The Pep Talk: The Desperate Housewives - Bad Habits

DISCLAIMER:  This post is meant as a chiding for me and me to be a better wife, mother and woman.

I know your life is busy or busier than any other woman. Your pile of chores and to-do lists won’t just get over. And then there are kids to look after and you have to update your social network and watch that serial. Give me 48 hours in a day, it will still be insufficient. Oh did I forget about, ‘to cook’, sorry! You have to cook and cook and cook. For your husband, and your kids and then feed yourself if you have any energy left, (after all that TV watching.)

Hah! Just kidding… No. Seriously. No jokes. Somehow the housewife manages to get more tired and exhausted than any other job. Pardon me, I said housewife, not a home maker. I’m not a sexist, just said so, because this article is more pointing towards women.

So, women. Yeah!

Every woman’s dietary lifestyle is different depending on her age, marital status, education, lifestyle and economic and family status.

A well educated woman, with a good family and economic status tends to adapt a healthier lifestyle for her family and herself compared to a woman who may be in a well off family but is not educated well enough. A healthy lifestyle may also depend on the place or economic condition of residence. For example, a woman staying in a developed country depends more on ready-to-eat meals or frozen and packaged food. The same woman if staying in a rural and under developed area goes to the market to buy fresh organic food and needs to burn double the calories.

All in all, there are few common BAD habits in modern housewives:

1. Waking up late and skipping breakfast: This one is the latest trend for mothers with kids going off to school. Once the kids are off, you go back to sleep and wake up to cook for lunch. And before lunch you don’t really skip the breakfast but indulge in a slice of nutella or coffee. Really?
2. Nibbling in between cooking: So your cooking bread rolls for dinner. The chicken filling is ready and so is the bread dough. You go ahead and start filling, and…Oh! Why is the pot of chicken filling half empty. I just tasted a spoonful. It was so tasty I tried another spoonful. Naaa.. Never mind. There was extra anyway. (Extra layer fat on your tummy. Hah!)
3. Eating the leftovers of the children’s meal: So little Katy left her plate half empty and so did Kai. Oh God ! children! They don’t understand, it’s not good to throw away food. L I’ll finish their plates and then I’ll go eat mine too. (Woman! You need to keep your plate in the fridge)
4. Saying No to milk: I’ll scream my lungs off at my kids to drink their milk. “How will you grow up to be a tall strong boy if you won’t drink any milk” And I’ll break my bones because of osteoporosis. Most women hate milk.
5. Saying No to greens: I won’t have a lettuce salad. I don’t mind a bit of coriander. Your garnish of coriander and mint don’t count for greens. ANEMIA.
6. Chocolates, sweets and fatty foods: The intense cravings, the erratic behavior they cause. Chocolate and fatty foods are an addiction. If your kids wipe out your secret stash of chocolates, you start scrounging every nook and corner. It’s an addiction. Cut it out.
7. Heavy Dinners: Have breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper said some wise man. And here we are putting all our energy and calories to laden the dinner table with exotic meals.
8. Too much for two: Most women just can’t cook enough for two. They end cooking too much and all the extra leftovers go down the drain…I mean their stomach.
9. Going hungry: If your husband or kids are not home for the day. Its holiday from the kitchen for all you beautiful housewives. No breakfast, no lunch, no dinner. Just lots of chips, chocolate and whatever ready to eat junk is available.
10. Whatsapp dietician : So someone got a forwarded message from whatsapp that eggplants aka brinjals cause cancer. And here I was thinking that eggplants prevent cancer. Ladies, cooking one big eggplant for your whole family even twice a month wont cause you anything. No, not even kidney stones. Chill. Eat up that brinjal.

No. Don’t laugh. You know it’s true. And you all do that.

Stay tuned for the next article of “The desperate Housewives”. Till then Eat smart, Eat healthy.

Post by Zohra Sada

The Pep Talk: Fad Diets

 The question that follows, “So what did you do in your Bachelors?” Me, “Food, Nutrition and Dietetics”. “Oh Wow! Please please please give some tips to lose weight”.  And I go like… Okay, I’m done here!

The question is asked by every second individual who wants to lose weight instantly. And they think that we dieticians have some magic pills. No No No! I’m hoarse of shouting out to people. But who is going to hear when every time you Google ‘weight loss’, the internet is filled with solutions for fast weight loss. That, my dear friend, is called a FAD DIET. 

