Refined Sugar, also known as table sugar, is a highly processed form of sugar derived from sugar cane. During processing, natural molasses and impurities are removed, leaving behind pure sucrose. This type of sugar provides a quick source of energy which can lead to health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental cavities, and cardiovascular diseases.
Inan era dominated by pharmaceutical solutions, there is a rising consciousness about the incredible healing and preventive powers of food. As the age-old saying goes, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” But how does this translate in today’s world? Can we really use nutrition as a potent tool against sickness and disease? How does one curate a diet that supports health, longevity, and wellness? In this series, we are talking to nutritionists, dietitians, medical professionals, holistic health experts, and anyone with authoritative knowledge on the subject. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Bhavani Seethamraju.
Bhavani Seethamraju is a certified nutritionist, gut health consultant, yoga teacher, and now the author of her first book, Nurturing Your Second Brain. She believes the right food can reverse many diseases and that with proper diet and exercise, the body can heal itself. She always encourages a balanced diet and advises against following trendy diets. Bhavani warns that many people online sell fear and unhealthy diets just for popularity and money. She is currently working on her second book, which will be launching soon, and it will explore the myths and facts about dieting.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Iam from India and my father was in defense factory of India, were I got the chance to grow up with different culture and different food and specially how people use to believe that local grown vegetables are healthy. My neighbors use to go to the nearest forest during or after rain to get some peculiar kind of veggies which use to grow in rain, and they were so full of nutrition and taste was so good I still crave for that taste and search for those veggies, but I can’t get them here in the USA. While studying nutrition I got to know how organic and locally grown food are rich in nutrition and good for health, how those ladies know about such veggies who never been to any college. Now a days food people are consuming more dead food means no life in it and no nutrition.
Due to stress and other reasons, I got some health issues. I got thyroid, but the good thing is with the help of food and yoga I reversed it. I was like I am on the path of nutrition where I can help people who want to heal naturally and do not run behind pills.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We would love to hear the story.
Renowned Indian nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has profoundly inspired me with her advocacy for locally grown food and her indifference for trendy, irresponsible diets. The first time I heard her speak, I felt an immediate connection, recognizing a shared belief that food serves as medicine, essential for maintaining health and preventing illness.
It has been said that our mistakes can sometimes be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
There is no such funny incident but when I talk to people and when they share dieting tips or when they talk like some foods are not good do not eat it on regular basis, or some food can increase your sugar level.
Do not consume some food their dietician recommended it can increase diabetes type II. But they do not even check the facts that the food they are talking about has a low Gi index and it is good to lower insulin levels.
Sometimes I feel sorry for such people who say something just to prove they are right by mentioning dietician or nutritionist it shows their lack of knowledge.
The lesson I learned is never blindly follow something just because somebody said it get your facts checked.
The mistake I made was lack of knowledge. I followed many diets, and I lost weight but did not realize my bad diet or no knowledge was storing a big health issue for me in the future.
You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Consistency, Vision, Creativity
I believe in consistency and self-belief, even when things do not go as planned. It is important to have a sharp vision of your goals and to stay creative, even in challenging conditions.
I always dreamed of publishing a book but was unsure where to begin. Despite lacking guidance and knowledge, my determination drove me forward. I conducted research, connected with like-minded individuals, and found a mentor, Puja Chilukuri, a nutritionist. With her support, I published my first book and am now working on my second and third.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I spend most of my time gaining knowledge on health and I like to know what is new. While studying liver and gut health I got to know how less aware we are about our own body, how they interlinked to each other and how easily we are ignoring health just for the sake of taste and presentation.
That is what my next book is about. Through books I would like to connect with a larger group of people and share my knowledge. Even if one person follows it and his/her life changes in an effective way it will be my achievement.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let us now shift to the core focus of our interview about cultivating wellness through proper nutrition and diet. To begin, can you tell our readers a bit about why you are an authority on the topic of nutrition?
As a certified nutritionist, gut health consultant and yoga teacher, I know how important health is and how a balanced diet/proper diet can reverse a bad health to a good health. We all know how bad junk food, soda, sugary items are but still consume it, because of whatever reason people are not putting effort or they do not have enough knowledge how bad it can cause to health or how it can turn into chronic health problems.
We all know that it is important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, etc. But while we know it intellectually, it is often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
The reason behind choosing fast food over healthy food is it is easy to consume to hustle to cook give it a time and attention, just grab it, and eat it easy and not time consuming.
And online everybody is chef they are making varieties of food by adding different food combinations which are not at all good for health and people are not just watching trying as they are more appealing without thinking the side effects. The New generation is not ready to think, for them it looks cool and catchy, and they discuss how they want to add more cheese and salt/ sugar to such stuff. It is all about how you want to look and feel.
From your professional perspective, do you believe that nutrition plays a pivotal role in supporting the body’s natural healing processes and overall well-being, particularly in cases of chronic diseases? We are interested in hearing your insights on the connection between an integrated approach to diet and its benefits for individuals facing health challenges.
Many are born with different genetic, chronic diseases which they suffer either at an early or later stage of life like Blood pressure, thyroid, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and constipation.
One of the ignored health issues, is Constipation and which can be reversed with the help of integrated approach and balanced diet. People just ignore or lack of information regarding own body with the help of proper nutritional food can heal the chronic pain/diseases and proper food which improves gut health and can make the digestive system functions well and keep the constipation at a bay.
Based on your research or experience could you share with us five examples of foods or dietary patterns that have demonstrated remarkable potential in preventing, reducing, or managing specific health conditions? If you can, it would be insightful if you could provide real-life examples of their curative properties.
As per research and recent studies have shown how different food items are related to many health issues like cardiac arrest in early age, type II diabetes, digestion issues, fatty liver, gut health issues and cancer.
