Another commendable aspect of Indian diets is the variety of grains that are a consistent part of it. In the winter it is makki (corn) and bajra (Pearl millet), and perchance if you are the fasting sort or if it is festival time, there is the ever ready kutu ka atta (Buckwheat) and singhare ka atta (Waterchestnut). Ragi (Finger millet) and cholai (Amaranth) are some other cereals, high in their nutritive content and being consumed extensively in some regions of India. In addition, we Indians are fond of consuming some form of fermented milk such as curd (yoghurt), lassi (a homogenous blend of water, spices and yoghurt), chaach (buttermilk), raitas (yoghurt with added veggies) and kadhi (yoghurt and gram flour curried with some herbs and spices).It seems like our culture and habits have long recognised the advantages of imbibing the healthy bugs that are now being marketed under the umbrella of probiotics. It is also now being recognised that milk and curd contain a very special fat (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which can actually help control blood pressure and in maintaining body weight.The Ayurvedic tradition has always emphasised the importance of milk and milk products in the diet. Although the Indian preference for milk is a healthy trait, this does not mean that all milk derivatives are healthy. One must be cautious when consuming cheese and paneer (cottage cheese) from the market, as they tend to have a high fat content.In addition, Indian meals are generally prepared with the healthy practice of adding some very beneficial spices such as turmeric, fenugreek, cinnamon, cloves, cumin and very many more. The benefits of such spices have already been recounted earlier in these columns and so I shall not repeat them here. Suffice it to say that turmeric is under intense and active investigation at the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center at Houston, Texas. Turmeric is also under investigation for its possible role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. This is something that western diets do not seem to offer. (To be continued)nsingh.rxpress@expressindia.com
