Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What according to you are the 5 Must-have components/foods in an Indian Meal?
Ms. Rashi Chowdhary:
White rice, Ghee, Nuts but not peanuts (Peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes), haldi are some of the most essential and must have Indian foods that heal the gut and help overall wellbeing.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Would you like to tell us about the changing scenario of fitness in India over the years?
Ms. Rashi Chowdhary:
A lot has been changing really fast in the health and Fitness Industry in India. Small home grown health businesses getting funding, use of smart health apps and structural changes in the way people are now running businesses is causing a disruption in the health market. As close as 2 years ago, people were unfamiliar with concepts like paleo, grain free eating, keto diets etc, and now this is all people are talking about. We have dedicated radio station channels talking just about keto diets/ low carb diets and their benefits in Chennai.
Organic food, gluten free and dairy free eating is becoming popular with so many restaurants offering these options in their menu. A lot has to do with how Bollywood celebs have taken fitness to a whole new level. Having a 6 pack is now considered so normal in the Bollywood industry. And with social media taking over in such a huge way this sort of a lifestyle is becoming more accessible and easier to do for regular people. From gym Akhadas to global gyms coming in and now more niche ways of working out like Pilates, resistance training and cross-fit are finding their ways in people’s lifestyle. As recent as 15 years ago, a dietitian was someone you went to only when you were in a hospital, but now having a nutritionist on speed dial is becoming a lifestyle for a lot of people. We are now understanding that eating well and working our often keeps us happier and are willing to spend a decent amount on looking and feeling good. What was a luxury earlier is now becoming an in disposable part of our lives. The total retail market for fitness is valued at 0.76 billion USD in India and is expected to cross 1.18 billion in this year.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What would be your Top 5 Nutrition Tips for college going girls?
Ms. Rashi Chowdhary:
#1: Love and accept yourself for who you are and who you are becoming, and take full responsibility and ownership with how your body looks and feels. Stop blaming it on Thyroid, PCOS, hereditary. I feel a lot of young girls behave like victims to these issues when intact they have control over the situation. Your health doesn’t deteriorate overnight. It is a collective product of your habits and the daily choices you make.
#2: Follow the principle of Fat first. Which means, waking up and having a tablespoon of Ghee, coconut oil or butter as soon as you wake up. Have this over having carbohydrates from fruit / bread/ cereal or chapati. Reason being very simple, clear, effective and scientific. When you have anything with carbs in it, Your blood sugar levels rise making you hungrier and wanting more carbs. When you replace this with good Fat, you have a better blood sugar response that helps blunt your insulin levels almost stopping the mad hormonal cascade that follows after carbs. Help you heal your gut. Burn fat and helps in reducing sugar cravings .
#3: Sugar is sugar is sugar. Weather it’s from Chocolates, Fruit juices or Fresh fruits. If you are struggling with metabolic issues, and have some weight to lose, Be carb conscious irrespective of the source of carbs. Needless to say that the carbs from fresh fruit is obviously better than that from refined sugar forms, but it will really help if you aim to keep your total carb count between 50-100 grams a day based on your activity levels, lifestyle and health concerns.
#4: Going low on fats from ghee butter nut butters avocado and egg yolks is on wow the worst things you can do. Your sex hormones am made from cholesterol. If you go very low on fat, you are guaranteed to land up with hormonal issues. Going low on fat should only be acceptable when you have reached a genuine plateau as far as weight loss is concerned only after your high fat strategy has failed.
#5: Water is the most under rated nutrient. Hydrate often. Your body will love you back for it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding nutritionists who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in this field?
Ms. Rashi Chowdhary:
“Fail fast” with your nutrition strategies with clients. If one strategy doesn’t work, fail at it fast and try something else, try something different. Never waste time doing the same thing again and again with your clients. Never follow anyone else’s footsteps. Your own clients and their problems will eventually shape your own nutrition method. Every body is unique and has a different metabolism so no one diet fits all. Keep learning because so much is changing so fast in the nutritional science field. Never give up on someone who has come to you for help. The toughest cases are always the best ones cause in the end you get to learn so much. I absolutely LOVE hearing “I have tried everything to lose weight but nothing seems to work” in the first session. That instantly gives me a thrill and I start thinking of different new ways to deal with the case.
As far as owning your very own business is concerned, what really matters is the intention you started it with. Spend enough time thinking about what your end goal is and have a very clear vision of where yo want to take your business. The first few people who you hire, make or break the company, be wise with who you choose to be part of your work family.
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