Design your perfect plate Over the past few weeks, we have broken down the components of healthy eating using the diets of the healthiest, longest living individuals as a benchmark. The common factor in the diets of these long-lived individuals...
We know that food gives us the energy and building blocks we need to grow, heal and thrive. To do so, it needs to be broken down into small parts that can be absorbed. This process, i.e., digestion, involves a...
Understanding how our body fights off infections is generally accompanied by a deeper sense of appreciation for all that our body does- and is constantly doing- to protect us. Being exposed to even a few thousand infectious bacteria can make...
You’ve probably already heard of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (or PCOS). It has a surprisingly high level of incidence, affecting close to 25% of Indian women between the ages of 18 and 44. PCOS is classified as a ‘syndrome’ because it’s...
It’s fairly common knowledge that excessive sugar consumption is bad. We know it leads to weight gain and diabetes, and are even becoming more aware of the role it plays in a wide range of diseases, from PCOS to heart...
There is an inevitable smile that shows up when a friend posts an article about vitamins or dietary supplements on Facebook. For a start-up in the nutrition space, increasing consumer awareness about the importance of nutrition is the most challenging...
Although the concept of “comfort food” is quite common, the science behind it is relatively new. The data proving the mood-uplifting effects of certain nutrients may not date back further than about a decade, but does indeed prove that what...
Proteins form the foundation of our bodies; consuming an adequate amount of protein isn’t just important for those who workout, but also for anyone who’s interested in staying healthy, in general. Given the entire range of products that are available...
The last few years have had a noticeably steady surge in articles, news reports, blogs and even social media accounts that focus on nutrition, across the world. Even closer home, in India, conversations seem to be slowly but certainly moving past extreme “celebrity weight-loss diets” and drastic “fat-burning tricks”, progressing towards credible...
The healthier our skin is on the inside, the better it looks on the outside. When our skin doesn’t get the nutrition it needs, its ability to withstand damage from the environment and other elements gets compromised. Pollution, the sun’s...
You’re probably already aware of the fact that antioxidants are great for us. Even so, it’s fascinating to see just how extensively and profoundly antioxidants can affect our health. Here’s our pick of the top five ways in which antioxidants...
Probiotics” are the bacteria (and some other microorganisms) that benefit our health, and also come in the form of various foods. “Prebiotics” are the foods that help these bacteria flourish – and, it’s important that they do, seeing everything that...
Distinguishing the goods fats from the bad fats, in the food we eat, gets easier when you have a basic understanding of their various types. In order to do this, it’s important to know what the ‘saturation of a fat’...
We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for our health because they have vitamins, minerals, and fibre. But have you heard of their ‘phytonutrients’? That’s a group of compounds, which give plant-based foods their colour, flavour and smell.1...
Back in 1822, an average American would take five days to eat the amount of added sugar that we get in just one can of soda. Today, that much sugar is consumed within seven hours.1 India is likely to have...
Right from your rotis and parathas to your upmas and dosas, grains are an integral part of any Indian’s diet – and let’s not forget all the breads, sandwiches and pizzas we love eating as well! Shouldn’t we be paying...
As collagen supplements gain more popularity in the beauty industry, it’s worth understanding exactly what collagen is and how supplementation can improve our skin’s health. The most abundant protein in mammals, collagen comprises a significant portion of the substance that...
As a species, humans can’t create certain fatty acids in the body. Called ‘essential’ fatty acids, these have to be obtained from our diet. Omega-6 and omega-3 are essential fatty acids. In the human body, they play several roles relating...
We’ve all heard them mentioned, but what, exactly, are ‘free radicals’? You may remember that atoms are held together by paired electrons, in what is called a chemical bond. This chemical bond is what keeps a molecule stable. So, when...
Dietary Fibre has only recently been recognized as a critical component of food. Research in the past few decades has demonstrated the importance of adequate fibre consumption, clearly showing its impact on the prevention of various diseases. Fibre is broadly...
Omega-3 fatty acids are a class of polyunsaturated fatty acids that have been shown to have a wide range of biological functions. The three most nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids are: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)...
