Diet Watch!

There is nothing more important than being healthy, and being healthy does not mean going on a crash diet. What we need to do is to incorporate healthy eating habits, combined with exercise. Here are some practical diet tips on staying fit:

• Don’t miss breakfast. Skip the excuses and grab something to eat – some fruit or cereal, a sandwich, idlis…anything. Breakfast helps us to kick-start our day.

• Eat balanced meals. Boost your intake of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins (fish, chicken, eggs, lean, red meat, pulses, tofu and other vegetable proteins).

• Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to unrestrained hunger, which often results in overeating. Eating regular meals also cuts the urge to chomp on snacks.

• Keep portion sizes in check. If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Eat slowly; you feel full only twenty minutes after you eat.

• If you can't cut out, cut down. Eating healthy doesn’t mean performing some kind of penance! The key is moderation. Treat yourself to your favourite fast food or dessert occassionally.

• Cut down on fast foods. Pizzas and burgers may be delicious but they provide very little nutrition and just add on the calories and the inches!

• Say goodbye to dieting! If you feel that you cannot or do not know how to eat healthy, consult a nutritionist or a dietician who can suggest a healthy diet.

Make changes gradually. Cultivating healthy eating habits takes time. A combination of will power and attention to what you are eating can help you make the change gradually. Make healthy eating a lifetime habit, not a passing phase.

Old Wives Tales

Sometimes we hear people giving us pieces of age-old advice that make us wonder if it has any scientific base at all. We put a couple of old wives tales through the lie-detector to find out which ones are true and which ones have the makings of a hoary myth.

False. Both high fevers and colds can cause fluid loss. Drinking plenty of liquids such as water, fruit juice, and vegetable juice can help prevent dehydration. And with both fevers and colds, it's fine to eat regular meals - missing nutrients may only make a person sicker.

False. According to the American Red Cross, it's usually not necessary for you or your child to wait an hour before going in the water. However, it is recommended that you wait until digestion has begun, especially if you've had a big fatty meal and you plan to swim strenuously. The Red Cross also advises against chewing gum or eating while in the water, both of which could cause choking.