essential to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.