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Empowering Lives on World Kidney Day: A Global Call for Equitable Kidney Care

Priya and Maya, two sisters deeply connected by laughter and shared experiences, lived together in the bustling suburbs of Mumbai. Priya was battling kidney failure, her life entwined with the rhythm of dialysis machines. Despite her fading hope, she hoped for a transplant to restore her vitality.

Maya, observing her sister’s suffering, decided to offer her kidney if she was a match. This act of courage led them through anxious days of tests until they received the news: Maya was a compatible donor.

The surgery that followed was a testament to their bond, as Maya’s kidney was successfully transplanted into Priya. The sisters recovered, their lives enriched by this profound act of love and sacrifice. They returned to their daily routines, their bond now encompassing the shared beat of a single kidney.

Their story, resounding with the spirit of World Kidney Day 2024, illuminates the transformative power of organ donation—a gift that transcends the physical to touch the essence of human connection.

March 14, 2024, marks a significant milestone as the world unites under the banner of World Kidney Day. This year’s theme, “Kidney Health for All – Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication Practice,” champions a universal crusade against disparities in kidney care. It’s a clarion call for collective action, aiming to bridge the gap and ensure comprehensive access to preventative measures and treatments for kidney disease, irrespective of geographical or socio-economic barriers.

The Unsung Heroes: Our Kidneys

Our kidneys, the vigilant custodians of our health, perform crucial roles that extend far beyond waste elimination. These remarkable organs regulate blood pressure, produce vital hormones, and maintain our body’s electrolyte balance. World Kidney Day 2024 serves as a reminder of our kidneys’ indispensable role in our well-being, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding these vital organs through proactive health practices and education.

Bridging the Healthcare Divide: A Journey Towards Kidney Health for All

In India, a nation marked by its rich tapestry of cultures and histories, the challenge of kidney health emerges as a critical concern. The “Kidney Health for All” campaign illuminates the stark disparities that punctuate the landscape of kidney care in the country. Despite the strides made in medical technology and treatment methods, a significant portion of India’s population confronts kidney diseases from the shadows, encumbered by the lack of access to essential diagnostics, treatments, and the financial resources necessary for managing their conditions.

Access and Education

In the quest for optimal kidney health management, the role of appropriate medication cannot be overstated. Medications are pivotal in decelerating the progression of kidney diseases and enhancing the quality of life for those affected. However, in India, the path to optimal medication practice is fraught with obstacles—chief among them being the disparities in access and education. There is a pressing need for improvements in prescription practices and patient education, emphasizing the imperative of policies that bolster medication affordability and accessibility for all citizens.

World Kidney Day 2024 serves as a beacon, highlighting the urgent requirement for a comprehensive approach that addresses these disparities head-on. It advocates for an inclusive healthcare system where every individual, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographical location, has access to the screenings, treatments, and support essential in combating kidney disease.

A Unified Effort for Kidney Health in India

The call for awareness, education, and advocacy grows louder on World Kidney Day 2020. It is a clarion call here to the healthcare professionals, policymakers, patients, and the public—to unite in a shared mission to champion kidney health equity. This is an opportune moment to enrich our collective understanding of the challenges besetting kidney health in India and to actively participate in the global movement advocating for equitable kidney care.

From policy advocacy aimed at eliminating barriers to kidney care to supporting research that pioneers new treatment modalities, every action contributes to sculpting a future where kidney health is prioritized, and equitable care is a reality for everyone. It underscores the collective responsibility we hold to foster an environment where the advancements in kidney health are accessible to all, bridging the healthcare divide that has long affected the Indian populace.

As we mark World Kidney Day 2024, let us rally together to advance kidney health for all in India. Inspired by the global theme, our focus remains steadfast on ensuring that every Indian has access to the care and knowledge needed to combat kidney disease. In embracing the pillars of awareness, education, and advocacy, we pave the way for a future where disparities in kidney care are a thing of the past, and optimal kidney health is within the reach of every individual across the nation.

Inspired by stories like Priya and Maya’s, we are reminded of the life-altering impact of organ donation and the collective responsibility to advance kidney health globally. Let us stand together to champion kidney health for all, fostering a world where health equity is not just an aspiration but a reality.

