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Hair and Skincare Tips For Holi!

Happy HoliHoli is a festival of fun and mirth with plenty of colors and zeal. The tradition is to wish a Happy Holi by smearing colors at each other. Few decades ago, the colors used in Holi were derived from dry flowers and leaves. Even sandalwood paste, saffron, turmeric, henna and fuller’s earth were used to play Holi.

However, with rapid change in times and instant solutions, came cheaper, easily available industrial colors that replaced the natural ones. These industrial colors contain a variety of harmful compounds like malachite green, auramine, methyl violet, copper sulphate, aluminium bromide, prussian blue and cobalt nitrate. They are often mixed with starch, wheat flour and micadust.

The colors are disastrous for the skin as they increase the chances of allergies and infections. The most commonly affected areas include the face, scalp, forearms, neck and hands. So, how exactly do you avoid being affected by these harmful chemicals? The answer is quite simple!

Pre-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

  • Use Organic Colors: You can make skin-friendly, natural colors at home. For instance, you can use roasted chickpeas powder to make gulal. If you have hypersensitive skin, it is best to avoid chemical colors
  • Oil Your Way to Safety: Apply coconut oil, mustard oil or olive oil on your hair and scalp before playing Holi to prevent the color from blocking the pores
  • Apply Aloe Vera gel and oil on your body to create a layer of protection on the skin. Don’t forget to cover the ear area
  • Blend Castor Oil with Coconut Carrier Oil and apply it half an hour before playing Holi. This will protect your skin from chemicals. It also helps the colors come off easily during bath
  • Use Vaseline on Your Lips to keep them moisturized. You can even apply it on your ears
  • Use Sunscreen on your exposed skin to avoid skin damage. Try keeping yourself as covered as possible
  • Apply Transparent Nail Paint on your nails to prevent the color from getting inside the skin
  • Stay Hydrated all the time by drinking water and juices regularly

Post-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

  • Clean your skin with baby oil. Do not scrub the skin for at least 48 hours post Holi
  • Use natural ingredients like curd and chickpeas flour to exfoliate the skin and cleanse it
  • After bathing, apply moisturizer liberally all over to seal the moisture in
  • Avoid using make up or anything harsh on your skin for a few days. Let your skin breathe and get back its natural moisture
  • Wrap a couple of ice cubes in a thin cotton cloth and use it to soothe your face and neck area. This will help protect your skin from dryness and sunburn
  • Mix 2 tablespoons of Olive oil with 4 tablespoons of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this nourishing pack to your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Use a light herbal shampoo and a good quality conditioner as well

By Adopting these simple measure before and after the festival, you can make it an enjoyable experience! Were these tips helpful? What do you do to protect your hair and skin during Holi? Let us know in the comments below!

For more on skincare, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalised health coaching here.

Wish you all a Happy and Healthy Holi!

#BeTheForce

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Eat healthy while eating out this holiday week

healthy-eating

“I am following a strict diet all 5 days a week, but on weekends all my efforts go down the drain as I sometimes dine out with my family on weekends”.

“I was having lunch with my friends, hence ate outside”.

“I had dinner meeting with the clients at XYZ restaurant”. “It was my farewell party, so had to take my colleagues out to this new eatery opened in town”.

Each one of us has one such story to tell, while eating out. While most of us are getting conscious about the food choices we make or watching our portions, but we can’t follow that all time, while eating out. So, can we ever eat out without guilt and compromising our diet? The answer is “Yes!”

This is our Republic Day contribution. Eat Out but Eat Healthy. Take a look at how you can make this possible.

We generally overlook the menu at the restaurant or sometimes we just order what we like. But, on that menu card, we miss out on some healthy and nutritious meal, which will not disturb our healthy meal patterns.

However, this does not mean that you should be indulging in eating out all the time. It’s Republic Day though, let’s be free from our everyday strict diet, shall we?

So, what we can eat while eating out?

Make a healthy start with healthy starters:

1) Soups: Make a wiser choice between clear soup and creamy soup. Tum yum, Wanton, Mexican tomato soup are something to look out for.

2) Salad: Be careful with those fattening salad dressings. While ordering salad, make sure you get complete benefit of that salad. Load yourself with salad like Greek salad, Cous Cous salad, Vinaigrette based salad like fruits ‘N’ nut salad or salad which are lightly tossed in olive oil.

