There are several foods that are included as a part of healthy diet, but depending on your age and bodily needs and mechanism, they might be harmful, warns Neeraj Mehta.
It’s quite a shock when, suddenly in your 30s or even late 20s, your healthy diet makes you fat or sick! Thing is, as you get older, you have fewer leptin receptors in your hypothalamus – meaning that you have fewer satiety signals, which makes you prone to gaining weight. It also means that your rate of metabolism has come down and that your tummy can’t stomach in foods that were totally alright in your younger days.
Doctors estimate that over 21% of entire Asia is classified as obese. In fact, unhealthy eating habits have spread throughout the world and no one is immune to it. The only solution to this problem is sticking to a healthy diet. Dieting is not about punishing yourself; it’s about looking for healthier alternative foods and methods of cooking which keep you thriving.
Sugar and Salt
The two main culprits are sugar and salt which are usually consumed separately. But somehow, both manage to harm your health and add more adipose to your body. Salt can make your intestine blot and sugar can interfere in balancing your hormone. Did you know that just one sugar-filled drink a day, could increase the likelihood of having a heart attack by 20 percent among men? No doubt then that diet soda is an invitation to stroke and death! Best stick to vegetable juices or fresh fruit juices with very little or no sugar.
Fried foods
Fried foods are killer foods! Restaurants fry food in the same oil over and over again, which may taste good, but your health will go for a toss in an instant! Trans fats begin to build up in the grease as more and more food is fried in it. Olive oil is heart healthy oil, so if you must to fry your food, fry it in olive oil.
Grains
Grains contain Phytic Acid, a mineral blocker that prevents absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc. Gluten (found in wheat) is a sticky, water soluble protein that is found in your favourite grains (wheat, rye, barley, etc). Gluten and similar grain-based proteins work to break down the microvilli in your small intestine, eventually letting particles of your food leech into your blood stream, causing allergies, digestive disturbances or autoimmune problems. Most of us think that eating fruits and vegetables can be nothing but healthy but there are hidden dangers in many common foods. Some minerals and vitamins need healthy fats consumed together to actually have a healthy effect!
Lima beans
Lima beans have to be very well cooked before they are eaten because the raw beans contain a product called limarin. Just a handful can make someone violently ill so always ensure they have been cooked at least 10 minutes and never put them in salads raw. Cooking renders them harmless and gives you lots of good nutrition.
Raw Vegetables
Consuming raw vegetables as part of a balanced diet can provide your body with fibre, vitamins and minerals. Your body needs nutrients from vegetables to survive, but some adverse side effects may occur from consuming raw vegetables. For example, if you are prone to acidity, too much tomatoes can give you heartburn or acidity reflux! Vegetables typically contain negligible amounts of fat and protein, and therefore cannot be your only source of nutrition. Therefore consume them with healthy fats.
(The writer is a fitness expert)