#BeTheForce

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5 accompaniments to avoid to keep you healthy and to lose weight

I am a foodie! Being a Marwari, our meals are not simple staple food and contains lot of accompaniments along with basic roti, vegetables (sabzi), dal (lentils) and rice. In my quest for personal fitness and wanting to lose weight, I initially struggled for few months. I kept wondering why am I not losing weight in spite of eating at regular intervals, not cheating, not eating out, limiting high fat food intake, proper exercise routine, good 8 hours sleep and also resorting to meditation to remain stress free ?

These questions kept lingering in my thoughts and one fine day my health expert analyzed my routine, my diet and figured that there were few dishes that I should be avoiding or limiting my intake on if I need to lose or maintain my weight. That’s when I found the solution and achieved the best results on this journey!

I would like to share with you all about the most common 5 side dishes that people love, but, should be avoided or have it once in a while if you are on weight loss journey.

(1) Papad

Ahh!! That crunchy crispy papad.

Rice and dal seem like an incomplete meal without Papad on the side. Papads can be deep fried–extremely unhealthy – or roasted – which is equally unhealthy! They can be made from rice, flour, potatoes or chickpeas and are mixed with a variety of spices, salt, and oil. An uncontrolled serving of Papad can amp your calorie intake and exceed your daily budget. The increase in sodium can lead to water retention, bloating, and constant thirst and may even cause an increase in one’s blood pressure. Since, most of them consume more Papad in one sitting it may lead to acidity, and digestive problems too. When fried using same oil many times, the reused oil becomes transfat leading to cardiac issues and high cholesterol. When dry roasted, acrylamide is formed due to the presence of sodium benzoate. So, be mindful.

(2) Pickles

A spoonful of pickle can spice up any meal. In fact I have seen people can take their meal only with pickles without any veggies sometimes. It works well with curd rice; adds a punch to Potato Breads (Aloo Paranthas), and makes Theplas (Breads made of various grains) the best dish to snack on! Pickles stand out as flavorful, low-calorie vegetables and is high in vitamin K. However, pickles are loaded with calories because of the oil they are preserved in and their nutrition content is almost zero, as the vegetables and fruits are minced and dried, which takes away the nutritional value. Like Papads, they are high in sodium due to the use of excessive salt for preservatives which might lead to hypertension if taken in excess. So Again the same funda…Eat in limit!

 (3) Salad dressings  

Salad…salad and just salads!!! Most of the weight loss dieters say they are on some kind of only salads diet! But, still not losing weight?

If you think having salads at the start of your meal will help you eat one less parantha, then go ahead and have a bowl. But, this salad helps only if it is not loaded with high-calorie dressings. Adding dressing to a salad can make the calorie content soar. Dressings such as Thousand Islands and Mayonnaise are loaded with calories, most of them fat. Stick to olive oil, lemon or low-fat yogurt instead!

(4) Soups

Salads are mostly accompanied with bowl of soup. And, one is right in thinking that a soup can be a healthy meal. It can fill your stomach and make you go less on other carbohydrate foods. But, if the soup is loaded with toppings such as cheese, cream, and croutons, it’s far from being healthy. Stick to clear soup with pieces of veggies and meats; shun all cream-based soups. And never pick up the soup sticks or dinner rolls that accompany your soup in a restaurant. That’s another side you don’t need! Go for more of homemade soups without any corn flour and also avoid packaged one as they are also high in sodium being added as preservative. Rather you can add oats flour as thickening agent. You can also opt for healthy cold soups.

(5) Boondi Raita

This curd based mixture is a hot favourite with most of us. Curd is high in protein, calcium, probiotic and the perfectly aid in digestion. It’s good to have curd daily for a healthy gut. The problem begins when you add fried snack to it. Boondi is nothing but fried globules of chickpea flour. The addition makes it a high-caloric food. When fried in reused oil, it becomes transfat and thus may lead to heart issues. So you can opt for veggies in curd or spinach, cabbage, pomegranate, carrot, cucumber, onion and the likes instead of a friend snack in curd.

So be mindful with all these above foods and get fitter and healthier.

We hope this article helps you make informed choices for your weight loss journey. Have any tips on healthier accompaniments? Share them with us in the comments below. For more guidance on nutrition and weight management, explore Healthy Reads or consult a certified expert through GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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Getting Along with Difficult Family Members

difficult family members

When a friendship gets toxic or it starts to impact one’s peace of mind, one can choose to move on and change the status of the relationship from “friends” to “not friends anymore”, but family relations are a different story altogether. Whether you like them, dislike them, find them needy, toxic or frustrating, the relationship is often there to stay. Family relationships can be complicated with their unique histories and their potential to significantly impact the quality of our lives. So how do you deal with close family members who drive you mad?

