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How Antacids Are Making Your Heartburn, GERD or Acid Reflux worse!

antacidsIf you’ve ever suffered from heartburn, Zantac and Ranitidine might have been your knights in shining armor and if you’ve never had the misfortune of going through this, the aforementioned Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs are used to cut down the production of acid in the stomach. There are many other OTC antacids such as Gelusil, that neutralize the acid in the stomach. While self-prescribing for relief from heartburn or GERD, have you ever considered that these antacids might actually be making your condition worse?

What is Heartburn or GERD?

Heartburn or GERD is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest. This burning sensation is caused due to the acid reflux that happens when contents from your stomach move up into your esophagus (food pipe). Most of us associate this with high stomach acidity and reach out to over the counter antacids for quick relief.

Heartburn or GERD is not caused due to high levels of stomach acid. The incidence of heartburn and GERD increases with age, while stomach acid levels generally decline with age. Just as studies show acid secretion declines with age, it is also well established in scientific literature that the risk of GERD increases with age. In fact, when stomach acid is measured in people suffering from heartburn and GERD, it is almost always low, not high.

Why Do We Get Immediate Relief From Antacids?

I agree, symptoms of heartburn and GERD are caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus. What’s crucial to understand is that any amount of acid in the esophagus is going to cause problems. That’s because the delicate lining of the esophagus isn’t protected against acid like the stomach lining is. You don’t have to have excess acid in your stomach to have heartburn.

Also, symptom relief doesn’t imply that the underlying cause of the problem has been addressed. 

Stomach acidity may not be the actual reason for your heartburn. Instead, the prevailing scientific theory is that GERD is caused by a dysfunction of the muscular valve (sphincter) that separates the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach. This is known as the lower esophageal valve, or LES. The LES normally opens wide to permit swallowed food and liquids to move down easily into the stomach. If LES is working efficiently, stomach acid will not enter your esophagus. If the LES is malfunctioning, as it is in GERD, acid from the stomach moves up back into the esophagus and damages its delicate lining. It doesn’t matter how much acid there is in the stomach. Even a small amount can cause serious damage. Unlike the stomach, the lining of the esophagus has no protection against acid.

What Causes the LES to Malfunction?

Increase in Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP) can cause your LES to malfunction. Acid reflux occurs when pressure causes gastric distention (stomach bloating) that pushes the stomach contents, including acid, through the LES into the esophagus. Overeating, obesity, smoking, bending over after eating, lying down after eating, and consuming spicy or fatty foods may be contributing factors.

How Do Antacids Make This Condition Worse?

Malabsorption of carbohydrates leads to bacterial overgrowth, resulting in increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure which drives reflux. Low stomach acid, as caused by your antacids, can contribute to both bacterial overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption.

One of the chief roles of stomach acid is to inhibit bacterial overgrowth. But when stomach acid is insufficient and the pH of the stomach rises above 5, bacteria begin to thrive. Stomach acid (HCL) supports the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates by stimulating the release of pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine. If the pH of the stomach is too high (due to insufficient stomach acid), the pancreatic enzymes will not be secreted and the carbohydrates will not be broken down properly.

The fermentation of carbohydrates that haven’t been digested properly produces gas. The resulting gas increases IAP, which is the driving force behind Acid Reflux or GERD. 

FDA Cautions Against Common Heartburn Drugs

In September 2019, FDA has communicated about the detection of an impurity, which is a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), in common heartburn medications (ranitidine, commonly known as Zantac, and nizatidine) available over the counter or by prescription. Several countries have banned these medications.

Minimise or avoid use of OTC medications. Use proper lifestyle modifications to manage and treat your symptoms. Reducing bacteria loads and limiting carbohydrate intake have both been shown to greatly improve, and in some cases completely cure, acid reflux and GERD.

We hope this article helps you make the right choices. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more sessions on how to ease GERD and Acid Reflux, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

#BeTheForce 

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With The GOQii Smart Vital Junior You Can #KeepAWatch On Your Child’s Health!

GOQii Smart Vital Junior

Until recently, it was presumed that children would not be significantly affected by the virus. However, the second wave has changed the manner in which the virus affects people and as speculated by medical experts, the third wave of COVID-19 is likely to affect children too! This is where the GOQii Smart Vital Junior will help as a precautionary measure for parents to #KeepAWatch on the health and wellbeing of their children! 

How Does The GOQii Smart Vital Junior Help? 

Patients suffering from COVID-19 generally have symptoms such as low oxygen rate and high body temperature. The GOQii Smart Vital Junior tracks both – body temperature and blood oxygen levels (SpO2) to rule out these early symptoms so that care can be provided on time. 

