Sudhir Ahluwalia's Blog, page 23

How often does a company revise its strategic plan?

Successful companies revise their strategic plans to accelerate their growth, seek to gain a competitive advantage over competitors, post a merger or a major acquisition, etc.

Markets continually evolve. Customer preferences change. Technology disruption and innovation lead to the creation of new products or services. Global events, geopolitical upheavals, climate change, new leadership, and new ideas trigger the need to revise the strategic plan.

Normally, good companies revise their strategic plans every three to four years. These are not major strategy changes. Changes are undertaken to align the company to an altered market condition.

Let me illustrate the concept with an example from the IT services sector. Over the past twenty years, the industry has continually transformed itself. Some of the macro strategic changes undertaken by a section of the IT services industry are:

Design development bespoke application development workPackaged Product ImplementationCloud and SAAS implementationDigital and agile transformationBlockchain and metaverse adoption.

The above macro changes are evolutionary, like tweaking offerings in response to the changing conditions.

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Does ginger help in ameliorating cancer?

Experiments on animals have shown that the fruit extract helped inhibit gastric ulcers (Shetty et al., 2008). Certain flavonoids (bi-flavones) isolated from the stem and branches exhibited cytotoxic properties in the colon, non–small cell lung, breast, ovarian, and renal cell cancers (Pradhan et al., 2009).

The effect of gingerols on Helicobacter pylori bacteria that cause gastritis and cancer in the stomach was studied, and results indicate that the herb has chemopreventive effects (Mahady et al., 2003).

Beyond these few experiments, scientific evidence to support the anticancer property of the plant appears to be tenuous.

Ginger and its oil may increase the risk in people susceptible to bleeding disorders. It could be due to the anti-coagulant property of the spice (Srivastava et al., 1984).

There is so much anecdotal evidence that describes a herb’s miraculous properties that desperate patients fall victim to these miracle cure makers. I have studied the medicinal properties of herbs for several years now and what I have learned is to exercise caution when using herbs for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Herbs are known to be harmful to health.

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How do we know climate change is a problem?

According to Inter-Governmental Panel for Climate Change projections, we will see global average temperatures 2.6 to 4.8 degrees Celsius higher than the present by this century. Sea levels will also be 0.45 to 0.82 meters higher than today.

The likely range of total human-caused global surface temperature increase from 1850-1900 to 2010 to 2019 is 0.8 to 1.3 degrees Celsius. GHGs (greenhouse gases) contributed a 1 to 2 degrees Celsius rise. Aerosols and other human drivers caused a cooling of 0 degrees to 0.1 degrees Celsius.

Global average precipitation over land is also likely to have increased since 1950. Changes in near-surface ocean salinity have been observed. The upper ocean (0 to 700 m) has warmed, and oxygen levels have dropped since the 1970s. Sea levels rise averaged 1.3 mm between 1971 and 2006, increasing to 3.7 mm per year between 2006 and 2018. The land biosphere has been consistently warming, with climate zones shifting poleward in both hemispheres since the 1950s.

Some other climate-related facts noted in the 6th assessment report of IPCC are:

CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in at least two million yearsConcentrations of methane and nitrous oxide were higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years,The global surface temperature has increased faster since the 1970sTemperatures in the 2011-2020 decade exceeded the most recent multi-century warm period around 6500 years ago.Arctic sea ice has reached its lowest level since at least 1850. Global glaciers have retreated synchronously since the 1950s for at least 2000 years.Global mean sea levels have risen faster since 1900 and are warmed faster since the last deglacial transition around 11000 years ago.An increase in surface open ocean pH occurred over the past 50 million years, and surface open ocean pH has been as low as the last 2 million years in recent decades.

And I could go on and on. The weight in favor of climate change is huge.

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Will NFTs surpass cryptocurrencies?

