Monday, May 16, 2016

Nutrition

The more I hear from doctors about the nutrition, the more I am certain that our bodies are programmed for suicide. We drool, dream and splurge on all the foods - the pastries, the burgers, and all the deep-fried goodies - which doctors say will destroy your body's plumbing. Ever really had any ecstatic dreams about biting into a bitter-gourd or chomping on some greens?

I can still remember that one time I went on a diet. If I ever forget it for a moment, the smell of boiling cabbage can bring back the memories - along with an irresistible urge to barf. Thanks to the fact that the day started with cabbage soup, was punctuated with cabbage soup throughout, and - you guessed it - had ended in a glorious crescendo of cabbage soup, while on that diet. Tell me, if you ever had to spend a week splurging on samosas, say, do you suppose the smell of them would make you feel like throwing up later? Would that period give you nightmares, which you wake up screaming from, or live on as a joyous memory akin to your first date (unless, of course, your first date WAS a nightmare).

But, then, can we really believe what the doctors say? There may be - there possibly are - doctors who do studies without a prima facie idea of the point that they intend to prove. If they do exist, they probably get no funding for their studies and, if they do get funded, their studies probably get drowned out. An over-statement, perhaps, but just hear me out to know why I feel that way. (It is not merely because I want to enjoy my pastries without guilt-tripping).

If I said that 15% of the population of India goes on a vacation abroad once a year, do you seriously expect that there is a 15% chance of your servant maid announcing a trip to Paris next year? No? Why not - she could be one of that 15%, couldn't she? After all, when they start quoting study reports saying 85% of Indian population suffers from lack of nutrition in food, you rush out with palpitations to buy that health food, which will help you avoid malnutrition, not bothering to check what the percentage is for people who can afford the nutrition YOU can afford. Do you stop to ask if how many of that 85% actually belong to the class of people who can afford these health foods, before going down on your knees thanking god for the kind favors that the manufacturers are doing to a suffering populace?

When the first quip was made about 'White lies, lies and statistics', they really had no idea HOW useful statistics can be. If you use the proper methods, you can bring it out to be anything you want and use it to prove any point. And THAT is one big reason why anything professionals say has become totally vitiated and unbelievable. Professionals, including doctors, can be only as good as the theory they are taught; and the theory is only as good as the integrity of the people who massage the data to support the theory.

Having proved that doctors cannot be relied upon (and, thereby, ensured that I can dine off Alu tikkis and samosas tonight without guilt-tripping? Yes!!!), I cannot still refrain from worrying about them. It is true that when they say something is not good for health, I can be sure that the damn thing will not rise in price like a helium balloon. The problem IS with those things that these chaps SAY are good for health. One month before the dratted thing is being practically given away and now, presto, you have to hock your family jewels to buy it. For example, there was a time when jaggery was a third as expensive as sugar and look now!

Alas! NOW they are making noises about the benefits of dal-chawaal! God knows what stratosphere the prices of rice and dal are going to reach now! (AND, soon, they will be reporting 88% malnutrition in India and selling more health-foods!)

16 comments:

  1. It is ridiculous what is being peddled in the name of health these days. The interesting thing is how something as wholesome as diet started getting associated with starving.

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    1. Now they are all getting back to eat what you always used to eat before we got into the act :) The only difference will probably be that the prices of what we used to eat will be thrice what they should be since it is now 'health food' :)

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  2. Health is wealth.
    Surely in these days health is great business :)
    But, grateful to have a wonderful doc for my child, who prescribed only roti-dal & rice-dal for her & no processed baby-foods in tins...

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    1. Hahaha - There certainly is wealth in the health business :)

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  3. The sanest viewpoint I've heard so far on diet fads! I never believed in 'em in any case! Stats are absolute marketing jargon simply meant to sell stuff to gullible consumers! Cabbage soup really? My sympathies!!

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  4. Don't you think it is dietitians and nutritionists that should be blamed or credited for these fads, and not poor doctors?! Cabbage soup? And you survived on this?? You are a courageous man and hardy too, Suresh Chandrasekaran...

    Timely post written beautifully as always.

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    1. Victim of ads, Ramesh :) There is always someone with a white coat, with or without a stethoscope, who spouts these things on ads :)

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  5. Eat everything in moderation is what is supposed to be the best approach... Talk about health ads.... Newspapers love another word "scientists". Scientists have discovered this that etc.... Have seen quite a few articles on that front...

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    1. Yeah - Now scientists discover things that sell products :)

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  6. There are plenty of diets available across the world. each has to chose the diet which suits his body and it can not be generalized. sticking to wholesome foods and avoiding processed foods is the best thing to follow.

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    1. Sticking to what we used to eat always seems the best :)

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  7. Hindustan ki janta murkh hai...banaaye jaao, bantey hi jayenge;)
    Bahut khoob likha hai aapne:)

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  8. Ha ha. Statistics can prove and disprove anything you want these days. Unfortunately, nobody prints the fine print on how many people (if it was ppl in the first place) it was tested on etc etc. Sometimes milk is good and sometimes it is not. better to think it's good when you are eating ice-cream :)

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    1. Better to think what you like eating is good for you :)

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