Natural, Inexpensive, High Quality Protein and Health Drink? Must Read

About a month ago i had the privilege of doing a workshop on ' Building Healthy Lifestyles' for the YPO chapter in Kolkata, India.

There is never a session i do, that i go away from, without haven't learnt something new from the state, country or participants.

One of the participants spoke about a drink made from ' sattu' that the locals drink, that keeps them high on energy and healthy through the hot summer months.

The next morning i met with a couple that spoke of the same drink and were kind enough to make me a glass of delicious ' sattu' with coriander and black salt.
They graciously packed me some bags of ' Sattu' to carry back to Mumbai.
On the way to the airport, i had already begun my research on ' sattu' and the driver pointed out various stalls
along the road where the locals would stop by for a quick glass of this drink.
I had the driver stop at one of these stalls and engaged in an interesting conversation with the man in charge.
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 more to bring back with me. What got my interest levels up were the key words, Protein, Calcium, Fiber, Iron and magnesium.

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 channa ( 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.

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, infact it's just the opposite.
Ayurveda states that in this form ( sattu) people with gas will be relieved.

Aids fat and weight loss

Excellent for strong sexual health

Natural colon cleanser

For elderly people, sick people, bed ridden people, people recovering from serious diseases or surgery, sattu 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.

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 whats 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.

Here's the best part.

100 grams sattu bag will cost you Rs.10. 

3 glasses a day will cost me Rs.18/- and 2 glasses even less, but putting the cost aside,whats 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.

You should be able to purchase this online across India.

Make the change and spread the word. The aim is to move from processed to natural.

Cinnamon Magic And Your Health

I completely believe in the healing power of natural foods and spices. Early civilizations probably depended completely on various foods and spices for cures.

Here's why i strongly promote the use of cinnamon in our daily lives.

I love food as much as i enjoy finding ways to get away with eating certain foods without putting on weight or destroying cellular health. That’s where the use of Cinnamon comes in.

Cinnamon reduces bad cholesterol, triglycerides and has an amazing effect on controlling blood sugar levels and irregular spikes in blood glucose post a meal, making it an excellent remedy for diabetes.

Cinnamon is an insulin substitute in Type II diabetes. Cinnamon itself has insulin-like activity, increasing the effectiveness of insulin. Cinnamon also has a bio-active component that has the potential to prevent or overcome diabetes. It also increases vitality, balances energy, improves the digestion of fruits, milk, and other dairy products and helps reduce bloating and gas.

Doses as small as 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per
day can provide improved insulin resistance, which in turn decreases
heart disease risk and also helps with weight control.

I suggest consuming ½ tsp of cinnamon powder post a high calorie meal ( or add it to your lemon water).

If you want to have a dessert, try adding some cinnamon to it. This will prevent a sudden spike in blood sugar levels that would otherwise occur due to the sugar in the dessert.

Sprinkle some over your bowl of fruits.

Sprinkle some over your ice cream

Add it to your food.

Brew a cup of cinnamon tea ( boil water with green/black tea leaves, or even without tea leaves, add cinnamon sticks, a clove, pour and add 1 tsp organic raw honey).

Many of us have warm water with lemon post heavy meals and upon wake up. You can add ½ tsp of cinnamon to this mix as well.

I especially suggest this for people with diabetes. Try having this after your meal and recording your sugar levels post. You will be amazed with the reading.

I enjoy Starbucks, because it’s the only coffee shop I know of which has ground cinnamon available for use by the customer, so I don’t feel that guilty when I order a Frapp, because I can just sprinkle a dose of cinnamon powder over it, knowing that it will take care of the blood sugar levels to some extent.

Moderation is key.

This does not mean a cinnabon now becomes a healthy option for you. A cinnabon has 144 grams of sugars and carbs and is 730 calories and won't do anything good for you.

Explore different ways to add cinnamon to your daily food plan and add value to your health and lifestyle.

Curcumin (Turmeric) - The Amazing Health Benefits

What's 100% natural and can provide the following health benefits?

