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August 4, 2022 By Sunita Arora 2 Comments

Top 5 Brain-Boosting Snacks For A Productive Workday!

brain-boosting snacksWe can’t deny that there are days when you’re a little slow, lethargic or just not focused enough to push through all the work that’s on your plate. Well, don’t worry, it is just a matter of eating the right food! Try these awesome brain-boosting snacks which will improve your memory, focus and concentration while working or even studying!

 Top 5 Brain-Boosting Snacks

  1. Nuts: It’s ironic that while referring to someone we perceive as insanely stupid, we call them a nut. While, on the contrary, nuts actually make us more intelligent. They are the powerhouse of omega-3, omega -6, and Vitamin-E! They improve brain functions and help prevent cognitive decline, especially in older adults. Eating nuts as a snacking option is good for your brain as well as for the heart. Eat a fistful of nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, peanuts) instead of munching unhealthy biscuits, chips, namkeen, etc. during your tea break at home. Do check with your doctor before you do, in case you’re allergic to nuts. 
  2. Pumpkin Seeds: are richer in zinc among other seeds. These seeds include other valuable nutrients like magnesium, copper, and iron which enhance memory and reduce stress. They are the precursor to the good mood chemical called serotonin and contain very powerful antioxidants that protect the brain from free radicals. Toss them with your nuts or sprinkle over salads, soup, smoothies, etc.
  3. Blueberries: are my favourite! They provide numerous health benefits for our brain. They are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich, which helps improve communication among brain cells and improves brain memory. Many studies have suggested that the consumption of blueberries may be effective in improving or delaying short-term memory loss. You can also add blueberries in your breakfast cereal, smoothies, etc. 
  4. Whole Eggs: are great for brain power as they are a rich source of several nutrients that are linked with brain health. Many brain-boosting compounds like choline, vitamin B6 and B12 are found in eggs. Hard-boiled eggs or scrambled eggs are a wonderful snack option in the evening for busy workdays. 
  5. Dark Chocolates: are packed with brain-boosting compounds like flavonoids – which boost memory and mood. As a well-known brain food and mood booster, it’s no wonder that people who eat dark chocolate experience increased positive feelings and better performance in mental tasks. Have it any time you feel unhappy, low, depressed or find yourself in between excess work pressure and don’t forget to share it with your loved ones. Remember though – moderation is key!

All the above brain-boosting snacks are not fried. Avoid nuts with salt. These can easily be consumed and are available as well! So let’s boost brain power and make working from home more effective and enjoyable!

If you still want more healthy snacking options, you can explore healthy snacks such as Gourmet Toasted Coconut Chips, Quinoa Puffs and Protein Puffs from the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii App.

Eat healthy, eat right and #BeTheForce

August 3, 2022 By GOQii 2 Comments

The Weight Loss Link You May Be Missing – Dietary Minerals

dietary minerals and weight lossThe most challenging case for a Dietitian is perhaps – Weight Loss! Why – because, each case is unique and the most important task is to find out the root cause of weight gain (which, contrary to popular belief, is not always overeating or lack of physical activity). It is prudent that the underlying cause be identified and targeted, not only to ensure sustainable weight loss but also because these reasons are linked to diseases in waiting as well. Genetic predisposition, low BMR, stress, lack of sleep, hormonal disturbance, chronic mild dehydration, lack of certain dietary minerals, etc. are few recognized causes of weight gain.

However, if adjusting your diet, water intake, exercising more and controlling your stress and sleep hasn’t helped you reach a healthy body weight, check your mineral status. Mineral deficiency often happens slowly over time and can be caused by an increased need for one or more dietary minerals, lack of dietary minerals in the diet, or difficulty absorbing minerals from food. You may be suffering from deficiencies because the nutritional value of the produce has been steadily degrading for the last couple of decades. Increased intake of processed foods is another reason which deprives you of not only fiber, but many vitamins and minerals.

4 Major Dietary Minerals Associated With Weight

Since the deficiency symptoms of these minerals are largely general, they go unnoticed and hence get overlooked while diagnosing unexplained weight. Let’s discuss four major dietary minerals (or their deficiencies) that are directly or indirectly associated with your weight.

1. Chromium
It is an essential mineral that regulates insulin action and its effects on metabolism. Insulin is essentially the fat-loss gatekeeper, so anything that improves Insulin efficiency is great for fat loss. Chromium determines the way our body uses Insulin. The Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) interacts with Insulin and regulates how much Glucose (sugar) enters a cell. GTF encourages energy production (burns calories) and may also curb feelings of hunger.