3) Appetizers: Beware of deep fried stuff while choosing appetizers. Best way is to follow GPRS rule! Rule is simple, G = Grilled, P = Poached, R = Roasted and S = Sauteed. Next time, see to it that your tempting appetizers fall in the above category.

Make a healthy move with a Main Course

Clay Oven Pizza: This is one such food, you can make as healthy as possible or it can be a complete disaster if made with wrong choices. Go for the thin crust wheat base. Make it wholesome by opting for healthy toppings like Sun dried tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, grilled chicken or seafood. Avoid bacon, pepperoni, sausages as topping to avoid excess saturation of calories. Ask the chef to add minimal cheese on your pizza.

Japanese, Thai and Mediterranean cuisine: Good news for Japanese, Thai and Mediterranean food lovers. These cuisines are considered as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. They are perfect blend of healthy food like beans, nuts, fruits, olive oil, whole grains (Mediterranean). Bamboo shoots, seasoned broth, shiitake mushrooms, sea vegetables like seaweed, make the Japanese cuisine, one of the best cuisine in the world. (But watch out for rice portions as it can cause spike in the blood sugar).

Tandoor Items: How can Indian cuisine be behind in the race for healthiest cuisine, when we have one of the healthy cooking method– Tandoor! Any tandoor dishes are way healthy than the dishes floating with butter or oil on the top. You will have a wide spread of variety in this section, right from tandoori roti (without butter) to tandoori mushrooms, baby corn to tandoori chicken or fish.

So, next time when you visit any restaurant or having brunch at friend’s place, your demand for healthy eating will be fulfilled with the wise choices you make!! Enjoy healthy eating out!

If you found these tips valuable and have more questions or thoughts to share, drop a comment below! To explore more insights on maintaining a healthy diet, check out Healthy Reads, and for further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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Holiday Health Tip: It’s All In The Chew!

Holiday Health Tip: It's All In The ChewIt’s precisely between this week and January 1st when people tend to put on most of their weight. There are two reasons for this – The crazy festive season filled with weddings and parties followed by Christmas, New Year’s Eve and the tendency to let loose during this time, with the justification that they’ll start fresh with ‘healthy new year resolutions’ in January.

  • What if I told you that you could enjoy this season and it wouldn’t impact your weight?
  • What if I told you snacking on a cookie or dessert occasionally wouldn’t effect your weight goals?
  • What if you could eat rice, roti (Indian flat bread), and bread at lunch and dinner without it impacting your weight or health?
  • What if you could enjoy this festive season, have loads of fun, eat your favorite foods and still maintain your health and weight?

The human body is a miracle, and we are living examples of this miracle. The way our brain and body function, blood flow, smell, feelings, emotions, the ability to recover from the deadliest of diseases and the ability of our cells to heal and repair – is nothing short of extraordinary. Every day, trillions of cells in our body work non-stop to fight off germs and bacteria that could otherwise make us very sick or even threaten our lives. This miracle is called immunity.

Our stomach produces enough acid to dissolve a razor blade. Such is the power of our digestive system. So what’s an ice-cream, chocolate bar, or cookie going to do when it enters our stomachs? Our body is made to digest even the toughest foods. Red meat, for instance, is hard to digest, but the body will break it down. Vegetarians don’t escape either—cellulose in vegetables is extremely difficult to break down, but the body eventually does the job. This is one reason vegetarians may experience more flatulence than non-vegetarians.

The body can break down meats, vegetables and desserts alike! The secret lies in the ‘chew’. Food tastes so good because you’re meant to enjoy it—slow down and savor it, not just rush it to your stomach.

How Does Chewing Thoroughly Help? 

Chewing your food thoroughly is actually the first step in the complex process of digestion, and if you compromise this process, a common mistake, it can affect your overall health.

We have teeth not just to smile for a pretty picture but primarily to tear down and break up food into small bits. Saliva mixes with these small bits, further softening them.

Let’s dive into the basics:

Why Should You Chew Your Food Thoroughly? 

When you chew, more saliva gets produced and your saliva contains enzymes that break down FATS and CARBS. Yes!!! Digestion starts in the MOUTH! By the time your food reaches your stomach, it’s already processed by enzymes, making it easier for your stomach to complete the digestion process.

  • You feel light
  • You feel full for a longer period of time.
  • You reduce flatulence, gas, indigestion and burping.
  • You learn to savor and enjoy the taste of your food.
  • Your body absorbs all the goodness of your food (vitamins, minerals) better.
  • You eat just the amount your body needs to maintain or achieve a healthy weight.

