Search Results for: nutrition

November 13, 2016 By Niti Nirvan Leave a Comment

Customized Postnatal Health Plan with GOQii

Being a mom in today’s world, involves juggling a job, your chores, errands and ofcourse your family. Squeezing in some “me time” among the hustle and bustle seems close to impossible with all tasks already laid out on your schedule. But as the tale goes, catering to your health and throwing in some exercise goes a long way in assisting you with all that is lined up in your daily to – do list. We can help you build a customized postnatal health plan for shedding weight, which includes a diet and exercise plan. You will be able to interact with a doctor, who will be able to assist you with your postnatal health.

Making You A Part Of Your Day

Formulating a good exercise regime is vital to attain fitness goals. It is always good to get in your daily routine first thing in the morning. While a day is full with meetings, and other household tasks, there is a very good chance you may neglect a workout or find an excuse to skip it. Working out in the morning, not only gets your daily exercise out of the way, also sets up your tone for the rest of the day. It boosts metabolism and also the endorphin released helps to spike up your mood and increase energy levels.

Another important fact to keep in mind is that a nutritious diet assists in reaching your fitness goals. Finding time to prepare meals to attain a balanced nutrition is sometimes difficult. You should incorporate essential nutrients in every meal that you take. After delivery it is often paramount to lose the additional pounds you have packed on during pregnancy. In the first few months post delivery, the weight sheds off quite effectively, couple in breastfeeding, and moms note a constant reduction in their weight. However, with time a plateau is attained, and pushing forward to lose more weight is where new moms struggle the most.

A diet conducive to weight loss consists of minimally processed carbohydrates and fat, and a diet rich in fibre, protein and high energy carbohydrates. While the former provides almost zero nutrition, the latter is packed with energy boosting components. This usually includes food like fruits, fresh green vegetables, high fibre carbohydrates in the form of brown rice, pasta and bread and protein sources include eggs, lean chicken, fish and legumes.

While all these are essential, putting plans into action is where the real conflict lies. A few tips include:

Setting a plan in writing: This makes you accountable and more likely to complete it. Noting it down as a task rather than a lingering thought will help you accomplish it daily.
Enlisting assistance: It is never a shameful thing to admit that you need help. Ask your spouse, friends and family, to help you with household chores and looking after your little one. Making time for yourself is crucial in order to look after your family.
Set realistic goals: While we all wish we looked a certain way, having a clear idea of what is achievable goes a long way. Start with a kilogram a week, and in no time you will find that you are able to achieve more than you set out to in the first place.
Choose what works for you: Be it a fitness regime or a diet, use what works for you. There are a plethora of options out there, when it comes to food as well as exercise regimes. Feel free to experiment and mix it up. Ultimately you will find something that suits you.

GOQii is teaming up with Babygogo

We are giving 10 lucky moms a chance to win GOQii 3 Month subscription with free fitness tracker band. To become a contender, starting from the 14th of November; you will have to be the mom with the best answer of the day on the Babygogo app. Answering the queries with the most informative answer automatically puts you in the running to become the mom with the best answer for the day. So go ahead and send in your answers to the queries on the Babygogo app, and stand a chance to win this exciting opportunity towards a healthy and happy you.

November 10, 2016 By Farida Gohil 1 Comment

Whole Grains slash Pre-Diabetes Risk!

Whole grains are packed with nutrients, including protein, fiber, B vitamins, anti-oxidants, and trace minerals (iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium). A diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some forms of cancer.

The addition of more whole grains into a healthy diet is associated with a decreased risk of deteriorating glucose tolerance, including progression from normal glucose tolerance to pre-diabetes, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

According to a research paper titled Food Product Design, dated Dec 26, 2012 published in Health and Nutrition, researchers at Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital investigated whether a higher intake of whole grains protects against the development of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes and tested for modulation by polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene. Participants included 5,477 Stockholm residents aged 35 to 56 years who were not diagnosed with diabetes and who kept food journals of how much whole and refined grains they consumed. Researchers measured blood glucose in study participants and followed up 10 years later.

Participants who ate 59 grams of whole grains a day had a 34% lower risk to deteriorate in glucose tolerance compared to those who ate 30 grams of whole grains a day. Risk reduction was significant in men, but not in women. Participants who consumed 59 grams of whole grains a day also had a 27% reduced risk of becoming pre-diabetic.

Whole grains are rich in fibre. Fibre in the diet does not allow the blood glucose levels to rise thereby controls the rise in sugar levels in the body. Fibre also helps in lowering cholesterol as it helps in decreasing the low density lipoprotein whch is bad cholesterol and increases high density lipoprotein which is good cholesterol.

What foods are in the grains group?

Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grain products.

It is advised that at least half the grains in your diet should be whole grains. Whole-grain versions of rice, bread, cereal, flour and pasta can be found at most grocery stores. Many whole-grain foods come ready to eat. These include a variety of breads, pastas and cereals.

