Tamil Nadu

Eating right, exercising vital to good health: say experts

CHENNAI: Eating right and exercising every day is the mantra for staying healthy, according to nutrition and fitness experts who spoke at a breast cancer support group meeting here on Wednesday.

As special invitees at the meeting organised by Uma Krishnaswamy, senior consultant breast surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, culinary expert Mallika Badrinath and fitness consultant Vidya Singh shared tips with patients and their families.

Ms. Badrinath said a healthy diet must be introduced early in life: fruits and vegetables must be accompanied with appropriate protein and vitamin inputs. However, the large majority of the population consumed more than necessary amounts of carbohydrates, sugar and fat. Over a period of time, these converted to toxins in the body, leading to disorders and diseases.

She also provided a list of foods that should be avoided and those that should be consumed in order to keep cancer away.

While pesticides consumed while eating fruits and vegetables could not be avoided, one could stop recycling cooking oil and avoid grilled and roasted foods that were carcinogenic. Ms. Vidya Singh said the two things one could have good control over were the body and the diet. Though time was at a premium for most people today, fitness should be a priority.

Recommending certain exercises for upper body flexibility after surgery, she cautioned patients that they should consult the doctor first.

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