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Useful Tips To Boost Immunity During Monsoon

boost immunity during monsoonWe all welcome the monsoon every year to find relief from the scorching summer heat. Rains are beautiful and can quickly elevate your mood. Since monsoon weather is damp and humid, it is the perfect environment for microbes to grow and flourish. Thanks to this, people with low immunity are prone to suffer and fall sick frequently during this season. The weather can ruin your immune system and a good immune system is needed during the rainy season. There are a number of ways to build immunity and one of those ways is by eating healthy food! So, let’s look at some useful tips to boost immunity during monsoon! 

Tips To Boost Immunity During Monsoon 

Here’s how you can improve immunity during monsoon by eating the right kind of food to support your immune system. 

  • Switch to herbal teas: Herbal teas such as Tulsi and ginger tea are your best friends to boost immunity during monsoon. Drinking tea will keep you warm and safe from cold and flu while boosting your immunity. Add a few drops of honey for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties instead of sugar.
  • Stay hydrated: Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated, as due to colder climate, the water intake is considerably reduced, which is bad for the body. It is the best source to flush out toxins from your body and doesn’t have calories and sugar. Make sure water should be potable to keep waterborne diseases like Jaundice and Diarrhea at bay.
  • Have protein rich food: Protein, a major macronutrient, increases immunity, wound healing and muscle building. Food like dal, pulses, curd, eggs, chicken, paneer, soy, tofu are rich in protein.
  • Have a low salt diet: High blood pressure may weaken the immune system. So, it is always better to have a low salt diet as it prevents high blood pressure and water retention. Fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber can also lead to water retention. 
  • Prefer curd or yogurt over milk: Curd and yogurt are fermented food, rich in probiotics and the good bacteria present in it can help increase immunity and fight infection and can help your digestive system function well.
  • Include spices: Include more immunity boosting Indian spices in your food like turmeric, fenugreek, cloves, pepper, cinnamon, ginger and curry leaves. They help in digestion and flush out sinus from the body and improve Immunity. Warm water with honey, ginger and black pepper can be a miraculous cure to avoid cold, cough and flu.
  • Improve sunshine vitamin level: Vitamin D or the sunshine vitamin, is an essential micronutrient which can help boost your immune system. It can modulate the innate and adaptive immune response. A deficiency of Vitamin D can make you more prone to common infections. Improve your Vitamin D levels by exposing yourself to morning sunshine and consuming egg, cheese, mushroom and fortified cereals.
  • Eat healthy fats: Include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to your diet. These healthy fats boost your body’s immune response to pathogens as well. These fats are anti-inflammatory and good for your heart too. Nuts, seeds, fish, soy milk, almonds, avocados, walnuts, sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame seeds are prime examples of healthy fats.
  • Eat fruits: Fruits help to build immunity, give energy and are loaded with nutrients such as Vitamin A, C and fiber. Apple, Guava, Banana, Orange, Amla, Papaya, Pomegranate, etc. are the best additions to your diet. Vitamin C helps in iron absorption too.
  • Incorporate vegetables: All vegetables, including green leafy vegetables like cabbage and spinach are good sources of immunity boosting Vitamins A, C, and E as well as folate, antioxidants, and fiber.
  • Limit simple sugar: Most people are aware that eating sugar has negative consequences on their health, leading to things like obesity and diabetes. However, most of them are unaware that it has an effect on the immune system as well. It lowers the ability of white blood cells to fight and destroy bacteria.
  • Avoid outside food: Foods like sandwiches, pani puris, samosas, etc. may seem tempting during monsoons but they may contain bacteria that might cause indigestion. Avoid pre-cut or raw foods/fruits as they could contain germs which may lead to food poisoning and lower your immunity.

Apart from the above food tips, you also require adequate, good quality sleep. Keeping your mind stress-free also helps. Don’t forget to exercise regularly as it boosts your immune system by regenerating your immune cells. 

Underactive and poor immunity can make the body more prone to a host of gastrointestinal problems and monsoon related ailments. Under the current circumstances as well, keeping your immunity level high could be the only way to cherish good health while enjoying the rains.

If these tips to build your immunity during monsoon helped, let us know in the comments below! Find more tips on staying healthy during the monsoon here.

You can also get these tips directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing to Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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Your Gut Health: Why It Matters More Than You Think

You would have heard of the saying, ‘Almost all diseases begin in the gut’. Well, it’s true. Maintaining the right ‘microflora’ (balance of good bacteria) in the gut is crucial for great health, immunity and even preventing, healing and recovering from serious diseases like cancer.

Your intestines (gut) contain pounds of good bacteria that help with the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat. These ‘good bacteria’ determine the strength of your immunity, regulate weight loss, aid recovery, support colon health, manage body toxicity, and handle several other functions.

