Archives for October 2020

October 21, 2020 By Kusum Soni Leave a Comment

How To Stay Safe From Infections During Navratri

This year’s Navratri is going to be both special and totally different since it is going to be celebrated amid a worldwide pandemic. Even though we all want to celebrate and enjoy after being locked down for the past few months, there is an apprehension in our hearts of getting infected. If you’re confused about what to do, we have a few tips to help you protect yourself and your loved ones during Navratri!

How To Stay Safe During Navratri

Have enough calories from healthy food, including lots of different colored vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, dairy, pulses, and legumes in small and frequent meals at regular intervals. Also, make sure that you eat food items that are easy to digest.
Stay hydrated: Water intake can be challenging during fasts. Water cleanses our body and adequate hydration levels can help maintain the health of mucous membranes and decrease irritation while coughing, sneezing, and even just breathing. It helps flush out toxins/pathogens. So, hydrate yourself with plain water, coconut water, lemon water, kokum water, lukewarm milk, buttermilk, fruit smoothies, etc.
Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can affect how fast you recover from illness and your susceptibility to infections. Throughout our sleep, the immune system releases proteins known as cytokines that have protective properties against infections/inflammation, and sleep deprivation can decrease the production of these protective cytokines. Hence never miss 7-8 hours of sleep.
Continue with physical activities like walking and yoga. It increases blood circulation which also expedites the circulation of antibodies or WBC’s and facilitates their reach to the site of infection efficiently and facilitates recovery. Regular physical activity also helps reduce stress, which can be a major contributor to compromised immunity.

How To Prevent Exposure to the Virus (As per WHO)

If I am attending a small gathering or an event, what precautions should I take to protect myself and others from getting infected with covid-19?

Always check local regulations before attending an event.
Stay at home if you are feeling unwell.
Always comply with the following 3 basic preventive measures,
Maintain at least 1-meter distance from others, and wear a mask at all times.
Cover a sneeze or cough with a tissue or bent elbow and immediately dispose of the tissue in a closed-lid bin. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or with a hand sanitizer.

If I am organizing a small gathering or an event, what precautions should I take to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among guests?

Always check local guidelines before planning your event.
Brief guests about precautions before the event starts; during the event, remind guests of these precautions and ensure they are followed.
Choose outdoor venues over indoor spaces – if indoors, ensure the area is well-ventilated.
Minimize crowding by staggering arrivals and departures, numbering entries, designating seats/places, and marking the floor to ensure physical distancing between people of at least one meter.
Provide all necessary supplies to attendants/participants – hand hygiene stations, hand sanitizer or soap and water, tissues, closed-lid bins, distance markers, masks.

What You Must Avoid Doing

No calorie-dense fried, sweets, gravied foods
No starving: Do not stay hungry for long as starving releases the stress hormone cortisol, which can suppress some immune responses. So, if you are planning a fast, it is important to take care of your health and plan your meals at frequent intervals.
People who are ill and with certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, kidney disease, breathing difficulties/asthma/sinusitis, etc., and including those with Covid-19, must be exempt from fasting.
Avoid the 3 Cs: Spaces that are Closed, Crowded or involve Close contact. Outbreaks have been reported in closed, crowded indoor settings where people talk loudly, shout, breathe heavily or sing. In such environments, the virus appears to spread by respiratory droplets or aerosols more efficiently, hence, taking precautions is all the more important.

This year, because of the global pandemic sweeping across all the globe, we will have to do our part, to curb the spread of coronavirus. Hence, enjoy the celebration of the festival responsibly and judiciously!

We hope this article helps you! To further track and mitigate the spread of infections, get the GOQii Smart Vital which measures vitals such as blood oxygen (SpO2), body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure – all of which could help you flag out any possibilities of an infection.

#BeTheForce of good health during Navratri!

October 19, 2020 By Roopa Tandur 3 Comments

Which Foods Are Good For Liver Repair?

Liver is the largest endocrine gland located in the right side of the upper abdomen. It has the most important function in the body that includes sorting out:

Which nutrient or medicine should be processed, like proteins into urea
Which nutrient should be converted for storage like vitamins and minerals, sugars into glycogen
Which nutrient should go to the blood and which ones need to be eliminated through stool.
Improving a person’s immunity

Though the liver can regenerate itself, there are many foods which one can consume to keep it healthy and safe. Any damage to the liver can cause metabolic disorder and death. So let’s look at some foods which can help you with liver repair!