Thanks to this device, parents will be able to monitor the health of their kids via the GOQii mobile app and also use it for consulting a GOQii Coach for their kid’s specific health goals/objectives, enrolling their Kids to specialised kid’s workout sessions on GOQii Play, watching Healthy Kids diet shows on GOQii Play and consulting Paediatrician’s LIVE on GOQii Play. Special Brain and Memory games to help with cognitive functions are also available on the GOQii App to make it even more fun and engaging for the kids.

“The pandemic has been really challenging mainly for children as their way of life has been altered in more ways than one,” says our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal. He further adds that, “In addition, the third wave is being predicted to severely affect kids, hence we took a step forward to launch a service specially designed to keep the vitals of kids in check. It will help with prompt diagnosis resulting in timely treatment while also monitoring other health related aspects like kids’ health goals, online paediatrician consultations and kids’ workout sessions. With a view to provide holistic benefits for kids’ health and wellness, we are also happy to announce our partnership with Sri Sri Tattva where kids’ immunity boosting products along with nutrition options for the whole family will be made available on GOQii Store.” 

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr Arvind Varchaswi, Managing Director, Sri Sri Tattva said – “We are very happy to partner with GOQii for this wonderful initiative. This comes at the right time when scientists suggest that there can be another wave affecting the younger age group. Since thousands across the world have benefited from the clinically tested Sri Sri Tattva Immunity Kit, our team of doctors have now put together an Immunity Kit specially for children. These include products, whose efficacy has been proven through research and studies, will now be available on the GOQii store, for the benefit of its customers.” 

The available products include the Morning Family nutrition pack, immunity building kits and immunity booster drops that cater to the entire family’s needs especially during a time when immunity boosting is the best way to prevent yourselves from the coronavirus infection. These products are available on the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii App. 

GOQii Smart Vital Junior is designed specially for kids with a colourful display and straps that are made with materials gentle to the skin and to fit their wrists. Apart from this, the features also include: 

  • Continuous body temperature monitoring 
  • Continuous heart rate (HR) monitoring 
  • Measuring blood oxygen levels (SpO2) 
  • Sleep Tracking 
  • 18 exercise modes 

…and much more! 

You can order the GOQii Smart Vital Junior from the GOQii App. It is also available on online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. It is recommended to be used for screening purposes only. All data collected by GOQii is subjected to HIPAA, GDPR and relevant data privacy guidelines. The GOQii Smart Vital Junior is priced in India at INR 4999/- 

Keep a Watch on Your Kids’ Health and help them #BeTheForce 

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Healthy Eating: Eggless Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake

Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake

This Cake reminded me of my childhood Britannia cakes. We, as kids, could not stop at one slice. The minute that packet was opened, the whole cake vanished with no crumbs left behind. Marble Cake has both vanilla and chocolate flavors and two distinct colors are mixed together to create a marble effect. To top it all, this gorgeous marble cake is a stress buster for me and made my life super special over the weekend. It is a perfect cake to accompany a cup of Tea or Coffee. Bake a loaf and gift it to your loved ones. I am sure they will love it.

What You Will Need

(1 cup= 200 gm,  1 tbsp=15 gm , 1tsp= 5 gm)

  • Whole wheat flour – 2 cups 
  • Odorless oil/Pure ghee – ½ cup 
  • Jaggery powder/syrup (melt jaggery in ⅛ cup water) – 1 cup 
  • Cocoa powder (unsweetened) – 1 tbsp 
  • Vanilla essence – 1 tsp 
  • Baking powder (7.5gm) – 1 ½ tsp
  • Baking soda (5gm) – 1 tsp 
  • Warm water – 1 cup (can be replaced with milk)  

How To Prepare

  1. Preheat  the oven at 350*F/180*C for 10 mins. Take a normal size Cake Loaf Pan (7-8 inches) and grease it lightly. You may also line it with a parchment paper for easy handling.
  2. Take a big bowl and sift 2 cups of flour, baking powder and baking soda into it. Mix it well with a fork and set it aside.
  3. In another bowl, add ghee/oil, curd and mix well. Add jaggery powder/syrup and beat the mixture till jaggery dissolves. 
  4. Add all the dry ingredients and mix gently with a cut and fold method. Add ¼ cup warm water/milk and fold it again. If you feel the batter is thick then slowly add warm water/milk  till the batter is in flowing consistency (DO NOT OVERBEAT THE BATTER).
  5. Now divide this batter into 2 equal parts.
  6. In one part of the batter, add vanilla essence. Mix it well till incorporated in the batter. This is your vanilla Batter.
  7. In the other half of the batter, add the cocoa powder. Mix well with a fork till well incorporated and therefore, the whole of this batter turns chocolate brown in color.
  8. To pour the batter, add 1 tbsp vanilla batter first at the bottom of the greased pan.Then pour the 1 tbsp chocolate batter on top.Tap the pan on the counter a few times so that the batter settles down evenly with no gaps in between.You may pour the vanilla and chocolate batters in the pan in an alternate sequence or the sequence of your desire, could also be chocolate first and vanilla later. However you want to do it.
  9. Keep it  in the oven for 30-40 mins. at 180*C. After 30 mins, check the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean then remove the cake tin from the oven and keep it on a cool down wire rack . Demould the tin when it completely cools down. (If it sticks on a toothpick, then bake it for more than 10 min. at 160*C .Temperature may vary in different ovens/OTGs.
  10. Cut it into small pieces according to your choice and store it in a steel or glass container in the refrigerator for a week. Enjoy a hearty slice of your Marble Cake with a cup of coffee or tea.

