Top 3 foods for the alluring shaadi glow

It’s the wedding day and you have butterflies the size of elephants in your stomach and not just figuratively. The stomach actually feels like its flopping out just when you want to look at your best, its your day after all. So first of all, relax. On the one hand, women’s magazines are supposed to empower us, on the other hand they tell us how to look on which day. But then this is NOT meant to be an article asking you to look a certain way on a certain day but to ask you to please use your brains. For many reasons, but for starters, the brain burns calories when we use it. And losing weight is something we would like because we want to look our best and by that we mean at our thinnest. But have we really thought this through? At what cost do we really want to lose weight? Is thinner necessarily prettier? Does it really empower you to wear “whatever you want”?
If we do use our brain then we realize that what really looks good on us is confidence and good health. That’s all that we need to look our best not just on D-day but day after day. Because what looks really ugly is gaining double the weight one has lost for shaadi within two months of being married. Its easy to not go down that road if we decide to chart our own path and define our beauty on how much in harmony we feel with our body, mind and emotions. Because really, its not worth living with someone if we haven’t even made the time to figure ourselves out. Thankfully, health, harmony and confidence come in the form of good food so its really easy to build on that.
Here are the top 3 foods that you must have all the time, especially for 3 months before your D-day, to reap their full benefits. (Note - Also these are foods for everyone who want that all elusive shaadi glow regardless).
1. Shudh desi ghee - The same one that your grandmom irritates you about. She’s told you all the benefits, all I can say is that the grand old lady who defies her age, has a point and you ought to be listening. You should have it because –

· It helps the mucus lining of the intestines thereby reducing the chances of bloating. Especially the one that comes with late night eating and sleepless nights. Now I would expect that thanks to all the late night romantic calls.

· The essential fatty acids in ghee lead to good assimilation of fat soluble vitamins, more specifically Vitamin E and add that touch of glow to your face.

· Increases flavor of food and therefore satiety, helps auto-reduce the portion size of every meal and the calories consumed.

Tip – Have 3-5 tsp of ghee everyday, preferably with meals.
2. Good old haldi – You don’t need me to sell you this idea, in all probability you are also going to have a haldi function. There are reasons why haldi is so celebrated, it helps you get off that soup salad regime and have regular dal-chawal-sabzi for dinner. And you do want to eat that haldi because -
· It is known for its ability to bust both physical and mental stress and trust me you are going to need it.

· Prevents infections and no one wants to land with a urinary tract or vaginal infection ever but surely not close to the Wedding day.

· Here’s an aesthetic reason – it helps the skin beat the effects of tannin and pigmentation and allows you to put your best face forward.
Tip – use turmeric in daily cooking, and preferably buy it from a small women’s organization to reap its full benefits.
3. Home set, full fat dahi and chaas – I said home set and full fat because I don’t want you buying packaged yogurt or fat free version. The beauty lies in the fat and without it, the curd is not of much use.
· It’s the tastiest and easiest way to provide your body with the gut friendly bacteria. Not just reduces bloating but actually gives the stomach a flat look.

· A good source of minerals like calcium, it helps strengthen the bone density and gives you a good toned versus a flabby look.

· India’s favorite digestive aid, it will actually allow you to metabolise the food that you are eating. Oral wisdom also says that it lets you metabolise or digest tough situations and wedding seasons offers you more than one tough situation. So bring on the lasssi.

Tip – have atleast few tea-spoons of dahi before stepping out for long shopping hours and parties. Will reduce the acidity that follows. Better still, carry chaas with you in a flask.
I wish you a long and healthy life and partnership with Mr. Right.