Foods That Help Liver Repair

Coffee: Studies prove that coffee drinkers are at less risk of developing liver disease. Caffeine in coffee slows down scarring and helps fight liver cancer especially alcohol related cirrhosis. The acids in coffee can also help fight against the Hepatitis virus.
Green Tea: is high in antioxidants. Hence, it improves liver enzymes and prevents oxidative damage and fat deposition in the liver. Studies prove that green and black tea extracts reverse the negative effect of a high fat diet but the studies also involve large quantities (5-10 cups) of tea so being cautious and consulting a doctor or dietician before deciding on the number of cups per day is a good option.
Berries: Dark coloured berries like blueberries and cranberries contain anthocyanins which give them the dark, deep colour. They help in improving immunity and reduce formation of scar tissues and lesions in the liver. Consuming berries 3-4 times a week also inhibits the growth of cancer cells in the liver.
Grapefruit: contains antioxidants known as Naringenin and Naringin. Studies have shown that antioxidants Naringenin can reduce development of hepatic fibrosis which is build-up of excessive connective tissue leading to chronic inflammation. These antioxidants decrease the amount of fat build up in liver tissues and increase the amount of fat burning enzymes which prevent excess fat build up in the liver, thereby, reducing inflammation. Antioxidant Naringin improves the liver’s ability to metabolise alcohol and reduce negative effects of alcohol to some extent.
Beetroot: is an excellent food for liver health as it helps breakdown toxic waste which can be excreted but acts well when taken in juice form. It contains nitrates and antioxidants which reduce oxidative damage and inflammation by increasing detoxification enzymes and improving bile. Betaine and Pectin present in beetroot helps in removing toxins from the body and prevent their re-entry.
Cruciferous Vegetables: like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale have glutathione which triggers enzymes of the liver that help eliminate toxins from the body. They also help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as they help reduce fat in the organ and inflammation as well. These vegetables have high levels of indole which helps lower inflammation, which is generally present in obese people.
Nuts: are nutrient dense snacks which contain unsaturated fats, vitamin E and antioxidants and micronutrients (selenium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and many others) which help dilate blood vessels, reduce inflammation, oxidative stress and prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Eating a handful of nuts regularly helps keep your liver healthy!
Fatty Fish: like salmon, tuna, and sardine are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which help reduce inflammation and prevent build-up of excess fat and maintain enzyme levels in the liver. Try including fatty fish like salmon and herring 2-3 times a week in your diet.
Olive Oil: contains omega 6 fatty acid which helps reduce inflammation. Studies show that olive oil is a good source of triglycerides which are processed outside the liver and hence help reduce deposition of fat cells in the liver. Having 1-3 tsp of olive oil daily in the diet helps clean the liver and supports weight loss. Be sure to balance this oil with other healthy fats.
Garlic: contains selenium which helps detoxify the liver and activate enzymes that help the body remove toxins. Garlic contains Allicin, which gets activated when crushed. It is a powerful antioxidant, antibiotic and antifungal in nature. The antioxidant compounds in garlic act as a barrier between liver and toxins and keep toxic substances away.
Grapes: especially the red and purple ones contain resveratrol, an antioxidant which helps reduce inflammation and remove toxins, as they contain vitamin C. They also increase antioxidant levels in the body.

We hope this article helps you with your liver repair. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more information on this subject, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

October 10, 2020 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Sugan Sabre of Nashik City Police Levels Up With Positivity!

There’s no denying that it takes bravery and guts to perform the tasks undertaken by our Police Force. It is also evident how this job can take a toll on your overall health, mental & emotional wellbeing if one is not mindful enough. Believe it or not, being an active member of the police force is a challenging affair and sometimes, you need a positive outlook to pull through. Let’s see how Office Sugan Sabre leveled up his positivity with GOQii.

Sugan Sabre has been posted at Nashik City for the past 29 years. He always had a lean and athletic body. He actively participated in various athletic events in school and college. He has also played cricket at the district level during his college days. However, an injury forced him to quit cricket and athletics completely around 25 years back.

Before joining GOQii, he used to visit the gym and go for frequent runs. On an average, he would cover 7km a day. He always preferred home-cooked meals and eating out was a rare affair.

Joining GOQii and Leveling Up!

A GOQii tracker along with a subscription was handed over to the Nashik Police Force by their Commissioner, Shri. Vishwas Nangare in May 2020. Since then, completing 30k steps and staying active throughout the day have been 2 key things that he has been doing. There is a healthy competition among all the police personnel at the station to complete as many steps as possible.

Nowadays, his routine is to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, go for a run and walk around 12km apart from some bodyweight exercises. In addition to this, he has added warm-ups and stretching to his routine which he never did before. His GOQii Coach explained to him why a warm-up is extremely important before any physical activity.

While his meals continue to be the same, the timings have changed. Earlier, he would skip breakfast and eat an early lunch around 10:30 AM. Now, he eats his breakfast after his morning workout. His coach has also advised him to limit his dinner intake to just 2 rotis along with any curry. Thanks to these minor changes, his weight has reduced from 83kg to 79kg since May. He is able to complete almost 25km a day by staying active throughout. He has added yoga and meditation to his routine to remain calm and relaxed.

What Does Officer Sugan Sabre Have To Say?

Officer Sugan Sabre says that being physically active has helped him stay more positive especially during these uncertain times. If you are physically and mentally active, your immunity is automatically higher and there is no illness that can attack you. People should not fear the coronavirus, rather be strong and confront it head-on.

