Health Essentials
Weight loss and nutrition: How do I go about it?
Variety is definitely the spice of life and this year we will read from different professionals who will provide us with priceless nuggets to enhance our health and wellness. In our quest for weight loss, FAT LOSS should be the goal so even if your scale reads the same but your clothes fit better, you may have lost fat and gained healthy muscle that generally weighs more (3x) than fat of the same size.
I introduce Salomey Kokoro, a Registered Dietitian who contributes to www.healthessentialsgh.com. You will pick a line or two even if this is a path you have taken several times. Salomey writes;
In this day and era, where we get everything at the click of a button, Technology has made life very easy and convenient but unfortunately it has rendered us busy, inactive and prone to numerous health conditions. People in their late 20s, 30s and 40s are now susceptible to many lifestyle diseases like Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Blood Cholesterol, Heart Problems etc. which were earlier considered to affect people above 50yrs of age. Obesity and overweight has been ranked as the leading cause of many of these lifestyle diseases. The alarming fact is that majority of people do not know their weight status (whether obese or overweight), they reach this sad realisation only when the complications of obesity begin to set in. It is important that each individual makes a conscious step to know their weight status and begin to make positive efforts towards losing or maintaining weight. Our weight loss goals may come in various forms: losing that tummy pouch/pot belly, losing the baby fat after delivery, dropping down a few dress sizes, losing those flabby arms, get that hourglass figure or build up some muscle. Regardless of how little the goal may seem it will require conscious and active efforts to successfully achieve this, unfortunately there is no quick fix, magic pill or tummy shrinking belt, to make this happen. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” –Maya Angelou Ever wondered what life is going to be like in the next five years? The limitations that your current weight may pose on your lifestyle? The possible health complications that may arise? The strain it may put on your marriage/sex life? The possible reduction in your energy levels and productivity? The possible joint associated pain it may pose during old age? These and many more questions should be a source of motivation during our quest to lose weight. The mere act of contemplating starting the weight loss journey means you have taken the first step towards change. The next step is to seek the right professional advice on what the process entails and how to go about it. The World Wide Web is loaded with a lot of information but unfortunately about 70 per cent of this information are either diluted truths or mere fallacies. Again information out there are not individualised, usually written to suit the general public so following such advice may not give you the best possible outcomes. “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” – Mark Victor Hansen In the human body, weight loss and weight gain has everything to do with eating. This is because food gives us energy (calories) needed for living and going about our daily activities. This calorie needs to be expended but due to the sedentary nature of our 21st century jobs and general daily lifestyle, a bulk part of the energy we consume is stored in the body in the form of fat simply because we are not physically active or we consume more energy than our body requires. Basically: we lose weight when we eat less calories than we expend. Conversely, we gain weight when we eat more calories than we expend. So to successfully lose weight or maintain your current weight, you need a proper and accurate understanding of calorie and nutrient content of common foods, appropriate meals for weight loss, meals and practices that hinder weight loss, best cooking methods, appropriate times during the day to eat, quantity of food to eat at a sitting and so on. 4 Common meals that hinder weight loss – Soda drinks – Oily soups/stews e.g. palmnut soup, groundnut soup, palava sauce etc. – Fried food and snacks e.g. fried meat, chips, kelewele etc. – Excessive intake of fruits A Registered Dietitian is your best shot at receiving professional advice tailored to suit your body requirements and lifestyle. A detailed nutrition assessment coupled with evidence based research information is the basis of advice meted out by the Dietitian. Book an appointment with a dietitian now and start making the change you have always wanted to make. “There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” –Dr. Denis Waitley Written by: Salomey Kokoro, RD Founder: RdSali Nutrition RdSali is a for – purpose company looking to better the lives of individuals, families and communities by providing credible and relatable healthy eating services.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.
Thought for the week – “Keeping our surroundings clean and ensuring personal hygiene with an emphasis on washing our hands regularly and properly with running water and soap will get rid of most of the diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases that we suffer from!”
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials
At Easter should Spiritual Wellness be the only form of Wellness?
Many of us have already packed our Easter season with so much work and back-to-back programmes we hardly have time to breathe.
The little time we can squeeze out is used to stuff ourselves with food and drinks, but for this season and beyond we may be able to spend five minutes even on extremely busy days to make a difference in our lives so that we can have time to sing, dance and worship God as we remember his unparalleled sacrifice to us.
My-in-laws who reside on the mountain are busy trekking up and dragging their friends and colleagues with them. Any idea why the Kwahus revel in Easter? Has it always been that way or is it a conscious effort to show Ghana and the world what they have?
We all wish our favourite exercises will give us the same benefits as all other exercises but the truth is that some exercises are “more equal than others” just as happens in every aspect of life.
This does not mean if you are unable to perform the most effective exercises, you should exert yourself and cause injury to your body. Remember, Cobba’s First Law of Exercising is “DO NO HARM”.
These exercises may just help you stay afloat this Easter:
• Squats
• Plank
• Push-Ups
• Walking & Dancing
Squats
Every single rep (repetition) in this exercise is worth the effort.
Squats target the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteals, which in simple language refers to the thigh muscles and buttocks.
It is important to learn the right technique and since it exercises large muscle groups, you are able to burn a lot of calories with squats.
In every exercise session, it is important to work large muscles before the smaller ones.
