GOQii

Blog

Search Results for: breathing

By 1 Comment

92.3% of Indians do not trust the healthcare system in India: GOQii India Fit report 2018

Lead Trust 2018-01-11

An alarming new report from GOQii, the smart preventive healthcare company has revealed the trust index that Indians have on the healthcare system and the extent of the health crisis facing the citizens of this country. The key findings paint a grim picture of the Indian healthcare system as well as of the average Indian as being inactive, an overweight adult who has gut issues and does not eat healthily and has several nutritional concerns.

On the Trust index, the report that is based on data collated over the last one year from 200,000 subscribers of GOQii both male and female found that 92.3% don’t trust the healthcare system in India including doctors, hospitals, Pharma companies, Insurance companies, Diagnostic labs, etc. The report collected data from across India’s 8 fitness conscious cities namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

The 3 stark points that come out clearly in the report with regard to the trust index of the healthcare system are 

  • Lack of transparency is the single biggest impediment to the healthcare system in India
  • Chennai and Hyderabad showed slightly higher trust and Pune had the least trust in the healthcare system
  • Akshay Kumar and Baba Ramdev are the most trusted public figures for health advice for Indians

India being a celebrity-crazy country and Bollywood celebrities are revered akin to God. One such celebrity is actor Akshay Kumar who is well known for his healthy lifestyle. So when asked which celebrity’s advice they would pay heed to when it comes to health, ‘Akshay Kumar’ was top of the charts as the most trusted celebrity/public figure for health advice, followed by Baba Ramdev, a yoga guru.

Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO of GOQii commenting on the report said, “Indians are no longer silent or docile patients, but instead they are now well-informed consumers keen to participate in the care process and demanding dignity and transparency from the healthcare providers. This shift will play a significant role in the evolution of healthcare system in the country.”

The changes people would like to see in the healthcare system

 Transparency

Ombudsman for medical practice

Cheaper healthcare facilities including medicines

Price capping for hospital charges

The India Fit report 2018 has captured real fitness and health insights. The new addition this year is BMI. India Fit Report 2018, indicates that weight is a major concern with approximately more than 55% of the population overweight. Both men and women have a similar pattern of being overweight.

Overweight population 2018-01-11

A higher % of overweight individuals are seen among people above 30 years. Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, have the most people who are overweight. One of the reasons why these cities have the most illness and health concerns.

Another cause for concern that the report indicates is the fact that the average daily step count of an individual across India is 6126 steps, a drop from last year’s count of 7746 steps. The recommended daily step count by World Health Organization to lead a healthy lifestyle is 10,000 steps.

Mumbai moves more than Bengaluru 2018-01-11

While Mumbai surpassed Bengaluru this year for the first rank with an average step count of 6488 steps, Bengaluru tops the chart as the healthiest city in India. Chennai stays at the bottom of the list where step count is concerned and is also is the unhealthiest city. Despite having a predominantly younger population tracking steps in Chennai, the step count is low at 5605 steps daily average.

Bengaluru healthiest 2018-01-11

 

This year the GOQii India Fit report has added a new dimension to its analysis to include the quality of air, as Indians, especially in the Delhi-NCR and Gurgaon region, are increasingly breathing polluted air.

While Indians are striving to be fit, chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension etc are a cause for concern. It is estimated that around 130 million may suffer from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes in the next few years. The disruptive lifestyle changes in the country due to a rapidly evolving urban economy and Indian middle class have resulted in the increase in chronic diseases.

Lifestyle disease 2018-01-11

In comparison to last year, there has been a rise in the number of lifestyle diseases among people. Diabetes has increased from 7.7% to 7.9%. Also, more Indians have high cholesterol this year increasing from 9.4 to 10.1%.  With age as well people are more prone to lifestyle diseases. 23.8% people below the age of 45 have one or more diseases such as diabetes, cardiac problems including high cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid and Cancer. Post 45 years this has doubled to 52.1%.

“Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of chronic diseases due to the disruptive lifestyle changes in the country. Lack of exercise, erratic eating habits, increase in stress levels and poor sleep patterns are just some of the key reasons behind the increase of this epidemic,” says Gondal.

To read the full report download from www.indiafit.org

 

By 1 Comment

Simple tips for Lifestyle Changes

people-working-in-the-office

Today, everybody, everywhere seems to be busy.And, in the rush to make more money, the busy work life has got the worst of every individual leaving them with little or no time to think about themselves and their health.

Most people’s work in the current times either involves sitting for about 8-10 hours in one place or too much travel thereby resulting in people developing many issues such as

-Joint pains specially neck and back pain

-Irregular meal timings

-Problems like indigestion due to unhealthy eating

– Complete or partial cut off from social life

– Stress or depression

-Lack of Sleep

Hence the question on top of everybody’s mind is what do I do? Leaving the job is not a solution. In that case how do I get rid of all these problems?

The answer is very simple … bring about a ‘Lifestyle Change’ .

Tips for Change

-Set your meal timings. Set alarms for your meals on your mobiles and laptops

-Eat a balanced diet.

-Eat fruits, Vegetables and Salads

-Have small meals after every two to three hours rather than having three large meals or skipping any meal

-Get up from your seat every one hour and walk for about 5 to 10 minutes. You could also walk and talk when you get a call instead of sitting in your seat and conversing

-Don’t cradle your phone or message your colleague if you want something walk down to their desk.

-Use the staircase instead of the elevator As much as you can. There is no better exercise that walking up and down the stairs

-If your office is at a walking distance, try to walk or buy a bicycle for the same. It cannot get better than this

-Stretch in between work whenever possible so that the muscles get relaxed

– Instead of keeping a bottle on your table every time you are thirsty, walk down to the water cooler and have water.

-During tea breaks sit with colleagues rather than having it alone

-Listen to soothing music before you sleep. Believe me you will certainly get good sleep

-Breathing exercises works well whenever you feel stressed.

Bring about these simple lifestyle changes and you will realize that life is so much better.  In case you find it difficult to bring about these changes go through the following blog http://goqii.com/blog/why-is-it-difficult-to-make-a-lifestyle-change-6-tips-to-follow/and you can follow the tips given in this so as to bring about a change within your lifestyle.

By 9 Comments

To be Healthy – do you have to go on a diet?

health-conscious

Most of who are on the higher side of an “acceptable weight spectrum” and trying to lose weight, and you declare your intentions to the world, then you have to be prepared to battle questions such as “Oh, you must be on a diet” since you have decided to lose weight. Day in and day out you will be asked this question and you will just not be able to wriggle out of the situation.

As days pass it only gets annoying when people can’t stop staring at your food plate, followed by the responses such as do you only eat salads, do you live off of them? How do you survive? Or are you allowed to eat rice or roti? leave alone desserts.

Does being health conscious mean that you have to be on a diet 24×7 365 days a year?

No, is the answer to the above question but sadly, the perception at large is that to be health conscious one has to go on a diet.

Let us first clearly understand what is diet?

The textbook definition of Diet is that ‘it is a sum of food consumed by a person or organism’. Going by that, diet is anything and everything one eats. So there you go, every single person and every organism on earth are on a diet every single day.

Although today, the word diet implies intake of specific nutrients for health or weight management.

Now the third definition which most people think of when you talk about “Diet” is that you have to eat as little as possible, you have to eat everything raw and the food has to be bland and tasteless.

Does it mean that we have to go on restrictive diets to be health conscious? What is being healthy? Does it mean hitting a particular digit on a weighing scale? Does it mean you have to shrink down to size 0?

What if you have those 8 pack abs and look as if you just walked out of the magazine cover, but have very bad sleep cycles and blood cholesterol shooting right through the roof? Does that term you as being healthy?

According to the WHO, health is, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

Our definition of health is not even close to the real meaning. In the clamour of following fads and trying to fit into the picture perfect images created by media and peers, we let go of other aspects that make us healthy. In order to look a particular way, we let our mental and social well-being take a back seat.

