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5 Wonder Herbs To Help You Battle Diabetes Naturally

battle diabetesDiabetes has been listed as an epidemic and it seems to be on the rise, worldwide. Diabetes is a disorder which alters the blood sugar levels and production of insulin that can cause various complications if left untreated. It can be treated through lifestyle modifications and exercises. We do have few spices and herbs available in nature, along with dietary changes, to help control diabetes. These remedies are not only economic to the pockets but can also help in reducing medicines. There are so many herbs (leafy part of the plant) that have proven boon to regulate blood sugar. Here, I am mentioning the most common and effective herbs to control blood sugar levels effectively.

5 Herbs To Battle Diabetes 

  1. Oregano: due to it’s high content of glycosides, flavonoids and polyphenols, oregano helps in lowering blood sugar levels. It helps in increasing the level of insulin in the body too. In dry form, oregano can be added to salads, soups or other dishes. Fresh herbs can be added to boiling water, let it steep for 5 mins, strain and drink as tea in the morning. You can also chew 5-6 oregano leaves regularly.
  2. Curry leaves: are the aromatic leaves and widely used in culinary preparations. It helps in decreasing blood sugar levels and also promotes carbohydrate metabolism. They can be chewed every day on an empty stomach or can be used while preparing food. 
  3. Giloy: is an Ayurvedic, magical plant that can not only help in controlling blood sugar levels and other symptoms of diabetes but is potent enough to alleviate many issues arising from your head to toe. Giloy also gives a boost to immunity. Powered with Antioxidants, it protects  the body from any damage caused by free radicals. To consume it, take 1 tsp of Giloy powder or ½ an inch of fresh crushed Giloy stem, mix or soak it in a cup of water overnight. Drink it on an empty stomach the next morning. You can also boil ½ inch of Giloy stem in a cup of water till it reduces in half and drink it hot, twice a day.
  4. Sadabahar: is a common plant found in India. Its flowers are the main component to help reduce blood sugar levels. Sadabahar flowers can be boiled in water for a few minutes. You can strain and drink it in the morning as tea. 3-4 leaves can be chewed daily on an empty stomach as well. 
  5. Peppermint: contains natural antioxidants which are helpful in fighting diabetes, heart disease, aging and cancer. It also adds great flavor and aroma to teas. Peppermint is available both in fresh and dried leaves or tea bags in the market but it is better to go for fresh leaves. The leaves can be added to tea for good flavor and your daily dose of antioxidants. Alternatively you can add them to salads or chew 4-5 leaves on an empty stomach. Please Note: People with GERD or people prone to acidity should avoid it as it relaxes the muscle that closes the stomach from oesophagus causing acid reflux.

We hope this article helps you battle diabetes. Before you switch to using any of these wonder herbs to battle diabetes, please ensure that you check with your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian in case of any allergies or other medical conditions. For more on Diabetes, check out Healthy Reads.

For further guidance and motivation by certified experts, join the GOQii Diabetes Care program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

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5 Hidden Dangers of Sugary Drinks You Should Know

dangers of sugary drinksAt the end of a tiring day or a hearty meal, one is often tempted to go and reach out for a cold drink! I mean who wouldn’t? It is tasty, refreshing and oddly satisfying. The question is, have you ever wondered what your favourite sugary drinks contain? Ever thought that there might be some hidden dangers associated with consuming sugary drinks?

Most aerated drinks, packed juices, different types of cocktails and other sugary drinks often pose hidden dangers to your health that you may not be aware of. It is important to know why these drinks aren’t good for your health. If you are aware, you can begin making healthier choices and replace these sugary drinks!

1. Huge Amount of Simple Sugars

These drinks contain a huge amount of simple sugars which are readily absorbed in the body. Simple sugars provide empty calories to the body. They also place massive pressure on the pancreas to produce more insulin as sugar levels in the blood increase rapidly and this gives a signal to the liver to convert sugar into fat.

2. Empty Calories

As you’ve read above, sugary drinks lead to weight gain because of extra fat accumulation in the body. Thanks to this, there is an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, early onset of diabetes, high blood pressure and many other hazardous health ailments that you want nothing to do with!

3. Tooth Decay

This is common for those who indulge more on aerated drinks. As the sugar content in drinks combine with bacteria in the mouth to form acid via a glycolytic process called fermentation which attacks teeth leading to tooth decay. This also leads to calcium depletion from bones giving rise to Osteoporosis in later stages of life.

4. No Added Sugars?

While companies claim that their fruit juices don’t contain added sugars and that diet soda are good for you, the truth is that they contain artificial sweeteners. The thing about artificial sweeteners is that they lead to neurological disorders such as dementia and can even cause strokes. Click here for the study.

5. Zero Nutrients

These tasty and refreshing drinks only contain sugar and no other nutrients. They do not contain vitamins, minerals nor fiber. In fact, they are often associated with an increased risk of cancer, gut issues and as seen from the above study, even dementia.

What Can You Replace Sugary Drinks With?  

Sugary drinks with hidden dangers can be replaced with coconut water, lemon water, buttermilk, Lassi, Jaljeera (Cumin Water), unsweetened flavored milk, coconut milk, cold water, flavored tea, and homemade smoothies or unsweetened shakes.

If you feel thirsty and have the urge to reach out for these drinks, try drinking water instead. It is the ultimate drink to quench thirst and keep you hydrated.

