GOQii

Blog

Search Results for: asthma

By 1 Comment

Benefits of Jack Fruit

jackfruit

Eat what’s in season. Eat organic. Jackfruit is one of tropical fruits, recognized for its unique size, shape, and fruity flavour. This fruit is sweet and delicious in taste. Like other tropical fruits such as banana, durian etc., jackfruit is also rich in minerals, vitamins, energy, dietary fiber, and free from cholesterol and saturated fats.

The Jackfruit is normally eaten raw, as a snack/ sweetener or in desserts. It is also dried and made into chips, or cooked and added to curries. You can also find buns, cakes, cookies, and ice cream with Jackfruit taste. These products are very popular among Asians.

*Health Benefit of Jack Fruit:

100 g of Jackfruit provide 95 calories. The fruit is made of soft, easily digestible flesh (bulbs) with simple sugars like fructose and sucrose that when eaten replenishes energy and revitalises the body instantly.

These compounds are perfect antioxidants and are good for maintaining functionality of the eyes. Vitamin A is capable of keeping the mucous membranes and skin healthy. It has been confirmed that fruits rich in vitamin a and beta-carotene can effectively lower the risk of lung disease and oral cancer.

Fresh Jackfruit is a good source of iron, potassium, & magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.

Most of us are unknown about the valuable benefits of Jack fruit seeds. While we consume Jackfruit due to its taste and aroma, we normally throw away its seeds, which are like gravels. Jackfruit seeds are indeed very rich in protein and nutritious.

Skin and eye care: Jackfruits contain powerful anti-ageing properties that slow down the degeneration of skin cells and make the skin look younger. They are a rich source of vitamin A that is essential in maintaining healthy eyesight.

High blood pressure: Being a rich source of potassium, jackfruits are very effective in lowering high blood pressure and controlling the heart rate.

Bone health: Jackfruits are also effective in maintaining good bone health. They are rich in magnesium that helps in the absorption of calcium and strengthens the bones.

Anaemia: Jackfruits being a rich source of iron help in preventing anaemia and improving blood circulation in the body.

Asthma: Another one of the medicinal uses of jackfruit is the treatment for asthma and other upper respiratory tract problems. Experts believe that the root and extracts of

jackfruit are effective in controlling asthma and alleviating the symptoms associated with this condition.

Ulcers: Jackfruit contains strong anti-ulcerative properties that not only help cure ulcers but also prevent a number of other digestive system disorders.

By 1 Comment

Strawberries and its nutritional benefits

strawberry

The moment I hear the word ‘Strawberry’ the first thing that comes to my mind is the dark red juicy strawberries of Mahabaleshwar. How about you? Have you ever wondered what is so good about this fruit that we all love? It is loved so much that you tend to get various food products ranging from syrups to biscuits, toffees, chocolates to ice creams etc with this flavour. People want to enjoy its flavour in any form possible.

Let us have a look at its nutritional values and its health benefits

Nutritional Informatiion for 1 serving (i.e 100 gms) of strawberries:

Calories – 44

Carbohydrates- 9.8 gms

Crude fiber- 1.1 gms

Proteins – 0.7 gms

Fats – 0.2 gms

Calcium and phosphorus – 30 mgs each

Iron – 1.8 mgs

Rich in Beta carotene, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C and also contains many of the essential aminoacids

Wow! Isn’t it amazing? Not only this, there is lots more to add to this super fruit. Do you know benefits of consuming strawberries? Well here it is:

