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Understanding Health and Fitness


We often speak and hear about health and fitness. In recent times, both these words have become a part of people’s daily lingo. How many of us actually know the meaning of these words? Is it just a fad to talk about health and fitness?

Truth be told, health and fitness have totally different meanings and concepts. Let us try to understand the terms ‘Health and Fitness’.

What is Health?

Health refers to the absence of disease. It indicates that all the systems in the body, be it the Central Nerves System, Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System or any other systems are working perfectly and together. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

What is Fitness?

Fitness refers to the degree of body functioning and ability of the body to handle physical demands. If the body is functioning more effectively and efficiently, it indicates greater or higher level of fitness. Any physical activity strenuous or non-strenuous requires one to have some basic fitness. Climbing stairs also requires a certain level of fitness.

Involving yourself in physical activities can bring about some basic level of fitness. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by the skeletal muscles that required energy expenditures. Physical exercise is as important as food and sleep.

When we don’t use the organs of our body, our body responds by saying, “Use it or lose it”. Leading a sedentary lifestyle leads to hypokinetic complications. Proper and regular exercise result in amazing physical, mental and emotional benefits.

To take up any physical activity, you need to set a goal as per your requirement and the way your body responds. Ensure that you are not just focusing on fitness but on the health aspect as well before setting a goal.

We hope you found this article insightful. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. For more on health and wellness, delve into Healthy Reads or speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

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Natural Mouth Fresheners

mouth-freshner

Many a times, when I ask my players to avoid having sweets or fruits immediately after a meal, their usual reply is, ‘oh! But, this is a very Indian thing. We don’t feel complete finishing the meal without a sweet or a fruit. We are accustomed to this post meal sweets ritual since ages and we need that to refresh the mouth and the breath from the typical smell of our spice rich meals!’ Or else, most say they need to keep chewing some mint flavored gum or some artificially flavored mouth freshener when they are working for long hours or while traveling.

But, how about replacing these artificially flavored, preservatives added, empty calorie loaded mouth fresheners with more real, natural, very nutritious breath fresheners which are present in abundance in the nature and which are readily available in your kitchen cabinet?

Here I am enlisting few of them:

  1. Water: Dry mouth is the foremost reason behind that foul smelling breath. Drinking water more often keeps your mouth moist and promotes the release of saliva, the enzymes which keep cleansing the mouth from the growth and collection of foul smelling bacteria. You can make it more refreshing by infusing the water with cut pieces of lemon, mint leaves and a small piece of ginger. Keep it overnight in the fridge and drink that water in the morning.
  2. Fennel Seeds: Many of our elders still use these very refreshing seeds as an after meal ritual. Apart from giving a distinctive sweet taste to your mouth, they are excellent to prevent flatulence and acid reflux and promote the secretion of gastric juices for better absorption. Roast them, store in an air tight jar and chew them after meals.
  3. Mint Leaves: Why to go for an artificially scented mint flavored mouth freshener, when you can have the original and much more nutritious mint leaves in your kitchen garden or in your refrigerator. Chew the raw leaves or drink a mint tea by boiling them in water and experience an instant freshness in your breath.
  4. Parsley Leaves: Chew on the raw Parsley after meals or garnish your curries with it. Recent studies suggest that this ancient herb may help in reducing the ‘garlic breath’ through a process of ‘enzymatic deodorization’.
  5. Lemon Candies: These refreshing and nutritious treats come in handy when you experience prolonged mouth dryness. You can create lemon ice cubes by mixing lemon juice with water. As they melt in your mouth, the lemon’s tartness triggers saliva production, effectively moistening your mouth and providing a refreshing sensation.
  6. Cinnamon: Chewing on cinnamon sticks kill the bad smelling bacteria by releasing essential oils in the mouth, and it’s peculiar taste is great to freshen you up. You can make cinnamon mouthwash as well by boiling few sticks in water and using the cooled down water for mouth wash.
  7. Citrus fruits like oranges and berries: These antioxidant rich fruits are again great to cleanse your mouth by destroying the toxins and the germs. Start your day with a fruit or have them as mid meal snacks, as these are the times when the mouth is usually dry for a longer time.

