Strong women…
            May we KNOW them,
                    May we BE them,
                            May we RAISE them,
                                        May we ENSURE that their strength endures…

Here’s what I heard from one of my women patients’ the other day: “I was recommended Vit D more than a year ago, but I chose not to take it, as I read somewhere that it’s a steroid”. Here was a young, empowered, self-employed, liberated, urban woman, making a decision that will affect her present as well as her future health, and sadly she had taken this very important decision casually and without any research!

To young and impressionable women I would like to say this:

Osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones) affects more women than men (one out of two women above the age of 50, will suffer from it), and to give just one statistic, 75% of all hip osteoporosis affects women (in fact the risk of hip fractures in women is so high, that it is equal to the sum of the risk they suffer of breast, uterine and cervical cancer).

Women are genetically susceptible to OP because they start with bones that are smaller and less dense than men.  This risk increases when estrogen (a protective hormone) reduces drastically at menopause.

Some other issues can affect Bone density throughout a woman’s life:

So to all the strong women out there, live healthy, and make well-informed choices.  May the strength of your mind, heart, soul, and body, endure for today, and for the future.

-Dr Harshada Rajadhyaksha
-Dr Vipul Chavda

Lindsey Caroline Vonn (née Kildow) is possibly the best known downhill skier in U.S. history. Four time world cup champion, Lindsey is also one of the only six women to have won World Cup races in all five disciplines of alpine skiing. After suffering a knee injury in February 2013 and undergoing a surgery as well as extensive rehabilitation, she still reinjured the same knee and had to pull out of the Winter Olympics at Sochi in February 2014. We have followed her progress from her blogs, twitter, news articles, and interviews given by her, as well as those working with her. We wish to put facts and evidence together and examine if the outcome could have been different if the decision-making and management of injury was logical instead of emotional.

TIMELINE OF LINDSEY’S INJURY as available on her Facebook & Twitter Page:

On the 4th of February 2013, in the opening race of Super G at the Alpine Skiing World Championship in Austria, she had a horrific fall resulting in a terrible injury to her right knee. Examined by Dr. Christian Kaulfersch, she was diagnosed to have a partial tear of the Medial Collateral Ligament, a complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, and a Lateral Tibial Plateau fracture: what purports a COMPLEX KNEE INJURY. As is the protocol in such injuries, he advised her to wait till the acute inflammatory reaction and bruising of the bones subsided, and to later undergo a surgical reconstruction of the ACL. In fact Dr. Christian Kaulfersch described her injury as a “career delaying” and not a “career threatening” one.

The US Ski team management decided to consult doctors in USA, and Dr. William Sterett, who was Lindsey’s Doctor since she was 13 years old, immediately operated her knee (on the 10th of February, 2013), reconstructing her ACL, repairing her MCL and leaving the fracture to heal on its own.

Amid speculation on her return to competitive sport, the surgeon predicted a return to the mountains in 9 months, and preparing for the winter Olympics at Sochi was definitely on Lindsey’s mind. Dr. Tom Hackett, an orthopedic surgeon at the clinic and the team physician for the U.S. snowboard squad said, ”I think so, I would be very optimistic she could come back strong. She’s a fierce competitor. She’s a fighter and chances are that she will, I would think, essentially take all of that athletic energy and put it into her rehabilitation. There’s a really good chance she could come back as strong as ever.”

Lindsey went in to rehab.

Immediately after surgery her questions were all to do with whether she could start exercising her upper body and core while the knee healed from the trauma of the surgery.

She was on crutches a lot longer than the usual ACL reconstruction patient because of the Tibial Plateau fracture that had to heal. In these 6 weeks Lindsey was already going in for rehab and gym training for the upper body and core.

