‘I would easily feel gassy and now it’s all gone!’

SHARAN associate Shalini Goenka probably suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) since childhood but didn’t figure it out until much later. It was only a few years ago that she experienced relief.

“Since my teens, I had to rush to clear my stomach after nearly every meal. This caused a lot of anxiety and I would think ten times before stepping out of my house. Later on, the condition hampered my professional life too. After marriage, I developed asthma because of my lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. I would easily develop stomach cramps and feel gassy. My life actually revolved around this condition. In 2005, I even lost my voice due to ulcers.

Regardless, I consumed three glasses of milk every day, until I decided to stop dairy completely a few years ago. Doing so brought relief to some extent but the problems persisted. In 2017, I attended a seminar led by Dr Nandita Shah. The session was an eye-opener. I realized that although I had stopped dairy, I was not having the right combination of foods. After the seminar, I switched to whole, plant-based, organic foods. Particularly, I increased my consumption on raw foods and eliminated gluten from my diet. The change that I have experienced since then is nothing short of a miracle. My allergies have reduced, steroids and nebulizer doses are stopped, and I have lost 20 kilos of weight! My confidence has been truly restored.

Changing my diet has helped me so much that I now wish to empower others. That is the reason I decided to join the SHARAN team. Whole food plant-based is really the right way to eat.”

Recipe – Tomato Salad

This delicious salad is so easy to make and uses ingredients that are commonly found in every kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped tomatoes (about 1 cm cubes)
• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed
• 1 tbsp grated coconut
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• Unrefined salt to taste
• 1 tsp date paste (optional)

Method

Mix all the ingredients together. Serve.

Serves 1

Food For The Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

1. SHARAN India is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

Experiencing Excessive Gas?

Gas and bloating can stem from various reasons, such as a change in diet that your digestive tract may not be accustomed to. When transitioning to a diet rich in raw or whole foods, flatulence may occur initially, but it tends to settle down over time.

Soaking and washing beans and lentils, along with adding a pinch of hing (asafoetida) during cooking, can help reduce gaseousness. Other causes of gas and bloating include:

1. Dairy (even in small amounts) Most of us are lactose intolerant. Even a small amount of dairy in your tea or meals can cause problems. Try eliminating it completely and observe the difference.

2. Mixing fruits with other foods Consume fruits separately, preferably mixed only with green leaves in a green smoothie. Having fruit as dessert after a meal can lead to gas due to wrong food combining.

3. Mixing melons with other fruits Melons like watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew are best enjoyed separately from other fruits. Combining them with other fruits or foods may cause digestive discomfort due to differences in digestion times.

4. Having too much variety within one meal Some health enthusiasts opt for mono meals, as they are easier to digest. Excessive variety within a meal can be challenging for the body to process.

5. Gluten Individuals with gluten intolerance may experience digestive issues. Consider testing by removing gluten from your diet for a period to observe any improvements.

6. Certain medications Antibiotics and chemotherapy can disrupt the gut microbiome. If you’re on medications, consult with our doctors and nutritionists to rebuild your gut microbiome.

7. Probiotics Commercial probiotics may upset the balance of different bacterial populations. Homemade fermented foods may be had if desired.

8. Food cooked well in advance Bacterial build-up due to prolonged storage can cause gas. Consume freshly prepared foods whenever possible, and if not possible, store in the fridge.

9. Lack of fibre Fibre is crucial for a healthy gut microbiome. The absence of fibre in your diet can contribute to gas. Animal products totally lack fibre, and can lead to constipation and gas build up.

10. Not chewing properly Digestion begins in the mouth. Chew well to prevent indigestion.

11. Nibbling all day Limit eating to a maximum of 5 designated mealtimes per day to give your digestive system sufficient breaks.

12. Pesticides in non-organic or GM foods These can disrupt the microbial flora.