Dr. Kavitha Simha's View on the Importance of 'Nutrition and Diet' in this Sedentary Life-style

The kind of diet you consume is an important lifestyle choice and has a huge influence on your health and general well-being. Issues like diabetes and obesity are often related to an ill-advised diet and lack of essential nutrition.

Over 422 million persons, composing up to 8.5 percent of the global population, were diabetic in 2014 as compared to 108 million in 1980. 2014 also saw over 600 million obese adults.

These figures highlight the need for a revised and more attentive attitude towards diet and nutrition. Our current generation's diet is very high in calories, saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. It does not have enough vitamins, minerals or fiber from fruits, vegetables or whole grains. This increases the risk of numerous diseases.

Dr. Kavitha Simha defines a balanced diet as "a diet that includes all major food groups in balanced proportions and provides your body with all the nutrients it needs to function correctly." She advises consuming fresh home-cooked food that is grown locally. A balanced diet includes carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. It is important to educate oneself on the nutrition value of the diet consumed.

One of the main diet-related issues people have is recognizing the difference between good and bad carbohydrates. Dr. Kavitha Simha states that "Good carbohydrates are complex and fiber rich. Grains and legumes with husk retained are rich in fiber and nutrition. Bad carbohydrates are processed foods containing empty calories and no nutrients other than starch. This includes white bread, maida, white rice, white sugar, corn syrup etc."

Regular breakfasts and consuming plenty of water are two other important components of a healthy diet. Breakfast is the first food consumed after a night's sleep. The long fast undergone by the body during sleep fuels the acid production in our body, leading to gastric problems. Drinking water regularly helps the body detox and prevents health complications such as kidney stones.

The level of water intake varies depending on geography and the individual. People involved in heavy physical activities or staying in humid places need to consume a lot more water.

Considering the global prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, it is past time we started paying more attention to our health and well-being. And the first step towards a healthier lifestyle can be a healthier and more nutritious diet.