The crutches came off on March 27th 2013 (6 weeks post-op)

On 30th March 2013, Lindsey spoke to John Meyer of the Denver Post:

“The more time goes on, the more confident I am that I’ll be ready for Sochi,” Vonn said. “I was a little bit nervous before the surgery, but every day since then the confidence has just gotten better and better. I have plenty of time, so I just have to make sure I do the rehab like I’m supposed to, and I don’t have any setbacks. I should be perfectly on time to be skiing, hopefully in the first speed races of the season.”

“If I’m not ready, I’m not going to race,” Vonn said. “I would love, love, love to race at home, to race on the new world championships course. The timing is really not ideal. If I’m not ready, I’m not going to push it, because next year the main priority without a doubt is the Olympics. I think since I live here, I’ll probably have a chance to ski on the course again before world champs, so I’m not worried about getting time on it, I just would love to race at home another time. But I’m going to make sure I’m 100 percent before I start racing, and I’m not going to do it sooner no matter what.”

Of course, competing at the highest level in February meant that she had to be ready for arduous work in the mountains at least 6 months before that, and all the rehab planning was done in reverse to achieve that Feb 10th 2014 Olympic goal. Here was “an athlete with a clear goal, and an understanding of what it takes to get there”.

By first week of APRIL she was doing free squats with the Knee brace. (2 months post-op)

On 3rd May 2013 (11 weeks post-op), Lindsey announced that she had “dumped” her knee brace and would be back on the slopes in September. “I’m still in rehab, things are going really well. The knee is coming along quite nicely. But I should start skiing in September and everything’s right on track for the Olympics in February…” “I just dumped the brace. This is my first trip without the brace, so I’m really excited. But, unfortunately my doctor wants me to ski with it for a while, so still gonna be difficult. I can’t get rid of it entirely, unfortunately.”

By 3rd week of MAY 2013 (15 weeks post op) she was on SMITH machine, squatting with weights, and progressing fast.

In a 29th May meeting with her surgeon, she found out that her progress was good, and she was progressing her workouts to include functional elements in the next few weeks

By 1st Week of JULY 2013 (5 months post-op) she was doing plyometric training in the Austrian ALPS

By 2nd week of JULY she was pictured training on rope for balance.

This picture on the 4th of August (6 months post-op) shows her in a high-load squat

And then progressing to sport-specific functional training (skiing)

On the 28th of August (6 ½ months post-op), Lindsey spoke to John Meyer of the Denver Post again, saying that the strength of her right knee was measured at 98% of the Left knee and that she had been cleared to start snow skiing. She was off to Portillo Chile, where her surgeon Dr. Bill Sterett was going to monitor her. Vonn’s trainer Martin Hager commented that “She’s doing great, we are happy with the progress. It looks good for starting ski training that will be the focus for the first few days. Just skiing without any pain. No reaction of the knee. That will be the most important factor.”

On 31st August 2013 (less than 7 months post-op, and 2 months before the Doctors had predicted an on-snow return) Lindsey did a few light runs on the snow, and on 1st. and 2nd September upped her training, saying SHE IS BACK!

“I knew I would get to this point. I just didn’t know how long it would take me,” Vonn said. “I didn’t know how fast or slow the recovery process would be. But I always knew I’d be back. I never really doubted it. I’m really happy that I’m finally 100 percent and I’m not injured anymore.” She said.

In October she trained in Europe, but decided against competing in the World Cup opening event at Soelden in Austria. “My training camp in Soelden went very well and I made great progress, but I feel that I need more training before I start racing again,” she reported on her website from her home in Vail, Colo. “The Soelden race is not in the cards this year.”

She trained downhill for the first time since her crash on Nov. 6 and, two days later, said she felt healthy enough to win a World Cup super-G race.

Vonn said she’s reluctantly been wearing a protective knee brace under doctor’s orders, according to The Associated Press.

“It’s in my best interest to play it safe,” Vonn said, according to the AP. “I compromised and said that as long as I don’t have to wear [the brace] for the Olympics, I’ll be fine.”

