Indian food is known for its diversity of using different foods with different spices and with different combinations. What makes Indian food the most wholesome? The practice of Indian food to be used with different spices and combinations makes it wholesome. It is not only tasty but also provides a lot of health benefits such as boosting immunity and fighting against inflammation. The typical Indian diet is a good balance of having roti, sabzi, dal and rice which is the perfect combination of adequate carbohydrates, proteins, limited fats and a good amount of fibre.
Lastly the “Magic of Indian Curry”, if cooked with the right ingredients and proper amounts of oil, is good for immunity. It is best used in reducing inflammation as generally it is prepared with curry leaves, tomato, onion, black pepper, garlic, turmeric and other spices which has many health benefits.
Have you ever heard of our ancestors having diabetes, heart issues, obesity or kidney problems?? That’s because there are some habits which have been followed for a long time and which can also be good for our digestive system.
1. We should start having early dinner and eat according to our body’s needs and requirements for better digestion and less microbial attack on the food.
2. One should always focus on having seasonal fruits and vegetables and reduce the consumption of those which are grown with chemicals and pesticides especially those who are not in season.
3. Eating home-cooked food was always a choice and outside food was a rare occasion unlike us.
You must be wondering what gut health is? How can we keep it nourished?
Gut health is basically maintaining a good balance of microorganisms that are present in our digestive tract for better immunity and good digestion. An unhealthy gut can impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients which can be a contributing factor to many health problems.
Foods to improve gut health
Natural Probiotics – They are commonly known as healthy bacteria which eventually help the digestive tract to be healthy. They are present in many food items such as yoghurt, kefir, yakult and buttermilk. It is best for people having frequent problems such as abdominal pain, flatulence and bloating.
Ginger– It is very commonly used for an upset stomach as it seems to aid digestion and saliva flow. Ginger can be used in Indian curry, tea and can also be consumed as raw ginger water. It has been amazingly effective in alleviating discomfort and pain in the stomach
Garlic – It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and it can also keep the bad bacteria in good control. You can use garlic in many ways in chutneys, in everyday dals and sabzis and in many food preparations.
Fruits – They are good sources of soluble fibre, vitamins and minerals which are very much needed for better digestion and good absorption of the food we consume. Fruits like prunes, bananas, apples, kiwi have shown good results in improving digestion.
Foods bad for gut health
Sugar – It is the best food for the microbe in our gut. It promotes the overgrowth of disruptive strains and yeast which eventually disrupts our healthy gut terrain. All sugary foods such as sweets, desserts, artificial sweeteners and sugar itself is a big “NO” for a healthy gut.
Fried foods – It can disturb the balance of good bacteria’s in our gut, allowing the unhealthy strains to grow which is very well linked to weight gain and various other chronic diseases.
Meat – It should be avoided due to its fat content and due to its less fibre content. Without the essential plant fibre, which is also the prebiotics our gut microbiome becomes depleted. Eating too much red meat has also shown a direct relation in acquiring colorectal cancer.
Lastly, a mixed bag of detrimental products such as food additives, preservatives and food colourings, have a few big things in common: they all promote inflammation, are highly processed, and can lead to imbalances in bacterial communities. So, all the processed and packaged foods should be avoided.
