Festival Feasts: Reclaim Your Health This Season

During India's vibrant festival season, the abundance of sweets and fried delicacies can lead to overeating, impacting blood sugar levels, particularly for individuals with diabetes. Festive favorites often combine sugar or potatoes, typically fried, with refined carbohydrates. This combination, Dr. Suman Banerjee explains, causes glucose spikes followed by insulin surges, leading to fatigue and cravings.

To maintain a healthier festival routine, experts recommend proactive measures. Starting meals with nuts, paneer, or curd can help curb overindulgence. Splitting meals and choosing wisely, such as opting for roasted corn or dhokla over fried versions, are beneficial strategies. Prioritizing vegetables and proteins before carbohydrates can also assist in managing glucose spikes.

Making informed dessert choices, like dry sandesh instead of syrupy sweets, and selecting unsweetened beverages over colas are practical tips. Incorporating a 10-15 minute walk after meals, perhaps during pandal hopping, aids digestion. For those with prediabetes or diabetes, frequent glucose monitoring and consulting a doctor before fasting are crucial steps. Generally, a balanced approach with regular meals, hydration, and walks, avoiding starvation diets, is key to recovering from festive overindulgence.