HEALTH IS WEALTH
DO YOU KNOW YOUR FRIENDLY Treat fruits and vegetables as your good friends— they help you remain healthy and free from ailments. But all of them may not be as friendly as you may expect them to be. Some of them may ditch you. So, choose your fruits and vegetables like you choose your friend carefully. How to choose your fruits and vegetables? Some clues are given here...
By Dr PK Mukherjee
owadays more and more people are getting afflicted with a host of chronic diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, renal failure, depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome, heart ailments, and many others. These are attributed mainly to our sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits. These diseases are, therefore, also referred to as lifestyle diseases. Changing our lifestyle and dietary habits can go a long way in the cure, control and management of these diseases. Vegetables and fruits are very important to ensure good health. Although all of us consume them mechanically, hardly ever thinking of their relative health benefits. Vegetables and fruits (both fresh and
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| LOKAYAT SEPTEMBER, 2013
Common potato has not been well-understood. It is rather shunned by dieters and weightwatchers. Alas! They do not know what they miss by ruling out potatoes from their diet. But you need to know that potato is great only when eaten with its skin...
frozen) are replete with vitamins, minerals, fibres and antioxidants etc. which have been shown to protect us against various chronic and lifestyle diseases. They are also low in calories making them a good check for your waistline.
Role of potassium Vitamins and energy apart, fruits and vegetables are rich source of minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, phosphorous, magnesium etc. Although each mineral has its specific function in maintaining the overall health of the body, nutrition scientists have of late specifically focussed their attention on the role of potassium in the body. It not only helps to balance the fluids and minerals in the body but also helps body muscles to contract and the nerves to function normally. Potassium has also the potential of reversing the effect of