In a training crash on the 19th of NOVEMBER 2013, she suffered a partial Rupture of Reconstructed ACL and decided to rest for a few days and undergo “aggressive physical therapy” before deciding further action.

She was allowed to continue training with a hope that she will compete at Sochi, but on 21st December 2013 in France at the Women’s World Cup Downhill event her knee “gave way”. ”The thing is I have no ACL. So unless I get surgery there’s nothing really magical that I can do that’s going to make it better. My knee is loose and it’s not stable and that’s the way it’s going to be from here on out. I just have to get used to it,” Vonn stated that no new damage had been done to the surgically repaired knee and her plans for the Sochi Olympics, in seven weeks, were still intact.

But on 7th January 2014, without competing or skiing again after the December 21st setback, Lindsey announced that she would not compete in the Olympics. On the 15th of January 2014 she was re-operated, this time by another surgeon, Dr. Jim Andrews, and again with the goal of competing in February 2015.

OVERVIEW OF INJURY HEALING:

When there is any injury, there are two outcomes:

1. Loss of Anatomical continuity
2. Loss of Physiological Function

Immediate care after any acute injury is aimed at maintaining anatomical continuity or restoring it. Treatment choices hence depend on the type of tissue damaged, the severity of disruption of anatomical continuity, and the ability of surgeons to repair damaged tissues. When an ACL injury occurs, the velocity of the injury or the forces that act on the loaded knee, and the anatomy of the involved structures, is such that it almost never occurs in isolation. In the case of Vonn’s injury also, she suffered a complex and severe injury to the knee involving the ACL, The MCL, and the Tibia, and It is obvious that there must have been substantial bone bruising associated with the injury. In her case the surgeons had the choice (and ability) to RECONSTRUCT the ACL, REPAIR the MCL, but the bone bruising and the fractured Tibial surface do not require surgical intervention for healing and must be left alone to heal. The time required for such healing is the same in all humans, irrespective of occupation and fitness levels. Bone injuries take between 3 weeks-6 months to heal, depending on the extent of injury. The Doctor in Austria had advised a waiting period before opting for surgery. This would allow complete healing of the damaged bone tissue, and ensure that the graft tunnel will not widen after reconstructed ACL grafting.

Though arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL has been projected as a “sports surgery”, this suggestion actually comes from the fact that the injury often occurs in sporting activity. The primary aim of the surgery itself is not to allow early return to sports, but to slow down the onset of Osteoarthritis by improving the functional stability of the lower limb. In fact the reconstructed ACL can never accurately mimic the role of the original ACL especially in extreme sports, unless (if at all) supported by a gradual, graded, and long term rehabilitation program that concentrates on phasic execution of realistic goals corresponding to the body’s physiological healing processes.

In Vail, the Doctors opted for an early surgery for Vonn. Though there is a school of thought that advocates early surgical intervention promising better outcomes, in the case of Vonn, the choice of an early surgery was probably taken so that the MCL could be repaired with a good prognosis, and the hope that she would be able to make a comeback in time for the winter Olympics in Feb 2014. If the ghost of the Olympics was not looming large, the Doctor would probably do the MCL repair and then post the ACL reconstruction as a second stage surgery after at least 3 months.

SOME SCIENTIFIC FACTS ABOUT ACL RECONSTRUCTION

The graft for the reconstruction can be taken from Patellar Tendon or Hamstring Tendons.

The HAMSTRING (Semitendonosus/Gracilis) Graft:

1. Is technically stronger than the patellar tendon used in the BPTB (bone patellar tendon bone) technique. However, the BPTB offers a bone to bone interface which heals faster than the tendon to bone interface in the Hamstring graft which requires more protection in the early stages of rehabilitation.
2. Published research documents that Strength gain of DONOR area (Hamstrings) takes more than 12 months to regain original strength.
3. This technique requires development of specific surgical skills due to certain aspects distinctive to the surgical procedure: Harvesting of the graft is a blind procedure; the position and size of the tunnel needs to be very accurate as the hamstring tendon is thinner than the patellar tendon used in the other procedure; the length of the graft is important to ensure long term stability of the knee; at the donor site, during the surgery there is a possibility of damage to the saphenous nerve which can lead to RSD, and a possibility of damage to the MCL due to its proximity to the pes anserinus complex.

