November 9, 2026

The right food choices can help prevent disease, improve metabolic health, support treatment and promote a healthier life.

Food is not merely something we consume to satisfy hunger. It is the foundation of our health, growth, immunity and overall well-being. Every day, the food we eat supplies essential nutrients that support the functioning of every cell, tissue and organ in our body. Therefore, choosing the right foods in appropriate combinations and quantities is one of the most important steps towards a healthy life.

Today, lifestyle-related disorders such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver and insulin resistance are increasingly common. Along with medical treatment, appropriate dietary practices and lifestyle modifications play a major role in preventing and managing these conditions. In some individuals, particularly those with early metabolic abnormalities, consistent dietary and lifestyle changes can produce significant improvements in health indicators and may even help achieve disease remission under appropriate medical supervision.

Diet: The Foundation of Good Health

A balanced diet provides all the essential nutrients required by the body, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients support energy production, tissue repair, immunity, metabolism and normal body functions.

A healthy daily diet should include whole grains, millets, pulses, vegetables, green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and appropriate amounts of healthy fats. Adequate water intake and regular physical activity are also essential components of a healthy lifestyle.

However, a balanced diet does not mean the same food plan for everyone. Nutritional requirements differ according to age, sex, body weight, physical activity, medical conditions, occupation, food preferences and socioeconomic circumstances. Therefore, dietary planning should be individualised.

Can Diet Help Reverse or Control Diseases?

One of the most important roles of diet is its contribution to the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

For individuals with type 2 diabetes, an appropriate dietary plan helps manage carbohydrate intake, improve blood glucose control and support insulin sensitivity. For people with obesity, dietary modification combined with physical activity helps achieve sustainable weight reduction. Individuals with hypertension may benefit from reducing excess salt intake and increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits and fibre-rich foods.

Similarly, people with dyslipidaemia can benefit from improving the quality of dietary fats and increasing fibre intake. In individuals with fatty liver disease, appropriate weight management, reduced intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and regular physical activity can improve liver health.

In selected individuals, sustained lifestyle interventions may lead to remission of type 2 diabetes or improvement in certain metabolic conditions. However, not every disease can be cured through diet alone. Dietary intervention should complement, and not replace, prescribed medical treatment. Any adjustment to medication must be made only under the supervision of the treating physician.

One Diet Does Not Suit Everyone!

Nowadays, various diet trends are promoted through social media, YouTube and other platforms. Keto diets, intermittent fasting, detox diets, liquid diets, crash diets and several other approaches are widely discussed.

Although some dietary approaches may have specific applications, no single diet is suitable for everyone. A diet that works for one person may not be appropriate for another.

For example, the nutritional requirements of a person with diabetes differ from those of someone with kidney disease, a pregnant woman, an older adult, a child or an athlete. Following a diet simply because a friend, celebrity or social media influencer recommends it may result in nutritional deficiencies or other health complications.

Before starting any special diet, individuals should consult a qualified dietitian or nutrition professional. A personalised dietary plan should be developed after considering medical history, laboratory investigations, nutritional requirements, food habits and daily lifestyle.

Give Priority to Traditional Indian Foods

Healthy eating does not necessarily require expensive imported foods or fashionable Western diet products. India has a rich food heritage that offers a wide variety of nutritious and locally available ingredients.

Ragi, foxtail millet, little millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, traditional rice varieties, pulses, green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, curd, buttermilk, nuts and seeds are valuable components of Indian food culture.

Traditional food combinations such as idli with sambar, dosa with pulse-based accompaniments, rice with dal and vegetable preparations, ragi mudde with greens-based curry, and curd or buttermilk can contribute to a balanced dietary pattern.

This does not mean that every Western food is unhealthy or every traditional food is automatically suitable for everyone. Rather, our local food habits, agricultural resources, climate and culinary traditions provide a practical foundation for sustainable healthy eating.

By choosing locally available and seasonal foods, we can also support farmers, preserve traditional food knowledge and encourage dietary diversity.

You Can Follow a Healthy Diet Using Your Regular Foods

Many people believe that following a diet means giving up rice, dosa, idli, chapati or their favourite foods. This is a misconception.

A healthy diet does not mean starvation, extreme restriction or eating only salads and boiled vegetables. It means making better choices, improving food combinations and consuming appropriate portions.

For example, a person who regularly eats rice does not necessarily need to stop eating rice. The quantity can be adjusted according to individual requirements, while including adequate vegetables, pulses and protein-rich foods. Similarly, idli and dosa can remain part of a healthy meal when combined with sambar or other nutritious accompaniments.

The objective is not to completely change a person's food culture but to improve the nutritional quality of the existing dietary pattern.

A sustainable diet is one that an individual can follow comfortably over the long term, using familiar, affordable and locally available foods.

Why Is a Dietitian's Consultation Important?

Diet planning is not simply about preparing a list of foods to eat and avoid. It is a scientific process that considers an individual's medical history, height, weight, body composition, laboratory investigations, nutritional status, food preferences and lifestyle.

A qualified dietitian develops a practical, evidence-based and individualised nutrition plan. The plan shouald be nutritionally adequate, culturally acceptable, affordable and sustainable.

Dietitians also monitor progress and modify dietary recommendations according to changes in health status and treatment requirements. For individuals with chronic diseases, coordination between the dietitian and treating physician is particularly important.

In my professional experience, individuals who consistently follow appropriate dietary advice and lifestyle modifications can achieve meaningful improvements in body weight, blood glucose levels and other metabolic health indicators. However, outcomes vary depending on the individual's condition, disease stage, treatment and adherence to recommendations.

Therefore, avoid blindly following diets recommended by friends, relatives or social media platforms. Seek professional guidance before making major dietary changes.

Respect Food as a Foundation of Health

Food provides energy, supports growth, maintains immunity and contributes to the prevention and management of several health conditions. We should not wait until a disease develops to start thinking about nutrition. Healthy food habits should become part of our everyday lives.

Remember that diet is not about starving yourself or avoiding all your favourite foods. It is about understanding your nutritional needs and making informed choices.

Choose traditional and locally available foods, maintain dietary variety, include adequate protein and fibre, reduce excessive consumption of highly processed foods and sugary beverages, stay physically active and seek guidance from a qualified dietitian whenever necessary.

Your food choices today influence your health tomorrow. Food is a powerful tool for disease prevention and management, and a healthy diet is an investment in a healthier future.

EAT RIGHT, LIVE RIGHT!