Promotes healthy fat burn and weight loss

Reduces joint pain

Reduces Arthritis
Prevents Alzheimer’s

Prevents and reduces Inflammation

Lowers cholesterol within 14 days of starting this.

Promotes excellent heart health
Controls or prevent the onset of diabetes.

Strong positive indicators showing the prevention and cure of all kinds of cancer especially prostrate and breast.

Studies prove that this can control and stop the growth of tumors.

Helps cure IBD ( irritable bowel syndrome)

Liver detoxifier (known to cure liver cirrhosis) , reduces the damage
caused by alcohol and smoking

Reduces nicotine levels in a smoker’s blood and urine.

Prevents the onset of leukemia in children.

Builds immunity and is packed with Antioxidants

Used to effectively treat psoriasis and skin diseases

Treat asthma and allergies.

Post partum recovery

Very rich in iron, used to treat anemia

Used to treat sinus

Used to treat digestive disorders and flatulence.

8 times richer in Vitamin E than a normal vitamin (promotes metabolism,
hair growth and reducing cholesterol)


This is not a medicine or a herb. It’s called ‘ Curcumin ‘ and it is
extracted from our very own ‘ Turmeric’.

All of us are aware of the powerful health benefits of Turmeric. It is the
‘curcumin’ inside Turmeric that makes it health.

To reap all of the above benefits we need around 300 – 500mg of curcumin.
Even though Indian food is rich in turmeric it takes 100grams of turmeric
to produce 2-3 grams of curcumin.

‘Curcumin’ has been extracted for years from the turmeric root and used as
bases in medicines for cancer and many other diseases.

Consuming a capsule of pure ‘curcumin’ a day, can provide you with nutrient
dense nutrition , natural health and help alleviate anyof the above
conditions.

You cannot use turmeric or curcumin if you suffer from gallstones and bile
disorders.





It's been approximately 3.5 years since since i got introduced to Curcumin ( turmeric extract) in the U.S while i consulted with cancer wards, holistic health farms and people with cancer, diabetes, arthritis and liver disease.

The amazing health benefits that this spice has brought to the lives of so many is exhilarating and a strong reminder of how we need to move back to nature for the best treatments and try to avoid chemicals and conventional medication if we can.



Curcumin is the most important curcuminoid of the one of the most popular Indian spices- turmeric, which is a constituent of the ginger family.

Curcumin (Curcuma longa) is the source of the spice Turmeric, and is used in curries and other spicy dishes from India, Asia, and the Middle East. Curcumin is what gives the Curry its characteristic bright yellow colour and strong taste. 

Like many herbal remedies, people first used Curcumin as a food and later discovered that it also had extraordinary medicinal virtues. Over the centuries, this spice has been used as a pain relieving, anti-inflammatory agent to relieve pain and inflammation in the skin and muscles. It has served as a treatment for jaundice, menstrual difficulties, hematuria, hemorrhage, colic, and flatulence. In modern times, research has determined on Curcumin's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antimicrobial properties, and on its use in cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and as a treatment for the liver.

The food we eat has a direct effect on our health, even if that food is something as seemingly insignificant as a spice. Research on families immigrating from India to the United States may reflect the importance of Curcumin in the diet. It is well documented that cancer rates in India are lower than those seen in Western countries. However, studies of Indian immigrants in Western societies indicate that rates of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes, increase dramatically after a generation in the adopted country. Change of diet is among the factors that may be responsible for the changing disease rates. In a study conducted by the United States National Cancer Institute, the researchers noted, "Of particular interest for cancer prevention is the role of turmeric (Curcumin), an ingredient in common Indian curry spice.

Curcumin extract is one of the major antioxidant extracts found in the spice turmeric. The roots of the turmeric plant are used as an herb in Asian cooking such as curries. Curcumin is a major component of turmeric herb and extensive scientific research has demonstrated their potent antioxidant properties. Through their antioxidant mechanisms, curcumin and turmeric support colon health, exert neuro-protective activity and help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

Curcumin is one of a small number of super nutrients which has the demonstrated ability to dramatically lower the risk from cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer`s disease and has been shown to influence the storage of body fat by altering fat metabolism. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol which is extracted from curry powder and has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. You can experience a multitude of health benefits by eating the spice in its natural form or by supplementing with a concentrated extract of active curcuminoids.

