Individuals with existing morbidities should adopt healthy fasting practices this Navratri

Individuals with existing morbidities should adopt healthy fasting practices this Navratri Patients with existing chronic diseases like cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and blood pressure should take extra precautions when fasting. Skipping meals or eating an inappropriate diet can affect your health adversely if you are on continuous medications. Diabetic patients should decrease their insulin intake up to 40 percent if they are fasting and consume only one meal a day. New Delhi, 30th March 2017: There is a lot of hustle bustle around, as the festive season is setting up. And we all know that Navratri marks the festive season, which is an auspicious 9-day period for Hindu devotees. Fasting, worshipping and playing dandiyaare a few important things that matter the most during this period. From kids to elders, you see almost everyone indulging in the 9-day fast schedule that is observed during the festival. But sometimes, people end up ignoring their health because they believe in adhering to the strict fasting norms like eating once a day, staying without water till the last mean, consuming salt once a day and only consuming potato-based meals. The strict fasting practices do not suit individuals who are suffering from long-term chronic diseases like heart ailments, diabetes and blood pressure or for that matter pregnancy. They can all cause life-threatening complications for such patients and must be observed with caution and post-consultation with the treating doctor. Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement said, “Fasting has many positive impacts on one's health if an optimum level of nutritional intake are maintained. For patients who have heart issues, we recommend that they don’t eat fried foods like potato pakoras, fried potatoes and processed potato chips. Diabetics must immediately end their fast if the body’s blood sugar level falls below 60 mg. They must also drink ample amounts of fluid given that dehydration can lead to paralysis and heart attacks. The risks associated with fasting are low in patients with Type 2 diabetes. However, patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes should not fast. Fasting in chronic patients must be done in strict consultation with the doctors since the dosage of regular medicines may need to be reduced by 40-50% during fasts.” A few healthy fasting tips during the Navratri include • Lauki Raita can be consumed instead of plain curd • One can eat almonds (badam) in between as snacks • Stuffed kuttu (buckwheat) roti with pumpkin (kaddu) vegetable should be consumed • Ample fruits should be consumed at regular intervals to maintain nutrient levels • Both chestnut flour and buckwheat flours can be combined as a healthy option • Singhara is not a cereal but a fruit and hence a good substitute for a Navratri fast where cereals are not to be eaten • A gluten free product, chestnut flour is an ideal food option for people with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances or allergies

People who fast during Navratri are at an increased risk of food poisoning and diarrhea

People who fast during Navratri are at an increased risk of food poisoning and diarrhea Eating leftover and oily food can make you sick...Keep a check on your liquid intake to celebrate the festival of Navratri with all the enthusiasm Starving and not eating for too long can make you feel weak. It is advised that you consume mini meals after an interval of every 2-3 hours New Delhi, 29th March 2017: Have you ever wondered what is the reason behind the 9-day fast during Navratri? In addition to the religious reasons, fasts also help in the purification of the body by relaxing its metabolism. The consumption of low calorie and less spicy food items helps relieve the body of the extra work it has to do on a regular basis. However, this purpose gets defeated when people indulge in starchy and oily foods like potatoes and kuttu pakoras. Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement said, “During Navratris, people have fewer food options, which are mostly restricted to kuttu and singhara flours. We advise that the people who are on a fast consume ample amounts of liquids to maintain energy levels and prevent dehydration. It is also strongly recommended that the kuttu or singhara flour left over from the previous year should not be used as they may be contaminated and result in diarrhea. Eat lot of fruits. Eating too much of very oily and high sugar food items like burfi, ladoo and potato fries may also cause diarrhea.” Keep the following in mind in order to avoid the chances of food poisoning and diarrhea and help in maintaining a healthy fasting routine: • Use singhara flour, it is not a cereal but a fruit as it is made from dried ground water chestnuts and hence a good substitute for a Navratri fast, where cereals cannot be consumed. It is an excellent source of energy and provides 115 kcal per 100g. • Singhara plants bear ornately shaped fruits containing a single very large starchy seed. These seeds or nuts are boiled and eaten as a snack and can be eaten raw as well • The Singhara is made from dried ground water chestnuts. These nuts are boiled peeled and dried before grinding. In such a case, there are no chances of impurities. • Chestnuts are relatively low in net carbs (total carbohydrate minus dietary fiber). It is included in many low carb diets. They do not contain the fat that regular nuts have. They also contain less carbohydrate than white flour. • Avoid eating deep fried chestnut flour pooris or parathas. • Buy only branded best quality flour as leftover flour from last year can lead to food poisoning. • One should not use high trans fat vegetable oils to cook chestnut flour bread. • You should consume as many fruits as you can, fruits are the best alternatives for the individuals who are on a fast. • To keep your body hydrated, you should drink as much liquid as you can like in the form of water and juices.

