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Coconut-The Super Fruit & Its Many Benefits

Coconut uses and benefits

“Why are you eating a coconut? It’s so fattening!” This comment was directed at me once and I couldn’t hold myself back and burst into laughter. But, at the same time, I was not surprised at this question. Most people consider it to be a fatty fruit. If that is the case then all those who include it in their daily food intake should be fat. This should be the case not only in India but in many other countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Philippines where coconut is one of the main ingredients used for cooking.

Coconut can be consumed in various ways – fresh, dry form, coconut water, coconut oil, or coconut milk, etc. Interestingly, each form has its own significance. Coconut does have saturated fats (which is not as harmful as vegetable oil) but, it also has unsaturated fats (like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids), polyphenols, vitamin K, vitamin E and minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc and also dietary fiber.

Why Should It Be An Important Aspect Of Your Diet? 

  1. Coconut oil helps in healthy growth of hair and gives it a shine
  2. It helps control high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and atherosclerosis as it has 50 % lauric acid
  3. Thanks to its Vitamin E content, it helps in moisturizing all skin types and it does not have any adverse effect
  4. It increases immunity as it has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties thanks to Lauric acid and Capric acid. These properties also help in digestion and help one find relief from irritable bowel syndrome
  5. It improves the secretion of insulin, hence controls blood sugar levels as well
  6. It is good for the bones as it has Calcium and Magnesium
  7. It helps in healing damaged issues and infections
  8. MCT’s (medium chain triglycerides) present in coconut help reduce appetite

It is not only a fruit that can be eaten but, it also has water which you can drink. Just like the fruit, Coconut water also has many benefits! All we know about Coconut water is that it is a refreshing drink. While that is true, let’s delve a little deep to know more about it and its benefits.

Benefits of Coconut Water 

Besides less sugar, coconut water is packed with sodium, potassium, folic acid, B complex vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron minerals… So many nutrients in just 200ml of water! Drinking Coconut water not provides the aforementioned nutrients but it also helps in many ways to conquer health issues.

  1. It slows down the ageing process and also can be applied on eczema and acne
  2. It is good for digestion as it has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties
  3. It hydrates our body faster than normal water as it has natural electrolytes
  4. It is definitely healthier than fruit juices because it has fewer calories
  5. It has anti-carcinogenic and anti-thrombotic properties to reduce cholesterol levels
  6. It helps in finding relief from UTI and kidney stones as it acts a diuretic

Coconut water has 40-60 calories per 200ml – which is great for your health! More so, there are various uses for coconut oil as well! So what are you waiting for? Add this super fruit to your diet now!

We hope this article helps you! For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

Do leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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Time Management Can Change Your Life

How Time Management Can Help You

Time is a precious commodity. We all chase it but never have enough, given our busy schedules. Ever stopped to ask yourself why you keep running out of time? Ever wondered if you’re working in a systematic manner?

My father always said that there are two kinds of people:

  • Those who work hard
  • Those who work smart

Those who work hard, do their work without giving it a thought and work monotonously. The smart workers are those who do their work in a systematic and planned manner, adhere to time management and also enjoy what they are doing.

What Constitutes Time Management?

Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity.

To be successful is to manage your time well. It helps utilize the available time in an optimum manner to achieve one’s personal and professional goals. Without time management, you will not steer your life and you’ll eventually end up doing exactly what other people want you to do. Time management helps you take control of your life in the right manner. You decide what you want to do and where you want to go. Practicing time management has lots of benefits. Once you get a hang of it, you can work more, learn faster and play more.

How Does It Affect Your Health?

Today, work pressure has everyone stressed to the bone. More than often, people stay awake till morning trying to complete their work. During the day, they are seated with eyes glued to a machine. All these negatively impact the body and the mind. No physical activity means lack of movement in your joints, muscles and hence, one is prone to joint pains and other lifestyle diseases.

If you practice time management, you can complete your work and still have time to take care of your health. Believe me, you will start feeling positive. This in turn will help you be more stress-free. For most adults, sleep is the main factor that is compromised due to busy schedules. For students and professionals, moving about without sleep is a regular affair under the garb of wanting to achieve their targets. They may complete all their tasks, but do not realize that their mental and physical health is getting affected. Proper time management may prevent this.

Benefits of Time Management

  1. Increase in Productivity: Practicing time management can increase your productivity by helping you finish your work in the shortest possible time.
  2. Chances of Moving up the Ladder: In corporate sectors, the better you perform, the higher your chances of growth are. By managing your time, you could end up becoming a star performer in your organization
  3. Reduced Stress: If you manage your time well, you do not have to panic or push yourself to finish your work. You will get your work done at the said time, thus relieving you of stress and unnecessary work pressure.
  4. Higher Income: It is a well-known fact that in today’s world, time reciprocates money. Managing your time helps you accommodate more time to take up new assignments, opening up many more doors of opportunities.
  5. Boost in Self-Confidence: If you are completing your work within a given time frame and delivering quality as well, it will certainly boost your self-confidence and be fruitful for your career advancements.
  6. Stronger Family Bonds: Time management will help you spend quality time with your family and friends, which seems next to impossible these days. Time management helps you maintain a fine balance between your professional and personal life. Your family bonding will be much better.
  7. Better for Health: For better health, you need at least 7 to 8 hours of sound sleep. If you spend the whole night finishing your pending tasks, then you are certainly evoking great health hazards. There are many health related irregularities which are caused by lack of sleep.

All of the above explanations prove that the benefits of managing your time are irrefutable. Life is all about accomplishments and enjoyments. Efficient time management is the only instrument which helps you find both. You can’t allow yourself to sink under the files of pending tasks and persistently overlook your family responsibilities or personal necessities. Adopt a proficient time management technique to lead a balanced and prosperous life.