When planning rehabilitation after any injury, the first rule is that it has to go parallel to the tissue healing stages. Rehab cannot significantly hasten tissue healing, but done erroneously can in fact significantly hamper it. Decisions regarding treatment options, surgeries, and accelerating the rehab process, when taken backwards keeping a sporting date in mind, are a recipe for failure because we are dealing with human tissues.

PLANNING A REHABILITATION PROGRAM:

When planning rehabilitation after any injury or surgery, accounting for factors that affect rehab gains is important for its success. Some of these factors are listed here:

• Age
• Sex
• Previous Fitness Level
• Duration of immobilization/ Detraining
• Amount of wasting
• Profession/ Level of fitness required
• Operative status and special aspects
• Amount of joint degeneration
• Level of commitment
• Psychological status
• Area affected/ part to be treated
• Length of commute for profession
• Body Weight
• Nutritional status

DISCUSSION:

1. Tissue healing is a process more or less equal in all humans of a similar age and circumstances, and cannot be hastened significantly if at all. If the goal of participation in Sochi Olympics was not the crux of decision-making, the surgeon would have either repaired the MCL and immobilized the knee, or just immobilized the knee in a knee brace with 20 degree Flexion for 3 weeks, along with a non-weight bearing gait. During this period, hip strength could be maintained with exercises with brace on, knee ROM and T band non weight bearing exercises for the knee and ankle, as well as core exercises could continue
2. After a period of 4-6 weeks, the GII (Generation II) brace which was locked at 20 degree flexion would be progressed to full range of knee ROM, and strength of hip, knee, and ankle could be worked on, first using Therabands, ankle weights and machines, and later adding closed chain exercises. At the end of 3 months, girth of the thigh and calf should be equal to the normal leg, and pain should have subsided completely.
3. At this stage, an ACL reconstruction surgery could be planned. Delaying the ACL surgery for 6-12 weeks would have allowed for the bone injuries to heal and the inflammatory processes to quieten. Again a knee brace locked in Extension and a non-weight bearing gait will protect the new graft, full weight bearing with the brace on can start by the end of the first week and at the end of 3 weeks, the patient would have achieved full ROM of the knee with brace on. During this phase, besides work on ROM, basic strength of knee muscles, core, etc can continue.
4. The Hamstring graft has an interface with the bone tunnel, and as bone tissue will continue to repair and strengthen around the graft for a period of 3-6 months, the graft actually needs to be protected through-out this period to varying degrees. During this period, working on girth and strength before starting excessive functional training is imperative to avoid erroneous neuromuscular patterns that may get carried forward into the sporting performance. Traditional exercises to improve girth should be the mainstay of rehab through this period, and a few elements of stable functional training (like squats, single leg VMO, etc.) can be added for variety and developing proprioception and balance. Vonn is seen participating in plyometrics and advanced functional training with high loads though her thigh girth looks poor: too much too early.
5. Research shows that girth and strength will not improve during inflammatory phase of healing (first 3 months after surgery), no matter what is done, and the real strength, power, and muscle mass gains will only come after the tissue healing is complete. This tissue healing process is pre-determined, and cannot be shortened/ bypassed. The Hamstrings being the donor tissue for the graft, may require 6-9 months of specific strengthening post-operatively, before beginning to train them functionally. Downhill Skiing requires excellent eccentric control of the knee by the Hamstrings, and enough time should have been spent strengthening them before any skiing was attempted.
6. After the protective period of 6 months post-operatively, at least another 3 months should be spent in progressive functional training, introducing sport-specific drills at this stage, and simultaneously continuing strength exercises to improve girth. In a highly demanding sport such as downhill skiing, the kind of muscular control (and endurance) required cannot be measured in artificial/ simulated environment. (Ideally, the first time Vonn should have ventured on the slopes for the simplest of drills is 9-12 months after surgery, or 12-15 months after her fall, i.e. Feb-May 2014). When the knee was measured at 98% of the normal, it must be remembered that the testing is done in a clinical set-up, and cannot mimic sporting demands.
7. No grafted tissue can actually function exactly like the original ACL, and in any high risk sport like skiing enough time must be given to rehab and functional training before attempting competition. Ideally Vonn should have continued strength and functional training while increasing practice time on the slopes, adding challenging elements and speed for the next three months before considering competition (Ideal target: Oct-Nov 2014)