If the bad breath is not because of any underlying illness like tonsillitis or other buccal (oral) cavity infection, these are the sure way to feel refreshed throughout the day.

The bottom line is to figure out the reason behind that bad breath (like dry mouth, bad bacteria) and choose the right method or ingredient for yourself to get rid of the bad breath.

We trust you found these natural breath fresheners beneficial. If you’re looking for personalised guidance on holistic health, consider subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here. Share your thoughts in the comments below and explore more health topics in Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce

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Healthy Substitutes for Butter

butterHave you ever wondered where butter comes from or how it is made? In short, it is a dairy product made from milk, also known as milk fat. It is composed of about 80 percent fat, which is the part that has been separated from the carbohydrates and protein of the milk.

Butter is a popular spread and baking ingredient. It is widely used as a spread for bread, crackers, and other food items. It also functions as a leavening agent in baked goods. Due to its high concentration of fat, butter has a rich flavor and creamy texture. It works especially well for high-heat cooking like sautéing and pan-frying to help prevent sticking while adding flavor.

Despite its various uses, there are a few reasons why you might want to substitute butter.

Why You May Need to Substitute Butter

  • Milk Allergy: While butter is very low in protein, it still contains a small amount of the milk protein casein, which can be allergenic.
  • Lactose Intolerance: People with lactose intolerance tend to tolerate the small amounts of lactose in butter without adverse reaction. However, some are more sensitive to lactose than others and may have to avoid butter for this reason.
  • Health Reasons: Some individuals avoid butter because it’s high in saturated fat. High intake of saturated fat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
  • Veganism: Some people have made a dietary choice to avoid all animal products including dairy, so they avoid butter.

For whatever reason you may choose to avoid butter, here are a few alternatives that you might want to try.   

Butter Substitutes for Pan Cooking

  • Ghee (Clarified Butter): Having a high smoke point, it is a great alternative commonly used. Some other benefits are an aromatic & nutty taste. It has no casein or lactose, so it is safe for people with milk allergy. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties and contributes to a healthy digestive system.
  • Olive Oil: is better than any other refined oils. Being monounsaturated fat & high in antioxidants, it is good for the skin, heart health & for lowering cholesterol.
  • Coconut Oil: In south India, coconut oil is a part of many recipes. Its delicious to cook with & rich in healthy fats that actually boost fat burning in your body. It also provides quick, sustainable energy to your brain and helps you focus.

Substitutes for Baking Purposes  

Butter functions as a leavening agent in baked goods and provides texture and flavor. It can be replaced by ghee (clarified butter), coconut oil & olive oil in baked goods. However, the ratio of these while substituting butter have to be kept in mind.

There are some more foods that work best as butter replacements in cakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and quick breads. However replacing butter with foods is often a matter of trial and error.

  • Applesauce: significantly reduces the calorie and fat content of baked goods. Yet, it does add sweetness, so you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in recipes.
  • Avocados: These add nutrients and healthy fats to your recipes. Use dark ingredients like chocolate to cover up the green tint that may result from using avocados.
  • Mashed Bananas: Using mashed bananas provides extra nutrients and decreases the calorie and fat content. Add bananas slowly to the batter until you achieve the desired consistency.
  • Hung Curd: If dairy is not an issue, using Greek yogurt/hung curd adds protein to your recipes and replaces sweetness with a tangy flavor. Full-fat curd is best for keeping baked goods creamy and tender.
  • Nut Butters: Nut butters infuse baked goods with a nutty taste and tend to make them more dense and heavy. Still, keep in mind that they’re high in fat and calories.
  • Pumpkin Purée: This is a nutrient-rich butter replacement. Use 3/4 the amount of pumpkin purée when substituting for butter.

Substitutes in Spread

Butter is widely used as a spread for bread, crackers, and other food items. The following foods have consistencies that are ideal for spreads, in addition to being tasty and nutritious.