The health benefits of eating KuttuKaAata or Buckwheat Flour during the Navratri season

The health benefits of eating KuttuKaAata or Buckwheat Flour during the Navratri season New Delhi, 28th March 2017: Navratri is the detoxification of a person’s body, mind and soul. During this time wheat flour is omitted from a person’s diet and replaced with buckwheat flour or kuttukaaata to help cleanse one’s body. Buckwheat is not a cereal grain butis derived from fruits and hence is a good substitute for cereals.
Explaining the health benefits of buckwheat flour Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) said, “KuttuKaAata or buckwhear flour is extremely high in protein and is a wonderful substitute for those who are allergic to gluten (found in wheat).It is rich in magnesium, vitamin B, iron, calcium, folate, zinc, copper, manganese and phosphorus. It also contains phytonutrient rutin, which lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. It is also recommended to patients suffering from celiac disease.”
As the buckwheat hulls are hard to chew, traditionally they are soaked for about six hours and then cooked to make them softer and easily digestible.As the flour is gluten-free, a potato is used to bind the flour together. It is important to remember that we should not make pooris with hydrogenated oils or vanaspati as doing so will take away all the medical benefits of consuming buckwheat flour.Pooris made from buckwheats flour are crunchier than the normal wheat flour pooris. Instead of poori or pakodas (fried items) made from kuttuatta (buckwheat flour), eat kuttuki roti.One can also prepare idli from the kuttuatta (buckwheat flour) and dosa from the samak rice
Some health benefits of consuming buckwheat flour include:
1. Kuttu is 75% of complex carbohydrates and 25% of high quality protein, which makes it an ideal food for weight loss. 2. It also contains alpha linolenic acid, which enhances HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) and controls LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol). 3. It is a good source of insoluble fiber and prevents occurrences of gallbladder stones. According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology, a 5 % increase in the insoluble fiber intake results in a 10% reduced risk of gall-bladder stones. 4. Being high in fiber and with low glycemic index it is good substitute for diabetic patients. The glycemic Index for buckwheat is 47 (Low GI foods have a GI value less than 55; medium GI foods have a GI value between 55 and 69 and high GI foods have GI value greater than 70). 5. The chiro-inositol present in the buckwheat has been identified as the diabetes-preventing component. Buckwheat flour however is subjected to adulteration and it is important to purchase form a credible source. Leftover flour must also not be used from the previous year as it may lead to food poisoning.

People who fast during Navratri are at an increased risk of food poisoning and diarrhea