  1. Improves immunity- The Vitamin C, Beta carotene, flavonoids and anthocyanins present in strawberry acts as antioxidants and help improve immunity. The fibre also helps remove heavy metals from our system helping to detoxify our system thus improving our immune system
  2. Prevents cancer-A phytochemical called ellagic acid and Vitamin C together yield anti-cancer properties like suppressing cancer cell growth. It also contains antioxidants lutein and zeathancins which are scavengers to free-radicals and neutralize the potentially negative effect they can have on our cell.
  3. Heart Friendly- The components in strawberry- ellagic acid and flavonoids has an antioxidant effect which benefits heart
  4. Younger looking skin-Strawberries help in producing collagen. Collagen (helps improve skin’s elasticity and resilience) which we tend to lose in the process of ageing. It fights occurrence of wrinkles but also prevents inflammatory response which is one of the cause of wrinkle formation.
  5. Improves eyesight- Antioxidants and Vitamin C present in strawberries prevent cataracts—the clouding over of the eye lens—which can lead to blindness in older age.Vitamin C not only protect eyes from exposure to free-radicals from the sun’s harsh UV rays, which can damage the protein in the lens but also strengthens eye’s cornea and retina
  6. Lowers bad cholesterol and helps reduce hypertension- Quercetin, flavonoids and fiber protects heart against damage caused by LDL cholesterol and it also prevents platelet build up. Its good potassium content helps maintain the blood pressure
  7. Reduces arthritis and other inflammatory diseases- The antioxidants and phytochemicals help reduce inflammation
  8. Helps improve digestion- The fibre and water content helps reduce constipation and other digestion related issues
  9. Good for weight and diabetes management– Strawberries are low in glycemic index and at the same time has good satiety value.
  10. Improves prenatal health- All the females who are either pregnant or trying to conceive is advised to have folate tablets. Strawberry is naturally high in folate which is one of the basic requirements for tissue/cell differentiation and development of brain, spinal cord etc. thereby preventing neural tube defects
  11. Helps control asthma and allergies- due to its anti-inflammatory properties and Vitamin C content
  12. Lifts your mood up- Folic acid helps reduce production of homocysteine which hinders with dopamine, serotonin(feel good hormone) which may cause depression

The list doesn’t end here. There are loads to add to this super fruit. Incorporate this seasonal fruit in your regime whenever possible as it is or in any form and enjoy all the benefits of this fruit.

By 1 Comment

What are Prebiotic and Probiotic bacteria?… And their effect on human well being

beneficial-bacteria

Bacteria that most of us are aware of are supposedly ‘BAD’ and have ill effect on our health. But, what if I tell you there are ‘Good Bacteria’ as well. Surprised! Then don’t be. There are indeed bacteria which are actually good for us especially for our digestive system.

Most of us are aware of Preboiotics and Probiotics but, are you aware of their function? They largely help in absorption and digestion in other words it means it improves gut system.

Prebiotics :

Prebiotics are natural, non-digestible food ingredients that helps in promoting good bacteria in your gut. These are found in bananas, onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, artichokes, soybeans and whole-wheat foods. Prebiotics are also known as friendly bacteria as it can reduce asthma and eczema in children

Probiotics

Probiotics are naturally found in your gut. They are actually live micro organisms that balances gut flora and increases immunity. Probiotics is also used for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, for specific allergy symptoms, reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance. Probiotics are found in dairy foods including yogurt, cheeses, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh and soy beverages.

Probiotics helps to protect the body from infection. It helps with better digestion and nutrient absorption apart from helping in detoxification and cleansing our body. Probiotics have been shown to support liver function.

Unfortunately, there are numerous factors which creates imbalance between “good” and “bad” bacteria, and thus interfere with our body’s natural ability to heal and detoxify itself. It is done by chlorinated water, stress, oral contraceptives, refined foods and poor digestion, antibiotics also affect the gut flora.

Probiotics can be consumed in supplement form but, while buying them it’s bioavailability is equally important as not all Probiotics gets absorbed. There are also supplements available in the market in form of capsule (for adults), powder (for children) and liquid too. However, it is always better to opt for natural sources over supplement as sugar present in it makes our system environment acidic. This acidic medium kills the ‘good’ bacteria and aids to grow ‘bad’ bacteria. Thus, probiotics are unable to work efficiently.

Be sure to include food sources of prebiotics and probiotics on your grocery shopping list because they aids creating a healthier you.

By Leave a Comment

Red Signal to Excess-Part 2 – Moderation is key to Good health

eat in moderation

In Part 1, we saw how good things in excess can adversely affect our health. In this follow up blog, I talk of bad things in excess, which is also not right.

Let’s take a look at some of these bad things in excess and how it could be detrimental to our health.

1) Excessive consumption of junk/processed foods: Fast food means food that can be made and served quickly. These junk foods are mostly processed, containing large amounts of refined carbohydrates, added refined sugars, added salt (sodium) and bad quality fats. They are high on calories but, minimal on nutritional value. Eating junk/processed foods instead of fresh, whole, nutritious food has many adverse effects on the body. Junk foods and drinks are packed with refined sugars which cause insulin spike gradually leading to insulin resistance and Type- 2 diabetes.