Feel free to contact me for more information or if you want to procure 100% pure Curcumin.

Marathons: A Sport or a Dangerous Fad ?

A day after the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, 2013, i got a number of emails and calls with complains about severe knee/back/joint pain and questions on how to get rid of the intense muscle soreness that prevented a large number of people from going to work the next day.

I must say I'm impressed. People i know for years who never exercises or ate balanced and healthy diets attempted to run the half marathon. Some did it, and some dropped out mid way.

It's great that the number of participants have increased year on year. Some see it as the city getting more conscious about fitness and sports. Others see it as a chance to run for a cause and make a difference, and then there's the large lot of people that run because of the media /celebrity and social attention that this marathon brings along with it.

Did the dream run or the 21 km run? Wow, i can update my BBM status, post it on Facebook and Twitter...it's definitely an achievement worth feeling proud of, but at what cost?

Athletes train months before such a sport event. It's not just running everyday as practice. It includes proper and i mean proper nutrition, large amounts of rest and recovery, training in the right gear, the right amount of hydration and developing a strong mental state of mind.

Running a marathon puts immense pressure on the human body. Right from the joints, muscles, ligaments, to the fine cartilage and vital organs like the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and brain.

Many people are unaware that this immense pressure can cause deadly problems , which may only be felt later in life as the body wears down.

Running is a science. I commend the overweight runners that made an attempt to participate, but were their knees and back strong enough to support the additional weight they carried ? Consider the immense pressure i referred to earlier doubling in this case.

A number of clients reached out to me months before the marathon for diets and fitness programs, and i insisted that core training was a mandatory part of their training, to help support their backs through the run. Regular stretching, dynamic and static was part of every routine recommended.

Mixtures of turmeric, ginger powder and fenugreek became part of their nutrition plan along with a host of other anti-inflammatory foods. 8 hours of rest was part of the plan to ensure a healthy recovery between training, and water intake was mandatory to be at the top of all their ' to do ' lists.

If you aspire to run like a professional you got to train like a professional. If it's a fun run, you got to analyze the pros and cons, be aware of your current fitness levels and start of with small steps, progressing along the way until you reach your goal.

Running is a science, and if you don't train for it, you will pay in terms of health in the later years.

Like any other goal that needs to be achieved in life, you need to Plan, Prepare, Review and Do.

Congratulations to all the runner..keep up the amazing spirit, but keep your health in mind as well.

A tip for all those runner:  Increase your intake of turmeric, ginger and garlic. These super-foods and spices are naturally occurring anti-inflammatory foods.

Train and exercise on a regular basis, and you'll find it's much easier to condition your body and mind when the next event comes up

Peace out

New Year Resolutions - 2013

A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings.

People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.
There are other religious parallels to this tradition. During Judaism's New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one's wrong-doings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness.

The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.

Popular goals include resolutions to:
Improve well-being: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking.
Improve finances: get out of debt, save money
Improve career: get a better job
Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music)
Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television, play fewer sitting-down video games.
Take a trip
Volunteer to help others, practice life skills, use civic virtue, give to charity
Get along better with people
Cutting down on drinking
Making new friends
Trying foreign foods
( excerpt from wikipedia)

Here are some resolutions that we can choose from to move towards a healthier lifestyle, reduce disease and suffering, and live energetic and happier lives.

Choose one of these and work on it until it becomes habit, or choose more..but make a realistic choice that will result in achievement and not giving up. Even if you fail the first 3-4 times, keep at it, and i promise you, it will become habit, just like every other behavior.

Write down your choice and practice it daily.

 - Eat Slow and Stop when full.

 - Quit or reduce smoking month on month, or week on week.

 - Drink in moderation. Don't let alcohol be your only source of enjoyment or happiness.

