Eating for Health
Teach children to enjoy eating vegetables and fruit with positive persistence
Few children are born with a liking for every vegetable, but researchers wondered if infants could learn to enjoy a specific vegetable, and how many tastes it would take. Their studies show that while it may take more than 10 attempts to get the child to try something new, with encouragement children can get used to flavours, textures and consistency of food.
Nutrition info... Is it all credible?
How many times do we receive emails claiming that a specific combination of foods will cure cancer, or that eating large amounts of certain foods will eliminate our cholesterol? Nutrition advice is everywhere, but it is important to know how to separate credible, good nutrition information from the rest.
Manage your cholesterol (Part 2)
In the second part of her article on managing cholesterol, Baldeesh Rai, Dietetic Advisor to Heart UK adds to her recommendations on fats and sugar. She discusses the importance of eating more fibre and being active.
Skip the microwaved meal: Student tips for eating healthily on a budget
Shazia Govindji has been thinking about what to have in her kitchen and fridge as she starts her second year at university. She shares her tips on preparing quick, nutritious dishes, and on how to keep to a budget whether eating in or out.
Manage your cholesterol during Heart UK’s National Cholesterol Week
National Cholesterol Week in the UK takes place between 19–25 September 2011, and aims to promote awareness of raised cholesterol levels, which are a major cause of cardiovascular disease. This is the first installment of a two-part article by Baldeesh Rai, Dietetic Advisor to Heart UK, with tips on lowering your cholesterol.
Challenge yourself to go with the whole grain
Whole grains are a source of fibre, vitamins and minerals, and research shows that whole grain foods offer a variety of health benefits. September is designated as Whole Grains Month in the USA and dietitians at The Ismaili Nutrition Centre are challenging all our readers to increase their daily intake of whole grains.
Eating healthily during the month of Ramadan
Fasting is among the special observances that Muslims undertake during the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting radically alters the diet, slowing the body’s metabolism and sometimes causing discomfort. However, good health can be maintained by consuming adequate nutrients during meals.
Choose whole grains for better health
Are whole grains better for us than those that have been refined? Researchers at Tufts and Harvard Universities think so. Learn about the health benefits of adding whole grains to your diet.
Breakfast everyday may keep childhood obesity away
Are children who eat breakfast regularly less likely to be overweight? Studies suggest that eating breakfast every day can help improve concentration, reduce hunger and maintain a healthy weight whether you are young or old.
Salt Awareness Week in the UK focuses on men’s health
According to the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey of 2010, men tend to eat more salt and less fruits and vegetables than women, placing them at greater risk of stroke and heart disease. Azmina Govindji shares important facts and practical tips on how to reduce salt in your diet just in time for Salt Awareness Week (21 – 27 March).
Fat facts — Some fats are healthier than others
There is no doubt that our bodies require fat, but did you know that some fats are healthier than others? All fats have different characteristics, so it is important to try to choose foods that contain the better variety, and cut down on those that could cause our bodies harm.
How safe is your kitchen?
You might think that you are sufficiently careful about food hygiene because you wash your hands regularly and store food in the fridge, but the dangerous germs and bacteria that lurk about your kitchen can cause food poisoning. These tips on preparing, cooking, storing and reheating your meals can help you to minimise the risks.
Lose weight while eating the foods that you enjoy
It’s that time of year when we tend to feel the effects of over-indulgence from the holiday season, and promises of effortless weight loss lure us into trying the hottest new diet. This year, aim to adopt a balanced way of eating that will not leave you watching the clock for the next meal time.
Healthy, tasty student food doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming
As a first year university student, Shazia Govindji can relate to the temptation of choosing fast food over fresh fruit, vegetables and a balanced plate. But she has some tips to share with fellow students in search of quick ways to eat healthier without blowing their budget.
Reduce your blood cholesterol during National Cholesterol Week
Cholesterol is the biggest single risk factor for heart disease, and cholesterol testing is a good way to highlight that risk. In the United Kingdom, this week has been designated National Cholesterol Week, and the Ismaili Nutrition Centre has some tips to help you keep your cholesterol level in check and your heart healthy.
