24 May 2011
Hyderabad, India
Kick That Habit
Drinking tea immediately after having a meal is not a good idea as it interferes with the process of digestion. The final draft of the ‘Dietary guidelines for Indians’ prepared by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here is ready and has this piece of advice on what to eat and what not.
In 2010 itself, the Dietary Guidelines Committee had come up with its recommendations and put it in circulation. After receiving feedback, the final draft was prepared a couple of weeks ago. For typical Hyderabadis who tuck into their biryani in hotels and sign it off with a steaming cup of Irani chai, the dietary guidelines should be an eye opener. Dr D Raghunatha Rao, the convener of the committee told TOI that tea as well as coffee should be avoided at least for one hour before and after meals. This is because a chemical Tannin is present in tea and coffee which interferes with iron absorption.
Though the beverages are known to relieve mental and muscular fatigue, they should be consumed only in moderation. "Coffee is known to increase blood pressure and cause abnormalities in heart beat," the report said.
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