Archives for June 2017

June 24, 2017 By Anusha Subramanian 3 Comments

From Carefree to a Carer

She considers herself a shy and an introvert person who likes to hide behind her pen and paper but, you start talking to her and you will realise that Samara Mahindra is very poised, articulate and has designed a beautiful life for herself that is all about making a difference in other people’s lives.

Her 3 life’s lessons learnt in a short span of time are

Don’t be bound by physical reality (What you see),

You can achieve more than you think you can
Be in the present ( forget the past and don’t think about the future)

“This I have learnt from my mum- stand on your own feet and all is in your hands how to shape it for yourself,” says Samara, in conversation with Vishal Gondal on “Beneath the Force-The Vishal Gondal Show’.

Having lost her mother to Cancer and being left alone to make her choices and take her decisions, Samara’s eyes opened to a lot of brutal realities during her mother’s long journey of struggle with Cancer. She went on to study Integrative Life style medicine and also get a certification in Cancer Exercise Specialist.

“Once I came back from the US after my studies, I did an Observership with Tata Memorial and what I found was that hospitals were not a healing place for patients. And, doctors never gave any proper answer. That is when I decided on Carer Program where a specialist would be taken to the patient and treated in the confines of their home,” she says.

The oncology ward of numerous hospitals became her home where she witnessed extreme cases and dire situations that were unimaginable. She watched blank refusals of curable stage cancer treatment to those who didn’t have the funding and children who saw hospital wards before a classroom. This was the beginning of her carefree to an entrepreneurial journey ‘The Carer Program’.

The CARER Program is an integrative cancer recovery program that helps a patient recover from the side effects of treatment and cancer itself. CARER provides a holistic approach to healing through complementary therapies that target nutrition, movement and mind-body healing for patients post treatment.

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Samara kept looking for an escapist route to avoid going back home. So she travelled to Australia and UK for studies and then worked in Singapore and even attended a 3-month acting course with Barry John in Mumbai. She says the acting course was therapeutic and help build her confidence and come out of her shell.

Talking of her success habits Samara says that being disciplined has helped her a lot in her work.

Secondly, having a sense of empathy without sympathy and looking at the situation very positively and passing on that positivity to the patients has been the biggest success.

She admits to being a big fan of Tim Ferris and has read all his books and believes in the 4 Hour Work Week. The 4 Hour Work week is a book by Tim Ferris where he refers to a ‘lifestyle design’

and repudiates the traditional ‘deferred’ life plan in which people work gruelling hours and take few vacations for decades and save money in order to relax after retirement.

Listen to the Podcast here: https://youtu.be/yV0naFwElfo

June 20, 2017 By Farida Gohil 5 Comments

5 foods that fight high CHOLESTEROL

Image Credit: prevention.com

It’s easy to eat your way to an alarmingly high cholesterol level. The reverse is true too – changing what you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and “good fats” are all part of a heart-healthy diet. But, some foods particularly are good at helping bring down cholesterol.

How? Some cholesterol-lowering foods deliver a good dose of soluble fibre, which binds cholesterol and its precursors in the digestive system and drags them out of the body before they get into circulation.Others provide polyunsaturated fats, which directly lower LDL. And, those with plant sterols and stanols keep the body from absorbing cholesterol. Here are a 5 of those foods:

OATS: An easy way to start lowering cholesterol is to choose oatmeal or a cold oat-based cereal like cheerios for breakfast. It gives you 1 to 2 grammes of soluble fibre. Add a banana or some strawberries for another half -gramme.
BEANS: Beans are especially rich in soluble fibre and take a while to digest, meaning you feel full for longer hours after a meal. That’s one reason beans are useful food for folks trying to lose weight. With so many choices from navy and kidney beans to lentils, garbanzos, black-eyed peas, and beyond, there are also many ways to prepare them. Beans a very versatile food.
NUTS: A bushel of studies shows that eating almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and other nuts are good for the heart. Eating 2 ounces of nuts a day can slightly lower LDL, on the order of 5%. Nuts have additional nutrients that protect the heart in other ways.

If you are allergic to any kind of nuts like peanuts, Walnuts or cashew nuts; you can go for pistachios or just almonds or if nothing works then you can just quit this food group and try to include the other four foods.

Foods fortified with sterols and stanols: Sterols and stanols extracted from plants gum up the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol from food. Companies and adding them to foods ranging from margarine and granola bars to orange juice and chocolate. They are also available as supplements.Getting 2 grammes of plant sterols or stanols a day can lower LDL cholesterol by about 10%.
FATTY FISH: Eating fish two or three times a week can lower LDL in two ways: by replacing meat, which has LDL -boosting saturated fats, and by delivering LDL -lowering Omega- 3 fats. Omega -3 s reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream and also protect the heart by helping prevent the onset of abnormal heart rhythms.