First, every relationship involves two people and if we are talking about a relationship of your life then YOU are a 50% stakeholder. While it may seem like your relationship is like a car with the other person driving it and you relegated to being a hapless passenger, in reality, a relationship is more like a boat that requires two people to row, to keep it moving. So, despite how you feel, you do have an influential role to play in the ongoing and future quality of the relationship. Here’s a list of 7 steps that you can take to make things better:

1. Stop trying to change this person

When we witness the family member behave, repeatedly, in ways that we disapprove of, we would inevitably want to change them. There are three reasons why this strategy will bomb. One, it is practically impossible to change the behavior of another person unless they are motivated to change. Secondly, the constant need to change someone and the equally consistent failure to do so, can leave you feeling deeply frustrated and deteriorate the situation further. Thirdly, the more you point out mistakes or make suggestions for improvement, the more they will see it as your way of rejecting them and they could feel resentful or inadequate. Hence a better strategy would be to consider modifying your own thoughts and responses, so as to feel more at peace.

2. Recognize the trigger points and refuse to rise to the bait

There are bound to be certain topics that tend to drive you and probably even the other person into a tizzy. Identify these in advance and reflect on how you would ideally want to respond to them whenever they come up. Steer clear of engaging in heated arguments around these subjects. Whenever it does come up, pay attention to your breath and the rising temptation to react emotionally. Keep breathing deeply and exhaling completely and allow the moment to pass without an outward reaction. If possible convey to the other person in an even and firm tone that you would prefer not to talk about the matter or that you would prefer to do it later, when you are in a better frame of mind. If the other person still continues, repeat your message and move away physically.

3. Slowly wipe out the toxicity in the relationship

It may have been weeks or months or even years since you had a happy or positive interaction with the family member in question. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Take out time to list down the things that you like or had liked about this person, including the smallest and most insignificant of their positive characteristics. You may not be very motivated to think about this person’s positive traits but make the list anyway. Whether it is their warmth towards kids, trusting you with their finances, keeping things tidy, remembering dates important to you, getting repair work done, every single thing counts. Once you have the list, make a note every time you see these behaviors and genuinely appreciate these acts. Start small by acknowledging it to yourself and slowly progress towards expressing the appreciation to them verbally. Initially it may feel awkward. But as you continue it will feel more natural and easier. Genuine appreciation and acknowledgment are powerful ways of making people feel more valued and loved and create connection.

4. Review the story you are telling yourself

Thinking “My sister always makes fun of me because she loves putting me down and feeling superior” will make one feel resentful and hurt; A thought like “my husband keeps nagging me because he doesn’t trust me to do a good job” could lead to feelings of sadness and helplessness; Another thought like “my daughter doesn’t spend time with me because she thinks I am boring and stupid” may leave one feeling upset and powerless. The fact that your sister jokes about you may have nothing to do with you and may be her way of trying to keep things light; a nagging spouse may be doing so to hold on to a sense of connection. Similarly, the daughter’s indifference may have little to do with your capabilities as a parent and more to do with her preoccupation with what’s going on in college. Write down your assumptions and question their validity. As you can see, changing the narrative inside our heads has the power to change the way we feel. Opting for the most charitable interpretation of the other person’s actions can be empowering for you and lead to more harmony.

5. Listen deeply

Especially with family members we do not use our listening skills well. We judge them far more than the people we meet less often. Hence, even before they have completed a sentence we jump to conclusions about their message and their intent. Try to really listen. Don’t interrupt. Instead of thinking up of a fitting comeback, pay attention to what they are trying to convey. What are they feeling as they are speaking? What emotional need are they wanting fulfilled? Listening is a fundamental way of making a person feel respected and valued. This helps the speaker to calm down, become less defensive and if they feel fully listened to, they may even be willing to listen to your point of view. Good listening goes a long way in calming things down.

6. Have compassion – for yourself and for them

Charity begins at home and compassion begins with self. When you try to attempt the above steps there will be times when you don’t succeed and feeling frustrated as a result is only expected. Whenever you feel frustrated, remind yourself that you are suffering too. Offer yourself words of empathy, love and comfort. Here’s an example of how to offer yourself compassion – silently say to yourself, “This is painful for you. You are human and all humans make mistakes. I am here for you and I love you!”

