Sparsh DIET Clinic

19/05/2016

DELICIOUS SUNDAY

18/05/2016

DIET TIP

18/05/2016

DIET TIP

23/01/2016

24/01/2015

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY

26/11/2014

Power salads for a healthy diet

Foods with really healthy properties are often relegated to being mere side dishes and find themselves out of the mainstream. Here are a few of them which you can make a part of your diet and get back all those useful nutrients and antioxidants that help you avoid illnesses ad help keep you fit.

Tomatoes: The veggie packs a lot of antioxidants that help in decreasing the risk of arterial aging, heart disease, stroke, memory loss, impotence and wrinkling of the skin

Broccoli: High in vitamin C and dietary fiber, it also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, such as diindolylmethane and small amounts of selenium.

Fish: Packed with protein, vitamins, and nutrients that can lower blood pressure and help reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Black beans: Low in fat and high in protein and fiber, they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which combat cardiovascular disease.

Leafy greens: Spinach, cabbage and arugula are rich sources of vitamin B and are packed with nutrition. One serving of leafy greens is loaded with fiber, calcium, and virtually your entire day's recommended dosage of beta carotene, a nutrient vital for immune system health.
(By Suchi Srivastava, Diet Consultant)

08/11/2014

8 superfoods that cut belly fat

1. Green tea: This mild beverage is great for helping shrink your waistline as well as for decreasing inflammation. The flavonoids in this tea have natural anti-inflammatory properties. And the compound EGCG in green tea has been shown to help reduce body fat.

2. Foods rich in Omega-3: Research has shown that a diet with a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids and a low percentage of omega-6 fatty acids has been linked with decreased inflammation. Food sources of omega3s include walnuts, flaxseed, and fish, such as wild Alaskan salmon.

3. Garlic: Consume garlic as a natural antibiotic and blood sugar regulator. By controlling blood sugar and insulin level, your body can maximize fat burning for energy, resulting in reduced belly fat. Garlic is also a thermogenic that boosts metabolism.

4. Mint: Add one tablespoon honey, a pinch of pepper, and some crushed mint leaves to a cup of hot water. Let it to steep for five minutes. Strain and drink the liquid to get a flat tummy. Mint soothes the abdomen while honey and pepper dissolve the fat and boost metabolism.

5. Cinnamon: Cinnamon works as a great fat burner. Take ½ tablespoon of cinnamon powder and steep it in water for five minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of honey after straining the cinnamon water. Drink this before breakfast and before going to bed.

6. Watermelon: Watermelon contains 82 per cent water, which helps your stomach not to crave for food. Watermelon is rich in vitamin C, which is beneficial for health. It is one of the healthiest foods to have if you are planning to go on a healthy diet. It is also a good mid-day snack.

7. Apple: Eating apple regularly can help in fighting many diseases and it can also help in reducing the fat from your belly. Apple helps your stomach to feel full because it contains potassium and many vitamins. So, eat an apple in breakfast to get the desired tummy size.

8. Bananas: Like apples, bananas are also rich in potassium and contain multivitamins. They are filling and help you to resist the cravings for fast food. Moreover, banana boosts the metabolic rate, thereby melting the belly fat.

(By Suchi Srivastava, Diet Consultant)

01/11/2014

Never skip dinner, just eat light

What can I eat for dinner? Should I even eat dinner? Maybe, I should eat a 'no-carb' dinner...

Don't these questions perplex most of us? Especially those who believe that 'food = calories'. Food is the magical fuel that not only nourishes us to live a satisfied, accomplished and happy life but is also the reason you and I are alive. But fearing food is the best way to lose the plot.

And this fear of food doubles when we think of eating at night. Why? Do you believe that when the sun sets, your breathing, circulation or vision reduces? No! This beautiful human body is constantly working, even through the night when we are sleeping. The pumping action of the heart, the breathing through the lungs, the excretory system - all work 24*7, a feat no machine can ever match. Thus, fuelling this body is essential, be it before or after the sun has set.

