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Archives for June 2022

June 25, 2022 By Dr Supriya Vhatkar 2 Comments

Light and White Skin Patches? All You Need to Know About Vitiligo!

World Vitiligo Day Have you ever come across someone with lighter or white skin patches? Ever wondered what was wrong with them? Ever been curious enough to research? What these individuals suffer from is called Vitiligo. As today is World Vitiligo Day, let us understand this skin disorder.

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches or affected area of the skin become lighter or white.

Common Symptoms of Vitiligo

  • Patchy loss of skin color
  • Premature whitening or graying of the hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
  • Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose (mucous membranes)
  • Loss of or change in color of the inner layer of the eyeball (retina)

Onset: Vitiligo can start at any age, but often appears before the age of 20.

Different Types of Vitiligo

  1. Generalized Vitiligo: This is the most common type. The patches appear on most parts of the skin. The discolored patches often progress similarly on corresponding body parts (symmetrically).
  2. Segmental Vitiligo: In this type, only one side or part of the body gets affected. It tends to occur at a younger age and progresses for a year or two, and then it stops.
  3. Localized (Focal) Vitiligo: In this type, one or only a few areas of your body get affected.

It is difficult to predict how the disease will progress. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In most cases, pigment loss spreads and eventually involves most of your skin. In this condition, the skin rarely gets its color back.

What Causes Vitiligo?

The most common causes of vitiligo may be related to:

  • A disorder in which your immune system attacks and destroys the melanocytes in the skin
  • Family history (heredity)
  • A trigger event, such as sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals

Diagnosis

  1. Medical History and Examination: If your doctor suspects you have vitiligo, he or she will ask about your medical history, examine you and try to rule out other medical problems, such as dermatitis or psoriasis. He or she may use a special lamp to shine ultraviolet light onto the skin to determine whether you have vitiligo.
  2. Skin Biopsy & Blood Draw: Take a small sample (biopsy) of the affected skin, draw blood for lab tests to look for underlying autoimmune conditions, such as anemia or diabetes

Treatment

Many treatments are available to help restore skin color or even out skin tone. Results vary and are unpredictable. Some treatments have serious side effects. Your doctor may suggest that you first try improving the appearance of your skin by applying self-tanning products or makeup.

If you and your doctor decide to treat your condition with a drug, surgery or therapy, the process may take many months to judge its effectiveness. And you may have to try more than one approach or a combination of approaches before you find the treatment that works best for you.

Even if treatment is successful for a while, the results may not last or new patches may appear.

Medications

No drug can stop the process of Vitiligo — the loss of pigment cells (melanocytes). But some drugs, used alone or with light therapy, can help restore some skin tone.

  1. Creams That Control Inflammation: Applying a corticosteroid cream to affected skin may help return color, particularly if you start using it early in the disease. You may not see a change in your skin’s color for several months. This type of cream is effective and easy to use. But it can cause side effects, such as skin thinning or the appearance of streaks or lines on your skin. Milder forms of the drug may be prescribed for children and for people who have large areas of discolored skin.
  2. Medications That Affect The Immune System: Ointments containing tacrolimus or pimecrolimus (calcineurin inhibitors) may be effective for people with small areas of depigmentation, especially on the face and neck. This treatment may have fewer side effects than corticosteroids and can be used with ultraviolet B (UVB) light. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned about a possible link between these drugs and lymphoma as well as skin cancer.

Surgery

This may be an option if light therapy doesn’t work. Surgery can also be used with those therapies. The goal of the following techniques is to even out your skin tone by restoring color.

  1. Skin Grafting: In this procedure, your doctor removes very small sections of your normal, pigmented skin and attaches them to the areas that have lost pigment. This procedure is sometimes used if you have small patches of vitiligo. Possible risks include infection, scarring, a cobblestone appearance, spotty color and failure of the area to recolor.
  2. Blister Grafting: In this procedure, your doctor creates blisters on your pigmented skin, usually with suction. He or she then removes the tops of the blisters and transplants them to an area of discolored skin.
  3. Tattooing (micropigmentation): In this technique, your doctor uses a special surgical instrument to implant pigment into your skin. It’s most effective in and around the lips in people with darker complexions.

Lifestyle & Home Remedies

The following self-care tactics may help you care for your skin and improve its appearance:

  • Protect your skin from the sun and artificial sources of UV light. If you have vitiligo, particularly if you have light skin, use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
  • Seek shade and wear clothing that shields your skin from the sun. Don’t use tanning beds and sunlamps.

