We have all gorged ourselves on a lot of mithai, puris, kachoris, and everything that is fried and yet tasty food. But it is time now to give our gut a break. Eating healthy and the right kind of food for the next few days will go a long way in keeping us healthy. It will also support digestion and boost our immunity which may have taken a beating due to our eating habits during the ongoing festive season.
The festivities has just started and Christmas and New Year’s Eve are not so far away. Doctors and nutritionists don’t recommend that people go on a strict diet. They opine that it can do more harm than good, especially for those with comorbidities. They recommend a middle path where a person eats well, in fact sensibly for the next few weeks to keep themselves disease free.
Nishtha Raj, a clinical nutritionist with HealthifyMe, said that it is important to not skip a meal right after a bout of binge eating that most people indulge in during the two days of Diwali. “The idea is to give the gut a break from all the fried food and the mithai that a person has been eating,” Raj said.
“The best thing to do is eat fresh home-cooked food like daal, roti, sabzi, and dahi. Keep dinner light and eat before 8 pm”
–Nishtha Raj, clinical nutritionist, HealthifyMe
According to her, the best way to end the day is with cinnamon water. “Soak a stick of cinnamon in water in the morning. Boil the decoction for 5-10 minutes and set it aside. After a heavy meal, at night, warm this decoction and drink it 30 minutes before going to sleep. It is a great way to detox the body, help in digestion and alleviate any digestive issues,” Raj said.
Portion control is another way to keep oneself healthy. “Instead of piling one’s plate with food, it is advisable to take small servings, finishing that, and only then going for a refill. In most cases, the person would have had his fill at first go,” Raj stressed.
Since a lot of people balk at the mention of going on a diet, simple home-cooked food works wonders. The best thing to do is eat fresh home-cooked food like daal, roti, sabzi, and dahi, Raj opined.
Start the day with detox water – this can be normal saunf-ajwain ka paani – soak a teaspoon each of saunf and ajwain in a glass of water. Strain it and drink this first thing in the morning. For breakfast, concentrate on eating more proteins and fiber rather than carbs. Have oats and fruit. “For lunch have two rotis, a katori of daal, sabzi and dahi. A large portion of the diet for the day must be dependent on fruits and vegetables and even salad, which is not heavy on the dressing. Dinner should ideally be very light – maybe soup and a salad. It should be over by 8 pm so that the person has at least a two-three hour gap before he/she goes to sleep. It is not advisable to go to sleep on a full stomach. This can cause indigestion and acid reflux,” Raj warned.
Shalini is an Executive Editor with Apeejay Newsroom. With a PG Diploma in Business Management and Industrial Administration and an MA in Mass Communication, she was a former Associate Editor with News9live. She has worked on varied topics - from news-based to feature articles.
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