Three Whites that blacketh health - Part III: White Salt

After apprising you of the detrimental effects of white sugar and white flour, I’d like to introduce you to the third maniacal ingredient that falls in this league ; White Salt. Yes; The most common ingredient in any cuisine. The salt has a unique quality to it. If used in just the right amount, it accentuates the taste of a dish, but if in excess, spoils the delicacy. This is the exact impact salt has on our body. If consumed in right quantity, or I should say moderate quantity, it benefits the body largely. But when in excess, causes adverse impact to our system. Let’s have a look at the problems caused by consuming a high salt diet.

1. Blood pressure

 It is the amount of pressure that blood exerts on our blood vessels as it is circulated through the body. Diet that is high on salt diet increases your blood pressure, resulting in heart attacks and strokes. For a normal blood pressure, the systolic pressure should be around 120-130 mmHg and diastolic between 80-90 mmHg. Above it, the blood pressure is in high range and needs concern.  B.P can be maintained by reducing the intake of salt and with regular exercising.

2. Stroke

Reduced flow of oxygen to the brain due to blood supply cut off causes a stroke. High intake of salt causes the vessels of rupture and causes stroke.

3. Stomach cancer

A high salt diet increases the risk of stomach cancer by damaging the stomach lining, making it susceptible to further damages by various substances.

4. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis means thinning of bones, making them brittle and prone to breaking. A high salt diet removes calcium from bones and leads to osteoporosis. 

Other than these major problems, high intake of salt also leads to Obesity, Kidney Stones, Asthma, Dementia and Diabetes.

Three Whites that blacketh health - Part II: White Flour

Come morning and the day starts with a diet that boasts of pancakes, bagels, toasts, biscuits and other items in this league, but the common thread? The ignominious ingredient-White Flour. White flour seems to be a part of the culinary world all over the globe. Used so widely, it has become a staple for the households. But there is so much to this ingredient than what meets the eye. This ingredient finds its way into our body through one way or other and sticks there, unleashing a slow yet adverse effect on the health. Let’s take a look over the common harmful effects of white flour:

1.       Obesity and Blood Sugar Disorders:-
Consuming white flour straightaway causes the blood sugar to shoot up and in turn, puts pressure on the pancreas to produce insulin to counter that. With prolonged consumption of white flour, the pancreas gets worn out and stops producing insulin, thus causing diabetes.
 

2.       The glue that sticks to your gut:-
Mix some white flour with some water and what you obtain is a strong adhesive substance that you can use as a substitute for the synthetic glues, such is the potential of this white flour. Now imagine how it would be sticking to our insides when consumed. It sticks to our intestines, slows down the metabolism and causes blockage.

3.       Leads to wheat allergy:-
The only reason why most of us haven’t heard of wheat allergy is precisely because it does not show immediate signs. It takes its own time to give you problems that take a heavy toll on your body. White flour is obtained from hybrid seeds by expediting the growth process with the heavy use of chemicals and fertilizers. This leaves white flour devoid it of any nutritional value whatsoever, thus this substance becomes difficult to be digested and causes various ailments.
Wheat allergy may not show strong symptoms in a patient, but over a period of time, it can lead many problems like psychosis, asthma, depression, narcoleps, obesity and many more.

4.       Acidic in nature:-
White flour is acidic in nature which makes it all the more hazardous for health. It causes various gastrointestinal problems like Acid reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Acidity
 

Three Whites that blacketh health - Part I: White Sugar

Despite a million warnings that we hear against white sugar, we still can’t rid ourselves of the habit of these white sweet crystals. Even the very organic brown sugar isn’t all that healthy and is hardly different from white sugar. And with such increasing demand for sugar, its supply is also increasing with an equivalent (or even greater) supply of various diseases like diabetes that are infecting the planet. So how do we substitute this sweetener to better our health? And with what? Hard questions indeed!

Before I suggest you healthy alternatives for white sugar, I want all my readers to be more convinced of the need for replacement in the first place. Here is a list of reasons which I hope, not only convinces but, rings alarm bells for all the white sugar consumers:

• ·         Declines growth hormone
• ·         Feeds cancer
• ·         Increases cholesterol
• ·         Weakens eyesight
• ·         Causes drowsiness in children
• ·         Slows absorption of protein
• ·         Causes food allergies
• ·         Contributes to diabetes
• ·         May contribute to eczema in children
• ·         May cause cardiovascular disease
• ·         May impair the structure of DNA
• ·         May cause hyperactivity, anxiety and crankiness in children
• ·         Reduces immunity against bacterial infection
• ·         Assists the uncontrolled growth of yeast infections
• ·         Contributes to osteoporosis

Now, we are ready and more receptive to an alternative. So here it is. We have two natural and healthy (literally) alternatives for sugar:

Stevia from the Asteraceae family: It is calorie-free, thus, does not affect production of insulin. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar and so only little amount is needed to replace sugar. Not many reports of toxicity with Stevia have been reported but the only thing bad about this otherwise all-good product is that it can taste slightly bitter in some recipes. But this bitterness can be done away with by adding the other natural sweetener along with it, Xylitol.

Xylitol: A very healthy substitute for white sugar with various benefits. It has a minimal impact on blood sugar and insulin levels. It has a glycemic index of 7 as against 60 of sucrose. It prevents yeast infections, plaque and dental cavities up to 80%. It slows demineralization and enhances re-mineralization of tooth enamel.

As Stevia might be bitter with some recipes, Xylitol can be a bit expensive. These two can be mixed in the ratio 1:12 (1 part of Stevia with 12 parts of Xylitol) and this mixture will make it sweet with any recipe and more affordable than only Xylitol.

Since the word is out on the benefits of Stevia and Xylitol, these are easily available in grocery stores, online and more. These miraculous substitutes will turn your cakes healthy and you guilt-free!

Just for the health of it!

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.” ― Herophilus

WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Most people presume that being healthy means optimum functioning of the four components which are cardio respiratory ability, muscular ability, flexibility, and body composition. Although these components are a critical part of being healthy but they are not the only contributing factors.

Physical health is only one aspect of our overall health. The other components of health such as social health, mental health, emotional health and spiritual health are just as important as physical fitness.

Our lifestyle plays an important role in our well being. As our way of living changes, so does our level of health. But even the person with the busiest schedule should make room for few physical activities such as stretching, walking etc. Those of us who participate in regular physical activity do so to improve the current and future level of our fitness. As our everyday life improves, our health also advances resulting in a healthy wealthy and wise lifestyle. We strive toward an optimal state of well-being.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates, the great physician.

Having a healthy diet does not mean depriving yourself of food or being really strict about what you eat, but it means understanding the right foods that help you stay healthy and give you the nutrients that are beneficial for your body.
For example, consume enough calories, include variety in your diet, eat moderate portions, eat fruits and vegetables, drink more water, limit sugar, exercise and establish good food habits.

Remember, a healthy lifestyle is as essential as the oxygen that you breathe. Take this before it gets late.