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Archives for December 2023

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Revolutionizing Global Healthcare: The Role of Rewards and Gamification in Preventive Health

In recent years, healthcare strategies have shifted towards proactive measures to prevent illnesses. Among these innovative approaches, the use of reward mechanisms and gamification has emerged as a powerful tool in motivating individuals to prioritize their health. GOQii, a smart preventive healthcare company, has been instrumental in adopting these strategies, harnessing their potential to empower individuals in managing their well-being.

The fundamental principle behind these methods is the encouragement of healthy behaviour through incentives. Unlike conventional models, this approach focuses on rewarding individuals for adopting preventive measures rather than solely relying on reactive healthcare solutions.

The integration of reward mechanisms and gamification in GOQii’s preventive healthcare ecosystem represents a paradigm shift in engaging with healthcare. By incentivizing preventive measures and empowering individuals with control over their health, these strategies hold the promise of a healthier, more connected, and proactive global healthcare landscape. GOQii’s commitment underscores the importance of preventive health, paving the way for a healthier tomorrow through technology-driven innovation and a focus on individual well-being.

One example of GOQii’s implementation of this strategy is its provision of tangible rewards to users engaging in healthy habits. Through their comprehensive health ecosystem of fitness wearables, personalized coaching, nutritional guidance, and mental wellness programs, GOQii encourages users to earn rewards by actively engaging in healthy habits. These earned rewards serve as tangible incentives for sustained efforts towards wellness.

Furthermore, GOQii’s initiatives extend beyond individual pursuits. By fostering community-driven health challenges, virtual fitness events, and educational campaigns, users contribute to a larger ecosystem promoting collective well-being and preventive health advocacy.

The adoption of these innovative strategies signifies a transformative approach where proactive health management is incentivized, enabling individuals to take control of their health journey. This convergence of technology, preventive healthcare, and incentivization marks a pivotal moment in reshaping the future of global healthcare.

#BeTheForce 

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Tips to Help You Manage Asthma During Winter

manage asthma during winterWinter is a little tough for most of us to deal with but for people suffering from asthma, it can be more challenging. When out, the cold air irritates the respiratory mucosa and exacerbates the symptoms. On the other hand, when you’re indoors, asthma triggers are present in the form of molds, pet dander and dust mites. When cold waves hit the airways or when asthma triggers enter the respiratory tract, the airways get into a spasm and produce more mucus which clogs the pathway and causes excessive coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath! So how exactly can one manage asthma during winter? 

Tips to Manage Asthma During Winter 

Apart from getting your flu vaccines before the onset of winters and being ready with all the prescribed medicines from your doctor, here are a few simple measures which will help you manage asthma during winter.

  1. Limit Outdoor Activities: To prevent the flaring up of asthma because of cold air, limit your outdoor activities, especially walking or outdoor sports. Workout in a gym or at home, which will prevent any shortness of breath and will also help in boosting physical fitness.
  2. Cover Your Face While Going Out: Drape a scarf over your mouth and nose or wear a winter mask covering the lower part of your face whenever you go out. It will warm the air up a bit before you breathe.
  3. Prevent Mold Formation In The House: Keep the house dry and clean to prevent the formation of molds. We can prevent the growth of dust mites and molds by ventilating the house, especially the kitchen and bathroom, with exhaust fans. Prevent moisture formation on hidden areas and dry all the wet places. Be sure to repair any leaky pipes, roofs and windows.
  4. Prevent the Spread of Infections: Cold and flu viruses are on the rise in winter and can exacerbate the symptoms of asthma. Prevent catching these infections by washing your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, using hand sanitizer whenever you’re out and maintaining distance from people who are infected.
  5. Keep Yourself Hydrated: Drinking good amount of liquids is helpful in thinning down the mucus in the lungs which can then be easily expelled. Lukewarm water, herbal teas, hot clear soups, etc. are quite effective in soothing sore respiratory mucosa. Avoid drinking cold water or cold beverages as cold irritates the respiratory mucosa and can exacerbate the attack.
  6. Use Essential Oils: Eucalyptus oil has been used since ages for various infections, predominantly asthma and bronchitis. Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in hot water and inhale the vapours for a few minutes. This will help you find relief from breathlessness! Lavender and Basil oils are quite effective as well.
  7. Include Anti-inflammatory Food Daily: Include Omega-3 fatty acids rich food like fish, flax seeds and nuts more regularly during winter. This will help reduce inflammation in the body. Antioxidant-rich foods like seasonal fruits, fresh and colourful vegetables also help in cleansing the body by destroying the toxins accumulated in the body cells. This helps in boosting the body’s immune response to various infections.
  8. Practice Yoga: Gloomy days in winter also contribute in increasing stress levels. High-stress levels can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Deep breathing exercises, as done in pranayama, can be helpful in improving lung efficiency in people with asthma as well as relieving the stress!

