Regular exercise, sound sleep, continued activity, and a balanced diet all contribute to fitness. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, one does not have to give up their favourite foods in order to reach their desired level of fitness. This is likely the reason why Malayalam star Mohanlal, a health-conscious personality, was seen enjoying red meat for lunch when his nutritionist, Dr. Jaison Paulson, had previously forbidden it. What was different about this time, then?
“I have never given red meat or laal maas to Lal sir. But today, he had it for lunch. Many people still have a doubt about what makes a gut-friendly food. So, we have on the menu kimchi, beans, Chinese cabbage, paired with bulalo, a form of red meat — a combination which makes it extremely gut-friendly for most blood groups,” said Dr Paulson, as he posted a video of himself and the Drishyam actor on Instagram.
Dr. Jaison emphasised that although fermented bulalo contains fat, eating it with greens results in a meal that is good for the gut. Starch and sugar are the culprits. According to WebMD, eating red meat is thought to increase the risk of a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, some tumors, kidney disorders, digestive problems, and mortality.
Dr. Vishakha Shivdasani, a doctor who specialises in treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, PCOS, and other lifestyle diseases, agreed and told a daily that all of the aforementioned veggies are excellent sources of prebiotics for the gut. These contribute to the diversity and proliferation of the various types of beneficial microorganisms in the gut, sometimes known as the microbiome. Red meat is perfectly good to eat as long as it is organic and not raised with antibiotics, the expert emphasised.
In a previous conversation, Swati Bhushan, chief clinical nutritionist at Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi, stated that while 85% of the bacteria found in the gut are friendly, they tend to decline with high consumption of food toxins like processed foods, trans fats found in fried and junk food, and refined carbohydrates like corn flour, maida, sugars, and salt. Dr. Shivdasani emphasised that red meat alone should not be held responsible because trans fats, saturated fats, and sugars can induce chronic disorders like cardiac diseases due to the damage done to the quantity of healthy gut bacteria, which increases the vulnerability to metabolic diseases. Bhushan agreed and added that while protein is a crucial component of a healthy diet, fatty meat cuts might cause painful digestion. So choose lean cuts of meat when you eat them, advised Bhushan.