  • Nut Butter: Peanut and almond butter can easily be spread onto toast or crackers. They are delicious as well!
  • Cheese or Hung Curd: Try cottage cheese, cream cheese, or hung curd if you can tolerate dairy. You can also add some herbs & finely chopped veggies to enhance flavor.
  • Avocado: Lightly spread a tablespoon or two of ripe avocado over toast & sprinkle some salt, pepper & dry herbs mix.
  • Hummus: also works great for spreading and dipping.

We hope this article helped you in your quest to substitute butter. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below! For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce  

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Why is it Difficult to Make a Lifestyle Change?

lifestyle
In a user story I recently wrote, the player said, “Making a lifestyle change is easy. What is difficult is the commitment to follow through with determination”. Rightly so, it’s indeed considered a tall order and hence, many give it up midway. Most consider it forced, rather than a positive change to bring about within themselves.

This very attitude and constant cribbing of people around me prompted me to write this piece on why is it so difficult to make a lifestyle change?

Many of us have tried it at some point in our lives. Some of us have succeeded, while many have found it extremely taxing. Making a lifestyle change is challenging, especially when you want to transform many things at once. Lifestyle changes are a process that takes time and requires support and lots of patience.

lifestyle1

Here are a few tips that you could follow from my personal experience:

1. Start Small

After you’ve identified realistic short-term and long-term goals, break them into small steps that are well defined, that can be managed and measured. If your long term goal (6-8 months) is to lose 20 kilos, then a good goal would be to reduce about 2 kilos a month in a healthy way.

Physiologically smaller goals give you a sense that it’s achievable and keep you motivated for the long term goal. Look at healthy eating options. Eat smaller, balanced meals at regular intervals. Replace a dessert with a healthier option, like Yoghurt. At the end of the month, you’ll feel successful knowing you met your goal.

2. Change One Behavior at a Time

It is said that old habits die hard. It is simply because behaviors develop over the course of time. Replacing then will take a while. Focus on one goal at a time. If need be, get professional help to understand what changes you need to bring within yourself to become healthy and fit. The problem arises when you try to change things really fast. Take it slow!

3. Have a Buddy, a Personal Coach or a Trainer

It can be anyone from a friend, to a  family member, a co-worker or your personal trainer. Your buddy and you can go for a walk, cycle or run together and keep each other motivated and charged. You can challenge each other to create some excitement in your training and make sure that it is not boring. Having someone with whom you can share your struggles and success makes the work easier and the mission less intimidating.

4. Make a Plan That You Will Stick To

You will have to devise a plan in such a way that it will be your guide. Think out of the box and have things in your plan which you have never done before. For instance, an adventure or sports climbing (artificial wall climbing). But, don’t go haywire and be specific. Manage time well.

Detail the time of the day when you want to exercise, how long you want to exercise or when you can take walks and how long you’ll walk. Maintain a diary in which all your tasks are jotted down and ask yourself if these activities and goals are realistic for you. If not, then start with baby steps.

5. Have Support Around You

Having people around you to support you while you are on your journey will keep you away from slacking. Don’t feel shy to ask for support wherever and whenever needed. If you feel you are unable to meet your goals on your own, get help!

6. Self-Motivation

All the above points will help you in your journey to change your lifestyle. But the biggest factor of all and one of the most important factor is being self-motivated. No matter how many buddies you have, no matter what support your dear and near ones will give you, no matter how good a plan you make, none of this will be effective till the time you are self-motivated and want to make the change.

Do it for yourself, do it on your own and feel good at the end of it all!

Making the changes that you want takes time and commitment. You can do it! Just remember that no one is perfect. You will have occasional lapses. Be kind to yourself. When you eat a brownie or skip the gym, don’t give up. Minor bumps on the road to your goals are normal and okay. Resolve to recover and get back on track.

If you find yourself in need of a little extra support and motivation on your journey to a healthier lifestyle, then subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here. And, if you’re looking for more tips and advice on improving your overall well-being, you can find a bunch of helpful articles here.

#BeTheForce

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