- By Prerna Targhotra
- Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:47 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian Superfoods For Healthy Body: When it comes to healthy living, the foods we consume have a great role to play. Millions of people across the world suffer from one or another health illness developed due to poor lifestyle and eating habits. In order to maintain a healthy body and mind, a healthy lifestyle along with the right eating habits is extremely essential. Incorporating superfoods that promote overall health and well-being is essential.
Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar spills the secrets to ultimate fitness and nutrition in the audiobook 'Indian Superfoods' on Audible. In the audiobook, she listed numerous healthy superfoods that one should include in their diet for a healthy and fit body. She accounts for some healthy foods that will help you burn that stubborn belly fat and develop a toned body.
1. Ghee: The Fat Burner
Ghee is a variation of clarified butter that is known for its miraculous medicinal properties. According to Nutritionist Diwekar, ghee reduces the glycemic index of your food, making it a smart choice for those concerned about diabetes and weight management. Every time you bake or use any other method of robbing your meal of essential fats like ghee, the glycemic index of your meal stays high, which means faster ageing and predisposition to metabolic syndrome. Ghee is packed with essential fatty acids that promote healthy pregnancy delivery as well.
2. Kokum: The Natural Antacid
Nutritionist Diwekar says that with kokum one can prioritise a harmonious gut, and maintain vitamin B12 and D levels for heart health and better sleep. This superfood fights bacteria and inflammation, while hydroxy citric acid helps shed pounds. You can savour kokum in dal, along with vegetables, or eat raw with salt. Kokum sharbat is a refreshing weight-loss drink loved by celebs. For your skin's delight, try kokum butter in cosmetics and utilise this Indian superfood to brighten your plate and health.
3. Banana: The Recharger
Bananas are super fruit and amazingly healthy. The magic of this fruit lies in its nutrient-packed goodness, from potassium and vitamin B6 to its low glycemic index. It's the ultimate on-the-go snack for health enthusiasts. It also soothes your stomach, strengthens bones, and helps lift your spirits with vitamin B6 and magnesium.
4. Ambadi: The Stomach-Soother
Eating with the seasons is the way to go, and during the monsoon, it's time to give up certain foods, says Nutritionist Diwekar. Ambadi is the tribal woman’s source of folic acid and iron. Easy to digest and cook, high in slowly digestible starch, making it an excellent vegetable to sustain and nurture the gut ecosystem. Nutritionist Diwekar suggests that you can opt for low glycemic index meals with ambadi bhaji and fibre-rich bhakris, it is so cool that even the flowers can be boiled for stomach ailments or enjoyed as a detox tea.
5. Coconut: The Calmer
Coconut is packed with magical medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) that boost endurance, brain function, and overall well-being. These MCTs get metabolised very differently in the human body compared to the other fats that we eat. They get preferentially used up for fuel, so you have more stamina or endurance, says Nutritionist Diwekar. You can use tender coconut water for hydration, malai for intestinal health, ripe coconut for heart health, and coconut oil for lustrous hair and heart strength.