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Navigating the Maze of Nutrition: Finding Clarity Amidst Confusion

In today’s information-rich age, the quest for sound nutrition advice can feel like a labyrinthine journey. We are bombarded daily with a deluge of dietary information, often contradictory and bewildering. The result? Nutrition confusion can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what to put on our plates. Nutrition misinformation can be harmful to our health and wallet.

Misinformation is the bane of the modern era, and nutrition is no exception. Social media, fad diets, and anecdotal success stories often drown out evidence-based advice. What’s even more concerning is that these sources can promote diets that may not only be ineffective but potentially harmful. This confusion can lead to poor dietary choices, contributing to health problems like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Question everything. Just because something is trending on social media or endorsed by a celebrity doesn’t make it valid. Look for claims backed by well-designed studies. Be cautious of quick fixes and miraculous results. Sound nutrition is about long-term habits, not magic solutions.

Also, remember that one size does not fit all. Nutrition should be personalised to your individual needs, goals, and preferences. Seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional who can tailor advice to your unique circumstances.

Empower yourself with knowledge. Learn to interpret food labels, understand macronutrients, and recognise hidden sugars and unhealthy fats. A basic understanding of nutrition principles can help you make informed choices. A balanced diet remains at the core of good nutrition. Moderation is key, and no single food should be demonised or idolised.

So, how do we cut through the noise and find reliable nutrition guidance? When evaluating nutrition advice, consider the source. Registered dietitians, certified nutritionists, and reputable health organisations like the WHO and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics are trusted sources.

Look out for the following to make well-informed nutrition choices:

  1. Source of information – check whether the website or article is certified/verified.
  2. Do look for the relevant degree of the author – if there is no listed author (unless it is on a site that is a government or university site), the information may not be trusted. If the author is mentioned, verify that he or she holds the relevant degree to post it.
  3. Motive of the site/person – check if the motive is to sell a product or service and not to provide information.
  4. Information Validation – the information on the website should be backed by research and statistics and not just based on testimonials and personal information.
  5. How personalised is the guidance or is it generic using some buzzwords – Each individual body is unique. A blanket nutritional advice for everyone is often not authentic. If the website or author is just giving out buzzwords, the advice is mostly generic and not best suited to your health conditions and body.
  6. Watch out for key ingredients/hidden ingredients/nutrition facts on the labels of the products. Definitely dig for the small print while buying products from websites or through influencers.
  7. In the case of a website article – sources of information should be mentioned – reliable sites/books/opinions of doctors or registered dietitians.
  8. Does it promote a fad diet or a quick fix for your health issue? – If any article or website is making unrealistic promises based on products, seek the advice of a professional before using it.
  9. Watch out for Influencers with no nutrition background, selling products – this is increasingly common these days.

Some reliable sources of information:

  1. Books by registered dieticians (RD) or practising nutritionists/doctors.
  2. Some reliable websites:
    • National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
    • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
    • World Health Organisation (WHO)
    • ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition
    • WebMD

Nutritional misinformation leads to wrong dietary patterns, taking up fad diets/quick diets detrimental to health, buying products that have harmful side effects, and following diet patterns that cause toxicity/deficiency of nutrients – all of these have long-term health effects and aggravation of the health issue.

To make well-informed decisions:

  1. Take advice from certified professionals.
  2. Look out for personalised advice based on your medical history and body stats.
  3. A diet or fitness pattern that is lifestyle change-based and not merely product-based.
  4. Lastly remember: Dr Google is not always reliable.

To conclude, in an era of rampant nutrition confusion and misinformation, it’s crucial to rely on evidence-based advice from trusted sources. By cultivating a critical mindset, personalising your approach, and staying informed, you can navigate the maze of nutrition and make choices that promote your long-term health and well-being.

We hope this article helps you. For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health. Images shown are for representation purposes only and may not depict the exact recommendations or outcomes.

