Nutrients & more...

image Do you know that if we flip the word "desserts" it reads as "stressed"?!  While we may reach out to sweet foods in need of comfort, it has detrimental effects on our bodies. New studies have found that sugar affects not only our body, but also our minds.  Sugar is more addictive than drugs. And just like drug consumption a person may not have much control over it. But why is it so? The reward response In humans, sweet foods activate regions of the brain associated with the reward response and provoke more intense feelings of hunger than other foods. Foods that cause a higher elevation in blood glucose (aka sweets, fizzy drinks, energy bars, etc.) produce a larger addictive drive in the brain. A typical sweet eater's anxiety, despair, and irritability may increase if they abruptly cut out sweets from their diet. The symptoms of sugar and sweets withdrawal can be similar to those of withdrawal from other stimulants. Mood regulation Sugar makes dopamine(happy...

We used to play a lot of games when we were young (video games were not that popular or accessible). The most fun was when cousins visited us or when we went to their homes. Then it was time for 'chupan - chupai' aka hide and seek. The best part was when one was hiding in plain sight, and still did not get caught! image  I have played this game with my kids too. It remains one of the most loved game to this date. But I had no idea that this game is popular with the food packaging industry too! Today, the majority of processed foods have added sugars that are concealed by obscure or difficult-to-pronounce titles. They can be found not only in the dessert aisle, which makes sense, but also in the aisles with dips, sauces, pickles, chips, crackers, and even healthy foods like mueseli and granola! Sugar is present in many of the foods we eat naturally.  It occurs in a variety of forms, including glucose, lactose, maltose, and fructose. Since they are typically bound with naturally...

When I was a kid, we had different sweets for every season. Whether it be  Rasgulla  and  kulfi  (ice cream) in summer or  gajar halwa  (carrot pudding),  til laddoo, gajak, etc.  in winter, or  Ghevars and choorma in monsoons,  every season had its own special sweet.  We were allowed to overindulge in these seasonal delicacies as kids until our excesses sent us straight to the dentist's waiting rooms. While growing up, I saw most people in my family struggling with Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Heart disease, and even cancer. I wondered how to prevent or delay them as they tend to run in families. I came across a staple that is kept in every kitchen worldwide and is used at alarming levels in the food processing industry. Sugar Sugar comprises two molecules of sucrose. Sucrose is an easily assimilated macronutrient that provides a quick source of energy to the body, provoking a rapid rise in blood glucose upon ingestion. Its exc...

Who doesn't likes sugar? We are genetically  programmed  to love all things sweet! When we go out for dinner and fill ourselves with all that we can with no space to breathe, somehow, we still manage to gulp down that soft Gulab Jamun or a piece of apple pie.  Every mother knows that her child can finish an ice cream tub just after he or she finish eating lunch.  We accept sweets even when we are not hungry at all. How does a magic section open in our tummies just for desserts? Our ancestors were scavengers with rare access to sweets. The sweet foods, like fruits and some tubers, provided quick energy and were favored over others. The foods that were bitter could be toxic and hence disregarded in favor of the sweet ones. Today we have no need to scavenge food, but the brain's mesolimbic dopamine system functions the same way it did with our ancestors. The brain is a glucose hungry organ and releases a  happy hormone  called  Dopamine  whenever we ...

The importance of good health and increased immunity has been brought to the forefront in the post COVID world. We have also seen that how quickly mother earth has regenerated itself when we humans were locked down in our homes. It's high time we tuned in with nature. The food you eat plays a major role in building immunity and keeping you healthy. Here are some tips to get nutritious food and at the same time heal the earth. Recognize that real food is different from food-like substances. Food is what will make you healthy. Food-like substances are mostly chemicals made in the factory. They are anything that did not exist before the packaging industry evolved. For eg. kurkure, potato chips, soft drinks, fruit lollies, candies, roll-ups, frozen desserts (which are dairy-free), etc. Less packaged foods mean less processed foods (a healthy option for you) and also less pollution by the discarded wrappers. A win- win solution. Just because its edible, doesn't mean its food! Go or...

Deciding on the menu every day is no easy task. You don't believe me? Ask your mom. A lady who does it for her family every single day!  Recently my friend (a single mother with a full-time job), asked me for a few tips to save time in meal prep. Since our meals are Indian, I'm going to talk about simple North Indian meals, which can be put together as fast as possible.  Before we get down to specifics, we need some planning. Make time. Even 5 minutes will do! Sounds cliched, but it works. Take a little time every day to sort out the plan for the next day. If you can, make a weekly plan and be stress-free for the week. Sometimes, just knowing what needs to be done is enough.  Prepare a list before grocery shopping After deciding what you want to cook, go grocery shopping. You can also look into your pantry before making a meal plan for the week or the next day. Figure out the things that might expire and use them up.  pic Make extra for the next meal.  We know t...