Ramesh is 38. At this age, many people tend to start becoming set in their ways. Ramesh is no different. As a child, he was brought up on Paranthas for breakfast, on a daily basis. He later on married Sanya, who also loved the Paranthas. So it has always been fried Paranthas for breakfast, for the couple and their two children. No wonder Ramesh has a cholesterol problem. Sanya and their two children are over-weight. Their friends often suggest that they should switch from Paranthas as a daily practice to healthier options. But Ramesh finds it inconceivable to do so.

Most people believe that if it’s healthy, it’s got to be bad in taste. But it’s not like that at all. Healthy food can be attractive and good in taste too. All you need is to be aware of food facts, and ready to experiment. If you think paranthas are the only breakfast that can taste good, you’ll never get round to experience the joys of so many foodstuffs. So be ready to experiment and try out new dishes as well as new cuisines. Here are a few more things that are healthy and can be interestingly incorporated into your diet. All you need is a skill to experiment in the kitchen.

• Garlic: This wonder food is probably the easiest to incorporate into your diet. It not only saves you from diseases, but also adds taste and flavour to most of the dishes you cook. Garlic is known to help in fighting off the bad cholesterol. It also safeguards you against stomach and colorectal cancers. And, it also improves immunity. Garlic is known to activate the immune cells that fight cancerous cells and break them down.

• Fatty Fish: Salmon and tuna are replete with Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Omega 3 Fatty Acids are known to lower cholesterol and prevent formation of clots. Grilled or broiled, is the way to go when you eat fish. Frying fish is not a very healthy practice.

• Leafy Greens: Spinach, or your own desi ‘Sarson da Saag’ are two of the best disease fighting foods ever. Dark green, leafy vegetables are packed with iron, beta carotene, minerals like magnesium, vitamins and antioxidants. So don’t turn up your nose when mom makes that spinach soup for you. You can also incorporate the greens into your salads.

• Mushrooms: Mushrooms are great for building the body’s immune system. They also have a protein called “lectin” that attacks cancerous cells and destroys them before they multiply. Researchers in Japan have been using some mushroom extracts as an adjunct to chemotherapy for patients. So buy some mushrooms today!

• Soy Products: This is the best wonderfood for women over 40. Soya contains phytoestrogens. In fact, soy is the only plant source for estrogen. Soy helps in preventing breast and prostrate cancer. Regular consumption of soy also helps in dealing with menopause.

• Whole Grains: Starting your day with a bowl full of oatmeal is not just a fad! Do you know that the soluble fibre from oats can help in reducing your cholesterol? Selenium, Vitamin B and Folic Acid are a few of the good things that you get from this wholesome goodness. Whole grains help in keeping weight in check and prevents heart disease as well as diabetes. The fibre also helps in keeping away the tummy troubles and constipation. You need to consume at least 3 servings of whole grains daily.

The list of wonder Foods that fight disease does not end here. Chomp on these wonder foods while we rustle up another list…