Category Archives: Indian Dietitian Online

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Healthy Indian Mixed vegetable Koftas

Healthy Mixed Vegetable Koftas (made in appe pan)

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Recipes- Side Dish Tags : 

Here’s a healthy take on the delicious Koftas-presenting the Healthy Mixed Vegetable Kofta brimming with nutritious vegetables and not deep fried.

Wondering how to make Healthy Mixed Vegetable Koftas? These are a little more time consuming as they are made in an appe pan.  What you will need is a special ‘appe pan’ which has 5-7 or more round holes. The batter is poured into these holes and the resulting appe is almost round like a ball. Check out the Healthy Appe recipe if you are interested in making Mixed Vegetable appe (using dosa batter).

Healthy Mixed Vegetable Koftas made in Appe pan

Ingredients for making Healthy Mixed Vegetable Koftas:

  • For the koftas-
  • Finely chopped and blanched mixed vegetables ( French beans, carrots, peas) – 2 cups
  • Cauliflower boiled, peeled and mashed – 2 no medium
  • Besan- 1 tbsp
  • Paneer – Grated 1 cup
  • Psyllium husk: to coat
  • Green chilies, finely chopped – 2-3 no
  • Finely chopped ginger – 1 tbsp
  • Red chili powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Salt – to taste
  • Oil – 1 tbsp
  • For the gravy-
  • Oil – 2 tbsp
  • Butter – 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon stick – 1 inch
  • Green cardamoms – 5-6 no
  • Black peppercorns – 1 tsp
  • Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
  • Bottle gourd, cut into cubes and boiled – 100 grams
  • Red chili powder – 1 tsp
  • Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
  • Turmeric powder – a pinch
  • Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Fresh coriander leaves roughly chopped – 1/2 cup
  • Mint leaves roughly chopped – 1/2 cup
  • Tomato purée – 1/2 cup
  • Fresh cream – 1/2 cup (optional)
  • Salt: to taste

Method:-

  1. To make the gravy, heat oil in a kadai. Add cinnamon, green cardamoms, black peppercorns, cumin seeds and saute for a minute on a low flame.
  2. Add bottle gourd, red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder and mix well.
  3. Add bhuna masala and mix well. Add roughly mint leaves and mix. Switch off.
  4. When cool transfer the mixture into a blender and grind into a puree using very little water.
  5. Transfer the gravy into a bowl and keep aside.
  6. To make the koftas, mix together mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, paneer, besan, green chilies, ginger, red chili powder, salt and mix well.
  7. Coat with psyllium husk.
  8. Heat an appe pan, add a drop of oil into each . Make equal size balls of the mixture and place into each groove. Cover and let it fry for 1-2 minutes, then turn with a toothpick/fork and cook it on all sides. Once all the koftas are cooked, keep aside.
  9. Heat a little butter/ghee in a kadai. Add the tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes. Add fresh cream (optional)and mix well. Allow the gravy to come to a boil. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
  10. Transfer the gravy into a serving dish, add the koftas, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with rice/ roti.

More recipes with the appe pan:

Healthy Mixed vegetable Appe


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Chicken Tikka (Low Carb Indian Recipes)

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Recipes-Healthy Appetizer Tags : 

 An excellent source of protein, cooked chicken offers a wide range of nutritional benefits. Besides protein, it also contains vitamin B12, B6 & niacin and minerals like Zinc, Magnesium and Selenium.

For those on a low carb diet, you can pair this Chicken Tikka with a bowl of salad and some grilled veggies.

Ingredients for Chicken Tikka:

Chicken thighs: 1 kg ( cut into 2″ pieces)

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tbsp

Kashmiri chili powder:4 tsp.

Lemon juice: Juice of 1 lemon

Oil/ Butter/Ghee: 3 Tbsp

Besan:  2 Tbsp

Turmeric powder :¼ tsp

Yogurt : ½ cup

Black salt : ¼ tsp

Garam Masala powder:  1½ tsp

Chat masala : ½ tsp

Salt: to taste

Method:

  1. Roast the besan in a kadai till you get the cooked aroma. Let it cool.
  2. Make the marinade for the Chicken tikka with all the ingredients mentioned. Taste the marinade for salt/seasonings.
  3. Add the cut and cleaned chicken pieces into the marinade and mix well to coat all the pieces.
  4. Let it marinade overnight (or at least for 3-4 hours)
  5. Preheat the oven to 180C.
  6. Place the chicken on a tray and bake for about 20 mins.
  7. Take the tray out, brush the drippings all over the pieces. Turn them over, brush again with the drippings and some butter and bake for another 8-10 mins.
  8. Remove from oven and brush it with some butter.
  9. Before serving, sprinkle some black salt, chaat masala over the pieces.
  10. Serve with some mint chutney and some onions, lemon wedges and salad.