NFTs represent a physical asset. Normally you transact in physical assets after verifying the intended acquisition for authenticity and suitability. NFTs can represent an asset after it has been subjected to due diligence. It helps prevent duplication and fraud. In some cases, NFTs will be able to reduce transaction costs also. NFT use cases are increasing, becoming popular as transactions increasingly become remote.
Cryptocurrencies are facing resistance from national regulators. Regulators are finding it difficult to authenticate the validity of transactions. Tax evasion and transaction opacity are some of the chief concerns.
The recent Ukraine- Russia conflict and resultant sanctions on Russia have hugely impeded financial transactions with Russia. Reports indicate that cryptocurrencies are being used to bypass traditional banking channels and circumvent transactions. The opacity and lack of traceability of cryptocurrencies have suddenly emerged as an advantage. Such transactions will be characterized as illegal under international law. Therefore, the use case mentioned above will get limited traction globally.
As these are designed today, I believe that cryptocurrencies will have a limited utility. They will continue to be an asset class with some use cases that people will find of value. Blockchain technology is being used to create sovereign-supported and regulated digital currencies. These, in the future, will become an important global transaction medium.
Net-net, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies will have a degree of popularity amongst a class of users. There will be other use cases of blockchain technology, like smart contracts, that will probably become more popular than NFTs and cryptocurrencies.

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Why is a plant-based diet more climate friendly?

It is estimated that about 2 billion people live primarily on a meat-based diet, while 4 billion focus on a plant-based diet. The US food production system, a dominant meat-based market with a population of just 300 million, uses about 50% of the total US land area, 80% of its freshwater, and 17% of the fossil energy. A vegetarian diet is more ecologically sustainable when compared to a meat-based diet (Pimentel et al., 2003). A plant-based diet consumes much lower quantities of fossil energy and is more climate-friendly.

As awareness of the health benefits of plant-based food rises, people have started to turn increasingly curious about the various protein sources. Even the traditional animal protein-consuming parts of the world are looking at this protein version as an option. By 2054, it is estimated that 33% of all protein consumed will be plant-based (Lux Research Estimates).

A study done by Innova Market Insights 2014 saw a 14.7% growth in demand for plant-based protein, while the need for animal protein grew only by 7.5%. Such trends are being driven by people’s concerns about obesity and the associated lifestyle diseases it brings. Food safety issues related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) also contribute to this shift in consumption.

According to Mintel, today, the meat substitutes market is led by tofu and tofu ingredients-based products, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, soy, wheat, and mycoprotein. The tofu and tofu ingredients segment accounted for the largest share of the meat substitutes market in 2017.

The meat substitutes market, estimated at $4.68 billion in 2018, is expected to reach $6.43 billion by 2023 — growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. This market also has low-fat, fortified snacks along with meat-substitute products. Now companies like Quorn (UK), Meatless (Netherlands), ADM (US), Du Pont (US), and several others specific to individual countries and regions are focusing on such foods.

A plant-based diet is a healthier alternative to one laden with meat; It reduces the chances of artery blockage and artery hardening, which are common causes of heart attacks (Tuso et al., 2015; Hu.,2003). It’s been observed that subjects who follow a plant-based diet (especially legumes) have high levels of genistein in their urine. Genistein is also said to help prevent chronic degenerative diseases like cancer tumors (Fotsis et al., 1993).

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What is Ayurvedic diet and its advantages and downsides?

In Ayurveda, the body and its diseases are products of food. Food is categorized as wholesome and unwholesome. Foods should be compatible with the body. Ayurveda lays great stress on selecting food, processing, cooking, and defining healthy eating rules. They also believe that the processes of nutrition are accomplished only when the inner biological fire system (Agni) and the inner transport system (srotasmi) are in order. I would interpret this to mean an emphasis on balancing the desire for food consumption and the associated digestive processes.

Ayurveda insists that dietary planning is aligned with nature and environmental conditions. Diet should be in tune with the individual personality (Prakriti), adverse personality traits (Vikriti), dosha, and body type.

For restoring the body from the disease, dietary supplements are also used in Ayurveda. Supplement treatment is called Rasayana therapy. Rasayanas are essential nutraceuticals. These help build the immune system, maintain mineral bio balance, provide essential nutrients, and possess antiaging properties.

Twelve food categories are listed in Ayurveda. These are corn, wines, pulses, water, meat, milk and milk products, vegetables, sugar cane and related products, fruits, cooked products, greens, and food adjuvants.

Diet planning is nature-based, holistic, and personalized. It stems from the belief that the body has a self-healing capacity and that whenever disease afflicts it, the body’s self-healing property kicks in.

Diet planning is nature-based and holistic. It considers the lifestyle, diet, exercise, medication, and mental state of an individual. Individuals being different, recommendations are aligned to the body and personality type of the individual.

Diet should be appropriate to the climate, season, patient’s condition, digestive power, palatable, in the right quantity, and follow prescribed restrictions. The food should be appropriately cooked and processed, adaptable and appropriate to individual requirements, adequately potent and rich, and track the patient’s bowel habits. Diet is aligned to an individual’s dosha.