Why is the internet filled with these junk diets? Everyone these days is influenced by the glamour world. Everyone wants to see some fast dramatic changes in their figure without putting any actual effort or developing good food habits. Companies promoting these Fad diets take advantage of these facts and offer your easy simple solutions. For example a fad diet that says that you could lose “X” kg in “Y” days, in this process something is taken away from you. Different type of diets have different methods like completely eliminating Fats or restricting the carbohydrates, the soup only diet or the juice only diet  are many such examples. A commercial diet that guarantees you weight loss or get your money back offer may sound really enticing. The truth is that you will lose weight only for a short period of time. In the long run you may gain more weight than you lost.

Most of these diets consist of eating a handful of this, a cupful of that, half a banana or rusty old toast. It simply makes you famished and stressed that you would after those certain amount of days overindulge in eating and just like your weight had plummeted down; it will gain more and much more at a faster rate.

The list of Fad diets is a long one. Few of them could be considered, few of them are stupid, few of them insanely dangerous and few of them are just hilarious. Allow me to give example of each:

Mediterranean Diet: It doesn’t even come under a list of Fad diet. It’s in fact a way of living for many people.

Atkins Diet: Although many may swear by it, Atkins diet has been labeled the fad diet of the 21^st century. This diet invented by cardiologist Robert C. Atkins totally restricts carbohydrates and emphasizes on proteins and fats. Pssst. Dr. Atkins apparently died of heart attack.

The Three hour diet plan, the three day diet plan or the grapefruit diet. Let’s not even discuss these.

The tapeworm Diet plan: Insanely dangerous. You swallow a tapeworm.  Yes. Orally. And then share your breakfast, lunch and dinner with the tapeworm in your stomach.  Oh the tapeworm can change paths and go into your bloodstream or into your brain. Yah right.

And the hilarious one, The Amputation diet: http://faddiet.com/amputationdiet.html just check this one out.   

Post by Zohra Sada

Diet for Underweight

Just exactly opposite to obesity is the problem of underweight. The concern for this condition also remains equal to as that for obesity. There there, now you know the importance of being just the right weight and not being the cause of global worries. J

People with BMI less than 18.5 are categorized as underweight. People who are underweight have reduced capacity for sustained heavy work and lower productivity. Immunological deficiencies are seen. Undernourished children have lower heights and weights. Pregnant women show a proportional increase in the risk of an underweight baby born. Greater proportion of time of such people is spent off work or in bed ill when BMI levels are below 17 in men and women.

The causes of underweight are many, such as, famine conditions or an inadequate diet in proteins or an attempt at reducing weight; debilitating diseases like TB, diabetes, malabsorption syndrome or cancer; anorexia nervosa; pathological conditions like fever, gastrointestinal disturbances and in hyperthyroidism.

The signs and symptoms of being underweight are thinning and dryness of hair, pituitary hormone abnormalities, reduced heart size, slowed heart rate, mild anemia, constipation, diminished muscle mass, dry skin, lowered total sleep time, mildly altered thyroid function, cold sensitivity, lowered body temperature, light headedness, absence of menstrual periods, brittle nails, loss of subcutaneous fat, slower reflexes and edema.

The dietary modification for an underweight person calls for a high calorie, high protein, and high fat diet with liberal vitamin intake. The cause for under-eating should be determined and eliminated before starting a diet.

Regular outdoor exercise helps to stimulate appetite. Emotional well being is essential to have a good appetite. Constipation may reduce appetite, so the bowel movements should be regulated with adequate fluids, exercise and fruits. Synthetic drinks, soft drinks, alcohol, aerated drinks, too much of tea and coffee reduce appetite and should be avoided.

Therefore, avoid the two extremes of body weight. Read Healthy. Stay Healthy.

Post by Faiz Lahori 

Diet in Obesity

Obesity is the major health concern today. It tops the list of major problems that the world has to conquer. The battle with bulge is definitely not an easy one, but proper knowledge about the issue and appropriate measures to combat it will help achieve the weight loss goals.

Obesity can be defined as the generalized accumulation of excess fat in the body.  Overweight is a condition where the body weight is 10-20% greater than the mean standard weight for age, height and gender. Obesity further leads to disability, disease and premature death. Usually obesity is due to positive energy balance i.e. the intake of calories is more than the expenditure of calories.

Obesity results as an interaction between numerous factors such as social, behavioural, psychological, metabolic, cellular and genetic.

