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All About Your Kidneys – The Natural Cleansers

world kidneys day

Can you imagine your house not being cleaned for a day? Imagine no sweeping or mopping, and no sweeper collecting the garbage. The house would start smelling, it will get intense, and eventually there will be decay. Just like our house, the body needs to be cleaned. This essential and unparalleled job is done by a 10-13cm organ – the kidneys. The kidneys help in:

  • Removing waste and extra fluid from the body (Urine).
  • Maintaining a healthy balance of salts, water and minerals like sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in the blood. It removes acid too! 
  • They also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells and keep bones strong and healthy. 

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidney is the powerhouse of the body, supplying reserve energy to any organ running low on Qi. Its partner organ is the bladder.

The Kidney’s Job Profile

Each of the kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron includes a filter called the glomerulus and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process:

The glomerulus filters the blood and the tubule returns needed substances to the blood and removes wastes. 

A blood vessel runs alongside the tubule. As the filtered fluid moves along the tubule, the blood vessel reabsorbs almost all of the water along with minerals and nutrients your body needs. The tubule helps remove excess acid from the blood. The remaining fluid and wastes in the tubule become urine.

The blood circulates through the kidneys many times a day. In a single day, kidneys filter about 150 quarts of blood. Most of the water and other substances that filter through the glomeruli are returned to the blood by the tubules. Only 1 to 2 quarts become urine.

Each kidney performs the process of reabsorption with great precision. Out of 180 liters of fluid that enters the tubules, 99% of fluid is selectively reabsorbed and only the remaining 1% of fluid is excreted in the form of urine.

By this intelligent and precise process, all essential substances and 178 liters of fluid are reabsorbed in the tubules, whereas 1-2 liters of fluids, waste products, and other harmful substances are excreted.

Urine formed by the kidneys flow to the ureters, and passes through the urinary bladder and is finally excreted out through the urethra.

Did you know that every minute, 1200 ml of blood enters the kidneys for purification, which is 20% of the total blood pumped by the heart? So in one day, 1700 liters of blood is purified!

Here is How You Can Take Care of Your Kidneys

  1. Drink up! Kidneys balance the electrolytes and fluid levels and hence its essential to drink liquids which are non-alcoholic and not caffeinated. Juices, coconut water, water, smoothies, etc. are your friends
  2. Check the colour of your urine. It should be the colour of a straw. Any darker means you need to drink up.
  3. Too much oily and fatty food is a big no! It puts pressure on the kidneys. Greens are your friends! 
  4. Ensure you have a normal blood pressure. It can silently impact your kidneys.
  5. Alcohol and smoking is a BIG no. There are no two ways about it! Just stop it
  6. Got diabetes? If you do, work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar levels in check. If they’re not under control, that can cause problems for your kidneys over time. Along with hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes is one of the biggest concerns for kidney health.
  7. Use your meds correctly. Take them as your doctor recommends, or follow the instructions on the package. Be wary of medicines that can cause kidney damage when you take them for a long time, including over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and prescriptions such as lithium and HIV medications. (Street drugs like cocaine can cause kidney disease too).
  8. Check your weight & exercise regularly. 
  9. Be positive, not just for your kidneys but for your overall health. People who tend to hold negative thoughts especially envious feelings with hatred tend to get kidney disorder as compared to a positive person, as every emotion is linked with an organ. 

Yoga and Pranayama are your friends for life!

Nothing beats regular exercise especially yoga and pranayama. These not only help the kidney, but the complete body. Yoga asanas assist in managing water retention in the body which enables sound sleep schedules and hence better rest. It is also one of the best ways to maintain balance in the body. Few asanas facilitate internal cleansing and flush out the toxins. Pranayam is known to relieve stress. 

To ensure that the kidneys perform their JD up to the mark, make sure you make your body do the following:

  1. Setu Bandhasana stimulates the abdominal organs, helps bring high blood pressure under control and relieves the body of stress.
  2. Bhujangasana stretches and strengthens the abdominal organs. It also raises the immunity level of the body.
  3. Ardha Matsyendrasana stimulates the kidneys and liver; improves the body’s immunity level.
  4. Paschimottanasana stimulates the kidney, improves digestion, and relieves menstrual discomfort.
  5. Naukasana improves digestion and alleviates stress. It strengthens and stimulates the abdominal organs. 

