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Ginger and How It Can Benefit You

GingerGinger is native to India and China. It has been important in Chinese medicine for many centuries, and is mentioned in the writings of Confucius as well. It is also named in the Koran – the sacred book of the Muslims, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.D. It was one of the earliest spice known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper.

A common article of medieval and Renaissance trade, it was one of the spices used against the plague. In English pubs and taverns in the nineteenth century, barkeepers put out small containers of ground ginger, for people to sprinkle into their beer — the origin of ginger ale. In order to ’gee up’ a lazy horse, it is the time-honored practice of Sussex farmers to apply a pinch of ginger to the animal’s backside.

Ginger has long been ascribed aphrodisiac powers, taken either internally or externally. It is mentioned in the Kama Sutra, and in the Melanesian Islands of the South Pacific it is employed ‘to gain the affection of a woman’. Conversely, in the Philippines it is chewed to expel evil spirits. Ginger is a known diaphoretic, meaning it causes one to sweat. It was recorded that Henry VIII instructed the mayor of London to use ginger’s diaphoretic qualities as a plague medicine.

I can go on about the amazing health benefits of this root. Over the last few years, I have used and shared this remedy with so many clients and friends for so many conditions, and it has never failed to produce the desired results.

Be it any ailment such as the following

  • Flu
  • Common cold and cough
  • Stomach pain
  • Menstrual cycle pain
  • PMS
  • Digestive disorders
  • Cancer ( building immunity and cellular health)
  • Headaches and migraine
  • Lowering cholesterol
  • Controlling high blood pressure
  • Boosting immunity and cellular health
  • Arthritis, joint and bone pain
  • Ginger has anti-aging properties
  • Ginger stimulates blood rush to sexual organs

How Can You Best Consume Ginger? 

You can use ginger in food or just have it plain. I like it best in a cup of warm herbal brew. You can try this simple and healing herbal brew:

  1. Boil a 1-inch piece of washed and peeled ginger in water for  10 minutes with 2 cloves
  2. Add a slightly split cardamom (optionally, you can also add fresh lemongrass or fresh basil for flavor)
  3. Simmer for 15 minutes
  4. Strain and pour into a mug.
  5. Add 2 pinches of powdered cinnamon, 1 tsp of organic raw honey or jaggery
  6. Sip it hot!

This drink will boost your immunity and make you feel better almost instantly! Make it part of your lifestyle.

Disclaimer:  Always check with your doctor especially if you are pregnant or have gall stone issues, before using ginger.

We hope the article helps you! For more on nutrition and healthy living, check out Healthy Reads. To get these tips directly from a GOQii Coach, subscribe for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Suneeta Mane Goes From Stagnant To Unstoppable!

Suneeta Mane

Health conditions arising out of lifestyle or hormonal imbalances can seem like a death sentence. These health conditions not only affect your wellbeing but also your mental health and it can seem like a bottomless hole you can’t crawl out of. But that’s not true. If you are determined, you can not only crawl out of your predicament but go way beyond that to serve as an inspiration for others. Our Player Suneeta Mane is a shining example of what you can achieve with consistent efforts, determination and lifestyle changes! 

Life Before GOQii

Suneeta Mane is a working professional based in Mumbai. As she works for a large corporation, her job is quite stressful. Along with the work-related stress, she also struggled with stagnant weight, inch gain, fatty liver, acidity, constipation, skin irritation, acne, bloating and hypothyroidism for which she was under heavy medication. She was also trying to manage her PCOS. 

She first encountered GOQii when a friend requested she gift him a tracker. “I was also keen on getting one tracker for myself but, I guess, I was not ready then,” she said. “In 2017, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid and was put on 50mg Thyronome tabs. But this thyroid created havoc in my life – it came with additional problems like acne, fatigue, constant irritation and I found my overall health deteriorating. Medicines gave me temporary relief, but after that, the symptoms would erupt again. I had never eaten a tab for any minor ailment either. I hate consuming tabs but here I was – I had to eat tablets if I wanted relief. To add to all this, my work is also stressful. I had to do something to normalise my life. So after a year, I joined GOQii in 2018.” 

Making Lifestyle Changes and Going Beyond! 

When Suneeta Mane subscribed for personalized health coaching, her immediate goals were to lead a healthy lifestyle to improve her condition, get rid of medication and get back to normalcy. Her GOQii Coach Yogita Sharma prescribed alternative methods, a diet plan and some “me time” which would help her relieve stress. 

“Slowly within a month’s time, I began finding relief. The Acne had reduced as well. The best part about GOQii is that the problems in my health were being addressed from their roots,” she said. 

Her GOQii Coach Yogita Sharma suggested very basic lifestyle and dietary changes which included: 

  • Timely meals and portion control 
  • 3 hour gaps between dinner and sleep 
  • Fermented Rice and/or vegetable juice in the morning
  • Combination of Cardio and Strength workout 
  • Being active throughout the day 
  • Consuming at least 4L of water a day 
  • Including more fibre in meals along with a high protein diet 
  • Meditation, gratitude and affirmations along with yoga 

With a few more lifestyle changes, Suneeta Mane began seeing positive results. She also claims to be a die hard fan of GOQii’s Emotional Wellness Expert Divya Thampi. She watches one of her videos everyday on GOQii Play. She says, “Divya Thampi’s sessions on Mental Health have really helped me in bettering my mental health as well as my personal development. Her sessions on stress management, setting realistic goals, etc. have been very useful!” 

