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Celebrating the New Year? Read This Before You Head Out!

It’s that time of the year again! The Christmas bells are ringing, and the New Year sweeps us away with celebrations and endless possibilities. For some, it sweeps in a whirlwind of booze and regret, and for others, it’s just another weekend ritual.

So, here it is—the essential gyaan on what you should and shouldn’t do this New Year (or even on any weekend for that matter).

A Firm Belief: Health First

Whether it’s New Year’s Eve, Diwali, or any celebration, your health should always take precedence. While the New Year comes once a year, the impact of unhealthy habits can linger far longer, wreaking havoc on your system.

Trust me, if your body had a say, it would dread New Year’s Eve every single year!

Let’s Talk About Alcohol

The body can safely process about one unit of pure alcohol per hour. Drinking more than this overwhelms your system, leading to alcohol accumulation in your body. The strain on your liver—and your overall health—is immense.

What Happens When You Binge Drink?
Binge drinking increases the risk of blackouts, especially on an empty stomach. During blackouts, a person might do things they won’t remember later. If you plan to drink:

  • Know your limits.
  • Listen to your body.
  • Remember, booze might be free, but your body is priceless.

How Alcohol Affects Your Liver
Your liver metabolizes alcohol but can only process so much at a time. Any excess alcohol is distributed throughout the rest of your body, causing more harm than you might realize.

The Perils of Drugs

Know this: consuming, sharing, or distributing drugs is illegal. Apart from the legal risks, high quantities of drugs can lead to poisoning, severe health complications, and even death. Addiction makes recovery incredibly challenging, leaving individuals vulnerable to dangerous situations.

If you’re planning to party, prioritize safety. Better yet, skip the rave altogether.

Too Much of Anything Is Never Good

Whether it’s food, drinks, dancing, or loud music—anything in excess is bad for your health.

  • Loud music can damage your eardrums. That buzzing sensation you feel after a loud party is your body’s way of saying, “Enough!”
  • Sex can be great for your health, but only if done safely and with a known partner. If you’re drinking, surround yourself with trusted friends who can protect you from unwanted attention.

Tips for a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year

  1. Handle Excessive Alcohol Consumption:
    If someone passes out or vomits, stay with them. Ensure they don’t choke on their vomit and monitor their breathing. Seek medical help if needed.
  2. Pace Yourself:
    Stick to one peg per hour, giving your body time to process it.
  3. Listen to Your Body:
    If you feel uncomfortable or breathless after drinking, stop immediately. Hydrate with water and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
  4. Detox Post-Celebration:
    After a night of indulgence, give your body rest. Flush out toxins with plenty of fluids, salads, and a proper detox routine.
  5. Don’t Overload Your System:
    Treat your body like a car loader—it can only handle so much before breaking down.
  6. Plan Your Ride Home:
    If you plan to drink, hire a driver or use car rentals to avoid accidents.

A Different Way to Celebrate

Personally, I prefer celebrating at home with close friends. We order our favorite food, play board games, share stories, and end the night with a calming meditation session. It’s cost-effective, relaxing, and keeps me in sync with my health-first philosophy.

But hey, that’s just me! If you plan to party, consider the tips above to ensure your celebration is safe and enjoyable.

As we step into 2025, let’s celebrate responsibly and prioritize our health. Remember, a truly enjoyable party is one that leaves you feeling great the next day—physically and emotionally. If these tips resonated with you or helped you plan a healthier celebration, let us know in the comments below! For more insights on staying healthy and making mindful choices, speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

#BeTheForce 

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Menstrual Pain: Every Woman’s Nightmare No more!!

woman-with-hot-water-bottleI know many women, especially adolescents, who don’t like ‘being a woman’ because of the pain during menstruation. If you are one of those or know such women, this article is for you.

Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) is a normal part of menstruation. It affects girls during adolescence and eases as they mature. It may be painful, but it is not harmful.

