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The Best Post-Run Recovery Foods

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All athletes plan their routine, in terms of their exercise, nutrition; practice sessions all of this is done to get the best results from his/her body. While you might get the expected results with your performance but, that certainly does not mean that your body is also getting the expected nutrition. In fact, some of the best athletes and more recently we have come across cases of regular marathon runners fainting or blacking out during the run or after the run. This situation occurs due to nutrition imbalance in body.

To be healthy we have to take care of our meals throughout the day. Similarly, we have to take care of our post run meals as well to recover our body. By eating the right foods at right times your body will recover and be able to perform the way you want it to. So if you are a runner or planning to run you need to be aware of what exactly you should be eating before, during and after your running events. This is important so that you are able to keep your body in optimal condition.

So let’s understand more about this.

  1. Some basics before your run: If you are planning to jog no longer than 40 or 50 minutes at a relaxed pace, a glass of water might be all that’s needed ahead of time—provided you have had a decent dinner the night before. But, if the previous night’s meal wasn’t filling or if you ate it early, downing some orange juice or a banana will replace glycogen stores in your muscles to wave off sluggishness. If you’re heading out in the afternoon, have a snack with about 50 grams of carbs in it—like yogurt and a granola bar—an hour or two before hand
  2. Post run, our body requires lot of different nutrition, so let’s divide into different category – PROTEIN, CARBS, ELECTROLYTES AND ANTIOXIDANTS.
  • Protein: Protein is the best resource to repair your body. It repairs muscle damage, diminishes the effects of cortisol—the so-called “stress” hormone that breaks down muscle—and, when taken with carbohydrates it speeds your body’s ability to replenish its glycogen stores, your all-important energy source for those long runs during marathon season. So post run your Protein ratio should be 1:4 which means 1 gram of protein for every 4 gram of CARBS
  • Carbs: Carbohydrates or carbs as is known commonly are body’s main fuel source, and are stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver, so eating carbs shortly after your workout helps optimize your body’s recovery. And it is during this time that your muscles are most receptive to rebuilding your glycogen reserves.
  • Electrolytes and Antioxidants: Electrolytes are minerals in our blood and other body fluids like Calcium, Chloride, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium, etc that carry an electric charge. It also affects the percentage of water in our body, the acidity of our blood (pH), our muscle functionality, and other important processes. While running, we sweat a lot and we lose electrolytes when we sweat. So we really have to replace our sweat by drinking fluids that contain electrolytes.

The techniques we can use

The fastest recovery techniques post training is rehydration, glycogen resynthesis and protein and antioxidant supplementation. These techniques replenish our muscle fuel supplies, hasten the repair of muscle damage and combat free radical formation in our cells.

Having said all of the above now it’s time for me to provide you with some resources for the post recovery foods that can help to replenish your body with the vital nutrients discussed above.

At first you start restoring the fluids in the body after your long run – the quick fixes for this are sports drink, lemon water or some plain water. However, the recovery process does not stop here so we have some specific foods that can help you to restore your body in recovery.

  • Salmon
  • Cherries
  • Kale
  • Oatmeal
  • Greek yogurt
  • Banana
  • Skim Milk
  • Chicken
  • Hummus
  • Green Tea
  • Tomatoes
  • Lean beef
  • Turkey breast
  • Sports/Energy bar
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta
  • Berries
  • Fruit Juice
  • Low-fat cottage cheese
  • Eggs
  • Almonds or other nuts
  • Vegetables

Its recommended to have your post run meal within an hour or so, but incase if it is not possible then you can go for the following options, which will help you to sustain for some time:

  • Have an apple which will give you some energy and raise your glucose level to sustain.
  • Protein bars, Protein shake with the combination of milk or water, whatever is convenient for you.
  • Banana is really good option to get quick energy.
  • Have Bread with some peanut butter.
  • My Favorite – Chocolate Milkshake.
  • Hummus and carrots
  • Some Greek yogurt.

As we love running and it’s a part of our lifestyle, routine and our health journey, so we really need to take care of the hard impact of it on our body. To continue our journey with running and healthy lifestyle we need to give appropriate rest and relaxation after every run and make sure that our body recovers completely after a every rigorous workout/running.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Foods for Breast Cancer Prevention

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Healthy eating is not something doctors of today promote among their patients to overcome their illness. Making couple of changes in the food and lifestyle can be more beneficial and helpful rather than undergo some life threatening treatments like Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. One can lower their risk for breast cancer by reaching for the right foods. A woman can cut her chance of cancer by good nutrition and weight management.