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Low-carb Mixed-Veg Tikki

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Recipes-Snacks/Dips Tags : 

Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, dietary fiber, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and vitamin C. These nutrients are important for overall health and maintenance of our bodies.

This Low-carb Mixed Veg tikki is a great way to add additional vegetables to the daily diet. Eaten as a snack, it introduces vegetables into the diet as a snack.

Ingredients for Low-carb Mixed Veg tikki:

Cauliflower: 2 cup

Green beans: 1 cup

Carrots: 1/2 cup

Peas: 1/2 cup

Coriander leaves: 2 tbsp

Ginger+ Garlic paste: 1 tbsp

Green chilies: 2-3nos (as per heat tolerance)

Garam masala: 1/2 tsp

Besan: 1/2 cup (optional)

Psyllium husk: 6 tbsp

Butter/Ghee: 1 tbsp

Salt: to taste

Mint leaves: 1 tbsp

Method:

  1. Steam all the veggies till they are tender.
  2. Make a paste of the green chilies, coriander and mint leaves.
  3. Once cool, mash the cauliflower well, add salt, butter/ghee, garam masala, coriander paste, ginger garlic, besan and mix well.
  4. Add the rest of the veggies and mix well. Taste the mix and adjust the salt/seasonings.
  5. Divide the mix into small balls of equal size.
  6. Flatten it into thin tikki.
  7. Put the psyllium husk into a plate. Roll the tikki in the husk and shake off any excess.
  8. You can either bake the tikki at 180C for 15-20 mins (turning once) or shallow fry it.
  9. Serve hot with chutney and some salad.

Variation:

  1. Add some grated paneer/cheese to the mix to get extra protein.


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What Foods Help You Sleep?

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Nutrition Articles Tags : 

Having trouble falling asleep?

Certain foods are known to calm the brain and help promote sleep so eating the right things in the evening is definitely part of the recipe for a good night’s sleep. Research that what you eat can affect your sleep. One of the ways to a restful sleep at night is to keep the brain calm rather than agitated. Tryptophan, an amino acid, helps to make serotonin and melatonin which are important neurotransmitters that affect sleep. 

Here are some Tryptophan-rich foods to eat at night:

  • warm milk, 
  • curd, 
  • chamomile tea,
  • banana, 
  • raisins,
  • almonds and walnuts, 
  • fish, 
  • sesame seeds
Woman, Asleep, Girl, Sleep, Dreams, Face
What Foods Help You Sleep?

Here are some tips to fall asleep:

  • Indulge in stress busting activities before bed time, like listening to music, reading a book, take a warm water bath, drink a glass of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg or a cup of chamomile or liquorice tea.
  • Put a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow or behind your ears.
  • Avoid caffeine -coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and nicotine (cigarettes and other tobacco products) close to bedtime 
  • Eat at least 2 hours before your bedtime.Eating before bed can cause the body’s metabolism to slow. The body slows down its functions at night to prepare for sleep, but consuming foods, especially those high in carbs, can make it harder to digest and also results in weight gain.
  • Don’t exercise close to your bedtime. Exercise raises your body temperature, speeds up your heart rate, and stimulates your nervous system. Intense exercise done too close to bed lead to interrupted sleep in some people. 
  • Try some breathing exercise-alternate nostril breathing is known to help
  • Keep the room temperature between 15C-20C if possible. This is supposed to be the optimal temperature for sleeping.
  • Avoid looking at screens/gadgets just before bedtime. The blue light that’s emitted from these screens can delay the release of sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. It is also said to increase alertness and delay sleep.

Sweta Uchil

Online Indian Dietitian


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Indian Diet Plans by Indian Dietitian Sweta Uchil

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Nutrition Articles Tags : 

Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian? Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian nearby? Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian who can plan Indian Diet plans? Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian who is qualified? Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian who can plan your diet chart according to your needs, eating habits and lifestyle? Are you looking for and Indian Dietitian who knows what life is for an Indian outside India?

