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Why Do We Gain Weight During Winter?

gain weight during winter

Have you noticed that you tend to gain weight during winter? While there are many factors at play here, is it true for everybody? If you’re one of those who gain weight during winter, it is best to know why it happens and take necessary measures to prevent it!

Let’s Analyse Why We Gain Weight During Winter

  1. Less Water Intake: As we aren’t thirsty and neither do we sweat as much as we do during summer, we tend to drink very little water which makes us lethargic and fatigued. The usual signs like dry and flaky skin is an indicator that one is not having enough water. We use moisturisers instead and not increase water intake which gives more room for frequent infection and dehydration leading to headache and dry cough
  2. Not Exercising Enough: With the pleasant winter chills, it is a little difficult to get off the couch or bed. This leads to fewer calories being burned and as a result, weight gain!
  3. Increased Production of Melatonin: Less sunlight and shorter days affect our hormones and some people tend to produce more of the hormone melatonin which controls our sleep-wake cycle. This increased production of melatonin induces sleep when it is not the time to sleep, making one lazy, lacking motivation and energy. It also increases appetite and leads to eating more.
  4. Increase in Metabolism: While this sounds great, it doesn’t really support your weight loss goals during winter. The sudden increase in metabolism will burn more calories to keep you warm but it will also make you hungrier.
  5. Staying Indoors: makes us lazy and bored. When bored, we begin binge-watching followed by binge-eating comfort or fried food which is high in sugar and salt. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that this contributes to weight gain as well.  

How Do We Prevent Gaining Weight This Season?

There is an effective way to break the vicious cycle of more sleep, less healthy food and little to no exercise! Here’s how you can avoid gaining weight during winter.

  1. Choose Foods Wisely: Choose healthy, home-cooked meals such as soups. Opt for green tea. You can even add natural spices to your meals which are warm and benefit your health. Choose foods which can be paired with others or can be eaten any time of the day. Swap options like sauces available in markets to homemade hummus or dips.
  2. Pick a Hobby: Concentrate on other things like hobbies, sports, painting or reading books. You can even clean your house if you’ve been postponing it. Do something that engages you instead of finding comfort in food.
  3. Time Your Sleep: Maintain sleep timings which will set your circadian rhythm and help you stay active through the day or take power naps in the afternoon instead of sleeping for long hours
  4. Exercise: Plan indoor activities and exercises like yoga, skipping, stair activities which will help you be active more regularly. In fact, you can tune in to GOQii Play and browse some indoor workouts by fitness experts or yoga and meditation by yoga specialists. You can even opt for making group plans which have less chances of failure. If you can’t find a group, join our LIVE, interactive, GOQii PRO sessions conducted by experts within the GOQii App. 

That’s all! Mind what you eat, sleep on time and exercise regularly to not gain weight during winter. We hope you found this article useful! Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

For more on weight loss, fitness and being healthy, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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10 Inflammation Fighting Winter Foods You Must Include In Your Diet

inflammation remedyInflammation is linked with so many serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, arthritis, etc. The use of anti-inflammatory drugs is very common and sometimes with no alternative as well. As they say, prevention is always better than cure! Eating anti-inflammatory food is a natural solution without any side effects.  During winter, there’s less flow of blood which makes the joints colder and stiffer – leading to inflammation. The pain receptors become more sensitive in winters which result in pain, swelling in joints and other parts of the body.

Fight Inflammation with a Healthy Diet

Here’s a list of foods that should be included in your diet during winter to prevent inflammation.

