VEGGIE DELIGHT

Dietician Richa Anand tells you why going veg is a good idea, even if it's for at least once a week     We dare not ask you to junk the cold cuts lying in your freezer, but if you wish to shed a few digits from your waistline (and your grocery bill), listen up. Studies conducted only second the long-believed benefits of going completely vegetarian. And for starters, here's how you can benefit by going veg, at least once a week.  DETOXIFIES YOUR BODY  Ditch that expensive spa and munch on fruits and veggies, known for their detoxifying qualities. A veggie diet contains dietary fibre (bottle gourd, pumpkins, spinach, methi, cabbages and other greens being the main sources). This fibre binds with the toxins and flushes them out of the body, making you feel light and energetic. On the flipside, a diet c o n t a i n - ing only e g g s , fish and mutton is a poor source of fibre.  STRONGER BONES  Gorging on meat can lead to excessive intake of protein, thereby interfering with the absorption of calcium. So much so that it may even prompt the body to draw out the existing calcium from the bones so as to correct the fluctuation in the blood's acidity level. Among vegetarians, this calcium excretion is known to be less common. Also, a protein overload can tax our kidneys.  CARB DEFICIENCIES  A non-vegetarian diet is a poor source of carbohydrate, a crucial fuel for the body. So make sure veggies are a regular part of your diet since carb-deficiency can lead to ketosis — a condition where the body starts breaking down fat (instead of carbs) as a source of energy.  EASY ON DIGESTION  The complex carbohydrates in vegetarian foods are digested gradually providing a steady source of glucose. Conversely, meats that are mostly rich in fat and proteins are difficult to digest and utilise a lot of energy to process. Now you know why a heavy non-veg meal leaves you feeling lazy.  HEALTHY SKIN  Research has shown that eating vegetables such as beetroot, tomato, pumpkin, bitter gourd and green leafy vegetables can clear off your blemishes. And fruits such as guava, apples, pears, peaches, eaten along with their peel promise a glowing complexion. Plants enriched with Vitamin C act as a natural sun block, delaying the ageing process. Also, the high water content and antioxidants present in cucumber and water melon can work wonders for the skin.  WEIGHT MANAGEMENT  Avoiding meat, especially red and organ meats such as liver and kidney is the simplest way of reducing your fat consumption.      Instead, consuming a      diet rich      in whole      g r a i n s ,      l e g u m e s ,      vegetables, nuts,      and fruits, along      with a regular exercise programme results in lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, less obesity and consequently less heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.  DESIGNED FOR VEGGIES  Our molars (flat teeth) are more suitable for grinding grains and vegetables than tearing flesh. Also, in humans, the process of digestion begins with the saliva in the mouth. This saliva contains the enzyme alpha- amylase (absent in carnivores) which can only digest complex carbohydrates present in plant foods.  PHYTONUTRIENTS  These nutrients do not appear to be immediately necessary to the human diet, but they do confer some benefits, protecting you from cardiovascular disorders being the most important one. Diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, stroke, and bone loss are partially preventable with a good intake of phytonurtients. Since these are present only in vegetarian diet, the non-vegetarians are at a loss.  —COORDINATED BY SONAL VED