International Chefs and Apollo Gleneagles F&B leaders share their take on fad diets and healthy eating in the context of diabetes and obesity among Indians

Ambar Bhattacharya, abptakmaa, Kolkata, 4th Feb 2020 : In a press conference at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata today, Mr. David Foskett and Mr. Enzo Oliveri shared tips on how to eat and drink healthy in the Indian context of lifestyle diseases like Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity looming large. Interesting ideas on how to tweak your recipes to make meals healthier in both hospital and home was shared by dieticians and F&B team leaders of the hospital.

Mr. Foskett, a celebrated and renowned chef, has received The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences. He is a member of the Academy of Culinary Arts and the Craft Guild of Chefs.

A renowned figure in the landscape of hospitality and beyond, Mr. Oliveri, who is credited with the spread of the Italian cuisine in England, has graced the kitchens of Princess Cruises, World Disney, Hilton International, Corinthia Palace, Trust House Forte and various resorts around the world. Celebs he has cooked for includes Princess Diana, Madonna, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Al Pacino, Kim Basinger and many more.

The master two chefs laced stern prescriptions on diet with a topping of humour. According to Foskett, diet is an important part of people’s lives but decisions on diet are often taken without adequate information, study or expert advice, sometimes leading to dangerous consequences. People start to follow fad diets like Keto Diet, Atkin’s Diet, Mediterranean Diet and so on without much knowledge about its long term effect or an eye to the needs of the body that are being disregarded.

They also spoke of Vegan Diet, Detox Diet and the importance of inclusion of anti-oxidants in the food we take.

On that note Ms Babita Hazarika, Chief Dietician, AGHL: “It is extremely crucial for one to know what is suitable for one’s body. Experts in the industry suggest the best for you after examining and understanding individual body composition analysis. This crucial step is often compromised when an individual only relies on information available on the internet. For example, recent researches have proven that Keto diet even though extremely great in the short term, isn’t a good diet in the long term. Keto indeed helps in lowering blood sugar, cholesterol and other lifestyle diseases but on continuing it for a longer period time isn’t recommended. However, on the other hand, to avoid prevalence of diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle diseases for longer period of time, low carb diet is very helpful.”

She also spoke of the special care taken by her team to prescribe the correct food for individual patients at AGH, which is electronically transmitted to the F&B team to avoid miscommunication.

Mr. Enzo Oliveri said that the main reason of heart attack, cancer and Diabetes along with obesity is not maintaining a routine diet. Proper diet food and the time of taking food has to be maintained. The main ingradients that causes illness are sugar and salt. We all should restrict ourselves from sugar and salt.

Others present at the press conference were Mr Anindya Bhowmick, Manager, F&B, Apollo Sindoori Hotels Limited, Mr. Suman Bhattacharjee, Senior Sous Chef AGHL and Mr. Sk. Sanemaj Ali, Senior Sous Chef, AGHL. Publicity : Ad Factor.