Punjabis, eat heartily, but watch that heart

Nutritionally speaking, constituents of traditional Punjabi diets are sound. They comprise a wide variety of whole grains, lentils, greens, seasonal vegetables, dairy, nuts and dried fruits. They are not high on harmful trans-fats. However, with rapid mechanization and urbanization of the Punjabi population, these eating habits have begun to cause an imbalance in energy equations and obesity is fast becoming a growing concern. The once fit race is also reported to have one of the highest incidences of coronary artery disease in India. Affluence too is taking its toll. Eating out, introduction of junk food, burgers, pizzas, pastas, bakery, biscuits and alcohol in the diets of these people coupled with high calorie traditional cuisine and sharp decline in physical activity has led to a rise in several degenerative diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and cancer even among the younger lot.  

While the urban menu has not done much good to these food lovers, it’s time to turn back to the traditional diet so as to tackle these lifestyle health hazards. A reduction in fat, sugar, and other refined carbohydrates, starches along with increased physical activity is essential. Minimum amount of ghee should be used and lean cooking methods need to be adopted. Also inclusion of typical Western diet constituents like juices, breads, confectionary, chocolates, sugary breakfast cereals, ice creams etc. need to be regulated. Eating out strategies to keep calories under control and regulations of alcohol intake would also go a long way to restore balance in the skewed urbanised Punjabi diets and check their increasing waistlines. ©