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Indian Superfoods
Statistics prove that less than 20 per cent people are successful in keeping the weight off after they have lost it. Not just numbers but your experience will tell you that it s easy to knock the weight off but tough to keep it off . It seems to find a way back to your body, climbs into places where fat never existed and this time stays like it means to stay forever. Nothing, however crash, latest or expensive seems to knock it off . Into this mix comes the superfood a food item that promises a miracle and often comes from somewhere exotic. Acacia seeds, goji berries, kale the world seems to discover a superfood every week. There s so much talk about them in the press that the word itself seems to have no meaning. What s a superfood then really, do they even exist. This books address's those questions and more.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
343 people are currently reading
2313 people want to read
About the author
Rujuta Diwekar
52 books602 followersWinner of the 'Nutrition Award' from ASIAN INSTITUTE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, Rujuta is amongst the most qualified and sought after sports science and nutrition expert in the country and the only nutritionist to have associate membership from SPORTS DIETITIANS, AUSTRALIA. In the plethora of diet fads and fears, her voice rings loud and clear, urging us to use our common sense and un-complicate the act of eating. Having worked with people from all walks of life, of all age groups and varying fitness levels, she has fine-tuned her methods to fit the lifestyle of the urban Indian.
Her two books and the film 'INDIAN FOOD WISDOM' have been on top of the best-selling charts for more than 5 years now. Her third book on exercise 'DON'T LOSE OUT, WORK OUT' is out in the market now.
Her two books and the film 'INDIAN FOOD WISDOM' have been on top of the best-selling charts for more than 5 years now. Her third book on exercise 'DON'T LOSE OUT, WORK OUT' is out in the market now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
May 9, 2016
We obsess about eating 'healthy' food, but mostly, we just follow the trends. It is difficult for us to collect knowledge about what we should be eating and hence, we rely on doctors, nutritionists and experts. But the problem with food or anything in life is that everything is connected. What we eat is actually political. Our foods habits are interconnected to economics, political atmosphere, agriculture etc. Rujuta challenges everything we have been taught about Indian food. Decades back, we ate ghee, rice, coconut and sweets. But now, we are obsessed with 'health' which is a good thing. However, is the food that is sold to us as 'healthy' really healthy? We don't think twice before eating a Marie biscuit, but we are paranoid about not eating ghee. We are not afraid of processed food but we are afraid of Indian food. Rujuta says that India's current food habits are influenced by colonization. She also points out that the 'nutritionists' and authorities who talk about obesity and diabetes are changing their mind all the time. She turns our entire world upside down. Ghee, when eaten with rice, dal or sabzi is actually GOOD for diabetes, cholesterol etc. Sweets are not completely poisonous. You can eat rice at night and rice is not exactly the reason why you put on weight. She believes that imitating western food habits is a bad idea because Indians live in a different climate and their bodily needs are different. She asks you to listen to your grandmother and her age old wisdom.
Isn't it interesting that yoga became cool only when the West embraced it? This book made me realize that I'm like the billions of Indians...blindly following trends and calling myself 'rational'. I, like my fellow Indians, lack self-respect. This is not to say that everything that comes out of west is 'evil' (I mean, I'm writing this because of the West). But sometimes, it is nice to question what we have been taught. We usually do this in other areas but when it comes to food or health, we believe in 'objectivity'. We may embrace subjectivity in relationships, but everyone has to agree on the Body Mass Index. But before we accept anything, let's remember that what was 'bad' a decade ago, has been pronounced 'good' by the same authorities. Science cannot be separated from other areas [Homosexuality was once considered a psychological disorder]. This book calls for an interdisciplinary approach to nutrition and health.
Isn't it interesting that yoga became cool only when the West embraced it? This book made me realize that I'm like the billions of Indians...blindly following trends and calling myself 'rational'. I, like my fellow Indians, lack self-respect. This is not to say that everything that comes out of west is 'evil' (I mean, I'm writing this because of the West). But sometimes, it is nice to question what we have been taught. We usually do this in other areas but when it comes to food or health, we believe in 'objectivity'. We may embrace subjectivity in relationships, but everyone has to agree on the Body Mass Index. But before we accept anything, let's remember that what was 'bad' a decade ago, has been pronounced 'good' by the same authorities. Science cannot be separated from other areas [Homosexuality was once considered a psychological disorder]. This book calls for an interdisciplinary approach to nutrition and health.
September 7, 2023
This is an informative book that bashes health myths, fad diets and consumption of the latest popular superfood. It is mostly common sense and what our ancestors have told us, but many of us have been misguided for a long time and need a book like this to remind us what to look for in our search for superfoods.
The author terms a food as a superfood if it nutrient-dense, cultivated in your region (think local, not low-cal) and is sustainable. This book can help change your mindset about healthy foods and listen to your grandparents’ wisdom. Though it lists Indian foods, you can read this even if you are from a different nationality or ethnicity and identify what foods in your locality and heritage could work as superfood for you.