When you practice compassion with yourself, it becomes easier to feel compassionate to others. Remember that they are doing the best they can, based on what they know and believe. They too want to live a good life and feel loved and valued by others.

7. The “Brahmastra” (ultimate weapon)

There are those times when a family member will keep saying hurtful things and/or continue to ceaselessly complain despite your repeated requests to stop. At this point, visualize the pain inside of that person and mentally keep sending them love and blessings. It may sound counterintuitive and silly. But this one method cannot fail you. As they continue with their rants, keep repeating words of love or blessings like “I love you, I love, I love you” or “May you find peace, healing and joy. May you find peace, healing and joy”, mentally. Visualize a loving energy flowing from your heart to theirs while doing that. You will feel a change in them, as well as yourself.

If all else fails and you still feel triggered by this family member, consider shifting your residence (if that is an option), at least temporarily. Even close family relationships may sometimes be beyond repair. In such cases the kindest thing you can do to yourself and the other, is to move away and with time forgive them and yourself. Remember that it is not people who are difficult, but contradictory views and behaviors that get challenging. At times the change required may be in you and not the other. It is easier to blame others for our frustrations than to bring about change in ourselves. Staying a victim can be a subconscious coping mechanism to avoid taking responsibility. That is not always the case though.

In conclusion people are designed to be different. These differences have the potential to make life more meaningful and interesting. Conflicts and disagreements, thus give us opportunities to widen our world view, transform our relationships and help us grow.

We hope this article helps you! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on Mental Health and Emotional Wellness, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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All about Wheat Grass and its benefits

wheatgrass

In the ancient days in India plants were used as a medicine to cure health issues. Later allopathy was invented and it made life simpler. During my days of college, I came across this magical grass called ‘Wheatgrass’ and it’s amazing benefits to our health.

Wheat grass itself cannot be eaten as it is hard to digest. Interestingly, it can be grown indoors and outdoors by putting wheat seeds in water and then harvesting the leaves; which also occupies less space. It is available in various forms such as juice outside parks, powders and in capsule form. But, the ideal way to have it is in the fresh juice form to get enough nutrients. Wheatgrass is used as a concentrated source of nutrients in powder and capsules.

Wheatgrass is a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Selenium, and has negligible amount of proteins.

Wheatgrass is generally considered safe. A word of caution as it may cause nausea, headaches, swelling to your throat due to the bacteria present in it (due to contamination) as it is grown in soil or water.

 Benefits :

  1. It is rich in chlorophyll (similar to haemoglobin) and iron which increases blood cell count.
  2. Lowers blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways.
  3. Wheat grass juice has alkaline minerals which reduces acidity also gastrointestinal tract problems.
  4. It detoxifies liver and the bloodstream.
  5. It has powerful ability to fight against tumors.
  6. If applied externally on the skin which eliminate itching immediately.
  7. It prevents hair from greying.
  8. It helps in stabilising blood sugar levels.
  9. Drinking wheat grass juice will help in clearing sinuses by breaking up the mucus.
  10. It helps in increasing immunity.

We trust this exploration into the wonders of wheatgrass has sparked your curiosity about incorporating this nutritional gem into your daily routine. Are you already a wheatgrass enthusiast, or are you inspired to give it a try? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. For further insights into holistic health and nutrition, check out Healthy Reads. If you’re seeking personalised guidance, connect with our certified experts through GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here. Embrace the goodness of wheatgrass and embark on a journey to enhanced well-being!

#BeTheForce

Mayur Sutar’s Journey to a Healthier Life

At 26, Mayur Sutar was deeply entrenched in the corporate whirlwind. His days were a blur of quick, unsatisfying meals, fitful sleep, and relentless deadlines. This vicious cycle was draining him, fueling a constant state of fatigue and frustration. Health had become a forgotten chapter in the book of his life. In every story, however, […]

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

In the face of persistent health challenges, Dhiren Matani, (43), an entrepreneur from Mumbai, embarked on a journey of resilience and transformation. Battling weight issues and a heart condition for some years, he refused to succumb to the daunting odds. Through sheer determination, he took control of his health at the right time by adopting […]

What’s Your Excuse?

In a world filled with excuses, Shubham’s story stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and an unwavering commitment to one’s dreams. His journey is a reminder that circumstances may create hurdles, but they can never define the limits of one’s potential. In the bustling suburbs of Mumbai, amidst the challenges of […]