Sudhir Ahluwalia's Blog, page 31

Is climate risk for real? What should investors be prepared for next?

ESG investment is here to grow. Nearly all the top investors factor in climate risk in their risk assessment models. The reason is pretty straightforward. Climate change is for real and will negatively impact large parts of the world.
Nation-states have understood that climate change will hurt their economies. Climate change science tells us that global warming is happening for real. Countries and businesses will have to brace themselves for the negative impact of adverse events that will impact the whole world.
The earlier assumption was that climate change would impact industries dependent on fossil energy. I think climate events are rapidly overtaking the world. Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence on the massive impact climate will have on the globe, the consensus among nations in Glasgow has evaded.
Nations are still fighting over who should pay for the global transition from low carbon to a zero-carbon energy economy. The situation is unlikely to resolve itself. Vested economic interests of those parts of the global economy dependent on carbon fuels for their survival prevent the building of consensus.
Climate change will impact whole swathes of the world. Everyone, people, businesses, and territories will get affected. Investors should brace themselves for the territory impact of climate change. The current risk ESG assessment models will require to be modified to include territory risk.
About the Author:

Professional certification on strategy

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What makes green tea healthy for you?

Let us look at the evidence-based properties of tea.

Black tea is a fermented tea, while green tea comes from the plant’s dried leaves.

The most well-known chemical constituent of tea is caffeine, stimulating in nature. Caffeine in tea is approximately 4 percent in dry weight. Tannin is the other principal constituent of tea.

Caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline are polyphenols belonging to the phenolic group of compounds. Theobromine and theophylline are responsible for the bitterness of the tea.

The major flavonols in tea are- catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate. Epigallocatechin gallate is the most active of these catechins. Another compound – L-theanine, is an amino acid found in tea. Theanine in green tea plays a role in reducing stress. Oxidized catechins (theaflavins in black tea) reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

Tea decreases lipid and carbohydrate absorption, increases lipid metabolism, inhibits de novo metabolic production of fat, and increases carbohydrate utilization. ( Grove et al., 2010 ) Green tea intake is associated with increased weight loss due to diet-induced heat generation attributed to the catechin epigallocatechin gallate. ( Shixian et al., 2006 )

High caffeine intake was associated with weight loss through heat and fat oxidation and suppressed leptin in women. (Leptin is a molecule that triggers a satiation signal to the brain). The green tea-caffeine mixture improved weight management in habitually low caffeine consumers, partly through heat generation and fat oxidation. (Westertep-Plantenga et al., 2005)

Additional reading:

Link to books on natural remedies

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Is saffron tea beneficial to our health?

Let me share evidence-based information on saffron’s medicinal properties.
The key constituents of saffron are safranal, crocin, carotenoids, glycoside forms, terpene derivatives, anthocyanins, flavonoids, the vitamins riboflavin and thiamine, amino acids, proteins, and starch.
Saffron is one of the 770 medicinal plants mentioned in the Sushruta Samhita. In Ayurveda, saffron improves skin tone and reduces acne in skin creams, herbal facial masks, and wound healing.
Modaghegh et al. (2008) conducted trials on a sample of 10 people who were administered saffron tablets and showed a reduction in both high systolic and arterial blood pressure. It also improves memory, learning, and sleep and increases blood flow in the retina and choroid. In high doses, it has a narcotic effect.
Crocus sativus (the botanical name for saffron) may alleviate premenstrual syndrome, according to a 2008 study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After taking C. sativus twice a day during two menstrual cycles, the experiment group showed great improvement in premenstrual symptoms compared to those assigned a placebo. However, because it is used to break blood clots, those on blood-thinning medications, or women who experience heavy menstruation, should avoid saffron altogether.
In summary, it is a useful medicinal herb.

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What is the risk to the business model of Netflix?

Assessing the risk to a business model is only possible when it is tested. Multiple tools are recommended to undertake a stress test. One of the tools that I use is Pestle. If I were to apply that test to Netflix, I note that the biggest risk for Netflix is legal. It will probably also be true for other competitors like Disney, Amazon, and others.
Let me expand on this risk a bit.
All these platforms constantly look for content that will keep consumers coming back for more to their platform. Content that is great and acceptable in a jurisdiction may be regarded as inappropriate or offensive by another.
Now that nearly all of these platforms are operating internationally, they have to contend with a host of different regulations. A regulator in a jurisdiction may regard content to be not right for the audience. It then could potentially ban the platform from operating in that jurisdiction.
It is a tough ask for any platform to create content that is universally accepted across the globe. Mitigation of that risk can be done successfully by the use of technology. