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How To Fight Junk Food Cravings While Working From Home

Fight Junk Food cravings

While working from home, it’s quite easy to get swayed by all the delivery options we have around home. That favorite fast food chain, greasy burgers at the corner of the road and pizzas with extra cheese! Sounds breathtakingly delicious but gorging on all this junk food can be detrimental to your health. When we indulge in junk food, especially at home where we get little to no physical activity, our body gets a sense of pleasure, often due to the salty or sweet nature of these foods. The neurotransmitters of our brain make us want to keep coming back for more. So how can you fight junk food cravings? 

Simple Tips To Fight Junk Food Cravings 

Whether you’re working from home or you’re back at the office, here are some simple tricks to help you avoid these cravings. 

  • No skipping meals: The work from home scenario has led to irregular eating habits. When the stomach growls with hunger, we automatically reach out for our phones and end up ordering for food. Sticking to preparing and eating food at the same time every day can help you manage these cravings effectively. 
  • Stock healthy food: like fruits and dry fruits. Have dates and anjeer if you have a sweet craving and popcorn and makhana for salty cravings. When healthy food is available , you will eat healthy. In fact, try this Ultimate Healthy Chivda recipe! 
  • Soups: Soup is a perfect blend of health and taste. Since it contains a good amount of stock, it helps to bring satiety. A hot cup of soup in the evening is a good way to curb hunger and avoid junk food. You can try some of these Healthy Soup Recipes! 
  • Protein rich food: One of the lesser known reasons for that unsatisfied hunger pangs is lack of protein in the diet. Most junk food is made up of simple carbs which fills as well as empties the stomach quickly. Protein on the other hand, provides fullness and as a result, we can easily ride over that wave of junk food craving. Cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and eggs are protein rich snacks.
  • Hydration: There’s a difference between hunger and thirst. Majority of the time when hunger strikes, it could just be thirst.
  • Stress: can be a major underlying factor for faulty eating habits. If we fix the stress part first, junk food cravings will be easy to manage.
  • Sleep: When we are deprived of sleep, the craving for junk food increases. So catching up with 6-7 hours of sleep on a daily basis, and not just weekends, can go a long way in controlling these unwanted urges to eat and overeat.

Try these tips to fight junk food cravings and we’re sure you will see visible changes to your health and lifestyle. Small, consistent efforts go a long way. Do let us know if this helped in the comments below! 

For more tips on living healthy, check out Healthy Reads or join our team of experts on GOQii Play. To get these tips and tricks directly from a certified expert, subscribe to get your own GOQii Coach here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Eat Healthy & #BeTheForce 

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Home Safety Tips To Prevent Falls In Older Adults

prevent falls in older adultsAs you grow older, physical changes and health conditions, as well as the medications used to treat those health conditions, can lead to falls in older adults. So, it’s very important to make sure that the older adults at home are safe. If you’re an older adult or have someone older who stays with you, here are a few things you can do to ensure their safety and prevent falls. 

Tips To Prevent Falls In Older Adults 

  1. Pack up Clutter: The best way to prevent falls is to keep your home neat and tidy. Take away all clutter such as stacks of old newspapers, boxes, magazines and electrical cords, particularly from hallways and stairways.
  2. Repair tripping hazards: Sometimes home fixtures can contribute to falls which can result in injuries. Examine each area of the house, looking for things such as loose carpet, holes or long threads in carpet, slippery throw rugs or wood floorboards that stick up. Then repair, take away or replace those things to prevent falls.
  3. Install grab bars and handrails: These safety devices are essential for going up and down stairs, getting on and off the bathroom, stepping in and out of the bathtub while not injuring you. Use a shower seat, which permits you to sit down while showering. If you live in an apartment on a higher floor, you can request the society to make these additions or repair handrails if not sturdy.
  4. Avoid wearing loose clothing: Loose fitting garments can make you more likely to fall. Select better-fitting and properly hemmed clothing that doesn’t drag on the floor.
  5. Adequate lighting: To make a home that is more safe for older adults, install brighter, light-weight bulbs wherever required, particularly in stairways and narrow hallways. Place night lights in the bedroom and bathroom.
  6. Make it non-slip: Bathrooms as well as floors in kitchen, toilet, and porches can become more dangerous once wet. To prevent fall on smooth surfaces, prefer non-slip mats. Secure loose rugs with round faced tape, tacks or a slip resistant backing. Use self-adhesive, non-skid mats or safety treads in bathtubs and showers. Place non-slippery rugs on bathroom floors and pads under rugs on clean floors.
  7. Choose footwear wisely: Consider changing your footwear which should be properly fitted, durable shoes with non-skid soles to prevent falls. You can also purchase non-slip socks that have grips on the soles of the feet if shoes are uncomfortable.
  8. Make sure that chairs and beds are durable and easy to get into and out of & that tables and benches don’t have sharp corners.
  9. Differentiate between the stairs: Ageing eyes might not be able to separate one step from the next. To help, you may try replacing the carpet on every step to make the steps easier to identify. In the case of bare steps, try painting each step a unique color. You can request your society to do this if you live in an apartment. Every older adult in your building will benefit from this! 

We hope these tips help you prevent falls in older adults at home! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on the health and wellness of senior citizens, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to classes on GOQii Play. 

To get more tips directly from your GOQii Coach, sign up for personalized coaching now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu   

#BeTheForce 

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Healthy Ayurvedic Concoctions To Boost Immunity

ayurvedic concoctionsAyurveda, the “Science of Life” is an invaluable treasure to India from our ancestors which is trending even in the second wave of the current pandemic. According to classical texts, the aim of Ayurveda is “To maintain the health of a healthy person through prevention and to treat the health issues of a sick person”. Our body needs to maintain good metabolism and immunity to fight against foreign invaders like germs and other external disease-causing factors. So, it is critical for us to maintain and boost our immunity on a regular basis to maintain our health. Ayurvedic concoctions are the best and easy choice to make at home yourself and have it frequently.

Ayurvedic Concoctions can be basically made with dry herbs, or dry herb powders or some of the fresh herbs too. As the herbs are boiled in water, the water absorbs all the therapeutic properties from the herbs making it better for digestion and absorption into our body.

5 Varieties of Ayurvedic Concoctions For Immunity 

1. Turmeric-Pepper Concoction

Ingredients:

  • Turmeric powder –  ¼ tsp
  • Black pepper Powder –  ¼ tsp
  • Jeera –  ¼ tsp
  • Water – 1 glass
  • Lemon – 1 tsp 
  • Himalayan Pink salt/Sea salt/Rock salt  –  ¼ tsp

Method: Mix turmeric, pepper and jeera in water and boil it for 3-5 mins to bring it down to 1 cup of concoction. Add lemon and salt before you sip the warm concoction.

Benefits: 

  • The Cucumin in Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and has an immune modulatory effect which enhances metabolism and boosts immunity.
  • Piperine in Black Pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin making it a good combination with Turmeric. It is a rich antioxidant that prevents cell damage, increases  the absorption of essential nutrients like calcium and selenium, helps in easy digestion, and controls blood sugar levels.
  • Jeera is a great source of iron besides potassium, helps in building immune system
  • Lemon, high in Vitamin C can fight against bacterial and viral infections by enhancing immune system

2. Fenugreek-Coriander Concoction

Ingredients:  

  • Fenugreek/Methi seeds – ½ tsp
  • Coriander/Dhaniya seeds – ½ tsp
  • Water – 1.5 glass
  • Milk (Optional) – ¼ cup
  • Jaggery –  ¼ – ½ tsp 

Method: Soak Methi and Coriander seeds in 1.5 glass of water for 30-60 mins. Boil it for 5-8 mins to reduce it to ¾ cup. You can add milk at this stage and boil it for 1 more minute. Turn the heat off and add jaggery just before drinking.

Benefits:

  • Methi/Fenugreek may help to reduce the risk of bacterial fungal and viral infections. It generates heat in the body and is excellent for Kapha dominant people with weaker immunity.
  • Coriander has powerful antioxidants that prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals.
  • Jaggery is a natural sweetener rich in iron, zinc, and selenium.

3. Pomegranate Peel Concoction

Ingredients:

  • Peel of half pomegranate
  • Raw Honey – 1 tsp 
  • Water – 1 glass

Method: Boil a glass of water. Put the pomegranate peel in the boiling water. Let it boil for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover it for 15 minutes. Add 1 tsp of honey to the concoction, before you sip it warm.

Benefits:

  • Pomegranate peels help in restoring overall health. It acts as a liver detox. It soothes sore throat and stomach infections. It helps in dental hygiene and promotes healthy cell growth.
  • Pomegranate peels can be dried and stored as a powder or peel to use it for a long time.
  • Raw honey has healing, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Phytonutrients in honey can boost the immunity.

4. Licorice-Ginger Concoction 

Ingredients:

  • 1 inch Licorice root or ¼ tsp of licorice powder
  • 2-3 slices of ginger or ¼ tsp of ginger powder / ginger paste
  • Water – 1 glass
  • Raw Honey – 1 tsp 

Method: Heat 1 glass of water. Add ginger powder and licorice powder. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Add 1 tsp of honey before you enjoy this concoction.

Benefits: 

  • Licorice Cleanses respiratory system as it is a strong decongestant, a natural remedy for cold, cough, sore throat, and flu
  • Ginger is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory in nature and helpful in reducing cough. It also enhances the immune response and is good for digestion

5. Onion-Cinnamon Concoction

Ingredients:

  • Onion – 1 small (diced) 
  • Cardamom Powder – ½ tsp
  • Cinnamon Powder – ¼ tsp
  • Water – 2 cups 
  • Jaggery – 1 tsp 

Method: Bring 2 glasses of water to boil, add all the ingredients and bring it down to 1 cup of liquid.  Simmer for 15 mins and sip it while it is warm.

Benefits:

  • Onions are rich in flavonoids that help in fighting infections and inflammation. It is extremely useful in strengthening the capillary walls of the lungs and prevents the damage of bronchial tubes in any respiratory infections
  • Cardamom and Cinnamon are anti-inflammatory and effective remedies for cold, and flu as they impart warmth to our body. Both spices are among the ingredients in most commonly used Ayurvedic cough medicines like Sitopaladi churna and Thaleesapatradi churna.  

These Ayurvedic Concoctions can be consumed once at any time of the day for about 2-3 days in a week preferably with a gap to maintain the metabolism and boost the immunity. Children under the age of 12 can have ½ a cup of any of these. People with diabetes should be cautious about the amount of honey and jaggery that they add – lesser the better. These are just preventive remedies and effective with mild symptoms of flu or cough and cold. Medical advice is always suggested with moderate to severe symptoms.

Before trying any of these, do consult your doctor in case you have any allergies. Try these Ayurvedic Concoctions at home and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more Ayurvedic Remedies or immunity boosting tips, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to GOQii Play. 

To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu

Stay home, stay safe, boost your immunity and #BeTheForce

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All About Digital Detox: Part 2

digital detoxYou might have understood the basic idea about digital detox in the first part of this article. In this part, I’ll be sharing how you can actually digitally detox! I promise, after reading this, you will definitely want to give it a try. 

What Happens To Your Brain and Body During a Detox? 

Here are some good things that you can expect during a digital detox:

  • Spending some time away from your phone that regularly beeps can result in a calmer state of mind.
  • Staying away from social media can make you more productive and your memory power may improve.
  • Your mind will be more clear & focused.
  • You may have lower anxiety & stress levels.
  • Growing awareness about how you use technology.
  • Improvement in sleep quality.
  • Better posture & reduced tech neck.
  • Improved social life as you connect with people in reality & eye contact will become a thing again.
  • Better engagement with yourself and the world around you.

Challenges You Might Face 

  • It will be uncomfortable at first as you might feel alone or disconnected.
  • The thought of quitting the digital detox will fill your mind recurrently, but it will lessen over time.
  • You may feel you are missing out even if there is nothing to miss out on other than pictures & gossips.
  • Boredom will try to deter you as you might feel uncomfortable without having something to do.
  • You might feel unproductive at first.
  • Other people may directly or indirectly pressure you to quit.
  • You might find it challenging to go out without a phone.

Easy Steps To Do A Digital Detox 

For many of us, quitting gadgets completely is not at all possible. But here are few practical and easy ways you can try to have a taste of digital detox.

  1. First step in your digital detox journey can be observation of your daily digital involvement time. This will reinforce you to make a change and unplug.
  2. Clean your device. Delete old apps and social media accounts.
  3. Have a device free morning. Do not check your phone as soon as you wake up. In fact, keep your phone away during bedtime.
  4. Choose a day in a week when you will stay away from gadgets. On this day, focus more on health, meditation and spend time with family.
  5. Turn off notifications as they distract you constantly. Set a time for checking messages, emails and notifications.
  6. While reading, eating and doing some work when you need to focus, keep your phone out of sight in another room, or turn it on silent or vibration mode.

How Do You Ensure Digital Detox Success? 

  • Consider doing it during vacation or start with weekends if you have a technology focused job.
  • Commit loudly: Let your family & friends know that you will not be available on social media during a particular period of time & ask for their help & support.
  • Fill the void: Plan, in advance, some ways to stay distracted and some other activities/ hobbies in hand to keep you busy.
  • To reduce temptation and easy access, delete social media apps from your phone.
  • Keep a track of your progress and write down your thoughts & experiences.
  • Plan for real meetings with your friends and family or simply go for a walk when you feel most tempted to use your gadgets.

Going device free might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but if you can just start doing it, you will find it much more rewarding. So try this detox over the coming weekend and share your feedback in the comments below! 

For more tips on improving mental health, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, sign up for our personal coaching service now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu

#BeTheForce 

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]