APT diet solutions by Apeksha Thakkar

A very blatant phrase is often used by the health care providers stating ‘Moderation is the key’. Coaching about healthy and moderation eating right from the beginning, helps a growing child to keep health as his prime focus as he grows up. It is said that first 6 years of child’s life are like a sponge and whatever is taught during this time, is going to remain throughout his life. With increasing cases of childhood obesity, eating disorders, comfort eating and stress, eating in moderation is something which should be started at a very young age, before the child understands the relationship between body, food and mind. Moderation eating? How will it help my growing child? In a country like India, where every occasion is celebrated with a variety of delicious but not-so-healthy food items, and where children are insisted to have more laddoos even when they are full, eating in moderation should be practiced by every family. Teaching children right from a start and controlling p...

Hormone Game or a Lifestyle Problem? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Disorder, as abbreviated PCOS/PCOD occurs in 1 every 10 women of reproductive age. It is often associated with high levels of male hormones (androgens) in female blood stream. To put in simple words, it is a hormone game, which decides the fate of pregnancy. Not all women suffering from this imbalance are infertile, but PCOS is definitely one of the contributing factors. PCOS can be managed, not reversed. Due to excess of hormonal imbalance and increased levels of male hormones, the disorder is often associated with unexplained weight gain (Obesity) ,irregularity in menstrual cycles,acne,mood swings, facial hair(hirsutism) ,depression and sometimes development of T2DM. In PCOS, there could be development of multiple cysts in the ovaries which can make the process of natural conception difficult, but not impossible. It should be understood that women with PCOS , can conceive naturally if followed a disciplined l...

With winters approaching, nutrition plays an integral part in maintaining good health. Out of all the seasons, winters are supposed to be the most nutritionally apt one with wide range of food option available around. Winter is an actual and most favourable season to introduce good quality fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, also due to drop in temperature the risk of illness are quite low and hence a good season to improve overall immunity. Winter foods are usually immunity boosters and clean enough for the children to get optimal nutrition. The varieties of dried fruits, green vegetables and fresh fruits available during chilly weather have a very progressive impact on overall growth and development. Food options available during winter are at par with respect to quality and nutrients load. The below food list if introduced during winters, can actually accelerate child’s growth and immunity. 1. Jaggery: –  Jaggery or Gur is widely used in Indian Cuisine. It is an ...

Losing weight is easier said than done. When the munchies hit, most of us give up and go grab that bag of processed, trans-fat laden food. And then the guilt that you feel is terrible. So, to counter sudden pangs of hunger, and stay healthy (and guilt-free), here are some healthy snack foods you can chew on: Dried fruits:  Low in calories and tasty while at it! This is the best snack you can carry when you are going on a long journey. Toss some almonds and dried apricots together in a container that you can easily carry in your bag. So, if you’re on an airplane, instead of buying those salty snacks, munch on your customised one. Oatmeal:  It is somewhere after midnight, and you are wide awake because your tummy wants a midnight snack. Oatmeal is a safe choice for a midnight snack. It even increases ‘tryptophan’ (a kind of amino acid) levels in your brain, which makes you sleepy soundly. Eat it with some low-fat yoghurt and fruit of your choice. Hummus:  If the pangs...

Fibers are the carbohydrates and are the indigestible part of the food.They are actually not digestible, but help a lot in digestion.They are derived from plants and offer a lot of health benefits. They make our body light and fit and is commonly known as roughage. What are the advantages of having fiber in your diet? Other health benefits of fiber includes reducing the incidence of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose levels and inflammation and even weightloss. Fiber can help with weight loss because it creates a fullness within your intestine, which aids you in eating less. Fiber is of two types: Insoluble fiber : It does not dissolves in water. It is the bulky fiber that helps in preventing constipation  and is found in whole grains, wheat cereals and vegetables such as carrots, celery and tomatoes. Soluble fiber:  They dissolves in water and help in controlling the blood sugar level and reduce cholesterol. Go...

Vegetables, especially leafy greens are an essential part of your diet and should be a major constituent of your meals. However, the modern lifestyle has severely derailed the balance in a meal and vegetables, especially greens have been reduced and replaced via processed meats and sugar. This has contributed to a steep rise in many heart and blood disorders, among many other ailments. Some of the reasons why you should be eating more greens are mentioned below. Greens help you see better:  Leafy greens have been known to improve vision since a long time and thus doctors have always recommended the inclusion of more green leafy vegetables in your diet. Certain greens such as kale and spinach contain carotenoids that protect your eye against damage from high energy light particles. They can also fight the formation of early cataracts and improve depth of vision as well. They balance good and bad cholesterol:  Green leafy vegetables are possibly the best way to control cholester...