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Good Gut Health: Why It Matters

Good gut health - why it matters

Our gut, or digestive system, is a complex network of organs and tissues that work together to break down food and absorb nutrients. But did you know that the health of your gut can impact much more than just your digestion? 

Why Does Good Gut Health Matter? 

As per the GOQii India Fit Report 2022 – 2023, we found that 23% of Seniors suffered from acidity and indigestion issues. 27% older adults reported facing issues with constipation. We also noticed that acidity issues among women have increased from 12% in 2021 to 20% in 2022.

Maintaining good gut health can help combat the aforementioned issues. It is essential for overall health and well-being. Here are a few more reasons why good gut health is necessary. 

  • Digestion: The most obvious role of the gut is in digestion. When we eat, food is broken down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by our body for energy and other functions. A healthy gut can break food down more efficiently, leading to better nutrient absorption and improved overall health.
  • Immune function: Did you know that the gut is home to a large portion of the body’s immune system? This is because the gut is exposed to a wide range of harmful pathogens and bacteria that can cause illness. A healthy gut can help protect against these invaders, keeping the body healthy and disease-free.
  • Mental health: Recent research has suggested that the gut and brain are closely connected and that the health of the gut can impact mental health and well-being. The gut produces many of the same neurotransmitters that are involved in mood regulation, such as serotonin and dopamine. In fact, some studies have even shown that certain probiotics can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  • Hormone regulation: The gut is also involved in hormone regulation, which can impact many aspects of our health. For example, the gut produces hormones that regulate appetite, metabolism, and energy balance. A healthy gut can help ensure that these hormones are balanced, leading to better overall health.
  • Energy production: The gut is also involved in the production of energy. Specifically, the gut microbiota (the community of microorganisms that live in the gut) produce short-chain fatty acids that can be used as a source of energy by the body. A healthy gut can produce more of these beneficial fatty acids, leading to increased energy and better overall health.

What Can You Do To Improve Your Gut Health? 

  1. Eat a balanced diet that is high in fiber and low in processed foods
  2. Avoid foods that can damage the gut, such as sugar and refined carbohydrates
  3. Exercise regularly to support a healthy gut
  4. Take a high-quality probiotic supplement to support the gut microbiota
  5. Reduce stress, as chronic stress can damage the gut and impact overall health.

By taking care of your gut through eating the right meals, exercising and reducing stress, you can improve your digestion, immune function, mental health, hormone regulation, and energy production. So take care of your gut and your body will thank you for it! 

If this article helped you, let us know in the comments below. You can browse through more articles on Gut Health here. To get this information directly from an expert, speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here. 

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Can You Workout On An Empty Stomach?

empty stomachUp until a few years back, it was considered a very risky practice to eat before swimming. Fortunately, this theory has been proven wrong. For any activity, be it swimming, cycling, running/jogging or strength training, on an empty stomach the fat does burn at a faster rate but the energy reserves will only last for a short span of time. Lesser energy = less intense training. Hence, the workout will also last for a short period and there might also be a greater risk of strains and other injuries due to exercise related fatigue. Working out on an empty stomach also increases the chances of overeating post workout, thus, all the benefits of the workout will be lost.

Why You Shouldn’t Workout On An Empty Stomach 

The main reason for having something before a workout is to make sure there is constant energy from the start to the end of the workout. The body does not need a large meal, it can even be a small carb rich snack to kick start the metabolism.

Carbs are easily digestible and quickly provide energy. Proteins and Fats also provide energy, but not as quickly and as much as carbs. Hence, the best thing to have is a carb source. If it’s a large meal, it has to be taken 2-4 hours prior to the workout. If it’s a small snack, it can be taken 15-30 mins before the activity.

Some examples of a small pre-workout snacks are:

  • Banana or any other fruit
  • 2 dates along with some nuts
  • Fresh fruit juice
  • Vegetable salad (small bowl of non-gaseous veggies)
  • 2 Slices of bread with peanut butter

Post workout, muscles are tired and fatigued and need some proteins as well as some carbs. Here, proteins will help in repairing the worn and torn tissues and strengthening muscles, whereas carbs will help replenish the energy reserves. One can choose to have a meal if it’s meal time or opt for some snacks post workout. But, we should always make sure there is at least one source of protein in the meal. 

Some examples of post workout snack include:

  • A glass of skimmed milk
  • Boiled egg whites
  • Boiled grams/Chana chaat/ Chole/Rajma
  • Sprouts
  • Oatmeal
  • Sattu drink
  • Besan cheela
  • Boiled/Grilled chicken or Fish
  • Yogurt (sugar and fat free) with choice of fruits and nuts

In conclusion, intake of food before and after workout is favourable to maintain better health and fitness. However, there are no specific rules for sports nutrition. If your goal is extensive weight loss and working out on an empty stomach works for you, then do what’s best and listen to your body. Also, make sure that you’re hydrated.

For proper guidance on nutrition and fitness, subscribe for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here. To read more on workouts and fitness, click here. 

If this article helped you, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Lose Body Fat by Changing What You Eat

lose body fat

There are many of us who lead demanding and hectic lifestyles which are marred with extensive working hours, early mornings and late nights. In fact, late-night shifts affect our eating patterns a lot!

Due to erratic working patterns, processed foods, instant food items and junk food are in trend as they are easy to carry and can be ordered or eaten anywhere! People don’t carry home food as much and always eat food at work in a hurry, knowing that they are gulping their food without chewing.

If we pay a little attention to what we are eating and how we are eating it, it makes a big difference. The statement, “Lose body fat by changing what you eat” holds true in this context.

Can You Lose Body Fat with Food?

