Food for the soul

Fuad Tasrim Hossain

From the title it might seem like I am going to speak about some sort of tree hugging philosophy, not really. This article is about what the title means literally. We all know food is nourishment for our body. Good food for good health is very important.

Recently there is a trend for a lot of type of diet. Most famous of these diets is low carbohydrates (Atkins) diet, juice diets, cleanse diets etc. These plans of eating to lose weight or detoxification are not a healthy form of regular eating.

When it comes to diet, like anything in the world, balance is the key. There should be a balance among the three major food groups: carbohydrates, proteins and fibers. Rice, grains and other starchy foods are usually carbohydrates. Meat, fish and animal produce like dairy are proteins and vegetables are mostly fiber.

The basic idea is the body needs a healthy amount of these three types of food to function properly. Losing balance in diet can lead to health problems, which we are not so mindful about sometimes.

Fibers provide a wide variety of nutrients which help to build a strong immune system for the body. Vegetables are definitely the best as they provide the most nutrients with the least amount of waste in the body. This is why our bodies digest them with ease.

Now when it comes to proteins and carbohydrates, it becomes a little tricky. Since everyone is so much on the stay fit, look great bandwagon, it is often a problem for a lot of people to keep in shape and still enjoy food. But knowing what kind of food to eat can give us the key to eat satisfyingly and keep the weight in check.

If someone is working indoor and do not get a lot of movement during the day, a low carbohydrate diet is ideal. For us to function properly we need 2000 calories on an average every day. Roughly 40% of which has to be carbohydrates. This amount can be increased or decreased depending on how the person feels throughout the day. But eating too much of this would result in weight gain or undesirable body shapes. Carbohydrates usually accumulate around the center of the body (belly, thighs etc.) so careful control can give a person slim and fit appearance.

Proteins are equally important as carbohydrates. It helps us to maintain healthy muscles, bones and skin. One could live without proteins altogether but such a diet would make the body extremely fragile.

So deducible is that we need to control how much carbohydrates we take along with a healthy measure of proteins and fibers. Controlling carbohydrates is not as hard as it might sound.

Provided that a person eats a healthy amount of other two food groups, the person will feel content with eating limited amount of carbohydrates.

A wonderful natural system that our body has is the tongue. A person can feel that depending on what he needs in his body, he will find certain types of food tasting really good. One just has to follow the tongue and he/she will be on the right track.

But not when it comes to processed and junk food. This type of food are made with added salt and sugar to make it taste better and are to be avoided at all cost.

Eat healthy, organic and fresh produce as much as possible and you will see that not only are you keeping the weight off but you will also feel great. A healthy body is the key to a healthy mind and most importantly happiness.

Nutritional benefits of coconut water

Coconut water is a popular nutritious drink worldwide. Plenty of health ailments are treated with this natural healthy drink. Due to its nutritional properties, it is consumed by people of all ages. Coconut water contains vitamin B and C, and minerals likes iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. People consume this drink fresh or canned.

* Due to the availability of minerals, coconut water is consumed in case of dehydration.

* Coconut water balances the PH levels in the body and strengthens the tissues.

* Coconut water improves metabolism and burns fat at a faster rate. Thus, it helps reduce weight.

* It prevents the formation of kidney stones by alkalizing the urine. It treats kidney stones as well.

* It keeps the skin healthy and glowing and prevents muscle cramps.

* Coconut water is beneficial for healthy bones and muscles

* It relieves stress and depression by rejuvenating the body.

* It maintains the balance of electrolytes in the body and thus controls blood pressure levels.

* It regulates the blood circulation and also prevents the formation of plaque thereby preventing heart attacks and other cardio vascular diseases.

Nusrat Faria goes to Bollywood

Newcomer to the Bangladeshi movie scene, Nusrat Faria, has been cast for Bollywood as she is to star in Mumbai based film “Gawah: The Witness”.

Having only acted in one film so far, which has not even been released yet, Nusrat Faria becomes the first Bangladeshi actress to be cast in Bollywood, that too alongside actors like Emraan Hashmi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Scheduled to start filming later in October this year, the film is directed by Vishnu Dutt and Nusrat Faria has said that she has already started training for the part, the contract for which she will sign after the “look test” takes place.

Nutrition in pregnancy

Prof M Karim Khan

Though pregnancy is a physiologic process, yet some additional nutrients like vitamins and micronutrients are to be added in daily diet of an expectant mother for the wellbeing of the baby and mother.

Local, less costly and easily available food is enough to accommodate the extra need during pregnancy. Simply two extra table spoonful of rice, one table spoon of lentils, a bit extra fat, some fresh vegetables, a few fruits like banana, guava, graves etc. and occasionally a healthy measure of protein and if possible a cup of milk is sufficient to provide nutrition to the mother and the baby in her womb. This nutritional advice is to be given while the mother comes for her antenatal check up.

Pregnancy is associated with physiologic changes that results in increased plasma volume, red blood cells and decreased concentrations of circulating nutrient-binding proteins and micronutrients.

In many developing countries, these physiologic changes can be aggravated by undernutrition, leading to micronutrient deficiency states such as anaemia that can have disastrous consequences for both the mother and child.

Multiple micronutrients are often taken by pregnant women in developed countries, but their benefits are limited, except for prophylactic folic acid taken during the periconceptional period.

Other than vitamin A, most of the vitamins and minerals are safe in pregnancy. Excess vitamin A can cause some harm to the baby. If the mother is quite healthy and no deficiency of nutrients is there other than folic acid, nothing else is required.

Folic acid is to be started one month prior to pregnancy and has to continue at least for the first three months of pregnancy to avoid neural tube defect (birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord).

Vitamin D and calcium are important and it is better to be taken in the first trimester. Supplementation of zinc, magnesium and iodine is usually not needed. Simple regular healthy family diet contains these micronutrients.

We know only a healthy mother can give birth to a healthy baby. So we have to take care of the pregnant women for the betterment of the future generation. Husbands, in laws and other family members should come forward to help the expectant mother not only in case of nutritional aspect but in all other aspects. United comprehensive approach is necessary in every pregnancy.