Category: Health

Are you a diabetic who is just avoiding sugar?

“I don’t take sugar in my tea but I take 2 marie biscuits / 2 slices of whole wheat bread along with it.” – One of the common statements made by diabetics. 

Just because marie biscuit is supposed to be light or bread does not taste sweet, it does not imply that these foods are  OK. As a dietician, I would rather enjoy my tea with one teaspoon sugar and ditch the bread and biscuit.

Here are some of the harmful effects that these food without sugar may have. Continue reading “Are you a diabetic who is just avoiding sugar?”

5 myths about hypertension

myths about hypertension - high blood pressure

Hypertension is one of the most common lifestyle diseases globally. It is often the starting point of many cardiovascular diseases and is responsible for several deaths due to heart attack/ stroke. A recent study by eKincare across 6000 IT professionals across 30 companies in Hyderabad found out that 51% of them suffered from a high blood pressure. A blood pressure over 140/90 carries with it a risk of stroke, kidney diseases and heart diseases. Improper food habits, sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, tobacco and alcohol consumption, chronic stress etc. are some of the leading causes of hypertension.

Here are some common myths associated with hypertension. Continue reading “5 myths about hypertension”

Mother’s milk versus cow’s milk – Which provides better nutrition to the infant?

mothers milk versus cow milk
Breast milk can take care of all the nutritional and fluid requirements of the infant from birth to 6 months. It can satisfy half or more of a child’s energy needs between the ages of 6 and 12 months, and one-third of energy needs between 12 and 24 months. Breast milk is also a critical source of energy and nutrients during illness.

One often does a comparison between mother’s milk & cow milk. Here is a snapshot of what are the major differences between mother’s milk & cow’s milk Continue reading “Mother’s milk versus cow’s milk – Which provides better nutrition to the infant?”

Some naturally sweet food

Some naturally sweet food

In our earlier blog post – Why do we crave for sweets after meal? we discussed about reasons for our sweet craving. While giving in to the craving and consuming artificial sweetener laden food might not be a good idea, we can consume some naturally sweet food, which do not contain artificial sweeteners, but can also satisfy your sweet cravings.

Here are some naturally sweet yet nutritious food. Continue reading “Some naturally sweet food”

Being chubby – Is it good for baby’s health?

Is being chubby good for baby's health

My heart reaches out to mothers who equate healthy baby with chubbiness and plumpness. Media projects images of ‘perfect baby’ who is fair with blue eyes, chubby cheeks and a wholesome built. But like all other deceptions, this idealistic projection has turned into a dangerous fad. It’s high time we stop trusting media stereotypes and use our own discretion in perceiving a truly healthy baby!

Ideal Birth weight

It is important that a mother takes all efforts during pregnancy to ensure that newborn has an ideal birth weight (3 – 3.5kg/ 6.5 -7.5lbs).  Most babies who are born full term (38-40 weeks gestation) weigh between 6-9lbs (2.7 – 4kg). An average Indian baby weighs approximately 2.8 kg and is 51 cm long. Babies born closer to the ideal weight are better protected against diseases in later life. Low birth weight has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). If your child is anywhere above this weight, then he/she is normal and does not need be treated like an underweight baby with excessive feeding. Continue reading “Being chubby – Is it good for baby’s health?”

Healthy recipes – Spinach and baby corn

Whether you are trying lose weight, get in shape or just live a healthier life, eating healthy is of utmost importance. Lets look at simple, quick and easy recipe that is loaded with variety of benefits. Spinach and baby corn blend together to offer a scrumptious and nutritious dish – Baby Corn Palak.

-Dr. Pooja, Senior Nutritionist @eKincare.com

Continue reading “Healthy recipes – Spinach and baby corn”