Prostaglandins (hormones that causes your uterus to contract during menstruation and childbirth) are responsible for the pain. This pain results from contractions of your uterus that occur when the blood supply to its lining (endometrium) is reduced. (But hey! It is a part of you, and it is important, so blame it, but accept it and get on with it).

menstrual cramps Image 1

Other factors include a uterus that tilts backward instead of forward, lack of exercise, psychological or social stress, smoking, drinking alcohol or being overweight.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is generally related to some kind of gynecological disorder. It is most likely to affect women during adulthood.

Causes

  1. Fibroids that develop within the uterine wall or are attached to it cause inflammation leading to pain.
  2. Adenomyosis – the tissue that lines the uterus (called the endometrium) begins to grow within its muscular walls. This makes the uterine walls thicker. It may lead to heavy or longer-than-usual menstrual bleeding, as well as pain during menstrual cycle or intercourse.
  3. A sexually transmitted infection.
  4. Endometriosis – fragments of the endometrial lining that are found on other pelvic organs.
  5. Pelvic inflammatory disease, primarily an infection of the fallopian tubes, but it can also affect the ovaries, uterus, and cervix. It is caused primarily by sexually transmitted infections that spread up from the opening of the uterus to these organs.
  6. An ovarian cyst or tumor is a sac filled with fluid that forms on or inside of an ovary, causing pain.
  7. The use of an intrauterine device (IUD), a birth control method, leads to painful menstruation, which decreases over time.

‘Pain’ is the body telling us that something is not right. So listen to what your body is telling you. While you must seek medical advice for secondary dysmenorrhea, consider the following as well.

Be comfortable with your body. Negative messaging at times can become part of the subconscious mind, which rejects the female body. So anything that reminds the body of being a ‘woman’ can hurt.

Have a balanced diet. Ensure your diet includes foods rich in Vitamin B12, D, omega-3 fatty acids and calcium. As an extra tip, ginger is a wonder herb that can effectively ease menstrual cramps as it lowers the levels of pain-causing prostaglandins.

A hot water bag relaxes the contracting muscles in your uterus.

Make sure your hemoglobin level is within the normal range by including iron rich foods along with foods high in Vitamin C in your everyday diet.

An orgasm can help relieve all kinds of pains. Before an orgasm, the uterus is more relaxed, and during climax, blood flow increases, helping to relieve the cramps. The endorphins released after sex will make you feel better instantly.

Eat 2tbs of flaxseeds every day during periods reduces prostaglandin levels in the body.

Keep yourself hydrated during your period (and otherwise too!).

Exercise increases the blood flow, which calms the pain naturally.

Be happy, and you will feel your body responding better and dealing better with pain during your period.

Yoga Postures to relieve menstrual pain

One Legged Pigeon Pose stretches the entire lower part of the body and stimulates the abdominal organs.

menstrual cramps- yoga pose 1

Matsyasana (Fish pose) is a backbend that stretches and stimulates the belly muscles.

menstrual cramps- yoga pose 2

JanuShirasana (One-legged Forward bend) massages the abdominal organs.

menstrual cramps-yoga pose 3

Dhanurasana (Bow pose) strengthens the abdominal muscles and stimulates the reproductive organs.

Menstrual cramps-Yoga pose 4

Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) stretches and tones the abdomen.

Menstrual Cramps-Yoga pose 5

Ustrasana (Camel pose) stretches and opens the front of the body.

menstrual cramps-yoga pose 6

Yoga is one of the means to reach your goal of painless menstruation. Don’t forget to respect your body and give it time to overcome the pain.

We hope this article provides valuable insights into managing menstrual pain and helps you feel more empowered during your menstrual cycle. Remember, it’s essential to listen to your body and seek professional advice when needed. Do you have your own tips or experiences to share? Let us know in the comments below! 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.