The author terms a food as a superfood if it nutrient-dense, cultivated in your region (think local, not low-cal) and is sustainable. This book can help change your mindset about healthy foods and listen to your grandparents’ wisdom. Though it lists Indian foods, you can read this even if you are from a different nationality or ethnicity and identify what foods in your locality and heritage could work as superfood for you.
March 21, 2018
Normally, I'd never be caught with a book like this. But when my doctor handed me this book, it was more of a prescription rather than a recommendation. So I quietly swallowed my pride, and then consumed this work of non-fiction like a bitter pill. To my surprise, it didn't leave a bad after-taste at all.
Rutuja chooses to handle a fairly complex subject with the nonchalance of first year university student. Adding generous dollops of hinglish lingo along with a smattering of sarcasm, the author does a fine job of presenting the science of nutrition by breaking it into small digestible portions.
Each chapter in the book is dedicated to one Indian Super-food. The recurring theme across the book seems to be those traditional offerings that are losing out to their trendy western counterparts. In each case, she is able to make a convincing argument in favour of conventional wisdom sourced from the kitchens of our forefathers.
Some facts mentioned in the book may seem a little too hard to digest - increasing ghee consumption can actually help you lose weight, rice should not be avoided even if you are diabetic etc. While the author seems to back her claims along with some scientific evidence, I'd still advice to take it all with, as the author herself might be tempted to say, a pinch of salt 'swad-anusaar'.
Rutuja chooses to handle a fairly complex subject with the nonchalance of first year university student. Adding generous dollops of hinglish lingo along with a smattering of sarcasm, the author does a fine job of presenting the science of nutrition by breaking it into small digestible portions.
Each chapter in the book is dedicated to one Indian Super-food. The recurring theme across the book seems to be those traditional offerings that are losing out to their trendy western counterparts. In each case, she is able to make a convincing argument in favour of conventional wisdom sourced from the kitchens of our forefathers.
Some facts mentioned in the book may seem a little too hard to digest - increasing ghee consumption can actually help you lose weight, rice should not be avoided even if you are diabetic etc. While the author seems to back her claims along with some scientific evidence, I'd still advice to take it all with, as the author herself might be tempted to say, a pinch of salt 'swad-anusaar'.
May 7, 2018
Changed my perception about our own local food. And definitely not paying yet another dietician that tells me to “avoid ghee”, “no rice” & “don't eat mango because it’s fattening” etc etc
May 20, 2017
I'll start by saying that I recommend this book to every Indian. Eat local, support agriculture, and live a long and healthy life. That's the gist of the book. If I made a list of the books that have changed my life for the better, this book would be on it. It's that good.
Rujuta writes with a healthy blend of sarcasm, story-telling, and bharpoor gyaan. She delivers homilies without sounding preachy or holier-than-thou, making it easy for us to digest what she says. She writes just as if she were having a casual conversation with us. Her language is peppered with hindi words and phrases, but it all meshes so flawlessly and flows so smoothly. Her "oh boy!" and "come on!" and "man" lend the narrative a delightful flavor.
If you dread reading 176 pages of text, you don't have to worry. Each chapter has a neat table that separates fact from fiction. And there are several boxed inserts as well that provide interesting information. Rujuta also references quotes and sayings from Indian mythology, Ayurvedic scripts, and culture. It is fascinating to see how she draws a parallel to what our grandmothers used to say and the source of this common knowledge in Ayurveda or our mythology.
Rujuta talks about 10 Indian superfoods: ghee, kokum, banana, kaju, ambadi, rice, coconut, aliv, jackfruit, and sugar. Yes, you read the list right. I was as surprised as you probably are now after reading the table of contents. The first thought that entered my head: how can sugar be a superfood?!
Instead of reading the chapters sequentially, I chose to read the ones that mystified me the most. I'd always considered sugar to be sweet poison. Why is Rujuta calling it an anti-ageing secret? That's when I learnt the difference between high fructose corn syrup, beet sugar, and cane sugar. I can now stop fearing sugar and have my cup of masala chai in peace.
I always knew that ghee, banana, and coconut were good for health. But just how good is what I came to know after reading the book. Do note that ghee here refers to desi ghee, the one that we make at home. Rujuta helpfully shares the procedure to make ghee at home from desi milk.
I eat kaju, rice, and jackfruit as part of my regular diet. But I had never considered them to be superfoods. This book taught me that many of the food theories that I have harbored so far in the name of food science are not true. If I just eat what my forefathers have traditionally eaten for generations, I will be strong, healthy, thin, and so on. Just think about it: there's a reason why our grandparents or even parents are much more robust than we are.
Kokum, ambadi, and aliv—I had barely heard of these foods before. Rujuta provides a list of regional names for these foods at the end of the book. But I couldn't recognize them even in my native language—Bengali.
Says a lot about our "health-conscious" generation, doesn't it?
