Healthy Food for Healthy Mind

Our mood swings, illnesses, weight gain or weight loss, confidence all depends on what we eat and how much we eat.

Food in high Pranaah will always give you positive effects on your mind and body, whereas food in low Pranaah (energy) will make you look dull, low in confidence.

We are at a stage where, nutrition plays an important role to keep us hale and hearty. In such a situation, where the pandemic has caused havoc, we must realise that healthy food makes healthy mind.

Pune Pulse spoke to a few Pune based nutritionist who have explained beautifully on how important it is to have wholesome meal.

Pune based nutritionist Ashuta Rathod, MSc. Dietetics,(HOPE)U.K Certified Diabetes Educator(CDE), Member of Indian Dietetic Association (IDA),Pune Chapter and Founder of Aahar Nutrition and Wellness says, “An Individual requires a wide range of nutrients to perform various functions in the body and lead a healthy life. Without balanced nutrition our body is prone to infections and diseases, our performance decreases and our body gets tired easily.” Let us understand What is balanced nutrition ?

She further shares, “A diet in which adequate quantity of nutrients are present is called balanced nutrition. There are 3 MACRONUTRIENTS in our diet, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fat. They should form a major part of our diet. Also vitamins, minerals are MICRONUTRIENTS of our diet. They are required in small quantity though they are very important in our diet. Fibre and water are equally important part of balanced nutrition.”

There are three macronutrients in our diet. Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats. They should form a major part of our diet. Also, vitamins minerals are micronutrients of our diet.

She adds, “More often it is seen that, people consume more of carbohydrate rich foods, refined flour whereas protein consumption is very less. Ready to eat, fast food, processed food consists of trans fats, saturated fats which tastes good but it is detrimental to our health.”

COVID 19 and nutrition :
It is very important to follow a well balanced healthy diet with special focus on immunity building foods.

Lets understand how your plate should look like : Half of your plate should consist of fruits and vegetables, one- fourth should consist of protein rich foods and one – fourth should consist of whole grains. More the colours in our plate, more will be your immunity. Indian herbs and spices like tulsi, ginger, turmeric, clove, cinnamon have immunity building properties and should be consumed in small quantities in our daily diet. Consuming 3- 4 litres of water daily is very important for maintaining hydration in the body.

Another nutritionist from our city Archana Shah, who is an accredited practising dietician and holds 8th rank in University with the M Sc in Food and Nutrition says,”Nutrition week is observed to create awareness among people about nutrition and food. Many children these days are suffering from malnutrition by celebrating such week we can help them to awake about the importance of nutrition as well health. Balanced nutrition helps to overcome your hormonal imbalances and of course its solution for all your medical problems too. They can try to incorporate homemade fresh food and include kitchen spices and herbs which works as a immunity booster itself. These includes ajwain, turmeric, Tulai, lemon grass, black pepper, ginger, mint, etc. They can include lots of vitamin c rich food as well zinc and iron which helps to over come loss.”