Then look no further-meet Sweta Uchil-Purohit. Our Dietitian who ticks all the boxes. How? Let’s have a look:

Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian? Sweta Uchil is an Indian Dietitian and completely understands the eating habits of all Indians. She is not only a popular dietitian among Non Resident Indians but also the South Asian(Sri Lankans, Nepali, Pakistani and Bangladeshi community).

Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian nearby? Sweta Uchil is an Indain Dietitian who has an e-clinic. That means she is just a click away-you can easily have a diet consultation without even leaving your home. That is the nearest that anyone can be to you.

Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian who can plan Indian Diet plans? Being Indian and having a keen interest in learning about different cuisines and also having the exposure to people from allover India, she can plan diets for any region of India/South Asia.

Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian who is qualified? Sweta Uchil is an Indian Dietitian who started her career as a Clinical Dietitian at Manipal Hospital, one of Bangalore’s most highly acclaimed hospital. Here she planned diets for not just weight loss but also for Diabetics, Renal patients on dialysis as well as post kidney transplant diets too.

Are you looking for an Indian Dietitian who can plan your diet chart according to your needs, eating habits and lifestyle? Sweta anything between 40 minutes-1hour on each client during the first consultation. This is to get a deep understanding of the patients current diet and lifestyle. After this, the plans a diet based on these inputs so that it makes it easier for the client to follow the Meal plans recommended.

Are you looking for and Indian Dietitian who knows what life is for an Indian outside India? Tired of explaining how life outside India is for a NRI? Sometimes people in India don’t seem to get how different the lifestyle of Indians who live and work abroad to that in India. Sweta has lived in the US and currently lives in Australia and hence is familiar with life in both hemispheres.

Where are the reviews? Of course in today’s world we don’t even buy a pen without checking if it has good reviews so how can you choose a Dietitian/Nutritionist with checking for reviews? Go ahead and check our Reviews page or log into your Linkedin account and check Sweta Uchil-Purohit’s Linkedin profile for the current reviews.

What does a typical Indian Meal Plan look like? This is very difficult to generalize as Sweta Uchil plans each Meal Plan according to the eating habits and tweaks it to fit her recommendations.

Contact us now to know more: CONTACT US or Message us on our Facebook page


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Ashgourd Majjigehuli (Wintermelon curd curry/ Ashgourd Morukulambu)

Category:Indian Dietitian Online Tags : 

Ashgourd (Kumbalkay in Kannada, Kumhda in Hindi, Vellai Poosanikai in Tamil) is a common and highly revered vegetable in India. It is also used in Hindu religious ceremonies.

It is supposed to be a light vegetable and easy to digest, so best for those who find it difficult to digest heavy foods.

Pumpkin, Squash, Vegetables, Benefit From, Harvest Time
Ashgourd/Wintermelon

Here is a simple curd curry using Ashgourd:

Ingredients for the majjige huli:

  • Ashgourd/Wintermelon: 500gms cut into cubes
  • Coconut: 1 cup grated(fresh/frozen)
  • Channa dal/split chickpeas: 1tbsp soaked in water for 1/2hour (optional)
  • Green chillies: 2-3
  • Cumin seeds/zeera: 1tsp
  • Mustard seeds: 1tsp
  • Yogurt/ curd: 1 cup (should be slightly sour)
  • Water: 2-3 cups
  • Salt: to taste

For the tempering:

  • Mustard seeds: 1tsp
  • Cumin seeds/zeera: 1tsp
  • Urad dal: 1tsp
  • Curry leaves:3-4 nos.
  • Oil: 1tsp

Method:

  1. Boil the Ashgourd/Wintermelon in just enough water till half done.
  2. In the meanwhile grind the coconut,green chillies, the soaked channa dal(optional), mustard and cumin seeds till you get a fine paste (add a little water when grinding).
  3. When the ashgourd/Wintermelon is half cooked add the ground masala and a cup of water and let it boil.
  4. Add salt, yogurt and another cup of water and cook for a minute or two.
  5. In a separate pan, heat the oil and add the mustard,cumin and the urad dal. Wait till the mustard starts to pop, add the curry leaves , then pour the tempering over the majjige huli and mix.
  6. Serve the majjige huli hot with parboiled rice or regular rice.

Q: What is your favorite side dish to go with rice?

