Food and Nutrition are an intrinsic part of what keeps us going. Some of us ‘eat to live’ while others ‘live to eat’! The problem, unfortunately with the latter, is that it starts showing on our body and the weighing scale fairly rapidly.
All leading
medical professionals and nutritionists are unanimous in saying that eating abundant
‘empty calories’ in the form of junk and processed foods has a direct relationship
to our health. Excessive fat around the abdomen leads to obesity that in turn
leads to lifestyle disorders like Diabetes and Heart Problems … even Cancer.
With the help of a leading panel of experts from
around the world, we have curated content and meal plans for Diabetes and
Weight Loss. We wish you luck and hope these plans help you. But
remember you should always seek a dietician’s advice to put together a plan
that works best for you.
Healthy food in winters
Root vegetables like beets, carrots and turnips grow in plenty during winter season. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene that has exceptional health benefits to your body. Vitamin C helps can help in boosting your immunity and vitamin A is good for eye health.
Oatmeal is much more than just a convenient breakfast food; it also provides nutrients that are essential during winter. Oatmeal is high in zinc (important for proper immune function) and soluble fiber. Having an oatmeal breakfast with nuts provides you with essential nutrients and energy during winters.
Mixed vegetable or chicken soup is winter’s perfect food. But soup with minimal amount of cream and salt is more beneficial. Pair your soup with a side of 100 percent whole grain crackers. Homemade soups are the best as they are low in calories and are full of essential micronutrients that are good for health.
Cold and flu are common in winters, to prevent risk eat lots of cruciferous vegetables that boosts your defense system in winters. Broccoli and cauliflower are both high in vitamin C, which is associated with enhanced immune function. Try to buy and consume fresh broccoli and cauliflower.
Fish like salmon or tuna are good sources of vitamin D. During the winter months, when you have limited exposure to the sun, food sources containing high amounts of Vitamin D are more essential for daily intake. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with impaired growth, weakening of the bones and even the risk of heart disease. So having fish has great effects on our body during winters.
Foods rich in antioxidants
Kidney beans-All kinds of beans – black, pinto, red and kidney beans are high-octane sources of antioxidants. Beans are also rich in muscle-boosting protein, have no cholesterol and little fat. Combing them with grains helps in making a complete protein meal.
Raisins-If you’re looking to load up on antioxidants, have a handful of raisins. Dark raisins are packed with anthocyanins that give you an energy boost. Sprinkle them on your breakfast oats, add them in a salad or blend some with your smoothie.
Barley-This ancient grain is trending again and for good reason. Barley is known for its powerful antioxidant properties that make you stronger from within. Also, it has been found that when grains like barley are soaked and sprouted the antioxidant levels increase.
Tomatoes-Juicy tomatoes are packed with three types of antioxidants – Lycopene (that gives tomato its bright red colour), Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Vitamin C is one of the most potent kinds of antioxidants that you can derive from fruits and vegetables. The lycopene in tomatoes is best absorbed when they are cooked.
Does Your Daily Diet Contain These 5 Essential Micronutrients?
1. Folate
Folate is one of the eight types of B vitamins, and it helps with the formation of red blood cells. It is water-soluble, and also called vitamin B9. The best way to get your B9 is through fruits and vegetables. Legumes like lentils and beans, spinach and asparagus are all great, folate-rich options.
2. Iron
Iron is used to create hemoglobin, which is the substance in red blood cells that carries and delivers oxygen around the body. There are two types of iron: heme, which comes from an animal source, and non-heme, which is obtained through a plant. Non-heme sources are beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, broccoli and spinach.
3. Magnesium
Did you know that consuming sodas, sugar and caffeine actually causes your body to lose magnesium? Good sources of magnesium are dark leafy vegetables like spinach. Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, cashews, sesame and pumpkin seeds; and whole, unrefined grains like brown rice are storehouse of magnesium.
4. Vitamin A
Essential for maintaining vision, vitamin A describes a group of fat-soluble retinoids, like retinol. Retinol is created from carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, which is often associated with foods of an orange hue such as carrots. Other sources come from animals, and can be found in foods like liver, grass-fed dairy products and egg yolks.
5. Vitamin D
The deficiency of this vitamin is linked to rising levels of depression and autoimmune disorders, laying the foundation for many chronic illnesses. Natural sources are fatty fish and fish oils, canned tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, and tofu.
Functional medicine is a system approach which addresses the underlying cause of the disease. A functional medicine expert is a super generalist who aims to treat the body as a whole to suppress a disease condition. For an instance- A functional medicine expert will consider brain and gut connected and deals with body as a whole. Hence, functional medicine is also regarded as precision medicine.
