Colours of Freedom
This Independence Day, let’s resolve to care for our health, set healthy lifestyle goals and get over our laziness. The vicious cycle of crash dieting for a few days and then bingeing mindlessly on junk food often makes us a slave of our own eating habits. Many of us are fooled by the low price tags of fried processed foods and these are the most convenient items that we reach out to when hunger attacks us. These tempting products are packaged in a way that’s pleasing to the eye and we often fall into their trap.
The struggle to achieve a healthy nation is far from over. Even today thousands of our countrymen suffer from malnutrition. Many are unaware of healthy and hygienic eating habits. An added benefit of purchasing organic foods like fresh and vegetables produced locally would be helpful for the poor farmers of our country.
A balanced nutrition is the only foundation of a good health that helps achieve and maintain a healthy weight, prevent chronic diseases, speed recovery from injuries and keeps your body active throughout the day. One of the ways of continuing with a diet plan is to keep it simple and more importantly flexible. In contrast, a poor nutrition and rigid diet rules are associated with multiple health issues and nutrition deficiency. It might make you happy for a time but will also have adversities on your health in the future.
So, on the occasion of Independence Day, we present you this simple colour-code food philosophy for eating, inspired by the colours of the national flag. Consult your healthcare expert or nutritionist to plan a diet packed with whole nutrients that your body requires to function, development and healing. Or simply just take yourself an initiative and understand the importance of nutrition to lead a healthful life.
Eat colourful fruits and veggies, take all three meals of the day on time, and don’t go for the junk and fried foods. Lastly, use oil, fat, and sugar in moderation while preparing meals or snacks at home so that you can get the best of them.
ORANGE
Do you know, what gives foods the orange hue? It’s the antioxidant beta-carotene which helps promote healthy skin, hair and vision. Most of you may typically fall short when it comes to adding beta-carotene in your diet. Well, it’s important to that you have some orange part in your plate each day. They contain a lot of beta-carotene, as well as Vitamin C which aids your body to fight against infections. Orange foods include papaya, carrot, pumpkin, cantaloupe, apricots, sweet potato and the name itself suggests, “orange.”
WHITE
White foods are also loaded with immense nutritional value, though they might seem to be devoid of vibrant colour. Take cauliflower for instance, similar to other foods and cruciferous veggies; it is also a nutrient dense food, including antioxidants, an excellent source of folate, vitamin C, K, potassium, phosphorous, and magnesium. Other examples are milk, egg, onion, and garlic-all of which are considered as superfoods. Onions have anti-inflammatory properties and garlic is a brilliant source of antioxidant used widely in various cuisines.
GREEN
Greens are another name for powerful antioxidants especially if we talk about broccoli and spinach protecting your body from toxins. Antioxidants present in green vegetables help stabilize your body and flush out toxins which are also enriched with chlorophyll- a green pigment that acts works like a detox agent in your body. The best way to get chlorophyll is from raw vegetables like broccoli. Greens are rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B, C, E, and K which are vital to your health. Kale, green beans, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, capsicum, basil and green tea are the wonderful source to boost your health quite like nothing else. Go green to get lean!
Over to you
Throughout the day you must be eating all colourful fruits and veggies- like red, yellow, purple orange, blue, green, and white as each of them are rich in essential nutrients that help follow a well-balanced diet to achieve fitness goals. And this Independence Day, try something different and follow a Tri-colour diet by picking up foods from the suggested coloured food list above. Be free, feel free!
Nmami Agarwal