Nutripreneur of Month - Archana Jain

Name:  Archana Jain

Company Name:  Angel Care Wellness Centre

Work-Profile: Health Care & Weight Management Consultant

Work Experience: More than 25 Years 

Mission: Use thy (your own) body's strength to cure thyself 

Education: Archana has completed M.Sc. (Food and Nutrition) from Rajasthan University, Jaipur in 1989 

Family, Marriage & Children: Archana's father was a marketing executive and her mother was a home maker and she considers them her 1st gurus in Nutrition. Her husband is in engineering industry and is a genius in automation. Her son is pursuing economic from NMIMS and is a sports lover. 

Before Becoming A Nutripreneur: Archana worked for an NGO as social counsellor for one and a half years. There after she was assistant territory manager for 3 years at CITI Bank, credit cards DSA. She was a clinic head for 5 years at Personal Point, Jaipur before starting “Angel Care Wellness Centre” in 2005

How Did It All Start & Journey:  Since the time she was studying, Archana dreamt of starting her own clinic. She got a good exposure of managing and running a clinic at Personal point and when she was confident enough, she quit to start her company. She received immense support from her family and friends and she started from the basement of her apartment. Governor of Rajasthan inaugurated her centre in 2005. She has a huge social circle and word about her clinic spread like fire. Her knowledge, compassion, dedication, empathy, friendly behaviour, passion for work, honesty gradually created a goodwill and a name in the market. She was one of the first few dieticians to venture in this industry, having her own clinic. She is proud to be known as a dietician of who’s who of Jaipur. With social media and internet, she treats patients from all around the world including USA, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, etc.

Current:

• They are the leaders in weight loss, and dietary management of health in Jaipur
• Therapeutic counselling is their forte 
• "Swachch Bharat and Swasth Bharat” is their mission for years to come
• They want to educate the society about healthy living in simple & easy ways

Lessons Learnt In The Journey: Keep working hard and harder; there is no end to learning. Stay true to yourself, never copy anybody, Honesty & hardwork will finally reap success, “Kisi Cheez ko Shidat se Chaho to Saari Kayanat usse Tumse milane ko Koshish Krti Hai”. Love and empathy are the best virtues you can win the world with.

Message for budding nutritionists: There is space for everybody so don’t fear competition. Carve your own niche, Work with passion and knowledge. “If you work for success you become a master, but if you work for passion you become a legend”

We wish Archana all the very best for future

- Team NII

Borg's Rate of Perceived Exertion Scale

The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale is a way of measuring physical activity intensity level. RPE scale is a quantitative measure of perceived exertion (how hard you feel) during exercise. Self - monitoring the exercise can help the individual decide on the intensity of the workout including the bodily sensations such as increasing heart rate, increased respiration or breathing, increased sweating and muscular fatigue. Self-monitoring of exercise can also prevent the injuries. 

As shown in the image above, RPE scale is rating scale ranging from six (6) to twenty (20) that gives indication of intensity of the physical activity. Six – rates that there is no exertion at all and twenty – rates the maximal exertion.

                                          

Using the RPE scale on regular basis will help you identify how hard you are working out and decide on the pace you are working at. For e.g.:

• 9 corresponds to "very light" exercise – walking at own pace for some time; 
• 13 on the scale is "somewhat hard" exercise, but can continue; 
• 17 corresponds to "very hard" is very strenuous – can continue with the exercise, but pushes own self really hard to continue;
• 19 on the scale is an “extremely strenuous” exercise level – feels tired and heavy.      

                   

Practitioners recommend to range your physical activity in the range of 12 to 14 on the Borg scale suggesting that physical activity is conducted at the optimum training range allowing maximum benefits of the exercise. The intensity of the exercise routine should approximate an exertion of 60 – 80 % of the target heart rate zone. If your perceived exertion on the RPE scale is “13 or somewhat hard” you can increase your intensity or pace of the activity. If your perceived exertion on the RPE scale is “15 or Hard” then you can decrease the intensity or pace of the activity.

A person’s exertion rate can also determine the heart rate during the physical activity. An individual can rate his perceived exertion ten times to determine the heart rate. For example: If you rate 12 on the RPE scale, then your heart rate would be approximately 120 bpm (12 x 10 = 120). The heart rate calculated in this method is an approximation and will vary depending on the individual’s age and physical condition. This tool becomes very useful to the person who is self-monitoring the exercise will be able to adjust the intensity of the activity. The RPE scale is also a preferred method by the exercise specialist to assess the intensity among the individuals who take medications that affect the heart rate.