We hope this article helps you. To know more about improving kidney health, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach for some tips by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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How To Boost Metabolism & It’s Importance

boost metabolismYou’ve heard the word “metabolism” or the phrase “boost metabolism” a lot either in general conversation about health or by a GOQii Coach, but have you thought about why it is so important? Metabolism is the sum of chemical and physical reactions in our body or the amount of energy or calories our body burns to maintain vital functions. Raise your hand if you know it is important for weight loss but did you know that it has other functions as well? 

Why Is It Important to Boost Metabolism? 

  • It works in 2 processes i.e. catabolism and anabolism which are the buildup and breakdown of substances, whether it is digestion of food or the elimination of food, if these two processes are disrupted by any means then you can imagine what health issues we might face.
  • The better your metabolism, the more calories your body will burn and it will be easier to drop pounds.
  • It is important for the biochemical process of combining nutrients with oxygen to release the energy the body needs to function.
  • There are certain metabolic diseases and disorders like diabetes, thyroid (hypo/hyper), phenylketonuria (PKU), etc.  that can be caused when the metabolism fails or decreases/increases than the body’s requirement. Although reason for these metabolic disorders is not just one but it is the reason and these are complex, but who wants to experience the pain of not losing weight, being obese or struggling daily with any other big or small issue caused due to the ups and downs of metabolism.

How Can We Boost It? 

Let’s understand certain ways in which we can boost metabolism  

  1. Protein: Eating more protein can boost metabolism to burn more calories.
  2. Mixing up certain exercises: can help us burn more fat by increasing metabolic rate.
  3. Water: If your body is dehydrated, then your metabolism may slow down as your body needs water to process calories.
  4. Eating small, frequent meals: like a small snack every 3-4 hours keeps your metabolism going.
  5. Adding spices: like green/red chilies, pepper, garam masala, etc. have natural chemicals that can kick your metabolism into a higher gear.
  6. Recharge with organic green tea: Research suggests that drinking 2-3 cups of green tea may push the body to burn 17% more calories during moderate intensity workouts.
  7. Eat enough calories: Eating less calories than our body’s requirement may give us quick results but this can cause your metabolism to slow down and that in turn, can make you gain more weight and create imbalance issues.
  8. Get plenty of sleep: Sleep disruptions or not getting adequate sleep has been known to have harmful effects on our metabolism.
  9. Manage stress: It has been seen that when we are continuously under stressful conditions, our body releases cortisol (stress hormone) which in turn affects our metabolism.
  10. Keep a check on B vitamins: as they play an essential role in the metabolic rate. So, make sure to meet your body’s requirement of B vitamins by including foods like eggs, bananas, orange juice, peas, spinach, whole grains, baked potatoes, etc.

All these points might sound difficult, but trust me we can make it happen with just small changes in our diet and lifestyle. It does not require inclusion of any costly, fancy food products. We hope this article helps you boost metabolism and make a positive lifestyle change. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

For more on metabolism, gut health and digestion, check out Healthy Reads or get these tips directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

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Benefits Of Drinking Lukewarm Lemon Water Every Morning

lukewarm lemon waterMost of us start our mornings with a fresh, hot cup of coffee or tea to warm our bodies after getting out of bed. Some of us may drink water but they prefer cold water. We all have it wrong! Choices that you make regarding your daily routine either build up resistance to disease or tear it down. Drinking lukewarm lemon water regularly, especially in the morning, heals our body, provides digestive power and reduces metabolic waste which might have built up in our immune system.

The consumption of warm water increases the tightening of the intestines, which optimizes elimination. Unlike hot water, processed cold water is devoid of many essential minerals and that could become very unfavorable to the digestive tract when consuming a meal.

Adding lemon to lukewarm water provides many health benefits of lemons. The major benefits of lemons include their strong antibacterial, anti-viral, and immune-boosting powers; and their use as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser. Lemons contain many substances notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene that promote immunity and fight infection.

How to do drink it : Once you wake up in the morning, get fresh and take a glass of lukewarm water, squeeze one lemon into one glass of water (approx. 200ml) and drink it before eating anything. Do not add salt or sugar. For taste you have an option of adding honey to it.

