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HEALTH & WELLNESS SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 | The Indian Eye 48

Wooden Key Cards Bring an Quietly Undermine
Late Nights

Organic Touch to Desert Wellness Healthy

Weight Goals

THAR (RAJASTHAN):
NEW DELHI:
esert resorts are increasingly
turning to natural, tactile ele- ate-night sleep, skipped meals,
Dments such as wood and frank- chronic stress and emotional
incense to create more intimate wellness Leating may be working against
experiences, with even everyday objects people trying to maintain a healthy
such as hotel key cards being reimag- weight, according to a nutritionist,
ined as part of the guest experience. who recently highlighted six everyday
The approach reflects a broader habits that can interfere with lifestyle
shift in desert hospitality, where the and metabolic routines.
dramatic scale of vast landscapes,
stone architecture, sand and dark The weight management should
skies is being complemented by small- not be viewed solely through the
er, organic details that create a stron-
ger sense of connection for guests. lens of calories and food choic-
Materials such as wood can pro- es. Sleep patterns, stress, meal
vide a meaningful contrast to the
mineral-heavy character of desert timings and the way people un-
resorts. The concept centres on cre- wind can also influence overall
ating a dialogue between two con-
trasting scales. health and daily functioning.
Desert landscapes evoke geolog-
ical time, permanence and vastness, Among the habits flagged was
while wood represents something liv- and concrete, a wooden key card can reminder of the organic world. regularly going to bed after midnight.
ing and tactile. A wooden object can introduce a subtle natural element As wellness tourism continues According to the nutritionist, consis-
therefore bring the experience clos- without requiring elaborate decora- to evolve, meaningful guest experi- tently delaying sleep can disturb the
er to the individual, allowing guests tion or desert-themed designs. ences may increasingly be created body’s circadian rhythm and poten-
to engage with the environment Its appeal lies in the contrast: through small, sensory details—al- tially affect metabolic and hormonal
through touch as well as sight. the architecture communicates the lowing the natural character of a processes. The report also points to
In properties featuring mate- permanence of the landscape, while destination to remain present even chronic stress as another concern,
rials such as rammed earth, stone the wooden card offers guests a small in the simplest objects. with prolonged stress potentially af-
fecting cortisol patterns and eating
behaviour.
Why Maggi and Fanta Sold in common mistake. While some peo-
Skipping meals was another

India Taste Different ple may assume that eating less fre-
quently will automatically support
weight loss, irregular eating can in-
stead make it harder to maintain bal-
NEW DELHI: Differences extend to other fa- industry. The regulator has instead anced nutrition and may contribute
miliar products. According to the proposed black-and-white nutrition- to later cravings or overeating.
opular global food and bever- report, all variants of Nestle’s Mag- al information tables. The nutritionist also cautioned
age brands such as Maggi and gi instant noodles sold in India use India’s Supreme Court is exam- against assuming that packaged
PFanta are being sold in India palm oil, while several versions avail- ining the labelling issue after pub- foods labelled as “healthy” are auto-
with formulations that differ signifi- able in Britain use the more expen- lic-health activists challenged the matically better choices. Some gra-
cantly from their UK counterparts, sive sunflower oil. Indian KitKat re- regulator’s decision. Health experts nola, protein bars and biscuits can
raising fresh questions about nutri- portedly contains 4.5% cocoa solids, argue that clearer front-of-pack in- contain significant amounts of added
tion, transparency and food-label- compared with at least 22% cocoa in formation could help consumers sugar or calories.
ling standards. the milk chocolate used in the Aus- make more informed choices as con- Emotional eating and the ab-
A recent report found that a can tralian version. cerns over obesity and diet-related sence of adequate time to relax were
of Fanta sold in London contains 63 The issue has gained promi- health problems grow. also identified as potential barriers
calories, while the Indian version has nence amid a wider debate over to healthier routines. Building regu-
around three times as much sugar. front-of-pack nutritional warnings Food companies have defended lar periods of rest and stress manage-
The Indian product also contains an in India. The Food Safety and Stan- differences in formulations by ment into the day may help people
artificial colour whose presence in Eu- dards Authority of India (FSSAI) re- develop more sustainable habits.
ropean markets requires prominent cently dropped plans for colour-cod- pointing to local regulations, It is advised to consult and take
health-related labelling. In India, ed warning labels indicating high consumer preferences, pricing professional medical advice for nu-
the information is provided in small- levels of sugar, salt and fat, following and affordability. tritional guidance and weight man-
er print on the back of the package. resistance from sections of the food agement.

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