By With the second wave of coronavirus cases and the second lockdown underway, now more than ever, we need to examine our health habits so that we can be more in tune with our body and its requirements. In order to help us do that, we had Aalé Mowjee, a health coach* who empowers South Asian Women to be the best version of themselves, answer your questions relating to nutrition and wellness. Aalé believes in taking a holistic approach to health by looking at nutrition, physical movement, relationships, career and spirituality all together. Scroll down to read everything we learnt from her, after which you can book a complimentary consultation with her to discuss your wellness or health concerns – just DM her on instagram or shoot her an email on info@happytogethealthy.com.
Sleep Is The Bedrock Of Good Health
If you didn’t already know, sleep is connected to everything. If you aren’t getting adequate sleep, it affects everything else in your life as your body determines sleep deprivation as high stress. For that reason, it’s essential that you’re getting a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Aalé reiterates the importance of sleep and says ‘It is connected to your hormones, your stress levels and your appetite so make sure you limit your blue light exposure and wake up and sleep at the same time so that you can build a consistent sleep schedule.’
There Are Ways You Can Reduce Your Sugar Cravings
We’ve been hearing time and time again how our intake of refined sugar should be reduced and controlled, but this is easier said than done. Sugar is highly addictive, resulting in cravings and binge-eating episodes for many people. Our health expert for the week however had a few tips for us in order to get these cravings under control – “Substituting refined sugars with more naturally occurring sugars such as those found in fruits are a good idea, and also incorporating generally more whole foods in your diet will stabilize your blood sugar levels to reduce your cravings.”
The Diet To Follow If You Have PCOS And Want To Lose Weight
Having PCOS means you might experience a little problem maintaining a consistent weight. If you’re looking for a diet plan that works for you, but is still healthy for your body, Aalé recommends one to follow a balanced diet that is low in inflammatory foods such as refined carbohydrates and processed foods, but rich in proteins, healthy habits and lots and lots of fibre.
The Best Desi Diet
We all love our desi homecooked meals, but they can sometimes tend to be overloaded in salt and oil which is exactly what Aalé warns us against. Instead, she says to focus on frying less, baking more and using minimal amounts of oil. “Chicken tandoori, fish tikka with raita, kachumber or achar which is really good for your gut” are all good options according to Aalé.
Exercises For Posture Related Back Pain
Screen time and daily activities can result in terrible posture which leads to back pain and stiffness. In order to combat this, our expert for the week recommends doing 3 types of exercises – knee to chest, pelvic tilt and seat forward bend. Knee to Chest is to lie on your back, pull and then hold one or both knees to your chest. Pelvic Tilt is to flatten your back against the floor by tightening your abdominal muscles and tilting your pelvis towards the ceiling. Seat Forward Bend is when you sit on the floor with your legs extended, wrap a towel around the bottom of your heels and use it to pull yourself forward. This will stretch your hamstring and lower muscles.
The Best Things To Snack On At Night
We all are guilty of snacking on something or the other late at night that causes us to feel bad later. But our health expert for the week says eating small, nutrient dense snacks is fine. Her own personal favourites are pistachios and small, wholegrain crackers with cheese. “They are great, tasty, keep you full, and they both have sleep promoting properties.”
Keto Can Have Long-Term Side Effects
Aalé personally is against any type of diet as she believes everyone is different and a theory can not be applied to an individual. According to her, following keto long term can lead to muscle loss. stress in your kidneys, nutrient deficiencies and constipation. Instead, she prefers going for a balanced approach which caters to individual needs.
*A health coach is a guide and mentor who provides ongoing support and guidance to make sustainable changes that improve your health and happiness.
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