Daily Nourish Hub by Meenu Balaji

[meenu-64]

You eat healthy. You train hard. But is your brown rice sabotaging your gains?

Here’s what is not often discussed:

Brown rice has higher levels of arsenic, a Group 1 carcinogen.

That’s not just bad news for your long-term health—new research links chronic arsenic exposure to:
• Obesity (yes, even if you eat clean!)
• Slower glucose uptake by muscles
• More fat storage via cytokine IL-6
• Heart disease & high blood pressure
• Epigenetic changes that affect DNA & metabolism

One study showed a clear dose-response between arsenic levels and weight gain, especially with regular rice intake.
Even low-dose exposure decreased GLUT4, the protein that helps your muscles absorb glucose.
That means poor blood sugar control and more fat storage—not ideal for your fitness goals.

Quick tips:
• Rinse rice thoroughly
• Use more water and drain after cooking
• Rotate your carbs: try white basmati, millets, quinoa
• Don’t rely on rice every day

Train smart. Eat smart. Protect your progress.

Alberto Gail and Zora

[meenu-64]

Here are some beautiful images, shared by @gail-40. Thank you Gail

🥬Beautiful veggies this year. And Swiss Chard and snap peas from our garden.

Doggies and me having fun on the bike.

Kale, apples and salmon dinner.

[annelise-2]

You’re an inspiration, Gail.

[anirudh-42]

Meenu Preethi Balaji Gail and Zora these are just beautiful:)

[gail-40]

annelise piers
Thank you so much, Annelise. YOU are my inspiration!

[gail-40]

Thank you Anirudh!

[anirudh-42]

Meenu Preethi Balaji “I’m hearing so much about the gut microbiome lately. Beyond probiotics, what are some of the most effective (and perhaps surprising) dietary strategies people have found to genuinely improve their gut health and how to notice the difference?”

[meenu-64]

Anirudh The gut microbiome holds the key to your health. Fermented foods are great for your gut. And of course, fiber; the gut bacteria love fiber rich foods.

You can observe differences in symptoms like less bloating and acidity. You would also feel more energetic and focused since the gut and brain are connected.

[anirudh-42]

Meenu Preethi Balaji With the rise of personalized nutrition and AI tools creating custom meal plans, how much do you think technology should influence our diets? Are you excited about tailored nutrition plans, or do you prefer a more intuitive approach?"

[meenu-64]

Anirudh Love that question. I was discussing this with some of the nutritionists, just yesterday.

Yes, a lot of people turn to AI for their health queries. But when it comes to food and nutrition, that answers that AI generates, still has some factual inaccuracies that only health experts can spot.

AI’s responses are also biased, for example if you ask, “why is protein bad for me?” it will share information on those lines, not what is best for you.

Plus, AI is still not there, when it comes to personalizing meal plans, since the results are only based on the prompts. It does not factor the intricacies we explore in a nutrition consultation, that goes far beyond counting calories and tracking macros.