Poha is made by soaking the rice and then flattening and drying it. It can be considered to be an uncooked form of rice yet doesn’t really need to be cooked to be consumed. It has a reasonable amount of carbohydrates, some potassium, sodium and protein, and is easily digested. Coconut is a great source of natural fats and lots of fibre. Fibre helps in digestion as well as regulating the absorption of nutrients.
Potatoes are a root vegetable enjoyed by old and young alike. Potatoes are rich in energy in the form of carbohydrates, contain a considerable amount of protein, vitamins C and B6, niacin and folate, and minerals like potassium, manganese, magnesium and phosphorous, fibre and compounds like flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acids, which are antioxidants that help to neutralize potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals. The skin of the potato apart from containing a considerable amount of fibre is not only alkaline in nature but also contains a great amount of the vitamins and minerals, so it’s best to cook and eat potato in its whole form. However, potatoes when fried or cooked with a lot of oil are pretty unhealthy, so it’s best to avoid French fries or fried potato dishes like this one unless you can make it with just a few drops of oil.
Many cultures consider rice to be a staple grain because it contains vital carbohydrates that provide the body energy even though it contains less protein than other cereals. Carbohydrates can keep you energized and satisfied and are important for fuelling exercise. Rice, particularly white rice, generally gets digested easily because it is low in fat and fibre, and so it’s better to eat brown or semi-brown rice. Brown rice, especially, is an excellent source of many nutrients, including fibre, manganese, selenium, magnesium, and B vitamins.
Recipe credit: Darshana Muzumdar Serves 4 as part of a traditional Indian meal. Polay is the Marathi or Konkani word for dosas or pancakes. Pola
Bananas are well known for their health benefits and are therefore an excellent food for babies and children too. They are rich in potassium and magnesium that may help manage blood pressure and in turn diabetes, lower the risk of stroke, and keep your bones healthy. The soluble fibre in them can help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check, and help ease inflammation. A ripe banana is a good source of prebiotics or in other words the carbs that feed the good bacteria in the gut, helping to keep it in a healthy condition, pectin (another fibre) may help prevent constipation and soften stools, and the relatively high content of Vitamin C in them helps protect you from the effect of free radicals.
It’s important to note that you should always have them on an empty stomach, especially to reverse lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Sweet potatoes are not only delicious to eat, but they are also very rich nutritionally. The high content of vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium and potassium all help to improve the immune system and the functioning of organs like the eyes, heart and kidneys. They are also rich in antioxidants that help to take care of free radicals in the body and keep it younger. They may help in reversing diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Apart from that they prevent adding unhelpful and unnecessary weight. They are best had boiled or steamed to keep the glycemic index low.
Coconuts have been grown in India for centuries and have traditionally been used in both savoury and sweet dishes. Coconuts are considered a source of healthy fat, but the fat will add up if they are consumed in the form of coconut milk or oil. Also, they contain small amounts of saturated fats and so should be eaten in smaller quantities. Eaten grated or in pieces, they are a great source of fibre and so help digest the fat in them more easily and also keep the quantity consumed lower. The fat in coconuts is easier for the human body to digest and they don’t contain cholesterol like animal fats Coconut also contains iron, manganese, copper and magnesium, which aid in protecting against disease and ease inflammation in the body.
Moong dal is packed with protein and is an integral part of the Indian diet. It is rich in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure and protects against muscle cramping. It also contains minerals like magnesium, iron, and copper and dietary fiber. When eaten, moong dal helps produce a fatty acid called butyrate in the gut. This helps maintain the health of the intestinal walls. The dal has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent and accumulation of gas. Rich in B-complex vitamins, moong dal helps your body break carbohydrates down to glucose, and produce usable energy for your body. It cooks fast and is light and easy to digest. So all in all, it’s a great ingredient to include in your diet more often than not.
Recipe credit: Darshana Muzumdar Serves 4 as part of a traditional Indian meal. Ingredients 1 cup chana dal (Bengal gram) 1 coconut ½ cup jaggery
Chana dal, or split chickpeas, is a nutritious legume rich in protein, fiber, and essential minerals, and has been used traditionally for generations. It has several health benefits as per every 100 grams, it includes around 360-400 calories, 20-22 grams of protein, which is an excellent source for muscle repair and growth, 60-65 grams of carbohydrates, and 10-12 grams of fibre, which promotes healthy digestion and can help prevent constipation. It has only 2-4 grams of fat so supports heart health. It also contains several vitamins like B vitamins (B6, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin) and minerals like iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and copper. These are good for a healthy skin.
Sesame seeds are rich in fibre, which helps in improving digestion and may also help in reducing the risk of heart disease, some cancers and prevent putting on excess weight. Though sesame seeds contain saturated fats, the majority of fats in them are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats or good fats that may help in lowering cholesterol levels. Roasting sesame seeds reduces the impact of the oxalates in it that may inhibit the absorption of other minerals in them. It’s a great source of plant based protein especially in the hulled (though it reduces the fibre and vitamin B content) and roasted seeds as it helps in the absorption of this nutrient. It is also well known to be rich in calcium, that’s mainly found in un-hulled seeds, and the absorption of this nutrient is improved by soaking, roasting, or sprouting the seeds.
