Savouring every bite is key to healthy eating

“Health is Wealth.” There’s nothing more urgent than being healthy and the greatest gift you can give to your family is a healthier and happier you.

Health is not merely absence of any disease or being slim; it is a state of complete physical, mental and spiritual well-being. “Embracing a healthy lifestyle will not only provide you with vibrant health and add years to your life, but also help you look, feel and live better,” said Dr Monika Seth, nutritionist and health enthusiast, residing in the Sultanate of Oman for over 20 years.

Dr Monika still feels very nostalgic about ‘Food Facts,’ which was her column in a leading national daily for almost 13 years.

“My passion for writing on health encouraged me to pen down a lot of information on nutrition and lifestyle-related diseases into a book titled ‘Secrets of Healthy and Disease-free Living’,” she said.

Dr Monika strongly believes that she owes a lot to this beautiful country, home away from home and continuously works towards giving back to society.

She also participated in a number of health programmes and camps on diabetes awareness as a nutrition counsellor and motivational speaker.

Dr Monika joined Aster Al Raffah Hospital in 2011 and contributed significantly in setting up their diet and nutrition department.

“While I was with Aster, most of the patients who would come to me were suffering from obesity and obesity-related diseases. The key contributing factors were ignorance and lack of knowledge regarding healthy eating and active lifestyle. My interest and concern towards solving this has always been a top priority,” Dr Monika said.

In her endeavour to further enrich her knowledge, Dr Monika took a sabbatical in 2019 to pursue PhD which has always been her dream. She was happy to complete her thesis and research on women obesity in Oman as it gave her a better understanding on the burning issue of obesity.

“Sensible and guilt-free eating is a pleasure and paying attention to your food choices on a daily basis, savouring every bite is the key to healthy eating. There’s no “one size-fits all” answer to being healthy and vibrant. Each and every individual is unique and must follow a dietary regime, exercise pattern etc that is fit for him/her. Eating a well-balanced and varied diet synergised with regular exercise/yoga and meditation and positive attitude to keep you motivated are vital for vibrant health and happiness,” Dr Monika said.