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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.

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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.  

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Top Meat Substitutes And Their Importance

meat substitute

Meat consumption has primarily been linked to Western diet and recently, it’s been a trend in people who want to build muscles. No doubt, Meat is an excellent source of high-quality protein, various vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, iron, niacin, and vitamin B6.

However, a large number of studies have linked meat consumption to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer, Type 2 diabetes, also known as “Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)”. That is because, Meat is high in saturated fat, which can lead to above-mentioned lifestyle diseases. Thus, health awareness and other factors such as animal disease, natural resources depletion, green-house gas emission and other environmental concerns has led to the shift to low fat and low calorie plant foods and has increased importance of meat substitutes in the current scenario.

Plant based foods are associated with lowered risks for several  kinds of cancers, lowered incidence of hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular diseases and are known to enhance the immune system as well. Only limiting factor here can be the low quality proteins, but that too can be easily overcome by including diverse plant protein sources to get all the essential amino acids.

Plant-based Meat Substitutes

Here are some of the best meat substitutes that can be a part of a healthy and wholesome diet.

1. Tofu

It is also called Bean Curd, is a  Soy food product made from soybean or soya bean. It is one of the best meat substitutes because

  • It offers a complete protein profile
  • It has heat-stable storage protein. Hence, it is good for high temperature cooking
  • Bioavailability of soy protein is equivalent to meat and eggs
  • They are low in fat in comparison to animal based food especially saturated fat, and have zero cholesterol
  • Rich in many bioactive compounds such as isoflavones, peptides, flavonoids and vitamins, which have a protective effect against free radicals in the body

Using firm tofu and Crumbling, stir-fry it until brown and crispy. This makes it taste extremely similar to ground chicken or pork. It can be stir-fried with veggies like broccoli, bell pepper, Zucchini to make salads or its sautéed cubes can be added in soups, or used in sandwiches with lettuce and tomato slices or made into Tikka masala or Tofu-Chilli, etc.

2. Beans and Legumes

They are an ideal choice for a filling and fiber-rich meal. They have protein content which is at par with some animal foods, as per the Nutritive Value of Indian Foods. Raw beans/legumes can provide a whopping 18-37 gm of protein per 100 grams with additional advantage of fiber, low fat, no cholesterol and plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Few options include: 

  • Chickpeas have beneficial nutrient composition with high fibre which makes it more filling. They not only provide protein but also provide a substantial portion of iron, folate, potassium, and have a calcium content equivalent to milk. Using it as coarsely ground gives it a texture of minced beef. It can be used to make Hummus which is used as a dip for vegetable sticks,  baked falafel, which can serve as a meat-free patty in tacos or burgers or pancakes from chickpea flour with veggies to make a complete meal.
  • Boiled and minced Black beans can replace beans for ground beef in tacos and other similar dishes. The dark colour of the bean makes it a fantastic source of antioxidants and anthocyanins. It can be made into vegetables or fillings for sandwiches.
  • Lentils have one of the highest levels of protein by weight of all the pulses and less than 1% fat, providing them a nutritional edge to thicken meat-free curries and soups.
  • Cooked green peas are another protein-rich option, almost the same as a cup of milk. It can be served as a side dish, made into patties, cooked with veggies, stirred into soup or macaroni and cheese or blended with olive oil, parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts to make a delicious pesto sauce.

3. Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds are another good substitute for meats, fish and eggs as they are protein-dense, especially Hemp seeds which have complete proteins, good fiber, vitamin E, vitamin B2, niacin, folate, and essential minerals such as zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium and healthy essential fats

Only downside here is the relatively higher calories which calls for controlled portions. Here’s how you can use them: 

  • Hemp seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds can be toasted and sprinkled over salad to give a crunch.
  • Stir them into buttermilk/yogurt and oatmeal or blend them into smoothies.
  • Sunflower, sesame and melon seeds can be added to muffins, salads, stir fries or in the case of sunflower seeds, can be eaten on their own. 
  • Toasted nuts can be made into energy bars.
  • Plain nuts and nut butters can be eaten without hydrogenated oils or lots of added sugar, example, Almond butter and peanut butter.
  • Almond milk or hemp milk are also good options for consumption.

A study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has revealed that replacing one serving of red meat with one serving of nuts reduces mortality risk by 19%. Believe it or not, tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams follow a healthy, balanced raw vegan diet during the tennis season. That’s right, both raw and vegan.

If this article helped you, let us know in the comments below. You can read more articles on nutrition here or just speak to a GOQii Coach directly by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.  

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Should You Fast During Ramadan if You Are Diabetic?

diabetes and ramadan

Just a few days back, I was walking down a lane when I came across a person who fainted and fell before me. I got curious and learned that the man was fasting and he had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. He was given immediate medical support and revived.

This incident primarily occurred because he was unaware about the disease. He fell unconscious because the blood glucose levels of his body spiked up while fasting due to the change in medical timings and improper meals. It got me thinking if it is really safe for a diabetic to fast during Ramadan.

What Is Diabetes?

