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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

The Woman Redefining Healthy Living

Part - 9 Name: Neha Ranglani Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra From social-media-fuelled health obsessions to lifestyle disorders, US-trained integrative nutritionist Neha Ranglani is helping thousands, particularly youngsters, understand their bodies, embrace healthier lifestyles and lead more fulfilling lives. Bombarded with information on social media, Gen Z is more health-conscious than ever. From fitness fads and wellness trends to calorie-counting and restrictive diets, youngsters are...

The Woman Redefining Healthy Living

Part - 9 Name: Neha Ranglani Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra From social-media-fuelled health obsessions to lifestyle disorders, US-trained integrative nutritionist Neha Ranglani is helping thousands, particularly youngsters, understand their bodies, embrace healthier lifestyles and lead more fulfilling lives. Bombarded with information on social media, Gen Z is more health-conscious than ever. From fitness fads and wellness trends to calorie-counting and restrictive diets, youngsters are constantly chasing the ideal body, often at the cost of their physical and mental well-being. But this pursuit of physical perfection can become an obsession and take a toll on health, cautions Ranglani, 39, a functional medical practitioner with nearly two decades of experience. “Gen Z is definitely more aware of health and fitness, but sometimes it goes too far. Social media influences their choices, and the desire to be healthy can become almost obsessive,” she observes. Her advice to youngsters is to steer clear of ‘quick fixes’ and learn to listen to and understand their bodies. “First, I identify the root causes; then the treatment becomes easier,” Ranglani told The Perfect Voice and Vruttamanas on her ‘art of healthy living’ strategy. Rather than recommending fancy diets or indiscriminately adding or eliminating foods, she focuses on individual needs and identifies underlying problems. She then helps people build healthier habits that nurture physical and emotional well-being. “I strongly believe that the human body is a wonderful creation; it has an innate capacity to heal and restore balance when given the right support. Balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, stress management, adequate sleep and attention to nutritional deficiencies can all contribute to better health. Where necessary, I provide personalised nutritional support that can help bridge identified gaps, alongside appropriate medical care,” she elaborated. So far, Ranglani has helped more than 40,000 people worldwide on their journeys towards better health. Her clients range from children as young as five to senior citizens aged 85, with concerns spanning obesity, diabetes, thyroid imbalances and other lifestyle-related conditions. For Gen Z, seemingly caught in a perpetual hurry to achieve quick results, her message is particularly relevant: resist the lure of instant transformations and unrealistic expectations. Instead, cultivate self-awareness, patience and consistency to achieve sustainable results. Ranglani emphasises that the ultimate goal is not lifelong dependence on wellness programmes or supplements, but the ability to make informed lifestyle choices through greater health awareness and discipline. “By helping people understand their bodies and adopt healthier habits, I try to empower them to take greater ownership of their own fitness and long-term well-being,” she declared. “My message to the current generation is simple: there is no perfect formula for health. Instead of fighting your body, learn to understand it, nourish it and give it the right environment to repair itself and thrive. The results can be wonderful, not just for you but also for those around you,” concluded Ranglani with a smile.

A beacon of hope for rural athletes

Correspondent
Oct 8, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

How Akash Shinde transformed from a shy village boy to a prominent kabaddi player

beacon of hope

Mumbai: In the heart of Nashik's Adgaon village, a young boy Akash Shinde dared to dream big. Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletes.


“Initially, when I used to play, I would come home with bruises because Kabaddi was played in the mud,” Akash recalls as he enters his fourth season with the Puneri Paltan. And despite his family's initial concerns, his passion for kabaddi burned bright, fuelled by the unwavering support of his early mentors Sagar Malwade and Vinod Labde.


His path to success was far from smooth. He faced numerous setbacks, failing to make the cut in his first attempts at various levels. “I fell short in my first attempts at all levels. I went for my senior camp for Maharashtra and fell short there too!”


But instead of letting these failures discourage him, Akash used them as stepping stones. “These setbacks kept me determined, and I knew I needed to try harder and with renewed energy to show the world what I could do and achieve.”


His breakthrough came in 2019 at a seniors’ trial in Nashik. This performance opened doors, leading him to play in the Junior Nationals and eventually catching the eye of Yuva Paltan, which is the Puneri Paltan’s academy.


The turning point in Akash’s career came when he represented his college in Beed, earning his first chance to play for Maharashtra. Under the guidance of Anil Jagdale and Kailas Jagdale, his skills flourished. His journey accelerated as he moved from Mahindra & Mahindra to Yuva Paltan, where mentors like Sangram and Ashok helped refine his game.


Akash’s PKL debut with Puneri Paltan in Season 8 was a moment of immense pride, not just for him but for his entire village. “No player from the Nashik region had made it to PKL or even the Maharashtra team, so it was a shock, a pleasant one, for everyone. The entire Nashik district was very happy. It felt really good,” he reminisces.


But it was in Season 9 that he truly announced his arrival, becoming a formidable force on the mat. In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final, he scored 139 raid points, averaging 6.32 raid point per match.


His performances caught the eye of the national selectors, earning him a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games. “I received my Team India kit on the 27th of October. I still remember it,” he says.


The crowning glory came in PKL Season 10 when Akash, along with his Puneri Paltan teammates, lifted the coveted trophy. Albeit playing a diminished role, he managed an impressive 56 raid points in the 13 matches he played. “There was only one target then... we had made up our minds that we had to win the title this season, whatever it took,” he shared, reflecting on the team’s collective determination. Now, Akash stands as a beacon of hope for young athletes from rural India. His message to them is clear: “Keep believing in yourselves and your dedication and efforts.” He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, urging young players to stay true to the clubs that nurture them.


As he prepares for PKL Season 11, his journey from the muddy grounds of Adgaon to the bright lights of Pro Kabaddi serves as a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and unwavering support.

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