Yes, it is important to eat the right food but, do we really have to be so rigid about it?

The most important thing to keep in mind is doing everything in moderation, eat fruits and salads daily but, don’t skip the roti altogether. Go for that piece of cake every once in a way, just don’t overdo it.

The most neglected aspect of being healthy is being mindful. Be present in the moment, especially while you eat. Do not be all over the place, or engrossed in your phone as you shove down the food.

One thumb rule to follow would be to ‘chew your water and drink your food’. Yes, that’s right!! Chew each morsel so well that it is literally liquid before you gulp it down. And when you drink a beverage, take a sip, swivel the liquid in your mouth. Let all your sensory ends of your tongue get activated and experience the flavour of the beverage before it goes down your throat. Believe me, your gut will thank you for it.

Your body already knows what it needs and how much but you need to tune in and give it time to do its job. When you eat with full attention and take your time, the gut sends a signal to your brain when you’ve had enough. This helps you cut down your food intake and yet make you feel more satiated than ever.

Remember it’s not what you eat but how you eat it is what’s more important.

Be active. Do what you most enjoy doing. Go for a run if you like, or just stroll around with a pet. Swim if you have to. Post your exercise you should feel good about yourself, not want to hit the sack and stay there all day.

And most of all do not forget to pay attention to your mind. A sound mind resides in a sound body. But, if you let go of your mind no matter what you do for your body it won’t work quite well enough.

Practising some deep breathing and meditating for a few minutes a day works magically for your mental well-being. If you are not a fan of meditation, then listen to some music to uplift your mood or How about going for a deep tissue massage? All these remedies will help you to calm down your mind and de-stress.

Do not fear to socialise with friends just because you are on a diet. Mingling with like-minded people makes you feel happy and boost your morale. There is no better therapy than sharing a laugh with some good friends.

So, my take on being health conscious is that you should be able to enjoy life to the fullest while feeling good about yourself. Eat healthy unprocessed foods in most of your meals on most days of the week, but don’t shy away from letting go once in a while. And, take care of your mental health along with your physical need.

So what is your take on being health-conscious?

By 11 Comments

Myths and Health Benefits of Meditation

Benefits-of-Meditation

Stress can be dangerous. Here is a link to a blog on Stress

http://goqii.com/blog/avoid-stress-lead-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

In this blog, I am going to talk about meditation and its health benefits in detail. Most foreigners  are it the Americans or the Europeans aren’t raised to sit and say “Om.” But, today whether it is outside of India or within our country at every nook and corner you can find a yoga and meditation centre. Meditation has gained millions of converts, helping them ease chronic pain, anxiety, stress, improve heart health, boost mood and immunity, and resolve a lot of medical issues even pregnancy problems.

According to doctors, any condition that’s caused or worsened by stress can be alleviated through meditation. Peace is something we all seek for or let’s say satisfaction is something we all long for. Satisfaction could be different for different people. For some satisfaction could mean happiness, for some it could be an achievement. The influence of external factors in our life largely decides our state of mind to be happy, sad or angry.

We often seek for happiness or peace in the outside world. People have their own ways of finding peace or relaxing their mind. Most common practice is going out of town or getting away from our usual routine. It’s very necessary to find peace within us as not everyone can afford to go out of station often. So here is what we can do and also save some money in the process to reach our goal of happiness and peace- MEDITATE.

Meditation you can transform the mind. Meditation doesn’t mean that you have to sit in a particular posture and focus on any single point on the wall or certain point. The definition of meditation is different for different people. If you ask me, meditation is the art of focusing our attention (100%) in one area. We all believe that our mind gets maximum rest while sleeping; however, the fact is that our mind gets to rest and relief while meditating.

Doctors who recommend meditation say that the relaxation response [from meditation] helps decrease metabolism, lowers blood pressure and improves heart rate, breathing, and brain waves. Tension and tightness seep from muscles as the body receives a quiet message to relax.