Steps
1. Keep feet shoulder width apart
2. Back should be straight (standing posture)
3. Bend knees and lower your rear till your thighs are horizontal.
4. Return to the standing position
5. Repeat steps 1-4
6. Remember to stretch the muscles used after the exercise.
If you have difficulty following the steps above, place a chair behind you and with your back straight try to sit on it. Do not let your buttocks touch the seat, then return to the standing position and repeat. As your technique improves, you may remove the chair.
As one gets stronger you may even carry some weights while doing squats but as always start with caution. You may do only 3 reps at a time (properly). Gradually, add some more.
When to avoid squats
• Severe knee pain irrespective of cause
• Knee injury even if no longer painful (you will need professional supervision)
• Acute back pain (you will later do back slides which is similar to squats and helps strengthen back muscles)
This exercise benefits almost everyone with a lifestyle disease. Hypertensives (those with high blood pressure) even get a bonus since it causes peripheral pooling of blood and helps to lower the blood pressure over time.
Plank
Arguably, the safest exercise for strengthening abdominal muscles and also has the added benefit of strengthening lower back muscles. Especially for people who sit for long hours (you shouldn’t anyway) this is great news for helping your back.
1. Start by getting into a push-up position
2. Bend your elbows and rest your weight on your forearms and not on your hands
3. Support your lower body on your toes
4. Your body should form a straight line from shoulders to ankles just like a plank of wood
5. Engage your core (midsection) by sucking your belly button into your spine
6. Hold this position for the prescribed time. This may vary from 5 seconds to 1 minute. Repeat.
Push-ups (press-ups)
This is probably the first exercise most people try out; well apart from laughter and walking I presume, and everyone is familiar with it.
Go ahead and squeeze a minute a day in there.
Walking & dancing
Before you set out to exercise your muscles remember to walk at least a minute before you start and a minute after you are done.
You may even walk while in one place, what matters is moving your legs and arms and getting your heart to pump.
Use every opportunity during the day to:
• use the stairs instead of the elevator
• walk while you talk on your cell phone
• Walk to a colleague’s desk at the office instead of using the phone or sending someone else.
• Pick your own stuff for cooking instead of sitting and getting people to assist with even the trivial errands
• Dance with your heart whenever you have a chance; during your Christmas programmes, while watching TV and even while you take a shower.
A minute each for Squats, Planks and Push-ups and two minutes of walking every morning, afternoon or evening may just be enough to get you through the season and certainly it will not tamper much with your tight holiday schedule. Do not forget to smile often, breathe deeply to relax, enjoy some sunshine, pray, praise and worship God and you will be on the right path especially if you keep an eye on your finances and learn to unplug several hours each day.
In my opinion, every aspect of Wellness is important at all times and we should try to keep a balance. Neglecting all other aspects (Physical, Social, Mental, Digital, Financial & Spiritual) and focusing only on Spiritual Wellness will mean we will not be able to perform at our very best and certainly our Maker needs the best version of us.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)
*Dr Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “For heart health you need to relax and have fun as well; schedule time for leisure, sing praises to God, laugh often, learn to breathe deeply and maybe get a pet.”
References:
• The Gym Bible
• www.webmd.com
• 30dayfitnesschallenges.com
By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials
Hijab (Islamic Veil) as an Act of Worship
Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah), the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One who guides us to the straight path.
We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and we testify that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and all who follow him in righteousness until the Last Day.
Introduction
Dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, today’s khutbah addresses an essential act of worship that embodies submission, modesty, and obedience to Allah: the “Hijab”.
While the Hijab is an explicit command from Allah, it is also a human right protected under local and international laws.
It is imperative that Muslim women are allowed to observe Hijab freely, especially in public institutions such as universities, banks, ministries, public health institutions, and government agencies.
Definition and Meaning of Hijab
In Islam, Hijab refers to modesty in appearance and behaviour. For women, this includes covering the body, except for the face and hands, in non-revealing clothing (not skin-tight), while for men, it includes covering from the navel to the knees and dressing modestly.
The Hijab extends to lowering the gaze, avoiding indecent speech, and conducting oneself with dignity.
Allah commands:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their adornment except that which [ordinarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests.”
(Quran 24:31).
Essence of Hijab as an Act of Worship and Modesty
The Hijab is an act of worship rooted in obedience to Allah. It is not a cultural practice but a divine command. Allah says:
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
(Quran 33:59).
The Hijab is a reflection of one’s faith, modesty, and inner character. It shields the individual from immorality and contributes to the moral fabric of society.
Lowering the Garments and the Gaze
The Hijab also encompasses lowering the gaze and maintaining purity in interactions between genders. Allah says:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.” (Quran 24:30).
By lowering the gaze, both men and women protect themselves from sin and maintain mutual respect.
Social Menace and Immoralities Due to Lack of Hijab
The absence of Hijab in society has led to numerous social issues, including:
Zina (Adultery and Fornication): Unrestricted interactions and immodesty increase the likelihood of adultery and fornication, which Allah explicitly prohibits:
“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.”
(Quran 17:32).
Exploitation and Objectification:
When modesty is neglected, individuals, especially women, are objectified and exploited, resulting in an increase in harassment and sexual abuse, a phenomenon that has plagued many organissations such as Universities, Banks and other public institutions. The introduction of Sexual Harassment Policies with its attendant harsh punishments has done very little in resolving this menace.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
