Celiac Awareness Day

Celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a chronic disorder of the digestive tract that results in an inability to tolerate gliadin, the alcohol-soluble fraction of gluten. Gluten is a protein commonly found in wheat, rye, and barley.

Signs and symptoms: Diarrhea, flatulence, weight loss, weakness and fatigue, severe abdominal pain.

Diagnosis: Laboratory tests

The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) recommends that antibody testing, especially immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgA TTG).

Other laboratory tests include the following:

• Electrolytes and chemistries - Electrolyte imbalances; evidence of malnutrition
• Hematologic tests - Anemia, low serum iron level, prolonged prothrombin time (PT)
• Stool examination - Fat malabsorption
• Oral tolerance tests - Lactose intolerance
• Serology - Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies

Management

Eliminate gluten from the diet

• Wheat and wheat products
• Barley
• Rye
• Semolina
• Durum
• Brewers yeast (beer and bread)
• Pastas
• Pizza
• Bread
• Pastries

Allowed foods:

• Potato
• Egg and egg whites
• Milk and milk products
• Avocado
• Couscous
• Quinoa
• Sprouts
• Chicken
• Vegetables
• Pulses and legumes
• Vegetable juices
• Medicated buttermilk

BANANA TREE NATURE'S GIFT FOR GOOD

                                                 

Banana tree unlike other trees have advantages of different parts of it. To know about it, Keep Reading to check out what It has got….

 To know about this keep scrolling….

1. Banana Magic/ Eatsome Banana

Contains Potassium which Supports heart health, Energy booster for post work out session, being rich in fibre it is Good for digestive health, contains tryptophan and helps increase serotonin levels (i.e. a feel good hormone) that helps overcoming depression.

You can simply have it naturally or use it in sweet dishes such as sheera, cakes, fruit salads etc.

2. Budding Floret/Banana Flower/Banana Blossom

Wards of infection, reduces menstrual flow, reduces free radical activity, boosts moods , reduces anxiety, increases milk content of nursing mothers or improves lactation of Nursing mothers, keeps sugar levels in check, cures Anaemia, good for weight loss.

Culinary Use:

Can be used in salads, soups, one can also make sabji, use it in stirred fry veggies or simply make a decoction of it.

3. Banana leaf

From a serving plate to much more…

In some parts of the world it is a tradition to serve food on Banana leaf, you can also use this Nature’s Natural food wrapper instead of synthetic man- made plastic closed containers, foils etc. furthermore you can this leaf for cooking purpose one of the most famous dish called as “Macher Paturi” is a traditional Bengali dish were usually betki fish pieces are marinated in a spiced mustard paste, wrapped in banana leaf individually and then slow cooked till tender. Hence, becomes good recipe to keep the oil away from cooking. So you can try this with your own fish choice which along with a healthy cooking choice gives a distant essence to the food.

HEALTHY TIPS FOR TEACHERS

The profession of teaching requires a lot of physical and mental stamina. On this teacher's day, we would like to share some tips for the hardworking educators of our community to help you maintain optimum levels of energy and productivity while you make your indelible impact on the society-

1.    Eat a fulfilling breakfast- As your day starts earlier than many people, it is important, to begin with a healthy and nutritious breakfast that helps you stay active and energized for a long period of time.

2.    Carry healthy snacks- Working for long hours can make you feel hungry and exhausted. Make sure to carry healthy snacks such as roasted channa, makhana, nuts, or fruit to munch in your break time.

3.    Stay hydrated- Drinking water frequently not only keeps you fresh and energized but also does good to your vocal cord by lubricating it and aiding in the production of mucus.

4.    Correct Posture- Maintain correct posture while sitting and standing to avoid spinal and neck problems. In case of long hours of standing, take a break in between to stretch or sit every now and then.

5.    Use 20-20-20 rule to avoid eye strain- As teachers your routine involves a lot of near intense work like reading and writing, often in front of digital screens which tends to cause strain in your eyes. To avoid this, start following the 20-20-20 rule,i.e. look way from your screen every 20 minutes at a distance of 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

6.    Allocate some time for self-care- In order to be able to deliver the best to your students, it is important to take care of yourself by indulging into hobbies or activities or that rejuvenate you like meditation, exercise, nap break, spending time with family and friends, etc.