Identifying the link between Chromium and weight loss is crucial because someone who is overweight is often at high risk of becoming Insulin Resistant (Diabetic). Chromium is lost in the process of refining foods. For example, when sugarcane is refined into white sugar, 93% of Chromium is lost. Because our soils are depleted of Chromium and because we consume more processed foods nowadays, Chromium deficiency is becoming increasingly prevalent.

2. Iodine
The Thyroid Gland depends on Iodine to manufacture the Thyroid Hormone. The Thyroid’s main function is to manage the body’s metabolism. A shortage of Iodine can cause changes to the Thyroid Gland and an underactive Thyroid Gland slows your metabolism; you thus burn dramatically fewer calories and feel sluggish. Also, an underactive Thyroid Gland promotes excess weight and cellulite by causing water retention.

Inadequate intake of Iodine was once a recognized problem that was solved by universal Iodization of Salt. Salt was fortified with Potassium Iodate to ensure controlled consumption by all sections of society.  Once this was done, the obvious symptoms of severe Iodine Deficiency disappeared from view, and little further thought was given to the matter, though sub-clinical symptoms remained. Today’s health conscious consumers have lowered their salt intake and now fail to get even that small amount of Iodine in their diets. Presence of Goitrogens in certain foods is another cause of Iodine deficiency arising from inadequate Iodine utilization.

3. Magnesium
It is needed to extract nutrients from food and for optimal Insulin function. The more nutrients you extract from food, the less you have to eat to feel full. When we aren’t getting what we need from our diet, the body will crave more food in an effort to obtain those vital nutrients. Magnesium is also a vital nutrient for reducing stress, which is one of the most important keys in fighting obesity.

It supports healthy Adrenal Glands that control the release of Adrenaline and Cortisol – two hormones related to stress response. While these hormones are vital to living, too much of them can cause weight gain and other health problems. Magnesium helps regulate these hormones so they are not overproduced.

One of the major causes of Magnesium deficiency is over-medicating with pharmaceutical drugs. They prevent the body from absorbing magnesium.

4. Iron
It is a critical nutrient because it is essential for the synthesis of Hemoglobin – a metalloprotein that carries oxygen from lungs to all the tissues in body. Diminished oxygen carrying capacity can leave you feeling very fatigued, lethargic and irritable. In this state, your body signals you to slow down physical activity and you may find yourself seeking opportunities to sit or lie down, thus leading to weight gain.

Also, low Iron promotes fat storage and cause abnormal blood sugar elevation. Reasons responsible for iron deficiency can be dietary as well as non-dietary. Your excess body weight too can contribute to Iron deficiency. Inflammation associated with excess body weight elevates a hormone Hepcidin, which has the net effect of reducing Iron absorption from digestive tract.

Now, before you finish reading this article and jump to quick fix by googling for these mineral supplements, a word of caution – Overdose of these minerals, especially from synthetic sources, are extremely harmful. Do not take these minerals as supplements without professional guidance. Consult a doctor, nutritionist or a dietitian before making any changes to your diet or taking any supplements.

You may improve your mineral intake by following the golden rule – Go low on processed foods and buy your foods fresh, local and seasonal to remove any possible degradation in nutrient quality. Don’t eat less, eat right and live a healthy and active life!

We hope this article on dietary minerals helps you. For further guidance on nutritional deficiencies and to lose weight in a sustainable manner, reach out to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more articles on weight loss, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce

August 2, 2022 By Luke Coutinho 8 Comments

Heal Naturally From Monsoon Illnesses

heal naturally With the monsoons here in full swing, most of us worry about getting sick with an infection. With the weather change, the virals in the air also start reacting. The side effects of cold, fever, viral and sore throat get rampant with drastic changes in weather. A strong immune system will help you recover quickly and mostly without the need for medication. The lower your immunity, the longer the healing process and you may have to resort to antibiotics.