Examples of whole grains include:

Barley
Brown rice
Buckwheat
Bulgur (cracked wheat)
Millet
Oatmeal
Popcorn
Whole-wheat bread, pasta or crackers
Wild rice

It’s not always easy to tell what kind of grains a product has, especially bread. For instance, a brown bread isn’t necessarily whole wheat — the colour may come from added colouring. If you’re not sure something has whole grains, check the product label or the Nutrition Facts panel. Look for the word “whole” on the package, and make sure whole grains appear among the first items in the ingredient list.

October 31, 2016 By Anusha Subramanian 1 Comment

Fitness as a lifestyle rather than crunching of data

Pavan Prabhakar is a busy corporate executive working with a leading IT firm in Bengaluru. Like every other busy professional his grouse was a sense of having no time for exercise and healthy eating. The worst was that he was aware that he was doing everything wrong but was nevertheless unable to rectify his situation. A suggestion from a colleague changed everything for him. Today, he is super active, he has lost weight and is even working towards running a marathon next year. Let’s understand from Pavan what and how things have changed for him in the last year.

I had a highly sedentary lifestyle. No exercise, No monitoring of what I eat or any kind of activity. It was a double whammy in the sense that I was neither attempting to check on what I was eating nor was I consciously attempting to do any exercise. All in all, there was zero discipline …in life…

I was aware of my issues and the only way I thought I could fix my situation was through a wearable (fitness tracker). I knew a fitness band can get me active and healthy. The only fitness band I knew of was Fitbit. But, a colleague of mine at work suggested GOQii and also explained the coach factor to me.

I researched online and read more on the coaching service. That is what attracted me to GOQii. I needed somebody knowledgeable to nag me and get me on track. I needed to get some discipline in Life and do the right things so as to be fit and healthy.

I came on board GOQii in Oct 2015 with the aim to get fit and active, control and manage my weight and train for a fitness event such as the marathon. After a few weeks of having GOQii, I noticed the changes within myself.

Today, life is more disciplined and I am addicted (in a positive way) to GOQii. Thanks to my coach I am doing all the right things. I have stopped snacking, I am eating healthily and also exercising daily. I am doing all those things which I thought was impossible to do.

The outcome of being active and eating right has resulted in my BP being controlled and 8 kgs of weight loss.. I also enrolled into a gym, on the insistence of my coach, for strength training. I do cardiovascular exercises and strength training in addition to walking. Tabata and Interval Training is also added to my routine now.

The GOQii band, according to me, is one of the best in its class. The whole concept of looking at fitness as a “Well-being solution” rather than just crunching data is what differentiates GOQii from the others. It is this differentiation that lured me toward it.

It’s been almost a year and have seen amazing results. The “Coach Concept” is like having a virtual well-wisher for you who keeps monitoring your steps, intake, and workouts. In addition, throughout the process, my coach is able to offer, some great advice. You also get some very informative (myths busted) nutrition-related mails from the master coach.

I am very happy to report that I am now addicted to the habit of watching my step count quite a few times a day…I am cognizant of what I eat, thanks to the log feature of the app. I go for regular walks. What was initially 20 minutes has now increased to 45 minutes.

I am hooked on to achieving my goals. I like to see myself getting the necessary step counts on a daily basis. From 7k steps, I increased to 9k steps and now I clock 15k steps daily. Soon, I am going to increase it to 20k steps. I am also happy that I now fit into my earlier clothes. And I have more energy! I have even reduced my coffee intake from 3 cups to 1 and stopped snacking.

Overall, I feel good about myself. I am more confident and my attitude towards life has changed. My goal going forward is to run a marathon.

What does Pavan’s coach Dhruvi Rathod have to say?

Rolling back to the day when I first spoke with Pavan, I figured he was clear in his head and knew what he was doing, what was right and what needed to be improved. There were quite a few things we discussed during the call -laying our focus on reducing weight and leading a healthy life.

It was not very difficult for me to convince and convey the concept of healthy, mindful eating with some regular workouts. With all the intentions to improve and create a healthier person, we started our journey with small changes like from walking for 20 mins to 45 mins daily, having balanced meals instead of unhealthy snacking, and having an increased water intake. It took but a few days for Pavan to incorporate all these changes.

Each time we connected to review our goals, we had more goals accomplished and always were ready to move forward to that “healthy self” he wanted to become

We inched ahead with inclusion of some high intensity exercises like Tabata, interval training. We supported it with some good nutrition by making pre and post workout snacks as a daily ritual.

Meanwhile, we also took up some challenges like completing 1 lakh steps in 10 days, doing a water detox, Doing 10 mins meditation etc..Pavan has been a quick learner and very open to try new things which are beneficial for his health…

He has become the model of what it means to create a truly healthy lifestyle rather than merely a collection of data points or biometric units.