NATIONAL SPORTS DAY

                              

When you get into a sport, what is the first thing you invest in? Your equipment right? The latest shoes with support and improved grip, the newest racket with upgraded balance, the top of the line bat and kit on par with professionals. To be the best most people settle for buying the best. 

But what if i told you that there is one item in your own home worth investing in that has the potential to maximize not only your performance right from your strength to your endurance, but also your recovery?

The foods in your kitchen are some of the most powerful tools in your toolkit as a sports person and more often than not the most underutilized.

Want to jump start your performance on the pitch? It all starts in your plate. Read on for the Diet Dr Clinics Sports Nutrtion Strategy.

•    Before a match it is important to be properly fueled to prevent muscle exhaustion. The best fuel is in the form of high quality carbohydrate: 

 o  such as sweet potato

 o   fruits such as: banana

 o  peanut butter on whole toast sandwich.

•    During the match to maintain sodium-potassium balance (which is important to prevent muscle cramps and fatigue) sip on :

o   Fruit infused or chia seeds water.

o   Coconut water is another amazing addition naturally rich in all necessary electrolytes and minerals definitely better for you than supermarket sports drinks!

•   After the match: The body is likely to be in a fatigued or exhausted state with most of its energy (muscle glycogen) depleted, this coupled with post exercise inflammation makes this the most important time to eat the right foods.

o   Good quality protein sources which can be easily absorbed (high bio-availability) such as egg white, natural whey water, cow’s milk etc.

o   Consuming a diet low in inflammatory foods such as high sugar/ high fructose foods, vegetable oils, margarine, refined carbohydrates, processed meats like sausage, bacon etc keeps your performance in the best shape possible allowing you to train/ play more consistently.

o   Similarly eating anti-inflammatory foods post training or matches boosts recovery. Foods rich in omega 3’s and 9’s: e.g. chia, flax, basil (sabja) seeds, coconut oil are all good options. As well as anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric, ginger etc. Seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables that are brightly coloured also contain an array of anti-inflammatory compounds. 

o When eating for peak performance always consult a trained nutritionist who can alter your eating plan according to the sport you play, your schedule, dietary habits etc.

HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI

The entire team of Diet Dr Clinic - Powered by Harpreet Pasricha wishes you and your family a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Ganesh Chaturthi this year.

It’s that festival where the smell of food speaks more than the people at home. 

Here are some festive season eating guidelines for all those who thinks eating healthy during festivals is impossible!! 

• Festival time is the time when your loved ones shares some extra love on your plate which you cannot say no to. Make sure you balance the extra items consumed with a lighter meal later on. For example, a heavy lunch can be balanced with a lighter dinner or a heavier snack followed by lighter meals.

• There are variety of options in the house during the festive season. From sweets to sharbats from laddoos to modaks. Choosing them wisely will definitely help our body to stay healthy. Modaks are something which people eat whole day especially during chaturthi - from breakfast to dinner, choosing the ones which are steamed instead of those which are deep fried is what we call wise decision.

• Sometimes even after a heavy meal eating a dessert during festivals is mandatory. A small quantity of desserts after a meal won’t harm you much if you stay active for atleast 30 minutes post meal. You can take a walk inside or around your house or can do some household chores to burn those extra calories and feel lighter.

• During celebration time it’s very difficult to follow a complete healthy eating pattern. But there is one way you can consume your favourite dish without any regrets is by eating in moderation that is eating in small quantities. It starts off with choosing a smaller bowl for desserts, having mini sized versions of sweets or cutting the sweets into pieces.

WORLD BREAST FEEDING WEEK

Breast Feeding: The Breast Breakfast for your Baby!

Fact: The Rate of Exclusive breastfeeding (for the crucial first 6 months) in India is 55%

Fact: Less than 50% of children born here are breastfed within the first hour of birth.

In 2018 India, with half the children born in the country being denied the best start to life not only incurs 99’499 infant deaths a year but also cost healthcare close to 25 billion in the same time span!

