To help navigate your winter diet wisely, clinical nutritionist Amita Gadre, based in Pune, Maharashtra, shares in her December 15 Instagram post 5 things you should avoid eating this season. (Also read: Fitness coach says ‘just cardio isn’t enough’; shares 1 exercise women over 35 must do to stay strong and healthy )

1. Amla candy

“Amla is great, amla candy is not,” Amita explains. “It’s loaded with sugar.” Instead, she suggests adding fresh grated amla to your chutneys, dal, sabzis, and salads to reap the benefits without the extra sugar.

2. Chyawanprash

“I know this is an unpopular opinion, but chyawanprash is something you don’t really need,” says Amita. “A vegetable soup has far more antioxidants than chyawanprash, and it’s also packed with sugar. No one needs it, not even kids.”

3. Dry fruit laddus

While nutrient-dense, dry fruit laddus can be extremely high in calories. “One laddu can easily have around 200 calories. If you’re trying to lose fat, a tight fistful of nuts is more than enough,” she advises.

4. Ready-packaged soups

“Ready-package soups are a lot of sodium with barely any other nutrients,” Amita warns. She recommends sticking to homemade soups instead.

5. Ghee overload

“In winters, we tend to move less, want to stay cosy, and are naturally a bit lazy,” Amita notes. “The last thing we need is extra calories from fat.” She suggests moderating ghee intake, even during the colder months.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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