We hope this article helps you manage asthma during winter! If your symptoms get too severe, visit your doctor immediately. For home remedies and more information on asthma, you can ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce  

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Holiday Health Tip: It’s All In The Chew!

Holiday Health Tip: It's All In The ChewIt’s precisely between this week and January 1st when people tend to put on most of their weight. There are two reasons for this – The crazy festive season filled with weddings and parties and then Christmas, New Year Eve and the fact that people tend to let loose during this time, with the justification that they will start anew with  ‘healthy new year resolutions’ from January onwards.

  • What if I told you that you could enjoy this season and it would not impact your weight?
  • What if I told you that snacking on a cookie or dessert here or there would not impact your weight goals?
  • What if I told you that you could eat rice, roti (Indian flat bread), bread at lunch and dinner, and it would not impact your weight or health?
  • What if you could enjoy this festive season, have loads of fun, eat your favorite foods and still maintain your health and weight?

The human body is a miracle and we are living examples of this miracle. The way our brain and body functions, blood flow, smell, feelings, emotions, the ability to recover from the deadliest of diseases and the ability of our cells to heal and repair. Every day, trillions of cells in our body work non-stop to fight out germs and bacteria all around us, which if infects us, we could fall very sick and even die. That miracle is called ‘ immunity’.

Our stomach produces sufficient acid to melt down a razor blade. Such is the power of our digestive system. So what’s an ice-cream or a chocolate bar or a cookie going to do when it finds its way into our stomachs? Our body is made to digest the hardest of foods. Red meat is tough to digest but the body will break it down. Vegetarians don’t escape either. Cellulose in vegetables are extremely difficult to break down, but the body breaks it down eventually (this is one reason that vegetarians suffer from more flatulence than non vegetarians).

The body can break down meats and vegetables and desserts as well! The secret lies in the ‘chew’.  The reason food tastes so good is because you’re supposed to enjoy it—slow down and savor it, not just get it to your stomach as quickly as possible.

How Does Chewing Thoroughly Help? 

Chewing your food thoroughly is actually the first step in the complex process of digestion, and if you glaze over it, just chewing the minimum amount of times necessary to get the food down your esophagus, you’re actually compromising this process. And that’s the mistake many people make.

We have teeth not just to smile for a pretty picture but the primary function of teeth is to tear down and break up food into small bits. Saliva mixes with these small bits, further softening them, and guess what?

Let me get down to some basics!

Why Should You Chew Your Food Thoroughly? 

When you chew, more saliva gets produced and your saliva contains enzymes that break down FATS and CARBS. Yes!!! Digestion starts in the MOUTH! By the time your food reaches your stomach, it’s already processed by enzymes and your stomach has no issues in completing the assimilation/digestion process.

  • You feel light
  • You feel full for a longer period of time.
  • You do away with flatulence, gas, indigestion and burping.
  • You learn to savor and enjoy the taste of your food.
  • Your body absorbs all the goodness of your food (vitamins, minerals) better.
  • You eat exactly how much your body needs, to maintain or arrive at a healthy weight

Imagine all the times you gobble down your food. You have undigested chunks sitting in your stomach, giving rise to gas, discomfort and chances are that most of your food gets converted to fat.