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What Gestational Diabetes Can Do To You & Your Unborn Child

Gestational DiabetesWe all know about Diabetes Mellitus to some extent as Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that prevents the body from utilising glucose completely or partially. It is characterised by raised glucose concentration in the blood and alterations in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. But have you ever heard of Gestational Diabetes or Pregnancy Diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes is a high blood sugar (glucose) condition that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. It can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester. Insulin requirements goes up one to three times in pregnancy. During normal pregnancy the level of plasma insulin is raised by the action of placental hormones thus placing a burden on the insulin secreting cells of the pancreatic islets. The pancreas may be unable to meet these demands in women genetically predisposed to develop both types of diabetes. Long term studies show that some 80% of women with gestational diabetes ultimately develop permanent clinical diabetes requiring treatment.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

The causes of Gestational Diabetes is not known clearly yet. Some, but not all women with gestational diabetes are found to be overweight before getting pregnant or have a family history of diabetes. It is more common in Native American, Alaskan Native, Asian and Black women, but white women may develop it due to poor lifestyle.

Are There Tests to Determine it?

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is a confirmatory test. The OGTT measures blood glucose after you fast for at least 8 hours. Firstly, the blood sample is drawn in fasting state. Then, 75g of glucose dissolved in 250-300 ml of water is given, Lemon juice may be added for flavour and to prevent nausea. Then the blood specimens are collected every 30 mins for 2-3 hours after the administration of glucose.

High blood glucose levels at any two or more blood test times – Fasting, 1 hour, 2 hours or 3 hours – mean you have Gestational diabetes.

Complications During Pregnancy

If blood sugar is not controlled, it can lead to problems for both maternal and foetal health. Uncontrolled diabetes during the first trimester of pregnancy increases the risk of abortions and congenital malfunctions in the foetus. Some of the major consequences are:

  • High Blood Pressure (Preeclampsia): Preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure. Due to the high blood pressure levels of the mother, the protein in urine spikes up and swelling in fingers and toes and lower body persists. High blood pressure can be harmful to both – the mother and the unborn baby. It might lead to the baby being born early and also could cause seizures or a stroke (a blood clot or a bleed in the brain that can lead to brain damage) in the woman during labour or delivery.
  • An Extra Large Baby: Uncontrolled Diabetes in the mother causes the baby’s blood sugar to be high. The baby tends to “overfeed” and grows extra-large. Besides, causing discomfort to the mother, it can lead to problems during delivery causing prolonged labour pain which might need a C-section to deliver the baby. The baby can be born with nerve damage due to pressure on the shoulder during delivery.
  • Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia): People with diabetes who take insulin or other medications can develop blood sugar that is too low or hypoglycaemia. Low blood sugar can be very serious and even fatal if not treated quickly.

How to Manage Gestational Diabetes

The main modes of treatment of Gestational Diabetes include:

1. Eating a Healthy Diet: Dietary measures are an essential part of the treatment of diabetic patients whether they are on diet alone or on metformin drug or insulin. Carbohydrate restriction impairs insulin sensitivity and reversed by high carbohydrate diet but it needs to be maintained between 60-65% of total calories. So include more complex carbohydrates or polysaccharides like Multi-grain flour, Oats, Muesli, Granola, Amaranth, Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi), Quinoa, etc. Studies have shown that raising carbohydrates does not adversely affect the fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance or insulin requirements provided that total calories are not increased.

Along with carbs, include more protein-rich foods like pulses and lentils, Kidney beans (Rajma), Soya Bean, peas, beans, peanuts, milk and dairy products like yogurt, buttermilk, cottage cheese (paneer), eggs, chicken, etc. to ensure weight gain and prevent osteomalacia during pregnancy. Inclusion of fibre like fruits and green leafy vegetables are must as it improves glucose metabolism without increasing insulin secretion. It increases the intestinal transit-time, delay gastric emptying slow glucose absorption.

