INDIAN SUPER FOODS, by Rujuta Diwekar.
I received this book from my blogger friend, Ashvini Naik for a quiz on Instagram that I won. I wanted to do this post on the book ever since, but somehow it got delayed. Nevertheless, here it is, today. It is certainly not a review, but about a book that I found extremely helpful, informative and practical.
Rujuta Diwekar is a famous name amongst Indians for the health and nutrition tips she gives; lessons on diet that are easy to follow, make a lot of sense, and are inspired by the food habits of our ancestors.
I totally agree with Ms. Diwekar’s motto of eating what’s grown locally; eating every 2 -3 hours and eating all that you like, but, within limits.
In this book, Ms. Diwekar introduces us to 10 Indian Super foods that not only help in reducing weight, but help care for our overall health.
The foods she has discussed are:
GHEE: THE FAT BURNER
KOKUM (MANGOSTEEN): THE NATURAL ANTACID
BANANA: THE RECHARGER
KAJU (CASHEW): THE ANTI-DEPRESSANT
AMBADI (ROSELLE PLANT): THE STOMACH-SOOTHER
RICE: THE GRAIN THAT SUSTAINS
COCONUT: THE CALMER
ALIV (WATERCRESS SEEDS): THE BEAUTY PILL
JACKFRUIT: THE FERTILITY BOOSTER
SUGAR: THE ANTI-AGEING SECRET.
These are the ten foods she speaks about in a language and style that is so easy to understand and relate to.
She goes back to the times of our grandmothers and how they incorporated seasonal fruits/vegetables in their everyday diet to stay healthy.
How and why they insisted on avoiding certain foods in certain seasons as these harm not only our health, but also that of the Universe!
She has beautifully explained how, according to Ayurveda, one should not eat food that disturbs our personal constitution as well as one that disturbs the constitution of the Universe–a principle based on the understanding that what can cause harm to the human being, can also cause harm to the entire Creation.
She has also given tips on how and when to incorporate these super foods in our diet; ways in which these foods are used to manufacture snacks, health foods etc to be consumed by people when they need those nutrients the most.
She has cleared certain myths regarding foods like Ghee and Sugar–yes, the food stuff that is abhorred by the health fanatics.
Her very casual way of explaining makes one feel like she is having a chat with us, telling us what, how and why we ought to eat foods which will improve our health in such a way that we stay healthy–right from our gut to our skin, or from the inside to the outside!
I would suggest you read the book. Making certain changes in our diet based on Ms. Diwekar’s teachings is sure to restore your health and vitality and give you the body of your dreams!
Love,
SHILPA…
I’ve seen a number of her Facebook lives and I do think she makes a lot of sense. The idea of eating local and seasonal appeals to me too. This sounds like a useful book to have around.
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I, too, find her advice very logical, Tulika, and it’s also easy to follow. Yes, this book is useful, for sure!
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I like rujutas way of writing but more importantly I like the way she promotes Indian foods. Though I haven’t read this one particularly I read it’s excerpt somewhere. Sounds like a good book. Lemme see if my husband doesn’t already own it.
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Oh yes, that ‘s precisely what got my attention. Also, hubby has attended her sessions on weight loss and liked the way she explains why we need to eat local foodstuffs and how we can manage our weight and our health without following any “diets”!
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I’m completely signed on to what she says. I found this book so real and so useful.
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Have you read it, Corinne?
It truly makes sense following what our grandmothers believed in.
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I’ve found some of her advice to be contradictory sometimes, but I’m totally on board with eating seasonal foods. And yes, the 10 super foods she mentions are indeed vital to our health, especially ghee!
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Oh yes, ghee! The one foodstuff that most of us have stayed away from for fear of weight gain. It is, indeed, a super food and am glad that Rujuta promotes it so strongly!
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I have read this book and all her other books. I absolutely love her philosophy towards food and eating.
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Me, too! Hubby actually introduced me to her principles…he had attended her sessions on weight loss as he had gained a lot of weight because of his thyroid.
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Congrats for winning the contest, the book seems interesting and informative.
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Thank you, Jyotirmoy! Yes, it is! 🙂
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I have heard so much about the book. Even back in my hometown, people prefer to eat seasonal vegetable and fruits. These days it’s really hard to figure out what’s seasonal and what’s not since everything is always available in the supermarket. I love ghee… it’s the best 🙂
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Yeah, Raj. Everything is available in the supermarkets, but it’s always best to eat what’s locally grown. The nutrients in these are fresh when we consume it, as opposed to the foodstuffs that are imported from overseas, which lose their nutritional value by the time we lay our hands on them! 🙂
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Rujuta Diwekar has been instrumental in demystifying diet in India. Her books have been beneficial for the everyday language in which it speaks to people. I read her first book more than 10 years ago and it opened my eyes. The concept of superfoods is worth reading about. But first,I need to know what is Kokum, ambadi or aliv.
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Anu, I am sorry, I don’t know the Hindi word for Kokum, or Ambadi. Aliv is called Halim seeds, just Googled the meaning. Thoda research karna padega. 🙂
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Thank you for this informative post. The idea of going back to traditions is appealing.
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it sure is, Anou di!
Thank you for the visit! 🙂
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Good post.
Congratulation You win a book in prize.
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Thank you! 😊
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Thank you for this. I have also been introduced to a book that helps a lot with this as well.
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I am happy you liked the post.
Thank you for visiting! 🙂
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