Question

Paheli avoids eating vegetables but likes to eat biscuits, noodles and white bread. She frequently complains of stomach ache and constipation. What are the food items that she should include in her diet to get rid of the problem? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer 1

Food items Paheli should avoid

1. She should avoid food made up of maida or refined flour as they have little to no fibre.
2. Foods made up of refined flour do not get absorbed by the cells of the body upon digestion.
3. It causes congestion of the digestive system resulting in slowed down digestion.
4. Such foods include biscuits, noodles, white bread, burgers, etc.
5. Long-term consumption of such foods causes a rise in cholesterol, increased risk of diabetes etc.
6. The most common side effects of eating such foods are stomach aches and constipation.

Foods items Paheli should include for getting rid of stomach aches and constipation are

1. She should include food items with high fibre and roughage content.
2. Such food items include pulses, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits etc.

High fibre-containing foods are good for constipation because

1. Foods that are high in fibre aid constipation as they speed up the process of digestion and their movement from the small intestine to the rectum.
2. Insoluble fibres are found to be the best solution for constipation.
3. Good sources of insoluble fibre are wheat bran, cereals etc.