Have you been unable to manage your time or excel in managing it? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

For more articles like this, check out Healthy Reads. If you want to set a schedule to help you manage your time and health better, speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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Natural Remedies For Gas and Bloating

gas and bloatingEver eaten something that made you feel uneasy? Did it turn your stomach into a balloon? Does this happen all the time? Well, you’re a victim to gas and bloating! It can be a terrible experience after you’ve thoroughly enjoyed your meals. There are several reasons for gas and bloating. So let’s understand them and look at a few remedies that will help you out. 

What Is Gas and Bloating? 

During digestion, a good amount of gas is released in the abdomen. This is because digestion involves acids secreted by the stomach cells to break food into smaller components. When your stomach bloats, it’s actually excess gas in the digestive tract. The entire gas and bloating issue is caused due to indigestion, eating at a fast pace, irregular meals or overeating. At times, conditions such as lactose intolerance, premenstrual syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and some other medicinal after effects may also be the cause for gas and bloating. 

Are There Any Easy Home Remedies? 

Of course there are! You don’t need to rush to the hospital for gas and bloating. You can treat it easily with certain lifestyle or diet modifications which will surely work if followed with discipline and consistency. Some of these remedies are as follows:

  1. Probiotics: The calcium components present in curds or yoghurt bind to the stomach acid and can relieve bloating. You can have a cup of curd or unflavoured yoghurt or a glass of buttermilk along with meals to avoid this issue.  
  2. Fennel Seeds: contain extra estragole, anethole, fenchone that can cure indigestion fairly quickly. Soak one tsp fennel seeds in 500 ml water and boil it till it reduces to 400 ml. Keep sipping on a cup of this water after meals or drink a glass on an empty stomach.
  3. Lemon Water: Lemons are naturally diuretic when added to warm water which will push fluids out of the body, thus reducing all the salt retained in the body, helping you avoid gas and bloating. This is best when taken on an empty stomach. 
  4. Ginger: It stimulates the body’s digestive enzymes and helps relieve inflammation by protecting the lining of the stomach. It is best when taken by boiling shreds of ginger in water after meals. 

The above suggestions not only relieve gas and bloating but can also help prevent stomach ulcers from forming in the future. We hope this article helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

For more easy and effective home remedies, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

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A Quick 6 Minute Workout You Can Do Anywhere

fitness

With the gloomy weather and continuous downpour, it can get difficult to venture out to get some of that essential exercise. But don’t let the heavy rainfall keep you from working out. Get fit at home with this quick 6 minute workout! It is designed to help you reap all the benefits of a workout using only your body weight, a chair and a wall. You won’t need any special equipment and can perform this routine anywhere! We’d say it’s perfect for a rainy day!

The Quick 6 Minute Workout

  1. Jumping Jacks: This classic cardio move is a great way to warm up. It improves strength and endurance, increases metabolic rate, burns calories and is great for your heart and lungs as well!
  2. Wall Sit: Wall Sits are great in working out the two groups of muscles in your thighs. Repetitions of Wall Sits would naturally give you thighs that can withstand prolonged strenuous activities.
  3. Push-Ups: work many muscle groups at the same time, giving your body a full workout! You can work the quads, hamstrings, calves, chest, shoulders and arms all at the same time with a few push-ups. It stimulates metabolism and blood circulation, allowing you to burn more calories throughout the rest of your workout.
  4. Abdominal Crunch: Crunches work on the Rectus Abdominis Muscles. It is a core working exercise and burns less calories comparatively but, they move in a controlled manner, flexing and releasing the core muscles, thus helping you build abs.
  5. Step Up Onto Chair: This exercise is great for targeting your quad and Gluteus Maximus Muscles, giving you strong, powerful legs.
  6. Squats: are great for a total lower body workout. They effectively work most of the major muscle groups of the butt, hips and thighs. Squats are also a versatile exercise. Squats engage the core muscles of the body. The result is a tighter, flatter abdomen and a stronger lower back.
  7. Triceps Dips On Chair: It is a triceps-strengthening and a most effective body-weight exercise. Dips target your triceps – the muscles on the back of your upper arm.
  8. Planks: help in strengthening the midsection, upper-body and lower-body muscles along the front of your body. Planks also strengthen the inner core muscles that support your joints. It helps in reducing belly fat and back pain. At a time, it works on all your core muscles.
  9. High Knees Running: This is a nice warm-up. High Knees Running on Spot is good practice for runners and athletes to improve running form and develop lower body muscles. It also enhances your strength, speed, balance and flexibility. What’s more? It provides you more energy, burns calories, builds muscles and enhances blood circulation.
  10. Lunges: are easy-to-learn, safe and an incredibly effective exercise. Lunges target the quadriceps, but involve additional muscles, including the glutes, hamstrings, calves and core muscles, making them an important exercise for toning the lower body.
  11. Push-Up & Rotation: This exercise is great for building shoulder stabilization and strengthening your entire core. Don’t let your hips drop when you go into side rotation. Try to keep everything in a straight diagonal line throughout.
  12. Side Plank: works your entire core but particularly targets an often weak muscle called the Quadratus Lumborum. It helps to reduce risk for lower back pains, improves your balance and structure.

Perform the above exercises in rapid succession with 20 seconds for each exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest in between. Don’t forget to stretch before you begin!

These 6 minutes that you will give to your body and your health are equal to 0.5% of your day! So go out there and get fit the HIIT way! Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Find more exciting, quick workouts and fitness related articles here. You can also tune in to our live, interactive classes on GOQii PRO, where our certified fitness experts will guide you on the correct form and posture in real time, while making sure that you are well motivated! Book a class now from the GOQii App.

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