People who fast during Navratri are at an increased risk of food poisoning and diarrhea Eating leftover and oily food can make you sick...Keep a check on your liquid intake to celebrate the festival of Navratri with all the enthusiasm Starving and not eating for too long can make you feel weak. It is advised that you consume mini meals after an interval of every 2-3 hours New Delhi, 02nd October 2016: Have you ever wondered what is the reason behind the 9-day fast during Navratri? In addition to the religious reasons, fasts also help in the purification of the body by relaxing its metabolism. The consumption of low calorie and less spicy food items helps relieve the body of the extra work it has to do on a regular basis. However, this purpose gets defeated when people indulge in starchy and oily foods like potatoes and kuttu pakoras. Speaking on the issue, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Elect IMA & President Heart Care Foundation of India. said, “During Navratris, people have fewer food options, which are mostly restricted to kuttu and singhara flours. We advise that the people who are on a fast consume ample amounts of liquids to maintain energy levels and prevent dehydration. It is also strongly recommended that the kuttu or singhara flour left over from the previous year should not be used as they may be contaminated and result in diarrhea. Eat lot of fruits. Eating too much of very oily and high sugar food items like burfi, ladoo and potato fries may also cause diarrhea.” Keep the following in mind in order to avoid the chances of food poisoning and diarrhea and help in maintaining a healthy fasting routine: Use singhara flour, it is not a cereal but a fruit as it is made from dried ground water chestnuts and hence a good substitute for a Navratri fast, where cereals cannot be consumed. It is an excellent source of energy and provides 115 kcal per 100g. Singhara plants bear ornately shaped fruits containing a single very large starchy seed. These seeds or nuts are boiled and eaten as a snack and can be eaten raw as well The Singhara is made from dried ground water chestnuts. These nuts are boiled peeled and dried before grinding. In such a case, there are no chances of impurities. Chestnuts are relatively low in net carbs (total carbohydrate minus dietary fiber). It is included in many low carb diets. They do not contain the fat that regular nuts have. They also contain less carbohydrate than white flour. Avoid eating deep fried chestnut flour pooris or parathas. Buy only branded best quality flour as leftover flour from last year can lead to food poisoning. One should not use high trans fat vegetable oils to cook chestnut flour bread. You should consume as many fruits as you can, fruits are the best alternatives for the individuals who are on a fast. To keep your body hydrated, you should drink as much liquid as you can like in the form of water and juices.

Individuals with existing lifestyle ailments should adopt healthy fasting practices this Navratri

Individuals with existing lifestyle ailments should adopt healthy fasting practices this Navratri Patients with existing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure should take extra precautions when fasting Skipping meals or eating an inappropriate diet can adversely affect your health if you are on continuous medications. Diabetic patients should decrease their insulin intake up to 40 percent if they are fasting and consume only one meal a day New Delhi, 1st October 2016: There is a lot of hustle bustle around, as the festive season is approaching. And we all know that Navratri, which is an auspicious 9-day period for Hindu devotees, marks the festive season. Fasting, worshipping and playing dandiya are a few important things that matter the most during this period. From kids to elders, you see almost everyone indulging in the 9-day fast schedule that is observed during the festival. But sometimes, this fasting may culminate in people ignoring their health because they believe in strictly adhering to fasting norms like eating once a day, staying without water till the last meal, consuming salt once a day and only eating potato-based meals. These strict fasting practices do not suit individuals who are suffering from long-term chronic diseases like heart ailments, diabetes and high blood pressure or for that matter pregnancy. In such patients, life-threatening complications may occur and so, fasts must be observed with caution and post-consultation with the treating doctor. Speaking on the issue, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Elect IMA & President Heart Care Foundation of India said, “Fasting has many positive impacts on one's health if an optimum level of nutritional intake are maintained. For patients who have heart issues, we recommend that they don’t eat fried foods like potato pakoras, fried potatoes and processed potato chips. Diabetics must immediately end their fast if their blood sugar level falls below 60 mg. They must also drink ample amounts of fluid given that dehydration can lead to paralysis and heart attacks. The risks associated with fasting are low in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients suffering from type 1 diabetes should not fast. Fasting in chronic patients must be done in strict consultation with the doctors since the dosage of regular medicines may need to be reduced by 40-50% during fasts.” A few healthy fasting tips during the Navratri include • Curd with lauki (bottle gourd) called ‘raita’ can be consumed instead of plain curd. • One can eat almonds (badam) in between as snacks. • Stuffed kuttu (buckwheat) roti with pumpkin (kaddu) vegetable should be consumed. • Ample fruits should be consumed at regular intervals to maintain nutrient levels. • Both chestnut flour and buckwheat flours can be combined as a healthy option. • Singhara or water chestnut, is not a cereal but a fruit and hence a good substitute during a Navratri fast where cereals are not to be eaten. • Chestnut flour, a gluten-free product, is an ideal food option for people with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances or allergies.