BUT STAY AWAY FROM…

As you consider eating more of the foods that can help lower down cholesterol, keep in mind that avoiding certain foods can improve your results. To keep cholesterol levels where you want them to be, limit intake of:

SATURATED FATS: The saturated fats found in red meat, milk and other Dairy Foods, and coconut and palm oil directly boost LDL. So one way to lower your LDL is to cut back on saturated fat. Try substituting extra- lean ground beef for regular; Low-fat or skim milk for whole milk; olive oil or a vegetable oil margarine for butter; baked fish or chicken for fried.

TRANS FAT: Trans fats are a by-product of the chemical reaction that turns liquid vegetable oil into solid margarine or shortening and that prevents liquid vegetable oils from turning rancid. Trans fats boost LDL as much as saturated fats do.They also lower protective HDL and increase the tendency for blood clots to form inside blood vessels. Although Trans fats were once ubiquitous in prepared foods, many companies now use trans- free alternatives. Summer restaurants and fast-food chains have yet to make the switch.

June 20, 2017 By GOQii Editor 1 Comment

First ‘Walk with A Doc’ begins in Mumbai with a bang !

Dr Aashish Contractor addressing the walker at the WWAD India’s first walk at NCPA-Marin Drive

For sedentary people, getting off the couch and taking that first step is a huge task and often the hardest step. While doctors give detailed exercise prescriptions with heart rate guidelines seldom do patients adhere to doing the exercises and following a regular exercise regime.

As Dr Aashish Contarctor, head of Dept-Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in his book-‘The Heart Truth’ says, “My initial advice to people who do nothing at present is to simply start doing something. This something could be a daily walk of 10 minutes. Ony 10 minutes? Many ask and I tell them that is enough to get started.”

Dr. Aashish takking about heart and how to check pulse

No wonder that Dr. Contractor took to the idea of the ‘Walk with A Doc’ program very easily and led the maiden walk on Sunday June 18, 2017 from NCPA at 7 am in the morning. The 40-minute-long walk started at 7 am from NCPA and covered a distance of 5 kms on NCPA-Marine Drive promenade and ended back at NCPA at 7.45 am. The walk saw a large turnout of people who are patients of Dr. Contractor including GOQii players.

Walkers along with Dr. Aashish, GOQii Team and Sir HN reliance Foundation hospital team

The walk began with Dr.Ashish taking the walkers through the basics of understanding the Heart and how to measure pulse rate. In all a little over 50-people attended the first walk. Dr Bipin Chandra Bhambre, Dr Jaini Patel, dr Chandan Poddar and Dr. Richa Nadkarni from Sir H N Reliance Foundation hospital along with Dr. Akshat Chadha – head of medical services at GOQii attended the walk as well. The walk ended with a summation by Dr. Contractor.

“It was wonderful to see the enthusiastic response of the patients, inspite of rainy weather. They enjoyed the walk and were interested in both learning and walking more,” said Dr. Contractor.

Dr. Akshat Chadha, from GOQii said, “The concept of Walk with A Doc is an excellent idea for making ‘Practice what you Preach’ genuine. As a Doctor I keep telling all my patients to get up and get moving but that doesn’t mean that they do it. Seeing the doctor walk alongside, gives the due importance to being physically active along with creating a bond with the patient by breaking the doctor-patient barrier.”

The idea of walking with a doctor is to encourage people to gove up the sedentary lifestyle and focus on healthy living. Ideally, walking may be the simplest wat to work out. You can do it almost anywhere, and it’s easy tos tart- just put one foot ahead of the other.

Most walkers present were over the age of 50 and found the initiative ‘Walk with A Doc’ a very encouraging concept and found walking with their doctor very comfortable. They felt that the whole walk was so different from the regular walks that they have attended in the past.

Rahul Nandkeolyar who was one of the walker had this to say, “Not having been much of a walker, I actually walked approx. 5 km in about 45-50 minutes. Felt good. Would have done better if my shoes had not given way. I am now going to walk regularly around my home.”

Another walker said, “I like this idea of walking with the doctor. I would like to get tips regarding walking to loose weight, the walker said pointing to his wearable watch. How should I pace myself?” said another walker who participated. Most walkers were very keen to get tips on walking.

WWAD program aims to reimagine healthcare between doctors and their communities. Initiatives like WWAD will have great significance in India where the people are at a high risk due to sedentary lifestyle and the doctor to patient ratio is lower than WHO recommendations. WWAD aims to bridge the gap between the doctor and the community to promote preventive healthcare.

