Sudhir Ahluwalia's Blog, page 25

Is it a good business strategy to utilize leverage and maintain a high level of competitiveness?

Using leverage to maintain competitiveness in a highly competitive environment should only be resorted to when your product or service has a competitive advantage over others.
I have seen companies get into serious trouble when trying to gain a competitive advantage by reducing prices and margins to below sustainable levels. Such companies seek to use leverage to outproduce competitors. The margins being low in such cases drives such companies to serious indebtedness. These companies, in time, fold up and disappear.
Leverage has to be used with a lot of care and thought. Many tech startups adopt the strategy of buying growth with leverage. The thinking is that let us increase our market footprint and gain market share.
Investors also encourage them to adopt this strategy. Many of them are interested in cashing out when euphoria for a fast-expanding company is high. Exits in such conditions are generally profitable. However, if the strategy and operational models are unsustainable, it won’t be easy to survive.
Conservative strategies require you to keep leverage under control. It may not appear fashionable, but it is a good strategy for most.Similar Posts:

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What are the medicinal properties of Vinca rosea syn Cantharanthus roseus?

Catharansus roseus is the new name of Vinca rosea. The common name of this plant is periwinkle. It is a perennial herb or subshrub that grows to a height of up to 1 m. Like other members of the Apocynaceae family, the sap of the plant is a milky latex. The plant bears white, pink, and red showy flowers. It is cultivated mainly for its ornamental properties. Madagascar is regarded as the origin of the plant. The plant is planted in gardens in the warm, tropical parts of the world.

Two alkaloids—vinblastine and vincristine—found in the plant’s leaves were especially valuable in preventing cell division, a property critical to arresting the growth of cancer. The first observations on the anticancer property of the plant were published in 1958 (Noble et al., 1958).

Vincaleukoblastine and leurosine with antitumor properties were discovered in 1960 (Johnson et al., 1960; Cutts et al., 1960). Clinical trials on patients with these alkaloids were conducted, and found it to possess anticancer property was validated (Warwick et al., 1960).

One derived compound, vincristine, has raised the survival rate in childhood leukemia from 10% in the 1960s to 90% today.

Vinca alkaloids are useful in treating both malignant and nonmalignant cancer. They are now included in virtually every successful chemotherapy program (Neuss & Neuss, 1990). The action of the alkaloids is dose-independent when screened against colorectal cancer cell lines (Siddiqui et al., 2010). Vinca alkaloids are the second most used cancer drugs (Moudi et al., 2013).

Additional reading:

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Is turmeric with black pepper anti-inflammatory?

I have researched the subject of natural remedies as I wrote my books on the subject. Let me share some evidence-based facts based on this work:

Turmeric:

Traditionally, it has been used to treat skin, gastrointestinal, autoimmune, liver, eye, and other disorders. Turmeric provides relief in allergies, gall bladder ailments, edema, tumors, and cataract. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties are used to treat inflammations and infections.

Pharmacological reviews by Ammon et al. (1991), Jurenka (2009), and others validate curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, the active compound in the spice, exhibits anti-spasmodic activity. It was seen to stimulate bile secretion in animals and help treat liver disorders.

Araujo et al. (2001) and Aggarwal et al. (2007 and 2009) have noted curcumin’s anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and gastrointestinal actions. It is also helpful in treating liver and other ailments.

Jagetia and Aggarwal at the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, US, writes, “Interestingly, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses. This suggests that curcumin’s reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its ability to modulate the immune system.”

Curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. Black pepper substantially enhances the absorption of curcumin. Ayurvedic physicians and nutritionists recommend mixing a pinch of turmeric in milk to be consumed at bedtime.

Pepper:

The biological role of Piper nigrum has been studied, and its action was observed by Ahmed et al. in 2012. They found that Piper nigrum has many properties: anti-apoptotic, antibacterial, anti-colon toxin, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-metastatic activity, antioxidative, anti-pyretic, anti-spasmodic, anti-tumor, anti-thyroid, ciprofloxacin potentiator, cold extremities, hepatoprotective, etc.

