The Hindu Business Line : Sudden craving for sweets?

I've suddenly developed a craving for sweets. Sometimes I feel I'll go crazy if I don't have a chocolate bar or an entire packet of jam biscuits. Am I diabetic?

M. Dange

Are you stressed out? Stress is the biggest trigger for craving sweets. Do deep breathing — shut your right nostril with your thumb and inhale from your left nostril, then shut left nostril and exhale from right nostril and so on. Deep breathing restores orderly simplicity to our energy organisation and resilience to our spirit. A craving is a signal of scattered energy and onset of fatigue. That's why deep breathing is so effective. However, to rule out diabetes, get your blood tested. Go for the test only after 10 days of regular deep breathing. No test should be done in panic unless, of course, it's an emergency.

I've just turned 40, am 5 ft 4 inches tall, weigh 60 kg and have diverticulosis. What could have caused it? I've always thought of myself as robust and healthy. I've heard that people with diverticulosis are hospitalised. Please guide me on the lifestyle I should adopt to avoid hospitalisation.

Renuka Bhonsle

Diverticulosis is caused by continual constipation, which in turn is caused by eating too little fibre. Fibre is vital as it cleanses the colon thoroughly. Over the years, due to constipation, part of the wall of the colon bulges through weak areas looking like pouches (diverticula). This is called diverticulosis. When these pouches get inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. However, it does not mean automatic hospitalisation. If you start taking care now, you could prevent aggravating this condition, which could prove to be painful by the time you are 60 years old.

The best thing to do is to start eating fibre-rich foods daily and avoid processed foods as much as possible. Eat whole-wheat products, oats, raw vegetables, fresh fruits (unskinned peaches and apples), bhindi sabzis, and sprouted moong. Alongside drink 10-12 glasses of water. This combination cleanses your intestines and colon thoroughly.

Get your doctor's consent to exercise. Do 50 abdominal crunches daily. Lie on your back, legs bent at knees, feet flat, and hands behind your head. Lift your shoulders and upper back off the floor without pushing your head. Keep your neck straight so that your chin does not sink down into your chest. Then lower your shoulders back to starting position.

Abdominal crunches help tone the muscles in your colon as well and prevent it from developing weak spots. Some practical tips:

Choose a fresh fruit platter over cooked sweets.

On out-of-town trips, if you can't get fibre-rich foods, have a tablespoon of isabgul at night before bedtime.

Eat processed or low-fibre foods in pinches to ensure room for bulky high-fibre foods.

If you've had or have pain in the left lower side of your stomach, avoid foods with seeds-tomatoes, pears, and chillies, for example.

Lose 5 kg. You'll feel good.

Recently I shifted from Bangalore to Mumbai for professional reasons. I've joined a gym here, but am unable to follow the weight-loss plan prescribed by the gym's nutritionist. For example, she has told me to avoid rice. Is there something wrong with me?

Roabin Kutappa

When you relocate in terms of workplace and living space, you tend to get a little disoriented. At such times, you want (and need) to hold on to some old habits as your personal comfort zones. If you deprive yourself of old friend rice at this juncture, you'll find yourself compensating by overeating sweets. I advise you to get well settled in your job and home. Treat your gym as a de-stressing zone and not a weight-loss arena. Cycling 32 minutes is a great stress-buster. Even if you do nothing but cycle for an entire year, it's okay. You'll improve your stamina and self-confidence. A gym is also a good place to make new friends. Exercising together builds a great camaraderie. Only after you feel thoroughly at home and comfortably settled, think of making other lifestyle changes.

I have osteoporosis and have been put on calcium supplements. My doctor has also asked me to reduce my salt intake. What has salt got to do with osteoporosis?

Lila Pinto

When you excrete sodium (salt) in your urine, you excrete calcium along with it. When the levels of calcium drop in your bloodstream, the body releases the parathyroid hormone to leech calcium from your bones and restore calcium-levels to your bloodstream. To avoid this calcium-leeching, have as little salt as possible in your food.

(The writer is co-author of the book 'Fitness for Life'.)

More Stories on : Health | Fitness First

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Sudden craving for sweets?

Breaking hearts? Pay tax!

Reading between the lines

Outsourcing old age!

London times

Oasis of peace

Shelter and... a future