First of all, you have to see the natural foods around you which have the capability to help you lose body fat. Try including some of the following option in your daily meals.

  1. Whole Grains: contain a good amount of fiber and as they are complex in nature, they release carbohydrates slowly in the body. They need energy from the body to breakdown and in turn, help you lose fat. So, include brown rice, whole wheat flour, rolled oats, Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra over refined flour like maida, suji and white rice.
  2. Pulses & Legumes: are an excellent source of fiber and vegetable protein. Protein gives you a feeling of satiety which stops you from overeating and decreases your total calorie intake resulting in fat loss. Choose whole pulses like white & black chana, cow pea, kidney bean, sprouts and have them in at least two meals.
  3. Vegetables & Fruits: are excellent sources of fiber and are low in calories. They require a lot of energy to breakdown and some fibers don’t digest in human bodies. They need to be excreted and absorb fat from the body while doing so, thereby reducing fat and cutting down total calorie intake. Have at least 2-3 servings of fruits & vegetables. Their way of cooking can be changed like sautéing, steaming, baking, shallow frying, or roasting instead of deep-frying.
  4. Healthy Fats: can be obtained through nuts, fish & seeds to improve omega 3 fatty acid which is anti-inflammatory and helps in controlling visceral fat accumulation. Cut down your intake of all types of visible fats such as butter, ghee, oils and avoid refined oils. Instead, use soybean oil, sesame oil, mustard & groundnut oil.
  5. Water: increases the metabolism of the body by flushing out toxins and cleansing the liver. The best part? It has zero calories. Drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day.
  6. Tea: Replacing your tea with green, turmeric or lemon tea and avoiding or minimizing visible intake of sugar [1tsp of sugar (5gm) = 20 calories] helps you lose weight.

Meal timings are also crucial in shedding extra fat. This is because the metabolism of the body slows down as the day progresses. That’s why late-night eaters are prone to weight gain. Low calorie and nutrient-dense food can be chosen by late eaters.

Chewing your food properly also increases the rate of absorption of nutrients and avoids extra accumulation of fat. Practicing mindful eating i.e. eating by paying attention and noticing each sip or bite, tasting your food, teaches you to control your hunger and actually helps in weight loss.

We hope these tips help you lose body fat. For more on how adjusting food habits can help you lose weight, ask a GOQii Coach for guidance by subscribing for personalised health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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Why You Should Avoid Eating A Heavy Dinner

Avoid eating a heavy dinner “I am not losing any weight in spite of following a healthy routine,” said one of my Players. “What did you eat for dinner yesterday?”  I asked. He replied saying, “2 Rotis, 1 bowl of Rice, Dal, Subzi, 1 bowl of salad (as you have told) and 2 small gulab jamun,” I was quick in pointing out that the answer to his weight loss issue was his heavy dinner.

Why Should You Avoid A Heavy Dinner?

Our body works on a simple principle of demand and supply. Whenever we are more active, we need more energy. Hence, we need to eat more – which means having a heavy breakfast, a good lunch and mid meal snacks, help you stay active.

Whereas, when we aren’t quite active, we require less energy. From the time we begin our day, till night, our activity levels lower gradually (unless you work in night shifts). We really don’t require much energy when we’re going to relax post dinner and ultimately sleep. Which means, we do not need to eat as much because we won’t be burning that food for energy. If you consume more food than your body needs at night, it’s a simple recipe for weight gain!

Having a lighter dinner aids digestion and helps you better utilise the nutrients. It is advisable to have a 2 hour gap before hitting the sack. This is one way to avoid that unnecessary fat and weight gain! In order to do this, you need a plan. If you’re not in a habit of having frequent meals, and you avoid an evening snack, you’ll tend to eat more at dinner. Also, understand the psychological effect when you haven’t eaten anything post lunch, barring that cup of tea! You’ll end up feasting because your brain is telling you that you are hungry.

Some Benefits Of Eating A Light Dinner 

  1. Aids in digestion and induces good sleep
  2. You will be able to get up fresh the next morning
  3. Helps in faster gut clearing
  4. Helps reducing fat & weight
  5. Reduces risk of lifestyle diseases like Type II Diabetes, Hypertension, High cholesterol, etc.
  6. Helps in reducing PCOD & Hypothyroidism
  7. Improves metabolism

The ideal time for dinner is near sunset 6.30- 7 pm. If you can’t manage it, then simply split your dinner between 2-3 small meals. Have an evening meal between 5-7 pm.  Ideally, at the time you feel hungry post Lunch. Eat Roti,Rice, Bhakri, or whole wheat bread etc. which is carbohydrate based for the first meal. Keep the lighter part for the next one i.e. 8-10 pm. Try to keep dinner low in carbs and more in proteins & fibers as this will prevent excess calories, give you proteins for muscle building throughout the night, and enough fiber will help in gut clearing.

You can try –

Proteins: Eggs, Chicken, Paneer, Dal, Sprouts, Usal, Curd, Yogurt, Soya, or Tofu mixed with
Fiber: Soups, salads, stir fried veggies, raita, or raw veggies, etc.

It can be as simple as curd rice, Khichdi- Kadhi, etc. But, watch the carbohydrate quantity. Avoid having fruits at this time as they contain fructose which is a simple sugar. If you feel hungry again at night, drink a glass of milk with turmeric powder or a bowl of soup/salads or a few nuts.

We hope this article helps you! For more tips on healthy living and making lifestyle changes, click here or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Disclaimer: This article was written keeping people who are trying to lose weight and fat in mind. This may not be appropriate for growing children, teenagers, underweight people, and/or people with medical conditions. Before making any changes to your diet, consult your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian. 

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