‘Want to get featured here? Click Here to tell us your story.’

October 20, 2016 By Dr Anand Kulkarni 3 Comments

OSTEOPOROSIS

How often have you come across your parents, grandparents or an elderly relative who has had a minor fall in the bathroom, slipped on the floor or had a terrible jerk while travelling on a bumpy road and sustained fractures of bones with a lot of pain, suffering and disability.

It has been noticed that the culprit for such incidents is OSTEOPOROSIS.

Osteoporosis is one of the most common disabilities encountered in the elderly. It literally means POROUS BONE. The condition results in reduced density and increased fragility of bones resulting in higher risk of fracture with minor falls, cough, sneeze, or minor bumps.

The condition is observed worldwide. There are more than 10 million cases per year in India. In the USA about 55% of its population aged 50 years and older have Osteoporosis. One third have disabilities and one third regain their pre-fracture status. The health costs from fractures are tremendous amounting to billions of dollars annually.

It is very important to learn about osteoporosis because it is a ‘SILENT DISEASE’ except occasional bone pains. You may not know that you have osteoporosis until your thin weakened bones fracture in a bump or fall. The more common sites are Hip, Spinal Vertebrae and Wrist.

Clinical studies suggest that approximately 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men aged 50 years and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Such people in this age group usually present with chronic vague backache, loss of height, or stooping (Kyphosis) and should consult doctor immediately.

THE RISK FACTORS ARE,

Advanced age
Family history of osteoporosis
Early menopause
Short Stature
Lack of Exercise
Poor nutrition with lack of Calcium
Lack of Vitamin D
Chronic Cigarette Smoking and Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Medical Illnesses- like hyperthyroidism, surgical removal of ovaries, long term steroid therapy and rare inherited bone disorders like Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

SCREENING is advised for all elderly above 65 years of age and Men and Women less than 65 years of age who have increased risk of fracture or already suffered from fracture.

DIAGNOSIS – is by bone scan which measures-Bone Mineral Density (BMD). The test called DEXA (Dual Energy X ray Absorptimetry) gives indication of likelihood of fracture due to osteoporosis.

It is also used to monitor response to treatment.

Result.— T score a) ( -1) and above ——- normal

b) (-1) to ( -2.5) ——- mild bone loss or osteopenia
c) ( -2.5) and below —- osteoporosis

Our aim should be to prevent bone less or slow down the occurrence of Osteoporosis and encourage healthy bone mineralization.

Following measures are recommended:

Healthy Nutritional Diet – To be incorporated during childhood and adolescent period itself with adequate calcium and magnesium intake. Calcium intake should be 1000 to 1200 mg per day. Common calcium rich foods are dairy products, cheese, ragi, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, green beans, soy beans, okra, dates, egg, salt water fish and fruits like orange, figs.
Vitamin D intake of 800 IU per day is a must. We encourage exposure to SunLight and supplementation as Vitamin D requirement cannot be fulfilled through nutrition alone.
EXERCISE plays a major role. Weight bearing exercises like walking, playing golf, Dancing, Hiking, Racket sports like Tennis, Squash promote mineralization of bones and make them healthy. Muscle strengthening exercises like weight lifting benefit by increasing muscle strength and Non- Impact activities like YOGA help in balancing, posture, agility of joints and benefit people with osteoporosis by decreasing the risk of falls and fractures.

Studies have also reported an increase in BMD in the spine of those who do YOGA regularly. Exercise should be tailored to the individual person based on BMD report and medical condition in consultation with health care professional.

Other Lifestyle Changes – Have a Positive Attitude towards Life, avoid the use of tobacco and Cigarette Smoking, moderate alcohol intake if any, and measures to avoid falls like having railings, avoid slippery floors, having a mat or carpet on the floor helps etc.

Medications—You may also require osteoporosis medications to either build or maintain bone density. People have been treated with medications like Bisphosphonates, Hormone Therapy in Women, Calcitonin, Parathyroid Hormone. Stem Cell Therapy is also being tried out in severe cases.

But, any of these modalities of treatment should be undertaken in consultation with your Doctor. The doctor is the only one who will be able to decide the right treatment for you weighing the benefits and risks of the therapy.

Cultivate healthy living and enjoy life!

Customized Postnatal Health Plan with GOQii

Whole Grains slash Pre-Diabetes Risk!

Fitness as a lifestyle rather than crunching of data

‘Want to get featured here? Click Here to tell us your story.’

OSTEOPOROSIS

From Shimla’s Slopes to Chandigarh’s Sidewalks: Surinder Kaur Bhalla’s Journey from Chaos to Control

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

Devesh Srivastava Lowers His HbA1c from 6.7 to 5.8 With GOQii

Transforming Health and Life: Dhiren Matani’s Inspirational Journey to Wellness