Genetic inheritance influences 50-70% a person’s chance of becoming fat more than any other factor. Within families, the chance is 80% if both the parents are obese and 50% if one person is obese.

Obesity can occur in any age in either gender as long as the person is under positive energy balance.

Certain types of eating habits may lead to obesity such as nibbling between meals, eating faster thereby consuming more food, responding to external cues to eat rather than internal cues such as eating according to timings and type of food, business executives who frequently attend business lunches, housewives who do not want leftover foods to be thrown out, people who eat outside more frequently, people who eat more junk food, certain cultural practices of making and distributing sweets on festive occasions, non-inclusion of fruits and vegetables in the diet, people who eat processed, concentrated and high fat food, eating as per mood and eating as per advertisements, supermarkets and restaurant trends.

Obesity is found in persons who lead sedentary lifestyles and pay less importance to physical education.

Self-gratification, self punishment, depression, anxiety and stress may lead to excess calorie intake.

Obesity is found in hypothyroidism, hypogonadism and cushing’s syndrome. It is common during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

Obesity is common among people from higher socio-economic status as they have the purchasing power and availability of surplus food.

Obesity can be assessed in one of the following ways:

Obesity is graded into the following types:

There are several complications associated with obesity, such as, Physical disabilities like flat feet, osteoarthritis of knee, hips and lumbar spine; metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hyper-insulinemia, excess cholesterol in plasma; high BP, increased incidence of varicose veins; sleep apnea; prone to accidents; gall stones; osteoarthritis; obstetrical risks because of hypertension, diabetes and postpartum infection; psychological disturbances like self blame, withdrawal and feeling of inferiority; low life expectancy and cancers, digestive tract diseases and skin disorders are more prevalent in the obese.

The various treatment methods for obesity are Diet therapy, physical exercise, stress management, pharmacotherapy, weight loss surgery and behavior therapy.

Low calorie, normal protein – vitamin & mineral (except sodium), restricted carbohydrate, restricted fat and liberal fluid, high fibre diet is recommended to manage obesity.

Read wise. Eat Wise. 

Post by Faiz Lahori

The Pep Talk: Underweight

All skinny people must be tired of hearing passing comments like,”Do you even eat?” or “I can see your ribs poking out”. The trend for size zero is slowly moving out. Everyone loves a healthy fit figure.

Although being lean is often related to being healthy, being extra skinny and underweight has its own health issues. It may be a symptom of underlying health condition or being underweight may cause other health deterioration.

Food is fuel to the body. The body needs the energy to grow and do work. Inhibited growth and development in children and teens is the most common problem of malnutrition. If one does not take in sufficient nutrients, problems like osteoporosis and anemia may occur. The body will be more susceptible to diseases as the immune system weakens. And you can then blame your weight for all the hair fall and tooth problems too.

If your BMI tells you that you are underweight, it may be because of the following reasons:

• Are you recovering from a sickness?
• Are you physically or emotionally stressed or depressed?
• Are you regularly skipping meals because of lack of time?
• Are you trying to lose weight to look thin rather than healthy?
• Do you feel anxious or worried when you think about food?

Just like losing weight can be difficult, gaining weight also needs counseling and attention. Talk to your doctor and nutritionist.

For all skinny people it’s crucial to understand that just because you are thin it does not give you a free ticket to any amount of junk anytime. Gaining weight should be a gradual process where you gain weight through good muscle build up. Fatty foods, empty calories can have a more negative impact on health. Go for energy dense nutrition packed options.

If you have been thin since a kid and everyone in your family looks just like you, it’s probably genetic. Eating limitless also might not help, unless you exercise too. Yes! Hit the gym. Avoid cardio, lift weights, push yourself and get stronger. Increase your appetite and sleep well.

Post by Zohra Sada

Also read The pep Talk: Obesity and The pep Talk: Obesity vs Underweight in the Diet Corner

The Pep Talk: Obesity

You can’t simply throw the latest weight loss diet magazine at a person and ask them to lose weight. Just like a doctor treats each patient in the appropriate manner deserving, every overweight, obese or morbidly obese patient needs the same attention and care.  First things first; the more obese you are the more help you need, by a professional. Seek that help.

Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern. It’s a medical condition where excess fat has accumulated to such an extent that it’s causing negative effects on the overall health. Being overweight may be a symptom of the underlying health disorders or being overweight may cause deterioration in different aspects of health.

