/:\ Exploring The Pith, It's Diet Myth /:\

Most of us have tried to diet at least once. We've changed or let's say at least tried to change our eating habits right from what we eat, how much we eat and when we eat! Like you guys we came across none other than our protagonist Mrs Dietwati Gulabjamunwala. Assuming that we wanted to lose weight she began lamenting,

"The food we eat is dangerous!", her expressions changed to one that Yuvi had got watching Annabelle. "It will hurt our health for infinite years down the road!", saying she clutched her head.

"Sugary drinks devastate the lining of our stomach, processed food is less food and more chemicals, meat is no longer nutrients but preservatives and even water is full of germs! Any idea about which desert will make you suffer the most?" Mrs Gulabjamunwala asked.

"A wedding cake..." Kalyani giggled, Dietwati's expressions grew serious to remind all of us its no time to joke.

"Koeli, what's wrong?" Dietwati asked looking at a serious Appy.

"It's my husband, I'm sick and tired of him. He drives me crazy everyday. He never washes his dishes, leaves his dirty laundry out, his work is all over the bed and every night I've to dig under the sofa for his socks. I just run around the house all the time."

"That's horrible! Just shoot him with your gun" Mrs Dietwati Gulabjamunwala sighed.

"Ikr, but just six more pounds!" with that everyone began to laugh and our Dietwati grew frustrated.

"What's wrong with you people?" Dietwati asked.

"Mrs Gulabjamunwala, you behave as if calories are some devious creatures living in your closets and are making your clothes smaller and smaller", spoke Koeli.

"Yeah and most of us watch what others eat instead of watching what we eat", Rutu said.

"I have diet in my name." And there the ego popped up, "I don't eat after 8pm, no sugar, no coffee and avoid banana and potatoes like hell!" said the queen with diet in her name.

"Mrs Gulabjamunwala, low fat doesn't mean lesser calories... In order to make a product with less fat, the manufacturers have to add flour, sugar and starch, which become the substituting ingredients. They increase calories... the best way to monitor your intake is to look at the label and check the nutritional level of the food", Meena said.

"Rice and potatoes are loaded with nutrients. Rice contains methionine which metabolises fat, potatoes are loaded with potassium and Vit B6 which helps against CVS disorders and diseases like cancer. Where you need to be careful is to stop mindless eating and look the portion you intake. We make potatoes unhealthy by deep frying treatments. If included sensibly, it causes no harm",Kalyani added

"About not eating after 8, your weight is the result of what you eat all day, there's no exceptional time of the day when you can eat and not put on", Yuvi chided in.

"Though I wish there was that no-add-on time, it's true! It might be true for the people who skip meal and binge at night and straight away go to bed. What I prefer is keeping a gap of at least an hour in between eating and hitting bed!", Poo said.

"That's true! When you skip a meal you get hungry and you obviously binge on food later on, therefore you gain more weight and your efforts are wasted", Meena agreed.

"I don't munch burgers and pizzas like I saw you do last night! I keep my diet low calorie always!!!!!!" Dietwati said.

"Low calorie diet always is harmful more than useful lady. You're restricting your metabolism and as a result, it's getting altered! Restricting yourself from getting nutrients will have consequences on your health", Maria answered.

"More than not eating fast foods and killing my cravings I prefer to monitor it", replied Kalyani. "I avoid high calorie toppings like cheese or butter and go for salsa or garlic dip. I drink fresh juice, not aerated drinks and chose salads based wraps and burgers... this can do in my healthy diet!", Kalyani shrugged.

"So you mean to say outside snacks will help me in losing weight?"

"Why not? Choose snacks low in calorie and high in protein content, so that it can curb your hunger pangs in healthy way... thoughtful snacking will of course help you reduce!"

"See I'll take your advice later on, right now I'm on crash diet-"

"WTH, right now we explained you not to skip meals or give third degree treatment to your stomach Dietwatiji. Look now I'll speak science, when you skip meal there's larger need of food by the body and that is not done by breaking fats because it's a long process. Body instead break your muscle tissues... all your efforts are outright going in dustbin!",Mou said.

"A little tip, include eggs in your diet, they are a rich source of proteins, vitamins and minerals... boiled eggs is the healthiest. Do not bother about cholesterol, it does no harm!", Maria added

"What about vegetarians hon?"

"There are plenty of options for vegans too! Include lots of milk, pulses and nuts and you're even!", Mou smiled

"It's not like I don't watch my body... I mostly have fruit breakfasts!", Dietwati said softly. She felt as if she was killing her body rather than constituting it for so long.

"Cereals are a better option, Duetwatiji. We don't eat entire night, so our body need proteins and minerals along with vitamins! Ideal breakfast should contain milk, cereal and one fruit!"

-Koeli_Appy-

-Strikhedonia- | _Meena_

Ranbirrocks | Sonatia | Get-Lost

Graphics : PanchaliKaArjun

* Originally Written By misanthropist. *

Finally our protagonist Mrs Dietwati Gulabjamunwala understood that we cannot turn back the hands of the clock and switch to the healthy and pollution-free environment when we have an all together different atmosphere around us. Our country is developing, change is inevitable! So all we can do is accustom to the changes, go with the flow and still stay healthy!

By moving with the flow we don't mean to incorporate all western habits in food. Let's get closer to our roots and understand why we do what we do!

It should never cease to amaze us the multitude of Indian vegetables used in Indian cooking... its delicious and good for us!

Medicinal healing species like turmeric, garlic and green chilies are most commonly used ingredients. Well, that's like eating medicines!

Indians mostly begin cooking from scratch and that spares us the effects of preservatives. Indian food is not diet busting... that entirely depends on choices you make.

We do not need to switch to olive oil just because its popular in western countries, our cooking includes heating at high temperatures and olive oil isn't stable at high temperatures. It can be used in servings or just sprinkle a little bit oil on your dishes. But we suggest you switching oil with ghee wherever and whenever you can! Ghee is more healthy for your heart than olive oil!

Remember, Diet is not just about looking fit, it's about living fit!

F.e.w. T.i.p.s:

Include fat-free, low fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits and whole grains in your diet.

Do not reuse oils. Heating oil again and again denatures it. It may even emit carcinogenic fumes. So, the oil once used is better discarded.

Steam vegetables instead of boiling them.

Scrub vegetables rather than peeling them.

Including iodized salt is best, do not add salt to food as it's cooking.

Do allow yourself of occasional guilt-free treat.