  1. Turmeric: This spice is also known as “Yellow Gold” in western countries. The Indian cuisine is incomplete without this spice.  It’s a food enhancer with great health values. It has curcumin which is a very powerful anti-inflammatory substance. Turmeric works great in treating rheumatoid arthritis and fighting inflammation.
  2. Ginger: is a great valuable cooking spice in our kitchen. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in lessen inflammation as well in treating allergic infections, especially during the winter season.  We normally use this spice while making tea, soup, curries, etc.
  3. Walnuts: are always my favourite healthy snacking option during winter. It contains phytonutrients which reduce the risk of heart diseases and diabetes. It has omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation in the body.
  4. Beets: are highly rich in antioxidants and they do a good job in reducing inflammation. It’s a valuable vegetable loaded with magnesium. We should not forget beets in our daily diet (in salads, curd, smoothies) during winter.
  5. Green Leafy Vegetables: like spinach, kale, mustard and fenugreek grow best in winter. Due to the richness of antioxidants, omega3 fatty acids, Vit-C, etc. we should include them regularly in winter months.
  6. Pineapple: It contains a substance called bromelain that reduces the infections during winter and lessens the risk of strokes and even heart diseases. It works as a great remedy for people who have high uric acid (Gout). Bromelain also helps reduce inflammation.
  7. Blueberries: are my favorite! It has an antioxidant substance named quercetin which is generally found in citrus fruits. Quercetin is very effective in decreasing many types of infections and fighting cancer.
  8. Broccoli: is a very nutritious cruciferous vegetable that is rich in antioxidants. It has high amounts of potassium and magnesium with anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces stress and the risk of cancer. A disclaimer here: If you have thyroid, avoid eating cruciferous vegetables 
  9. Tomatoes: are a nutritional powerhouse. It’s packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene which reduces inflammation in the body and helps protect the body against cancer as well.  
  10. Salmon: As we have already discussed so many anti-inflammatory fruits and vegetables, Salmon is a non-vegetarian option. It’s great anti-inflammatory food with essential omega 3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. Omega 3 gives relief in inflammation and can reduce the need for anti-inflammatory drugs. 

Apart from above you can:

  • Dress warmly depending on the weather
  • Stay hydrated and active
  • Exercise regularly to strengthen your muscles
  • Get out under the sun to maintain vitamin D levels
  • Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight

Include the above foods to your diet to enjoy an inflammation-free winter! If you feel extreme discomfort or inflammation in your body, consult a Doctor.

For more winter tips and remedies, click here or speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

#BeTheForce 

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Why You Need to Use Mustard Oil During Winter

Mustard Oil during Winter

In most parts of India, winters offer a reprieve from the unbearable heat. But, the winter chills bring a host of other complications due to the change in weather. These complications include cold, dryness, the Winter Itch, cough, joint pains and cracked heels, etc. Instead of exploring multiple medications, what if there was one single cure for most of these ailments? Have you considered using Mustard Oil during Winter? 

Mustard Oil is loaded with MUFA (Monounsaturated Fatty Acids), PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids), Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Minerals and Antioxidants. It also demonstrates strong anti-microbial properties and is anti-inflammatory in nature.

How to Use Mustard Oil During Winter

Due to the properties mentioned above, Mustard Oil offers a number of benefits which can help alleviate most issues caused by the cold weather.

1. Cold, Cough and Congestion
Dust, dryness and cold temperatures all add to cold & coughs during winter. Mustard Oil has a warm effect that helps in clearing congestion from the respiratory tract. You can rub about a teaspoon of mustard oil on your chest before sleeping to get relief. To clear nasal congestion, add a few drops of Mustard Oil to a vessel of boiling water and inhale the steam. Another remedy is to rub a mixture of 1 /tbsp warm Mustard Oil and 2-3 cloves of crushed garlic on your feet.

2. Joint Pains
It is often observed that in cold weather, the human body conserves more heat, and more blood is circulated to the heart and lungs. When this happens, the arms, shoulders, knee joints and blood vessels may contract, causing pain. Due to its strong anti-inflammatory and stimulant property, Mustard Oil helps in improving circulation. A regular massage with Mustard Oil helps in relieving aching joints and muscles. It even provides relief and comfort in arthritis.

3. Itchy Skin
Cold temperature with low humidity results in winter itch. The skin tends to get dry, cracked and dull. Using a natural moisturizer like Mustard Oil is healthier for the skin. It aids healing, smoothening and gives a glow due to its thick consistency, high levels of Vitamin E and anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Cracked Heels
This is another bothersome problem during winter. You can use wax from waste candles to say goodbye to cracked heels. Just make a mixture of candle wax with an equal amount of Mustard Oil by heating, so that it becomes a thick mixture. Let it cool and apply this mixture on cracked heels and sleep with cotton socks to heal your heels.