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10 Ways To Eliminate Bad Habits & Embrace Good Ones This Diwali

eliminate bad habits this DiwaliIt’s that month of the year when festivities start. We have just finished with Dusshera, an important Hindu festival, and now we are gearing ourselves for the Festival of Lights. Deepawali is celebrated on the occasion of gaining success over the bad (Ravana) and the returning of goodness. Bad Qualities could be the 10 heads of Ravana namely:

  1. Kama vasana (Lust)
  2. Krodha (Anger)
  3. Moha (Attachment)
  4. Lobha (Greed)
  5. Mada (Pride)
  6. Matsara (Jealousy)
  7. Swartha (Selfishness)
  8. Anyaaya (Injustice)
  9. Amanavta (Cruelty)
  10. Ahankara (Ego)

If we can eliminate the above bad qualities within ourselves, then we, in all likelihood, would end up being better human beings. Today, we have modern day demons in our life, which are making it unhealthy and lead us towards a bad and shorter life. This Diwali, let’s get rid of the modern day and olden days demons together!

10 Modern Day Bad Habits We Need To Eliminate This Diwali 

1. Smoking
I do not think I need to explain what smoking is? Smoking is responsible for several diseases, such as cancer, long-term (chronic) respiratory diseases, and heart disease, as well as premature death. You can read how smoking affects your health in the following articles:

2. Alcohol and drugs
Today, most of us are used to late night parties-  be it an office party, a birthday party, a marriage anniversary or the likes. One of the most common beverage in parties is ALCOHOL! In any celebration, you’ll find a number of alcoholic beverages that flow like water and we tend to consume them without much thought. This leads to a number of health complications. These complications have been talked about at length in this article on the Effects of Alcohol on your Health.

3. Stress
Stress is one of the most understated evils of our time hiding under the veils of office work, relationships and other everyday affairs. You can name any lifestyle diseases and one of the reasons behind it, in most cases, is stress. Stress can also lead to weight gain! Keeping stress under control will not only help you stay calm and relaxed but also helps you keep your weight under control and lifestyle diseases at bay! So manage your stress well!

4. Unhealthy Eating Habits
We are well aware that we need to form good eating habits to stay healthy but do we really follow them? Its only after we have put on excess weight that we try to manage our diet or follow some sort of diet plan to reduce weight. Instead of doing that, isn’t it better to eat healthy before things go wrong? While you’re forming healthy eating habits, make sure that you are also aware of the habits that are destroying your health and correct them.

5. Laziness
There is no dearth of excuses to avoid exercises and make ourselves lazy. One does not realize that laziness leads us to a sedentary lifestyle and eventually to a shorter life. You don’t even need to do any strenuous exercises or hit the gym daily. Just basic walking, taking the elevator instead of stairs and moving as much as you can will help you stay healthy. The core idea is to keep yourself active and off the couch. If you still think you’re bogged down by chores and do not have time, you can turn your daily chores into workouts!

6. Denial (about our health – physical or mental)
Another dangerous demon is denial. People will go to any extent to not find out about their health. Most are generally ok not getting a health check up done. This can be quite dangerous. Getting regular health check-ups is imperative because many health conditions can be resolved if detected early.

7. Sleep
For a better health, you need sound sleep of about 6 to 8 hours. If you spend the whole night finishing your pending tasks or binge watching a show, then you are certainly walking into a health hazard waiting to happen. There are too many health related irregularities which are caused by lack of sleep. But, if you have a proper sleep, you can get rid of all your issues. If you find it difficult to fall asleep, try these breathing techniques or follow these tips for better sleep.

8. Environment
While celebrating Diwali, we all try to burst crackers that pollute the environment. If you breathe in such an environment, it will only affect your health. After Diwali, the pollution still persists and can affect the heart and brain. People with existing heart or lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart disease, or ischemic heart disease are at increased risk of admission to hospitals based on the severity of an already existing problem. Given these issues, it would be nice if we use eco friendly ways of celebrating Diwali.

