Many people in Eastern countries don’t struggle with weight like most of us in the West. During my visits to the subcontinent, I noticed that people who lived in rural areas and maintained their traditional lifestyles were healthier, slimmer and more energetic despite having lower incomes than people who lived in towns and cities.

Here is a list of traditional diet tips commonly practiced by many rural people of the subcontinent. These practices are not only used for weight loss but also for their health benefits.

* Do not drink large amounts of water with your meals. This is very commonly practiced in many countries of the Indian subcontinent. People usually drink fluids half an hour before or half an hour after meals, this is an excellent tip to minimize bloating and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

*Never drink cold water, by cold I mean cold from the fridge, again this is supposed to help with bloating. Most people drink water and fluids at room temperature or even lukewarm.

*They always eat dinner before 6pm and don’t eat anything before bed except a small glass of milk.

*Do not eat foods made with refined white flour. In fact, almost all of your carbohydrates are made from whole grains.

*They make bread from a wide variety of flours, the most common being chickpea flour, mung bean flour, millet flour and lentil flour. These are great alternatives to wheat as they are mostly gluten-free and lower in carbs.

* They eat very little commercially prepared food.

*They eat dried fruit to satisfy their sweet tooth. The most common are dates and sultanas and if you’re feeling really naughty they will have a very small amount of raw sugar called jaggery. This is so sweet that a very small amount is enough to curb a sweet craving.

* Most people make their own sweets, these are mostly a mix of nuts and dried fruit, similar to the muesli that people eat as a snack, a much more nutritious alternative to a chocolate bar.

* They only eat when they are hungry, there is no such thing as social or comfort food.

*Do not go on diets restricting or eliminating certain food groups.

* They use spices and herbs that help digestion, the most common are ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, black pepper, fennel and citrus peels. These spices are commonly used in cooking and are also taken as a digestive aid after meals.

* They divide their food into two main groups, hot and cold. They primarily classify all fruits, vegetables, and water as refreshing and all high-energy foods such as meat, nuts/seeds, most spices, and fats as hot. Almost everyone knows this, and they instinctively know how to balance hot and cold foods.

* Perform a regular internal detoxification by taking infusions and herbal remedies, the most common are lemon water, Neem extract, Tamarind water and bitter herbs.

Disclaimer: Please consult your healthcare professional before following the advice in this article. The author accepts no responsibility for any negative effects as a result of these tips.