Why Is This Marble Cake Healthier Than A Bakery/Store Cake?

  • We are adding whole wheat flour in a cake which has more fibre, packed with B vitamins, while a bakery cake is made with maida (refined flour). Eating maida raises your bad cholesterol (LDL), makes you put on weight, clogs arteries, raises BP, disrupts blood glucose, keeps you hungry, causes you to crave for sweets, causes mood swings and ruins your health. People eat it because they’re probably unaware of its consequences.
  • We are using jaggery as a sweetener in cake, which is a good source of iron, helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance, aids digestion and helps prevent water retention thanks to its potassium content. Bakery cakes are loaded with white sugar and contain only empty calories without any nutrients. Excess sugar creates higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes and fatty liver disease.
  • In Bakery cakes, they use shortening and margarine, which are Trans Fats (Hydrogenated fats) that raise your risk of heart disease. They also raise your “bad” cholesterol levels, lower your “good” cholesterol and cause inflammation, therefore, hardening of your arteries.

We hope you enjoy this Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake recipe. Do try it out and leave your feedback in the comments below. For more Healthy Recipes, checkout Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

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Celebrate A Healthy Valentine’s Day With Your Loved Ones!

Healthy Valentine's Day

We wanted to begin this article by saying “Love is in the air”, but this year, with the ongoing pandemic, there’s something in the air which might be just as or more infectious than love. We understand that masks and the rules of social distancing might put a damper on the usual romantic gestures such as holding hands or cuddling and there’s no denying that more than flowers, this Valentine’s Day calls for the safety and immunity of your loved ones. So, we’ve listed a few products from the GOQii Health Store which might help you achieve just that! 

Gifting Ideas For a Healthy Valentine’s Day 

1. Bottoms Up On Healthy Drinkshealthy teaWe know it’s Valentine’s Day and a little intoxication never hurts anybody. There’s nothing more you’d want to do with your better half than sit back with a six pack or sip on some wine with slow music but honestly, for a change, try something that’ll help you flush toxins from your body as opposed to contribute to it. Try some Assorted Teas or some super drinks that’ll rev up your immune system and keep you guys toxin free! If you’re persistent about that “small drink” which lapses into a never ending circle of “this is the last one” – load up on some anti hangover shots.  

2. Cook Healthy Meals With Superfoodshealthy valentine's day superfoodGood food is great but healthy food is better. So spice up that home cooked dinner with some superfoods. Probably do a couple cook off because there’s nothing that brings two souls together like food does. The plus point of cooking healthy is that you get all the necessary nutrients to spend your life together, absolutely disease-free! You can check out some Healthy Recipes here! 

3. Add A Bit Of Sweetnesshealthy chocolateThere’s no denying that the universal food for love is chocolate! Gifting a nice bar of dark chocolate or some scrumptious healthy cookies will help you indulge without any guilt! Adding a little bit more sweetness to your relationship might be just what you need! 

4. Clothes! Clothes and Clothes!You can never go wrong with this one. Everybody loves clothes. If you’re a couple who workout together or go for those lovely early morning runs, there’s nothing better than some premium athleisure wear you can pick for your better half. 

5. GOQii Smart VitalGOQii Smart VitalLast but not least – to ensure that your partner stays in the best shape and to track the early onset of any infection, you can get them the GOQii Smart Vital which comes with an integrated pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen (SpO2) and it also has sensors to check body temperature, measure blood pressure and heart rate as well. Read more about it here: https://goqii.com/blog/keep-a-watch-on-your-health-with-the-goqii-smart-vital/ 

We hope these Healthy Valentine’s Day gifting ideas help you make the right choice for your special someone! All the options mentioned above are available on the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii App for a discount using your GOQii Cash. Shop Now! 

Have a Healthy Valentine’s Day and #BeTheForce!

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