Coronary heart diseases, diabetes, High blood pressure, stroke, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, reproductive problems, gallstones, abnormal lipid levels are just some of the problems of being overweight. And now-a-days the biggest problem is something that should be on the bottom of the list, “being called fat”. Obesity is a psychological problem as much as a physical problem.

Few things to know first, why are you overweight?

• Overeating?
• Sedentary lifestyle?
• Psychological?
• Heredity?

Remember, every body works differently, most of the time the patient understands the problem better than the dietician. In this world of rat race, binging, indulging, sedentary lifestyle the rate of obesity is shooting high and then we blame it all on the genes.

So what can be done?

An iron solid “willpower”

Study yourself. Study your food habits. Educate yourself about food. Understand your environment.

With exercise, healthy eating habits and sheer determination say goodbye to those extra pounds.

Post by Zohra Sada

The Pep Talk: Obesity vs Underweight

Every overweight person wants to shed those extra pounds and every skinny lean individual wants a die for figure.   The internet is filled with slimming tricks, weight loss-gain diets, nutrition plans, success stories and fad diets. We all want the magic to work overnight. In many cases, people go on hunger strikes, eat healthy, work out at the gym for a few weeks and lose a few pounds. Then take off to celebrate and relax and the entire nightmare comes back tumbling. In the alternative case people who are fed up of listening to “you look like a lamp post” go binging on junk.

Just like losing weight is difficult, gaining a few pounds is even more difficult. What we need to realize is that all our bodies don’t work the same way. Many of you go to extremes, get anorexic, live off leaves without shedding any of those calories and many vice-versa. No one knows your body better than you.

The biggest mistake here is our goal, “To lose-gain x pounds”. Being fat is not bad. For example a slightly overweight person who eats healthy, does moderate amount of physical work, and can walk a kilometer or two without panting and puffing is healthier than a lean individual who has no stamina to climb a flight of staircase. Remember, do not judge health based on appearance. The goal must be to stay healthy.

Throw your health magazines away. Hit the gym, run an extra mile, jog to your grocery store, climb those stairs. Keep your heart pumping.

Do not read the health corner like a junk. Educate yourself on food. Put the extra effort. Love your body, nourish it. Treat it the way it deserves to be treated.

Living healthy is not for today or for a week or for a month. It’s a lifestyle change. Your mirror should not be the only thing that noticed the change. Eating healthy and living healthy should brighten the soul.

Post by Zohra Sada

Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis results following the repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis and the effects of digestive enzymes on pancreas or may be associated with chronic inflammation of the biliary tract.

The causes of this condition are neglect of acute pancreatitis, alcohol abuse, excessive iron in the blood and other unknown factors.

The common symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are pain, malabsorption, weight loss, malnutrition and steatorrhoea.

The goals of nutritional management of this condition are to provide rest to pancreas, prevention of diabetes, enteral supplementation, diet control and special feeding.

Pancreatic enzyme supplementation is important in long term patient management and it helps to control and reduce malabsorption.

The dietary guidelines include:

Nutrients	Note
Calories	35 Kcal/kg IBW is ascertained keeping in mind the moderate stressful state.
Fats	Low fat diet. 40-60 g/day. Parenteral administration of fat-soluble vitamin is necessary.
Calcium and Vitamin B12	To prevent deficiency

Important guidelines for managing chronic pancreatitis:

• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid meal with a high fat content. Use MCTs in severe steatorrhoea.
• Give adequate energy and protein intake.
• Monitor blood glucose levels regularly.
• Give vitamin and mineral supplementation (fat soluble vitamins, folic acid and calcium).
• Pancreatic enzyme supplementation should be taken adjusted to quantity of food and fat content of meals.

Post by Faiz Lahori

Acidity - Remedies

Acidity is a form of indigestion in which there is accumulation of acid leading to a burning sensation in the stomach and the digestive tract.

The stomach produces acid periodically to aid in digestion and when we don’t eat regularly or are too stressed, the stomach produces more acids which harm our body.

The symptoms of acidity are burning sensation in the digestive tract, headache, sour burps and dizziness due to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).

