Ask

Dear Ratna Shreya, Thank you for the question

Weight gain during and after pregnancy is a natural phenomenon. During lactation & breastfeeding the lactating mother’s nutritional requirements should meet her own daily needs, provide enough nutrient in milk for growing infant and furnish the energy for milk production.
It is recommended to consume 2000+kcal with 62.6g (for 0-6 months) and 58.9g (for 6-12 months) of protein per day
Here are few guidelines for healthy balanced diet that can be considered:
-Have a Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.
- Try to incorporate the My plate Concept by dividing your plate into 4 quadrants, fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, the other two quadrants with cereals and protein. A small quantity of dairy intake is recommended.
-Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.
-Avoid skipping meals. Also, try to avoid fasting and feasting too often.
- Consume small frequent meals, with healthy snacking options.
-Consume minimum 5 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.
-Try to consume more of Whole grains, Millets and Multigrain foods as they are a good source of fiber.
-Limit intake of deep-fried foods. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
-Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before sleep time.
-Drink adequate amount of water (minimum 8 glasses) of water daily to keep yourself well hydrated
-Try and follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and Quality.
Galactogogues or lactogogue increase the prolactin secretion which in turn increase milk production foods like garlic, milk, almonds, Green leafy vegetables as they stimulate the production and Secretion of Breast milk.
It is also important to bring to your attention that the body requires sufficient time after childbirth to recover and sustain the increased calorie needs with adequate nutrition and care. But if you believe enough time has passed by after your c-section and you’ve healed and recovered to gradually start on weight loss, here a few guidelines to help you in your journey:
Ideally a sustainable and healthy weight loss regimen, should target on overall weight loss and fat reduction and requires a holistic approach that involves lifestyle modification which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity and stress management.
With any weight loss plan changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.
An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

Count Your Daily Calories
• It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
• This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
• The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
• These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
• Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
• WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.
It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification
18.5 to 24.9 - Normal
Less than 18.5 - Underweight
25 to 29 - Overweight
Above 30 – Obese

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss that can be considered:
- Eat a well-balanced diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products).
- Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
- Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
- Monitor your portion size.
-Try to include whole grains like wheat, millets and multigrain in your diet as they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients.
- Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
- Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
- Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
- Carbonated and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
- Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
- Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
- Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
- Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Some Physical Activity Tips:
Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking for at least five days a week.

We suggest you to kindly contact your lactation expert and gynaecologist for further assistance to reduce weight in the most sustainable manner.
For further assistance you can book a call for free dietitian consultation on our website. https://www.callr.live/aashirvaadexperts/Book-Appointment.
For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.
Hope we have answered your query.
Wishing you a great day ahead.

Dear Aradhya mehta, Thank you for the question

Food is an essential component of living healthy. Our body requires right proportion of micronutrients and macronutrients for growth and development. A healthy diet is very important for our energy, wellbeing, immunity, etc. One of the key aspects of living a happy healthy life amongst many others is to consume diversified balanced diet consumed in right proportions and in a mindful manner, regularly engage in physical activity and follow a good sleep regimen.
WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.
It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)
Following is the WHO BMI Classification
18.5 to 24.9 - Normal
Less than 18.5 - Underweight
25 to 29 - Overweight
Above 30 - Obese

As per WHO BMI (Body Mass Index) classification, a person weighing less than 18.5 kg/m2 is considered underweight.

As a general dietary guideline, for an apparently healthy individual with no specific health or nutrition needs and/or metabolic condition it is recommended to consume 2000kcal/d and Protein intake should ideally be considered as 0.8-1g per kg body weight per day.

Here are few guidelines for healthy balanced diet that can be considered:
-Have a Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.
- Try to incorporate the My plate Concept by dividing your plate into 4 quadrants, fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, the other two quadrants with cereals and protein. A small quantity of dairy intake is recommended.
-Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.
-Avoid skipping meals. Also, try to avoid fasting and feasting too often.
- Consume small frequent meals, with healthy snacking options.
-Consume minimum 5 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.
-Try to consume more of Whole grains, Multigrains, Millets etc., as they are a good source of fiber.
-Limit intake of deep-fried foods. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
-Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before sleep time.
-Drink adequate amount of water (minimum 8 glasses) of water daily to keep yourself well hydrated
-Engage in at least 30-45 minutes brisk walk/physical activity of moderate intensity at least 5 days a week.
-Try and follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and Quality.
For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions, please contact your Health care professional.
Hope we have answered your query.
Wishing you a great day ahead

Dear Preetia Dsouza, Thank you for the question

Unintended weight gain can happen due to sedentary lifestyle, hormonal imbalance and/or an underlying health condition. Please contact your health professional for further diagnosis and assistance.
Sustainable weight management requires a holistic approach which involves lifestyle management which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity, hydration, stress & sleep management.
With any weight loss plan, changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.
An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

However here are few objectives to be considered when planning to start with a weight loss program.
Count Your Daily Calories
• It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
• This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
• The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
• These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
• Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
• WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.
It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification
18.5 to 24.9 - Normal
Less than 18.5 - Underweight
25 to 29 - Overweight
Above 30 – Obese

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss that can be considered:
- Eat a well-balanced diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products).
- Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
- Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
- Monitor your portion size.
-Try to include whole grains like wheat, millets and multigrain in your diet as they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients.
- Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
- Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
- Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
- Carbonated and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
- Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
- Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
- Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
- Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Some Physical Activity Tips:
Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking for at least five days a week.

