Recovering from the Festive binge

 

Between Diwali and the New year, there are more than a few weeks of dinners, sugary desserts, chocolates, treats and many other excesses that can ruin your diet and fitness. Blame it on the high sugar and fat content consumed at this time of year, excesses committed during festive seasons also leave marks on the body. An excessive consumption of sugar, for example, can lead to metabolic and cardiovascular problems, obesity and dental problems. After the festivities, you have to go back to your eating routine. While prevalent wisdom suggests that the best thing to do to avoid excess calories is to monitor what you eat which you can do it with some self-control, it’s not always easy to resist the sweets and savories you have hoarded over the festive season.

A simple solution to recover from the excesses of the festive season;

After a period of excess, your body screams for a detox. In addition to the health effects, after so much fat, salt and sugar, it is natural for you to feel more tired. But before opting for restrictive diets and going for long hours without eating, try to include in your diet some foods with detoxifying properties; i.e., refined rice bran oil. Rice bran oil is a natural detoxifier which plays a significant role in preventing the assimilation of fats and sugars, helps in the preservation of organs and skin while also aiding in the reduction of cholesterol levels in the body.

The oil is rich in a substance called oryzanol, which is a mixture of ferulic acid esters with triterpene alcohols and is also rich in tocopherols (vitamin E). These compounds have antioxidant properties and for this reason they have several benefits. The γ-oryzanol is a natural antioxidant present in rice bran oil, but absent in other vegetable oils, which were attributed to antioxidant and hypocholesterolemia effects. With much lower saturated fat levels than other edible oils available in the market, rice bran oil is rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are beneficial for the heart. In addition, rice bran oil is most widely praised for its high Vitamin E content, balanced ideal fatty acid percentage, antioxidant capacity, and cholesterol-lowering abilities.

Rice bran oil provides healthy fats and a variety of other nutrients. One tablespoon contains 120 calories and 14 grams of fat. Like other non-tropical vegetable oils, rice bran oil contains higher proportions of unsaturated and healthy fat than saturated fat. It contains a higher amount of essential fatty acids than other edible vegetable oils. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids present in the rice bran oil help to further strengthen the hair roots and prevent premature hair loss and baldness.

At Raha the physical refining of rice bran oil at low temperatures allows for the preservation of the carotenoids, the initial content of γ-oryzanol, providing the oil with excellent oxidative stability. The carotenoids present in the oil helps us cope with the molecular damage caused by sunlight and is also the reason for its golden hue.