Rujuta writes with a healthy blend of sarcasm, story-telling, and bharpoor gyaan. She delivers homilies without sounding preachy or holier-than-thou, making it easy for us to digest what she says. She writes just as if she were having a casual conversation with us. Her language is peppered with hindi words and phrases, but it all meshes so flawlessly and flows so smoothly. Her "oh boy!" and "come on!" and "man" lend the narrative a delightful flavor.
If you dread reading 176 pages of text, you don't have to worry. Each chapter has a neat table that separates fact from fiction. And there are several boxed inserts as well that provide interesting information. Rujuta also references quotes and sayings from Indian mythology, Ayurvedic scripts, and culture. It is fascinating to see how she draws a parallel to what our grandmothers used to say and the source of this common knowledge in Ayurveda or our mythology.
Rujuta talks about 10 Indian superfoods: ghee, kokum, banana, kaju, ambadi, rice, coconut, aliv, jackfruit, and sugar. Yes, you read the list right. I was as surprised as you probably are now after reading the table of contents. The first thought that entered my head: how can sugar be a superfood?!
Instead of reading the chapters sequentially, I chose to read the ones that mystified me the most. I'd always considered sugar to be sweet poison. Why is Rujuta calling it an anti-ageing secret? That's when I learnt the difference between high fructose corn syrup, beet sugar, and cane sugar. I can now stop fearing sugar and have my cup of masala chai in peace.
I always knew that ghee, banana, and coconut were good for health. But just how good is what I came to know after reading the book. Do note that ghee here refers to desi ghee, the one that we make at home. Rujuta helpfully shares the procedure to make ghee at home from desi milk.
I eat kaju, rice, and jackfruit as part of my regular diet. But I had never considered them to be superfoods. This book taught me that many of the food theories that I have harbored so far in the name of food science are not true. If I just eat what my forefathers have traditionally eaten for generations, I will be strong, healthy, thin, and so on. Just think about it: there's a reason why our grandparents or even parents are much more robust than we are.
Kokum, ambadi, and aliv—I had barely heard of these foods before. Rujuta provides a list of regional names for these foods at the end of the book. But I couldn't recognize them even in my native language—Bengali.
Says a lot about our "health-conscious" generation, doesn't it?
December 12, 2017
This book had been on my reading list for sometime, so I was happy to receive it as a gift. It’s a small book but power-packed with tips on how to reconcile ancient wisdom about food and modern way of living. Writing in her characteristic straight-talking, sensible and persuasive style, Rujuta bursts the myths around traditional foods, such as coconut, ghee, cashew, sugar etc.
The book is really a redemption for people like me who ignored the hoo-ha created by the food science people and never gave up the habit of adding a teaspoon of ghee to our plate of rice & chappati; continued enjoying freshly grated coconut as chutney/ gravy / garnishing, & cashew nuts as a snack as well as in the form of kaju katli. Families like ours, who relish our curd rice at anytime of the day, can relax and save ourselves the guilt trip!
What I specially appreciate about this book is that for each ‘superfood’, she elaborates on ‘how to eat’ , which is based on the Ayurvedic philosophy of food as medicine. This section is essentially grandma’s wisdom backed with scientific reasoning.
Definitely, this one goes into my most recommended books list!
The book is really a redemption for people like me who ignored the hoo-ha created by the food science people and never gave up the habit of adding a teaspoon of ghee to our plate of rice & chappati; continued enjoying freshly grated coconut as chutney/ gravy / garnishing, & cashew nuts as a snack as well as in the form of kaju katli. Families like ours, who relish our curd rice at anytime of the day, can relax and save ourselves the guilt trip!
What I specially appreciate about this book is that for each ‘superfood’, she elaborates on ‘how to eat’ , which is based on the Ayurvedic philosophy of food as medicine. This section is essentially grandma’s wisdom backed with scientific reasoning.
Definitely, this one goes into my most recommended books list!
September 14, 2016
A must have on your bookshelf to refer to time & again. Lots of ancient, tried & tested wisdom of our traditional foods explained in a modern avatar. Time to bring back food like ghee, banana, kokum, jackfruit, kaju & even sugar to our plates...stuff that has been unfairly shunned by the weight loss industry. I would recommend to read this alongside Rujutas other books to get a wholistic picture on quantity & timing of eating food and the importance of exercise.
March 12, 2017
An eye opener book , highly recommended to all the people who are going with dieting fads these days , actually I was also a part of it to an extend but good I got this book. Very prompt selection of food items and absolute facts and figures.
August 10, 2016
a great approach to look back on old and healthy Indian food!!!
But also as being a Westerner i can apply this on my own grandma & ma's recipes.
But also as being a Westerner i can apply this on my own grandma & ma's recipes.
August 1, 2020
I started this book having a faint idea what will it be about and it did turn out to be that but just so much more.
From the time I have started to pay attention to diet or lifestyle (not mine, but in general :P), I have read about food trends coming, proven wrong or just fading away. From the keto boom to every digital creator consuming avocado toast for breakfast or the popping of kale chips or quinoa in your grocery store, the nutrition industry keeps dishing out new miraculous superfoods one after the other. But what we consistently keep relegating to the background are the less attractive sounding local and humble produce. Not to demean the former western foods, but if there is a cheaper, nutritionally dense alternative which will significantly reduce the costs and lead to sustainable living, why not prefer that?
