Plant-based diet, intermittent fasting good for health: Docs | Lucknow News

LUCKNOW: Plant-based diet, unrefined foods, limited animal products, healthy fats, regular physical activity, intermittent fasting and a sense of community are all crucial for living longer and healthier life, akin to the people living in the Blue Zones across the world.
Dr Gourdas Choudhuri, director and head gastroenterology and hepato-biliary sciences department at a private research institute in Gurgaon, shared these essential components of a healthy lifestyle during the culmination day of the conference organized by the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) UP Chapter (UP ISGCON 2023) on Sunday.
Dr Choudhuri highlighted that life expectancy, which had been steadily increasing for decades, started declining in India and some developed countries from 2018 due to overeating, consumption of refined foods, sedentary and stressful lifestyle; leading to metabolic diseases like coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. He cited the example of the Blue Zones, including Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Ogliastra, Sardinia; Okinawa, Japan and the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, where people follow a diet rich in beans, whole grains, olive oil, nuts and meat and dairy products in moderation. They engage in physical work, practice ritualistic fasting, avoid processed foods and minimize sugar consumption, chemicals, pesticides, preservatives and additives.
“This is a good lifestyle for maintaining metabolic health and reducing inflammation in the body. This, in turn, reduces chronic illness and raises life span,” he added.
Dr Choudhurisuggested that Indians should embrace fasting practices that were once a part of their culture.
Moreover, Dr Choudhuri emphasized that Blue Zone living extends beyond diet, encompassing family time, self-care, hobbies, gardening and maintaining a balance between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.