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June 3, 2023 By GOQii 2 Comments

Why Cycling Is One Of The Best Ways To Stay Active!

cycling

Cycling is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get fit. In fact, it is the best way to stay active! If your workplace is at a distance of 4-5km, it’s the best mode of transport as well.

If you’ve been glued to social media, you might have realized that a lot of people have taken to cycling – either solo on in a group. If you’re new to cycling or if your city doesn’t have specific trails for it, here are some measures you should follow:

  • Wear a helmet
  • Stay to the left side of the road.
  • Ride on well–lit paved roads and if possible, bike paths. If there are no bike paths, take the service roads. 
  • Wear reflective clothing and have front and back lights
  • Use arm and hand signals to indicate turns.

Furthermore, ensure that your bike is adequately maintained. Proper clothing (t-shirt and padded shorts are recommended). You also require a proper fitting helmet, padding (optional), bike reflectors, flashers and headlights, gloves, proper shoes and eye protection.

What Are The Health Benefits of Cycling?  

Before we go on to the health benefits, it is important to understand the correct sitting posture on a cycle. Maintaining proper posture is important not only for efficiency but also to prevent any form of injuries and aches.

Cycling is easy on the joints because you put your weight on a pair of bones in the pelvis called the ischial tuberosities unlike walking, where you put your weight on your legs. It is good for anyone with joint pain or age-related stiffness.

Regular cycling can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke. It can also improve your mood and keep your weight under control. Adults should ride at least for one hour daily. It decreases stress levels and increases muscle strength and flexibility. It also strengthens your immune system! Cycling releases endorphins, which makes you feel young at heart. Furthermore, it improves your stamina! 

It is an incredibly sociable sport. Joining a cycling club or group is an excellent way to grow your social circle and stay fit and active at the same time! 

We hope this article motivates you to take up cycling and improve your health! For more on staying active and living healthy, check out Healthy Reads or get the best tips to improve your cycling experience from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

May 28, 2023 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Home Remedies For Women’s Health Issues

Women's Health IssuesBalancing your work and your personal life as a working woman can be quite tiresome especially when piled up over women’s health issues such as menstrual problems and PCOS. 

As per the GOQii Women’s Health Matters survey, we found that 51% of women in India continue to struggle with ongoing health issues such as menstrual irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, UTI and fibroids, diabetes, and infertility. Around 63.3% of women suffer irregular periods or infrequent menstrual cycles due to PCOS. 

Prolonged psychological stress can lead to the release of excessive prolactin and cortisol hormones which can interfere with natural estrogen-progesterone cycle – which is responsible for regulating periods. 

Balancing Hormones For Women’s Health Issues 

Some issues can be solved by balancing the hormones progesterone and estrogen. This can be done through seed cycling, walking, weight management, cutting down on refined products and managing stress. In terms of diet, women can focus on Vitamin E rich foods, raw and sprouted seeds, nuts and salads. Homemade cottage cheese, fresh raw vegetable juice and cold pressed coconut oil also help! Vitamin C, B6 and pantothenic acid rich foods have properties of stimulating the body’s production of estrogen. 

Remedies To Reduce Menstrual Pain 

  1. A Gentle Massage: over the abdomen, back, legs and feet for 15-20 minutes will ease the pain and relax the body. You can use oils like sesame, mustard and coconut for better results.
  2. Hot Fermentation: Applying heat to the abdomen and lower back is also a very effective remedy to reduce the pain and cramps. You can use a hot bottle, heating pad, warm towel or even have a warm bath.
  3. Good Sleep: for 7-8 hours (undisturbed) helps to relax your body and mind, both.
  4. Natural Herbs: like fennel seeds, chamomile tea, cinnamon and ginger have antiinflammatory and antispasmodic properties, that are very beneficial in reducing the menstrual pain.
  5. Avoid Certain Food Items: that increase the uneasiness by inducing gas and bloating issues, for instance, sugary soda drinks, alcohol, caffeine, salty foods, fried food, junk food items, etc.
  6. Caffeine free teas like ginger tea, lemon tea, lavender tea, decaffeinated green tea can help in relieving pain associated with menstrual cramps.