Apart from lifestyle changes and her interactions with her GOQii Coach, she also took Doctor Consultations and says that they were fantastic. She had once developed an allergy and the GOQii Doctor prescribed simple suggestions that helped her instantly. 

The Results Of Her Dedication & Determination 

Over the period of 4 years, Suneeta Mane managed to lose 6 inches around her waist and now weighs 56kg. As per her latest reports, her Thyroid levels are well within range and she doesn’t suffer from Fatty Liver any more. 

Constipation, Bloating and Acidity issues are no longer there and she has no issues related to PCOS. Her skin is also clearer. Her overall energy levels have improved and she feels fresh throughout the day. Apart from major achievements in physical health, she also said that her mental health has improved significantly and she has a new positive outlook on life. 

  • Her achievements during this time are uncountable. Some of them include: 
  • 8 days trek in Kedarnath (whereas before, she had only started with 2km walks) 
  • Trekking the Sahyadri Hills in Maharashtra 
  • Indulged in 300ft rappelling near Malshej Ghat 
  • Won 2 beauty pageants while competing against women as young as 18 years while she was 33. She says that no one could guess her age. The most recent one being around December 2021 – Fashion Icon – it was held in Thane. 
  • Prior to that, she won the title of Maharashtra’s Goodwill Ambassador in October 2021. As a goodwill ambassador, she had to raise 1 Lakh – but she managed to raise INR 1.10k for Delhi based Ladli foundation and this fund was used towards building more awareness about Menstrual Hygiene. 

Giving Back To Society 

That is not all to her, as she and her brother also run a social organisation named after her mother. It’s called Pad-Mini Foundation and it’s based out of Airoli in Navi Mumbai. They have been investing in this organisation with their own money. 

The foundation works towards Sanitary Napkin awareness and distribution, skilled based classes for underprivileged girls and women in and around the Airoli Slums. According to Suneeta Mane, “Skilled courses makes one financially independent, even though they do not get education, also menstrual hygiene is a must for women.”  

From our interactions, we have learned that Suneeta is not just a name, she is “Unstoppable Suneeta” as time and time again, she has proved herself. With every event she has bounced back stronger, with an even stronger zeal to learn and try new things.

She says that the GOQii ecosystem is a perfect gift to give! All the coaches have been great, and her current Coach Yogita Sharma has been super helpful. Recently, she spoke about her Healthy Story at length with our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal as a part of GOQii Health Stories. You can watch the entire conversation here: 

Well, we hope Suneeta’s Healthy Story inspires you to beat the odds, get motivated and make a positive lifestyle change! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

To subscribe for personalized health coaching and get the right guidance and motivation from an expert, click here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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Is Soy Healthy or Toxic For You?

soy

There is a booming market for vegan soy-based foods like soy milk, soy cheese, soy crisps, etc. and amid this high demand, the ongoing question is whether soy is bad for you! If you ask experts, you might get a dozen different responses. With soy slowly becoming a part of cereal, pasta et al, could too much of something be harmful? Is it bad for you? How much of it is too much? Let’s find out! 

What is Soy? 

The soybean is a type of legume originating from East Asia but is now grown and cultivated around the globe. The plant is used to produce different products apart from the edible bean itself, which includes milk, tofu and oil. Some fermented options are tempeh, sauce, natto and miso (which is a traditional Japanese paste made from fermented soybeans). Fermented soy products can actually offer a lot of health benefits since fermentation reduces enzyme inhibitors and makes soy’s nutrients more available.

Soybeans are used to make a variety of processed foods as well, which includes vegan meat substitutes and dairy-free yogurts and cheeses. Other compounds such as soy lecithin and soy protein isolate are often extracted from the plant and added to processed foods and supplements.

Nutritional Information 

Soybeans are very rich in nutritive components. Besides the very high protein content, soybeans contain a lot of fibre and are rich in calcium, magnesium, selenium, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid.

Potential Health Benefits

Soybeans contain several powerful compounds and phytochemicals that have been extensively studied for their beneficial effects on health, including isoflavones, plant sterols, prebiotics and many more. Some of the well studied health benefits are listed below:

  • It may help lower cholesterol levels: Some research suggests that including soy foods in your diet may help manage cholesterol levels and promote better heart health. Also, while analyzing several studies, it has been found that consumption of Soy products reduces triglyceride levels, total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Whereas on the other hand, it boosts the HDL (Good) cholesterol.
  • It may improve women’s health by improving menstrual cycle and increasing fertility: Several studies show that inclusion of soy products in one’s diet could help improve the chances of getting pregnant. It may improve regular ovulation and menstrual cycles and also increases the chances of becoming pregnant if anyone is undergoing fertility treatments.
  • It may lower blood pressure: Soybeans may lower blood pressure because they contain isoflavones and studies indicate isoflavones might be effective in lowering blood pressure.