5. Hair Loss
The cold winds of winter bring havoc to the tresses, leading to hair loss and development of split ends. With the dry air and much more by the use of hats, dryers and other heat treatments, hair tends to become dry, frizzy and rough. Massaging the scalp with Mustard Oil during winter stimulates hair growth by improving blood circulation in the scalp. It is packed with vitamins and minerals, particularly, a high amount of beta-carotene which is excellent for hair growth when converted into vitamin A in the body. Besides, it also contains iron, fatty acids, calcium and magnesium – all of which nourish the hair and aid growth. Due to its thick consistency, it keeps the moisture in the hair intact and gives it the required nourishment to stay healthy and shining.

6. Cardiovascular Health
Most of us are unaware of the fact that winter is one of the prime seasons for heart attacks. Given the warming qualities of Mustard Oil, it is also used internally i.e. in food. The antibacterial properties of Mustard Oil helps in fighting bacterial infections in the colon, intestines and other parts of the digestive tract. A recent comparative study done on different varieties of edible oils showed that mustard oil reduced the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 70 per cent, when used in moderation. A high percentage of both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats help to maintain good heart health. It also lowers bad cholesterol.

So what are you waiting for? If you’ve experienced any of the above, use Mustard Oil during Winter now! We hope this article helps you enjoy this season to the fullest. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below.

For more useful winter tips, check out Healthy Reads. You can also purchase some healthy and organic Mustard Oil for a discount using your GOQii Cash on the GOQii Health Store within the app.

#BeTheForce 

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Load Up On Carrots During Winter! Here’s Why!

carrots during winterWe’ve often advised people to eat seasonal fruits and for good reason! Seasonal veggies are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which are required by the body during winter. There are many vegetables but one of them, which is a must-have during these chilly days is the carrot! Carrots are one of the most loved vegetables not only in India but all over the world. The reason is very evident, it not only serves as a salad but a lot more than that. This orange-coloured root is an ultimate health food with many health benefits. Let’s explore the health benefits of carrots during winter!

Why You Should Eat Carrots During Winter  

  1. Carrots help you get beautiful skin and can help in protecting you from cancer, especially lung cancer. As the temperature drops, this crunchy & colourful vegetable gives you a boost of antioxidants too.
  2. As a rich source of Vitamin A, it helps treat vision loss. So during winter, you can definitely ditch your Vitamin A pills.
  3. The Vitamin A in carrots also help the liver secrete bile and flush out toxins in the body, acting as a Natural Detox.
  4. Carrots contain high amounts of soluble fibers, which indirectly helps in managing cholesterol levels. No more guilt! You can easily binge on your favorite carrot cake during winter.
  5. Carrots are infused with natural pesticides, Falcarcinol, which is anti-fungal in nature. It protects you from any kind of fungal diseases. If your kids eat carrots, you don’t need to worry about them catching any kind of fungal infection. 
  6. Carrots aren’t boring! There are many variations you can try with this root – be it dips, juices or soups – carrots are definitely a hit with your taste buds! 
  7. Carrot tops are enriched in nutrients such as potassium, phytonutrients and they also contain around 6 times more Vitamin C than what the root does.
  8. Carrots have reserved their place in the list of the World’s Healthiest Foods. Undoubtedly, this crunchy root deserves it too.

 Tips to Add Carrots To Your Diet 

  • Soup It: Add grated carrots to your soups and clear broths to add roughage in diet
  • Crunch It: Raw carrots are enjoyed the best while soaking under the Sun during winters. Great way to boost up the vitamin quotient.
  • Lick It Up: Our very own Gajar ka Achar or Gajar ka Paani is every grandmother’s special recipe.
  • Bake It: The versatility of carrots gets it added even in bakery products. Add shredded carrot while baking muffins, cakes or breads to make a delightful dessert.

DO NOT throw away the carrot tops. Surprisingly, these carrot tops can be replaced with all the herbs in all kinds of dishes adding taste and Nutrition adequately. 

We hope you’re all set to enjoy the crunch this season. Any more queries in mind?  Please feel free to type them down in the comments section below, because, We Carrot about You!

For more topics on the health benefits of foods, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalised health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Eat Health and #BeTheForce 

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