According to Ayurveda, diet plays a role in keeping the mind healthy. They have classified three types of diet—Sattvik diet, which is vegetarian, nonoily, and nonspicy. Rajasik diet is spicy, hot, sour, salty, and excites the mind, while the Tamasik diet is oily, heavy, and brings in lethargy.

There are contradictory diets that are indicated in Ayurveda. For instance, fish and fish products and milk, milk or milk products and alcohol, radish with milk, lotus stem with honey, or honey with clarified butter are not recommended to be taken together.

Diet varies with the season. In spring, bitter, hot, and astringent diets are advised; salty, sour, and sweet food are avoided during this season. Wheat, barley, honey, fruits (such as mango, jack fruit), and lean meat are recommended.

Cooling foods and liquid, sweet, and oily foods are recommended in summer, but the hot, spicy, sour, or salty diet is avoided. Recommended foods are rice, milk, clarified butter, sugar, grapes, coconut water, and lean meat.

During the rainy season, sweet, sour, and salty foods that are hot, dry, fatty, and easily digestible are recommended. In this season, preserved rice, wheat, barley, and mutton are advised.

The recommended food is hot, sweet, sour, and salty in winter. Milk, sugarcane, rice, oils, and fats are commonly advised food. Clarified butter with a bitter, pungent, and light diet in autumn is recommended. They also recommend purgation in this season.

Ayurveda specialists advise abstinence from foods that cause an imbalance between the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. They recommend nutraceuticals that help improve the digestive functions of the body. Normally, Triphala, a combination of Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia chebula, and Embilica officinalis, is prescribed. It is said to tone the digestive functions.

The Ayurveda diet is associated with the dosha type. Vata-type people should eat cooked, warm foods, take spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and ginger in food, and stay away from icy drinks. They should eat sweet berries, fruits, small beans, rice, nuts, and dairy products. Moderate exercise and meditative yoga are good for such people.

Pitta people should avoid alcohol and tobacco. Fresh vegetables, juicy fruits (such as cherries, mango, cucumber, watermelon), salads, and greens are recommended. Kapha individuals should take light, warm food, spices, ginger, chillis, etc.

Ayurveda is an ancient observation-based science. It is good to know science. There has been a lot of advancement in our understanding of the world of nutrition.

If you are looking for evidence-based nutritional recommendations, talk to a qualified nutritionist than an Ayurveda practitioner.

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Someone told me that organic food is more nutritious; is it true?

It is a common belief that organic farm produce is more nutritious.

The following facts are now clearly understood.

Organic food contains little or no pesticide residues.

The farms provide more employment.Organic farming improves soil biodiversity.The crops show better pollination.The soil structure in these farms is better, making these farms less prone to soil erosion.Organic farms are more energy-efficient.

A comparison of the nutritional value, sensory qualities, and food safety of organically and conventionally produced foods were made. Except for nitrate content, there is no strong evidence that organic and conventional foods differ in various nutrients or contaminants (Bourn et al., 2002).

On the other hand, a nutritional quality comparative assessment study for fruits, vegetables, and grains raised in organic and conventionally grown crops showed that the former contained significantly more vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus and considerably fewer nitrates (Worthington, 2001).

Phenols are important to human health. The total content of this class of metabolites was studied in marionberries, strawberries, and corn cultivated in organic and conventional farms. The three most common post-harvest processing treatments were studied: freezing, freeze-drying, and air drying. The phenol content was higher in organically raised crops (Asami et al., 2003).

One hundred sixty-two studies, of which 137 examined nutrient quality in crop and 25 livestock products, were analyzed. Conventionally produced crops had a significantly higher nitrogen content, and organic crops had a higher content of phosphorus and higher titratable acidity. The scientists also noted no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs. Small differences in nutrient content between the two could be related to differences in production methods (Dangour et al., 2009).

Compared to developing countries in the developed parts of the world, nutritional differences like the content of minerals, vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates will determine the popularity of organic and conventional farm products. As the awareness of the importance of compounds that help protect the human body from disease is understood, this difference between organic and conventional crops became an area of interest for researchers. Organic vegetables and fruits were more likely to contain more of these defensive compounds when compared to those produced in conventional farms (Brandt et al., 2001).

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Is there any evidence in support of ash gourd anti-cancer healing property?