This book is a step to introduce you to a few foods that we seem to ignore or have remained completely unknown to us while we were trying to catch up with the west. Author Rujuta takes a good effort to introduce you to the superfood, the benefits and at the same time commenting upon how each of these foods is a superfood in the real sense.
Her definition of a superfood means one which
- Is produced locally
- Is rich in micro-nutrients and taste
- Every part of the crop/plant can be used in some form
- Encourages a diversity in your diet
- Makes ecological sense and leads to a sustainable lifestyle
Ghee or sugar which has been shunned by people (although to say that ghee has slowly gained popularity again) or lesser-known foods like kokum, aliv; all will stand to prove that India has a diverse set of nutrients to offer you. This is a straight forward book delivering you all facts.
Rujuta also makes a case for climate change and a very strong one about sustainable living and eating local. She will help you realize (if you didn’t already) the wisdom that has been a stronghold for our foremothers and how our ancient traditions of eating and living far outweigh the ever-changing western nutrition industry.
Coming to the writing, it is massy and perfect for the general Indian population. It’s a short book divided into ten sections for each superfood and is written at a fairly fast pace. Quite enjoyable and definitely mind-opening.
From the time I have started to pay attention to diet or lifestyle (not mine, but in general :P), I have read about food trends coming, proven wrong or just fading away. From the keto boom to every digital creator consuming avocado toast for breakfast or the popping of kale chips or quinoa in your grocery store, the nutrition industry keeps dishing out new miraculous superfoods one after the other. But what we consistently keep relegating to the background are the less attractive sounding local and humble produce. Not to demean the former western foods, but if there is a cheaper, nutritionally dense alternative which will significantly reduce the costs and lead to sustainable living, why not prefer that?
This book is a step to introduce you to a few foods that we seem to ignore or have remained completely unknown to us while we were trying to catch up with the west. Author Rujuta takes a good effort to introduce you to the superfood, the benefits and at the same time commenting upon how each of these foods is a superfood in the real sense.
Her definition of a superfood means one which
- Is produced locally
- Is rich in micro-nutrients and taste
- Every part of the crop/plant can be used in some form
- Encourages a diversity in your diet
- Makes ecological sense and leads to a sustainable lifestyle
Ghee or sugar which has been shunned by people (although to say that ghee has slowly gained popularity again) or lesser-known foods like kokum, aliv; all will stand to prove that India has a diverse set of nutrients to offer you. This is a straight forward book delivering you all facts.
Rujuta also makes a case for climate change and a very strong one about sustainable living and eating local. She will help you realize (if you didn’t already) the wisdom that has been a stronghold for our foremothers and how our ancient traditions of eating and living far outweigh the ever-changing western nutrition industry.
Coming to the writing, it is massy and perfect for the general Indian population. It’s a short book divided into ten sections for each superfood and is written at a fairly fast pace. Quite enjoyable and definitely mind-opening.
December 27, 2019
Rujuta Diwekar in addition to being India's leading nutrition and exercise science expert, is also a courageous contrarian. For there is no other suitable word to express the outspoken yet riveting views which she expresses in her book, “Indian Superfoods: Change the Way You Eat.” Inimitable and irreverent, she may well be the Nicholas Nassim Taleb of the dietary and nutrition world.
Rooting for consumption of food that is traditionally produced in the region in which the consumer is based and also a ferocious advocate for the employ of common sense than hankering after fad diets, Ms. Diwekar is both a nutritionist as well as an outlier.
“Indian Superfoods” is all about destroying the myth about, and according the rightful recognition to a few Indian Superfoods which have either been relegated to the confines of doubt on account of the misconceptions attached to them or on courtesy the ‘Westernization’ of the choice of ingredients that make their way onto our plate. As Mark Twain once memorably remarked, “the only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.” In a world going bonkers in alternating between Atkins and Keto diets, this book by Ms. Diwekar comes as a welcome antidote. As Ms. Diwekar states at the very beginning of her work, “statistics though prove that less than 20 per cent people are successful in keeping the weight off after they have lost it.” If Bollywood starlets such as Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt can trust Ms. Diwekar on this, we all surely can as well!
So, accompanied by drum rolls, here go the list of Indian Superfoods, which Ms. Diwekar insists that we must gorge on paying scant heed to pessimistic opposition:
• Ghee: “The Fat Burner”;
• Kokum or Garcinia Indica: “The Natural Antacid”;
• Banana: “The Recharger”;
• Kaju or Cashewnut: “The Antidepressant”;
• Ambadi: “The Stomach-Soother”;
• Rice: “The Grain That Sustains”;
• Coconut: “The Calmer”;
• Aliv: “The Beauty Pill”;
• Jackfruit: “The Fertility Booster”;
• Sugar: “The Anti-Ageing Secret”
Adherents of crash diets and gym animals alike would go apoplectic reading the words rice, sugar and banana in the above list. This is exactly what separates Ms. Diwekar from the rest. Diffident in her resolve not to jump onto any contemporaneous bandwagon, she gives two or even three hoots to received wisdom and topples convention on its head. But she does not do this in a rustic or suspicious fashion. Diving into empirical evidence and traditional wisdom, she dissects the properties of each superfood before expounding on their merits, to her readers.