Risks and Side Effects

Although soy foods may be associated with several potential health benefits, there are a few side effects and risks that need to be considered as well.

  • Impact on thyroid function: It contains goitrogens, substances that may negatively affect the thyroid by blocking iodine absorption. However, there’s no evidence that people who have hypothyroidism should avoid it completely. Generally, it’s best to wait four hours after taking thyroid medication to consume any products that contain soy. At the same time, we should be sure that we are consuming enough iodine to prevent adverse effects on health.
  • Soy is GMO: Most soybeans today are genetically modified (GMO) and sprayed with pesticides. This introduces abundance of toxins that block the healthy absorption of essential minerals. GMOs are associated with a number of health concerns, including antibiotic resistance and a higher risk of developing food allergies. Selecting organic soy products is a simple way to ensure that the foods are produced from non-GMO crops.
  • Negative impact on Men’ Health: The dangers of soy for men are a result of the high levels of the female hormone estrogen that soy and soy-based products contain. Primarily, it affects the quality and concentration of a male’s sperm, especially when taken in large quantities. Researchers found some drastic change in a group of men who consumed it in large quantities. Their sperm counts lowered down, slow beard growth, bulky breast development and change in emotions were noticed. Basically, some of them started developing female characteristics.

With all the controversial and conflicting information out there, many people are left wondering if it is bad for you? So what’s the verdict? Although there’s no need to give up on it completely, you may want to avoid eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, a good amount of research is needed to determine the effect of consumption on overall health, as the majority of current studies suggest that selecting non-GMO, minimally processed, whole or fermented soy foods in moderation is likely safe and beneficial for most people. But before you consume any soy or soy product, do consult with your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian. 

We hope this article helps you. For more on nutrition and healthy eating, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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Why Should You Opt For A2 Cow Ghee?

A2 cow ghee

Ghee has always been a part of the Indian tradition as one of the healthiest milk products. In Indian households, we generally use ghee made at home with cow milk. Recently a new type of cow ghee has appeared in the dairy market known as A2 Cow Ghee. Looking at the name, A2 Cow Ghee seems like some kind of a new trend in the health market but it is cow ghee made from A2 milk. Let’s understand it better.

We all know that milk is a good source of protein. However, ghee is pure fat but contains a very small amount of protein as well. There are two types of protein found in milk called casein and whey. There are also different types of casein protein, one of which is beta-casein. A1 & A2 are actually two variants of beta-casein that make up about 30% of total protein in cow’s milk. Traditionally in India, cows produced milk that contained only the A2 form of beta-casein, but today, most of the milk available in local stores contains mostly A1 proteins.

The Difference Between A1 and A2 Cow Ghee 

Reading the name, both types seem like brothers of the same family but there is a huge difference between their source and effect on health. Ghee when made using A2 milk which has only A2 Beta casein (a type of protein) is called A2 ghee. This type of protein is found in the milk of only some native Indian breed of cows and some other animals like the Indian buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, etc. 

On the other hand, ghee made from milk having only A1 beta-casein or sometimes both A1 and A2 beta-casein is called A1 cow ghee. A1 beta-casein is found in all commercial dairy products that we use in general due to foreign breed or crossbreed cows in India. It’s cheaper as the milking capacity of crossbred cows is greater than desi cow and the total number of them is also huge. Obviously, A1 milk is no way better than A2 milk. 

The beta-casein in A1 milk has a structure that allows a short molecule called beta-casomorphin-7 or BCM-7 to split off during digestion. Some foreign researchers say that this small protein can cause various problems ranging from juvenile diabetes, autism, schizophrenia, allergies to auto-immune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. While the percentage of people with immediate effects is very small, the consequences are severe for affected individuals. On the other hand, A2 cow milk is comparable with breast milk when it comes to health benefits and digestibility.

What Are It’s Benefits? 

Being higher in nutrition values such as protein, iron, sodium, calcium, vitamin A, D, E with Omega 3 and 9 fatty acids, A2 cow ghee has many health benefits.

  • Slows the aging process and is good for skin & hair
  • Helps recover from wounds
  • Prevents diseases like asthma & headaches & alleviates insomnia
  • Best for joint massage & treating broken bones
  • Treats gastric issues
  • Lowers bad cholesterol and does not cause blockages
  • Makes your voice soft
  • Great for people who are trying to lose weight
  • Boost immunity
  • The best option for Nasya kriya which has many benefits for health
  • Suitable for even lactose-intolerant people
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Excellent for growing kids and pregnant women

Hope this information is helpful. Don’t hesitate to add at least 1 tsp of A2 cow ghee in your daily diet considering its multiple benefits for your body and mind.

You can get Pure Desi A2 Cow Ghee from the GOQii Health Store for a discount using GOQii Cash – all within the GOQii App. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert 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

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 […]