Elevate your Self Care, a panel discussion on self-care by YFLO, was held recently at The Park Kolkata, with nutritionist Pooja Makhija and dermatologists Noopur Jain and Ankur Sarin. The insightful session for the YFLO ladies concerned the subject of self-care right from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night.
Nutritionist Pooja Makhija began the discussion by stressing the importance of a wholesome breakfast for better hair and skin. A professional with 25 years of experience in the field of nutrition and lifestyle, Pooja has been a thorough propagator of “you are what you eat”. However, taking into consideration present times, she added, “You may not really be just what you eat. It is also about how you eat, where you eat, when you eat and whom you eat with.” Thus, suggesting morning time as one of the best times to eat. She further explained the connection of our metabolic needs to the circadian rhythm, that is, the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. She has time and again preferred the Indian diet over anything else, and her Instagram handle also speaks of the same.
Dermatologist Noopur Jain emphasised a reliable and thorough morning skincare routine before stepping out of the house. Her suggestion was to start with a cleanser and follow it up with a moisturiser and sunscreen. “I cannot overemphasise the importance of sunscreen because it is the most important thing in your skincare routine. It protects the skin from damaging UV rays and makes sure to use it whether it is rainy, winter or whenever you are outdoors,” said Noopur. Apart from using sunscreen, she also suggested the use of certain antioxidant serums during the day, like Vitamin C and E that prepare one’s skin before stepping out. Answering questions concerning the chemical content of the sunscreens, Jain said: “We need to understand whatever we are eating or drinking. Water is also a chemical, that does not necessarily mean it’s harmful. Sunscreens are made with adequate research and testing wherein most chemicals act as a shield to our skin.”
Taking forward the discussion on skincare, dermatologist Ankur Sarin stressed the use of a Vitamin C serum as a key antioxidant in the morning ascribing to the fact that oxidative stress is maximum at that time. “Ideally, sunscreen can be applied once in a day but one may go on to apply more as per their requirement, provided they are exposed to the sun for long hours,” said Sarin. He also spoke about why most people do not generally prefer to apply sunscreen owing to varying skin types. Thus, according to Sarin, picking the right sunscreen type is very important.
Addressing further concerns on nutrition, Makhija spoke at length about including dairy and related products in one’s diet and the nutrition obtained from them. “It was imperative for good health,” said Makhija, a mother of two who made sure that her daughters had milk and dahi twice a day. She also drew attention to the issue of being lactose intolerant. “You can very easily make up for your and your child’s calcium requirements without dairy,” she added. Makhija suggested humble beginnings towards self-care. She explained the importance of teaching kids to eat breakfast at the table by relishing it rather than gulping it down in a rush. To make the breakfast menu interesting, she suggested making cyclic menus incorporating everybody’s choices. “Remember, your body is your temple. Water is liquid gold. Just because it’s Saturday night, vodka cannot replace the benefits of water, the key to beautiful hair and skin,” said Pooja concluding her insights on a note of laughter.
Sarin spoke about haircare and traced the major cause of hair fall as nutritional deficiencies, even in children. “We typically avoid giving hair growth serums or medicines to younger ones. We know that their follicles are young and nothing needs to be specially done,” said Sarin. Just a three-step routine of oil, shampoo and conditioner defines an overall general haircare with a special focus on nutritional aspects for hair as well, most importantly protein.
The discussion concluded by emphasising the fact that elevating one’s self-care is a comprehensive and holistic approach to nutritional care, and skin and hair care. Aspiring to attain beauty and positivity inside out, the audience surely had several significant takeaways from the experts of the session.
“Elevate Your Self Care was an enlightening and transformative experience. The speakers’ expertise in nutrition, beauty, and overall well-being provided invaluable insights for the members,” said Priyanka Agarwal, chairperson, YFLO Kolkata.