According to Ms. Diwekar, to qualify as a ‘super food’, an ingredient/product must satisfy the following criteria:
• They grow naturally in the same land you live;
• They are rich in micronutrients and taste;
• Every part of the crop/plant can be used in unique ways;
• They encourage diversity in your diet; and
• They lead to a sustainable lifestyle, help local economy and make sound ecological sense
Ms. Diwekar also has some advice for her readers on the behavior to be adopted whilst partaking one’s food. Drawing on the fount of ancient wisdom, tenets of Ayurveda and the practice of our forefathers, she expounds:
“Staying silent while eating is the most undervalued aspect of good nutrition. Don’t talk, don’t read, don’t surf, just eat. It will actually put you in touch with yourself and then you will hear the voice of your stomach. Your stomach will guide you in eating the right quantities at every meal. It will slow down the pace at which you are consuming. It will make you feel lighter, younger, calmer with every bite. The space will reverberate with inner peace and you will hear a voice in your head go: Pakakarta tatha bhokta, annadata sukhi bhava. May the person who cooks, the one who eats and the one who provides the food, may all be happy. And just like that, peace will return to the world, at least to your world.”
So what are some of the attributes of these ‘super foods’ that make them an indispensable part of anyone’s diet according to Ms. Diwekar? Here are a few selected examples of the extraordinary properties which some of the superfoods that are listed by her possess:
“Garcinol, the most active ingredient in kokum, is an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antioxidant agent. It’s for this reason that kokum is considered a functional food, that is, food (not pill or capsule) which besides having nutrients also possesses health benefits and disease prevention properties. The ORAC value – oxygen radical absorption capacity, a measure of the antioxidant score of any food – of kokum is very high. Hydroxyl citric acid (HCA) is a characteristic ingredient of kokum which is a well-known weight-loss aid. One that regulates appetite and optimizes fat-burning, and occupies an unchallenged position in every fat-burning pill out there. If you ever wanted Garcinia cambogia for its weight-loss effects, well, look no further than our own kokum for it is this same HCA that you find in kokum. Besides weight loss, HCA is also used to reduce cholesterol and anxiety, all three important for the typical urban lifestyle.”
“Rice is almost the only grain to have high levels of an essential amino acid called lysine…It is an essential amino acid, which means it cannot be produced by the body and has to be consumed through the food we eat…Cooked rice has less than 10 percent of starch left. Rice has crucial amino acids, vitamins and many Phytonutrients along with carbs.”
“The Medium Chain Triglycerides (“MCT”) in coconut will help cut down the risk of cholesterol, and by the way, coconut is a plant food so it has no cholesterol. You need a liver to produce cholesterol. Fact check.”
Lest I reveal all the vital points of interest embedded within the confines of the book, thereby robbing the readers of their deserved pleasure I will bring my review of this intriguing book to a close. In conclusion cocking a snook at received wisdom and bringing a refreshingly novel perspective to bear, Ms. Diwekar changes the way we think, feel and act about the ingredients that we put on our plates.
Those granules of sugar will never be the same again once you are done with Ms. Diwekar’s book!
Rooting for consumption of food that is traditionally produced in the region in which the consumer is based and also a ferocious advocate for the employ of common sense than hankering after fad diets, Ms. Diwekar is both a nutritionist as well as an outlier.
“Indian Superfoods” is all about destroying the myth about, and according the rightful recognition to a few Indian Superfoods which have either been relegated to the confines of doubt on account of the misconceptions attached to them or on courtesy the ‘Westernization’ of the choice of ingredients that make their way onto our plate. As Mark Twain once memorably remarked, “the only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.” In a world going bonkers in alternating between Atkins and Keto diets, this book by Ms. Diwekar comes as a welcome antidote. As Ms. Diwekar states at the very beginning of her work, “statistics though prove that less than 20 per cent people are successful in keeping the weight off after they have lost it.” If Bollywood starlets such as Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt can trust Ms. Diwekar on this, we all surely can as well!
