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DateLine Sunday, 20 January 2008

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Food for thought

Tune your TV to a programme for women. Almost everyday there is a lesson on cooking. And have you noticed that there is one ingredient that would not fail to be used by all the chefs and cookery experts in such programmes? This is nothing else, but 'oil', which comes in different forms - coconut or vegetable oil; butter or margarine...

It's true, when you add even one tablespoon of oil and fry the onions, garlics, chilies and ginger...hmmm...yammy..yammy, that mouth watering smell! BUT! think of the fat that contains in every such meal; oops! I don't think I have to give you a lengthy description about this. The Sunday Observer 'Health Page' compiled by our colleague, Shanika Sriyananda has been highlighting this fact constantly.

Both the Western and indigenous medical officers who come for the discussions telecast on the same TV channels too have been highlighting this, often. However, the enthralling cookery demonstrations are more popular than the medico-discussions among 'viewers'.

Let me take you back to the old Sinhala films which are sometimes screened on TV. Just study the outdoor scenes those shot in the Colombo city, market places and other crowded spots in these films.

They provide a clue to the real physical appearance of the people who lived in this country 20-30 years ago. Other than a few, many of them have thin figures. And if you compare them with today's, you would see a vast difference. Plump figures with heavy stomachs that must contain gallons of fat could be seen walking on the streets. This is my personal study, which some might not agree with, but still, consider this as 'food for thought'.

Fast food outlets all over the island are also responsible. Just step into a food outlet during the weekends, and see the queue waiting for a seat or walking to and for seeking a seat to consume a mouth watering plate (rice, noodles, pasta, thosai) prepared under the tag of Chinese, Malaysian, Thai or Indian.

A piece of 'deep fried chicken' or a bun stuffed with non-veg or veg fillings are also in high demand among those of any age. I feel sorry for the kids who taste the so called delicious food as large amounts of fat will get stored in their bodies from an early stage.

Cholesterol, heart ailments, kidney and liver damages are a few side effects which would certainly lead to shotening their lives at quite a young age. I personally do not think many of them think of burning the extra calories they add into their bodies along with every mouth full of fat filled food. Many of us have 'less time' or 'no time' or 'simply are lazy' to go for physical exercises.

Some would say that with out at least a pinch of oil no dish would be tasty. Every time you take a mouth full of oily food, remember it might lead to shortening your life span. Other than high calories of fat and carbohydrates, these food contain nothing or very little vitamins and minerals.

Once the Buddha preached to Pasenadi Kosala, the king of Kosol, that one must practice the middle path even in his or her eating habits as food, water and air are the three main elements we need to maintain our 'body engine'.

Without proper meals we cannot even think of the great bliss of 'Nirvana' or 'heaven' as before anything we have to live first.

Oily food is delicious. Less exercise is comfortable.

But the consequences are devastating. If we let it go on like this no doubt it would cause a major damage to our Nation - especially to the future generations.

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