Why you should ‘portion control’ your way to better health
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. I am at a wellness retreat currently – on an experiment, might I add.
Everyone here, including me, is served three meals every single day. The portion sizes are controlled, and there are no second helpings.
The first thing that I realise about wellness retreats is that they try to improve your health by reducing your food intake; first through portion control, and second, by carefully curating the meals with whole foods rich in fibre, nutrients, proteins, carbs and healthy fats, while completely cutting out meats, sugar, caffeine, ultra-processed foods and all other things that are now considered “unhealthy." On the second night at the retreat, while being a bit hungry, I pondered whether reducing the amount of food we eat plays a role in improving health? Doctors, nutritionists and fitness trainers agree that controlling how much we eat is great for our health. “Diet plays a critical role in health, and poor dietary habits are a major risk factor for several chronic and acute diseases," explains Dr B.A.
Chaurasia, internal medicine consultant at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. Many of the ailments we suffer from today are a result of what we eat, and importantly, how much we eat, says Dr Manoj Kutteri, medical director and CEO, Atmantan Wellness Centre.
Several diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, mental health issues and weakened immunity are all linked to what we eat. The earliest evidence of the health benefits of controlling portion size dates back to the 16th century, when a Venetian businessman named Luigi Cornaro found himself overweight and suffering stomach aches thanks to his love for lavish parties
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