Original Anterior Cruciate ligament as shown is FAN shaped and made up of 3 bundles arranged spirally making it UNIQUE and designed to control tibial rotation along with its anterior translation during knee Range of Motion (like a single chariot driven by multiple horses).

Whereas the reconstructed ACL is nowhere near the ORIGINAL structure and can never replace the ACL, especially in its rotatory control (imagine if the chariot is now led by a single horse).

This unique difference makes it very important for “OTHER FACTORS” to be involved in the control of Tibial Rotation.

The Hamstrings with their anatomical Orientation are the KEY to assist the newly reconstructed ACL in controlling the tibial rotation.

When the Graft is from the HAMSTRINGS then, we must remember that the time it will take to regain the eccentric and peak strength in the full range will be a minimum of 1 year. The Hamstrings work eccentrically in most sporting activities (especially in events like downhill skiing), and will require a lot of patience in rehabilitation to regain their “PEAK STRENGTH”.

“Ability to complete a task does not guarantee true single tissue/ muscular strength especially in the case of a highly motivated elite athlete with above average overall strength and stamina”. Lindsey Vonn is an elite athlete and a strong woman, and she is seen performing well throughout her rehabilitation program, and later also in practice on the slopes. But was she ready for each stage of the rehab? Was the decision making unbiased and scientific? Was she actually benefitting from all the progress that she was seen making? After all wasn’t she herself a little unsure when she pulled out of competition in October?
We believe that she would have fared better if the focus was on the process of healing, strengthening and preparing; not so much on the dream of the Olympic gold.

Disclaimer:
This article is ONLY meant to create an interest and educate physiotherapists (and anyone else that is interested) in the long term rehabilitation of sportsmen after an ACL surgery. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors, and are based on their long experience in the field as well as published research articles which can be provided as references.
The article is not meant to defame/ humiliate/ hurt anyone’s feelings or doubt anyone’s clinical judgment or ability in any way, and the authors apologize for any misunderstanding caused. We have not seen/ examined/ been privy to Lindsey Vonn or any of her medical reports, and all the material, photos, information we have gathered is from what is available freely on various electronic media.
Any comments that are made as a response to this article are the sole responsibility of their individual authors. Therefore we cannot be held responsible for any such comments.
If any reader finds any content malicious/ harmful/ sensitive/ hurtful, please do contact us at info@prakrutihealth.com and we will rectify the problem.

The lifestyle-related diseases that were unheard of two generations ago, hit our parents in their sixties. Our generation has suffered them in our forties and all signs point to our children suffering from these in their twenties and thirties. Onset of Cardiac diseases, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Arthritis can be prevented or delayed by promoting robust exercise, enough rest, and a wholesome diet in the growing years; and later adopting a healthy and moderate lifestyle.

It is never too late to start on healthy changes. Every day is the first day of the next year, and the best day to make a resolution! Making small changes is all that is required.

Let’s cultivate a healthier generation! I encourage all young parents to be good role models by adopting a moderate lifestyle: after all, we all know that children learn more by imitation than by persuasion or punishment.

Visit us to learn how to incorporate a few healthy changes into your present lifestyle.

What is “True Fitness”?