Additional reading:

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Is olive oil the healthiest option?

Let me clarify some fundamental facts.

There are many regional preferences for cooking oils and their use in different parts of the world. The most consumed cooking oils in the world are palm oils (65.15 Million metric tons), Soybean oil (54.59 MMT), rapeseed oil (28.65 MMT), and sunflower seed oil (17.63MMT).

Oils contain saturated fats, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats are the healthiest. These are cardio-protective, regulate blood sugar, and aid in weight loss.

Saturated fatty acids are mostly solid at room temperature. In contrast, fats that stay liquid at room temperature are full of unsaturated fatty acids. Common examples of cooking fats rich in saturated fatty acids are butter, cheese, dairy products made from whole or reduced-fat milk, cream, beef fat, fatty beef, etc. Vegetable oil examples of saturated fat-rich oil are coconut oil palm oil.

On the other hand, Olive oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Eating foods that contain saturated fats raises the level of cholesterol in your blood. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

In food, exclusive olive oil seems to offer significant protection against cardiac health diseases, irrespective of various clinical, lifestyle, and other characteristics. (Kontogianni et al., 2007)

Virgin olive oil is associated with higher antioxidant capacity levels in the plasma. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in virgin olive oil showed a reduction of cardiovascular disease risk and weight reduction. (Razquin et al., 2009)

After reviewing existing data, the European Food Safety Authority released a claim concerning the benefits of ingestion of virgin olive oil-rich food. (Covas et al., 2015) Canola and olive oil were oils used in this 4-week study. Obesity is associated with high blood lipids, fatty liver, and low-grade inflammation. Both MUFA and PUFA have beneficial effects on blood lipids and the inflammatory state. (Kruse et al., 2015)

My research on oils and other nutritional components was done when I was writing my various books, that it is a combination of oils that are best for our health. Olive and canola oils are some of the healthiest options available.

Additional reading:

Natural Solutions for obesity

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Foods that prevent cancer

Ayurveda and TCM philosophies emphasize more on preventive healing rather than treatment. They both focused on nutrition, food, and psychotherapeutic healing aspects.
I looked at the diet recommendations for cancer prevention and post-treatment management as I researched for my book on natural solutions for cancer.
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. It recommends a low-fat but nutrition-rich diet. The focus is on fruit and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants.
TCM dietitians recommend a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruit, cereals, and grain with high fiber to aid bowel movements and advise patients to avoid spicy and fried foods. Herbs such as ginseng, astragalus, reishi mushroom, and other adaptogen herbs are often recommended to build immunity.
TCM diet is fresh, high in fiber, and low in fat. The focus is on fresh vegetables and fruit that are relatively rich in protein. TCM also recommends seafood and poultry as sources of protein.
Modern-day dietitians recommend carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, squashes, and tomato-rich in carotenoids, converted to Vitamin A by the body.
Bananas, baked potatoes, chickpeas, certain types of fish (e.g., tuna), and lean chicken are rich in Vitamin B6. Citrus fruits, strawberries, guava, leafy vegetables, bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, and spinach are a source of Vitamin C.
Cereals, milk, and fatty fish have high levels of Vitamin D. At the same time, almonds, broccoli, hazelnuts, spinach, and sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin E. Beans, peas, and leafy green vegetables are rich in folic acid. In contrast, poultry, seafood, beans, broccoli, and kale are good sources of iron.
Selenium is found in barley, broccoli, garlic, sardines, tuna, zinc in chickpeas, baked beans, lean meat, poultry, yogurt, and crabs. Vitamins and minerals are critical to building the immune system, which helps the body fight infections and disease.

Additional reading:

Natural Solutions for Cancer Similar Posts:

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Is a vegan diet nutritionally sustainable?