Following is the list of food items which will help relieve acidity:

Item	Effect	Recipe
Basil Leaves	The soothing properties of basil leaves can give you instant relief from acidity, gas and nausea.	Simply eat some basil leaves at the first sign of acid upset. Be sure to chew them thoroughly.            Boil three to five basil leaves in a cup of water and then let it simmer for a few minutes. You can sweeten this basil tea with honey. Do not add milk, though. Sip it frequently.
Cinnamon	Cinnamon works as a natural antacid and helps dispel stomach gas.	Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of water. Boil it for few minutes. Drink this cinnamon tea two to three times a day. Add cinnamon powder to your soup or salad.
Buttermilk	It contains lactic acid that normalizes the acidity in the stomach.	Grind half to one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds with a little water to make a paste. Mix it in a glass of buttermilk and consume it to relieve stomach ache caused by acidity.      Or drink buttermilk several times a day until you get relief. Mix in a little black pepper or one tablespoon of coriander leaf juice for best results.
Apple Cider Vinegar	It has an alkalizing effect. Thus, it helps treat stomach acidity.	Simply mix one or two teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. Drink it once or twice a day. You can also drink it before meals.
Cloves	Cloves can help alleviate acidity and dispel gas due to their carminative effect that increases hydrochloric acid in the stomach.	Chew two to three cloves thoroughly so that the juices are released into your system.       Eating crushed cloves and cardamom mixed in equal amounts can help minimize acid trouble and freshen bad breath that often accompanies this problem.
Cumin Seeds	Cumin works as a great acid neutralizer and it aids in digestion and relieves stomach pain.	Slightly crush some roasted cumin seeds and stir it into a glass of water. Drink it after every meal.       Boil one teaspoon of cumin seeds in a cup of water, strain it and then drink the water after your meal.            Mix one teaspoon each of coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder, fennel seed powder and some sugar in one-half cup of water. Drink it on an empty stomach.
Ginger	The anti-inflammatory properties in ginger help treat acidity. Ginger juice can also neutralize stomach acids.	During acidity just chew a slice of fresh ginger.         Put some fresh ginger slices in a cup of boiling water, let it steep for a few minutes and then drink it.        A spoonful of ginger juice taken two to three times a day can provide relief from acidity.
Jaggery	Jaggery aids digestion and becomes alkaline in the digestive system, thus reducing stomach acidity.	After each meal, suck on a small piece of jaggery until acidity subsides. This remedy is not suitable for people who have diabetes.
Fennel	Fennel has carminative properties that aid digestion and help relieve stomach gas.	Simply chew some aniseed after eating a heavy or spicy meal.     Steep one or two teaspoons of fennel seeds in a cup of hot water. Strain and drink it a few times a day.
Cold Milk	Milk can help stabilize gastric acids in the stomach and give relief from acidity. Milk is rich in calcium, which prevents build-up of stomach acid.	Simply drink a glass of cold milk to prevent or soothe acidity problems.
Kokum	It has anthelmintic properties and it can stimulate the appetite too	Sherbat made with kokum and perked with jeera is excellent in keeping acidity at bay.
Lemon	The citric acid in lemon quickly changes an acid condition into an alkaline one thus dealing with the foundational cause of acidity rather than just suppressing the symptoms.	Juice of one lemon mixed in half a glass of water and ½ tsp sugar if consumed before meals helps to relieve acidity.
Mint	Mint is known to calm stomach cramps and help beat acidity and flatulence.	Fresh mint juice taken everyday or fresh mint leaves boiled in a cup of water and sipped slowly after meals also helps to keep the stomach acids at bay.
Onion	The juice of onions is an excellent remedy for acidity.	Have raw onions in salads with meals or alternatively, try whole wheat or jowar rotis made with onions.

Foods to be avoided in cases of acidity are Tea and coffee, Pickles, canned and preserved foods, vinegar, acidic fruits like orange, sweet ime, strawberry etc., confectionary and mithai, fermented foods like idli, dosa, dhokla, bread, cheese, etc., and tuvar dal.

Acidity can be prevented by following these simple steps:

• Regular eating habits and a healthy diet.
• Do not remain hungry for a long time. Have plenty of raw foods, salads and juices and avoid spicy or deep fried foods.
• Eat in a calm and stress-free environment. Avoid irregular and hurried meals.
• Have your evening meals atleast 2-3 hours before going to bed.
• Drink plenty of water (atleast 6-8 glasses per day) and other fluids to maintain the acid balance in the stomach.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol.

Next time you suffer from acidity, try these remedies. If you do not get relief within a day or two, consult a doctor.

Post by Faiz Lahori

Acute Pancreatitis

                         

 

Pancreatitis refers to the inflammation of the pancreas and is characterized by oedema, cellular exudates and fat necrosis. The disease can range from mild and self-limiting to severe condition which results in auto digestion, necrosis and haemorrhage of pancreatic tissue.

