Back in the days our grandparents and parents managed to stay fit despite eating staple Indian foods. But now we think that weight loss is only possible with the western diet. While dieting we give up on Indian staple foods such as chapati, rice, pulses, and other things. This has become more common since keto and other diets came into action. However, as per the experts, we should not give up a staple diet for losing weight. Here are all the reasons why:
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Our version of Indian staple food is the issue
Eating paratha is not harmful, but the way they are made is. Instead of stuffing them with potatoes, you stuff them with vegetables like carrot, cabbage, beetroot. Apply a little amount of oil on and similarly, there can be a healthy version of rice as well like boiled or fried rice.
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Indian diet takes care of your health like no other
Typical home-cooked food consists of roti, rice, vegetable, a bowl of dal, curd, and salad, which makes a perfectly balanced meal. It has healthy carbs, fiber, protein, and good fat. There is no meal as nutritious as a traditional Indian meal.
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Your body is used to it
You might have started doing celebrity diets but your body is used to a staple diet. Your taste buds have developed over the years and it is difficult to change them. Eating what your body and taste buds are used to is a sustainable way of losing weight.
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Presence of superfoods
Indian meals contain superfoods like ghee, turmeric which fight inflammation in the body and prevent weight gain.
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Spices are healthy
From cloves to cardamom, turmeric to ginger, Indian cuisines are made using spices that have incredible health benefits. Indian staple food has added advantage of these health-boosting spices that helps in programs like boosting digestion, immunity, and control blood sugar levels, etc.
There are only a few things to keep in mind:
- Moderation is important, you can eat roti in your diet.
- Use less amount of oil, salt, and sugar
- Look for healthier alternatives to certain ingredients used for cooking traditional Indian dishes. For instance, replace sugar with honey/jaggery and regular salt with sendha namak.
- Include fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet
- Eat freshly prepare meals
