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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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Making Fitness & Health His Grammar For Life – Kamal Nath Thakur’s Health Story

Kamal Nath Thakur

Engaging in physical activity is good. Sports do help us maintain our fitness but that’s not all when it comes to living a healthy, holistic lifestyle. You have to watch what you eat, your sleep timings and manage your stress well, to name a few. Our Player Kamal Nath Thakur was of the opinion that he was healthy until he met his GOQii Coach. Here’s how his Health Story unfolded! 

Joining GOQii & Not Opting For Coaching 

Kamal Nath Thakur is a 52 year old working professional from Ghaziabad. He is a badminton player and considers himself to be a fitness freak. He was introduced to GOQii in 2019 by his 14 year old daughter Kavya, who saw an advertisement in the newspaper. 

Initially when he enrolled, he was of the impression that he knew all about health and fitness, hence, he opted out of personal health coaching and decided he did not need a coach. His decision was also influenced by the fact that he felt it was very difficult for him to follow the habits suggested by a GOQii Coach. 

While he opted out of coaching, he participated in various challenges issued in the GOQii App such as the steps challenge, health quiz and even browsed through Healthy Reads. 

The Health Story Begins For Kamal Nath Thakur 

In April 2021, Kamal Nath Thakur had contracted COVID and was hospitalized for almost a week. He had lost 10kg and began experiencing regular pain in his right leg. During this time, he was contacted by a GOQii Coach for personalized health coaching. Considering his condition, he opted for the service and says that it was one of the best decisions he ever made! 

Initially, he was coached by GOQii Coach Prachi, who guided him regarding his food habits in terms of the timing of his meals, food content and mix and the benefits he would derive from it. He says, “I started feeling a change in my body. It was visible”. 

Since then, he has been extremely particular about his food intake, nutritional value and how and when he should eat, which foods to avoid and so on. Kamal Nath Thakur says, “She was wonderful in explaining everything in detail”. 

After a while, he was assigned Coach Pradnya. He discussed his persistent right leg pain with her. Coach Pradnya suggested some leg stretching and leg strengthening exercises he should follow. Kamal Nath Thakur found these exercises to be extremely helpful. He says, “It was a boon for me in the hour of need. With her guidance in almost all fronts, like healthy food habits, regular suggestive exercises, relating to healthy reads, I had become a completely fit man with working knowledge of how to keep myself healthy”.  

He says that his habits changed tremendously after joining GOQii. Where he would usually complete a target of 3,000-4,000 steps, he now clocks in 15,000 steps daily. Before, he wasn’t particular about his food habits but now he focuses on the time and composition of his meals. He also follows and attends classes on GOQii Play. 

Coach Pradnya has been in touch with him daily and guides him via chat or call. She advises him as per his requirement. He says that it has been a fun change for him. He is a health champion in his organization and has even recommended GOQii to two of his colleagues who are now using the wearable and the app. 

Our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal recently spoke to Kamal Nath Thakur about his experience with GOQii on the latest episode of GOQii Health Stories where we feature players who have benefitted from personalized health coaching. You can view the whole conversation below:

What Does GOQii Coach Pradnya Have To Say About His Change? 

“Kamal was following a healthy lifestyle including healthy, timely meals and daily walking. He was having pain in his right thigh after recovering from COVID. Though it was unusual, we decided to try leg stretching first. I also suggested ginger detox water to reduce the pain naturally. Ginger being anti-inflammatory has pain reducing effects. He felt a lot of relief. 

As he spends a lot of time sitting in the office and the car while traveling, it might have led to stiff muscles. After a few days, we started leg strengthening exercises to strengthen his leg muscles. It helped him cure almost all the leg pain. Now, he is confidently working to improve his immunity further, doing full body exercises and eating healthy meals.’‘

Kamal Nath Thakur and his family are truly a GOQii Family with his wife Sangita, daughter Kavya and son Ketan – all being GOQii Players. From merely being fit to being in the Elite category within a year’s time shows his discipline, consistency and dedication to being fit and healthy! 

Do you relate with this story? Do you want to make a lifestyle change like the way Kamal Nath Thakur did? Then join GOQii’s personalized health coaching and begin writing your Healthy Story today! You can subscribe here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more inspiring Health Stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

#BeTheForce 

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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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Losing 12kg & Overcoming A Sedentary Lifestyle – J Ravichandran Writes His Health Story!