Our body requires plenty of things for growth, sustenance, and well-being, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, minerals, and phytochemicals. Our needs for nutrients vary with age, physical, and mental activity. When growth is the focus in the early stages of life, protein-rich food becomes critical, providing the body with its building blocks.
During the growing age of early life, plant-based food must be accompanied by nutrient-dense animal food like milk and its products, fish, and meat. In addition to minerals and phytochemicals, milk is rich in protein and fats.
Later in life plant-based diet gives us enough nutrients for growth and sustenance. However, some essential nutrients like Vitamin B12 and omega3 fatty acids still need to be taken on top of the basic diet. These can come either from supplements or animal-based food.
Natural foods collectively provide us with a range of nutrients. Regardless, the quantity of nutrients in a single portion of food is often not enough to meet the body’s needs. Sometimes, a nutrient is not available to the body because of poor bioavailability. In such cases, the option available to us is food products and nutraceuticals developed to correct any deficiency of a single or a group of nutrients.
Most products offered in the market are nutraceuticals that seek to meet deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. Physicians prescribe these as the key marketing channel for such products.
We also have protein supplement formulations targeting the sports and fitness community. Products that seek to provide protein, iron, and mineral supplements for the growing needs of children too are widely available. Anti-aging nutritional supplements providing critical micronutrients and other essential foods to the aged people market is also quite vibrant. These include collagen formulations that help improve skin and repair wear and tear due to aging.
In short, vegan food has its health advantages. However, the body needs supplements like Vitamin B12 and Omega 3 fatty acids for good health. Large sections of the world population live on plant-based foods with dairy products added to them to make them nutritionally comprehensive.

Additional reading:

Nutrition Facts a guide to good health

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What do ESG funds invest in?

Customers are becoming increasingly conscious of the adverse impact of climate change on livelihoods, economies, and societies as a whole. It is impacting customer preference and consciousness. Companies with environmentally friendly policies, governance, products, and services supporting societal desire to be climate-friendly are preferred over others.
The customer is driving companies to adapt and adopt climate-friendly business processes, build environmentally friendly products, adopt governance processes that are socially and environmentally friendly.
Investors are in the business of deploying financial assets for profit. Therefore, it is natural for funds to identify funding businesses aligned to customer preferences.
It is in this context that we need to see ESG funding. Funds evaluation processes are now factoring in climate risk when calculating investment returns. They also look at the internal governance processes of companies to see if they are compatible with societal preferences towards a greener, climate-friendly world.
As good businesses, ESG funding aligns themselves with the customers of companies they plan to invest in because this alignment will give them superior returns.

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Diet principles for diabetes in TCM

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), diet is customized to individual lifestyle, body type, physical condition, age, and season. According to TCM, diabetes occurs when there is a deficiency of Yin and an excess of internal heat.

They recommend consuming foods like spinach, which they regard as cooling. It strengthens all the organs and promotes urination.

Vegetables and grains recommendations include celery, pumpkin, soybeans, string beans, sweet potato, turnips, tomato, wheat bran, and millet; fruits like crab apple, guava, plum strawberry, and mulberry, along with seasonal fruit and vegetables. Meal size should be small, and meals should be frequent. (Covington, M.B., 2001).

If you compare current diet recommendations with those prescribed in Ayurveda and TCM, principally, they are similar with minor differences. The stress in all diets is on leafy vegetables, low carb food, unprocessed grain, and low sugar fruit.

Most diets for people with diabetes do not recommend dairy and dairy products. TCM and Ayurveda diet recommendations for diabetes patients are similar to those prescribed in modern medicine.

Additional reading:

Natural Solutions for Diabetes

Natural Solutions tri-series

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What are the medical benefits of lutein?

Lutein and zeaxanthin are a class of carotenoids that help protect vision and prevent cellular damage. These are two subcategories of carotenoids, the other being carotenes. While carotenes are orange pigments, lutein and zeaxanthin are yellow pigments. This class of molecules is termed xanthophylls.