Natural Remedies That Work

  1. Take a 1-inch piece ginger mashed, 1 clove garlic, 3 peppercorns, 2 cloves, 2 cardamoms and a cinnamon stick. Boil in water and reduce to half, strain and add organic honey. Drink this concoction twice or thrice a day, or actually, as much as you need to.
  2. Be aware of your body and feelings. Usually, when sick, your appetite may reduce, and that’s a good sign. It means your body is using energy to repair and heal. So if you can, don’t eat until you feel your appetite slowly increasing. This is one of the best ways to heal rapidly and completely.
  3. Stay warm, wear socks even while in bed. Cover your head to prevent contact with dew when out at night.
  4. Sip on hot liquids through the day.
  5. Breathe a lot! Almost all viruses and germs cannot survive in highly oxygenated cells so help your body create an environment that’s unfavorable for these germs.
  6. Rest, rest, rest – This is the most natural and effective way to heal. It’s natures cure.

It’s good to fall sick once in a way, your body replenishes the white and red blood cells and it also strengthens immunity. So stay positive, don’t feel low and know you are doing the right things to get better.

We hope this article helps you. If you find these tips useful, let us know in the comments below! For more on managing illnesses during monsoon, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

August 1, 2022 By ASHWINI PRAKASH CHAUDHARI 5 Comments

A Quick 6 Minute Workout You Can Do Anywhere

fitness

With the gloomy weather and continuous downpour, it can get difficult to venture out to get some of that essential exercise. But don’t let the heavy rainfall keep you from working out. Get fit at home with this quick 6 minute workout! It is designed to help you reap all the benefits of a workout using only your body weight, a chair and a wall. You won’t need any special equipment and can perform this routine anywhere! We’d say it’s perfect for a rainy day!

The Quick 6 Minute Workout

  1. Jumping Jacks: This classic cardio move is a great way to warm up. It improves strength and endurance, increases metabolic rate, burns calories and is great for your heart and lungs as well!
  2. Wall Sit: Wall Sits are great in working out the two groups of muscles in your thighs. Repetitions of Wall Sits would naturally give you thighs that can withstand prolonged strenuous activities.
  3. Push-Ups: work many muscle groups at the same time, giving your body a full workout! You can work the quads, hamstrings, calves, chest, shoulders and arms all at the same time with a few push-ups. It stimulates metabolism and blood circulation, allowing you to burn more calories throughout the rest of your workout.
  4. Abdominal Crunch: Crunches work on the Rectus Abdominis Muscles. It is a core working exercise and burns less calories comparatively but, they move in a controlled manner, flexing and releasing the core muscles, thus helping you build abs.
  5. Step Up Onto Chair: This exercise is great for targeting your quad and Gluteus Maximus Muscles, giving you strong, powerful legs.
  6. Squats: are great for a total lower body workout. They effectively work most of the major muscle groups of the butt, hips and thighs. Squats are also a versatile exercise. Squats engage the core muscles of the body. The result is a tighter, flatter abdomen and a stronger lower back.
  7. Triceps Dips On Chair: It is a triceps-strengthening and a most effective body-weight exercise. Dips target your triceps – the muscles on the back of your upper arm.
  8. Planks: help in strengthening the midsection, upper-body and lower-body muscles along the front of your body. Planks also strengthen the inner core muscles that support your joints. It helps in reducing belly fat and back pain. At a time, it works on all your core muscles.
  9. High Knees Running: This is a nice warm-up. High Knees Running on Spot is good practice for runners and athletes to improve running form and develop lower body muscles. It also enhances your strength, speed, balance and flexibility. What’s more? It provides you more energy, burns calories, builds muscles and enhances blood circulation.
  10. Lunges: are easy-to-learn, safe and an incredibly effective exercise. Lunges target the quadriceps, but involve additional muscles, including the glutes, hamstrings, calves and core muscles, making them an important exercise for toning the lower body.
  11. Push-Up & Rotation: This exercise is great for building shoulder stabilization and strengthening your entire core. Don’t let your hips drop when you go into side rotation. Try to keep everything in a straight diagonal line throughout.
  12. Side Plank: works your entire core but particularly targets an often weak muscle called the Quadratus Lumborum. It helps to reduce risk for lower back pains, improves your balance and structure.

Perform the above exercises in rapid succession with 20 seconds for each exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest in between. Don’t forget to stretch before you begin!

These 6 minutes that you will give to your body and your health are equal to 0.5% of your day! So go out there and get fit the HIIT way! Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

For more exciting, quick workouts, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to our live, online classes on GOQii PRO, where our certified fitness experts will guide you on the correct form and posture in real time, while making sure that you are well motivated! You can book a class now from the GOQii App.

Get Active and #BeTheForce 

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