So, accompanied by drum rolls, here go the list of Indian Superfoods, which Ms. Diwekar insists that we must gorge on paying scant heed to pessimistic opposition:
• Ghee: “The Fat Burner”;
• Kokum or Garcinia Indica: “The Natural Antacid”;
• Banana: “The Recharger”;
• Kaju or Cashewnut: “The Antidepressant”;
• Ambadi: “The Stomach-Soother”;
• Rice: “The Grain That Sustains”;
• Coconut: “The Calmer”;
• Aliv: “The Beauty Pill”;
• Jackfruit: “The Fertility Booster”;
• Sugar: “The Anti-Ageing Secret”
Adherents of crash diets and gym animals alike would go apoplectic reading the words rice, sugar and banana in the above list. This is exactly what separates Ms. Diwekar from the rest. Diffident in her resolve not to jump onto any contemporaneous bandwagon, she gives two or even three hoots to received wisdom and topples convention on its head. But she does not do this in a rustic or suspicious fashion. Diving into empirical evidence and traditional wisdom, she dissects the properties of each superfood before expounding on their merits, to her readers.
According to Ms. Diwekar, to qualify as a ‘super food’, an ingredient/product must satisfy the following criteria:
• They grow naturally in the same land you live;
• They are rich in micronutrients and taste;
• Every part of the crop/plant can be used in unique ways;
• They encourage diversity in your diet; and
• They lead to a sustainable lifestyle, help local economy and make sound ecological sense
Ms. Diwekar also has some advice for her readers on the behavior to be adopted whilst partaking one’s food. Drawing on the fount of ancient wisdom, tenets of Ayurveda and the practice of our forefathers, she expounds:
“Staying silent while eating is the most undervalued aspect of good nutrition. Don’t talk, don’t read, don’t surf, just eat. It will actually put you in touch with yourself and then you will hear the voice of your stomach. Your stomach will guide you in eating the right quantities at every meal. It will slow down the pace at which you are consuming. It will make you feel lighter, younger, calmer with every bite. The space will reverberate with inner peace and you will hear a voice in your head go: Pakakarta tatha bhokta, annadata sukhi bhava. May the person who cooks, the one who eats and the one who provides the food, may all be happy. And just like that, peace will return to the world, at least to your world.”
So what are some of the attributes of these ‘super foods’ that make them an indispensable part of anyone’s diet according to Ms. Diwekar? Here are a few selected examples of the extraordinary properties which some of the superfoods that are listed by her possess:
“Garcinol, the most active ingredient in kokum, is an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antioxidant agent. It’s for this reason that kokum is considered a functional food, that is, food (not pill or capsule) which besides having nutrients also possesses health benefits and disease prevention properties. The ORAC value – oxygen radical absorption capacity, a measure of the antioxidant score of any food – of kokum is very high. Hydroxyl citric acid (HCA) is a characteristic ingredient of kokum which is a well-known weight-loss aid. One that regulates appetite and optimizes fat-burning, and occupies an unchallenged position in every fat-burning pill out there. If you ever wanted Garcinia cambogia for its weight-loss effects, well, look no further than our own kokum for it is this same HCA that you find in kokum. Besides weight loss, HCA is also used to reduce cholesterol and anxiety, all three important for the typical urban lifestyle.”
“Rice is almost the only grain to have high levels of an essential amino acid called lysine…It is an essential amino acid, which means it cannot be produced by the body and has to be consumed through the food we eat…Cooked rice has less than 10 percent of starch left. Rice has crucial amino acids, vitamins and many Phytonutrients along with carbs.”
“The Medium Chain Triglycerides (“MCT”) in coconut will help cut down the risk of cholesterol, and by the way, coconut is a plant food so it has no cholesterol. You need a liver to produce cholesterol. Fact check.”
Lest I reveal all the vital points of interest embedded within the confines of the book, thereby robbing the readers of their deserved pleasure I will bring my review of this intriguing book to a close. In conclusion cocking a snook at received wisdom and bringing a refreshingly novel perspective to bear, Ms. Diwekar changes the way we think, feel and act about the ingredients that we put on our plates.
Those granules of sugar will never be the same again once you are done with Ms. Diwekar’s book!
February 12, 2018
It is the best nutritionist book i have ever read. Feel proud to be a part of our Indian culture where food is delicious and healthy with a wide range of medicinal benefit .
Anyways i am going to follow this and see the progress .
A Must read if you want to enjoy food and be fit
Anyways i am going to follow this and see the progress .
A Must read if you want to enjoy food and be fit
October 26, 2018
While this book gives you an idea of what you could include in your diet, it is not enough to aid you in developing a good dietary plan.
It is a very basic, introductory book. You could scan the index and lookup the advantages, disadvantages of the food items over the Internet - would suffice just as much as this book; perhaps, in lesser time.
Or may be, I did not read it the way it was supposed to be read. Nevertheless, an average read.
It is a very basic, introductory book. You could scan the index and lookup the advantages, disadvantages of the food items over the Internet - would suffice just as much as this book; perhaps, in lesser time.
Or may be, I did not read it the way it was supposed to be read. Nevertheless, an average read.
April 28, 2021
Some facts can be kept shorter except that this book is a must read for all especially Indians. We ignore our local source products because we don't have the proper knowledge about them. Learnt a lot definitely gonna be helpful in my life and I am gonna implement the things mentioned here.
