Can you lose weight with Indian food? | The Times of India (2024)

While most diet types are inspired from the west, we often stop eating our Indian food in an attempt to follow them and lose weight. However, such weight loss is often temporary and eating foods which are not part of your cultural palate on a daily basis might not prove to be beneficial for your body.

Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has often advocated that to stay healthy and slim, we should eat what our grandmothers ate or cooked when we were young. This is because they possess the cultural wisdom which is ideal for our bodies.

Different places have different cuisines based on what raw ingredients are naturally available there, the seasons in that place and the kind of nutrients that are necessary based on your body type, climate etc.

Fitness trainer and nutrition coach Tanvi in a recent video on her Instagram handle talked about how to deconstruct your Indian food plate so that you can enjoy your home-cooked delicious food and lose weight and stay lean.

The Indian diet is packed with a variety of flavours and colours which makes this cuisine unique. Indian food has a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, such as spinach, aubergine and mango. It is also high in fibre and low in saturated fats. Indian food, if prepared rightly, can turn out to be super healthy for you. It is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals -- all of which are essential for a healthy weight loss journey.

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Unfortunately, the amount of fat used in Indian food often gets too much and can hinder your weight loss progress. Fried food especially is not recommended if you are planning to stay lean and slim. Try to cook your curries in minimal oil. Avoid adding any cream to your curries and dishes that cannot be made without it -- such as butter chicken or malai kofta -- should only be eaten occasionally and in moderate portions.

Indian food has an abundance of carbs and a typical Indian food plate would definitely be having either rotis or rice. It is advised to choose either of the two. Naan breads --made of refined flour--are to be avoided as they can promote weight gain. While filling up your plate, try to focus more on the veggies, preferably green vegetables instead of starchy veggies. Vegetables that are cooked in a cooker, instead of being deep-fried, are always a better option for weight loss.

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Whether you opt for Indian foods or go on a western diet, it is important to make healthy food choices.

Eating nutrient-dense foods, limiting sugar, cutting down on fatty and processed items and watching your plate portions are the basics of maintaining your over all health.

Make sure you're eating clean, being smart about what you put in your body!

Since the Indian plate has a lot of carbs, you need to keep in mind to incorporate protein, especially if you are working out to lose weight. If you are a non-vegetarian, you can go for chicken tikkas or chicken curries (without butter) or eggs. If you are a vegetarian, you can have dishes like paneer curry, peas curry, soyabean curry and chickpeas curry. Incorporate yogurt in your everyday diet for a kick of protein and probiotics for a healthy gut.