Holi without gujiya, malpua, or dahi vada is incomplete, right? Experts list rulebook for diabetes and cholesterol patients

Holi is not just a festival of colours but also a festival of food. Holi without gujiya, puran poli, dahi vada, or malpua is unimaginable. Well, during the festival, when we visit our friends or family's place, they show their love in the form of snacks and sweets. But what about those who have diabetes or high cholesterol?

In the excitement of celebrations, people often skip their breakfast and get busy playing with colours for long hours. People who are diagnosed with health conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol need to be careful about what they eat in their daily diet, especially during Holi. ¡°This is essential to ensure that their blood sugar levels and heart health are in check. The first step is to avoid all types of processed, junk, and sugary foods. This can include foods like white bread, gujiya, malpua, chips, and other packaged snacks. These foods can cause sudden blood sugar spikes and increase bad cholesterol levels in your body,¡± warns Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, Gleneagles Hospital Parel Mumbai.

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Ditch oily or fried foods; kick off the day with a healthy breakfast

As already mentioned, people often miss their breakfast in the excitement of playing Holi, but that¡¯s what they are doing wrong. Then they end up eating fried snacks, having drinks, bhang, and more. Well, most of the dishes on the occasion are cooked in oil.

But the people with diabetes or high cholesterol need to be extra careful. ¡°Try to avoid fried or oily foods as they can increase unhealthy fats in the body. Rather, start the day with a healthy breakfast including foods that are rich in fibre, such as oats, brown rice, whole wheat, and quinoa. These foods can help in managing your cholesterol as well as blood sugar levels,¡± says Dr. Rishi Bhargava, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Medicover Hospitals, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.

Hydration is key for diabetics and high-cholesterol patients

Your diet should include plenty of green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and lentils. They are packed with antioxidants, lean protein, and healthy fats. The key is to maintain a healthy balance. Instead of eating heavy meals, try to control your portion sizes. ¡°Eating in small portion sizes but frequently can help prevent sugar spikes. Ensure that you drink enough water to stay hydrated. Strictly avoid packaged drinks that contain excessive sugar,¡± suggests Dr. Bhargava.

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People tend to ignore their health and fail to keep their diabetes and cholesterol in check. Not many are aware of their health status as they fail to go for regular health check-ups and adhere to a nutritious diet. Dr. Bhargava says, ¡°For many people, to keep diabetes and cholesterol under control, it is imperative to make healthy additions to the diet. Remember, adequate nutrition will help to prevent any complications like heart disease and strokes arising from high diabetes and cholesterol.¡±

How to keep blood sugar and cholesterol under control?

According to Dr. Agarwal, ¡°A balanced diet rich in fibre and healthy fats can help manage blood sugar levels and lower bad cholesterol. Everyone should take the help of an expert and try to add whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds that tend to provide without raising blood sugar levels, while fatty fish like salmon and sardines are loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Vegetables such as leafy greens should be an important part of every meal due to their high fibre content. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to add apples, berries, pears, broccoli, avocado, and beans; it¡¯s a good idea to limit processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats, as these can lead to abnormal blood sugar and higher cholesterol levels,¡± she adds.

¡°Avoid samosas, namkeens, colas, sodas, desserts, bakery items, pizza, pasta, noodles, and French fries. It is better to take charge of your health right away.¡±

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