Dr. Aashish with his and GOQii team after the walk

GOQii and WWAD have strategically come together to spread this movement across India. The first walk in 2005 in the US with Dr David Sabgir, whose brainchild is ‘Walk with A Doc saw 101 people showing up for the walk. After 10 years, there are 3011 WWAD chapters spread across 44 states in the US averaging 25 walkers per walk; which are done weekly/bi-weekly/monthly by doctors.

Walk with A Doc has already helped thousands commit to a healthy lifestyle in USA and we at GOQii along with WWAD wish to make this program help many Indians commit to a healthy lifestyle under the able guidance of doctors in India. In addition to being part of an extremely rewarding program and helping patients lead healthier lives, Walk with A Doc can help improve patient satisfaction and has helped position doctors as wellness leaders in their communities.

Benefits of Walking

Maintain a healthy weight.
Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Strengthen your bones and muscles.
Improve your mood.
Improve your balance and coordination.
Improves Posture and reduces Belly fat

June 15, 2017 By GOQii Editor 11 Comments

Walk with a Doc – Reimagining Healthcare between doctors and their communities

Walking is considered one of the best and simplest forms of exercise which can be done by all. Patients with chronic ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension etc., are recommended to walk as a form of exercise daily. Keeping in line with this, GOQii, the Health and Lifestyle start-up is launching a 10-year-old international movement called ‘Walk with a Doc’ (WWAD), a unique physician-led walking program focusing on encouraging physical activity among patients.

Dr Aashish Contractor, widely recognised as the pioneer of cardiac rehabilitation is kick-starting the first edition of WWAD in Mumbai on June 18, 2017, from NCPA at 7 am. Apart from GOQii, Dr Contractor is also supported in this initiative by his hospital Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital where he is currently, the head of Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. He is also the author of the book ‘The Heart Truth’.

The 40-minute long walk will start at 7 am from NCPA and cover a distance of 5 KMs on Marine Drive and end at NCPA at 8 am. This walk will be followed by a summation by Dr Contractor.

Each local walk will be hosted by a doctor, in addition to the health benefits that everyone enjoys just by walking, the doctors also get a chance to talk their patients while they walk. The movement first started in the United States 10- years ago by Dr David Sabgir, a Mount Carmel Cardiologist from Ohio.

In the US Dr Sabgir started this movement based on his own learnings from observing patients in his clinic for over a decade. As a cardiologist, he thought he was doing everything he could to help his patients. He spent extra time during appointments, listening to their issues and giving advice on how to live a healthier life. But in his own words “In the end, I just wasn’t successful at encouraging them to get out there and get physically active.”

WWAD Standee

Heart disease is the number one killer in America and India is no different. Recently, in an interview with GOQii, Dr Contarctor says, “Heart Disease is the leading cause of death among men and women worldwide and even in India”. Both Dr Sabgir and Dr Contractor believe that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable with more exercise and simple lifestyle changes.

Yet, Sabgir found that only five percent of his patients were getting the recommended 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity. He was frustrated, so one day he asked a few patients to meet him and his family in the park to take a walk. That was the first Walk in 2005 where 101 people showed up. After ten years, there are 301 WWAD chapters spread across 44 states in the USA averaging 25 walkers per walk; which are done weekly / bi-weekly/ monthly by doctors.

“We are ecstatic that you are starting Walk with a Doc in India. We have been thrilled and humbled to see WWAD transform hundreds of new communities in the United States. The opportunity to collaborate with the great physicians of India is a tremendous honour that we will never take for granted,” says Dr Sabgir.

Talking about kick-starting the first walk in Mumbai, India, Dr Contractor says, “I advise my patients to instil the habit of healthy living, however, very few get motivated on their own. WWAD is a good concept and removes that barrier and makes healthy living a routine and fun. Therefore, when GOQii & WWAD- India chapter approached me to host the first edition of WWAD, I agreed. I have been regularly walking and running with my patients, WWAD is a new platform to do the same. I hope that through this program we will be able to inculcate healthy living as part of daily routine of the people.”

From GOQii’s perspective, the health start-up has been advocating healthy living and preventive healthcare. “We felt that this collaboration will compliment us in our vision to create a healthier society. I am thankful to Dr Contractor who agreed to spearhead the first edition in India,” says Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO, GOQii Technologies Inc.

Walk with a Doc has already helped thousands commit to a healthy lifestyle in the USA and today the movement has reached 6 countries and India being the 7^th.

From Carefree to a Carer

5 foods that fight high CHOLESTEROL

First ‘Walk with A Doc’ begins in Mumbai with a bang !

Walk with a Doc – Reimagining Healthcare between doctors and their communities

From Shimla’s Slopes to Chandigarh’s Sidewalks: Surinder Kaur Bhalla’s Journey from Chaos to Control

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

Devesh Srivastava Lowers His HbA1c from 6.7 to 5.8 With GOQii

Transforming Health and Life: Dhiren Matani’s Inspirational Journey to Wellness