‘Include fats in your diet for a healthy body’

With several distinctions under his belt,Medical Superintendent of Dyanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH),Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina,Professor and Head of Gastroenterology,gave a talk on ‘Nutrition and Health’ in Chandigarh.

He said that a balanced healthy diet with adequate calories,minerals,proteins,fats,water and vitamins is necessary to keep diseases at bay. “The prevalent myth that a no-fat diet is a good diet is not correct because the intake of fats is needed as fats are essential for the cellular structure and many chemical processes including hormone production,“he said.  

He added: “Fats provide calories and should form 20-35 per cent of our total calorie intake. Variables which affect nutritional needs are age,gender,activity level,climate,health and state of nutrition. Intake of water i.e. 8-16 glasses per day allows the body to perform its functions adequately. Approximately 2 – 2.5 litres of fluid is lost every day on account of exhalation,sweat and urine.”