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The family of the celebrity chef behind the ‘world’s healthiest meal’ who died of a heart attack at the age of 45 has said they are heartbroken.
Gurpareet Bains, whose fans included Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow, penned several superfood cookbooks.
The co-founder of Vedge Snacks, who lived in Enfield, London, was hospitalised following a heart attack last Thursday, his management have confirmed.
While he regained consciousness a day later, his kidneys failed to restart and he passed away earlier this week as a result of heart and kidney complications, his spokesman confirmed.
In a tribute shared after his death, his family said: ‘Gurpareet was a beautiful person whose kind, generous and caring nature – together with his infectious smile – lit up the room.
‘He meant so much to so many. We are heartbroken at his passing, and words cannot express how much he will be missed. He will remain forever in our hearts.’
Gurpareet’s interest in healthy eating came to him after watching his own weight creep up, at one stage hitting more than 17st on the scales.
In an interview with the Telegraph, he said: ‘I loved Indian food but thought a healthy version would mean dry naan and a boiled curry, which didn’t appeal.
‘There was a lot of talk about superfoods and antioxidants, and I thought, surely if we add spices to the superfoods they will become more super?’
Gurpareet set out to make more use of these spices in his cooking, which also contain antioxidant foods which are linked with the prevention of the breakdown of our bodies’ cells,.
Combining classic Indian flavours with vegetables, fruits, low-fat proteins and nuts, he worked to create Indian ‘superfoods’.
The chef first hit international headlines in 2009 after he came up the ‘world’s healthiest meal’, a simple chicken curry with blueberries and goji berry pilau.
The dish contains the antioxidant equivalent of 23 bunches of grapes, according to the chef.
Fans included a host of celebrities including BBC Radio DJ Chris Evans, who said the curry was the best he’d ever tasted, designer Vivienne Westwood and the Royal Family.
His debut book, Indian Superfood, was published a year later and became a number 1 bestseller. 
His peers within the food industry had started to sit up and take notice, as he scooped the title Chef of the Year at the inaugural English Curry Awards in 2011.
By June 2012, Gurpareet had unveiled his second recipe-book and culinary concept, Indian Superspices.
Dubbed a ‘radical shakeup of the Indian kitchen’, Gurpareet’s aim was to mix spices and medicinal possibilities together in a bid to alleviate everyday ailments.
Gurpareet’s third recipe-book, The Superfood Diet, is a gastronomic, multi-cuisine, healthy cookery book, published by Bloomsbury in May 2014.
The nutritionist also invented the ‘world’s healthiest cookie’ during lockdown, thought to be the nutritional equivalent of five whole bags of leafy greens.
The blueberry-flavoured Chikitsa Crumble, features five full portions fruit and vegetables, also claimed to help lower cholesterol, manage Type 2 diabetes and boost heart health.
His culinary concept combined antioxidant-rich spices with nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, low-fat proteins and nuts.
Famous fans also included the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Chris Evans and Dermot O’Leary.
Other claims to fame include inventing the world’s healthiest Christmas dinner, an anti-flatulence Indian curry for Valentine’s Day, and a cocktail that can cure hangovers.
His management agency, Palamedes PR, said in a tweet: ‘We’re absolutely devastated about the tragic passing of Gurpareet Bains.
‘The international bestselling author, Indian superfoods pioneer & creator of “the world’s healthiest meal” was a close friend & long-standing client. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.’
Bains’s ‘Guilt-Free Gala’ replaced traditional festive ingredients with superfoods, meaning it only contained 930 calories, around one third of a classic lunch.
It includes turkey with roast potatoes and all the trimmings, a lobster and vegetable starter, and a rich fruit pudding with mascarpone cheese for dessert.
Speaking previously about the cookies, he said: ‘As a chef and nutritionist, I’m constantly reminded how difficult it is for people to make healthy food choices and to navigate their way through the minefield of diet advice and conflicting information.
‘The cookies cut through the noise by providing a minimum intake of fruit and vegetables in a handy snack. I’m over the moon that they’ve become so popular.’