2. Drugs or Insulin Treatment: Metformin or Insulin therapy is the accepted medical management of gestational diabetes. Insulin is the first drug of choice and metformin can be considered after 20 weeks of gestation. Insulin must be taken without delay if it is suggested by the doctor.

3. Exercise: Stay Active to help keep your blood sugar under control. Exercise regularly – before, during and after pregnancy. Moderate exercise such as brisk walking for 30mins a day for 5 times a week is a good goal to set.

4. Monitoring Blood Sugar Often: Be aware that your blood sugar can change very quickly, becoming too high or too low depending on what you eat and how much you exercise and your growing baby’s blood sugar also varies several times during the day. Check your blood sugar level as often as directed by the doctor and any time you have symptoms.

By adopting these measures one can enjoy a healthy Antenatal period. For more articles on managing Diabetes, check out Healthy Reads or for further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health. Images shown are for representation purposes only and may not depict the exact recommendations or outcomes.

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Breathing – A Forgotten Art

breathingWe eat 3-4 times a day, about 1.5kg of food, but we breathe 20,000 to 25,000 times a day – we intake about 20-25kg of air – We are not fully knowledgeable on breathing. Since it is an autonomous process, we do not – My research with Sleep naturally took me to research about “Breathing” and what I found out, woke me up (pun intended) and I decided to continue my blogs on Breathing.

3 external physical objects are consumed by us regularly. Life critically depends on them. Food, Water and Air. Food and Water can be paused through fasting for some time. But breathing cannot be paused beyond 10 minutes. Life will cease.

Only Free Divers can hold their breath for a maximum time of 10 minutes. We cannot and should not. Unlike eating food or drinking water, which are conscious activities, breathing is an  autonomous process. It is controlled by the medulla oblongata, a part of the brain stem. 

However, Both Indian and Chinese ancient wisdom has clearly found out that “Conscious Breathing” is the only process which can be used by human action to influence the brain functions and hence, the mind.

As evolving human beings, we have forgotten what is the natural and correct way of breathing. 

Our modern lifestyle has robbed us of natural breathing. We have got to relearn 

  • Correct Breathing 
  • Conscious Breathing

Unfortunately, there is little or no focus on breathing from modern medical science. 

Other than just asking you to breathe deep while checking heart/lung function using the stethoscope, I am not aware of any doctor visually observing or inquiring about how the patient is breathing!

My research into sleep took me naturally to breathing. So, I read James Nestor, the author of a recent bestseller on “Breath, the New Science of a Last Art”, Anders Olsson on “Conscious Breathing” and Wim Hof about the Wim Hof Method of breathing. 

I acknowledge the above authors in taking up the cause of breathing and explaining lucidly about the science behind breathing, the anatomy concerning breathing and some breathing techniques which have given me massive improvement in my health and attitude to life over the past few months.

Correct Breathing 

First let us learn about Correct Breathing and then I will talk about Conscious Breathing. So, what exactly is incorrect about breathing? All 3 aspects: 

  1. Breathing through the Nose
  2. Using Abdomen and Diaphragm for breathing
  3. Breathing Rhythmically and Slowly

Breathing through the Nose:
I wonder why I even should talk about this. Is this such a big thing? Then I really started observing the world around me – Shocking when I observed that my wife was breathing through her mouth during sleep (how I worked on it and corrected is a separate story).

We believe that it is ok to breathe through the mouth – this is as correct as eating through your nose! Nose is created to be the sole instrument of breathing! Period. Google it or look around when people are sleeping. Surveys and research says that at least 50% of people are breathing through their mouth during sleep! Add to this the percentage of people who have choked noses, COPD and other breathing issues! 

We are talking about a VERY LARGE proportion of the human population incorrectly breathing.

How do you breathe? Do you know? Ask your partner to observe while you breathe.

If you have a dry mouth when you wake up, if you  have a V-shaped upper palate (as against a U-shaped palate), If your tonsils are removed when you were a child, if you are snoring then IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT YOU ARE BREATHING THROUGH YOUR MOUTH.