For further assistance you can book a call for free dietitian consultation on our website. https://www.callr.live/aashirvaadexperts/Book-Appointment.
For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.
Hope we have answered your query.
Wishing you a great day ahead.

Dear Sachin Nayak, Thank you for the question

WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.
It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)
Following is the WHO BMI Classification
18.5 to 24.9 - Normal
Less than 18.5 - Underweight
25 to 29 - Overweight
Above 30 - Obese

As a general dietary guideline, for an apparently healthy individual with no specific health or nutrition needs and/or metabolic condition it is recommended to consume 2000kcal/d. Protein intake should ideally be considered as 0.8-1g per kg body weight per day.

Here are few guidelines that can be considered for nutrition management during workouts

Pre-workout –the role of nutrition is fueling
• Carbohydrates are the preferential fuel for general exercise sources of carbohydrates are whole wheat, millets, multigrain, wheat bran, oats etc.
• Low fat and moderate protein should be consumed to reduce gastric disturbances
• Good Pre-workout food options include oatmeal, whole grains, fruits such as banana, apple etc coupled with dry fruits.
• Always start your workouts well hydrated.
During Workout- The role of nutrition is performance
• For shorter period of exercise carbohydrate intake is not necessary
• For longer periods consuming carbohydrate rich snacks like energy bars, sports drinks can prevent fatigue and delay hunger.
• During exercise water should be consumed every 15-20minutes to avoid early fatigue.
Post- workout – the role of nutrition is recovery
• Consuming protein is necessary to help gain recovery and prevent muscle loss
• Carbohydrates should be recovered to restore glycogen
• Post workout food options include egg whites, paneer, curd, fruits, smoothies, lean meat etc
• Rehydration with water or electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride help maintain electrolyte balance blood pressure of the body
It is very important to be well hydrated when beginning your workout.
Do contact your fitness expert do discuss your protein needs as per your exercise routine. It is recommended to practice regular workouts and exercise under professional guidance.

Here are few guidelines for healthy balanced diet that can be considered:
-Have a Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.
- Try to incorporate the My plate Concept by dividing your plate into 4 quadrants, fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, the other two quadrants with cereals and protein. A small quantity of dairy intake is recommendable.
-Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.
-Avoid skipping meals. Also, try to avoid fasting and feasting too often.
- Consume small frequent meals, with healthy snacking options.
-Consume minimum 5 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.
-Try to consume more of Whole grains and Multigrain foods as they are a good source of fiber.
-Limit intake of deep-fried foods. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
-Have your last meal at least 1-2 hours before sleep time.
-Drink adequate amount of water (minimum 8 glasses) of water daily to keep yourself well hydrated.
-Try and follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and Quality.
- Engage in light to moderate physical activity for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions and needs, please contact your Registered dietitian or your Health care professional.

Hope we have answered your query.
Wishing you a great day ahead

Dear Riya patil, Thank you for the question

Food is an essential component of living healthy. Our body requires right proportion of micronutrients and macronutrients for growth and development. A healthy diet is very important for our energy, wellbeing, immunity, etc. One of the key aspects of living a happy healthy life amongst many others is to consume diversified balanced diet consumed in right proportions and in a mindful manner, regularly engage in physical activity and follow a good sleep regimen.
Adolescence witnesses speedy physical and emotional development. These changes also demand for specific nutrient requirements. It is very important to consume a well-balanced diversified diet and engage in regular physical activity to support growth, pubertal changes, bone developments and increased haemoglobin production.
However- as shared by you and given the limited information provided that you have recently undergone a surgery- it is best to consult a registered dietician and/or a physician on a post-surgery guidelines and guardrails for sustainable and healthy recovery. Any surgery (minor or major) will have its own post-surgery challenges and after care procedures which should be followed diligently under professional medical guidance to allow the body to recover in a healthy manner.
Inadequate food intake post-surgery may cause nutritional deficiencies, avoid long fasting hours as adequate nutritional consumption is important to support muscle function, healing and overall health.
Reference ideal body weight and height for 17-year-old female can be considered as 52.8kg and 160.2cm height.
Here are a few general Dietray guidelines to be considered for adolescent nutrition.
• Adolescence represents a period of active life, hence no meal of the day should be missed to sustain energy and growth spurts
• Having a Healthy Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products) in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.
• Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.
• Consume minimum 4 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.
• An adolescent girl should take enough calcium rich foods in her diet to support the increase of bone density and maintain healthy strong bones. Some of the calcium sources include milk, cheese, paneer, Ragi, curd, yogurt.
• Food should be colourful and attractive.
• Avoid empty calories from foods such as carbonated beverages.
• Iron rich foods should be included in the diet to prevent iron deficiency anaemia. Some of the sources of iron include red meat, green leafy vegetables, eggs, etc
• Calories and protein rich foods should be taken to support the growth spurt. Some of the good sources of protein include, milk, paneer, lean meat, eggs, lentils, soybean, nuts etc.
• Include fruits and vegetables to meet the vitamin, minerals and fiber requirement.
• Try to consume more of Whole grains, Millets and Multigrain foods as they are a good source of fiber.
• Limit intake of deep-fried foods.
• Minimum of 6-8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
• Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
• It is necessary to engage in regular physical activity.
• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Appropriate physical activity regime should be followed under the guidance of your health care professional and fitness experts.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.
Hope we have answered your query.
Wishing you a great day ahead.