Let us look at some of the foods that can help

Broccoli

Sulforaphane—a compound in broccoli—reduces the number of breast cancer stem cells (which cause cancer spread and recurrence). Eating broccoli may not deliver enough sulforaphane to achieve the same effect, but to get the most you can eat your broccoli raw or briefly steam or stir-fry the green florets.

Salmon

Taking fish-oil supplements for at least 10 years can shrink your risk of ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. Omega-3 fats in fish oil reduce inflammation, which may contribute to breast cancer. A person can eat about 8 ounces of oily fish (salmon, sardines, tuna) a week.

Walnuts

Walnuts may thwart the growth of breast cancer. Experts think walnuts’ anti-inflammatory properties—which could come from the omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid, phytosterols or antioxidants—may give them their tumor-fighting potential.

Olive Oil

It has been found that the olive oil’s antioxidants and oleic acid (a mono-unsaturated fat) quelled growth of malignant cells.

Plums & Peaches

Plums and peaches have antioxidant levels to rival “superfood” blueberries—and that they contain two types of polyphenols (antioxidants) that may help kill breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact.

Aloevera Juice

Aloe Vera contains at least 6 natural ingredients which act as ´anti-inflammatory agents, reducing inflammation, one of the precursors to cancer. Ingredients to make juice– 3Leaves of Aloe Vera + 50gm Honey + 50 gm Brandy.

Method- Peal the thorns of Aloe Vera after cleaning it nicely and grind it. Mix honey and Brandy. Shake well and store it in a Refrigerator in a glass bottle. Drink 1-2 teaspoon empty stomach.

Graviola Extract– Although graviola has some side effects but it is a boon for cancer patients. Consuming the fruit once a month is the best way to avoid the side effects.
Nutrition and Cancer confirms the cancer- inhibiting phytochemicals in graviola. Scientists at Virginia Tech demonstrated that graviola fruit extract (juice) could reduce the growth of cancer on the skin of breast cancer patients without damaging healthy breast tissue. It can lead to Parkinson’s disease but eating in moderation has no such side effects.

Flax seeds –Flax demonstrates antiproliferative effects in breast tissue of women at risk of breast cancer. Increased cell death (apoptosis) within their tumors.

Wheat Grass– Due to its potent detoxifying properties, wheatgrass works to keep the blood clean and oxygenated as well as increase the red blood cell count. Cancer thrives in a low-oxygen environment, so the wheatgrass contributes to cancer prevention. Also it improves circulation, digestion, reduce fatigue, and boost immunity.

Beans and lentils– Fiber-rich foods help flush excess amounts of estrogen out of your body during digestion. Your gut also breaks down fiber itself into cancer-fighting fragments.

Cur Cumin Tablets– Cur cumin has the ability to modulate genetic activity and expression—both by destroying cancer cells and by promoting healthy cell function. It also promotes anti-angiogenesis, meaning it helps prevent the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth.

Vitamin C, A, E and Selenium (Se)

Vitamin C’s anti cancer properties are scavenging cancer causing free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide to prevent lipid peroxidation, neutralizing carcinogenic chemicals, enhancement of immunoglobulin IgA, IgM etc. Se antioxidant property protects the body against environmental and chemical sensitivities and their immune functions enhance the body’s antibacterial and antiviral defences.

Vitamin E is effective in decreasing the risk of colon cancer and inhibits breast cancer tumors, reducing the severity of liver cancer and also restoring the cellular immune system. Vitamin A and carotenoids antioxidants and immune stimulatory property have developed synergistic cancer treatment application.

 

 

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MCTs: The Good Fats

coconut-oil

Most of us are ignorant about fat. The moment we hear fat, we associate it with high calories, weight gain, obesity, heart diseases, etc.  But, the fact is, we need fat in order to live!

Having said the above not all fats are alike. The devil and angel concept applies here very well. We have good fats which are the essential fats and are needed for healthy brain functioning, immune system, hormone production, and energy production. There are bad fats too that can clog our arteries and lead to internal inflammation. All that we need to do is, choose the right kind of fat and consume it in the right way!

Heard of MCTs aka Medium Chain Triglycerides? Well these good fats are gaining fame in the health sector these days. They have received considerable attention in the past too.

MCTs, are the major fat components in coconut oil. We can find varying amounts of MCTs in olive oil, ghee, palm oil, butter and nuts too.

To understand why MCTs are so wonderfully beneficial for us, we need to get into a bit of chemistry.

