<div><div>Many conversations over the weekend glass of wine at get-togethers leave me disturbed. Invariably, friends and acquaintances begin by seeking advice on what they should eat and drink, what diseases they can ward off… you get the drift. And during the course of these wine and roasted peanut evenings (I avoid the cheese) emerge myths about what’s healthy. I’m listing the most common ones:</div><div> </div><div><strong>Low fat:</strong> It usually means that a particular item has been stripped of saturated and unsaturated oils, both of which are good for the body in small quantities. Saturated fats keep the brain healthier and fungal and viral infections at bay, while daily intake (10 per cent of total calorie) of unsaturated fat ensures a healthy heart, balanced hormones and fewer mood swings. So eat full fat instead of low fat, but in small quantities — chuck the margarine and switch back to smaller quantities of butter.</div><div> </div><div><strong>No sugar:</strong> Love your desserts but don’t want sugar? Add honey, jaggery, stevia, dates. Chuck artificial sweeteners. They are bad for your brain and your metabolism. Too much artificial sweetener can lead to a metabolic disorder and cause weight gain, defeating the purpose of ‘no sugar’ foods in the first place, and increase your risk for memory loss-related brain disorders.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Oats or bran or whole wheat or rye or any other ‘healthy’ biscuits:</strong> Now that’s an oxymoron. Biscuits are processed foods and contain hydrogenated oil or trans fatty acids, which are also present in other junk foods that clog arteries. If a biscuit company has added 20 per cent oats, that does not really negate the bad fat, white flour and sugar which are essential for any biscuit recipe? No! Switch to snacks like chikki, poha, oats upma, roasted peanuts, mixed nuts (except cashew nuts) to get a healthy bite with your chai or green tea. </div><div> </div><div><strong>Whole wheat or multi-grain or any other ‘healthy’ bread: </strong>Breads cannot be made without white flour unless you have a bakery at home. Most ‘brown’ breads have colouring and the highest fibre breads also have white flour. Instead, buy good quality breads from local bakeries that bake them fresh, as they require smaller amounts of preservatives to keep them fresh. Consume less, but consume the right thing. </div><div> </div><div><strong>Cooking in olive oil:</strong> Indian cooking is high-flame cooking (we cook at 500-plus degree Fahrenheit till we kill all those lovely nutrients in food!). On the other hand, olive pomace’s smoke point is 409 degrees Fahrenheit. Any oil cooked beyond the smoke point gets carcinogenic, so please use safflower or canola.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Question Of The Fortnight</strong></div><div> </div><div><em>Send in your questions to askrachnachhachhi@gmail.com</em></div><div> </div><div>I’m doing everything right but unable to lose weight. I exercise 7 days a week, eat small meals and fruits, and sleep well. What could be wrong?</div><div>— Sanila Das, Mumbai</div><div> </div><div>Dear Sanila,</div><div>Women over 35 get into what’s called a “hormonal” bind. All exercise programmes are geared towards men and don’t work on women because our bodies are not logical due to our hormones. Your exercise regime is blocking weight loss. Alternate between 40 minutes of aerobic exercise and gentle yoga. Exercise only five days a week. It seems unbelievable, but I have made many women lose weight with just this. And yes, don’t eat after 7 p.m. </div><div> </div><div><em>The author is a certified nutritional therapist and WHO certified in nutrition. She is the writer of Restore, a book on how to fight diseases for working professionals</em></div></div><div> </div><div>(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 02-11-2015)</div>