Remedies For Bloating and Heavy Period Flow 

  1. Jaggery and carom seeds drink: Boil 1 glass water and add ½ tsp carom seeds followed by 2 tsp jaggery powder. Boil till jaggery dissolves, strain and drink. This drink can instantly relax tensed uterus muscles and provide relief from pain and bloating associated with periods.
  2. Soaked methi seed water: Soak some methi seeds overnight, warm the water in the morning and drink on an empty stomach. The major bioactive compounds ‘polyphenols’ in fenugreek seeds are believed to help reduce abdominal pain.
  3. Turmeric and nutmeg milk: Adding a ½ tsp of turmeric and a pinch of nutmeg in warm milk and drinking this before bed helps in menstrual pains. This combination of 2 spices acts as an antispasmodic agent.

Certain Yoga poses to ease menstrual pain include: 

  • Child’s pose or Balasana
  • Knees to chest pose or Apanasana
  • Camel pose or Ustrasana
  • Forward fold or Padangusthasana
  • Resting corpse pose or Shavasana 

Ways To Maintain Feminine Hygiene

  • Keep the vagina clean by washing regularly with a gentle, mild soap and warm
    water
  • Never use scented soaps and feminine products or douche. Also avoid
    feminine sprays and bubble baths
  • After going to the bathroom, always wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from getting into the vagina and causing an infection
  • Wear 100% cotton underpants, and avoid overly tight clothing

Tips To Reduce Bloating During Pregnancy 

  • Eat small proportions: Splitting your food into six small meals rather than three heavy meals will avoid overloading your digestive system.
  • Eat slowly to improve the digestion. Take a few deep breaths before and during the meal to relax. Also, do not eat when stressed
  • Consume fiber rich foods like carrots, whole wheat toast, oatmeal, apples, and pears. These are some of the best sources of fiber.
  • Foods such as onions, cabbage, broccoli, and beans are gas-inducing. Fried foods may not release gas in the stomach, but they can slow down your digestion process, leading to bloating. Hence, avoiding fried and gas inducing food is important.
  • Carbonated beverages and sweetened fruit juices contain high levels of fructose corn syrup, which contributes to bloating. Choose fresh fruit juices over carbonated beverages.
  • Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Start your day with a glass of water and then keep sipping water throughout the day. Include fresh fruit juices in your diet, water helps in flushing out toxins from your body. Also, helps in preventing bloating and constipation.

Remedies For Increased White Vaginal Discharge

White discharge is caused mainly due to hormonal imbalance, increased secretion of estrogen, improper hygiene habits, loss of iron, and sometimes due to indigestion and constipation. Remedies can include: 

  1. Foods that are gut-friendly such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, etc. for better digestion.
  2. Optimum water and fiber intake to avoid constipation
  3. Water residue which is used for white rice preparation. This will reduce the heat in the body.
  4. Concoction of fenugreek seeds: Boil fenugreek seeds in water till it reduced to half, cool it and drink.
  5. Guava leaves can be boiled in water, cool down, and drink – this also helps relieve vaginal itching.
  6. Proper vaginal hygiene 
  7. Include iron-rich food such as black raisins, dried apricots and green leafy vegetables, etc.

We also hope this article helps you overcome these women’s health issues. For more on women’s health, check out Healthy Reads or access the Women’s Care Feature on the GOQii App which can help you address women’s healthcare needs. 

#BeTheForce

May 24, 2023 By Divya Thampi 1 Comment

Making Sense of Schizophrenia

World Schizophrenia DaySchizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood mental disorders in our society. Hence, let’s start with what Schizophrenia is NOT:

  • It is not split personality or multiple personality disorder
  • People dealing with schizophrenia are not “Mad”
  • A vast majority of them are not violent and do not pose a threat to others

With that out of the way,

Let’s Understand What Schizophrenia Is:

It is a major psychotic illness that impacts thoughts, feelings and behavior of individuals. Schizophrenia is in fact, an umbrella like diagnosis used for categorizing a wide range of symptoms, all of which may or may not be experienced by people with this condition.