Protecting your skin from the sun helps prevent sunburn and long-term damage. A bad sunburn can make your condition worse. Sunscreen also minimizes tanning, which makes the contrast between normal and discolored skin less noticeable.

We hope this article helped you understand the symptoms, causes and treatment of Vitiligo. Do you have any doubts? Let us know in the comments below!

To know more about skincare, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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June 24, 2022 By Urvi Gohil Leave a Comment

Healthy Eating: Oats Sprouts and Vegetable Uttapam

Oats Sprouts and Vegetable UttapamDo you love your traditional uttapam? Well, you’re about to love this healthy twist we’ve added to it more! Quick, easy to prepare and nutritious, the Oats Sprouts and Vegetable Uttapam is a mouthwatering recipe just as it is healthy. As it is made with oats, it provides better satiety too. Let’s get started! 

Ingredients:

  • Rolled oats – 1 cup
  • Curd – 1 cup
  • Ginger chili paste – 1 tbsp
  • Parboiled sprouts – ½ cup
  • Grated carrot – ½ cup
  • Grated beetroot – ½ cup
  • Finely chopped onion – ½ cup
  • Finely chopped tomatoes – ½ cup
  • Finely chopped coriander – ½ cup
  • Salt
  • Turmeric – 1 tsp
  • Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Salt as per taste
  • Oil – 1 tbsp

Method:

  1. Heat a pan and roast the oats for 3-5 minutes and grind them into powder.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add oats powder, curd, salt & ginger chilli paste. Mix this well & add some water to make dosa batter consistency. Put it to rest for 20 minutes.
  3. For the topping, in a different bowl add parboiled sprouts, onion, tomato, carrot, beetroot, coriander and lemon juice. Add the spices too and give it a gentle mix.
  4. The oats batter will be thick after 20 minutes, so add some water again to gain dosa batter consistency.
  5. Heat a dosa pan and grease with some oil. Take a spoon full of oats batter & spread it to make a mini uttapam. After it is slightly cooked take a spoon full of sprouts & veggies stuffing to put over the uttapam. Cover the pan with a lid & allow it to cook.
  6. After it turns golden brown on the base, flip it over for the stuffing to cook well too.
  7. Time to serve it hot with coconut chutney.

Highlights of the Oats Sprouts and Vegetable Uttapam

  • This single dish gives benefits equal to that of a whole balanced meal.
  • Improved fiber, nutrients and protein content from the traditional rice based uttapam.
  • A colorful blend of veggies giving us the necessary antioxidants and improving heart health.

We hope you try and enjoy this Oats Sprouts and Vegetable Uttapam recipe! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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June 23, 2022 By Parwage Alam 2 Comments

How Sitting For Long Hours Can Shorten Your Life

How sitting for long hours at work can shorten your lifeYou might have often heard people say, “Sitting is Killing Me”. This phrase seems to be spoken lot more these days thanks to the busy schedules that people have. I believe that 75% of people work desk jobs which require them to be seated on their chair for at least 8 to 10 hours a day, if not more. No wonder that most corporate employees complain about aches and pains.

Sitting for long hours can be as dangerous for your body as smoking. Most people sit at their work stations and have no other activity apart from staring into their computers. On an average, 10 hours a day is spent at the work desk as compared to 7 hours of sleeping. Sitting is so prevalent and so pervasive that we don’t even question how much we’re doing it.

Excessive sitting, defined as nine to 10 hours a day, has been called a lethal activity. Dry eyes? Your eyes are not designed to keep focusing and moving repetitively across a computer screen. Weight gain? Sitting jobs are mostly stressful and when you are stressed out, your body is flooded with Cortisol, a stress hormone, which makes you crave for carbohydrates, sugar and fatty foods. You might not realize this being parked at a desk but all this goes into your body.

A sitting Job leads you towards a shorter life. Sitting down the whole day doubles the risk of diabetes and heart attack. Some research shows difference in health outcomes between the most and least sedentary workers. Those who spent the most time sitting down had a greater risk of diabetes. Risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke increased in the most sedentary workers.

How Sitting For Long Hours Can Affect Your Health

  • Sitting for long hours in a similar sitting position affects the blood circulation of body
  • Increased risk of diabetes and heart disease
  • Causes eye strain
  • Causes tiredness in the back and neck muscles
  • Reduces efficiency of heart and lungs
  • Leads to back and joint pains
  • Responsible for digestive problems

How Can You Stay Active At Your Workplace? 