Ash gourd is one of the plants constituent of anti-cancer medicine in Ayurveda. Benincasa cerifera syn Benincasa hispida is the botanical name of this plant that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. The plant’s fruits are used as vegetables in South Asia and China.
References to the plant in Chinese medicine go back to the Tang dynasty, where it finds a mention in Materia Medica (c. AD 659). Various plants treated urinary dysfunctions, vaginal discharges, and fevers. In Ayurveda, the fruit treats respiratory ailments and urinary infections.
Experiments on animals have shown that the fruit extract helped inhibit gastric ulcers (Shetty et al., 2008). Certain flavonoids (bi-flavones) isolated from the stem and branches exhibited cytotoxic properties in the colon, non–small cell lung, breast, ovarian, and renal cell cancers (Pradhan et al., 2009).
Beyond these little experiments, scientific evidence to support the anti-cancer property of the plant appears to be tenuous.
Anecdotally though, many plants are claimed to possess miraculous medicinal properties. A 2018 survey on Chinese-speaking cancer patients found that 65% used alternative or complementary medicine. (Balneaves et al., 2018).
There is a sense of desperation in cancer sufferers and caregivers. The trauma associated with this disease is considerable, and fear and its toll on health. Treatment often contributes to this trauma. Desperate patients often look to alternatives to alleviate suffering.
Alternate medicine healers develop miraculous cures that they claim will heal a patient of pain and provide relief. Unfortunately, these claims have not been verified by scientific trials. I have been writing on natural remedies for close to six years. In my research as I wrote my books on this subject, I have looked at a lot of scientific evidence. A few plants used in Ayurveda and TCM have been proven to possess anti-cancer properties. These have been converted and are now in use in modern medicine. Vincristine was isolated from Vinca rosea and is now a standard constituent of chemotherapy medicine. Research on other plants is taking place.
Until this research concludes, it is often unsafe to go by anecdotal evidence. I know people are desperate and will still be convinced by healers, friends, and family to try a miracle plant cure.

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Should businesses make net-zero plans to achieve climate goals?

Businesses flourish when they produce goods and services that customers want. In most parts of the world, customers are concerned about global warming. They are worried about changing weather patterns. People are experiencing extreme weather events now almost every year. Weather changes have started making an impact on day-to-day life.
A global consensus on achieving net-zero carbon emission targets has been reached in response to public pressure supported by climate data. Countries have made plans. They are also making regulation changes to help achieve climate goals.
Businesses need to stay competitive and aligned to customer priority. They have no option but to make net-zero plans. Failure to do so will impact brand image. Customers will go to businesses that are responsive and supportive of climate goals. Investors, too, have started factoring in climate risk in their lending models. Funding will be available only to those businesses that conform to national and global climate goals.
Businesses, therefore, have no option but to get fully behind climate change abatement efforts. Every business sector, including fossil fuel producers, consumers, miners, has made ambitious plans to be net-zero by a date. These plans are getting monitored assiduously by their Boards. The strategies and details are being made available to the public. Companies are telling their customers that they are proactively addressing customer preferences.
It is in the vested interest of companies to not just appear to be climate-friendly but to be seen working towards achieving these goals. Customers are driving this change.

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What are the natural advantages of herbal medicine?

I have looked at the scientific evidence supporting the medicinal properties of herbs now for several years as I researched for my books.
I have discovered very few herbs in Ayurveda and TCM with proven medicinal properties. Medicinal properties need to be fully validated in human clinical trials conducted outside the regions where these systems are popular. Teams of independent researchers should prove the efficacy of medicinal property.

Hundreds of anecdotal statements are spread throughout the internet. These claim miraculous healing properties of a herb or herbal combination.

People desperate for a cure try these combinations. Many find themselves psychologically cured of the ailment. Others are disappointed. One of my close colleagues, India’s top medicinal plant expert, passed away, believing that Ayurveda formulations would cure his cancer.

Herbs do possess medicinal properties. These properties have to be scientifically investigated. The molecules responsible for the therapeutic action have to be identified. These molecules then have to go through a cycle of tests and trials before these can be declared safe and effective for you.

Herbal medicine systems are great foundational material for scientists to study and identify cures for ailments. But most herbal medicine practitioners are stuck in ancient practices which are likely to cause you more harm than benefit.

The bottom line, ask for the science supporting the medicinal cure offered by a herbal hypothecary. If the individual cannot provide a convincing answer, you should use your common sense and go to a science-supported healer.

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