Food
Meet the millets: their health benefits and snack ideas
The United Nations has declared 2023 as the year of millets. There was a time when millets were the staple food in many parts of the world. Millets are popularly known as Bajra, Rajgira, Kakum, Kutt, chena in India and were once eaten by the common man. Rice was only served during special occasions and festivals but with time the cultivation of millets declined in India due to the change in cultivation pattern and colonisation.
One of the reasons behind cultivating millets is that they are very easy to grow and usually require less attention. They can be easily cultivated in non-arable land. In recent years, eating healthy has been in trend like cereals, superfoods, oats etc. Millets are one of the most nutritious foods that you can consume and it requires comparatively less effort and water to grow millets.
Millets are of two types :
- Husked grain millets: Foxtail, Kodo millets
- Naked grain millets: Ragi, Jowar, Bajra
Millets are rich in fibre, calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus and other nutrients. These are also gluten-free and get absorbed very easily. They are especially good for diabetic people as they are slow in digestion and hence do not cause a rise in blood sugar levels. Millet based snacks are loved throughout the world. Here are some of the millet-based snacks ideas that you can enjoy with your friends and family:
- Millet burger
- Millet bhelpuri
- Ragi wheat dosa
- Jowar Medley
- Foxtail millet porridge
- Ragi chakli
The best part about these snacks is that they are healthy and tasty. You can enjoy them without spoiling your diet chart.
AASTHA SINGH
health and remedies
Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine
Taking regular breaks from intense training, like deload weeks, helps your body recover, preventing fatigue and injury, and ultimately boosts fitness gains.
When it comes to getting fit, the idea of spending hours at the gym might come to mind, but many fitness experts argue that taking a “deload week” every six to eight weeks is actually key to improving your fitness gains. A deload week involves reducing the intensity of workouts to allow the body to recover from the fatigue and muscle damage caused by intense training.
While high-intensity training helps build strength and fitness, it can also lead to muscle strain, and without adequate recovery, these gains can’t fully materialise. Deload weeks give the body much-needed rest to repair and rebuild, ensuring continued progress. (Also read: Bhagyashree swears by this super easy exercise for instant leg pain relief and better mobility. Watch how to do it )
Why recovery is key for muscle growth
According to an article by The Conversation, intense exercise can cause tiny tears in muscle fibres, leading to inflammation that requires rest or low-intensity exercise to heal. This inflammation is essential for muscle growth and fitness improvements. However, without proper recovery, muscles remain in a state of slight damage, preventing inflammation from resolving. This chronic state of inflammation can hinder muscle function, reducing oxygen efficiency and impairing performance. Giving muscles time to recover through rest ensures they repair properly and are primed for continued progress, setting us up for greater success in our fitness journey.
Many gymgoers fear taking time off and are worried it will lead to a loss of gains. However, research shows that muscle genes have a “memory imprint,” which keeps them in a semi-prepared state. This allows muscles to respond more quickly and effectively to future training, promoting growth after a rest period. Even after extended periods of reduced intensity, up to seven weeks, muscular fitness can be restored to prime condition—and in some cases, surpass previous levels. Interestingly, recovery can occur twice as fast as it took to reach peak fitness initially, even if some strength is lost.
Taking time off from intense training is crucial to prevent muscle soreness and avoid overtraining syndrome. Overtraining occurs when the body doesn’t get enough rest, leading to prolonged fatigue, decreased performance, and mood disturbances. Symptoms develop gradually, making overtraining difficult to recognize until it’s severe. Rest is essential to avoid these issues and ensure long-term progress in training.
Role of overtraining syndrome and deload weeks
Overtraining syndrome is challenging to quantify due to its vague symptoms. Studies suggest it may affect as few as 10% of elite athletes, though rates could climb to 60% among highly competitive individuals. Recovery is essential for both fitness and overall health. When engaging in heavy gym routines, it’s vital to incorporate sufficient recovery time into your workout plan. Unlike rest days, which involve little to no exercise once or twice a week, deload weeks feature lighter training at reduced intensity—typically about 50% fewer workouts or a 20% drop in workout intensity.
Both rest days and deload weeks are essential for recovery and crucial to improving fitness. It’s not about choosing one over the other—they complement each other. For instance, intense training for marathons, Ironman, or CrossFit competitions requires weekly rest days alongside scheduled deload weeks. However, for recreational gym-goers exercising 1–3 times weekly at a moderate intensity, the recovery from this routine is often sufficient without the need for additional deload weeks.
Fitness influencers recommend incorporating deload weeks into training schedules every 4–8 weeks, aligning closely with the expert advice of 4–6 weeks. However, it’s crucial to listen to your body and schedule deload weeks as needed. If your performance plateaus or worsens, it may signal time for a deload. Training plans should be flexible enough to allow rest when required. Deload weeks not only enhance performance but also support overall health.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Group Media Publications
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
-
india1 month ago
‘My support will be with new J&K govt’: L-G Manoj Sinha ahead of Omar Abdullah’s oath-taking ceremony
-
Politics1 month ago
New BJP government to take oath in Haryana on Oct 17, PM Modi to attend
-
Sports1 month ago
Score for the third day of the first test between India and New Zealand: Ravindra-Southee crushes IND, NZ leads by 299 at lunch
-
TV1 month ago
Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary share first pic with newborn daughter from hospital. See post
-
In News2 weeks ago
SpiceJet announces 8 new flights to connect Jaipur with Varanasi, Amritsar and Ahmedabad
-
Business2 weeks ago
OpenAI buys new domain chat.com for over $15 million, it redirects to ChatGPT
-
Entertainment.1 month ago
Massive data breach at Game Freak studios reveals shocking new dark Pokemon movie plot
-
Sports1 month ago
India vs New Zealand LIVE Score 1st Test Day 3: Ravindra-Southee carnage flattens IND, NZ lead by 299 at Lunch