The gut also contains yeast (fungals), which, if exceeds in number compared to the good bacteria, cause serious digestive issues, affect nutrient assimilation, and can cause leaky gut, vaginal rashes, IBS and other bowel and GI tract disorders. It is crucial to maintain the proportion of good bacteria, especially in children.

A shortage of good bacteria can lead to allergies, skin problems, headaches, migraines, inability to lose weight, and even contribute to fat accumulation. Energy levels can fall when there is an imbalance.

Everything we eat and drink passes through the gut along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This tube-like GI tract, lined with a thin, sticky mucous, is embedded with millions of bacteria that live, grow, and metabolize (digesting and absorbing) in a complex ecosystem comprised of both beneficial and harmful bacteria.

Maintaining gut health is one of the most important and least addressed aspects of overall health. Many lifestyles choices deplete the gut of the ‘good’ bacteria’, leading to health problems ranging from acne to deadly diseases like cancer.

If you have more bad bacteria (fungus) than good bacteria in your gut, even the healthy food you eat will not be assimilated the right way. Even if you eat clean, organic, or expensive foods, it does not matter if your gut microflora is out of balance. This is where probiotics come in.

Probiotic bacteria do several things that contribute to good health and immunity.

Their most basic function is to fight harmful foreign substances that enter the body by detoxifying them and easing their elimination. Probiotics can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, which thrive and grow within a neutral pH environment, by producing organic acids such as acetic and lactic acids that, in turn, lower the pH of the large intestine.

This lower pH also prevents the metabolism of cholesterol and bile acids in the colon. Since cholesterol and bile metabolites act as cancer-causing agents, they can play an important role in the prevention of cancers of the GI tract and other organs as well. These helpful bacteria can even lower serum cholesterol levels along with cardiovascular disease risk by preventing the activity of an enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol.

Inside the gut are about 100 trillion live microorganisms that promote normal GI (gastro intestinal tracts) function, protect the body from infection, and regulate metabolism and the mucosal immune system. They comprise more than 75% of the immune system.

Also important is their role in maintaining and protecting the GI barrier. An intact GI barrier maintains gut health, while a problem with its microbiota composition will affect the body’s defense systems and can create a condition known as leaky gut syndrome, which can compromise gut health and lead to diseases such as inflammatory breast cancer, obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression.

Your diet is the most important element for building gut health. Include curds or probiotic supplement if you are vegan or cannot have yogurt. Some top natural probiotic-rich foods include:

  • Yogurt (plain kind)
  • Miso
  • Sauekraut
  • Kimchi
  • Kefir
  • Kombucha tea
  • Pickled gherkins
  • Spirulina
  • Chlorella

Ensure your diet is rich in complex carbs, fiber, fruits, vegetables, and omega – 3, with a healthy water intake and low intake of sugar, processed foods and red meat.

Avoid sodas, processed foods, and sugar as they quickly depletes the gut of good bacteria, dropping immunity almost instantly, making it the worst thing your child or you can consume. I constantly tell parents that giving your child aerated drinks is worse than drugs.

Your gut health plays a pivotal role in your overall well-being. By maintaining a balanced gut microflora through a healthy diet and probiotics, you can prevent diseases, boost immunity, and ensure optimal nutrient absorption. Prioritize your gut health to experience better health and vitality.

We hope this article helps you. For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

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11 Real Reasons Why Tobacco is Bad!

no smoking

LUNG CANCER! MOUTH CANCER! THROAT CANCER!

When we talk about smoking or chewing tobacco, the only thing that pops up is cancer. Apart from all of this, we have also heard about tobacco use causing COPD, heart disease, strokes and what not! Yet, smokers and tobacco chewers seem almost immune, if not indestructible as they continue to use tobacco day after day.

Maybe these conditions are extremes that arise after addictive, prolonged use of the substance. After all, we have all heard of that one grandpa who lived his entire life disease-free despite burning through a packet a day or that one aunt who is healthy despite smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Just because the effects aren’t immediate, doesn’t mean they are nonexistent.

While no amount of reasoning will help a tobacco user quit unless they choose to, here are some very real reasons why quitting tobacco today will be the best health move you can make!

1. Problems with Immunity

Consuming tobacco makes you more prone to infections by reducing immunity and depressing antibodies that fight infections. This results in body aches, pains and in severe cases, may result in rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Digestive Disorders

The digestive system converts food into nutrients which are supplied to various parts of your body. This ability is hindered upon tobacco consumption. A person may experience digestive issues such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, crohn’s disease (inflammation of the intestines) and may even form gallstones. Quitting will improve digestive health drastically!

3. Disturbed Sleep

Consuming tobacco products affects one’s sleep cycle causing sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea or wakefulness. Quitting will improve your sleep quality and reduce sleeping disorders.

4. Fertility Issues

This is a big one! Both men and women who consume tobacco may face fertility issues. Men’s sperm and Women’s egg get damaged due to the harmful chemicals present in tobacco. The DNA present in the sperm and the egg also get affected, resulting in an unhealthy baby or a baby with cleft lips or cleft palate. If you are trying to conceive, quitting 3 months prior will help a lot!

