Today you will learn about how to interpret your test results and tea time alternatives. You will also learn how to prepare some healthy alternatives to tea, coffee, and biscuits including a herbal tea, bhel puri, and sprout chaat with date chutney.
Interpret your test results
By now, you may have received the results of your blood tests. You may want to understand the meaning of these more.
- Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measures your average blood sugar level (glucose) over the previous three months.
- Creatinine levels give an indication of how well your kidneys work.
- Uric acid is created when the body breaks down protein substances. The kidneys excrete it.
- Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made only by animals. Your body makes all that it needs. Consuming animal products like meat, seafood, dairy, and eggs provides you with additional cholesterol that you do not need.
- Triglycerides are formed as a result of any calories that are not used immediately by the body as fuel. It may be high because of fat or even excess sugars in the body.
- Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that is manufactured by bacteria and yeast and is necessary for your nerves and other vital functions. Most people have low vitamin B12 levels as it’s hard to obtain in our modern world. Taking Metformin can also result in a low vitamin B12 level. Learn more about vitamin B12.
- Vitamin D is created by your body naturally after direct exposure to sunlight. Many people have a low vitamin D level because of using sunscreen, smog, and other factors. Learn more about vitamin D.
Watch this video by Dr. Nandita Shah to learn how to interpret your blood test results. You can also schedule an appointment with a SHARAN doctor who can guide you personally about how to interpret your test results.
You may have already seen your blood sugar levels dropping by now. You may also notice that the blood flows out more easily. This shows that the blood has become thinner because there’s less fat in your blood. If you are committed to this lifestyle, you can now cut down your cholesterol medications if you are on them and if you have had no cardiac interventions you can also stop your blood thinners when you see the blood flow easily. Always take the advise of your doctor or a SHARAN doctor to help reduce your medications.
Key Points
- An HbA1c level of 6% or more means that you have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Your HbA1c should be less than 6% without any diabetes medications to be considered normal.
- A high creatinine level indicates that your kidneys may be compromised or failing. Animal proteins, including dairy, are toxins to the kidneys. Eliminate animal products from your diet to help lower your creatinine level. If it’s very high, you may also have to reduce high protein, plant-based foods like lentils and beans.
- A high uric acid level signifies gout or kidney disease. Eliminate animal products from your diet to help lower your uric acid level.
- Both high and low cholesterol levels are harmful. Eliminate animal products from your diet to help lower your cholesterol level. Statins and cholesterol reducing medications can result in excessively low cholesterol levels.
- A high triglyceride level may increase your risk of coronary artery disease. Eliminate animal products and other fatty products like oil to help lower your triglyceride level.
- A low vitamin B12 level can cause low energy, neuropathy, heart disease, and other conditions. You must take a supplement if your vitamin B12 level is low.
- A low vitamin D level can impede calcium absorption and cause diabetes, osteoporosis, and other conditions. Get adequate, direct sunlight every day or take a supplement if your vitamin D level is low.
Enjoy tea time alternatives
We realize that it is obviously not the most popular recommendation to advise you to stop the habit of drinking tea and coffee. However, tea, coffee, and soft drinks contain caffeine, which is an unhealthy addiction and highly acidic and harmful for the body. Caffeine raises your blood sugar and blood pressure levels and can cause constipation, indigestion, bad breath, and insomnia. In addition, caffeine prevents the absorption of iron and calcium.
Ideally, you should stop drinking caffeinated beverages at once since your ultimate goal is to become well. You may experience some discomfort or withdrawal symptoms like headaches, but they usually last only four days. Some people find it easy to quit tea and coffee when they learn about its harmful effects, and others like to do it slowly. Choose the approach that is best for you.
Watch this video by Dr. Nandita Shah to learn more about healthy tea time alternatives to tea, coffee, and biscuits.
Key Points
- Either stop drinking tea and coffee at once, or wean yourself off sweetened milky tea or coffee by transitioning to less harmful, plant-based alternatives in the following order:
- 1. Black tea or coffee or with soy or other plant-based milk and no sugar
- 2. Green tea
- 3. Caffeine-free herbal infusions like tulsi, ginger, hibiscus, cinnamon, mint, and lemongrass
- 1. Black tea or coffee or with soy or other plant-based milk and no sugar
- Biscuits are a packaged product full of refined ingredients like maida, oil, and sugar.
- Replace biscuits with healthy, whole food alternatives like peanuts, popcorn, whole wheat or millet crackers, etc.
Today you’ll learn how to prepare some healthy tea time alternatives to tea, coffee, and biscuits including an herbal tea, bhel puri, and sprout chaat with date chutney.
Tea and coffee alternative
Learn how to prepare a herbal tea—a delicious alternative to milky, sugary tea and coffee!
KEY INGREDIENTS
Herbal-tea:
- Mint leaves to taste
- Freshly-grated ginger to taste
- Whole, crushed pepper to taste
- Lemongrass to taste
Tea time snack alternatives
Watch this video by Dr. Nandita Shah to learn how to prepare sprout chaat with date chutney—a delicious alternative to biscuits or fried snacks at tea time.
KEY INGREDIENTS
Sprout Chaat:
- 1 cup moong sprouts
- ½ cup unpeeled, cubed, steamed potatoes
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup finely-chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon finely-chopped green chilies to taste
- 1 heaping tablespoon finely-chopped coriander leaves
- Black salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
Date Chutney:
- 6 pitted, soft dates
- ¼ cup tamarind paste
- Salt to taste
- Pinch of chili powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ cup cumin (jeera) powder (optional)
Learn how to prepare bhel puri—another delicious plant-based alternative to biscuits or fried snacks at tea time.
KEY INGREDIENTS
Bhel-puri:
- 1 cup puffed brown rice
- ½ cup finely-chopped onions
- 4 finely-chopped tomatoes
- 2 small, unpeeled, finely-chopped cucumbers
- 2 tablespoons fresh, finely-chopped coriander
- Black salt to taste
- Roasted, roughly-crushed peanuts to taste or baked Sev (oilf free) or baked chana daal
- 1 tablespoon lime juice or date and tamarind paste
- green chillies to taste
Bharat Doshi, an business professional from Kenya, attended the SHARAN 21-day Disease Reversal Retreat in June 2015. He loved his 4 cups of tea and also 8 nicorettes a day. He decided to go cold turkey and suffered withdrawl! The third day was less difficult and on the 4th day it was fine. The cravings are still there, but he was determined to let go. Watch his testimonial.
“Although the craving is still there, I have been successful in just saying NO”
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