MCTs are composed of only 6 to 10 carbon links, unlike other fats which have up to 22 carbon links, and because of their shorter chain length, they are absorbed faster by the body and are quickly metabolized (burned) as fuel/energy. Thus, rather than getting stored as fat, the calories contained in MCTs are very efficiently converted into fuel for instant use by our body.

Let me share some astonishing benefits that MCTs have to offer:

* Aid in weight loss:

This is one reason why most people are eager to get their hands on MCTs. Apart from being minimally stored as fat, MCTs are knows to induce thermogenesis and wake up the sluggish metabolism, which thereby accelerates the calorie-burning process. This makes it useful in case of Thyroid too, where the metabolism is terribly slowed down.

*Good for diabetics:

MCTs reduce the glycemic index of the meal to which MCT Oil is added as they have a slight hypoglycemic/blood sugar lowering effect.

* Good for heart:

It’s often said that fats are bad for heart. But, MCTs have shown to prove it wrong. Since they are metabolized faster, more like carbohydrates than fats, they provide instant energy to the diseased and stressed heart which is usually energy deficient. That’s not the only thing, MCTs also have an anti-coagulation and cholesterol lowering effect that safeguards our heart.

* Good for brain:

MCTs are like rocket fuel to the brain as they release ketones when they are metabolized. Ketones are an efficient fuel for brain and can boost cognitive performance. Thus, MCTs are considered beneficial in case of epilepsy, seizures and alzheimer’s disease.

*Powerhouse for Athletes:

Athletes usually depend on carbohydrates for instant energy. Carbs however provide lesser energy than fats. Since fats are absorbed slower than carbs, athletes choose to go for the latter. MCTs pick up the positive aspects of both- They are absorbed faster plus provide instant energy, which is an ideal combination to bolster an athletic performance.

* Malabsorptive conditions:

In conditions like liver and gastrointestinal issues, where absorption is severely affected, MCTs are a boon. After consuming MCT containing food, they are absorbed quickly from the small intestine and taken straight to the liver and are converted into energy without requiring a single drop of bile (produced by the liver), thus reducing the workload of the organs of an ill person.

*Cancer:

MCT containing oil is a super food for cancer as it heals the damaged cells, improve immunity and provide instant energy to the weak body.

The benefits of MCTs are incredible, aren’t they? Now the question is how to use MCTs containing oil in our day to day life?

Best way is to make use of coconut oil in your meal preparations OR you can bake some popcorn or foxnuts (makhanas) using ghee/coconut oil OR You can add it into your coffee or smoothie OR simply use it as a salad dressing.

1 tbsp a day is more than enough.

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5 Easy Ways to Cut Down on the Fat

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During my college days, I was on the healthier side as compared to all my friends. And, I always felt I had to lose weight just to be like them. The first thing that crossed my mind was I should be skipping my meals. I did precisely that, started to skip my meals and lost weight. But, when is started back on my normal meals I realized I used to gain back the weight. After losing the weight, I also started feeling weak. Since I was into sports I needed to be fit too. I wondered why I am feeling weak. I have lost the extra weight but, yet not feeling energetic?

Slowly and gradually as time passed on, I started my dietetics studies and that’s when I realized the actual meaning of what is weight loss.

When we talk about losing weight, what does it actually mean? Does it mean losing weight or losing muscle weight??

I realized that, there is no shortcut or a magical pill for fat loss. There are several reasons and factors that are responsible for it. When I first lost weight, I started feeling weak because I lost muscle weight and not fat weight.

The key to real fat loss is combining the right foods together and eating right. When the right foods are combined there is a synergy affect resulting in double fat loss in almost half the time.

The way to successfully losing the fat weight is long-term healthy lifestyle change. I think this is a very clever way of informing people to stop trying to find a quick and easy way to lose fat. It just reaffirms that we need to mould ourselves in self created healthy environment and become a healthier individual naturally. Here, are some easy ways to cut down the fat weight rather than of yourself! So lets get started..

1)Healthy Eating Habits- When we talk about healthy eating habits what are the things that come to your mind?

Your major meals of the day which are breakfast, lunch and dinner. These meals are very important and we should not skip these meals. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your body needs to know that it can start burning calories and breakfast is exactly that flag. One should have a king size breakfast. If you do not then you will end up eating unhealthy stuff. Lunch should be lighter than breakfast and well balanced with carbs and proteins. Same with dinner, it should be the lightest of the all meals, with more proteins and less carbohydrates.

