'Label food based on glycemic index'

MUMBAI: Don't just count calories, check the glycemic index of each foodstuff as well. Doctors and nutritionists want Indians to learn this new health mantra in order to check the twin epidemics of diabetes and heart diseases.
"Foods should be marked and labelled as low or high on the glycemic index (GI) so that people can make healthy choices,'' said Dr Shashank Joshi, endocrinologist and editor of medical journals.
Both calories and GI are measurements of how food affects one's metabolism. Calories is a measure of the total energy one's body receives from a food item, while GI is a relatively new concept that tells how quickly one's body can convert carbohydrates into blood sugar.
The need for GI-consciousness, say doctors, is essential if people want to watch their weight, control their blood sugar and stay healthy. "A food with high GI releases sugar instantly that could lead to fluctuations in sugar levels or increase wear and tear of tissues,'' said Dr Joshi. Low GI foods, in contrast, increase the blood sugar as well as insulin levels gradually. "We, in fact, have asked the government to make such labelling mandatory,'' said Dr Joshi.
Speaking at a seminar on "Placing the glycemic index at the centre of healthy food choices" in Bangalore on Friday, experts said that 70% of the Indian diet is made up of carbohydrates. "Hence it is important to watch the GI of the food we eat,'' said city-based nutritionist Naini Setalvad. She gave the example of rice. "Indians love longer grain but they should check on the GI of rice before buying it. Lower GI is better,'' she said.
A survey titled 'GUIDe Study' ('Glycemic Index-Usage, Interpretation in Diabetes & Well-being) released during the seminar showed that Mumbaikars were second only to Bangalore in awareness about GI. "Our survey found 50% of Bangaloreans and 47% of Mumbaikars were aware of GI,'' said Dr Priyanka Rohatgi of Apollo Hospital, Bangalore. Around 94% of Mumbai's dieticians who participated in the survey felt that GI was an important tool for reducing the incidences of lifestyle disorders such as diabetes, obesity, coronary heart disease and cancer.
What is GI?
It is defined as the rise in blood glucose after eating 50 gm of carbohydrates
High GI: 70 and up.
Instant white rice, plain white bread, white skinless baked potato
Medium GI: 56 to 69.
Sweet corn, bananas, raw pineapple, raisins and certain types of ice cream.
Low GI: 55 and below.
Raw carrots, peanuts, raw apple, grapefruit, peas, skim milk, kidney beans and lentils.

Learn food pairing for best benefits

Like human beings, foods can also bring out the best in each other, nutritionally speaking. Read on to find out who should date whom for your good health

You already know a lot about what foods are good for you. But there's more to healthy eating than just that. Sometimes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And this especially true for some food combinations, even if they sound weird when you first hear about them. Dietician Sheela Tanna tells you how to pair food to unlock the benefits of individual ingredients.

Turmeric and salmon
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Salmon is low on carbohydrates and high on protein. When the two are combined, the properties of Omega 3 fatty acids present in salmon get a boost and it guards the nervous system against the effects of ageing. It also increases the level of HDL (good cholesterol) which improves heart health by keep the arteries clear of bad cholesterol.

The combination is also believed to slow tumour growth by keeping the cancer cells from multiplying.

Whole grains and onions
Whole grains, such as maize, brown rice, barley and wheat contain iron and zinc in different quantities. The two minerals are absorbed by the human body more easily in the presence of sulphur compounds present in onions - which is also what makes you cry when you slice them.

Beans and greens
Beans are rich in proteins and iron. When paired with veggies rich in Vitamin C such as spinach, sprouts and potatoes, it aids weight loss. "Your body uses three times more energy to metabolise proteins than carbs and fats," says Tanna. "Vitamin C rich foods do not aid weight-loss directly. But they have water soluble nutrients which make them very low calorie foods. The combination of beans and veggies won't let you gain those extra kilos."

Also the iron content of beans gets better absorbed in the presence of Vitamin C from vegetables.

Tomato and olive oil
Tomatoes contain Vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene in substantial quantities. This antioxidant lowers the risk of cataracts, osteoporosis, cancer and the effects of ageing. Olive oil, also rich in antioxidants, promotes the formation of HDL (good cholesterol) in the body. Lycopene gets better absorbed in the presence of olive oil and is highly beneficial for the heart. It purifies the blood and dissolves gallstones. The combo also boosts liver function of protein synthesis and detoxification of the body. It's believed to reduce effects of hypertension.

Broccoli and mustard
Broccoli is a good source of Vitamin C, antioxidants and a compound called sulforaphane. This compound exhibits anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties. The absorption of sulforaphane is better in the presence of myrosinase, an enzyme present in mustard. The two combat bacterial infections in the urinary tract, excretory system, digestive system and the colon. Iron is part of blood cells in the body and carries oxygen from the lungs to muscles and organs. Zinc helps in healing wounds. Antioxidants and Vitamin C present in onions also facilitate the iron absorption from whole grains.

Whole grains are also rich in Vitamin E which when combined with Vitamin C become beneficial for the skin. "This also goes for other combinations of vegetables rich in Vitamin C such as carrots, cabbage, peas and pumpkin with whole grains," says Tanna.

Thirty-two packaged water units seized - THE HINDU

They were found supplying water to people without maintaining standards

The district administration cracked a whip on the spurious packaged drinking water supplying units in Karimnagar district by seizing 32 units for not possessing Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certificates as part of the Food Safety and standards Act 2006.

In a press note here on Thursday , district food inspection officer (DFIO) Preetham Kumar said that they had inspected 104 packaged drinking water units in the district and sent the samples for tests in Hyderabad laboratory. Following the supply of spurious water to the people without maintaining standards, they have seized 32 packaged drinking water units in the district. Earlier, the authorities seized 14 units for failing to follow the stipulated norms.

He informed the people to consume only safe bottled water being supplied by the units possessing BIS certification.

The units which have been seized include Balaji Aqua Industries and Manikanta Purified Drinking Water plants in Jammikunta town, Godavari Drinking Water, Vijaya Packaged Drinking Water, Manikanta Industries and Narayana Beverages, Ayyappa and Sri Sai Yamuna Purified Drinking Water in Sircilla, Jalabugga Pure Drinking Water and Maruti in Kondagattu temple shrine.

In and around Karimnagar town, Dayals Enterprises, Kanikapa Vinayaka Industries, Godavari Industries, Pavitra Industries, Balaji Packaged Drinking Water, Sai Amrutha, Sri Venkateshwara Industries, Laxmi Enterprises, Jaladhara Packaged Water, Bharati Industries, Laxmi Industries and Padma Aqua Systems .

The Divya Manair Water, Sagar Matha Water, Sri Sai Waters and Anjaiah Waters in Sultanabad and Rangampalli Drinking Water, Godavari Water, Hanuman Water, Sri Ranga Water, Sri Raghavendra Water and Srisailam Drinking Water plants in Peddapalli town.