Articles in medical journals on Meditation indicate there is scientific evidence that shows how meditation works. In people who are meditating, brain scans called MRI have shown an increase in activity in areas that control metabolism and heart rate. Other studies on Buddhist monks have shown that meditation produces long-lasting changes in the brain activity in areas involved in attention, working memory, learning, and conscious perception.

There are some dangerous myths about meditation like:

1.          Meditation is a religion: Meditation is not related to any religion. However, meditation brings all religion together.

2.         Just relaxation: Meditation is not about just relaxation like sitting on your sofa or lying on your resting chair, meditation helps to produce specific chemical changes in the brain. For example, Transcendental meditation is known to cause the brain to release a soothing hormone known as prolactin.

3.         Sit in the lotus posture to meditate: There is a myth that meditating you should always sit in a lotus posture. However, while meditating it is more important to be comfortable and steady. You can sit cross-legged, on a chair, in a sofa – it is fine, but it is mandatory that you have to maintain the same position till you finish meditating.

4.         Meditation is for old people: Most of the people believe that meditation is only for people who have reached a certain age or for old people. That is so untrue. Meditation is universal and anyone can do it. It adds value to lives of people of all age groups. A study in the American Journal of Hypertension showed that teenagers who meditated for 15 minutes twice a day for four months were able to lower their blood pressure a few points.10 minutes of meditation in the morning clean your mind, it gives zeal and enthusiasm.

5.         Meditation is like hypnotizing yourself: Most of the people believe that Meditation is hypnotising you. But, that’s again false. In hypnotism no one is aware what he or she is going through, however, in meditation, you are always aware of each and every moment.

If you are feeling tense, tired, depressed or anxious or stressed, the one simple word I can suggest or recommend is ‘Meditation’. Five to 10 minutes of meditation will help you relax and get over your stress and restore your calm and inner peace.

Anyone can start meditating with a small practice. It’s really very simple and does not require you to visit therapists or a practitioner of meditation. It also does not require any equipment. You can practice meditation whenever and wherever you are – in office, home, on the bus or train, or waiting at the doctor’s clinic or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting.

Meditation works as a medicine of mind and body and produces a deep state of relaxation.  During meditation, we centralize our attention and get rid of the unwanted stress-causing thoughts. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Some great Benefits of Meditation:

Psychological Benefits: Reduces stress and anxiety, increases creativity and intelligence. Reduces depression, increases learning ability, reasoning and memory power, reduces irritability and moodiness, Feelings of vitality and rejuvenation, increase emotional control, self-esteem, alertness, Improves relationships and also concentration

Physiological Benefits: May help lower blood pressure, Prevents or relives any pain, boosts immune system- with meditation higher levels of antibodies are produced against the flu virus, according to the study in Psychosomatic Medicine, lowers blood cholesterol levels, improves airflow through the respiratory system, especially in those with asthma, Youngers your biological age.

Women can also benefit from meditation. Quoting a study from an article in WebMD, the article says that PMS symptoms subsided by 58% when women meditated. certain other issues such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue can also be reduced by a regular meditation program.

 

Mayur Sutar’s Journey to a Healthier Life

At 26, Mayur Sutar was deeply entrenched in the corporate whirlwind. His days were a blur of quick, unsatisfying meals, fitful sleep, and relentless deadlines. This vicious cycle was draining him, fueling a constant state of fatigue and frustration. Health had become a forgotten chapter in the book of his life. In every story, however, […]

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

In the face of persistent health challenges, Dhiren Matani, (43), an entrepreneur from Mumbai, embarked on a journey of resilience and transformation. Battling weight issues and a heart condition for some years, he refused to succumb to the daunting odds. Through sheer determination, he took control of his health at the right time by adopting […]

What’s Your Excuse?

In a world filled with excuses, Shubham’s story stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and an unwavering commitment to one’s dreams. His journey is a reminder that circumstances may create hurdles, but they can never define the limits of one’s potential. In the bustling suburbs of Mumbai, amidst the challenges of […]