#Masked - A series of interviews with inspirational women - Hannah Kurian

Independence and the freedom to choose and do what we love, work for a cause and care for the environment. Things we look for in people when we collaborate and also what we believe in as an enterprise. For our #Masked series, we had interviewed women from varied professions. They were independent, had a philosophy which set them apart from the rest and of course, cared about the environment. 

Hannah Kurian, Founder at The Healthy Beat

Hannah Kurian

Today’s blog is about Hannah Kurian and it was an immense pleasure to get to know her. We are grateful that she agreed to collaborate with us given her busy schedule. For everyone, meet Hannah, a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr with AfN London) and a Certified Sports Nutritionist from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (CISSN) and currently the Founder at Healthy Beat. We couldn’t do our traditional photo shoot with her but she had been kind enough to send forward her photos which looked absolutely gorgeous. 

Here are the questions from the interview which had been conducted via email to which Hannah meticulously answered back.

1) Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr with AfN London) and a Certified Sports Nutritionist from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (CISSN). I specialize in both clinical and performance based nutrition and my objective is to help clients of all ages experience better health through evidence-based nutrition strategies that suits both their goals & lifestyle. 

2) Tell us about Healthy Beat and what inspired you to launch your brand

I've always had specialized interest in a functional nutritional approach to health & performance and hence is why I started Healthy Beat.  Healthy Beat nutrition programmes integrate the balance of nutrients and restores the nurturing relationship between our bodies and food. We work with clients to identify the underlying cause of why the body isn’t functioning optimally, and then provides a step-wise approach to heal, restore, & optimize health.

3) What experience(s) made you become concerned about health and nutrition, beginning your health journey that eventually encouraged you to launch Healthy Beat?

I've been in the space of health and nutrition for over 8 years now, it started with an interest in nutrition and along the way I encountered my own health related problems that made me want to focus on functional nutrition. I was also disappointed with how allopathy treats certain health problems and hence felt the need to look for alternative therapies. I'm passionate about providing support to individuals struggling with chronic health conditions, athletes and those that want to improve their quality of life. Healthy Beat embodies this completely.

4) What is something you wish people knew more about when it comes to personal care products and their effect on health?

I wish people understood that most personal care product manufacturers are not concerned about the health impact of their ingredient list, hence it is up to you to do the research and to be smart about the products you choose to use. We have also been led to believe that personal care products have to smell and feel a certain way- hence when we come across cleaner and more natural products- we might question whether it actually works and whether it's worth the shift. 

5) When did you become aware of ingredients in personal care products -  harmful impacts on women's health, endocrine distribution, alternating our hormones etc?

I've worked with a number of women who were struggling with hormonal imbalance and hence I was aware of the impact to some extent. However when I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids I was personally invested and then really understood the magnitude of the problem that we are all neglecting. I then started paying more attention to these endocrine disrupting chemicals and was amazed to realize that manufacturers are legally allowed to add all sorts of chemicals including identified carcinogenic compounds to their products! 

6) What is your favourite Bare Product?

I absolutely love the Mason & Co X Bare Cocoa Lip Balm- it's a really clean product with no unnecessary rubbish and it smells absolutely divine. I do also love the Lavender Levitate Bath salts- as these Magnesium salts (Epsom) are a great way of reducing inflammation and soothes your muscles.

7) What is the most important lesson your sustainable & health & wellness journey has taught you?

I have understood that in order to function at our best we need to be in a state of 'balance'. Current lifestyle practices, consumption of a poor diet and usage of chemical products disrupts our constitutional balance. This imbalance in the system makes us vulnerable to a number of physiological issues that manifest itself as chronic conditions.  In order to restore our natural equilibrium we need to go back to the basics and rely on natural ingredients and focus on sustainable health. What's good for you needs to and should be good for the environment. 

8) What advice would you give others about how to live a healthier lifestyle?

I'd recommend you start small, and ask for guidance from qualified practitioners. Our bodies all react very differently and hence your journey with health will never match someone else's. It's important to fine tune these changes to suit your body's makeup. Don't get overwhelmed by all the information that is out there, start eating clean and natural foods and you will already see a difference in how you feel.

9) What is your personal care/beauty or wellness routine? 

I believe that wellness and beauty begins from within the body- in fact your skin is a very good representation of what is happening inside your body. I make sure that I supplement my diet with adequate fat (healthy fats of course) and water to keep my skin healthy. Simple things like coconut oil, turmeric and neem have worked wonders for me.

10) What is one thing you wish our readers knew about personal care and home care products?

I wish people knew there is a long list of harmful chemicals that are added to both personal and home care products to make them more appealing and affordable. I wish people understood the direct impact these ingredients have on our lives and on the environment and why we shouldn't ignore this anymore.