 - Refined sugar is poison and an addiction. Limit it. Switch to honey/jaggery/brown sugar/Stevia

 - Say no to artificial sweeteners. There are direct links to cancer/alzeihmers/dementia and depression

 - Exercise 5 to 6 times a week. Even if it's just a walk for 20 minutes. Consistency matters.

 - use the stairs as far as possible.

 - try and sleep 7 hours each night

 - Practice deep breathing and manage stress effectively

 - Choose long term health goals like a lifetsyle change, rather than than a short term goal like fitting into a dress for a wedding.

 - Limit packaged/processed foods

 - Invest in your childrens education and your own, when it comes to health and nutrition. Prevention is better than cure and knowledge is power.

 - Be patient with your body and weight loss. It took a long time to pile on weight, it will take some time and effort and sacrifice to burn it off. There are NO SHORTCUTS, if you want healthy and permanent results.

 - Drink your lemon water. I cannot emphazise how good this is for your liver and health

- Keep your liver clean. Detoox or do a ' only water' fast atleast once a month to cleanse your system.

 - Be aware or cancer, diabetes and cardiac diesease, that is slowly creeping into our everyday lives.Keep your immunity strong and respect the body.

 - Stop drinking aerated drinks. It's sweet poison.

 - Juice is full of sugar and devoid of fiber. It will create insulin issues and can make you fat. Eat whole fruits.

- Dates, nuts, potatoes do not make you fat, unless eaten irresponsibly. They are low fat foods.

 - Drink water and stay hydrated thru the year.

 - Use a food and exercise journal to track progress.

 - Burn 100 cals a day or eat 100 cal less every day for 35 days, and you can knock of a POUND of FAT. That's a lot of FAT.

 - Keep it simple....always keep it simple.

- No matter what, e thankful for your current health, the food you have to eat and the sleep you get each night. Gratitude can make us healthy.

Have a safe new year. I wish all of you health, happiness, peace and love, all through 2013.



 

Cancer And Our Future

Simple definition: Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells somewhere in our body.

Fact: Everyone has cancer cells in their body.

Cancer may be prevented.

Cancer can  and may be controlled and cured, depending on how early it has been detected and what kind of treatment has been chosen.

Cancer can occur in the healthiest of people. You may not smoke, or drink,
you may exercise regularly, sleep 7 hours, but you can still get cancer. All
the bad things that you hear about, that cause cancer, contribute towards
the possible onset of cancer, but may not necessarily cause them.

It all comes down to the strength of your immune system. Your body’s defense mechanism, it’s ability to fight germs, parasites, bad cells (free
radicals), the ability to repair quickly and re-generate new healthy cells.

It’s all about cellular health. Your heart, kidneys, liver, hair, skin, finger nails, weight, everything. It’s all about the health of your cells.

You immune system is only as strong as your decision to eat the right foods sleep well and exercise regularly.

It is only as strong as our decision to make a lifestyle change today.


With changing climates, increasing pollution levels and the availability of strategically marketed junk food and processed food, we need to work all
the more harder to commit to a lifestyle change.

Supressed emotions, negative stress and depression are three possible causes and triggers that should not be side lined.

For people who are dealing with cancer, easier said then done, but belief in the statement that “everything that can be built up, can be torn down” can go miles in assisting positive improvement in the condition. Cancer and tumors are ‘built up’ abnormal cells.

People ask how they can help people dealing with cancer.

Money and emotional support helps, but  more than that we need to create a new culture. A culture where we educate our children, our families, ourselves, our friends, on the importance of a lifestyle shift.


We can choose to react to the present situation or we can choose to be proactive and inspire change.

In many of my counseling’s  and interactions with doctors and research resources, more than the medical complication itself , is the fact the peer pressure, ego, depression, lack of self control, insecurity and greed, design the lifestyles we choose.

It’s the little things we do that adds up to the larger result. A lifestyle change should not hit you hard. You need to do it step by step.

Instead of eating out thrice a week, cut down to twice.

Do you really really really need that dessert so many times a week? Cut down to twice or once.

