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Is Apple Cider Vinegar Panacea for All Diseases?

Apple Cider VinegarApple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is gaining popularity these days as a wonder cure for diabetes, weight loss, heart disease and much more. The question however is – Is there science behind these claims or is it a classic case of excellent marketing? Vinegar has been used as a medical therapy for thousands of years. Recorded vinegar history starts around 5000 BC when the Babylonians were using the fruit of the date palm to make wine and vinegar. Vinegar residues have been found in ancient Egyptian urns traced to 3000 BC. As well, recorded vinegar history in China starts from texts that date back to 1200 BC.

During biblical times, vinegar was used to flavor foods, as an energizing drink, and as a medicine, and it is mentioned in both the old and new testaments. In ancient Greece, around 400 BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for a variety of ills, including coughs and colds.

Scientific evidence adds to age old wisdom by inferring vinegar’s significant role in key biochemical metabolic pathways –

  1. Reduction in Postprandial Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels: When taken with or just before meals, Apple Cider Vinegar inhibits enzymes necessary for the digestion of starches and other complex carbohydrates, thus preventing them from being broken down into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream. Vinegar also slows gastric emptying, so it delays the uptake of glucose and other nutrients. (Yusoff et al, Nutrients 2015, 7(8), 7012-7026 )
  2. Like Metformin, Stimulates AMPK: Vinegar stimulates an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) that is a key player in glucose and fat metabolism, insulin signalling, and energy balance. AMPK increases fat oxidation, improves glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, and lowers gluconeogenesis, or glucose production in the liver. This is similar to how common diabetic drug Metformin works (Zhou et al, Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action. J Clin Invest. 2001 Oct 15; 108(8): 1167–1174).
  3. Nitric Oxide Mediated Protection Against Heart Diseases: Vinegar-induced AMPK activation boosts Nitric Oxide (NO) release in the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels.NO relaxes the arteries, protects against an atherosclerosis-the usual cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease. (Sakakibara et al, BiosciBiotechnolBiochem. 2010;74(5):1055-61).
  4. Blood Pressure Regulation: Animal studies demonstrated vinegar decreases blood pressure by down‑regulating AT1R expression via the AMPK/PGC‑1α/PPARγ pathway (Na Lixin et al, Eur j Nutr, April 2016, Volume 55, Issue 3, pp 1245–1253).
  5. Protection Against Cancer: Vinegar is also a dietary source of polyphenols, compounds synthesised by plants to defend against oxidative stress. Ingestion of polyphenols in humans enhances in vivo antioxidant protection and reduces cancer risk.
  6. Reduces Belly Fat: Researches demonstrated vinegar (pomegranate) consumption resulted in marked reduction in visceral fat as confirmed by CT scan(Park et al, Journal of functional foods, Volume 8, May 2014, 274-281).

While the evidence behind Apple Cider Vinegar and other vinegar seem promising, there are a few things to keep in mind. Always take your vinegar diluted (1 tablespoon in 180 ml water). Undiluted shots have been known to wear away tooth enamel and damage the esophagus. Also, too much apple cider vinegar may lower potassium levels in the body. If you are on medications, discuss with your doctor before starting vinegar supplementation.

Lastly, and most importantly – Making vinegar a daily habit won’t cancel out the effects of unhealthy eating. Think of it as one piece of your wellness puzzle, and not a panacea.

We hope this article helps you. For more articles like this, you can check our Healthy Reads or reach out to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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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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World Cancer Day 2022: Closing The Gap In Cancer Care

cancer care

Obtaining essential health services is a huge challenge for at least half the world’s population, according to a report from the World Bank and WHO. A large number of households are pushed into poverty as they must bear the costs of healthcare from their own pockets. When it comes to cancer, many are denied basic care, despite the fact that we live in a time where there are awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnostics and treatment. 

The equity gap is costing people lives as those who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn. Income, education, location and discrimination based on age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and lifestyle affect cancer care negatively. More so for people who have access to risk factors such as tobacco, diet or environmental hazards. 

Barriers That Affect Cancer Care

  1. Gender Norms and Discrimination: Women and girls suffer from discrimination owing to misogny, stereotypes and expected gender roles. Similarly, men suffer as a result of social norms surrounding masculinity – which prevents them from taking life-saving procedures such as surgery for early prostate cancer – for the fear of incontinence or impotence. 
  2. Socioeconomic Status: Poverty is a serious barrier to proper care as many people cannot afford or access screening and treatment services. The means of prevention and knowledge among these communities is low as well. 
  3. Age Discrimination: Older individuals are vastly underrepresented in the research that sets the standards for cancer treatment. A high proportion of older women with breast cancer receive less chemotherapy than their younger counterparts. More than 70% of deaths caused by prostate cancer occur in men above the age of 75. How old you are should not determine the quality of care you receive. 
  4. Rural-Urban Divide: Where you live, should not determine if you will live. Rural patients are frequently diagnosed at later stages and are less likely to receive appropriate treatment. The financial burden of traveling to a place where you can get treatment and getting the right treatment can be insurmountable. 
  5. Homophobia, Transphobia & Related Discrimination: Around the world, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQAI) community face hostility and discrimination. They are also likely to face ignorance or prejudice from health practitioners. 