Instructions to use RPE scale: (from G. Borg RPE - 1998)

1. Rate your perception of exertion while doing the physical of activity (not after the activity is complete). This feeling should reflect how heavy and strenuous the exercise feels to you, combining all sensations and feelings of physical stress, effort, and fatigue.  
2. Do not concern yourself with any one factor such as leg pain or shortness of breath, but try to focus on your total feeling of exertion.
3. Look at the rating scale below while you are engaging in an activity; it ranges from 6 to 20, where 6 means "no exertion at all" and 20 means "maximal exertion." 
4. Choose the number from below that best describes your level of exertion. 
5. Try to evaluate your feeling of exertion as honestly as possible, without thinking about what the actual physical load is. Your own feeling of effort and exertion is important, not how it compares to other people. 

References:

• Borg RPE Scale – Gunnar Borg 1970, 1985, 1994, 1998
• Roelands B, de Koning J, Foster C, Hettinga F, Meeusen R (May 2013). "Neurophysiological determinants of theoretical concepts and mechanisms involved in pacing". Sports Med. 43 (5): 301–311.
• Rattray B, Argus C, Martin K, Northey J, Driller M (March 2015). "Is it time to turn our attention toward central mechanisms for post-exertional recovery strategies and performance?". Front. Physiol. 6: 79.

Author: Hetal Poptani
B.H.Sc. Dietetics
P.G. Sports Science & Nutrition 
P.G. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation

Nutripreneur of Month - Richi Seth

Full Name: Dr Richi Seth

Company Name: Lifestyle Makeover

Company Moto: To fight the new age evil of lifestyle related illness and obesity from society. Contribute to eradicate the disease by identifying the root causes and bringing in solutions too

Work Profile: Online consultation and private consultation, corporate lectures

Years of experience: 8

Education: Richi has a Bachelors degree in Physiotherapy from  Kurukshetra University. After finishing bachelor's degree in physiotherapy, Richi attained a Masters degree in Dietetics and Food Service Management and completed Certificate course in Child Nutrition from IGNOU.

Family background: Richi's father is Chemical engineer and mother is a housewife and herbal remedy expert. Husband an IT Professional. 

Before Becoming A Nutripreneur: Before starting her own venture, Richi had a varied experience, all thanks to her dual qualification in health sector. She has previously worked as a chief physiotherapist with hospitals like Sterling hospitals Ahmedabad, as a consultant in paediatric and private clinics and also worked as a brand manager (media) for big brands like Britannia, Dabur, Saffola etc.

How did it all start: Richi says "It takes a long time to become overnight success. I graduated in Physiotherapy and Masters in Nutrition. At that time I used to dream about starting my own venture one day. I started as a consultant and got opportunities to work with multiple hospitals and with Sr. doctors and specialists like orthopaedic surgeons, pedestrians etc. As I was going family way, I had to quit my job which, at that time, was with a media company. I was the Brand Manager for Britannia, Dabur, Saffola etc. According to me my child is my priority but I didnt stop there. I started consulting in a nearby clinic, some private clients, writing blogs and articles for magazines and health websites. I was planning to start active practice when I again got a setback, I met with an accident in which I injured my leg and was on bed for good 6 months. Followed by another 6 months of rehabilitation, as the foot needed muscles buildup so that I can walk properly or run. That was the time when I was seeing many people around me with medical conditions and trying to loose weight. I noticed that a lot of supplements, meal replacements and pills have come up in market which are not the healthiest options to for our bodies internally. My own journey and transformation from fat to fit as I gained during my bed rest and no activity, inspired me to start this venture where motivation plays the key role in self transformation and lifestyle makeover too. Today we are a team and we are operating an e-clinic from different parts of the country but still together. My backbone is my team in which my Meal planner expert Mrs Priyanka Vithlani, without whom this journey was not possible, my mother who is a herb specialist and takes care of skin and hair issues of our clients with natural remedies, our families who have supported us throughout and our well wishers who follow us and help us spread our word of LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER".

Current: Online consultation for diet and fitness. They have a clientele from all over the world.