Before you light that cigarette, ask yourself, is it worth it? Is this going to make me happy for a long time? Is it really going to relieve my stress?  Is it worth the suffering it may cause? Is it fair to my family and loved ones?

Before you pour yourself that 5^th or 6^th drink, ask yourself, do I really need this? Will it make me truly happy for a long time, or is it temporary? Can I find happiness only in alcohol or can I find it in relationships, hobbies, family, pets etc. Will my friends ridicule me if I don’t drink that much? If yes, are they my true frinds? Do I really need this next drink to help me ‘ fit in’ ? Or should I be accepted for who and how I am.

When it comes to smoking, the encouragement is to stop now.
When it comes to alcohol: Enjoy your drink in moderation. Go wild ONCE in a way, but compensate thru proper nutrition, exercise and rest.

The fact that a new cancer state of the art hospital has just opened or that another cancer treatment center just got the latest equipment from Germany, should not make us happy or relieved that we are advancing in the field of medicine.

It should infact  speak ill of the way our country is advancing,  and what each of us should be looking at is creating a healthy future and community for our children and generations to come by encouraging and making small lifestyle changes.

That future is a possibility for us and the next generation, if we want it to be.

Make that change today !!

Lowering cholesterol the natural way - A true Story

A true story:
Many people out there are battling with cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Not monitoring these levels puts you in the risk zone for cardio-vascular diseases.

Medication is usually selected as the best and most effective solution. The thing about medication is the side effects it has on your liver, which is one of the most important organs in the human body.

Medication brings down your levels and psychologically allows you to resort to the same lifestyle that caused cholesterol issues. Unfortunately it’s just the medication doing it’s job and it’s not curing you, instead slowly destroying vital organs in your body.

By making a minor shift in your lifestyle, you can control your triglyceride and cholesterol levels without medication, and that should be out goal. Going natural and staying healthy.

I got a call from Client ‘A ‘ who lives in Belgium, in December, 2011. He stated weight and cholesterol issues. His reports spoke of an unhealthy heart and clearly categorized him in a high risk zone for his heart health.

Between Dec 2011 and April 2012 here is how his figures changed.

Lipids	Ref value	Dec 2011 Values	April 2012 values
Total Cholesterol	desirable upto 200mg/dl	248.01	169.63
HDL	Major risk below 40mg/dl	35	38.65
LDL	Optimal below 100mg/dl	188	118.14
Triglycerides	Normal below 150mg/dl	129.84	64.18
VLDL	6-36 mg%	25.96	12.84
LDL/HDL ratio	2.5 to 3.5	5.37	3.06
Chol/HDL ratio	3.5 to 5	7.09	4.39
Vitamin D3	Insufficiency bet 10 - 30ng/Ml	12.2	28.4
Vitamin B12	211 to 911 pg/ml	184	472

All this was achieved without a single medication.

Here is what client ‘A ‘did during those few months –

• Began a regular exercise program. Nothing strenuous just walks.
• Intermittent liver cleanse days
• Ate balanced meals with no restriction on food quantities.
• Had a cheat day every week ( monitored portions and selections sensibly)
• Loaded up on natural cholesterol and triglyceride lowering foods
• Consumed healthy fats
• Increased his water and green tea intake
• Kept no more than 3 hours gap between each meal.
• Added natural spices and fiber to his food plan.

Client ‘A’ travels a lot, and to countries which did not offer healthy food options easily available.

He ate regular lounge and airplane food, but sensibly and in the right quantities.

Client ‘A’ approached the challenge with the right attitude and a strong goal, a lifestyle change.

Your weight and cholesterol are directly proportional to one and other. You decrease your body fat and you lower all heart ailments along with pressure and other medical conditions, including diabetes.

Client ‘A ‘ is currently in maintenance phase, which is nothing but his new lifestyle.

Balanced meals
Exercise
7 hours of sleep
The right attitude.

He did small things everyday for his health, that added up to his success. He is currently shopping for a new wardrobe.

The sum of little things add up to success and the achievement of your goal.


Check out: Eat Smart, Move More, Sleep Right - Your personal health coach