Many stories and anecdotes surround mono sodium glutamate which is commonly referred to as MSG.  Headache, sweating, burning, pain, weakness, nausea, etc have been associated with the intake of MSG although research has yet to prove the connection.  Commonly termed ‘Chinese restaurant syndrome’ because people believe that the symptoms appear after they have eaten a Chinese meal, MSG is commonly used in many Chinese dishes.

MSG was first discovered in Japan more than a hundred years ago.  Today MSG is used in processed meats, canned vegetables, sauces, soups, apart from Chinese cooking.  The US FDA regards MSG as safe for consumption but mandates the ingredient to be listed on the food label.

People on a sodium-restricted diet will need to restrict or avoid the use of MSG because of its sodium content.  Also, if you have a reaction after eating food with MSG, it’s best to avoid MSG in your food.

As of today, MSG is not considered harmful, but we don’t know what research will tell us some years later.

Yesterday, the popular television channel – News 9, aired a documentary on the rising problem of childhood obesity in India. This was followed by a panel discussion which had health experts and students participating.  I was one of the panelists in this interesting and lively 2-hour discussion.  Several viewers also called in with their comments and queries.

We all know that the major cause for obesity is a combination of poor food habits and lack of exercise.  Other influencing factors are stress, hormonal changes, maternal health, genetic predisposition, and so on.  Food intake itself has a lot of influencing factors particularly in children and teenagers.  Availability, accessibility, familial habits, convenience, time (or the lack of it), etc.  Additionally, advertisements in the media, celebrities promoting unhealthy foods, peers bringing junk to school / college, educational institutions providing only high fat / high salt / high sugar options in their canteens, parents not caring enough about health, have a great influence on a youngster’s food choices.

Can we blame a single person or give a single reason for the rise in the number of overweight / obese people in India?  No.  There are multiple reasons for this problem but there is a solution.  Take responsibility for your health and weight!  If each one of us takes care of our health and weight sincerely by making positive lifestyle choices, 75% of the battle is won!  The remaining 25% can be won with the help of qualified experts.  If you are overweight / obese, don’t lose hope.  There’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

I recently received an email which gave a link to a you tube video on benefits of squatting in the toilet.  Here’s the link –  http://www.youtube.com/embed/pYcv6odWfTM

Although the above video is also an advertisement for a toilet gadget, it made me wonder how many of us Indians continue to use the old-fashioned toilets versus the modern toilets.  Unfortunately, not many of us have access to the Indian toilets or even if we do, some people cannot use it because of joint pains or some other health problem.

Good old Indian toilets have health benefits –

1. They are more hygienic because the skin contact to the toilet surface is minimal.
2. The squat position puts better pressure for evacuation of bowels, and helps to reduce constipation.
3. Squatting relaxes the muscles in the rectum helping in complete evacuation.
4. This position can also help to keep the knee joints, ankles and legs more flexible.

A few doctors in the western countries have started to suggest using the squatting position for better bowel health.

Try to squat every now and then; it will help!

Yesterday, I delivered a talk on nutrition and wellness to a group of engineers in Calcutta.  While talking about fats and oils, one person in the audience said that Bengalis use a lot of oil because it gives taste to the food; so it’s difficult to reduce oil intake.  In response to this, another person in the audience narrated her learning – She watched a cookery show on television by the celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor.  During the show, the chef noticed that a participant used a lot of oil in her dish.  When the chef asked her why, she said that oil enhances the taste of the dish.  Then Sanjeev Kapoor asked her if oil is tasty, can she eat oil as is?  The participant replied in the negative.  The chef responded that oil is not the taste enhancer.

I agree with this statement.  Oil does not provide the entire taste to a dish.  Taste comes from herbs, spices, fresh ingredients, etc. Fortunately Indian cuisine uses a large variety of spices which enhance flavour of every dish in which they are added. 

So, cut back on your total fat / oil intake for better health!

The Bangalore Chapter of the Indian Dietetic Association will celebrate 50 years of its existence by organising a Nutrition Expo on Saturday, September 21, 2013.  The expo is open to all and the entrance is free.  It will be held on the lawns of Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore from 11 am to 4 pm.  The expo will be inaugurated by the celebrity international athlete, Ms Reeth Abraham.

Visitors to the expo can avail of free blood sugar check, blood pressure, body weight.  There will also be educational material, games and quizzes on nutrition.  You can meet dietitians and get tips from them.

Do come along and bring your family, friends and neighbours as well.  Hope to see you on Saturday.