Be it diet, surgery or yoga, there are solutions to the urban Indian woman’s expanding waistline Drink plenty of water to improve digestion and detoxify body Eat breakfast within an hour of waking up and kickstart metabolism; include whole grain carbohydrates and proteins Shut down the kitchen early at night; have dinner half an hour before sunset; make breakfast, not dinner, the meal to sit and eat together Practise portion control and eat in moderation Shift to healthier food and incorporate brown rice, whole wheat, sprouts, freshly pre pared food in main meals and fruits, nuts, whole grain snacks and clear soups as mid meals Use higher grains like ragi (calcium rich), oat bran and oats (good for fighting cholesterol), barley (reduces water retention), bajra and jowar (improves circulation and energy levels, kala chana atta (iron rich), soya (good for female hormones) Change cooking oil every two months
Do not over-consume fibre
Beware of small discomforts like gas, acidity, constipation, bloating and water retention. Step up supportive measures through yoga, walking and breathing exercises, ayurvedic massages and stretching to regulate circulation, improve digestion and help muscle toning and strengthening of joints
Switch to home cooked food
Obesity levels in women in the 15-49 age bracket have gone up from 11 per cent in 1998- 99 to 15 per cent in 2005-06. That is 5.8 crore women. A 2009 survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research showed that 12.3 per cent urban women were obese, as opposed to 2.9 per cent of their rural sisters.
Soya is good for female hormones