Our meals should be load up on protein and fiber. To get rid of that stubborn fat, we need proteins. As proteins helps to repair and build muscles, intake should be up to the requirement. At the same time we should not forget fiber. Fiber helps to digest and lose weight by helping you feel full. So add beans, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, and berries on to the list which are awesome foods to get going.

Not only proteins and fibers but, also the fats are important to include in the daily diet. Not any sort of a no-fat or low-fat diet. Well, a low-fat diet is good but, only if you do it right. You need to stick to the good fats. The good kind (unsaturated; your omega-3s and 6s) can actually lead to fat burn, rising your metabolism.

To reduce calories, to get rid of body fat, you need not to cut out healthy fats completely.  Include avocados, fatty fish, olives, nuts and seeds, and oils such as olive, flaxseed and canola in your diet.

2) Eat often- Getting rid of body fat is all about the metabolism, and to keep up the metabolism, you got to be eating constantly.

As we are talking about the major meals same time small frequent meals are important too. When you eat small meals all the time, your metabolic rate increases and the increase in metabolism helps to lose fat. If you eat six meals a day versus just the three regular meals (breakfast , lunch , dinner) with the same total calories, you can lose more fat because more meals burn more calories by increasing thermogenesis, the production of heat, in the body.

Let’s not forget portion control, while going through proper meals you need to have look on portion control as well.

Try to take a less portion when you are serving your plate. Mindful eating works well such as chewing the food thoroughly, eating slowly. Eating slowly helps because it is known that once you cross 20 minutes of eating, the satiety center in the brain gets stimulated which sends you a signal that you are full and you stop eating. This is how portion control helps.

3) Water-The body fuel! Water is the medium in which most cellular activities take place, including the transport and burning of fat. In addition, drinking plenty of calorie-free water makes you feel full. Drink at least 3 litres of water a day. This is going to help you in washing away the toxins from your body and also to lessen the load of liver and thereby helping the liver to focus on metabolizing fat and the metabolizing rate related with fat loss.

Set yourself to accomplish this goal and you are on. Drink loads of water. It’s practically the easiest detoxifying tactic there in.

Two glasses of cold water can actually spike up your metabolism for about half an hour.

4) Exercise with proper breathing- To be on a healthy path you need a proper exercise along with the diet! Try to be more active, Daily 30-45 mins of Interval walking/ Running can be beneficial. Your main focus when you exercise should be losing body fat, and you can’t lose body fat just by burning calories. When we exercise, our bodies start burning calories, but the calories that are burned are the calories from carbohydrates in our system. In order to burn calories from your stored fat, your body requires the presence of oxygen. There is a certain amount of oxygen that your body needs in order to start burning fat and the only way for you to measure the amount needed for your own body is to keep up with your target heart rate during exercise.

Fat burns in the presence of oxygen. There’s a phrase which says (When you eat more, breathe more). It means oxygen burns the extra calories we eat, which is not required by the body and also reduces the overall fat percentage in the body. Oxygen thins the blood a little which helps lower your blood pressure and speed up the flow of blood. This increases your metabolism and burns more calories. The more oxygen you have in your blood the faster your metabolism will be. Cool air causes an additional increase in your metabolic rate because you need to expend more energy to keep the body at a comfortable temperature.

5 ) Rest– as focusing on all activities to stay healthy, along with all that your body needs a crucial ingredient-“rest”!

The culprits are leptin and ghrelin. Leptin tells your body it’s full and ghrelin stimulates appetite. When you don’t sleep, leptin levels decrease and ghrelin levels increases. The result? You eat more unconsciously which can lead to fat gain. To avoid this scenario, make sure you rest. Try to take proper 7-8 hours of sleep. Also your body requires it to reduce stress levels and rejuvenate once again with fresh energy for the next day. You are like a powerhouse that just can’t be stopped, but your body needs to rest. Especially if you’re lifting weights like it’s your job; your muscles need time to repair themselves. And the muscle repairs and recovery happens when your body is at rest. So, take a day to take it easy. You don’t have to sit on the couch all day, but do allow your body to heal itself.
These are some fat burning food- Berries, grape fruit, Green tea, Eggs, Olive oil, Enova oils (Soy or canola) Almonds and other nuts, chilli peppers, whey protein, peanut butter, oat meal, spinach and other green vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, lean meat, fatty fish (salmon, tuna, etc), dairy products (low or no fat) etc.

For fat burning exercise you can check the following blog links written by my co-colleagues

https://goqii.com/blog/interval-training-to-put-your-fat-on-flame/

https://goqii.com/blog/10-tips-for-fat-burn-exercise/

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]