What are some nutrition related problems you see specifically in the South Asian community, how can we overcome this and build more education around it?
I see two main things:
One is that when South Asians moved to this country they began to use American ingredients to make South Asian food - this doesn't work. Processed foods are a big problem in this country and we unfortunately did not pay attention to it. We adapted our cuisine to a unhealthier set of ingredients in this country to be smarter shoppers but that ended up harming us.
The second issue is the glorification of western society. Establishments like Pizza Hut and KFC have taken Asia by storm. They are treated like destinations in South Asian countries with lines going out the door. What people don’t realize is that we have exported the worst parts of our food system. The irony of it all is that we, in the US, adopt eastern foods like turmeric as superfoods in our diets. When turmeric milk became a thing in America it was such an eye rolling moment for me. Turmeric was something that our South Asian ancestors consumed. The poor people in South Asian countries are eating better, healthier ingredients than the middle class in america. Very few people see that.
3 things we must implement in our daily lives today in order to ensure a healthy future.
Easy...
Stop drinking soda and sweetened sugary drinks.
Eat slower - we are eating faster than our brain is used to.
Reallocate the placement when it comes to meat. We eat in an age where the animal is the star is the show and plants are the accessory - they need to switch spots.
What is the first thing you do after you wake up and the last thing before you get into bed?
The first thing that I do after I wake up is read The New York Times headlines and leave voicemails to our senators and council members.
The last thing I do before I get into bed is drink a cup of hot water. Hot because it soothes, calms and hydrates. Not to mention it improves digestion.
Words to live by…
Progress over perfection
I am always accused of being perseverant and rolling with the punches.
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