To keep it short, Diabetes is a condition where the blood sugar level is high due to the lack of Insulin – a hormone produced by the Pancreas. Insulin converts glucose into energy and supplies it to every single cell present in the body. The 3 main type of Diabetes include Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational.

In Type 1, the Pancreas stop working and in Type 2, the body produces a little Insulin or does not use it properly. This results in several health problems. Gestational Diabetes often occurs during pregnancy and it generally goes away after delivery.

Should You Fast During Ramadan If You’re Diabetic? 

During this holy month, the Muslim community observes a fast, eating only before sunrise (Suhoor) and after sunset (Iftar). They are not allowed to eat or drink anything in between. However, there is an exception towards people with medical ailments.

Diabetics and those at lower or moderate risks may choose to fast but there certainly isn’t a choice for those at higher risks. If you do choose to fast, keep an eye over blood sugar levels throughout the day. Most importantly, consult a doctor before fasting to avoid medical emergencies.

What Happens To Diabetics When They Fast?

Monitoring your blood glucose level while fasting is crucial for a diabetic. When healthy individuals consume food, Insulin is released by the Pancreas and it stores Glucose in the Liver and Glycogen in the Muscles which balance out the Blood Glucose Levels and maintain it at optimal range.

This process tends to malfunction during fasting which results in lack of Insulin in the blood, leading to either of the two conditions called Hyperglycemia or Hypoglycemia.

  • Hypoglycemia: This is a serious health condition where blood glucose levels drop below 70mg/dl. It requires immediate medical attention. If a person who is fasting feels shakiness or experiences headaches, sweating or lack of concentration, they must break their fast immediately to avoid any severe complications. Complications may range from seizures, coma to death. A bar of chocolate, a sugary drink or a small bowl of curd rice with sugar must be consumed if Blood Sugar Levels are exceptionally low. If a person breaks their fast on such an emergency, visit a doctor immediately.
  • Hyperglycemia: This occurs when your sugar levels are as high as or more than 200mg/dl.  Common symptoms include extreme thirst, tiredness, and frequent urination. In such a situation, take advice from your doctor if you should continue your fast or not. Hyperglycemia affects each part of your body. If larger blood vessels are affected, you may face risks of stroke or a heart attack. On the contrary, if smaller blood vessels are affected, then you may face issues with your eyes, nerves and kidneys.
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis: This is a condition where Blood Glucose Levels go extremely high and a person experiences abdominal pain, rapid breathing, nausea and vomiting. It requires immediate medical attention. In such situations, it is best to consult with a doctor.
  • Dehydration: While fasting, one may experience dehydration, especially those who work outdoors under the scorching heat of the sun. Due to lack of fluids, sugar may accumulate in the system, resulting in high blood sugar levels which can make you pass urine frequently. To overcome such dehydration during Ramadan, try to drink plenty of water after Iftar till Suhoor.

Managing Diabetes While Fasting During Ramadan

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is an individual’s decision. It can be managed with lifestyle changes, advice from a doctor and frequent monitoring. A few things you should consider are:

1. Pre-Diabetic Health Checkup: A Health checkup and monitoring your glucose levels before the month of Ramadan is necessary. You can also try fasting before Ramadan to see if you can manage it. Check your medication timings and discuss it with your doctor if you choose to fast.

If you consume medicines at Suhoor and keep a fast the entire day, chances are that your blood glucose levels might drop. Your blood glucose levels might even spike in the evening when you break your fast due to the intake of meals. Hence, discuss your medication timings and keep a glucometer handy to avoid medical emergencies.

2. Nutrition: If you are diabetic, ensure that both your meals are balanced. Opt for low Glycemic Index foods and Complex Carbs which digest slowly. Go for high fiber foods at Suhoor to manage blood glucose levels during fasts. Foods such as oats, Talbina (barley-based dish), brown rice, pasta and a bowl of vegetable salads work best.

Sorghum (Jowar) or Pearl Millet (Bajra) flattened bread (rotis) with Curd Raita is the best choice. A glass of buttermilk is also a good option. You can have Basil Seeds Water during Suhoor as it is rich in antioxidants, protein, good fats and fiber, all of which help in controlling diabetes.

A little protein in the form of chicken, fish, beans and legumes can also be included as they keep you full for a longer period of time and get absorbed slowly. However, people with kidney problems should take extra care to increase protein intake.

During Iftar, break your fast slowly. Chew properly and consume small amounts of food at different intervals as glucose levels may spike up if you consume a large meal at once. Have a small bowl of fruit salad or a glass of lassi (yogurt based drink) before heavy meals. Choose baked or grilled foods as compared to something fried and oily.

Sprouted salads, boiled chickpeas, or fruits are good options to include before you begin your meal. Don’t forget to hydrate yourself. Avoid sugary drinks or caffeinated beverages and choose fresh fruit juices such as beetroot juice or herbal iced tea.

We hope this article helps you stay healthy and maintain a fast without any complications or medical emergencies. If a medical emergency should arise, visit your doctor immediately.

If you found this article to be helpful, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can browse through more articles related to diabetes here.

If you need help or support managing Diabetes, join GOQii’s Diabetes Care Program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), and reduce HbA1c levels. You can subscribe here.

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