Sweta Uchil

Indian Online Dietitian


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Stress and Weight Gain: Understanding the link between Stress and Weight Gain

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Nutrition Articles Tags : 

The Stress – Weight Management Issue

Stress is the way a person responds to pressure from various situations and it affects mental, physical, psychological and emotional well being.Most of us are victims to stress. We cannot change our surroundings but we can definitely change a few things in our lifestyle!The demands of a job, relationship with colleagues, personal ambition, and competition are other reasons for stress in the lives of most people now a days. Especially at such places, stress is also linked to many addictions like overeating, smoking, drinking, and drug abuse.Physical problems associated with stress range from something as common as a headache to long term stress diseases like, digestive problems including ulcers, insomnia, fatigue, high blood pressure, nervousness, heart disease, strokes and even cancer.It may even lead to emotional disturbances like, anxiety, anger, depression, irritability, frustration, over-reaction to everyday problems, memory loss and a lack of concentration for any task and psychological problems like withdrawal from society, phobias, compulsive behaviors, eating disorders and night terrors

Ache, Adult, Depression, Expression
Stress and Weight Gain

Stress Management

Stress management involves a complete behavioral change including a change in the lifestyle and attitude.Stress is known to induce eating disorders and addictions. Diet management is an important part of a lifestyle modification and a well nourished body is less prone to the ill effects of stress.

Eating when stressed out

Processed foods, fast foods, stimulants and addictions make and stressful condition worse.Another problem that people may face during stress is that of overeating.

During a stressful condition, hormones are released in the body and these cause an increase in the utilization of the stored fats and carbohydrates for instant energy.Once the stressful condition subsides, these hormones continue to stay in the body leading to an artificial craving for food. That’s when we end up consuming an unnecessary amount of fat and carbohydrate rich foods.Stress often leads to stomach cramps, constipation and digestive problems. A diet rich in vegetables provides not only fibre, but also amino acids which produce seratonin; a compound that has a soothing effect on the brain. Apart from this, maintaining fixed meal timings and having small frequent meals also help in beating the stress!

Sweta Uchil

Online Indian Dietitian

JOIN our Holistic Approach to tackling Stress and Weight Gain: Indian Weight Loss Package


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What are Carbohydrates?

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Nutrition Articles Tags : 
Collage, Noodles, Pasta, Food, Eat
What are Carbohydrates?

Wondering what are carbohydrates? What’s the big deal about Low Carb Diets?
Carbohydrates are obtained from staple diet and provide energy to body. Carbohydrates are the main source of calories in our meal. Carbohydrates are divided in two categories: Simple and Complex. Simple carbohydrates are sugar and starches. Complex carbohydrates are obtained from vegetables, whole grains and pulses. 

Carbohydrates have been targeted by various diet communities as the culprit of obesity. Well, this may be true but “all carbs are not bad’. They have to be eaten wisely. Firstly, differentiate between the simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrate energy is obtained from sugar. Other sources are:
Biscuits, Cakes and pastries, Chocolate, Honey and jams Jellies Brown and white cane sugar Pizzas Prepared foods and sauces Soft drinks Sweets and snack bars.

Complex carbohydrates are found in:

  • Barley 
  • Beans 
  • Brown rice
  • Chickpeas 
  • Lentils 
  • Nuts 
  • Oats 
  • Parsnips 
  • Potatoes 
  • Root vegetables 
  • Sweet corn 
  • Wholegrain cereals 
  • Yams

How many calories does Carbohydrates provide?

Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 Kcal. 

How much carbohydrate does one need? 

Recent studies have shown that excess of carbohydrates which are not used up by the body is converted into fat and stored in the body which is one of the main culprits of weight gain as well as cholesterol problems.

That’s right-cutting carbs can have a three fold benefit.

1. Helps in weight loss

2. Helps in reducing sugar levels in diabetics

3. Helps in reducing the cholesterol levels.

In a low carbohydrate diet, the calories will be made up by fat and protein. 

Which carbohydrates should you skip? 

It is best to avoid the easily digested refined carbohydrates obtained from refined grain flour (maida/suji): white bread, white rice, as well as pastries, sweetened beverages, highly processed foods. These contribute to weight gain, interfere with weight loss, and promote diabetes and heart disease. 