All this and it could be easily prevented? Read on to find out why you need to support and promote this potentially lifesaving practice:

1. Breast milk provides new born’s with their first vaccine against the dangerous world beyond the womb by providing them with colostrum which contains powerful antibodies from the mother coupled with growth factor to help the baby grow strong and even clear their gut.
2. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, something no baby formula can compete with.
3. Breastfeeding can potentially save your baby’s life in the years to come as research indicates it wards of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and a lot more.
4. Feeding the baby can even promote calmness in the baby and enable the child to have better social skills later in life (owing to the skin to skin contact)

If these benefits weren’t enough to convince you here are 2 exclusively for Mama!

•      It has healing powers: It Can help ease postpartum bleeding, promote healing (one study even shows women who breastfeed take less sick days from work than those who don’t) in the mother and even foster feelings of calmness and well being (especially vital to women facing postpartum blues!)
•    It can help you lose the extra baggage: your post-pregnancy weight can be halved through breastfeeding alone which consumes 25% of calories, that’s even more than your brain which uses 20%. In addition to burning what you eat the fat cells stored in the mother’s body are broken down to aid in milk production.

It's therefore very important to not only promote breastfeeding and support it but to also acknowledge our role in society towards encouraging the practice as every new mother in India can breastfeed, if society, family and the health care system work together!

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

6 Lesser Known Tips To Treat Via Nutritional Therapy.

Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver tissue. The most common cause of hepatitis is viruses, but other possible causes include autoimmune diseases ( three times more common in women than in men), toxins, certain medications, heavy alcohol use, other infections and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.

General Nutritional Considerations In The Treatment Of Hepatitis

 The American Liver Foundation states that eating an unhealthy diet can even lead to liver disease as such hepatitis recovery can be complemented via nutrition. While most of the nutritional therapy via diet is widely known such as adequate water intake, avoiding alcohol and fatty foods, regular exercise, here are our tips off the beaten path to complement recovery:

Enjoy Carbohydrates –A high carbohydrate diet is recommended to meet the increased energy needs. If too much protein is consumed and not enough carbohydrates, the liver will be forced to use protein as an energy source. This is an unwise and inefficient use of protein, as protein will be diverted from its primary job of building cells and tissues. Furthermore, this will put undo stress on the liver, as it is more taxing for the liver to convert protein into energy than it is to convert carbohydrates into energy. Sufficient calories are to be provided to maintain weight or address weight loss (at least 30 calories per kilogram of body weight. A liberal intake of complex carbohydrates so include  whole wheat , rice, cereals etc.

Additionally, the use of a powdered high chlorophyll beverage such as the cereal grasses are an excellent addition of calories as well as being nutrient dense with cleansing & detoxifying properties.
Focus on  Vitamins/Minerals and antioxidant Nutrients: Many of the B vitamins have been shown to be deficient in hepatitis and other liver diseases especially B-12 and folic acid (So include fish, milk products, soy products, avocados, beans, lentils, beans and peas etc ). It is important for their immune support and healing effect on the liver, several antioxidants have been shown to be depressed in patients with hepatitis ( So include carrots, apricots, mangoes, spinach, berries, lean meat etc.)
Focus on Vitamin C and Selenium rich foods- Studies have demonstrated important aspects of treatment with vitamin C including immunomodulation action, decreasing the duration of the disease (tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts etc).As for selenium Japanese researchers investigated the relationship between selenium, Hepatitis C and insulin resistance. They found that the degree of selenium deficiency correlated with the amount of liver damage in patients with chronic Hepatitis C. In addition, they concluded that selenium deficiency was likely a factor contributing to insulin resistance in affected individuals. So try to include  brazil nuts, broccoli, onions mushrooms leeks, garlic, whole grains, egg yolks, tuna etc.

Wheat and Gluten – In some cases , gluten can be highly inflammatory; thus adopting a gluten-free diet can be beneficial to liver. The inability to properly digest and process gluten creates a chronic state of inflammation which leads to “leaky gut” syndrome. This allows toxins and pathogenic organisms to infiltrate your blood, presenting a chronic toxic overload to your liver. The long-term outcome of this is often non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the “gateway disorder” that can progress to other more serious liver diseases. At this point, liver enzyme levels will be elevated.

Milk thistle: It’s available in capsules and other forms. Milk thistle may have some restorative properties, suggests research. Some studies have found that milk thistle improves liver function in hepatitis and cirrhosis patients.