The experience of schizophrenia is unique to each person. It impacts about 1.1% of the world population i.e. about 51 million people worldwide and symptoms generally start showing up during adolescence or early adulthood.

The Symptoms Include:

  • Social withdrawal: The person may avoid spending time with others and may prefer being alone.
  • Loss of Interest & Enthusiasm: There may be reduced sense of enjoyment. Things and activities that used to interest them may no longer give them pleasure.
  • Disorganized Thinking: Here, the individual switches from one track of thought to another abruptly and without warning. This may seem bizarre and illogical to the listener, and is one of the defining features of schizophrenia.
  • Delusions: These are beliefs and impressions that seem disconnected with reality. For example, the person may believe that they are part of royalty or in a position of power with special abilities, or that people are plotting revenge against them, or that a catastrophe is about to occur, or that someone is in love with them.
  • Hallucination: This refers to seeing or hearing things that don’t exist, but for the person experiencing it, it feels very real and vivid. While it could involve the sense of sight, hearing or smell, the most common hallucinations include hearing voices speaking, murmuring or whispering.
  • Emotional Blunting: This refers to reduced expression of emotion on face, speech and bodily movements. It may appear that there is reduced interest and personal warmth in the individual dealing with schizophrenia.
  • Cognitive problems: They may have difficulty focusing on any one thing for longer durations and may quickly lose interest when someone is speaking to them. They may forget to do routine things which most of us take for granted and the lack of attention could impact their performance at work, studies and other areas.

Like mentioned earlier, people dealing with Schizophrenia may experience some of the symptoms and may not experience others. Also, the frequency and severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. There may be psychotic episodes where the severity of the symptoms may be more and continue to be severe for the duration of the episode.

World Schizophrenia Day The exact cause of schizophrenia has not yet been established. Studies indicate that a combination of genetics, environmental factors and brain chemistry contributes to the development of the disorder.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that requires life-long management, just like in the case of diabetes and blood pressure. While there is no known cure for it, with the right treatment, symptoms can be managed and the individual can lead an independent, productive and meaningful life.

Early diagnosis, the right treatment and adhering to the treatment plan, go a long way in helping people manage the symptoms and live a functional life. A psychiatrist is qualified to diagnose the disorder and treatment is generally a combination of medication and therapy. In many cases the impacted individual may not have the insight that the changes in their behavior are due to a disorder and the family may have to take the initiative to take them for a diagnosis and treatment.

However, the stereotypes about this disorder compounded by the stigma around mental illnesses, often prevent families from reaching out for help, thus aggravating the condition. The impact of the ignorance of this illness is obvious in the statistics which show that 1 out of 10 people who deal with schizophrenia commit suicide and 4 out of 10, at the least attempt suicide.

World Schizophrenia DayBeing aware of the diagnosis of schizophrenia can be deeply distressing for the individual and they require a supportive environment for recovery. Due to fear, ignorance or awkwardness, friends, family members and others, may be overcautious or insensitive to people who may be dealing with the disorder.

If you have a colleague, friend or a known person who is dealing with the condition, educate yourself about the condition, talk to them, treat them normally and also let them know that you are there to help and support them. The illness can cause the individual to become socially withdrawn and isolated, hence it is important for them to have contact and connection with others.

Initiating conversations with the individuals dealing with schizophrenia, whether it is purely to discuss practicalities or for fostering a connection, is critical for them to be able to lead a normal life and overcome isolation.

May 12, 2023 By Vaishali Vibhute 3 Comments

Benefits Of Eating Watermelon During Summer

watermelon

Summers are incomplete without the red and juicy watermelon. Watermelon is a large, sweet, and refreshingly low calorie fruit. It is grown in a favorable climate from tropical to temperate regions worldwide. Besides cantaloupe, honeydew and cucumber, watermelon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. All parts of this fruit are edible.

