Pic credit: Instagram/ Pankaj Bhadouria
MasterChef India Season 1 winner and chef Pankaj Bhadouria shared her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
In a post shared on Instagram on May 28, alongside a hospital-bed photograph, she spoke about her diagnosis: “I have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. ” Along with following the treatment plan her doctors advised, she also did something that came naturally to her: she turned to food. “During my treatment, I asked my doctors a simple question: ‘Are there foods I can include in my daily diet that may help support my body and protect my cells?’” she said in a video shared on Instagram. The doctor also suggested adding ashwagandha, according to her. “It is often used to support stress management and overall well-being,” she said. “Crush or chop it and let it rest for a few minutes before eating or lightly cooking it,” she said. “Light steaming is one of the best ways to enjoy it,” the chef said.
Not for television, but to nourish her body. She shared the list of foods that the doctors suggested. What are they? Let’s take a look. Research suggests that ashwagandha extract may lower stress, anxiety and cortisol levels. A small number of studies have also found its role in improving sleep quality. Ashwagandha appears to be well tolerated for up to about three months of use, but its long-term safety is not known, the US Department of Health and Human Services cautioned. Another food on her list that has potent ingredients to nourish her body and help fight the disease is garlic. It contains allicin, a sulphur-containing compound that forms when the bulb is crushed or chopped and then rests for a few minutes. It’s best consumed raw or with minimal cooking to preserve the compounds. Broccoli is also on the list. This cruciferous vegetable has high amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and powerful plant antioxidants. Bhadouria also acknowledges that all these foods only help her body get better; they are not a magic fix. “My biggest learning through this journey has been that there is no magic food that can prevent or cure cancer. But the little choices we make every day: what we eat, how we move, how we manage stress and whether we go for regular screenings, do matter. For Bhadouria, a woman who has built her career on the language of ingredients and technique, it was perhaps the most honest recipe she’s ever shared!
