Spreading Good Health This DiwaliThe biggest celebration of the year, known as Diwali, is being celebrated this weekend by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Being a Hindu, Yash Birla has been most anticipating this celebration. In light of the current upheaval in the globe, he hopes that lights, fireworks, and diyas—traditional oil clay lamps used in celebration—will provide happiness and brightness.

Diwali, which falls on the same day as the Hindu New Year, is a celebration of light triumphing over darkness and good over evil. Traditionally, Diwali celebrations include setting up diyas in each room, receiving presents, dressing up, and indulging in a tonne of food—the last of which is probably Yash Birla’s favourite cheat time!

Diwali, the festival of lights, is quickly approaching and necessitates lights, colours, crackers, and sweets. Families gather and enjoy themselves during this auspicious time. But Diwali is also a time of unintentional mishaps and health risks. This year, try spreading good health this Diwali. You are exposed to smoke, fire, and excessive amounts of artery-clogging lipids that you ingest over what is allowed. As a result, it’s critical to maintain your health and safety and to never sacrifice it. That being said, Diwali need not be hazardous or unhealthy. Of course, it can be; just take the joy out of Diwali and leave the danger behind!

Reducing your salt intake 

We should be excused for underestimating the amount of salt we consume because it’s present in many of the meals we purchase. However, cutting back on salt is arguably the most crucial thing any of us can do to enhance our health. Excessive consumption of salt elevates blood pressure, thus augmenting the likelihood of heart disease and stroke—two grave and perhaps fatal ailments. People frequently claim to experience few or no symptoms of high blood pressure, which is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer.” Since the recommended daily intake of salt is less than 6g, or one level teaspoon, there will be a lot of opulent delicacies available during Diwali, so it’s especially crucial to watch how much salt we add to our food, as it quickly adds up.

Reducing salt consumption is a good idea because it takes our taste buds three weeks to adjust on average. The notion that food won’t taste as good if you add less salt is a prevalent one, but with a progressive reduction, the difference is frequently barely perceptible. So why not attempt cutting back on salt, meal by meal? Rice is typically consumed with curries, dahl, or as a foundation for biryani, thus, its lack of salt is barely noticeable. Since Indian cuisine is renowned for its abundance of flavours, spices, and smells, take advantage of this culinary ingenuity and replace salt with spices like dhania (coriander), garam masala, or jeera (cumin) to enhance our meal.

Snacks from the store are difficult to resist, but they are heavy in fat and salt. You can regulate how much salt and spice you use when you make these delectable treats at home. Accept your inner chef and experiment in the kitchen by baking, rather than frying, papdis (a crispy, flaky savoury cracker), poha (a flattened savoury rice dish), and chaklis (a crunchy spiral snack made of rice flour).

Reducing your sugar and saturated fat intake 

Without the various varieties of mithai, which are naturally filled with sugar, Diwali would not be complete! While sugar syrup, condensed milk, honey, gulkand (a sweet preserve made of rose petals), jaggery (cane sugar), and other ingredients are thought to be healthier because they come from natural sources, in reality, all of these ingredients are just variations on sugar and have the same effect on our bodies!

Mithai are typically made with coconut oil or ghee, which is clarified butter, giving them a high-calorie content. It would be preferable to make these mithais with less sugar, with oils such as sunflower or rapeseed that are lower in saturated fat, or with even more dried fruit.

Yash Birla explains that he understands how difficult it is to resist indulging in these decadent treats! However, you may still enjoy these treats in moderation. By doing so, you’ll feel better and be able to indulge in a wider range of sweets.

These days, everyone’s primary worry is their health and well-being. We are one step closer to enhancing our general physical well-being, both now and in the future, by implementing these minor adjustments during our Diwali celebrations. We would like to use this occasion to wish everyone a very happy Diwali. In keeping with our lovely, rich Indian tradition, we hope this blog inspires you all to convert your Diwali festivities to healthier ones.

Of course, it is not conceivable or practical to be a monk on Diwali. As a result, it’s important to remember to do everything in moderation, including drinking and eating sweets. Spreading good health this Diwali should be our main goal along with our enjoyment. Your body needs to undergo a detoxification after Diwali, which calls for adjustments to your nutrition, eating habits, sleep schedule, and other aspects of your lifestyle.