Along with his police duties, he is also actively involved in training a group of people in a park nearby. He takes them through various exercises every day. In fact, he looks forward to this time of the day when he is able to motivate and help others get active. He says it’s important to pass onto others whatever you know.

His energy and positivity have rubbed off on his family members too as they’ve started waking up early in the morning to join him in his routine. He says GOQii has contributed a lot to his positivity and the band is a constant reminder that he needs to be on the move and not sit idle.

We salute the efforts of Officer Sugan Sabre from the Nashik City Police Force for his dedication to serve the country as well as remain active! To read more successful and inspiring user stories, check out Healthy Reads within the GOQii App.

#BeTheForce

October 9, 2020 By Pallavi Barnwal 1 Comment

Porn Induced Erectile Dysfunction, Is It Real?

Erectile dysfunction is one of those things that affects many couples, and people still don’t talk about it enough. For some it could be a source of embarrassment and confusion, especially because it is associated with aging, illness or hormonal imbalances.

Before getting into this article, remember: a sexual disorder is something that can affect anyone. It is not a ‘failure’ on anyone’s part and it is nothing to be ashamed about! For most people, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can be treated successfully with a combination of methods, both medical and alternative. But what if we told you that there could be a link between your media consumption and erectile dysfunction? More specifically: could porn be harming your sex life?

What Does the Research Say About Erectile Dysfunction?

While the increase of Erectile Dysfunction in younger populations casts pornography as an obvious culprit, there is still no proven link between porn and sexual dysfunction. Porn is everywhere now. It’s free, it’s available, and it caters to every fetish or fantasy imaginable. So when it comes to porn, does the common-sense approach ‘too much of anything is bad’ hold true?

The research is unclear, but what we do know is that porn triggers an instant release of dopamine, also known as our ‘happy hormones’. A quick fix of dopamine! That explains why porn can be so addictive. For many, this addictive nature of porn can direct them to more specific or extreme types of porn to get that desired dopamine hit. As the body gets accustomed to this, a regular sexual experience may no longer feel exciting enough.

But erectile dysfunction is not the only issue. Another common issue that could be related to porn is ejaculation control. Those masturbating to porn tend to do so very quickly to avoid being caught. A hasty ‘quickie’ is quite normalized these days. While this may provide quick release, it also trains our bodies to orgasm very quickly, a habit that carries on into our sex life with other people. In fact, premature ejaculation may be far more connected to porn viewing than erectile dysfunction.

Porn and Arousal

ED is rarely a single-cause issue. Health, disease, age, exercise, habits like smoking and drinking, mental health and body image can all affect arousal and sexual health. For many, porn creates a safe atmosphere for arousal; one without fear of judgement or pressure to perform in front of another person. It makes arousal easier. At the same time, this comfort also makes it easier to ignore underlying issues and turn to porn as the only escape. Porn can also make you crave for newer and newer content. But when there is new content, perfect bodies and extremely specific sexual niches readily available online, regular sex with the same partner pales in comparison. Sex with another person can be complicated and messy, sometimes even intimidating. It requires work, communication, trust and vulnerability in a way that watching porn doesn’t. Porn can become an easy way out, at the expense of working on the issues that really matter.

If this sounds like you and you suspect that watching porn is affecting your sex life negatively, then here are some questions to think over: Do you only feel like there is a problem during partnered sex? Do you find yourself dependent on porn to masturbate and reach orgasm? What sort of porn are you watching, do you get bored of one type of content and move on to the next quickly? By trying to understand which situations make arousal difficult, it can give you clarity on whether your problem is mental, physical, or a combination of both.

You think you may have a problem: Now what?

If you feel like porn is seriously affecting your sex life, consider speaking to a professional or a sex therapist. Otherwise, on your own, you could try masturbating without porn. Focus on situations outside of porn that have been arousing, invest more in connecting with your partner and visualizing sex as an extension of that connection. Experience the sensation of touch and maybe don’t even focus on orgasming initially. Get to know your body, even outside of a sexual context: what sort of sights, sounds, tastes and feelings do you enjoy? Deepening your connection with your body in everyday life is bound to be rewarding during sex.

While some groups suggest that porn should be given up altogether, the most practical approach is to enjoy porn in moderation or to watch porn that portrays more realistic sex and bodies. Porn-induced erectile dysfunction is still a debated idea. Overall, most experts agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with masturbation or pornography.

Like with everything else, what matters is how these practices fit into your life and how you relate to them. Health and wellness are complicated, diverse spectrums: there is no singular way to have a healthy sex life. So pay attention to your body, your feelings, pleasure and your individual desires and goals, and ask yourself: is porn helping or harming?

We hope this article helps you! For more on sexual wellness, tune in to LIVE sessions by our sexual wellness expert Pallavi Barnwal on GOQii Play. You can also connect with her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pallavibarnwalcoach

#BeTheForce

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