9. Sweets and Immunity
Most sweets contain refined sugar, which directly impacts our immunity. Sweets are quite pleasurable to eat, but eating too many can negatively impact your health. Sweets often lack beneficial nutrients and are full of detrimental ones, including saturated fat, sugars and artificial sugars. Excessive sweet consumption can increase the risk of Diabetes, Crohn’s Disease and lead to tooth decay. Additionally, it can also reduce HDL cholesterol and bone strength. While you might not be able to avoid sweets, eat them in moderation and be smart about it!

10. Unsafe Sex
And the last demon on our list is unsafe sex! We are a nation that’s very uncomfortable talking about sex and this has led to the state where a lot of people are ignorant about safe sex. Unsafe sex can lead to Sexual Transmitted Diseases like HIV/AIDS or unwanted pregnancies. Always remember that you must use a condom. If you don’t have one at that particular time, use other forms of contraceptives, but remember that other forms of contraceptives do not guard against STDs. Prevention is better than cure!

So we hope you take stock of these modern day demons and eliminate bad habits this Diwali! If you need help conquering these demons, you can always find an ally in our team of experts waiting to guide and motivate you to live a healthier lifestyle. You can start by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

Wish you all a happy, healthy and safe Diwali!

#BeTheForce

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Principles for Handling Couple Misunderstandings

couple misunderstandingsMisunderstandings are a common occurrence in most couple relationships, my life being no different. When I look back and when I look around, I see a lot of times fights erupt because of different or mismatching perspectives of looking at the same issue. Yes, these are some of the commonly heard grievances that couples voice out against each other.

“I wish you had understood me better!”

“You made a decision and did not even think once about me?”

“You always have your own ways in our relationship, never thinking once about me.”

A lot of times, these small misunderstandings get blown out of proportion when the accused person refuses to take up supposed responsibility. I am saying “supposed” because it is not yet confirmed that one person is indeed right. Relationships, after all, are a “subjective” affair with no clear right or wrong. It is on the basis of our belief systems, core values, past experiences, upbringing background that we decide the right or wrong in a given situation. The thing to be noted is in a relationship, we are dealing with two different people who can have two different schools of thought.

Best Practices To Solve Couple Misunderstandings  

How do you arrive at a consensus or a mutual ground when a misunderstanding emerges between you and your partner? I am sharing the following best practices/principles to solve the misunderstandings that happen unexpectedly in a relationship.

Principle 1: Misunderstandings are Natural and Unavoidable

Principle 2: Cultural Differences are a Breeding Ground for Misunderstandings

Principle 3: Connect-the-Dot Understanding Usually Replaces Real Understanding

Principle 4: Move from Being Right to Being Curious

Principle 5: Ask questions — Lots of Them!

Principle 6: Recognize that We All Speak a Different Language

Principle 7: Be Responsible for making Sure You Understand and are Understood

Principle 8: Don’t Assume Others Will Connect the Dots Accurately

Principle 9: Leave the Assumption Warehouse. Speak Your Experience — Not Your Conclusions.

Principle 10: Tone and Body Language Matter

Principle 11: Don’t Confuse Feelings and Judgements

Principle 12: Stay in Your Green Zone — If You Assume, Assume Benevolence

There’s no way around it, being misunderstood sucks. It can make you feel frustrated, upset, and hopeless. It can feel even worse in times of conflict. I faced this once when the man of the house had 2 men coming unplanned with liquor and after a drinking round, one of them lost their senses. I reacted in that situation and it pained me intensely to see that man found no reason in my distress! Yes, I was partly misunderstood and was not taken seriously. I suffered greatly from that lack of attunement.

This is because one of our deepest needs is for others to understand or tune into us. This desire to be “seen” begins right from our childhood. Take kids, for example: when they play hide-and-seek, they love to be found. Yes, misunderstandings are unavoidable but approaching this situation with the right tools and understanding, you have a great leeway to turn this conflict into a catalyst for connection.

We hope this article helps you form a stronger connection with your partner! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more articles by our Sexual Wellness Expert Pallavi Barnwal, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: Reader discretion is advised. This content is for an older, mature audience who seek to improve their health and wellness. GOQii is not responsible for any misrepresentation of this information.

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