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Happy Tummy Expert

6 months ago

Dear Sara, Thank you for the question.

Hormones play a vital role in the health of human females and hormonal imbalance can cause several pathological conditions. Improper diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress and use of certain medication and drugs can cause hormonal imbalance.

Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance include changes in menstruation, acne, oily skin, fever, fatigue, excessive hair growth, dizziness, anxiety, allergy, weight gain, headache, water retention, endometriosis, urinary tract infections (UTI’s) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). For further diagnosis and assistance kindly contact your specialized health care professional.

A boil is a pus-filled bump in the skin that is caused by a bacterial infection. Boils mainly occur on the face and neck, including the back of the neck. But they sometimes also develop in the armpits, groin, genital area, on the back, bottom or thighs. They develop when a hair follicle and the surrounding tissue become infected.

Here are a few tips for skin health

• Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease sebum production and follicular occlusion & reduces inflammatory acne lesions and boils. Some of the most common sources of omega 3 are Fish, nuts & seeds etc.
• Micronutrients like Vitamin A, E & C help to build and maintain healthy skin. The best dietary sources include Orange-yellow fruits and vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits like berries, oranges, lemons, kiwi, nuts and seeds etc.
• Drink adequate amount of water to maintain hydration.

Gastrointestinal digestive issues such as, burning sensation in the stomach, throat, Nausea, can be a symptom of GERD (Gastro oesophageal reflux disease), indigestion, constipation, IBS, intolerances, food allergies etc., and/or due to an underlying health condition which may require medical attention. For further diagnosis and assistance kindly contact your specialized health care professional.

Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic symptom of mucosal damage. It is caused due to the entry of stomach acid into the esophagus. The most-common symptoms of GERD include Heartburn, Difficulty in swallowing and a sour taste in the mouth or back of the throat due to fluids and undigested foods rising back in to the mouth.

Here are a few tips to manage GERD

It is important to modify your dietary patterns to manage the symptoms of GERD.

• Weight management is necessary in people for whom the underlying cause of GERD may have been obesity.
• Eat small frequent meals and avoid eating meals within 2-3 hours of bedtime.
• Prevent laying down immediately after eating
• Avoid drinking fluids in between the meals.
• Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
• Some of the foods should be restricted or avoided, these include caffeine, raw onion, citric juices and spicy foods etc.
• Consume low fat dairy in substitute of full fat options to prevent or manage GERD symptoms.

Sustainable weight management requires a holistic approach which involves lifestyle management which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity, hydration, and stress management. With any weight loss plan changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.

An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

However here are few objectives to be considered when planning to start with a weight loss program.

Count Your Daily Calories

• It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
• This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
• The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
• These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
• Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
• WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.

It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification for Asians

18.5 to 23 – Normal

Less than 18.5 - Underweight

23 to 27.5 - Overweight

Above 27.5 - Obese

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss & Digestive Health that can be considered:

• Eat a well-balanced diet including all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products), minimum 5 serving of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit in a day as they are good sources of fiber and essential nutrients such as vitamin A, Vitamin B, iron, zinc etc.
• Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
• Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
• Monitor your portion size.
• Include protein in your diet. Some of the sources include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc. 
• Include prebiotics such as banana, soyabean, garlic etc., good sources of probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk etc., to maintain a healthy gut.
• Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, multigrains, millets, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
• Limit the intake of fiber and dairy in case of loose stool/diarrhoea.
• Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
• Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
• Carbonated and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
• Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
• Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
• Avoid lying down immediately after your meal consumption.
• Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
• Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Some Physical Activity Tips:

Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking for at least five days a week.

For further assistance you can book a call for free dietitian consultation on our website. https://www.callr.live/aashirvaadexperts/Book-Appointment

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead

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