The empty calories just go easily go into the body fat store leading to obesity which can further give rise to severe health issues like heart problems, respiratory problems, etc. The trans fats in the junk foods, increase the LDL cholesterol levels and subsequently decrease the HDL cholesterol levels. Lot of salt (sodium) causes water retention, high blood pressure and enlarged heart muscle. Too much sugars cause acidity which destroy the tooth enamel causing dental cavities. MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) found in processed foods create stomach distress. Some of the artificial colors and preservatives used in processed foods are found to be carcinogenic (cancer causing). Drinking too much of soda can leach calcium out of the bones making them soft and brittle. Also, the aluminium soda cans are inwardly lined with an epoxy resin called bisphenol A (BPA) which protects the metal can from the reaction of acids in the sodas. This BPA is found to be disrupting normal hormone functioning that can lead to obesity, diabetes and reproductive cancers.

2) Excessive alcohol consumption: It is no big secret that alcohol consumption has no good effects but, chronic heavy drinking has many bad effects. Researchers have found alcohol to be linked to more than 60 diseases. Alcohol can cause liver cirrhosis. Alcohol is empty calories so, can cause unwanted fat storage in the body. Alcohol disturbs the working of the sympathetic nervous system leading to high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke and kidney disease. Heavy drinking can cause gastritis (stomach irritation), inflammation of pancreas, decrease in immunity, nerve damage (alcoholic neuropathy). As people age, their brains shrink but, heavy drinking can cause faster brain shrinking leading to memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. Depressed people drink to ‘feel good’ but, in fact, drinking leads to further depression. Alcohol can aggravate the condition of gout. It can worsen the condition of an epileptic and cause seizures even in non-epileptic individuals. Chronic heavy drinking can lead to cancer of the mouth, esophagus, liver, breast, and colorectal region.

3) Excessive cigarette smoking/tobacco chewing: Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that alters the brain chemistry making it both, physically and psychologically addictive. According to AHA (American Heart Association), nicotine causes short-term rise in heart-rate, blood flow and blood pressure which, in a long term, can cause cardiovascular complications. Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke causes fat buildup in arteries leading to hardening of the arterial walls (atherosclerosis). Tobacco smoking and chewing, both, can lead to oral and lung cancers. Smoking/chewing tobacco can also cause tissue damage in various organs of the body and dental diseases.

4) Excessive Tea/Coffee drinking: We all wish to have a cup of tea/coffee to kick-start our day. It’s not too bad to drink tea and coffee. It is the too much drinking that is the concern.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, yerba mate and certain herbal teas. Caffeine is generally a very safe stimulant. It improves alertness and is a mood enhancer. Usually, it is 200-300 mg of coffee that can be safely consumed per day (roughly 3 cups) but, this differs from person to person, depending on their own ‘caffeine sensitivity’. Too much coffee consumption can lead to symptoms like irritability, nervousness, headache, dizziness, insomnia, fever, increased heart-rate, increased thirst, stomach upset and muscle tremors. Same is the case with teas. A cup of hot tea in the morning will boost your energy for the day where as a cup of herbal tea at night will help you relax. Tea contains lesser amount of caffeine than coffee but, there are side effects of having too much of it.

Drinking too many cups of tea in a day can lead to symptoms like restlessness, anxiety, disturbed sleep, skeletal fluorosis (a painful bone condition), yellow pigmentation of the teeth. Green tea is no less. Though healthy, if had too much, it can worsen the condition in people suffering from high blood pressure, anxiety and stomach ulcers.

5) Excessive stress: In this fast paced world, stress is become an inevitable part of our lifestyle. Our body reacts/adjusts to outward changes with physical, mental and emotional responses. This response amounts to stress. Stress is a part of our daily, normal lives. Our body is designed to feel and react to 2 kinds of stress; positive and negative stress. Positive stress is the one where the body prepares itself for a ‘fight or flight’ mode. Negative stress is the one in which the body is continuously facing challenges, without time for rest and recovery. As a result, stress related tensions build up. A person going through stress for a very long time without relief, can enter a stage called as ‘distress’. This distress is indicated by many physical symptoms like fatigue, headache, dizziness, disturbed sleep patterns, high blood pressure, stomach upsets. Stress plays a role in aggravating medical conditions like diabetes, blood pressure, heart problems, depression, asthma, anxiety, skin problems, gastrointestinal disorders, Obesity, Alzheimer’s disease. In many cases, chronic, untreated stress can also lead to accelerated ageing and premature death.

Lastly, I would like to end by saying, “too much of anything, is good for nothing”.

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]