Which carbohydrates can you eat? When and if you do eat carbohydrates, it’s best to eat whole grains like brown rice, dalia/broken wheat, poha, oats, barley, millets like ragi rather than refined carbohydrates.


Sweta Uchil

Online Indian Dietitian


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Celebrities with Diabetes

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Nutrition Articles Tags : 

Have you been recently diagnosed with Diabetes? Do you feel like it’s the end of the world? 

Most people go into a state of denial and think that ignoring the problem will make it “go away”. 

The truth is, pray as much as you want, but it won’t go away. What you can do however, is accept the situation, learn, and understand the condition, so that with the help of your doctor, dietitian and diabetes educator you can be in better control of yourself and diabetes. 

Keep in mind that you are not alone in this battle, with India on the verge of becoming “the Diabetes capital of the World” there are more than 40 million diabetics in India alone. Diabetes is not restricted to the common man; even movie stars, sports stars, singers and other celebrities suffer from the disease and yet are still able to lead a glamorous lifestyle. 

Celebrities who are also diabetics:

  •  Wasim Akram: The former Pakistani bowler also known as ‘the King of Swing” was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 30 and was at the peak of his career. Akram apparently could not believe that he could be a diabetic as he thought that only people over the age of 50 and leading a sedentary lifestyle could get it. Eventually, he learnt to follow a strict diet and exercise regimen that was tailor made for him along with daily insulin doses. To his credit he has about 250 wickets which he took after being diagnosed as a diabetic! 
  • Kamal Hassan: Diabetes has not dampened the spirits of this versatile actor and father of actress Shruti Hassan. He tries to balance a hectic schedule and his Type 1 diabetes and even takes out time to encourage other diabetics to take charge of their lives. 
  • Gaurav Kapur: The Channel V VJ, host of Big Switch 2 and actor was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the tender age of 22. Gaurav now practices yoga and jogs to keep fit, follows a strict diet and avoids alcohol to keep his sugars under control. 
  • Elvis Presley: The King of ‘Rock and Roll’never publically admitted the fact that he was a diabetic and went on leading a high profile life. 
  • Halle Berry: The Oscar winning Hollywood actress was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 23 when she collapsed on the sets of a TV show. The actress then went on to win numerous awards and even an Oscar in 2001. In 2007, she gave birth to a baby girl. “Diabetes turned out to be a gift,” she says. “It gave me strength and toughness because I had to face reality, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it was.” 
  • Nick Jonas: India’s most famous ‘damad‘ (or Priyanka Chopra’s husband) and singer of the boy band ‘The Jonas Brothers’ was diagnosed with diabetes at age 16. Diet, exercise and an insulin pump that delivers insulin throughout the day is what lets Nick lead as normal a life as possible. 
  • Randy Jackson: The American Idol judge, singer and Grammy Award winning producer was obese, had a family history of diabetes and is an African-American (the 3 major risk factors for diabetes) when he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Randy has since then, managed to shed around 45kgs (100lbs) with regular exercise and diet. 
  • Salma Hayek: The actress cum producer was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when she was 25 weeks pregnant with her first child. Though this type of diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy, these people have a high risk of developing diabetes later on in life. 
  • Sonam Kapoor: The actress and fashionista was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at a very young age. Instead of sitting back, she decided to take control of her life. She started eating healthy and with regular exercise lost a ton of weight and is able to keep it under control.

So it’s not just you, even the rich and the famous can suffer from Diabetes. What you need to do is to take a leaf from their book and try your best to control diabetes so that you can lead as normal a life as possible.

At the end of the day-don’t let Diabetes control your life, try to control it!

Sweta Uchil

Online Indian Dietitian


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Indian Weight Loss Diet Packages

Lockdown and Weight Gain?

Category:Indian Dietitian Online,Nutrition Articles

Weight Management :Tips for Lockdown and Work From Home. Lockdown and Weight Gain? Should you worry?

How to stay Healthy during the Coronavirus Pandemic?The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the way we live. To help keep us safe, it is likely that our lives will be different for a while.

Physical Health and Well being:

With Covid-19, the Lockdown and Working from home has become a common feature of our lives in 2020, home working brings its own challenges when it comes to staying physically and mentally healthy. For those living on their own, feeling isolated all day, finding yourself ‘just finishing things off’ at 11pm, or constantly fighting the temptation to polish off the leftover ice-cream are just some of the issues for those of us using our lounge room as an office. 