According to Mona Johar a trained functional medicine expert-“Eating local, organic, and fresh food not only supplements good nutrition but also acts as a medicine to fight against many diseases”.
Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are high but are not enough to be regarded as diabetes. However, if remain unchecked and uncontrolled prediabetes usually converts to diabetes.
According to Mona – prediabetes results due to the combination of genetic, environmental and unhealthy lifestyle factors.
There are no obvious signs and symptoms which can result in prediabetes, however a periodic blood test is the only method which can detect the spikes in the blood sugar levels.
It is myth that fat people are prone to diabetes. Mona says that it thin individuals are at an equal risk. She terms thin people as walking time bombs or TOFI (Thin from outside and fat from inside). Fats is not visible in such individuals, however it gets accumulated on the internal organs which leads to serious complications.
Causes of prediabetes
Prediabetes primarily results from factors such as:
Poor diet
Toxins in the environment
Genetics
Mona addresses most of the concerns w.r.t food to curb prediabetes In spite of having a genetic predisposition towards the disease, genetic suppression for diabetes can be achieved by:
Eating healthy
Avoiding eating foods in plastics(minimize the use of plastics)
Avoiding sugary foods and drinks-which shoots the blood sugar levels
Including whole fruits and vegetables
Eating foods which are low in glycemic index such as high fiber foods(green leafy vegetables, cauliflower and fruits )
Refraining from foods high in glycemic index (e.g potatoes)
Mona says- Rule of the thumb is that high fiber foods are low in glycemic index e.g fruits and vegetables. She emphasizes on below mentioned points to prevent or deal with prediabetes:
Eating healthy
Art of stacking-Pairing the food appropriately-Just for an instance you are eating rice and dal, club it with foods rich in fibers such as vegetables and salads. Include proteins such as tofu. Non- vegetarians can add chicken, meat or fish.
Consuming sweets in moderation-Try consuming sweets in moderation. Gradually reduce your sweet intake. Mona says- According to research it takes about 14 days to fully curb the craving of a particular food. So do not give your body a shock and try eating foods in moderation.
Avoid artificial sweetners– Mona says – Artificial sweeteners can be regarded as poison. They attack our gut microbiome and kill good bacteria, which are essential for maintaining good health.
Prediabetics can include dates, coconut to replace the sugar in their diet
Healthy lifestyle
According to Mona leading a active life and a 30 mins of daily physical activity can reduce the risk of prediabetes. So one must include a minimum of 30 mins work out schedule in daily regimen.
Stress
Keep stress at bay. Stress not only contributes to prediabetes condition but also contributes heavily to other lifestyle chronic conditions.
Foods recommended for prediabetics
Lean proteins
Foods rich in chromium like brocilli
Foods rich in magnesium like almonds, spinach and pumpkin seeds
Karela juice is an age old Indian method which is scientifically proven to prevent diabetes and has exceptional benefits in lowering down the blood sugar levels.
Whenever you visit a restaurant it is a good idea to:
Take time in understanding the menu
Take time to order
Select intelligently
Ask questions to the server
Customize food
Avoid foods rich in sugars and carbs e.g bread basket
Swap few items e.g remove french fries, avoid salad dressings instead use olive oil
Avoid fried foods like chilli paneer
Avoid cheesy pizza. Customize pizza and add more vegetables
Share your food
Eat fruit bowel instead of conventional desserts
Power foods to prevent diabetes:
Green Tea
Cinnamon
Coriander
Ginger
Sprouted foods
To read more on Diabetes, click on the link below.
Have you been diagnosed with borderline high blood sugar levels? In your case the blood sugar levels recorded are higher than normal, but not high enough to be full-fledged Diabetes. This is referred to as the Prediabetes stage which can be reversed by following recommended guidelines.
During this phase, your pancreatic cells are still producing a little amount of insulin to convert carbohydrates into sugar, however, Insulin produced by the pancreas is not sufficient to remove sugars effectively, keeping the blood glucose level high.
It has been observed that people with Prediabetes may not take this condition seriously. However, research suggests that the sooner one begins to take precautions, the better are the chances of reversal of this condition.
Some quick tips
Make small changes and be a winner!
Prediabetes can eventually lead to Type 2 Diabetes; however, this development can be easily prevented. It requires small efforts and minor changes in your lifestyle. Research shows that reducing your body weight by just 5 -10 %, to begin with, makes a remarkable difference in the natural Insulin production in the body. Weight loss can also delay the onset of Type 2 Diabetes significantly.