Imagine all the times you’ve gobbled down your food. You’re left with undigested chunks sitting in your stomach, causing gas, discomfort, and increasing the chances of food converting to fat.

Chew your food. Enjoy a dessert, but eat it slowly and savor it. Over time, you’ll learn not to overindulge. The more you chew your food, the cleaner you keep your intestines, stomach and colon because the body can cleanse itself more effectively when digestion happens correctly. Say goodbye to constipation, fatigue, and migraines.

Try This Exercise Today!

At your next meal, eat slowly. Take a spoonful of food, chew it several times, savor the flavor and taste, then swallow. Put your spoon down before taking the next bite.

You’ll find yourself getting fuller quickly and will naturally eat less. This habit helps you save calories over time. Eventually, you’ll serve yourself smaller portions—fewer calories mean better health, a longer life, and a healthy weight.

Take one serving spoon less at every meal, chew thoroughly, and eat slowly. You’ll find that this is enough. All these saved portions add up to a significant calorie reduction, helping you lose fat and feel healthier.

Most diseases are caused by overeating. Even if you think your portions are appropriate, eating too quickly can lead to overconsumption. Chewing thoroughly ensures you eat mindfully, eliminating the need for restrictive diets.

Meal times are sacred—they’re your personal moments to nourish and care for your body. Respect this time, as it’s essential for keeping you healthy and strong.

This is a lifestyle change and if you master it, you can enjoy all your favorite foods in moderation.

We hope this article helps you make that lifestyle change. For more tips like this, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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Simple Tips to Keep Your Holidays Healthy and Fun

Simple Tips to Keep Your Holidays Healthy and FunThe holiday season is upon us! These next few days are filled with celebrations and it’s also a time when many people choose to get married. With multiple weddings, get-togethers, picnics, outings or even vacations, how does one resist overeating and avoid skipping workouts? You don’t necessarily need to be a monk. You can still enjoy yourself and keep your holidays healthy! Here are some simple tips to help you stay healthy while having fun at the same time!

On a Road Trip

  • Pack some homemade snacks to eat on the way. Prepare sandwiches with multi-grain or whole wheat bread, plain or vegetable idlis, homemade cookies, cupcakes for kids, vegetable upma, boiled sprouts salad, chickpeas and so on.
  • Take a variety of seasonal or your favorite fruits. Carry nuts to curb hunger pangs, which often arise out of boredom.
  • Avoid roadside, high-calorie, unhealthy foods! They are not only unhealthy but can also be unhygienic depending on where you eat. Eating these in moderation won’t help either!
  • Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking plain water. Carry juicy fruits like watermelon or litchis, or even better – coconut water or lemon juice.
  • Avoid aerated, sugary drinks and caffeinated energy drinks as they are high in calories and provide zero nutritional value. These drinks can dehydrate your body, making you feel thirstier.

On a Long Vacation Away From Home

With a few careful steps, you can keep your holidays healthy while indulging in the local delicacies!

  • Moderation is key! When visiting a new place, you’ll definitely want to try unique dishes the destination has to offer. Go ahead, eat them all-but choose wisely and maintain portion control. Start your day with a filling and healthy breakfast to help you manage this.
  • Eat fruits and drink healthy beverages to stay full while you travel or explore. Avoid overstuffing yourself.
  • While sightseeing, prefer walking or cycling wherever possible. It’s a fun way to burn calories and cover more ground.

 While Attending Parties

  • As a rule of thumb, don’t arrive too hungry or too full! If you’re too hungry, you might overeat, and if you’re too full, you won’t be able to savor all the delicious options available.
  • Eat a healthy snack before leaving, such as a salad, sandwich, or fruit.
  • Avoid eating while meeting and talking to other guests. You might lose track of how much food you’re consuming. Finish your conversations first, then eat carefully and mindfully.
  • Opt for healthier alternatives, such as a green salad over a Russian salad, grilled items over fried items, or fruit-based desserts over rich, creamy ones.

Don’t Skip Exercising.

Even during the holidays, don’t skip exercising. You can do a light workout when you wake up or whenever you find time. Keep a resistance band handy, as it allows you to perform various exercises.

If you need expert guidance, join our live, interactive sessions on GOQii PRO within the GOQii App. You can also reach out to a GOQii Coach for tips by subscribing to Personalised Health Coaching here.

Play it safe and play it wisely! If you keep everything in moderation, opt for healthy alternatives, and maintain an exercise routine, you can make your holidays both healthy and fun!

#BeTheForce

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