See what you are missing out if you breathe through your mouth?

  • Your nose captures impurities, particles, bacteria and viruses using the hair mucous surface in the nose when the inhaled air is going through.
  • Your nose heats up the air and moistens it using the moist mucous surface. Why is this important? The incredible process of Gas exchange in the lungs happens optimally only when the air is hot and humid (more about Gas exchange and the process/chemistry of breathing later).
  • It also adds the magical element of Nitric Oxide which is secreted in the sinuses. Nitric Oxide dilates the blood vessels as well as the air tubes of lungs, reducing blood pressure.

Tip: When you do Bhramari Pranayam (humming), you are releasing 15 times more Nitric Oxide into the breathed air and hence, practicing Bhramari Pranayama a few times a day during these days of the pandemic, can help you avoid getting infected. 

So, why not simply hum and breathe through your nose?

PS: All of what is stated above is a summary of reading so many research articles and you can google about any of them.

I will be sharing more on breathing in the articles to come! Stay tuned. For more breathing exercises, check out Healthy Reads. To learn breathing techniques with the right guidance from a certified expert, subscribe to Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health. Images shown are for representation purposes only and may not depict the exact recommendations or outcomes.

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The Incredible Benefits Of Milk You Might Not Know

benefits of milkMilk is the most widely consumed beverage in the world and it’s an important part of a diet for most individuals. The major source of milk in India is from buffalo, cow and rarely from sheep and goat. It is essentially an emulsion of fat and protein in water, along with dissolved sugar (lactose), minerals, and vitamins. These constituents are present in the milk of all mammals, though their proportions differ from one species to another and within species.

Some Awesome Benefits of Milk 

Most of us might have learned in school that milk is considered as a complete food. It is because of the presence of all the vital nutrients that the body needs for growth, development and sustenance. Mentioned below are a few of the many incredible benefits of milk.

  1. Protection against cancer: Studies suggest that Calcium, Vitamin D (in case of fortified milk) and some other milk compounds are important in protecting against certain types of cancers like colorectal and bladder cancer.
  2. Reducing cardiovascular disease risk: Consumption of low fat milk after adolescence helps in reducing cardiovascular diseases. The presence of Polyunsaturated fatty acids and calcium plays a major role in protection against heart diseases. 
  3. Some studies also show evidence that consumption of milk in required quantities lowers in incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
  4. For bones and teeth: Since time immemorial, this benefit of milk has been very common and well known to all. Apart from Calcium and Protein, it contains various other nutrients like Zinc, Potassium, Vitamin-A and Vitamin-D (if fortified), that help in maintaining bone health. When taken in required amounts since childhood, milk helps in preventing osteoporosis and other bone fractures.
  5. Good source of macro and micro-nutrients: It is a good source of energy, protein and other micronutrients like Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, Riboflavin (Vitamin-B2), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin-B12) and Pantothenic acid (Vitamin-B5). Therefore, preventing a lot of micronutrient deficiencies.
  6. Last but not the least, it is an essential component for growth and development and can prevent stunting especially during infancy. Infact, the dietary fat from milk which shows detrimental effects during middle age and elderly, proves to be extremely beneficial during infancy. It helps in preventing undernutrition and malnutrition especially in a population with a low fat intake.

To summarise it all, whole milk is essential for growth and development of infants and children. It is associated with reduced risk of non-communicable diseases like osteoporosis and possibly colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes. Post adolescence, low fat milk has to be consumed to cut down on the saturated fat intake. Milk and dairy products can represent an important part of a healthy diet, as long as consumption levels are not excessive. However, any diet that exceeds the daily requirements over a period of time can lead to potentially significant health risks.

We hope this article on the benefits of milk helps you. If you are lactose intolerant, you might want to go through this article or consult your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian before consuming milk or dairy products. 

For more information on milk, other foods or nutrition in general, speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health. Images shown are for representation purposes only and may not depict the exact recommendations or outcomes.

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