Lessons learnt in the journey: 

• Practice what you preach
• Focus and attention to the medical condition of each patient/follower, as everyone has unique needs, in terms of ongoing medicine requirement, possible side effects and most importantly history of illness

Message for budding nutritionists: 

• Follow your passion, stay focused on your goal and work towards achieving it. This would definitely help you making it big
• Dream with your eyes open and follow your dreams

We wish Richi all the very best for future

- Team NII

Nutripreneur of Month - Jennifer Dhuri

Full Name: Jennifer Dhuri

Company Name: Jennifer’s Nutrition and Diet Solutions

Company motto: Redefining the meaning of diet and nutrition centering attention on balance, moderation and variety; nutrition to help not only health of the body but mind too

Work Profile:  

• Mainly involved with one on one diet consultation and consulting ipd patients 
• Provide corporate talks, customized seminars and workshops 
• Recipe and menu development
• Corporate consulting
• Health education and wellness consulting
• Team sports
• Lectures and talks for schools/ colleges, conducting camps and workshops for obesity diets, 
• Pregnancy diets
• Food analysis and labelling

Years of experience: About 18 years 

Education: Jennifer has completed B.H.Sc. in Dietetics and Food Nutrition from the SVT College of Home Science, SNDT University and post graduation in Dietetics and Food Nutriton from IHMCTAN, Mumbai. She is a registered dietitian 

Family background: Jennifer was born in a Parsi family and is married into a Maharashtrian family. Her husband  is a doctor and Director/Proprietor of Sapna Hospital and she has a beautiful 12 year old daughter. Her brother and sister are engineers and she is the only dietitian in a family of engineers. Jennifer's mother and husband have been most supportive and have encouraged her at every step. Since she was in 8th grade, it was actually decided by her mother that she should do something in the field of nutrition as her mother believes that the remedy for all illness lies within us and in out kitchen and that's how Jennifer decided to pursue Nutrition & Dietetics 

Before Becoming A Nutripreneur:

• Worked as Senior Dietician at Parsee General Hospital, Mumbai for 5 years and was a part of the academic team giving lectures on Dietetics and Nutrition at the Parsee General Nursing School
• She has also worked as a Dietician at the SCN Sports Club, Kandivli (East), Mumbai for a period of 2 years.

How did it all start: Jennifer says that technically starting up on her own was a process almost since the time she was working as a full time Dietician at the PG Hospital. She already had started her own practice at her husband's hospital clinic at Andheri, East. After she got pregnant with her daughter she decided to quit the full time job as her child was her priority. With immense support from her husband she continued consulting at her hospital clinic and at hospitals in her area. She slowed down but did not stop. It was then again when her daughter was big enough, about 5 years back, that she decided she needed to go full throttle with her career. She started meeting all the doctors in her area telling them how they can send patients for consultation. She started advertising herself through print and local search engines as well. This was a huge task as there is so much money involved and she did it on instalment basis. She also started her private practice at Powai. It took her quite some time to create a name for herself. Patient numbers were not that great in the beginning but with her families support and love kept her going. She also started her blog as well as nutrition page to create more awareness in the public. Today she proudly says that she has many clients through doctor as well as patient referrals. 

Current:

• She does one on one diet consultation as well as online diet consultation
• She still visit hospitals for OPD and IPD patients
• At present she is also working as a Consultant Dietitian  seeing OPD & IPD patients for the following hospitals: Sapna Hospital, Paramount Hospital, Medicare Hospital, Ashirwad Hospital, Rachna Hospital, Dhanvantri Hospital, Pooja Hospital, Ageless Medica Aesthetic Clinic, Andheri (East), Mumbai
• She is involved in corporate activities as well

Lessons learnt in the journey:

• Life is full of lessons. Every journey in life cannot be planned to perfection but it can be travelled and enjoyed

Message for budding nutritionists:

• The best prize that life can offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing
• If you are passionate about what you want there is nothing that can stop you
• Trust who and what you are. Trust your choices
• We are a part of a beautiful profession. Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There is then nothing that can stop you from shining through

We wish Jennifer all the very best for future

- Team NII

How To Stay Updated With Latest Findings In Nutrition & Dietetics

Nutrition & dietetics science is a nascent science with new developments happening every day. It is very essential to stay updated with the latest findings in nutrition and dietetics to help our clients the best. Before we describe the methods to stay updated, there are few things you need to keep in mind:

• Select Your Topic Of Interest: Its almost impossible to be updated on every aspect of nutrition & dietetics science. So select the topics of your interest and read about them
• Set Aside Time: Yes. Setting aside a dedicated time to read every week is very important to stay updated. Setting aside a specific time makes sure you compulsorily read new updates
• Choose The Correct Source: Internet is flooded with information and it is very crucial that you choose the correct source to update your information
• Understand Basic Concepts Of Research: To understand what a research paper explains, its vital you have basic understanding of research concepts. If you are unaware, take a small course in research methods & statistics 

Best Sources To Stay Updated:

• Newsletters/ Websites/ Blogs: Subscribing to newsletters/ websites/ blogs is one of the most simple methods & effective methods to stay updated. My top 5 picks for the same are: 
• Nutritionists In India Blog (Offcourse our blog is my top pick)
• Nestle Nutrition Website
• HCP Connections
• Science Daily
• Sheila Kealey Updates On Sports Nutrition
• Research Journals: Journals that publish latest research articles are the best source to learn about new findings. Though its not possible to read all research journals, you can follow some top journals in nutrition and food science such as 
• American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• Journal of American Dietetic Association
• European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• Journal of Nutrition
• Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• If your interests are in the field of pediatrics/ endocrinology/ bone health, you could subscribe to journals specific to these topics
• Magazines For Health Professionals: Subscribe to journals which are meant for health/ nutrition professionals. My top 4 picks for the same are:
• Today's Dietitian
• Dietetics Today (By British Dietetics Association)
• Food & Nutrition Magazine (By American Association of Food & Nutrition)
• Network Health Digest
• Be A Member Of National & International Organisation: By being a member of National & International Nutrition & Dietetics Association, you can stay updated by attending various conferences and seminars organised by these associations
• Attend CNE: Like Continuous Medical Education programmes, Continuous Nutrition Education (CNE) programmes are available. Join these CNE's to pick up a new skill and update yourself
• Social Media & Whatsapp: Nutritionists In India (NII) started from Facebook and we have over 5100 qualified nutritionists & dietitians and we discuss cases, new findings, updates regularly on the group. So if you are a qualified dietitian & still not a part of our group, join today. Apart from NII, there are various social media platforms which you could join to be updated. Also, remember the more you share, the more your knowledge increases. So if you find an interesting piece of information, share it on your social media profile or on your whatsapp group of nutritionists/ dietitian friends. If you start sharing information and new findings with your friends, they will be encouraged to do the same. So as more and more of your friends share updates, the more findings you will learn about

Hope these simple methods help you stay updated with latest nutrition & dietetics research. If you have any more tips and tricks, do share them with us in comments below. 

Dr. Neha Sanwalka

Team NII

Nutripreneur Of Month - Akansha Jhalani Sinha

Name: Akansha Jhalani Sinha

Company Name: Beyond the Weighing Scale

Work Profile: Akansha is a registered dietitians and plays various roles like that of an author, diet consultant, columnist, spokesperson, contributor to national publications, public speaker and clinical nutritionist.

Years of Experience: About 7 years

Mission: Empowering masses to look beyond the digits on their weighing scale when it comes to health and wellness. To educate people about food and to validate a nourishing relationship with what they eat. To unshackle myths around food and wellness, one bite at a time. 

Education: Akansha graduated with a degree in Food Science and Quality Control and post-graduation in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics from SNDT University, Pune. She got certified as a Registered Dietitian in 2012. She has completed a teacher training certification in Ashtanga Yoga for Disease Management from The Yoga Institute, Mumbai. She also holds a certification in Cake Arts and Decoration and is chasing to become an Art Illustrator and doodler. 

Family Background: Despite coming from a big fat mawari family, Akansha's family made sure she developed as an individual and provided unvarying support no matter what she chose for herself. She met her husband in the year 2014 and decided to marry an equally driven and passionate individual. She is married in a family where business models make it to breakfast table conversations. Her in- laws appreciate and encourages her every passing day. 

Work Experience: Before starting her own venture, Akansha has worked with Breach Candy Hospital Trust, Healing Hands Clinic, Care24, Bon happetee 

Journey: After completing her post-graduation, Akansha landed her dream job at Breach Candy Hospital Trust and was associated with the organization for about 2 years. During this period, Akansha started writing for publications and nutrition columns as she found it interesting and it helped her stay updated with trends. This was when "Beyond the Weighing Scale" sculptured. After 2 years, she found herself being agitated as her learning curve at the full time job had come to a standstill and that is something she couldn’t live with. She woke up one day and took the plunge! She quit her dream job knowing there is so much to explore and learn out there. 

Akansha at the peak of her career took a gap year to travel, read, live in an ashram for her teacher training in yoga, think, eat good food and see her friends and family. She kept taking freelance projects to keep in touch with the subject and made sure she kept trying new things and reaching out to people. She remembers doing all of it for free as either favors for friends or just because it appealed to her. She learnt and picked up so much about marketing, design, sales and business models by just talking to people and putting herself out there. She is a ferocious reader. Akansha is now collaborating with start-ups to help develop products and segments and loves the intensity that comes along with it. 