Acute pancreatitis results from auto digestion of tissue and toxic effects of digestion products.

The causes of acute pancreatitis are biliary tract disease, such as gallstones, alcohol abuse, trauma and hyperlipidemia (rarely).

The symptoms of this condition are continuous or intermittent pain of varying intensity in the upper abdominal region that radiates to the back and the symptoms worsen with ingestion of food, swollen and tender abdomen, nausea and vomiting, steatorrhoea and malabsorption, sweating, fever, mild jaundice and rapid pulse.

Some complications of this condition include low blood pressure, heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, ascitis and cysts in pancreas.

Parenteral nutrition and metabolic support becomes essential in order to minimize mortality. The goals of nutritional management in acute pancreatitis are to provide rest to the pancreas and maintaining fluid balance, maintaining nil-by-mouth till the pain and fever subsides, providing support to the patient by early enteral nutrition with the formulation of nutrient in predigested forms and supplementation with low fat intake, resorting to clear fluid diet when starting oral feeds and maintaining a total fat intake of 30 g/day which maybe gradually increased as per the patient’s tolerance.

Decreased calcium levels are observed during acute pancreatitis due to hypoalbuminemia and soap formation of calcium with fatty acids created by fat necrosis.

               Post by Faiz Lahori

Kidney Stones/ Renal Calculi

Renal Calculi/ Stones can be formed in the kidney, pelvis or ureter, when the concentration of the components in the urine reaches a level in which crystallization is possible. The process of stone formation is also called nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis.

A Kidney stone is a solid mass that consists of a collection of tiny crystals. There can be one or more stones present at the same time in the kidney or in the ureter. They are generally composed of calcium salt, uric acid, cystic or struvite (triple salt of ammonium, magnesium and phosphorus).

Calcium stones are caused due to excess intake of calcium oxalate, hypervitaminosis D, hyperparathyroidism, prolonged bed test, renal tubular acidosis, and idiopathic hypercalciuria.

Struvite stones are caused mostly due to urinary tract infection.

Uric acid stones are caused due to impaired purine metabolism with increased urinary excretion of uric acid.

Cystine stones are caused due to hereditary metabolic defect in renal tubular reabsorption.

Hot climates leading to over concentrated urine, changes in pH of urine also predispose to stone formation. Deficiency of Vitamin B₆ and magnesium Also play a role in the causation of these stones.

These stones do not produce any symptoms until they begin to move down the ureter, causing pain. The pain is usually severe and often starts in the flank region, often moves to the groin. The patient experiences blood in the urine, severe pain, weakness and in some cases fever.

The role of the dietary management is to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications.

In acute stage with less than 5mm in diameter, it may pass in the urine by drinking large quantities of fluid especially water and needs no specific treatment. Stones more than 7mm in diameter may require surgical treatment or lithotripsy by which large stones are broken down and excreted in the urine.

It is advisable to have liberal fluid intake, a balanced diet and restrict foods based on the main constituents of the stones.

The diet restrictions for different types of stones are:

Type of stone	Diet restriction
Calcium stones -          Phosphate -          Oxalate	Calcium – 400 – 600 mg Phosphorus – 1000-1200 mg
Struvite stones	Low phosphorus diet
Uric acid	Low purine diet
Cystine	Low methionine diet

Potassium content of food can be reduced by leaching the foods rich in the nutrient by the following methods:

• Wash, peel and cut vegetables into small pieces. Soak in warm water for 2-3 hours. Discard water. Add large volume of fresh water and cook the vegetables. Discard water.
• Peel vegetables and cut into small pieces. Bring to boil in a large quantity of water. Discard excess water and cook in a large volume of fresh water. Discard excess water.

Sources of potassium in the diet (Potassium/100 g vegetable) are as follows:

0 - 100 mg	101 – 200 mg	201 mg and above
Beetroort Bottlegourd Broad beans Cucumber Field beans Green mango Peas Lettuce Fenugreek leaves	Bitter gourd Brinjal Cauliflower Cabbage Carrot Onion (small) Radish white Ladies finger Pumpkin Green tomato	Amaranth Coriander leaves Drumstick leaves Spinach Colocasia Potato Sweet potato Tapioca Green papaya Yam

Sources of sodium, calcium, oxalate and Uric acid are as follows:

Post by Faiz Lahori