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Prioritize Prostate Health: Recognizing Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer for a Healthier You

We just celebrated International Men’s Day on November 19th, a day to honour the amazing contributions men make to our lives and society. But amid these celebrations, there’s one thing we often forget—men’s health, especially prostate health.

While we appreciate and applaud men on this special day, it’s vital to talk about the health challenges they face, with prostate health often ignored in our health conversations. Let’s start a dialogue about men’s health issues, with a focus on prostate health. It’s time we give this important aspect the attention and care it deserves, making our health conversations more holistic and inclusive.

Many men tend to ignore the strange symptoms they experience. They don’t want to complain or draw attention, so they keep quiet and hope it goes away. But sometimes, things get worse and they end up in the hospital with problems like trouble urinating and feeling tired all the time. That’s when their loved ones get worried. And that’s when the doctor tells them they have prostate cancer. That’s the wake-up call, showing them how they neglected their health. This example shows the importance of knowing the warning signs of prostate cancer for better prostate health.

Prostate cancer is a serious health threat that affects millions of men worldwide. It’s crucial to educate men about its risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options, as early detection can make a big difference in outcomes. International Men’s Day is an opportunity to urge men to prioritize their health, get regular check-ups, and talk to their doctors about any concerns.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, with tens of thousands of new cases diagnosed every year. According to the Global Disease Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study of 2019, there were 94 million men aged 40 and above with prostate hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate) globally in 2019, a 70.5% increase from 51.1 million in 2000. Source: [Global Disease Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study of 2019]

It’s vital to raise awareness about prostate cancer, so men understand the risk factors, symptoms, and screening options. Early detection can greatly improve the chances of successful treatment and survival. Yet, many men skip regular check-ups and screenings, leading to late diagnoses and limited treatment choices. Moreover, social stigmas around men’s reproductive health often prevent open discussions and awareness about prostate cancer. It’s essential to learn about the potential red flags and preventive measures for optimal prostate health.

Warning signs of prostate cancer often show up as changes in urination, such as difficulty starting or stopping, weak flow, frequent night-time urination, or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. It’s important not to ignore these symptoms and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Other signs like blood in urine or semen, and pain in the pelvis, lower back, or hips could also indicate underlying problems that need medical attention, even though they might also be caused by non-cancerous conditions.

Moreover, general symptoms like unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or loss of appetite should not be overlooked. Individuals with a family history of prostate cancer should be especially careful about monitoring their prostate health due to increased risk.

Regular doctor visits for check-ups and screenings, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal exams, are crucial. These tests are not perfect, but they can help flag potential issues, leading to further diagnostic steps.

In summary, better prostate health means knowing the warning signs of prostate cancer and taking proactive steps. By being aware of symptoms, following regular check-ups and screenings, and discussing any concerns with your doctor, you can improve your prostate health and well-being. So, the next time you celebrate International Men’s Day, don’t forget to take care of your prostate health. It might just save your life!

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Low Calorie Open-Faced Sandwich for Weight Watchers

healthy recipeCraving for a quick snack? Want it to be healthy and aid your weight loss goals? This one is dedicated to weight watchers who wish to eat a low calorie, tasty sandwich! This is my personal healthy recipe for a good low-calorie open-faced sandwich.

Here’s what you will need:

  • Finely chopped purple cabbage (you can use normal cabbage) – 250 gm
  • Shredded carrots – ½ cup*
  • Finely chopped onions – ½ cup
  • Finely chopped fresh coriander leaves – ½ cup
  • Shredded paneer – ½ cup
  • Chilly ginger paste – 1 tbsp*
  • Salt to taste
  • Multigrain bread – 6 slices
  • Green chutney (coriander, garlic, chilly, ginger)
  • Butter or ghee for toasting

Method

  1. In a big bowl, add cabbage, carrot, onion, coriander and paneer and mix
  2. Add chilly ginger paste and salt to the mixture
  3. Take a multigrain bread and spread a tsp of green chutney, top the bread with 3 tbsp of vegetable mix. Repeat this process for all slices.
  4. Grease a pan with butter or ghee and put the slices with vegetable mixture on it to get toasted for 3 to 5 minutes on medium flame.
  5. Once the base of the bread is golden brown, remove it.
  6. Cut diagonally and serve immediately.
  7. Add some cheese on the prepared open bread sandwich if required

Highlights of the Low-Calore Open-Faced Sandwich

  • It has so much color on the plate and gives you the required antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals in a quick way
  • Reducing the use of an extra bread makes it a light snack
  • It tastes absolutely delicious!!

*Abbreviations: 1 cup = 200 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml

Do try this low-calorie open-faced sandwich, upload your pics on social media or the GOQii Arena and tag us! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or to get more advice on recipes, nutrition and diet tips for kids, subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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GHEE – For a healthier and beautiful life!

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I am not sure how many of you understand what’s ghee? Its homemade pure butter made from milk, preferably cows

Reading the title of this article you must be thinking Have I lost it?. How can Ghee give you a healthy and beautiful life? But, it’s true it can.

Ever since my childhood days I have enjoyed my meals with Ghee and the trend continues even today. Having said that let me clarify that despite having Ghee I have always been lean. Many would attribute this to my genes. Well, no it’s not because of my genes but, largely due to the lifestyle and the food I eat. However, I have come to realise this only now, as a nutritionist. And, a major contributor to my lean and mean body is GHEE.

