Introduction
India is a part of the Asian continent. It includes countries like Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam too. Regardless of which country, all Asian countries are known for their amazing food. Ready for a fun fact? Asia contains about 30% of the world’s land area and 60% of the world’s population. The most famous dishes from all of these countries are Sushi (Japan), Kung Pao chicken (China), Pho (Vietnam), Gimbap or Ramyeon (Korea), and Tom Yung Goong (Thailand). In India, the most famous dish would be either butter chicken or naan.
Indian cuisine has been around for over 5000 years. Each of the regions here has its own traditions and religions. Indian cuisine (mostly Hindu) usually excludes beef due to religious beliefs. Muslims do not consume pork, as it is forbidden meat. Indian food has been influenced by Mongolian, Persian, and Chinese cuisine, among a few others. The special blend of spices that brings out the flavor and aroma in Indian food has remained consistent over the centuries. Indian food also varies from north to south, east to west. In the north people prefer eating things like chole bhature or rogan josh while in the south dosas or Pongal is preferred.
Is Indian food Vegan friendly?
No matter where you go in India, vegetarian food is super easy to come by. Around 38% of Indians eat only vegetarian food. Surprisingly, no other country in the world can even catch up to this number. But saying this, the food does contain milk sometimes. This is because Hindus believe milk has many benefits.
However, the most basic ingredients in Indian cooking are vegetables and rice. The vegetable is cooked in rich Indian spices and served with rice (does not contain milk or meat). Dal is another popular Indian dish made with lentils. This too does not contain milk and is filled with proteins and nutrients.
You might wonder where you can find the best Indian food. Traditional Indian food tastes best when it is made with aromatic spices, medicinal herbs, and premium-quality ingredients. Also, to perfect this, you need to add a touch of love. This is exactly how we at Shiva Shakti prepare food for you. Shiva Shakti offers you delectable dishes paired with tasty drinks and a cozy atmosphere that will make you feel right at home.
Is Indian Food Good For Curing Acidity?
Indigestion, Acidity, and heartburn in general might be some of the most common problems people face around the world. Not only does it make you feel uncomfortable, but it also indicates that something is wrong with your current diet or lifestyle. Most people ignore it and reach out for quick remedies like Eno or some antacid pill that will temporarily solve their digestive issues. But what they don’t know is that there is no disease to be cured. You mostly have a really sensitive stomach. What if we tell you that a change in your diet and lifestyle may significantly improve this problem and will definitely be tasty? Firstly, let us understand the difference between Acidity and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
Acidity and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
There are gastric glands in your stomach that release gastric juice. This juice is just a combination of Hydrochloric acid (HCI), Lipase and Pepsin. By nature, this gastric juice is acidic, which is necessary to digest the food that we eat. If the gastric glands release more gastric juice than is necessary, it will cause a burning sensation in the stomach or under the breastbone. This is what acidity looks like. When similar symptoms, like acidity, occur frequently for more than 10 days, then it is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
In GERD, when you eat food that is then mixed with digestive juices, instead of traveling into the small intestine, it will travel back up to the esophagus. Why does this happen? When the muscles in control of the opening between the esophagus and the stomach aren’t functioning correctly. The spherical band of tissue at the base of the esophagus is the esophageal sphincter. The esophageal sphincter normally remains closed after food has passed through it due to a certain amount of pressure.
Food that hasn’t fully digested can travel back up into the esophagus if the sphincter relaxes at the wrong time and opens. This food may be acidic and result in heartburn, which is a burning sensation. This sensation of burning starts in the stomach and travels up under the breast bone. There can be two reasons for acidity or GERD: either an inappropriate opening of the esophageal sphincter or acidic food.
Dyspepsia Or Indigestion
Dyspepsia is a medical term by doctors for recurrent abdominal discomfort. This includes abdominal pain, gas, bloating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, or even a sour taste in the mouth. Fun fact? In Greek, the meaning of Dyspepsia is indigestion. What are the causes of Dyspepsia?
Diet
Medications
Depression/Anxiety
Infection ( H.Pylori)
Increase in the sensitivity of the lining of the stomach
Gallbladder Stones
Following an Indian diet can effectively reduce acidity and indigestion. However, always consult your doctor before following any of the diets. Firstly, you should take note of what all you have eaten in a day for a week. If you experience acidity note down at what time you felt it, your symptoms, and duration. This will be useful later on to check whether the change in diet has made a difference. Or for your doctor or physician too, to understand the relationship of your acidity with food.
Adding Probiotics for acidity and indigestion
Probiotics certainly have numerous positive health effects. Maintaining a healthy digestive system is one of the significant health advantages of probiotics. Long-term use of PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) and antacids disrupts the growth of healthy bacteria and changes the natural pH in the gut. These drugs are typically for treating symptoms of indigestion and acid reflux. The best approach to treating GERD and dyspepsia is to treat the underlying cause rather than the symptoms. Probiotics are microscopic organisms that work to treat acid reflux and indigestion at their source. Food digests more slowly when the gut is deficient in beneficial bacteria.
Healthy bacteria begin to be replaced by bad bacteria, which quickly grow. The large intestine’s bacteria overgrow and migrate to the small intestine, which is not where they belong. In addition to causing unpleasant symptoms like gas, pressure in the abdomen, weakened lower esophageal sphincter function, and acid reflux, this unhealthy small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) ferments the carbohydrates in food. The most effective probiotic to treat acidity and indigestion is Lactobacillus acidophilus. Plenty of probiotics are there in Indian foods. Like cheese, curd, buttermilk, fermented milk drinks, fermented foods like rice, dosa, and dhokla, and fermented vegetable pickles like amla, carrots, radish, and cucumbers. Add these helpful probiotics and a new, modified diet to your regimen to reduce your symptoms of indigestion and acid reflux.