Lockdown and Weight Gain? Should you worry?

48 percent of people say they have put on weight during lockdown in a new survey. But don’t stress out.Here are some tips to help you improve your overall well being while working from home:

  1. Set up a separate office space.
  2. Maintain a healthy work-life balance by logging your time and setting limits.
  3. Get up every hour and get out at least once a day.
  4. Choose a good chair.
  5. Keep the kitchen stocked with healthy snacks and meals.
  6. Eat only when hungry. Stop snacking endlessly or due to boredom.
  7. Take frequent breaks-every hour is a good idea. Take a walk to the kitchen, have a glass of water, stretch and take a quick 10 minute walk.
  8. Use a watch/app to monitor the number of steps you get in a day-aim at getting at least 10,000 steps.

Lockdown and Weight Gain? Should you worry? 

The lockdown has increased the sedentary lifestyle in most houses. Those who used to hit the gym to get their daily dose of exercise are no longer able to do this. A sedentary lifestyle is used to denote a type of lifestyle most commonly found in modern cultures. It is characterized by sitting or remaining inactive for most of the day, with little or no exercise.

Are you a victim of Sedentary Lifestyle? Unfortunately with the lockdown everyone of us have become victims.

Read on to know how you can bring some activity into your daily routine.

Overweight and a sedentary lifestyle are directly linked and are together responsible for most of the lifestyle diseases that we come across today. The problem is caused by people eating too much, or exercising too little, or most often; a combination of both.

A sedentary lifestyle is linked to diseases such as type II diabetes, heart disease, depression and even hemorrhoids.

Lack of exercise causes muscle atrophy, i.e. shrinking and weakening of the muscles thereby increasing susceptibility to physical injury. Additionally, physical fitness is correlated with immunity and a reduction in physical fitness is generally accompanied by a weakening of the immune system.

Research shows that people who are physically active are biologically younger than the ones who are couch potatoes. This means that your body may feel and appear much older than you actually are.

Today, a lot of people just sit and work in their houses.After they finish work, they end up spending endless hour watching TV. Working from home all day ends up in virtually no physical movement at all. As a result, they are being diagnosed with mental and chronic diseases. It is important to maintain a minimum level of physical activity as it provides a number of immediate health benefits and prevents lifestyle diseases later in life.

Much more than weight loss:

Lose Weight the Healthy Way. It is important to be physically active not just to lose weight but for a number of other reasons –

Low levels of activity, resulting in fewer calories used than consumed, contribute to the high prevalence of obesity or overweight.

Physical activity may lead to better body fat distribution.

A number of health benefits can be obtained by including a moderate amount of physical activity during the day

Physical activity reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes  in particular

Physical activity also improves mental health and is good for the muscles, bones and joints

According to most guidelines, 30 minutes of physical activity in a day for just five days in a week can have significant health benefits.For those with high-stress jobs or desk jobs, a brisk walk for 30 minutes for every working day of the week helps in not only weight management but also in preventing a number of posture and lifestyle related disorders.

Lose weight the healthy way –

Engaging in physical activity will help you in permanent weight loss. It will improve your metabolism and also keep you away from lifestyle diseases. Most of us lead a sedentary lifestyle simply because we do not have the time or now, even a place to exercise.

Get going –

It is important that you build physical activity into your daily schedule. It would be difficult at first but you must keep in mind the following tips:

Start gradually. Start with walking 10-15 minutes every hour. This can be inside your house, in your backyard, or even on the terrace/ corridors. This will ensure that your Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR) does not fall.

1.Do not give yourself targets you can not achieve

2. Set specific goals for yourself. This makes it easier to reach the goals

3. Involve your family and friends. Let them motivate you to do your best.

4.Focus on the long term benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

5.Buy an exercycle, or an elliptical or ake up a sport like table tennis (you can always start by converting your dining table).

Stress and Mental Health:

The impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, physical distancing and isolation can make us feel anxious, stressed and worried.When we aren’t able to see our friends and family regularly, it can be harder to keep on top of how we’re feeling.

Being aware of how you’re feeling and knowing what you can do to look after your mental wellbeing is an important part of staying healthy during this challenging time.

While it is reasonable for people to be concerned about the outbreak of coronavirus, try to remember that medical, scientific and public health experts around the world are working hard to contain the virus, treat those affected and develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.

Sweta Uchil

Online Indian Dietitian