Avoid dehydration by making 6–8 glasses of fluid a regular part of your day
Summertime is when the warm weather draws many families outdoors to enjoy healthy activities. But unless we are careful, the heat can also lead to dehydration — a depletion of our body fluids. Here are some tips on how you can keep yourself and your family well-hydrated while enjoying the sunny season.
When it’s sunny, top up your vitamin D
When you expose your skin to the sun, your body makes vitamin D from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Most people will make enough of this “sunshine vitamin”, but certain groups of people may not be getting enough from the sun or their diet — and this includes people with dark skin.
Healthy eating, West African style
The continent of Africa is steeped in tribal and ethnic diversity. Its geographic regions in the west, east, north and south vary in language, religion and even cuisine. If you enjoy West African cooking, here are some tips to help you prepare nutritious traditional foods for your family.
Flavours from India to East Africa intermingle in Muscat
Over the centuries, the peoples of the Middle East have intermingled, blending their cultures and traditions. Yet they have maintained their own distinct foods, traditional dishes and flavours.
Iranian cooking offers dishes rich in aroma, colour and flavour
The cultures, traditions and foods with which Iranians mark special occasions are as rich as the country’s history. For instance, to mark Nowruz, the dining table is adorned with a special table cloth and seven dishes that represent new life, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience and beauty.
Breakfast provides quick and easy fuel to start the day
After a good night’s rest, your body needs fuel to kick-start the day. Everyone should make breakfast a habit, especially children. It provides energy throughout the day and improves your ability to concentrate.
Five ways to look after your heart
Valentine's Day or not, looking after your heart is especially important for South Asians — particularly men — who are more at risk of heart disease than the wider population. However, there are many ways you can protect your heart whilst still enjoying delicious traditional home cooking.
Eating for health: A new year — a new you!
The year often starts with great intentions — perhaps you will join a gym, cut out fried foods, or decide to give up fast food — but will they stick? One of the best ways to keep your new year’s resolutions is to make sure they are realistic in the first place.
Make the whole grain a part of your healthy lifestyle
Buying a loaf of bread, a breakfast cereal, or pasta used to be straightforward. But today, a wide assortment of grain-based products comes with a push to choose healthier whole grain varieties. Just what is whole grain, and what makes it healthy?
Develop healthy habits to manage your diabetes
World Diabetes Day is observed every year on 14 November to raise awareness of diabetes. While there is currently no cure for it, those who are affected can still live a full life by carefully managing their condition.
Cookery classes inspire new interest in cooking traditional foods
Recognising that a younger generation of Ismailis in the United Kingdom are less likely to know how to cook traditional foods, members of the Youth Cultural and Social Network in the UK recently organised a series of cookery classes.
Fasting and diabetes
Those suffering from type 2 diabetes may be worried about observing the fast during the Muslim month of Ramadan. However, it is possible to fast safely if you are careful about managing your diabetes.
Nutrition labels demystified
Labels on the foods that we purchase today include measurements of calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and fibre, among other nutrients. But what do the numbers actually mean?
What should your plate look like?
Eating well is as much about the different balance of foods on your plate as it is about the individual foods. Dishes like curry, dhal, roti and rice can be healthy, but if the portion of dhal is tiny and the meat curry is smothering the rice you’ve probably got the balance wrong.
How to use the Nutrition Centre recipes
So, you like to cook and you’d like to try out one of the mouth-watering recipes in the Nutrition Centre. Well, that’s great — and it would be even better if you take a little time to think about how that recipe will fit in with your healthy lifestyle goals.
Healthy cooking tips
When you are cooking, watching the amounts of fat, salt and sugar you add are essential to achieving a balanced diet. By making small changes to your cooking methods, you could be making big changes to your overall habits.
Eat for your age
Have you noticed how your interests and priorities change as time goes on? It is the same with nutrition. Whether you’re 25 or 85-years old, it is important to eat well, but your nutritional needs change according to your life-stage.
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