Most people apply the word “fit” loosely, and will use it to describe anyone who is visibly “slim” or “muscular” or “young”, etc. They also use it to describe someone who can accomplish a physical task e.g. “run a marathon”, or “climb a mountain”, or “bench press 200lb”.

Is a person “bench-pressing” 200 lb. fitter than a person pressing only 20 lb.?

Is a person running 22 km. in 2 ½ hours fitter than one walking 5 km. in 1 hour?

Is a person with a Body Fat % of 18 fitter than one with a Body Fat % of 30?

(The obvious variables like sex and age being equal)

What if the person pressing 200 lb. suffers a shoulder injury that requires a surgery a couple of years later?

What if the person running 22 km. has a desk job and sits at a table all day long, slowly developing cervical spondylosis that restricts his ability to exercise 5 years later?

What if the person with a body fat % of 18 has a strong family history of Diabetes and becomes insulin dependent by the time he is 35?

Physical fitness is only one small part of overall good health.Fitness tests are designed to measure each aspect of physical fitness, but their biggest flaw is that they measure a single aspect of fitness, and they measure it only MOMENTARILY. Whereas these tests are important to design new exercise plans, or determine suitability of sportsmen, they seldom reveal how healthy your life will be. Fitness rating is not important in the long race of life.

by Adyot Rajadhyaksha

He has never run a marathon, never bench-pressed 200 lb. (or anything for that matter), and probably never checked his Body Fat %.

He has been “Unfit” by most acceptable standards of fitness, but I think he makes a great example for “True Fitness”.

Uric Acid is the end product of Protein synthesis in the body. Purines are present in all proteins in varying degrees. Uric acid is produced when there is a breakdown of “purine” containing proteins. The body also breaks down its own cells regularly (older cells are broken down, and newer ones are created all through life in a process we all know as “metabolism”). The breakdown of these cells also releases purines contained in them.

Every day this uric acid released in the blood is filtered and excreted by the kidneys, and a small amount by the intestines. This results in a controlled level of uric acid concentration in the blood which is ideally between 3.4-7.0 mg/ dL.

Sometimes though, this level may increase due to an increased intake of proteins/ excessive breakdown of the body’s own cells/ decreased intake of water and fluids/ dysfunction of kidneys/ excessive intake of alcohol/ hypothyroidism/ certain medicines like diuretics, blood thinners, low levels of aspirin, some vitamins, etc./ excessive and extreme exercise or starvation diets, and certain other diseases.

Excess Uric acid in blood may result in painful joints (gout, which occurs when there are crystal deposits in some joints), can lead to Kidney stones, and is even believed to be an indicator of certain diseases like hypertension, Cardio-vascular disease and some others.

Low levels of Uric acid may occur due to very low protein intake, large amounts of water retention, high doses of aspirin, and some other drugs.

Levels of Uric Acid in the blood tend to fluctuate through the day, and will change with foods eaten, fluids consumed, exercise, rest, etc. Generally they tend to be higher in the morning and lower in the evening. Since most blood tests are conducted in the morning, there is no need to panic with a slightly higher count and start with medication that you may not require.

A sensible approach is often better: try using the above information to alter the way you eat, drink, and exercise!

1. Sit with a good back rest. If your chair does not provide it, carry a back rest with you!
2. Elevate your work station so that the computer screen is just below eye level when the back is straight (this will encourage you to sit straight and not stoop)
3. Every two hours, exercise as follows:
   • Stretch out alternate legs as shown: keep the back straight, and slowly and smoothly stretch out each leg holding for a few seconds before releasing. Feel the stretch at the back of the thigh.
   • Sit straight and tall, and taking support of the chair, gently rotate your spine as shown. Hold for a few seconds before releasing and then rotate to the other side.
   • Placing your hands in the small of the back, gently bend backwards. Hold for a few seconds before releasing.
   • With feet widely placed firmly on the ground, relax your body slowly between your legs. Hold for a few seconds, and then roll up as if you were rolling open a carpet.. one vertebra at a time.
   • Rest against the back rest, and take a deep breath in. On the out-breath, press your low back on the support and tighten your belly so that the rib cage comes closer to your pelvic (hip) bones. Breathe in, relax, and repeat 10-15 times.
     
