Fitness And Wellness Guru Sumaya Dalmia Tells You Why Crash Dieting Is A No-No For Brides-To-Be

While days leading up to your D-day can be stressful, looking your best on your wedding does not have to be. 

From fitting into the perfect bridal lehenga to battling sudden skin problems, a bride-to-be has many things on her plate, so much so that nutritious food often does not end up on the said plate. 

Celebrity trainer and nutritionist Sumaya Dalmia agrees. “Crash diets or any diet that is not sustainable and nutritionally devoid will almost always make you put the weight back on. Constant yo-yoing is worse as it throws your hormones off, causes unstable insulin levels and my even trigger thyroid, low iron etc. Weight loss has to be a lifestyle change and a mix of correct eating, exercise and sleep,” she says.

While you may not be able to hit the gym regularly courtesy the wedding preparation, you can win the battle by conscious eating rather than starving yourself or skipping meals. The healthy way to lose weight is 70 per cent diet and 30 per cent working out. 

Sumaya says, “Food in general is nutritionally loaded. But yes, if you are a vegetarian you could be low on Vitamin B12 and iron. Many people are also deficient in Vitamin D so, try and get some morning sun. Restrictive diets can cause nutritional deficiencies and can raise cortisol levels, inflammation.”  

So, here are her pick of nutrients that you need to include in your pre-bridal plate: 

For hair growth: “Healthy fats such as almonds and nuts in general, avocado, coconut oil, chia seeds, whole eggs and bone broth are elixirs for hair.” 

For great skin: “Apart from the above mentioned food, try a low sugar diet to stabilize your insulin levels that will prevent hormonal break outs. You can also include vegetable juices such as cucumber, celery, mint and ginger for clear skin.” 

For immunity: “A restrictive crash diet can increase your chances of falling sick and make you feel lethargic. A healthy, wholesome meal plan with lots of curcumin (haldi) and foods rich in Vitamin C will keep you healthy and happy.” 

For strength: “Non vegetarian can gain strength from bone broth, healthy fats and lots of nuts as well as protein-rich food such as eggs, fish, chicken and mutton (rarely). If you are a vegetarian, make sure to include nuts, chia seeds, sprouts and light pulses in your meals to be more energetic.”