With the ever-elongating list of modern diets storming the internet and various marvellous ingredients and foods entering our grocery lists, our connection with the traditional Indian food has been lost in this modern mist. This realisation is certainly now bringing back our old eating food roots even in western cultures today. From replacing olive oil with coconut oil to savouring that warm cup of turmeric milk with a tint of honey for a perfect morning start, ‘The Indian Diet’ is again being embraced by many. The book, ‘The Great Indian Diet’, by Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Luke Coutinho, is acting as one such device to remarkably emphasise on the importance of Indian diets and spices.
So without any further a due, let’s again unfold some of the hidden virtues of our grandma’s kitchen and gobble up those greens in our plates that our mother’s constantly persuade us to eat.
SATTU
Popularly consumed in the northern parts of India, sattu is also known as the powerhouse of energy. This flour-like ingredient is packed with minerals such as iron, manganese and magnesium. Moreover, the high fibre content in this food has been found to reduce the risk of cancer and prevent dehydration. Sattu can be easily prepared by grinding roasted channa into a fine powder and they are way too easy to consume.
You can turn them into sizzling buttery parathas, seasoned vegetable upma or into honey glazed porridge to satisfy your sweet tooth. In its simplest form, you can also mix a scoopful of sattu in warm milk, as a substitute for protein powder.
GARLIC
Garlic in its own way, is a part of every Indian cuisine that entices your taste buds. But ever wondered about its profound benefits? This glorious spice has been known to lower the blood glucose levels and is become a growing aid for diabetes. It’s important to keep in mind, raw garlic has more medicinal properties compared to the cook or the processed one. It reduces inflammation, heals acidity, combats heartburn, eases constipation and power up your immune system. The best way to consume garlic is to chew a clove of raw crushed garlic immediately after you get out of bed. Allicin, a chemical compound in garlic, brings about all these potential benefits instantly. The effect of this compound can be significantly decreased during cooking.
LAUKI (BOTTLE GOURD)
Lauki is gaining popularity as a superfood today. It is no surprise why. This fibre rich food is a blended package of proteins and minerals. Researchers have revealed the presence of choline, a neurotransmitter, present in this food which makes it an excellent source for restoring fluid balance and prevent oedema among hormonal imbalances in cases of PCOS and hyperthyroidism.
Contrary to the popular belief of tagging the gourd as diabetic food, it also serves as a wonderful aid for weight loss as 100g just suffices us with 12 kcal.
TURMERIC
Warm turmeric milk had been a forgotten boon until this epidemic arose. Wouldn’t you agree?
Curcumin, present in turmeric boosts immunity, prevents inflammation and is a golden bonus as it helps in the prevention of cancer. You will be surprised to know that curcumin is widely used today for the treatment of cancer.
A takeaway, Pepper present in peppercorn ( Kaalimiri) helps in the absorption of curcumin. Hence, consumption of both in adequate quantities seems like a win-win situation for our health.
MANGO
This soft, mushy and delicious fruit, never fails to please our eager taste buds during summer. Being regarded as the ‘king of fruits’, let’s discover its surprising health credentials.
Mango is nature’s bounty of vitamins and minerals. Yellow color implies an abundant presence of vitamin A and also Vitamin C. Breaking a famous misconception about mango being a highly sweetened, high-calorie food and a big NO-NO to diabetes, let me reveal, a single mango has a glycemic index (GI) of 41-60, which is 50% lower to that of your rice. GI is a value given to a specific food which implies the relative rise in the blood glucose level two hours after it’s consumption. Mango, being a splendid source of fibre, promotes the release of sugar slower than that from simple and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy blood glucose level. So feasting upon a mango a day is no harm.
So what are you waiting for? Go replenish your kitchen with these Super Foods now!