November 19, 2024
Insightful and thought-provoking! It's eye-opening to realize how our local foods, rich in nutrients and flavours, are getting overshadowed by the aggressive marketing of western food items. A timely reminder to rediscover and support our local produce.
December 20, 2021
The poor man’s food (always a representation of native eating habits) from one continent becomes the rich man’s weight-loss aid in another continent.
February 17, 2025
I needed this because I often overlook local produce when scrolling through YouTube searching for healthy meal prep ideas. I frequently fret over how these ingredients are either unavailable in stores or overly expensive, as if I’m intentionally seeking out imported veggies and nuts. I think part of this collective ignorance among Indians stems from how actively we follow western lifestyle and in the process often forget our own traditional eating habits and practices which, in the long term, serve us better in terms of both health and expenses.
September 14, 2021
प्रसिद्ध सेलिब्रिटी आहारतज्ज्ञ ऋजुता दिवेकर यांचं हे पुस्तक. पण बऱ्याच सेलिब्रिटी लोकांच्या पुस्तकाप्रमाणे - माहिती थोडी कमीच पण गाजावाजाच जास्त असणारं हे पुस्तक.
एकूण दहा भारतीय सुपरफूड्सबद्दलची (साखर, तांदूळ, आंबाडी, केळे, अळीव, नारळ ,फणस, तूप, कोकम, काजू) माहिती जसं की त्यांचे उपयोग, त्यांबद्दलचे गैरसमज आणि ते कसे चुकीचे आहेत इत्यादी आपल्याला यात वाचायला मिळते.
Health, fitness या प्रकारात मोडणारं हे पुस्तक फक्त माहितीसाठी ठीक आहे. पण त्यावरून आपण आपलं diet नक्कीच ठरवू शकत नाही. (भात चांगला आणि आधीचे लोक तो ज्या प्रमाणात खायचे त्या प्रमाणात diabetic patient आता सुद्धा खाऊ शकतात हे लेखिकेचं मत वाचून कोणताही patient डॉक्टरांचा भात कमी करायचा सल्ला टाळणार नाही! त्यामुळेच काही जणांना पुस्तक वाचूनही कदाचित त्याचा जास्त फायदा होणार नाही)
काही गोष्टी चांगल्या सांगितल्या आहेत पण तरीही माहिती अर्धवट वाटते. यात दिलेले सुपरफूड्स खूप उपयोगी आहेत आणि आपली आजी ते ज्या प्रमाणात आणि जशा पद्धतीने खायची ते प्रमाण उत्तम एवढं लक्षात ठेवलं तर माझ्यामते पुस्तकात सामान्य माणसाला अजून तरी वेगळं काही वाचायला मिळणार नाही. हा तुमचा अभ्यासाचा किंवा संशोधनाचा विषय असेल तर कदाचित थोडीफार उपयुक्त माहिती तुम्हाला मिळू शकते.
शेवटी प्रवासात जाता येता वाचायला किंवा सहजच चाळायला म्हणून हातात घ्यायला हरकत नाही.
सविस्तर review साठी माझं YouTube channel नक्की बघा -
https://youtu.be/yMxKHzqlLks
एकूण दहा भारतीय सुपरफूड्सबद्दलची (साखर, तांदूळ, आंबाडी, केळे, अळीव, नारळ ,फणस, तूप, कोकम, काजू) माहिती जसं की त्यांचे उपयोग, त्यांबद्दलचे गैरसमज आणि ते कसे चुकीचे आहेत इत्यादी आपल्याला यात वाचायला मिळते.
Health, fitness या प्रकारात मोडणारं हे पुस्तक फक्त माहितीसाठी ठीक आहे. पण त्यावरून आपण आपलं diet नक्कीच ठरवू शकत नाही. (भात चांगला आणि आधीचे लोक तो ज्या प्रमाणात खायचे त्या प्रमाणात diabetic patient आता सुद्धा खाऊ शकतात हे लेखिकेचं मत वाचून कोणताही patient डॉक्टरांचा भात कमी करायचा सल्ला टाळणार नाही! त्यामुळेच काही जणांना पुस्तक वाचूनही कदाचित त्याचा जास्त फायदा होणार नाही)
काही गोष्टी चांगल्या सांगितल्या आहेत पण तरीही माहिती अर्धवट वाटते. यात दिलेले सुपरफूड्स खूप उपयोगी आहेत आणि आपली आजी ते ज्या प्रमाणात आणि जशा पद्धतीने खायची ते प्रमाण उत्तम एवढं लक्षात ठेवलं तर माझ्यामते पुस्तकात सामान्य माणसाला अजून तरी वेगळं काही वाचायला मिळणार नाही. हा तुमचा अभ्यासाचा किंवा संशोधनाचा विषय असेल तर कदाचित थोडीफार उपयुक्त माहिती तुम्हाला मिळू शकते.
शेवटी प्रवासात जाता येता वाचायला किंवा सहजच चाळायला म्हणून हातात घ्यायला हरकत नाही.