These hurdles to cancer care are only a few ways in which people can be deprived of cancer care. But these obstacles are meant to be overcome. The first step is to recognize this inequity, challenge our own assumptions and biases, listen to the perspectives of people living with cancer and fight these gaps when we see them. 

The Goal Is Simple 

Our systems can be reimagined, situations can be improved and access to proper care can be made available and easier. We can reduce this inequity by: 

  • Educating the public about cancer prevention 
  • Equipping healthcare professionals with skills and knowledge, including how inequity influences cancer care 
  • Strengthening primary health care delivered in communities
  • Addressing some of the social and economic factors that can negatively affect people’s health through policy and programmes  
  • Increasing the resources which includes both money and people – dedicated to cancer research, and tracking the burden of cancer nationally to more effectively shape our investments
  • Implementing country-specific cancer prevention and control plans that address each country’s unique needs and resources.

How Can You Get Involved? 

While the gap in cancer care might not affect you, it could be affecting someone you know. Together, as a community or as individuals, we can make a difference. 

  1. Get Personal: Create your own custom social media post with your own personal message of the commitment and share it with the world.
  2. Light Up The World: Make a statement by lighting up a significant landmark, monument or building to be illuminated on World Cancer Day in the colours of orange and blue in your city. For more information, email hello@worldcancerday.org 
  3. Spread The Word: Write an op-ed, blog story, record a video message, feature World Cancer Day on your website, an article in your newsletter, or reach out to a local journalist.
  4. Join The Action: Show your support by showing up. Find an event near you on the Map of Activities, sign up to attend, participate or volunteer. 
  5. Create An Event: Inspire others by hosting your own World Cancer Day event. From flash mobs, free screenings, conferences, fundraisers to fun runs, add it to the Map of Impact to spotlight the awesome work that you are planning. 
  6. Advocate For Action: Write to your political parties asking them to show their commitment, raise public awareness and take action this World Cancer Day.
  7. Use Your Voice: Start a conversation about cancer with your family, friends, colleagues and networks.
  8. Inform Yourself & Others: Find out more about cancer, how you can reduce your cancer risks, and the impact it has on the people we love, our communities, and the world.

With conscious effort, we can close this inequity gap and improve cancer care for everybody. You can get more information about Closing the Gap In Cancer Care by visiting www.worldcancerday.org 

To explore preventive measures, you can check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

Together, let’s #BeTheForce for change! 

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3 Best Vitamins To Boost Immunity

vitamins to boost immunity

With cases rising cases and new, deadlier variants of COVID, it is important for us to take preventive measures and build our immunity. The food we eat determines our overall health and immunity. Immunity being our body’s first line of defense is much more needed now than ever. While a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle is the need of the hour, few nutrients play a very special role when it comes to boosting our immunity. Among different nutrients, today we will discuss the most potent vitamins to boost immunity.

Essential Vitamins To Boost Immunity 

1. Vitamin C 

Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is water-soluble. It helps kick start the action of our immune system by encouraging the production of lymphocytes & phagocytes, thus, helping the body protect itself from infections. The body cannot store this vitamin and being water-soluble, it’s easily lost through bodily fluids. Hence, it is important to consume foods rich in Vitamin C on a daily basis. Being heat sensitive, this vitamin is destroyed on heating, so it is better to get it from raw foods.

Food sources: Citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberry, amla, papaya, bell peppers, leafy greens, broccoli, black currants & tomato.

 2. Vitamin D:

This is definitely one of the most essential vitamins to boost immunity. It is fat-soluble and hence, can be stored in our fat cells. Which means that your body can mobilize its own reserves if your daily intake falters temporarily. Deficiency of this vitamin is highly associated with increased susceptibility to infections. Not widely available in vegetarian foods, it is hard to get enough of it. For most people, the best way to take this vitamin is through supplements.

Food sources: Cod liver oil, salmon, tuna, fortified orange juice, fortified cereals, egg yolk, dairy and plant milk fortified with Vit D, Sardines, swordfish and certain mushrooms.

 3. Vitamin E:

This fat-soluble vitamin is a potent antioxidant and helps reduce cell-damaging oxidative stress in our body. It has the ability to modulate immune functions at the cellular level which usually decreases with age. It helps in the rapid increase of the infection-fighting cells and boosts their infection-fighting capacity too.

Food sources: Sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, vegetable oils, spinach, broccoli, avocados, wheat germ oil, hazelnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds

PLEASE NOTE: Though these vitamins play a crucial role in the functioning of our immune system, a balanced diet and attention to other aspects of good health like exercise, sleep and staying stress-free is also very important. You must make the most of your nutrition from natural foods as much as possible rather than being dependent on supplements. Before you switch to any foods you have not consumed before, please consult your doctor or nutritionist in case you have any allergies. 

We hope this article helps you. For more tips and to know more about foods and vitamins to boost immunity, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#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 […]