Raju Korti
Every morning, before my tea is
even ready, my phone is already pelting me with advice. “Have bananas for
instant energy.” Scroll down two more posts -- “Bananas spike blood sugar,
avoid them.” Same fruit, two verdicts. If the banana were a person, it would
sue for defamation.
Take twenty everyday items -- and you will find enough
research to make you dizzy.
Almonds: “Brain booster.” / “Too many cause kidney
stones."
Tomatoes: “Packed with lycopene, cancer fighter.” / “Triggers acidity,
avoid at night.
”Rice: “Staple for centuries, gluten-free.” / “White rice is
empty carbs, villain of your waistline.”
Ghee: “Ayurvedic superfood.” / “Cardiac
time bomb.”
Coffee: “Improves alertness, extends life.” / “Dehydrates, raises
BP.
”Eggs: “Perfect protein.” / “Cholesterol overload.”
Coconut oil: “Good for
heart, hair, skin.” / “Saturated fat disaster.”
Milk: “Calcium powerhouse.” /
“Indigestion culprit.”
Papaya: “Digestion aid.” / “Dangerous for pregnancy.
”Potatoes:
“Comfort food, rich in potassium.” / “High glycemic index, avoid.”
Green tea:
“Antioxidant magic.” / “Leads to insomnia.”
Watermelon: “Hydration
hero.” / “High sugar content.”
Honey: “Natural sweetener.” / “Still sugar, fools
you with health halo.”
Paneer: “Protein-rich, filling.” / “High fat, artery
clogger.”
Grapes: “Resveratrol for longevity.” / “Pesticide-heavy, sugar spike.”
Peanuts:
“Cheap protein.” / “Allergen alert.”
Curd: “Probiotic for gut.” / “Worsens
cold.”
Spinach: “Iron-rich.” / “Oxalates block calcium absorption.”
Mango: “King
of fruits.” / “King of calories.”
Butter: “Flavour enhancer.” / “Cholesterol
culprit.”
And finally, sugar: A killer and saviour!
By the end of the list, the
safest thing seems to be breathing -- and even that, in some cities, comes with
an air quality warning. From waking up in the morning to the time you finally
fall off to sleep (and yes, even sleep itself), everything is both good and bad
depending on which “expert” you listen to. Too much or too little of anything --
water, sunlight, screen time, even napping -- comes with its own health report
and a caution label. An existential grammar which has colon, semicolon, comma
and a full stop with an apostrophe as the topping!
The confusion isn’t new. Our
grandparents happily survived on home-cooked dal, rice, pickles, fried snacks,
and a dessert to round it off. They didn’t Google if turmeric was
anti-inflammatory or check calorie counts before a laddoo.
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The irony? People who avoid sugar, fat, alcohol, cigarettes, eat on time, meditate, and jog every morning… sometimes get cancer or heart attacks in their forties. Meanwhile, your neighbour’s uncle, who has survived on fried pakoras, four cups of sweet tea, and a daily beedi, is busy planning his 95th birthday party.
So what’s the magic formula? I doubt if anyone can put fingers on it. “Eat everything in moderation” is the sensible answer -- until someone finds a study saying moderation is harmful. At some point, you have to stop obsessing, enjoy your food, get some exercise, and hope the odds are in your favour. If something still goes wrong, well… in cricket and in life, sometimes even the best shot finds the fielder.
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