Don't sleep on an empty stomach
I agree dinner meals should be smaller as compared to our breakfast or lunch; only because our activity gradient reduces as the day progresses (unless you are working night shifts). But dinner is also an important meal, which must never be skipped. Skipping this meal will result in a very large gap between your last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day. This can cause ravenous hunger, severe acidity, nausea, blackouts and a disturbed sleep to name some of the most basic side-effects. Skipping a meal as important as dinner can also be the reason you give in to temptation and crave 'something sweet' at night. This happens because you have not filled your bowl well through the day with the right calories (read carbs) and thus will reach out and fill it with the wrong ones (read desserts) - instincts of survival, remember?

What's the right time to eat?
The earlier you eat your dinner, the better it is, only because you are awake longer and perhaps, a little more active than you'd be too late in the night. When we are awake, our body works at BMR (basal metabolic rate) but when we sleep, its slows down to RMR (resting metabolic rate). The longer you are awake, the more your body will be able to burn versus burning lesser at rest. But as I said earlier, dinner is an important meal and it should not be skipped. So, definitely eat a light dinner and stay awake for at least two hours post that. Yes, sacrificing your sleep may be the price you have to pay, but you can't win everywhere!

Heavy dinners cause 'fat hangovers'
Eating a very large, lavish dinner results in what I call a 'fat hangover'! Just like drinking excess alcohol slows you down the next day, eating a large, high-sugar or highfat meal at night overloads your digestive system. It doesn't get adequate rest through the night, thereby slowing your body physically and mentally the next day.

The key here is to maintain a balance. Eat a light, healthy, carb-included, small dinner every night and see how easily you fall asleep. You'll wake up happy, fresh and full of life the next day, it will clear your bowels and last but not the least, it will help you lose some weight along the way!

(By Suchi Srivastava, Diet Consultant)

31/10/2014

5 RIGHT WAYS TO BE A SLIM

1. Don't miss meals
Have at least three meals or then four smaller ones at a certain time everyday. These should contain enough cereal, protein and vegetable and fruit. If you skip a meal not only do you lower the body's metabolic rate but also tend over eat in the next one, which is harmful, state diet experts.

2. Go for balance
It's wise to choose a combination of vegetables, protein, grains, minerals, fruit as well as fish, which is high in omega 3 fats that help prevent heart disease. High fibre foods like beans and whole grains are filling and low in calories. It's also recommended to have enough Vitamin C in the form of oranges or a lemon, everyday.

3. Don't overload...
It's said 'we eat with our eyes' therefore don't pile food onto the plate. Experts stress that an easy start to eating right is to practice portion control. Using a smaller dinner plate is smart and won't make you feel guilty. Just don't overload it, though.

4. Have more whole grains
Doing away with refined grains is most important when it comes to eating right and slimming down. The best sources of this are oatmeal, whole-wheat flour, bulgur (cracked wheat) and brown rice. Whole grains are said to have lower calories and they enhance one's fiber intake, which can in turn reduce blood cholesterol levels, lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases and chances of developing obesity.

5. Snack smarter
The next time you're pondering over what to have from a vending machine, do the right thing: walk away. Research points that snacking on chips or chocolates can hinder a diet like no other. Nutritionists advise having a healthy bite like a carrot stick or some dry fruit when you feel the munchies. A fruit is also a good option.

30/10/2014

6 FOODS FOR HEALTHY SKIN

1.Blueberries
Blueberries are high in antioxidants, which are known to target free radicals that cause premature aging and disease. They also prevent damage of skin cells and are high in fibre and vitamins C and E.

2.Walnuts
Walnuts are rich with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are excellent for your hair and skin. They make hair shinier and make your skin smoother.

3.Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a high-carotenoid fruit with nutrients that help slow down cellular damage from free radicals.

4.Pomegranate
This wonder fruit is rich with antioxidant that help your skin create more collagen so that it repairs itself faster.

5.Green tea
Green tea is rich in antioxidants, helps reduce sun damage and has polyphenols, which helps regenerate skin cells. It is also high in vitamins C, D and K, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

6.Legumes
Legumes have high protein content, which helps repair cells that have suffered free radical damage.