You would wonder how could that be possible? Believe me it’s no rocket science. Ghee has been an essential part of our cooking and food from ancient days. Our grandparents ate loads of Ghee and yet had no health issues or any kind of blockage in their heart etc. and the best part is they were healthy in every which way- physically and mentally.

Cut to the present times: When I as a nutritionist recommend people to have ghee with their food on a daily basis they are pretty shocked. Some even give me dirty looks as though I have said something that I shouldn’t be saying. Most are worried and ask questions such as how will ghee make me healthy? Ghee is so unhealthy, your cholesterol levels can go up, it can give us heart ailments like a blockage, and certainly it cannot reduce my weight and make me thin. These questions are natural because in the last one decade, we have been told to avoid foods full of saturated fats including ghee because they would cause heart attacks.

Well, you will be surprised to know that this is not true. In fact, research has indicated that the frequency of heart attacks, high cholesterol levels, joint pain, etc, occur more due to the exclusion of ghee or cutting down on it on a daily basis. A 2010 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition meta-analysis that looks at many studies and was done by researchers at Harvard concludes, the evidence linking saturated fats to a higher risk of heart attacks is not convincing.

Let me clarify your doubts and explain to you the properties of ghee, so you understand why it is good to have ghee for your health. Ghee comprises of short, medium and long chain fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated. It also contains the most healthy and popular fats-Omega 3 and Omega 9 which are also known as essential fatty acids. Ghee also contains Vitamins A, D, E and K. Ghee when prepared from cow milk provides us with the highest natural sources of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which helps you to mobilize the stubborn fat in your body to energize you.

Ghee helps one in many ways. It is known to give longevity. Its elemental qualities balance the aging characteristics by enriching the living body.

For centuries now, Ghee has been used as a digestive and an elimination aid to rejuvenate one’s life. It gives one energy, sexual vitality, healthy skin and eyes. Can be used as a lubricant or joints and for alkali sing the blood.

The purity of ghee allows it to penetrate deep in the membrane (protective covering) of cells and nourish when it passes through it.

This is one of the reason that vitamins and minerals from food cooked in Ghee are considered much healthy. The assimilation of the nutrients in the body increases when suspended in a ghee matrix. Due to these inherent properties that ghee possesses, many herbal preparations use ghee as their main carrier oil.

SO all those who have kept ghee aside due to the fear of heart ailments and other health issues, get it back into your daily food routine and see the difference. Believe me you will only feel healthier and beautiful. Find high-quality Ghee at the GOQii Health Store here. For additional nutritional insights, explore Healthy Reads or for personalised information and guidance, subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Ignite the path to a healthier and more beautiful life!

#BeTheForce

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Top four reasons why diets fail?

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The battle of the bulge is on –any movement on the scale yet? “Losing weight is one of the top resolutions made every year, yet only 20 percent of people achieve successful weight-loss and maintenance,” says Jessica Bartfield, MD, internal medicine who specializes in nutrition and weight management at the Loyala Centre for Metabolic Surgery & Bariatric Care.

Despite the fact that two-thirds of Americans say they are on a diet to improve their health, very few are actually decreasing in size. According to Bartfield, “Dieting is a skill, much like riding a bicycle, and requires practice and good Instructions.” But, this is not a case unique to the Americans alone, it is the case with most people on the heavier side and who go on diets to lose weight. Their constant complaint is that they do not lose weight.

Here are top four reasons why dieters don’t lose weight?

  1. Underestimating Calories Consumed

Most people underestimate the number of calories they eat per day. Writing down everything that you eat-including drinks and “bites” or “tastes” of food – can help increase self-awareness. Pay attention to serving sizes and use measuring cups and spoons as serving utensils to keep portions reasonable. Foods eaten outside of the home tends to be in much larger portion sizes and much higher in calories. So try and look up nutrition information of your favourite take-out meal or restaurant and select a healthy meal before picking up the phone or going out to eat.

  1. Overestimating Activity and Calories burned

Typically you need to cut 500 calories per day to lose 1 lb (pound) per week. This is very difficult to achieve through exercise alone, and would require 60 minutes or more of vigorous activity every day. A more attainable goal would be to try and increase activity throughout the day and get a total of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most days of the week. Buy a tracker to track your steps; try to increase your goal of 10,000 steps per day. But, be careful – exercise is not an excuse to eat more!

  1. Poor Timing of Meals

You need a steady stream of glucose throughout the day to maintain optimal energy and to prevent metabolism from slowing down. Eat breakfast everyday within one hour of waking up, then eat a healthy snack or meal every two to three hours. Try not to go longer than 5 hours without eating a healthy snack or meal to keep your metabolism steady.

  1. Inadequate sleep

Studies have shown that people who get fewer than six hours of sleep have higher levels of ghrelin, which is a hormone that stimulates appetite, particularly for high-carbohydrate/high-calorie foods. In addition, less sleep raises levels of cortisol, a stress hormone which can lead to weight gain.

Avoid doing the above mentioned, avoid go on diets and have a normal balanced meal daily and you will be able to maintain your weight and health.

Good health practices are more than just learnt, they become a regular habit and a way of life.

If you found these tips valuable and have more questions or thoughts to share, drop a comment below! Explore more insights on maintaining a healthy diet through Healthy Reads. For personalized information and guidance, subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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