How long can you wait after dropping food on the ground to eat it without having germs attached? Some say it's a five-second rule, others say ten.

Ideally, the fresher the food the better it is, Ramanika.

The first diet preference should be for fresh fruits and vegetables, followed by cooked meals. The least preference is given to packaged food that is not only old but also contains chemical based preservatives or high amounts of sugar.

While refrigerated food could be safe for consumption, it’s not ideal for digestion.

In the earlier days, we used to cherish simple sabzi at a dhaba, as it was plucked fresh from the fields and cooked right away for consumption.

Also, every time you heat food, its nutritional value comes down. Therefore, while stored food might taste good, its nutritional value is not the same as fresh food.