Credit: Instagram/Rujuta.diwekar

You have heard people, dietitians, and influencers say, “Cut out sugar completely; it’s poison! But is it? What if you get to know today that sugar is not your real enemy?That is exactly what celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has said. Rutuja, who is known for training the likes of Bebo, aka Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Varun Dhawan, had just cleared the air that surrounded sugar and its turning the wellness world upside down.“It’s not sugar, it’s the lifestyle that’s toxic,” says Rujuta in her latest video that’s now gone viral. Contrary to what the sugar-demonizing fads say, Rujuta argues that traditional Indian sugars like jaggery and khansari have been wrongly lumped into the category of bad food by the West. And the result? Confusion, dilemma, food fear, and an almost broken relationship with food.What is her message to people? Don’t eliminate sugar. Understand it. Respect it. And most importantly, eat it the way your dadi (grandmother) did.

Here are the top 5 sugar-rules Rujuta swears by

Eat local and seasonal, yes! Even in sugar

Instead of eating imported snacks, buy seasonal Indian fruits and traditional sweet recipes. Say yes to mangoes in summers. Absolutely, yes to Til (sesame) laddoos in winters.

Celebrate festivals with sweets, not guilt

Festive foods are meant to nourish the soul and fuel the body. Do not leave them to look like a diet freak. Avoiding sweets on Diwali and Eid just to fit the dieting trend? That is what she calls disconnecting with our food culture. Food is an emotion; if you keep labeling it as a number, you will miss out on a lot of things.

Pair sugar with a meal, not on an empty stomach

According to Rujuta, sugar intake is healthiest when paired with a meal, not consumed alone. This helps to avoid blood sugar spikes and keep energy levels steady. When you eat a piece of jaggery post-lunch, it’s a tradition for a reason.

Use jaggery instead of refined sugar

Jaggery (gur) is a mineral-rich, unrefined sugar used in Indian households for centuries. It is not just sweet, but also aids in digestion, balances the hormones, and warms the body. Jaggery laddoos in winter are a must-have. If you want to keep yourself warm in winters, a piece of jaggery will keep all the cold away.

Ditch packaged desserts; go back to home made halwas

Rujuta emphasizes homemade sweets over processed sugar bombs. Say yes to, Kheer (rice pudding), Moong dal halwa, and homemade Indian mithais.

What do you need to understand?

You should understand that sugar is not the real monster it is made out to be. The processed and packaged food, erratic meal patterns, and stress pose the real threats. Do not eat less but eat right. Next time if someone tells you to toss your ghee-lathered laddoos, you know what to do. Just say it’s fine and move on.