Watch your portion sizes
Dieticians round the globe suggest having 3 main meals and 3 mini meals to have a good control of your glucose levels. You may choose to use smaller plates for meals to check on serving portions to begin with. The plate method advocated by ADA is specially designed for people living with Diabetes or Prediabetes. This approach advises that you fill half of your plate with fibrous fruits and vegetables; one quarter with low carbohydrates, such as brown rice or a baked potato; and the last quarter should be lean protein, like grilled fish or chicken.
Never skip meals
Eat regularly. It is always a good idea to follow a regular meal pattern and not skip meals. People who eat regular meals, beginning with healthy breakfast, are healthier, more energetic and weigh less than those who skip meals. Consume mini meals. Eating healthy mini meals and snacks such as fruits, multigrain bars and low-calorie preparations help you to not only control your blood sugar, but also hunger pangs and prevents you from overeating and binging.
Limit tobacco and alcohol consumption
Research suggests smoking may aggravate complications from Diabetes, such as heart diseases and may lead to nerve and kidney damage. It is, therefore, highly advisable to significantly limit or give up on smoking. Alcohol consumption can have a strong impact on your blood sugar levels; they often spike blood glucose levels leading to poor diabetes management. It is a good idea to take your doctor’s advice on whether you can consume alcohol, and how much. In any case, please remember to always eat a snack or a meal while consuming alcohol to prevent fluctuations or spiking of blood glucose levels.
Exercise
Exercise is integral to a healthy lifestyle. If you have been diagnosed with Prediabetes, it is even more essential for you to have a fitness routine. It is a good idea to check with your doctor before you starting any exercise program. However, a daily walk of 30 – 45 minutes usually makes a good starting point. You may also choose from a wide variety of exercise regimes such as Yoga, Pilates, Tai chi, Swimming, Dancing and Jogging.
Acquire as much information as you can
It is believed an informed person can make better decisions. Hence we urge you to make an effort to learn about food and lifestyle changes that will help you manage your condition better.
Take help and support from your family
Research suggests that it is easier to manage Diabetes more effectively with family support. Your partner, family, and friends can play a huge role in motivating you and helping you adhere to your diabetes management programme. It is a good idea to check with your doctor before you starting any exercise program. However, a daily walk of 30 – 45 minutes usually makes a good starting point. You may also choose from a wide variety of exercise regimes such as Yoga, Pilates, Tai chi, Swimming, Dancing and Jogging.
Last but not the least
Always maintain a positive approach. Studies suggest that people who consider Prediabetes as a burden or stress are often unsuccessful in managing this condition. Hence, with a positive mind and attitude you can successfully control your blood glucose levels and come on top of your condition.
What I can do as family/friend of a diagnosed Prediabetes?
Studies reveal that a majority of partners and family members may be equally worried upon detection of their partner’s Prediabetes/Borderline condition. But the good news is that you and your family can play a very important role in arresting and reversing the condition. Research suggests, Partners and family members who actively take interest in managing Prediabetes/borderline condition with in their spouses have been very successful in achieving excellent results.
You may already know that Prediabetes is a warning condition, but studies are on our side saying the condition can be reversed by bringing in lifestyle changes and following low carb diets, exercise regimes and incorporating lifestyle changes.
Equip yourself first
Reading and collecting information on diabetes yourself can be very helpful for you to understand what your partner is going through physically and emotionally. You may also choose to take guidance from a certified diabetic educator or a physician to help your partner in the best possible ways.
Support your partner mentally and emotionally
Psychologists suggest that people living with Prediabetes/Diabetes undergo tremendous emotional turmoil. Feelings such as anxiety, fear, guilt, anger, frustration and denial are bound to be experienced. As a family member / partner you should try to be supporting and understanding of these emotional ups and downs. You are also advised to consult a certified diabetic educator to help you motivate your partner in dealing with this condition.
Participate in arresting Prediabetes/borderline condition
It is always easier to approach a challenge as two people rather than one. By working together not only are you motivating yourself but you are also acting as a check for the other person. Planning goals together is very helpful in attaining successful results, it is a good idea to discuss and chalk out plans mutually before starting to follow any regime for management of this condition. Research suggests that partners, who ate the same food, and did combine exercises yielded better results than self-managed programmes. Reminding your partner to adhere to the Prediabetes management programme may help in controlling high glucose levels in people with Borderline conditions. You may also choose to follow “eating by the plate method” advocated by ADA and try various diets. However, it is important to beware that constant nagging, complaining or forcing may backfire in managing this condition. It’s advisable to set realistic goals, and handle situations compassionately.
Empower and replenish yourself
Research shows family and partners undergo tremendous mental and physical fatigue. Remember to take care of yourself too, because you may also undergo mental and physical stress while looking after your companion. Ensure that you have time for yourself and for pursuing the interests you enjoyed before Diabetes made an appearance in your life. Pamper yourself and remain cheerful. It is important to strike a balance in order to manage your personal and professional life. Set realistic goals and do not give up. Eat a well-balanced healthy diet and learn different ways to cope up with stress. To know more read the below tips to manage compassion.