There are lots of nutrients from the seeds to the white flesh closest to the rind. The rind contains more amino acid citrulline than the flesh. Rind is edible after cooking. Watermelon rinds are often cooked as vegetables in most parts of India. Watermelon seeds are also loaded with nutrients. They are high in protein, fiber, vitamin B and omega 3 fatty acid.

Healthy Reasons To Eat Watermelon 

Each bite contains 92% water and 6% sugar. It’s name makes perfect sense, as it consists mostly of water. So apart from keeping you hydrated, what else does this healthy summer fruit offer? 

  • Rich in nutrients: It is an excellent source of a wide variety of nutrients specially Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, Dietary Fiber and Antioxidant Compounds.

Nutrients present in 100gm of watermelon are as follows :

Sr.No. Nutrients Units Quantity
1 Energy Cal 30
2 Carbohydrate Gm 7.5 including 6.2 gm sugar
3 Fiber Gm 0.4
4 Magnesium Mg 10
5 Potassium Mg 112
6 Choline Mg 6.3
7 Vitamin A Mcg 27
8 B – carotene Mcg 467
9 Lycopene Mcg 4532
10 Vitamin C Mg 8.3

One ounce i.e 28.5gm of seeds provide around 8gm of protein.

  • It helps you to shed extra kilos: Watermelon is the best fruit to eat if someone is trying to lose weight. It is rich in lycopene. It will increase your body’s Arginine level, an amino acid, which helps burn fat quickly. Due to its low calorie and highwater content, it keeps a person full for a long time and helps promote weight loss.
  • Good for eyes: Lycopene, an antioxidant present in watermelon keeps the eyes healthy and protects against age related macular degeneration (AMD).
  • Keeps your kidney healthy: Watermelon is a natural diuretic. Potassium present in watermelon removes toxic substances from the body and reduces the percentage of uric acid present in the blood.
  • Prevents constipation: It is high in water and a good source of fiber that helps prevent constipation and promotes good bowel movement.
  • Promotes a healthy heart: It is the best source of Citrulline – an amino acid that our body converts to Arginine, an essential amino acid that plays a key role in relaxing blood vessels and helps improve blood flow. It also helps control blood sugar and helps lower blood pressure.
  • Keeps your skin and hair healthy: Watermelon contains vitamin C, which the body needs to produce collagen – a protein that keeps your skin supple and hair strong.
  • Helps in cancer prevention: Being a source of numerous antioxidants and flavonoids, watermelon consumption helps in protecting against certain types of cancer such as colon, breast and lung cancer.
  • Helps with sore muscles: Due to the presence of amino acid, citrulline in watermelon, muscle soreness can be treated. Watermelon may enhance performance and speed of recovery post exercise.
  • Reduce asthmatic attack: An antioxidant lycopene present in watermelon helps reduce asthmatic flares up in both children and adults.
  • Keeps you energetic: Potassium present in watermelon has electrolyte properties that leaves you feeling energetic for a long time.
  • Enhances the immune system: Vitamins and antioxidants present in this fruit, aids the production of RBC (red blood cells) which keep the immune system strong.
  • Good for the brain and nervous system: Being rich in Choline, an antioxidant present in this fruit, helps in learning, memory and brain development.

It is the best cooling fruit to eat during the summer season. Apart from the above benefits, Watermelon also has Vitamin B6 and potassium. Potassium maintains water balance in the body while Vitamin B6 improves immunity. Citrulline prevents muscle cramps. Remember that Juicing breaks down the fiber, making sugar easier to absorb and you may not get the benefit of fiber. People with diabetes should consider eating fresh, whole watermelon rather than drinking the juice.

We hope this article helps you head to the market and pick this amazing fruit now! Find more tips on nutrition and healthy summer eating here or speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.  

#BeTheForce 

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