Did you find this article on the dangers of sugary drinks helpful? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For more, check out Healthy Reads or connect with a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Have Daily?

How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Have DailyGreen tea has become a household name today and is highly appreciated by all. People have started including a cup of steaming hot cup to their daily routine to keep themselves healthy. Having a cup of this beverage instead of your regular mug of coffee or tea will also reduce the amount of sugar that you have throughout the day.

However, there are several misconceptions that it will help us lose weight with one mug daily. While, it’s true that it can help you shed weight, it is not a magical drink that will shed off the fats and extra weight without being physically active and eating healthy. There have been cases where people consume extra cups and wonder why they aren’t losing weight.

How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Consume? 

There was one such friend who was worried that despite having green tea she was not shedding weight. I asked her about her meal pattern and her activities through the day. After listening to her, I realized that her meals were haywire and activity levels were low. Her purpose behind having green tea was only for weight loss! Yes, Green tea helps you lose your weight but, at the same time we need to make sure that we are active and keeping our meals healthy.

Green tea is filled with Polyphenols, like flavonoids and catechin, which act as powerful antioxidants in our body. Green tea has the power to fight with fat-fighting metabolism and helps in shedding extra fat from the body

While it is a super healthy drink, we need to make sure that we control the amount we consume. 2 to 3 medium cups of green tea in a day is good enough but try not to exceed it!

It also contains minimum amount of tannins and caffeine that can interfere with the iron absorption and decrease folic acid absorption – which is an important vitamin that helps decreases birth defects. So women who consume it should be careful about their intake.

Remember there are no shortcuts. Superfoods cannot guarantee a great body and a healthy life. The best way forward is to eat healthy, drink lots of water, rest well and keep yourself active!

We hope this article helps you! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Sattu: Your Natural, Inexpensive, High Quality Protein Drink

sattuThere has never been a single talk session that I have done and left without learning something new from the state, country or participants. On a trip to Kolkata, I learnt about this amazing drink made of roasted gram flour or what is popularly called in Northern India as “Sattu”. One of the participants in my session enlightened me about a drink made from ‘Sattu’ that the locals drink, that keeps them high on energy and healthy through the hot summer months.

I learnt of the health benefits of this drink that has been famous to states in the North of India for generations and used as a natural cure for several diseases as well as a high value, nutrient dense staple food. I picked up several packets of Sattu to bring back with me. What got my interest levels up were the keywords – Protein, Calcium, Fiber, Iron and Magnesium. Sattu has it all.

For many of you who don’t know me, I have the reputation of ripping a product apart, studying and researching on it in detail, testing it in labs for authenticity and nutritional values and then sharing it with everyone I can after using it myself.

‘Sattu’ is your equivalent to a ‘WHEY PROTEIN SHAKE’. Made of roasted gram flour, this composition is one of the highest sources of vegetarian protein and a quality that is most easily absorbed by the body.

60 grams (4 tbsp) of this roasted flour will give you 19.7 grams of high quality protein along with –
Calcium and magnesium (a fantastic combination as magnesium helps calcium get better absorbed into the body). This makes it excellent for bone health and prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Super healthy for growing children and adults!

Iron:  (Iron deficiency is a leading problem and can cause severe health issues.Taking iron supplements can sometimes be too toxic to the liver and cause constipation) Natural iron is best.

Fiber: Excellent source of fiber. All of us know that fiber cleans out the colon and stomach, prevents and cures constipation and aids fat loss and energy levels.

Most of you will be thinking that ‘ Sattu’ will cause a lot of gas just like channa (garbanzo beans/chickpeas) do, in fact it’s just the opposite. Ayurveda states that in this form (sattu) people with gas will be relieved.

It aids fat and weight loss, it’s excellent for strong sexual health and is a natural colon cleanser.

For elderly people, sick people, bed ridden people, people recovering from serious diseases or surgery, sattu or roasted gram flour will build their strength and muscle mass rapidly.

I was not surprised, just overwhelmed, as once again I discover that nature has provided it all to us.We just fail to discover because we got caught up in the trap of marketing and media.

Sattu Can Be Your New Protein Shake 

This is my new protein shake or better still, health drink. 4 tbsp with water OR chaas (buttermilk) sometimes I add pepper, sometimes, roasted cumin (jeera) and sometimes cinnamon. 20 grams of protein. I have one in the morning and one post work out, sometimes even another one as a mid-evening snack, because this glass of ‘Sattu’ fills you up and provides you more than sufficient protein.

You feel lighter, more toned, less bloated (some whey proteins cause temporary bloating) and you know what’s in your glass, unlike the numerous ingredients that you may not even understand on the jar of a whey protein. The person at the stall also said you can add jaggery to make it sweet. It’s an excellent summer drink, extremely cooling for the body.

It is Surprisingly Inexpensive 

When compared to the amount you will pay for Whey Protein, Sattu is a much cheaper and effective alternative. In fact, you can get Sattu from the GOQii Health Store within the app for a discount using GOQii Cash. Putting the cost aside, what’s more important is that I know the quality of protein and what’s going into my glass. If you blend it, it’s better as it may tend to form lumps if not stirred well. Add some lemon to it and you can’t go wrong.

So make the change today and spread the word. The aim is to move from processed to natural! We hope this article helps you. Do share your thoughts in the comments below. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health 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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