‘The food we eat makes a difference’ – this comment by Michael Greger says a lot about a person’s dietary preferences. In today’s fast-paced world, everything revolves on rapid solutions, including eating habits such as fast food, canned foods, packaged meals, and so on. Similarly, the food we eat has an impact on our health.
According to a Lancet study, poor eating is responsible for one out of every five fatalities worldwide, and it leads to a variety of chronic diseases in people all over the world. These instances included ten million deaths from cardiovascular disease.
Adopting a nutritious diet reduces a person’s chance of acquiring heart disease by 35%. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk by 70%. Interestingly, average Indian diets are considered unhealthy, with little protein, fruits, and vegetables, according to a new study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
Unhealthy eating habits are the cause of lifestyle diseases.
Today’s fast-paced and stressful lifestyle has resulted in numerous bad decisions. Individuals who are under increased work pressure prefer faster and easier dietary options. Although fast food or quick meals are popular, they are typically unhealthy and high in fat and preservatives. This causes weight problems, impacting one’s general health.
According to a recent study conducted in major cities, 58 percent of people are at danger of having a heart attack owing to stress, followed by 85 percent due to abdominal fat. It is therefore crucial to note that in today’s stressful climate, there are various benefits to home-cooking, the most important of which are the ability to choose healthy selections and have control over the ingredients utilized.
While there is a growing awareness of organic foods and a desire for better alternatives, many individuals continue to eat quick and unhealthy foods.
According to study, restaurant meals often contain more sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and calories than home-cooked meals. Cooking at home can also save money while giving you control over food safety and hygiene. The ideal solution would be to eat small, uncomplicated dishes that are wholesome and nutritious.
What are some steps towards a heart-healthy lifestyle?
Cooking begins with the most basic ingredient, cooking oil. It is used in nearly every dish. In effect, using the correct cooking oil can improve the nutritional value of any meal. A good alternative is to choose an oil that can help build immunity, has less absorption during frying, and a good balance of all has lower absorption during frying and a well-balanced mix of fatty acids, all of which are beneficial to heart health.
Blended oils are the most desired oil because they include an excellent mix of all three fatty acids that our bodies require: MUFA, PUFA, and SFA. Simply said, blending is the process of combining two or more cooking oils such that the benefits of both oils are present.
Cooking can also be simplified by using ready-to-cook chopped vegetables. Ready-made sprouts are also available, which may be swiftly sautéed and mixed with mustard, onions, chili, curry leaves, turmeric, and salt. Another nutritious breakfast. Green moong dosa is a nutritious breakfast alternative. Simply soak the green moong overnight and crush it with green chilies, salt, and an inch of ginger. Make this moong dosa for a quick but nutritious breakfast. There are also various possibilities for creating a masala base, such as fried onions and pureed tomatoes. Refrigerate for later usage and save time.
What are some heart-healthy eating tips?
Another simple modification you can make is to use nonstick cookware to prevent using too much oil or butter. Small component modifications, such as using less salt or substituting it with reduced sodium salt, can improve your health. If you are not a vegetarian, you should eat white meat such as chicken or fish. Make sure the chicken is cut to reduce fat.
One can also include eggs in their diet. They are high in protein and antioxidants. Use fresh veggies instead of refrigerated or frozen meat. Most essential, consume more fresh veggies, legumes, and fruits. All of them constitute a well-balanced diet.
The final word
These simple strategies might help you save time and eat better.
As the expression goes, the path to a person’s heart is through their stomach. The same is true for your heart health; these modest improvements can go a long way toward protecting your heart.