Carotenoids are a group of compounds that give yellow, orange, and red colors to plants and animals. There are two types of carotenoids: carotenes and xanthophylls.

The pigments are synthesized by bacteria, fungi, algae, and green plants. We can see them most conspicuously in flowers, pollen, fruit like carrots, tomatoes, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, and apples.

The body does not synthesize carotenoids. We obtain these from foods or dietary supplements.

Carotenoids are an essential component of the human diet. They act as antioxidants within the body, protecting it against cell damage. The common carotenoids are beta carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and astaxanthin.

Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. Lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids are antioxidants located in the macula (retina) part of the eye (Landrum et al., 2001). Their deficiency can lead to visual impairment.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are not produced in the body and must be obtained from food. These carotenoids help filter harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light. It helps protect and maintain healthy cells in the eyes. Intake of this class of compounds helps prevent the occurrence of cataracts and AMD (Krinsky et al., 2003).

Xanthophylls are also present in the skin. The skin, as we know, gets damaged by ultraviolet rays present in sunlight. Xanthophylls prevent skin damage (Roberts et al., 2009).

Additional reading:

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What are some foods that help prevent cancers?

According to the Cancer Statistics Center of the American Cancer Society, a total of 1.74 million new cases of cancer and 0.61 million deaths from cancer occurred in the United States in 2016 (American Cancer Society, 2016). It is an alarming mortality rate, despite the massive global research effort to cure various types of cancers.

The failure of modern medicine to find a satisfactory and cost-effective solution to cancer has led many patients to turn to complementary alternative medicine, superfoods, herbal formulations, even charms for relief. A 2018 survey on Chinese-speaking cancer patients found that 65% of them used alternative or complementary medicine. (Balneaves et al., 2018).

The science of cancer prevention is still evolving. There is no single cause or solution for preventing and treating various cancers that affect humanity. My research on natural solutions for various ailments has helped me gather cancer causes and prevention facts. Let me summarise these here:

Cancer is a lifestyle disease. Genetic causes increase the susceptibility of otherwise healthy individuals is suddenly triggering cancer. However, the trigger is often caused by external stimuli. These could be environmental, physical, physiological, and something else that we have not yet discovered. Scientists have lumped these factors together and called them epigenetic factors.

Food is an important, but not the sole, supporting factor. Fruits and vegetables are rich in phytochemicals—these help build body immunity. Vitamins B and D and calcium found in plant and other foods have cancer-preventive properties. Dietary fiber found in whole grain, seeds, legumes, pulses, vegetables, fruit, and products made from these helps in the easy evacuation of stool. Plant-based phytochemical-rich foods help regulate estrogen, slow cancer cell growth and block inflammation.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, related vegetables, lycopene found in tomato products, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and apricots protect several types of cancers.

On the other hand, red meat is said to increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Processed meats should as far as possible avoided. Obesity also increases the risk of many types of cancer (Prevention and Healthy Living).

No single antioxidant molecule has been found to replace the health benefits generated by a combination of natural phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables. Consumers need to eat 5–10 servings of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables daily to mitigate the risk of chronic diseases and to meet nutrient requirements essential for optimum health (Liu, 2004).

Dietary phytochemicals act as modulators of cellular signals that trigger proteins that make cells turn cancerous (Lee et al., 2001). In both preclinical animal models and human studies, dietary phytochemicals were cancer-preventive (Lee et al., 2013).

Turmeric (curcumin), red chili (capsaicin), cloves (eugenol), ginger (zerumbone), fennel (anethole), kokum (gambogic acid), fenugreek (diosgenin), black cumin (thymoquinone) contain chemicals—shown in bracket after each herb—that prevent cancer (Aggarwal et al., 2008).

The science of food in preventing cancers is vast, and there is much more to it than what I have outlined above. But, please remember, food is one mode of preventing cancers.

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