A simple solution for all such problems is to eat healthily and stop the consumption of the following items.
- Refined Sugar, also known as table sugar, is a highly processed form of sugar derived from sugar cane. During processing, natural molasses and impurities are removed, leaving behind pure sucrose. This type of sugar provides a quick source of energy which can lead to health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental cavities, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Palm Oil High saturated fat which can raise LDL level and increase the heart rate level which can lead to cardiac arrest.
Processed Foods: It is often found in processed foods, which are linked to obesity, diabetes, and other health issues.
Artificial food color: Artificial food colorings, commonly used to enhance the appearance of food and beverages, have several potential negative effects
Allergic Reactions: Some people may experience allergic reactions or sensitivities, including hives and asthma.
Hyperactivity in Children: Certain artificial colorings, like Red 40 and Yellow 5, have been linked to increased hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children.Potential Carcinogens: Some food dyes, such as Red 3, have been identified as potential carcinogens in animal studies
Long-Term Health Risks: Regular consumption of artificial food colorings may contribute to long-term health issues, including chronic inflammation and metabolic disturbances.
Unknown Long-Term Effects: The long-term effects of consuming artificial food colorings are not fully understood, and ongoing research continues to explore their safety.
Corn Starch: one. Nutrient Deficiency: Corn starch is low in essential nutrients, offering little nutritional value beyond carbohydrates.
2.Blood Sugar Spikes: It has a high glycemic index, which can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, making it less suitable for diabetics.
3.Processed Food Content: Often found in highly processed foods, which can contribute to weight gain and other health issues if consumed in excess.
4.Digestive Issues: In enormous amounts, it can cause digestive discomfort, including bloating and gas.
Gluten: Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat and other grains like barley and rye. It is responsible for the elastic texture of dough and helps it rise and maintain its shape. Here are some key points about gluten.
Celiac Disease: For people with celiac disease, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine lining, leading to malabsorption of nutrients.
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: Some individuals experience symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain when consuming gluten, despite not having celiac disease.
Wheat Allergy: Some people may have an allergic reaction to wheat proteins, including gluten, which can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
Do experts agree that merely choosing healthy foods is not sufficient, but that understanding how to consume them is key to unlocking their full health benefits? (For example, skins on/off, or cooked/raw, or whole grain/refined grain) Could you provide advice on how to approach this and sidestep common errors or misconceptions?
There is no exact barrier to having healthy food. Knowledge about food is important not just having healthy food not just fat diet or only protein diet or raw food diet, body is designed in such a way that if you eat every nutrient in a balanced proportion then it can turn food into energy. The food should contain a balanced diet and all the nutrition in a meal. Then it will be considered as a whole meal. If some food is a substitute for something check whether it really works for you, as many people have different allergies to different food. Sometimes it is not about choosing healthy food even if the food they are consuming is not considered as healthy food still they consume it, maybe because of ignorance, carefree attitude, or not pocket friendly. As healthy food is a bit more expensive compared to normal food which is also a reason.
Life is getting busy handling family and job and cooking healthy food itself the biggest task, and choosing easy to grab or use frozen food over cooking fresh is easy option.
There is no correct rule book for consuming correct diet or follow a particular way, our body is a best adviser listen to your body wherever you do something new or try something if your body is reacting in a negative way its not good for you, so don’t just blindly follow new trend in food. It is hard for everyone to follow the same diet as every one’s body is different.
With the recent prominence of nutrition’s integration into healthcare, what’s your perspective on the collaborative approach between medical professionals, health coaches, and nutrition experts when it comes to delivering holistic patient care? Can you please explain?
I believe the medical professional, health coach and nutrition experts go hand in hand with the medical professional diagnose with the health issues as they prescribe treatment plan, and it can be cured by nutritionist or health coaches. Who can give them a proper diet plan, and which will be helpful in health and wellness?
It’s been suggested that using ‘food as medicine’ has the potential to reduce healthcare costs by preventing disease severity. However, there’s concern about the affordability of healthier food options. What solutions do you believe could make nutritious choices accessible to everyone, ensuring that food truly becomes a form of medicine for all?
Natural grown food / organic food is never bad, it is the processing industries that are damaging the nutrient value of the food or grains. I believe the government should intervene in the food industries and should stop using harmful chemicals before and after. Provide correct regulatory guidelines about which food is good to consume and which is not by rating the food by stars on the packet.
Everyone’s body is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. How does one navigate the vast array of nutritional advice available today to curate a diet tailored to individual needs, ensuring health and longevity?
Everybody is different to be the treatment, if somebody is suffering from iron deficiency we cannot recommend them vitamin- B12 treatment. One should do the test for the deficiency or problem he or she is facing and as per the test the treatment should be planned.
As our understanding of the intricate link between food and health continues to evolve, we’re curious to know which emerging trends or breakthroughs in nutritional science excite you the most. How do you envision these advancements shaping the future of healthcare?
A global analysis of children and adolescents in 185 countries found that they consumed 23% more sugar-sweetened beverages in 2018 than in 1990. The study, published in The BMJ on August 7, 2024, also found that teens, urban residents, and children of parents with lower education levels consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages. As per research by science daily. I want to spread awareness through my book, and blogs on how bad sugar is for any age group.
How can we better educate the public about the medicinal properties of food, and what role do professionals like you play in this educational journey?
I feel the education from grass root level can change the public from school if we teach kids how bad some foods are what are healthy food and what are bad.
2.How to check nutritional value of the food on the wrap.
3.Teach them what are the ingredients and how they can cause problems for their health.
4.School should arrange medical professional for seminar or classes where they can share their experiences with kids.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
My book on Amazon Kindle (Nurturing your Second Brain)
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