5. Eye Problems and Blindness

Did you know that tobacco consumption can cause blindness? The nicotine present in tobacco causes AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) where a person loses central vision making it difficult to see and read things. Cataract is also common in people who consume tobacco. The retina is also affected which results in blindness.

6. Buerger’s Disease

This disease is common in people using tobacco products. In the beginning, the arms and legs tend to become cold followed by pain in the legs, ankles and feet due to the thickening of blood vessels. In severe cases, ulcers are also noticed on the hands and feet. If infection due to the ulcers spread inside the arms and feet, doctors may advise amputation. There is no cure for this disease, and the only way to prevent this is by quitting tobacco products. Ouch!

7. It Cripples Your Sense of Smell and Taste

Tobacco consumption damages the sense of smell and the taste buds. Smell and Taste are connected to each other by a channel present at the roof of the throat to the nose. Without the sense of Smell, your food may turn tasteless. Blood vessels of Taste buds are also affected making your food less palatable. Quitting may help you enjoy your meals more!

8. Effect on Skin, Nails and Teeth

The harmful chemicals present in tobacco stain fingernails and the teeth of a user making them look yellowish. It is also an enemy of the skin as it makes you look older than your age. Quitting may help you look younger and retain the brighter side of your teeth and nails.

9. Loss of Hearing

Tobacco consumers are more likely to face hearing problems like tinnitus (ringing in ears) as nicotine results in narrowing of blood vessels present in the body. It also affects nerves  present in the inner ear and also the neurotransmitter responsible for identifying noises. This makes you more sensitive to loud noises and more prone to noise related hearing loss.

10. Baldness

Toxins present in tobacco harm hair follicles, causing hair loss. It may also damage melanin, resulting in premature greying. Quitting tobacco reduces hair damage or hair loss to a very large extent.

11. Wound Healing

Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels. As a result, blood supply to body parts decrease and makes it difficult for a wound to heal.

Apart from these reasons, your social life can get affected too as many people find the smell of chewing tobacco and cigarette smoke very repulsive! Clear the smoke and wipe the stains of an unhealthy lifestyle to breathe the freshness of a healthy one!

Was this article helpful? Did we miss out on anything? Let us know in the comments below! If you have trouble quitting, reach out to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

Find more articles on living healthy here.

#BeTheForce

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Kiwi – Berry of a woody vine-It’s health benefits

kiwi
I hear of Kiwi and my taste buds get active and when I heard of its nutritional benefits, I started loving it even more!! The colour and the look of the kiwi slice will definitely make you fall in love with it and its taste is an icing on the cake. Kiwi tastes just awesome.

A little history about the fruit tells us that Kiwi fruit, native to Northern China was first cultivated in New Zealand at the turn of the 20th Century and was known as Chinese Gooseberries. Later it was christened as Kiwi fruit in New Zealand because the fruit shares characteristics with New Zealand’s national bird Kiwi which is also small, brown and fuzzy.

Kiwis are rich in nutrients with low calories. It is packed with vital nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Copper, Choline, Magnesium and Phosphorous.

Who does not want to look and feel good? Everyone likes to and Kiwi helps you feel just as good, as it has a good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin E which are antioxidants that prevent from skin degeneration and keeps your skin wrinkle free and makes you look younger.

Antioxidants also boost immunity.

Kiwis are rich in fibre that binds to toxins and flushes them out of the body. Fiber also binds to cholesterol and removes them from the body and thus Kiwi also helps to reduce cholesterol.

Studies show that Kiwis have a mild laxative effect and hence good for constipation.

Fiber and Potassium in kiwis are good for heart health. Kiwi’s high level of potassium helps to keep the electrolytes in the body balanced thereby countering the effects of Sodium. Low sodium helps to reduce the risk of heart disease.

High potassium intake also helps to reduce the risk of stroke, loss of muscle mass. It also preserves the bone mineral density and there is a reduction in the formation of kidney stones.

Kiwi has a very low glycemic index i.e. it does not increase the blood sugar quickly which makes it a good fruit for diabetics as well.

Kiwi falls in the category of most alkaline fruits and thus helps in balancing acidic and alkaline food consumption. Few advantages of a properly acid/alkaline balanced body are youthful skin, deeper sleep, abundant physical energy, fewer colds, less arthritis and reduced osteoporosis.

Kiwi Fruit also protects from eye problems. Kiwi’s high level of lutein and zeaxanthin-both of which are natural chemicals found in a human eye prevents from eye problems Who ever knew this small fruit can be so beneficial. Truly said,” Big surprises come in small packages.”

I have made it a point to have at least one kiwi a day. What about you????

We hope this article helps you. For more informative articles such as this, check out Healthy Reads or you can get this information directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here.

#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 […]