  • Take small breaks and frequent breaks
  • Avoid the elevator and use the stairs
  • Go for a short walk post eating your lunch
  • Rinse your eyes with water when you take a break
  • Try some neck exercises by moving your neck forward or backward
  • Change your sitting positions frequently
  • Adjust your chair correctly to improve posture and sit comfortably
  • Try some simple office workouts

We hope this article helps you understand how sitting for long hours can impact your health. Try to avoid it by taking short breaks and being active! If you experience any pain, here’s what you can do to avoid any further injuries: https://goqii.com/blog/prevent-injuries-at-work/

For more tips on living a healthier lifestyle, check out Healthy Reads. You can also get more tips for staying active directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalized Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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June 22, 2022 By Ami Shah 2 Comments

Common Food Myths About Diabetes

myths about diabetesThe prevalence of diabetes is alarmingly spreading worldwide. Data from WHO shows that its global prevalence was about 8% in 2011 and is estimated to rise to 10% by 2030. Some of my patients are of the impression that they cannot lead a normal life once they’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes. I always tell them to treat diabetes normally. The main focus should be on food followed by activity and then medication. If instructions are followed well, your diabetes will be under control. However, my experience has been that when it comes to food, most have many misconceptions which are very important to clear. I would like to share few of these common myths about Diabetes with you as well.

Common Food Myths About Diabetes

1. Avoid Rice
This is the commonest myth which everyone has, including people planning to eat rice. White rice is not bad. It is a simple sugar which easily shoots the sugar. However, if you have a good source of proteins like sprouts/curd/buttermilk along with the meal, it helps in the slow release of sugar.
Healthy Alternative: You can opt for brown rice which is packed with antioxidants and fiber.

2. Avoid Potatoes
Many people avoid potato thinking it raises blood sugar. However, potatoes being starchy, need to be eaten in moderation. Though high on carbohydrates, it is also rich in Vitamin B6 which helps in nerve functioning at cellular level. Also, the cooking medium plays an important role. A boiled potato is far better than a deep fried potato.
Healthy Alternative: If the potato is clubbed with some other veggie, that’s absolutely alright as the portion of potato would be low. A boiled or barbequed or grilled potato is a good option as well.

3. Avoid Sugar
Everyone says, I avoid sugary stuff, still my sugars are not under control. However, if you see the other part of their diet, it’s loaded with fats meaning deep fried stuff, chips, wafers, etc. This is because of the insulin resistance which is predominantly seen in Type 2 Diabetic people. The fat gets deposited at the abdominal region which resists insulin from reaching the cells. This leads to high sugar levels in the blood. Hence, along with sugar, unhealthy fats need to be kept at bay as well. Remember, not all fats are bad.
Healthy Alternative: If you plan to make vada/samosa at home, you can even roast them which requires less oil that equals less harm. If it is eaten out, moderation needs to be followed.

4. Avoid All The Fruits (especially mangoes/banana/grapes/chikoo)
Many people say that fruits are sweet, hence need to be avoided. However, the truth is that fruits are natural sugars and provide instant energy. Moreover, they are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and trace minerals. The timing of when you eat the fruits is equally important. It is best to consume them on an empty stomach for better absorption of nutrients or else, they can also be eaten during mid-morning or mid evening before 6 pm. It is always better to opt for a whole fruit instead of fruit juice.
Healthy Alternative: Combine fruits with a handful of nuts for the dose of fiber which is present in nuts. You can also have chilled fruit yogurt (chopped fruits in yogurt).

These are a few common myths about diabetes! It is the lack of awareness that can mislead patients. Lastly, remember that sugar by itself is a sweet poison which has it’s own disadvantages. The healthy alternative to sugar is jaggery, honey and stevia (natural sweetener). As a message to all diabetics, I’d like to remind you that you can lead a normal life by following a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

We hope these common myths about Diabetes help you make better choices. Do let us know your thoughts below. For more on Diabetes, check out Healthy Reads.

For further guidance and motivation by certified experts, join the GOQii Diabetes Care program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

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Recent Posts

  • Light and White Skin Patches? All You Need to Know About Vitiligo!
  • Healthy Eating: Oats Sprouts and Vegetable Uttapam
  • How Sitting For Long Hours Can Shorten Your Life
  • Common Food Myths About Diabetes
  • Dos and Don’ts of Yoga: Rules to Practicing Yoga Safely

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