If Jennifer Aniston says the secret of her fabulous fitness is “Organic food and veggies , low sugar intake and , litres of water and good sleep, ” closer home, actor Shillpa Shetty says it is the staple Indian diet of dal chawal with two spoons of ghee for lunch that works for her. It is simple home-cooked Indian dishes that help her maintain a healthy weight and build up her immunity. Actor Parineeta Chopra who stormed Twitter in a new sassy avatar also mentions how she ensures that whatever food she puts in her mouth is healthy.
Think local, eat healthy and stay fabulous is the fitness route many are taking. “Did you know that guava which is available locally is the most nutritious fruit around?” asks Saravanan Varadarajan, who promotes sustainable living by sourcing organic food from farmers in and around Pollachi and stocking it in his store, Iyal. “Longer the shelf life, shorter your life. Organic produce comes with shorter shelf life but it is free from preservatives and chemicals. When you consume fresh produce, the nutrients are intact,” he says.
People who want to stay fit are also waking up to the concept of ‘food miles’– the distance a food travels to reach your plate.
“Consume food that is locally available; this way the nutrients are not lost in transit. Going local is good for the environment too. For example, by switching to a millet-based lifestyle you contribute to preserving groundwater level as millets are rain-fed crops,” explains Saravanan.
Fitness expert Rujuta Diwekar also draws attention on how eating home-made , local produce and seasonal fruits regulate blood sugar, which optimises the functioning of all organs. This makes a person feel energetic and healthy.
“Be it grains, pulses, or vegetables, our elders cultivated everything in the home garden. They also extracted oil and consumed food that is wholesome and nutritious. And, the law of life is that anything that is consumed fresh is healthy,” says Shilpa Shah, naturopathy doctor and lifestyle consultant. “Now everything comes in packets and is chemically processed, beginning with sugar. Processed food is less on nutrition and more on calories. For example, polished rice is loaded with carbs. And refined maida has no fibre.
“Vegetables and fruits on the other hand pack in fibres and they can be grown in your own terrace garden. Especially, vegetables of the cucumber family like pumpkin and ash gourd, besides ladies finger, and brinjal. Food that is freshly picked has energy that is alive while processed food that is stored, refrigerated, and reheated is ‘dead’. Fresh produce is equivalent to positive energy, fitness and good health,” she says.
Saravanan says what is suitable for you body is available around you. Most local farms adopt organic farming methods to ensure that the produce is healthy and rich in nutrition. “Fruits like sapota, pomegranate and papaya are locally grown and available all through the year. In summer, we get mangoes, watermelon and cucumber. Kozhumichai which is locally grown packs a lot of vitamin C and builds immunity.
“One meal that comprises of fresh fruits cleanses the digestive system and balances the alkaline-acidic balance in your body greatly. This is essential for overall well-being.”
Quick tips
Locally grown produce tastes better than cold-storage ones. Seasonal fruits are abundant, less expensive and taste great. So here are a few things you can do to stay healthy:
Set up your own terrace garden
Know where your food comes from
Consume fewer carbs and more fibre
Drink more liquids in the form of vegetable juices and soups to flush out the toxins
Plan your meal. Pack in a lot of physical activities