J Ravichandran

Does being sedentary after retirement sound familiar to you? Could be you, a loved one or someone you know. J Ravichandran, a 63 year old retired CA from Chennai, experienced the same. As a CA, his work involved a lot of traveling – which kept him active. While he did not have any major illnesses, he was on the heavier side, having reached a stage of being overweight. 

“I have always been on the heavier side. My parents have also been on the heavy side. But, after retirement I started gaining more weight,” says Ravichandran. His weight reached 86kg in June 2020 at 5.3 inches of height. Apart from gaining weight, he also developed other health issues such as aches and pains.

While things seemed grim, J Ravichandran was able to turn his life around. How? Let’s find out! 

Life Before GOQii 

Retirement and a sedentary lifestyle went hand in hand for J Ravichandran. Furthermore, with the COVID-19 Lockdown in March 2020, he was unable to go out, which meant that he had stopped walking. He put on more weight during this time. He also suffered from constipation and arthritis. 

He had no control on his eating habits, he used to drink socially and as a result of being sedentary, he suffered from improper and poor quality sleep. 

Getting Onboard The GOQii Ecosystem 

His main goal was to lose weight and he also wanted to manage his indigestion problem, arthritis pain and constipation. He had problems while walking due to being overweight. He even had problems sitting and getting up. That’s when he decided something needs to be done or else living like this would get quite difficult for him. 

He joined a local gym but that didn’t help him much. He tried walking inside the confines of his home but again, it did not give him any result. Then, the lockdown hit and everything stopped. All this collectively took a toll on him. 

In July 2020, he came across GOQii and its fitness tracker from one of his friends and without much thought, he purchased it. He got a 3 month personal health coaching subscription free with his device. He wanted a coach who could understand the South Indian diet and he was assigned to coach Jannath. He was able to build a very good rapport with the coach as they shared the same regional language.  

Initially, he thought that the coach would help only with his diet but he was quite impressed with the holistic approach that entailed diet, workout, stress and sleep management. He followed all the changes that the coach brought in for his betterment. 

These changes included: 

  • Morning start with detox water
  • Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar 
  • Consuming Methi seeds soaked in water as well as lime water
  • Introduction of mid meal snacks 
  • Portion control 

His GOQii Coach also suggested intermittent fasting. 

When he started in July 2020, he was 84.8kg and by October 2021, he had lost 12kg. Since then, his weight has remained at 73. He has reduced inches on his waist as well.

J Ravichandran has been regularly updating his logs on the app and keeps his coach informed. He credits changes in his lifestyle to GOQii and his GOQii Coach. He regularly completes 10K steps and thanks to being active, with weight reduction, his knee pain has also reduced.

Overall Benefits

“I am now more disciplined and log all details everyday. These logs are continuously monitored and I get regular feedback from the coach. That helps as it gives you an idea of where you stand in terms of your health,” says Ravichandran. Ravinchaindran has now introduced his wife to GOQii as well. 

“Consistency is key to good health”, Ravichandran concludes.

What Does Coach Jannath Have To Say About J Ravichandran? 

Mr. J Ravichandran came on board in July 2020. When he joined GOQii he was 84.8kg and he had constipation and arthritis too. He also had sleep disturbance to some extent. 

From the first intro call itself, Ravichandran was eagerly waiting to start his journey. This made my work a little easier. After understating his lifestyle, I made some healthy changes like introducing detox water, salads and fruits in his diet along with some knee workouts for arthritis. 

When I made these changes in his diet and workout, he was able to manage his constipation and digestion problems too. He also was able to manage his knee pain with exercise. 

I got Mr. J Ravichandran started with intermittent fasting twice weekly, and it worked very well. He reached 81.1kg on September 1, 2020. Slowly, we introduced breathing exercises and other techniques to improve his sleep quality. It definitely worked well with his sleep quality improving by 70 to 80%. 

I made a few healthy changes in his diet as per his food logs in the app. Finally, he reached 72.5kg in the month of October 2021. In total, he lost 12.5kg in one year. Mr. J Ravichandran’s journey proves that small changes in lifestyle can yield the best results! 

Does this story inspire you to make a change? Do you want to shift to a healthier lifestyle? Then subscribe for GOQii’s personalized health coaching and start your #HealthStory now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

#BeTheForce  

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 […]