A Few More Benefits Of Drinking Lukewarm Lemon Water

  • Helps in digestion: Lemon juice flushes out unwanted materials and toxins from the body. It’s atomic composition is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that is required for digestion. Lemon Juice helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion such as belching and bloating.
  • Cleans your system: It helps flush out unwanted materials from our body as it increases the rate of urination. It also aids detoxification as the citric acid present in lemon helps enzymes function and stimulate the liver.
  • Clear Skin: The vitamin C component, as well as other antioxidants, help decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it they also help combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is vital for healthy glowing skin as its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. It can actually be applied directly to scars or age spots to help reduce their appearance.

Hence, having a glass of lukewarm lemon water provides multiple benefits to our body. Hope this article helps you make it a part of your routine! For more on Healthy Living, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Foods That Are Bad For Immunity According To Ayurveda

Bad For ImmunityWhile personal hygiene and social distancing measures are essential to stay safe, we can also turn to traditional Ayurvedic wisdom to raise immunity levels. As a holistic health system, Ayurveda has always regarded disease prevention as the key to maintaining health. Accordingly, a great amount of Ayurvedic literature focuses on diet, lifestyle, and home remedies to boost immunity. Since there’s already plenty of information on immunity boosting foods and remedies, we are going to put the spotlight on foods that are bad for immunity. 

8 Foods That Are Bad For Immunity 

  1. Fried Foods: We love our fried foods, from samosas to bhajias, but it’s time to make some sacrifices. Whether it’s farsan or burgers, all fried foods are loaded with fats, including trans fats. This is known to trigger inflammation, weakening immune function. So, although you might be eating home cooked meals during this time, try to skip the fried and deep fried foods. This will help to keep your immune function strong.
  2. Sodas and Colas: Even if we are not that addicted to sodas yet, now would be a good time to curb the habit. It really doesn’t matter if you only drink diet soda or carbonated drinks with ‘no added sugar’. They are all artificially sweetened and have no nutritional value whatsoever. Phosphoric acid, which is present in most sodas, depletes calcium and magnesium levels, both of which are vital for good immune function.
  3. Canned Soups: In our current state of lockdown, canned foods like canned soups may seem like the healthiest choice. Unfortunately, the convenience of such instant foods comes with a price. Most instant soups (and other instant foods for that matter) contain high amounts of sodium, corn flour, maltodextrin, and other artificial preservatives and flavoring agents. These ingredients are known to increase the risk of lifestyle diseases and infections because of impaired immune function.
  4. Sugary Snacks: Ayurveda has always recognized the risk posed by artificially sweetened foods. This ancient wisdom is now accepted as a scientific fact, as we know that high sugar intake triggers chronic inflammation and suppresses the immune function, making you more vulnerable to all types of infections – viral, bacterial and fungal. Ice cream, pastries, and chocolates may be your comfort foods but they are simply not a good way to survive social isolation.
  5. Red Meats: are to be strictly avoided according to Ayurveda to protect against infection. A sugar called Neu5Gc is found in red meats and unlike fruit sugars, this sugar is not digested by the body. Instead, it is absorbed into tissue and triggers inflammation and suppresses immunity. Additionally, red meats are also high in fats that we know are bad for immunity.
  6. Foods with MSG: MSG came into the spotlight some years ago when instant noodles were briefly off the shelves. Sadly, the ingredient hasn’t disappeared altogether and you’ll find it in a whole lot of processed and instant foods. Look at those food labels carefully. MSG is bad for your immunity as it causes oxidative stress to the thymus and spleen, which are vital for healthy immune function.
  7. Alcoholic Beverages: Although Ayurveda recognizes the medicinal value of natural alcohols, recreational consumption of alcoholic beverages is regarded as toxic to the body. Alcoholic beverages are known to have high sugar content, impair sleep, increase inflammation and damage the gastrointestinal lining. This severely impairs immunity and increases vulnerability to infections.
  8. Caffeinated Beverages: The need for harmonious living in accordance with the rhythms of nature is central to Ayurveda. Stimulants like caffeine can disturb this natural rhythm, especially when consumed later in the day. This is known to impair sleep, which is vital for strong immunity. Caffeinated drinks are also known to increase acidic levels in the body, which can increase inflammation and suppress immunity.

Reconnecting with our rich heritage of Ayurveda can help us through these tough times. Remember, Ayurveda is not about restriction but balance and harmony. So, in addition to eliminating these bad food choices, try using immunomodulatory herbs like tulsi, amla, and neem to boost immunity and stay safe from infections. 

We hope this article on foods that are bad for immunity helps you make a positive shift to a healthier lifestyle. For more on Healthy Living, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

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