To read more on Diabetes, click on the link below.
Diabetes Recipe – Chicken with Cherry-Pepper Relish
Preparation :20 Minutes
Cooking :8 Minutes
Serves :4
Ingredients
Olive oil 1 tablespoon
4 small skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (1 to 1¼ pounds total)
1/3 cup bottled roasted red bell peppers, drained and finely chopped
1/3 cup frozen unsweetened pitted dark sweet cherries, finely chopped1-ounce semisoft cheddar cheese crumbled
1 tablespoon snipped fresh garlic chives
Directions
Coat an unheated large non-stick frying pan with cooking oil; heat over medium flame. Sprinkle chicken with ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Add chicken to the frying pan. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (165o), turning once.
Meanwhile, in a bowl stir together the roasted peppers, cherries and 1/8 teaspoon salt.
Transfer chicken to 4 serving plates. Top with a pepper-cherry mixture, cheddar and garlic chives.
Nutrition Facts
Makes 4 servings (Amount per Serving)
Calories (Kcal)
124
Protein (g)
18
Carbohydrates (g)
4
Total Sugars (g)
2
Dietary Fibre (g)
2
Total Fat (g)
2
Saturated Fat (g)
324
Note
Remember to manage your portion sizes. Recommended portion size should not exceed 2 servings/helpings. Consuming diabetes friendly recipes in inappropriate portion sizes may lead to spiking of your blood glucose levels.
Serves: 4, Time taken: 10 minutes plus 1-hour freezing
Nutrition Facts
Makes 4 Servings (Amount per Serving)
Calories (kcal)
189.8
Protein (g)
2.3
Carbohydrates (g)
33.6
Total Sugars (g)
17.4
Dietary Fibre (g)
3.8
Fat (g)
7.2
Saturated Fat (g)
5.2
1 tbsp Grated fresh, frozen or desiccated coconut4 Bananas, peeled
1 tbsp Sesame seeds
100ml/3 fl oz Coconut milk
1 tbsp Honey
1 Lime, juice only
Steps:
Slice the bananas into 2.5cm/1” pieces, lay them on a baking tray and freeze until hard (at least one hour)
Dry fry the coconut and sesame seeds, stirring frequently, until browned
Just before serving, take the bananas from the freezer and place in the blender with the coconut milk, honey and lime juice. Blend until smooth. Serve in small glass bowls, garnished with the toasted coconut and sesame seeds.
Note
The Glycaemic Load (GL) of banana depends on the variety of banana, where it was grown, and most importantly, how ripe it is. Choose slightly underripe bananas and the GL can be low as 11, and even the mean of 10 studies was only 12.
4 cups mixed green leaves (cabbage/lettuce/spinach)
½ large cucumber
1 cup chopped tomato
½ thinly sliced red onion
½ cup crumbled cheese
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic minced garlic
¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 light tomato-flavour oval multigrain wraps
2/3 cup hummus
Directions
In a large bowl combine all the greens, cucumber, tomato, and red onion and cheese. In a small bowl whisk together vinegar, olive oil, garlic and black pepper. Pour dressing mixture over greens mixture. Toss to combine
Spread each wrap about 2 & ½ tablespoon of Hummus. Top each with 1/4th of dressed greens mixture roll up and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Make 4 servings (Amount per serving)
Calories (Kcal)
269
Protein (g)
16
Carbohydrates (g)
35
Total Sugars (g)
3
Cholesterol(mg)
3
Total fat (g)
12
Sodium (mg)
574
Note
Remember to manage your portion sizes. Recommended portion size should not exceed 2 servings/helpings. Consuming diabetes friendly recipes in inappropriate portion sizes may lead to spiking of your blood glucose levels.
720 g (6 oz) thick white fish fillets, skin and bones removed
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon thinly sliced
4 tomatoes cut into wedges
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp white wine
½ cup (125ml) salt-reduced chicken stalk
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Preheat the oven to 200 ℃
Spread the onion, garlic and thyme sprigs in roasting pan that will be large enough to hold all the fish fillets, with a little space in between. Place the fish on the top and season well with freshly ground black pepper
Arrange the lemon slices over the fish and scatter the tomatoes and bay leaves around the fish. Combine the olive oil, wine and stock and pour over the fish.
Bake the fish for 20 Minutes.
Note
Remember to manage your portion sizes. Recommended portion size should not exceed 2 servings/helpings. Consuming diabetes friendly recipes in inappropriate portion sizes may lead to spiking of your blood glucose levels.