   • Stand up and stretch your calf as shown on a wall/ step in your office.
     

You are now refreshed, and can go back to work for two hours.

Disclaimer: All exercises are not safe for every back condition. Please consult your Doctor before making use of this advice.

So often lately, I hear “Carbs” referred to in such a derogatory fashion, that I wonder what they feel about themselves! Are they really upset? What about their self-esteem? Do they feel worthless, felonious even? After all they have allegedly led us all to obesity and disease!!

Someone MUST play the devil’s advocate!! So here goes: I am going to make a case for “Carbs” and let you be the jury!

Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients (“macronutrients are nutrients that the body requires in relatively larger quantities as compared to “micronutrients” required in smaller quantities). The three macronutrients being, Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats. Obviously, carbohydrates are required in a large quantity by the body.

The three macronutrients are used by the body for different purposes. Proteins are used to build the cells of the body, and also act as channels that help transport of other materials in and out of cells, make up enzymes for digestion, etc. Fats are used to line important organs of the body for their protection, make up important hormones, act as solvents for some vitamins, act as emergency food stores and also keep us warm in colder climates. But for energy requirements of the whole body, as well as brain function, the body prefers carbohydrates.

Almost all foods contain some amounts of carbohydrate in them. Major stores of carbohydrates are found in starchy grains, cereals, and underground roots and tubers (e.g. rice, wheat, oats, potato, etc.). The other foods that contain carbohydrates are all fruits and vegetables. These tend to be watery, and contain large stores of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre that are required for our well -being.

Carbohydrates are easy to digest, the easiest being fruits and vegetables which can also be consumed without cooking. They provide quick and usable energy, keep the brain sharp, the body disease-free, and the digestive system healthy. In fact, they should form a major part of everybody’s diet (some eaten without cooking, and some with light cooking). The carbohydrates that need processing or cooking, like cereals, grains, and tubers are also important, but should be consumed in slightly smaller quantities, as they are calorie dense, take slightly longer to digest, and can be stored by the body in very small quantities (large “chapatti, rice, and potato” meals will be converted to fats by the body for storage).

What needs to be completely eliminated from a “weight-loss” diet, are the calories coming from sugary snacks, desserts, biscuits and bakery items, breads made from “maida” or highly processed cereals. These are also carbohydrates, but completely “empty” of any nutrients, dense in calories and fats, and sometimes the dreaded “trans-fats”! They also tend to be devoid of fibre; and eaten at the expense of fruits and vegetables, can lead to other digestive problems. I would also like to point out that alcohol is also a modified carbohydrate, and so are all aerated drinks and other juices!

For the sake of ease, all sources of carbohydrates are clubbed under the umbrella-heading of “Carbs”, but what most people really mean when they use this word, are “cereals”. Cereals too are the good-guys, just eat less of them, and make sure you eat them in the least-processed form.

Finally, unless medically advised or essential for any other imperative cause, moderation and balance is recommended even while choosing foods and diets!

While one had the whole country praying for her,
Another was fighting alone…
Both were young, so young…
I am sorry to say we lost both…

One unified a country wanting justice,
The other just a statistic we’ll soon forget…
Both were daughters, and sisters…
I am sorry to say we let down both…

The first one, they broke her body,
The other, WE broke her heart!
Both were strong fighters…
I am sorry to say we failed both…

One was killed by a brutal attack, we all know,
The other died silently while we looked away…
One battled as the nation watched for 13 days…
The other struggled alone for 45…
One was probably too battered to survive…
The other alas!!! How do we explain her loss?
Both were young, so young…
The one we have made our real hero…the other, let’s face it, is our true shame…!!!