Current:

• Akansha and her company provide an ecosystem for budding start-ups to establish their nutrition and health segments
• She has a team of 10 members who work with her remotely from Mumbai as she is based in Pune and her team in Mumbai 
• She takes pride in being associated with 6 promising start-ups currently and provides a start to end solution by developing the segment, managing back end operations, strategizing online and offline marketing, managing community with social media pages and public relations
• In the past 2 years, she has worked with 12 start-ups, developed 2 food tech applications, authored a book, turned into an influencer, curated over 3000 health content pieces and is on her way to launch with 2 other ventures this year
• Akansha is looking forward to the coming year as she has other promising entrepreneurial opportunities coming her way 

Lessons Learnt:

• Knowledge is Power. As individuals and professionals,  she feels that learning is a process that never stops. She want to be that person in the room that knows everything about everything. 
• She learnt through her journey that "if your ship doesn’t get to you in time, you need to swim out to it"
• She cannot emphasize enough on the importance of putting yourself out there and making things happen

Message for Budding Nutritionists

• As nutritionists and dietitians, she sometimes see that we restrict ourselves only to our subject. In this time and age, it is very crucial to study the changing landscape of food and nutrition and to evolve with it 
• Research about what is out there, reach out to influencers and organizations to tell them about yourself and your food philosophy, collaborate with fitness companies and plunge into something that you have never tried before
• The key is doing and making things happen relentlessly
• Your dream job is not just going to walk through that door, roll your sleeves up and unveil what you truly deserve

We wish Akansha All The Very Best For Future

- Team NII

7 Commonly Used/ Worst Excuses For Not Dieting

Diet does not mean you stop eating or eliminate particular foods completely. Diet means mindful eating & choosing the correct food and time to eat a particular food. 

We all have our excuses to not start dieting & go on a healthy diet regime. Here is a list of 7 worst excuses people give for not adopting a healthy lifestyle complied by Ryan Fernando of Qua Nutrition. See how many you've used (or ARE using) and learn how to overcome all seven and if you are a dietitian how to help your client overcome these. 

Picture Source: http://childrensministryonline.com/excuses-are-lame/

1. I hate to cook: Join the crowd! I am no chef either. But the last time I checked I found all sorts of alternate choices out there -- from take-out or delivery to supermarket meals to quick recipes for one in under 10 minutes. Oh, and don't forget Diet-to-Go: the meals come ready to heat and eat and they're delicious too! There's always opportunity to make better choices if we look.
2. There's no way I can give up "     ":  Okay you can fill in the blank with your choice of chocolate, ice cream, potato chips... Go ahead and pick your evil. The truth of the matter is that no real healthy lifestyle asks you to give up anything. Just know there is a big difference between ONE Oreo and THE WHOLE SLEEVE. Learning moderation and rewarding yourself with an occasional treat... well that's just life as it should be
3. I have no willpower: The decision to become healthier is your first step to real change. Looking for the right support system is crucial. Maybe you can find a friend, a neighbour, or a family member to team up with. I am all for a little professional help. Why not consider a trainer, a wellness coach or a nutritionist for some sound advice and motivation?
4. I'll start for real tomorrow: This statement is usually uttered by the dieter who frequently falls off the wagon. Have you ever known anyone who ever started anything "tomorrow" to do well? Every moment is an opportunity to begin again. So what if your your food choices for the day tanked? There's still the opportunity for some good choices over dinner. Begin again. The best time to start is "NOW"
5. I live to eat, not eat to live: There is nothing wrong with enjoying your food. I can relate. I have never met a Mexican food that I didn't like. But the key to enjoying your food is to mindfully eat. Mindful eating means savouring each bite, recognising it and enjoying it -- and stopping when no longer hungry. It's about the quality of each bite rather than the quantity of an entire buffet
6. I hate having to watch what I eat: Yup, this one has been said to me by a client. Sorry, but EVERYONE needs to watch what they eat. It doesn't matter if you are a professional athlete or a child. We may not share the same dietary needs, but no one gets the free pass when it comes to healthy eating. A constant awareness of your food and the enjoyment of what it is you are eating can help lead to healthier practices.
7. I had no idea there were so many calories in that: This is by far my favourite excuse. With all the information readily available today -- not to mention the actual serving size and calorie count of just about everything you purchase -- pleading ignorance is no excuse. I would rather have a client tell me that they made a decision to eat something bad for them than to have them attempt to pass along "I had no idea" excuse. Accepting the consequences of choosing to eat something high in fat and calories is far better than lamely pleading ignorance.

Ok, so these are the most commonly heard excuses by Ryan. Have you heard any other excuses? Do share them in comments below.

Team NII