Chew your food. Enjoy a dessert but eat it slow, savor it and over time, you will learn not to abuse it. The more you chew your food, the cleaner you keep your intestines, stomach and colon because the body can quickly cleanse itself when digestion happens the right way. Say bye to constipation, fatigue and migraines/headaches.

Try This Exercise Today!

The next meal, eat it really slow. Take a spoon of food, chew it several times, savor the flavor and taste, and then swallow. Put your spoon down. Then take the next.

You will find yourself getting fuller quickly and then, you should stop eating. This way you save on calories you intake and over time, this will become a habit and you will serve yourself less food. Less food equals less calories, better health, longer life and a healthy weight.

Take 1 serving spoon less at every meal, chew and eat your food. You will find that it is enough and all these save spoons of food which add up to a lot of calories saved. You will lose fat and you will feel healthier.

Diseases are caused in most cases by overeating and we always think how much we eat is enough, but it may not be correct if you have been eating your meals fast. Chew your food and you will never have to diet. Your meal time is more important that your work, respect it. That’s your personal time between you and your body, where you feed and nourish it to keep you healthy and strong to do your work and live well.

This is a lifestyle change and if you master it, you can enjoy all the foods you like in moderation.

We hope this article helps you make that lifestyle change. For more tips like this, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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Simple Tips to Keep Your Holidays Healthy and Fun

How To Stay Healthy On A Vacation!The holiday season is upon us! These next few days have celebrations after celebrations and it is also a time when most people choose to get married. With multiple weddings, get-togethers, picnics, outings or even vacations, how does one resist eating and not skip a workout? You don’t essentially need to be a monk. You can still enjoy and keep your holidays healthy! Here are some simple tips to help you keep your holidays healthy as well as have some fun at the same time!

On a Road Trip

  • Pack some homemade stuff to eat on the way. Have sandwiches made with multi-grain breads or whole wheat breads, plain or vegetable idlis, homemade cookies, cupcakes for kids, veg upma, boiled sprouts salad, chickpeas and so on.
  • Take a variety of seasonal or your favorite fruits. Carry nuts as well to curb hunger pangs that usually arise out of boredom.
  • Avoid roadside high-calorie, unhealthy foods! They are unhealthy and sometimes even unhygienic depending on where you eat from. Eating these in moderation also won’t help!
  • Keep yourself well hydrated. Keep drinking plain water. Carry juicy fruits such as watermelon, litchi or even better – coconut water or lemon juice.
  • Avoid aerated, sugary drinks and caffeinated energy drinks as they are high in calories and provide zero nutritional value. They will dehydrate your body making you feel thirstier.

On a Long Vacation Away From Home

Again, with a few careful steps, you will be able to keep your holidays healthy and indulge as much as you want!

  • Moderation is key! While in a new city, you definitely want to try the new and unique delicacies the place has to offer you. Eat them all! Just choose wisely and maintain portion control. You can achieve this by leaving the hotel with a filling and healthy breakfast.
  • Eat fruits and healthy drinks which will keep you full when you travel/explore. Avoid over stuffing yourself.
  • While sightseeing, prefer walking or cycling wherever you can. It is a fun way to burn calories and cover more ground.

 While Attending Parties

  • As a rule of thumb, don’t go too hungry or too full! Too hungry will make you overeat and too full will not allow you to savour the taste of all the delicacies that might be there!
  • Just eat some healthy snacks before leaving. Something like a salad, sandwich or fruit.
  • Don’t eat while meeting and talking to other guests. You will lose track of the food you’re eating. Finish your conversations and then eat carefully and mindfully!
  • Opt for healthier alternatives like green salad over a Russian salad or grilled items over fried items or fruit desserts over rich, creamy desserts.

Remember not to skip exercising. You can do a light workout when you wake up or when you get the time. Keep a resistance band handy as there are many exercises you can perform using one. If you need expert guidance, join our live, interactive sessions on GOQii PRO within the GOQii App. You can even reach out to a GOQii Coach for tips by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

Play it safe and play it wisely! If you keep everything in moderation and stick to healthy alternatives and exercise, you can make your holidays healthy and fun!

#BeTheForce

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