सविस्तर review साठी माझं YouTube channel नक्की बघा -
https://youtu.be/yMxKHzqlLks
March 20, 2017
If ever the Indian fitness health freak market needed a book, this is it. We live our lives in such rampant fear of all the healthy natural foods that have been part of our diets since we were kids. Such hysterical alarm at the thought of having rice and fruits high in fructose it's almost alarming!
This book breaks it done for you one amino acid at a time. It talks jargon for those health freaks and gives them a blow by blow account of exactly what these foods can do for you.
Yes, pick up that banana. Eat rice for your meal. Make kaju a part of your plan. All these local foods are going to make your lives richer for having had them. They will not hurt you.
Read the book. Awaken yourselves!
This book breaks it done for you one amino acid at a time. It talks jargon for those health freaks and gives them a blow by blow account of exactly what these foods can do for you.
Yes, pick up that banana. Eat rice for your meal. Make kaju a part of your plan. All these local foods are going to make your lives richer for having had them. They will not hurt you.
Read the book. Awaken yourselves!
September 7, 2018
This book change the perspective of foods. We do come across lot many diets forms. We skip our favourite foods due to these diets. But everything is not needed at all.
I was under impression taking ghee will gain me more weight. But my mom constantly tells me to use it. The first chapter itself is about ghee and the tagline is Ghee: The fat burner. This book changed my perception towards food. Really helps..Thanks!!
Only point of improvement would be some scientific facts can be limited. It sometime eats away the grip in this book. Overall, great book and it will for sure change your perception of foods!
I was under impression taking ghee will gain me more weight. But my mom constantly tells me to use it. The first chapter itself is about ghee and the tagline is Ghee: The fat burner. This book changed my perception towards food. Really helps..Thanks!!
Only point of improvement would be some scientific facts can be limited. It sometime eats away the grip in this book. Overall, great book and it will for sure change your perception of foods!
February 10, 2018
Read the book just because have attended one of author's sessions in IIM Ahmedabad. Really straight from the heart author who knows how to tickle your emotional vein to put across her thoughts. It is very small book and hence comes with minimal time investment, but definitely with really good returns on them.
Most of things could have been covered in a medium to long blog post, but there are far too many food blogs to be taken seriously and hence the book definitely makes a practical sense. Give it a read if you are even remotely interested in good food.
Most of things could have been covered in a medium to long blog post, but there are far too many food blogs to be taken seriously and hence the book definitely makes a practical sense. Give it a read if you are even remotely interested in good food.
July 23, 2016
This book is abundant with information that should have been an inherited knowledge for us Indians. It is a book that deserves to be referred now and then. Author's presentation is more like a casual conversation than a formal narration. The kindle edition is pretty neat.
A few suggestions-
1. Each food could have included 1-2 pictures.
2. This book can be released in several volumes with inclusions of more foods.
A few suggestions-
1. Each food could have included 1-2 pictures.
2. This book can be released in several volumes with inclusions of more foods.
June 25, 2019
I just loved this book. What I love about Rujuta Diwekar is that she doesn't ask you follow stupid diets.. she asks you to eat local, eat your native food, eat in moderation and workout. More importantly, finally someone is saying that what our grandmother's fed us is right. . This book has superfoods which we have forgotten or some of us are still using. She has written in detail about these super foods.Love this book. And will recommend it to everyone.
July 12, 2018
Skimmed through this book and haven’t read it in its entirety, but I am not sure how much of what this author claims is actually true. She reminds me of some of the pseudo science prevailing in this country. I am little unsure about taking her word on everything about food. Now since every other person claims to be an expert in Ayurveda, I would take her advice with a pinch of salt.
August 24, 2017
Ok ok book compared to her other ones.
Read it in airport during a 2 hrs wait due to flight delay.
It is enough just to go through the names of the 10 Super foods and rest can be found in the internet.
Facts are good though.. Personally not a big fan of her sarcastic and Hindi mixed writing style
Read it in airport during a 2 hrs wait due to flight delay.
It is enough just to go through the names of the 10 Super foods and rest can be found in the internet.
Facts are good though.. Personally not a big fan of her sarcastic and Hindi mixed writing style
October 29, 2017
very well written. explains the concepts very well. the best part of the book is that it is written in a manner as is the author is speaking to you in person. loved reading it. must read for everyone who is health conscious and who wants to understand the richness of the Indian culture.
September 27, 2019
This book uncovers various misconceptions about Indian food items and teaches sustainable ways of eating, staying fit and healthy. Indian foods is a balanced diet which comprises of every nutrient that we often search separately in food items marketed to us by various brands.
May 13, 2017
the underlying principle is: eat local, eat natural and you'll be fine. there is no need to run after kale and quinoa when you have excellent local alternatives available.
May 28, 2017
A mirror to what we usually follow and what we should actually follow to be fit and healthy.
Wonderfull book!!
Must read for a new generation!
Wonderfull book!!
Must read for a new generation!
November 13, 2017
Super explanation and scientific reasoning.. just liked this book
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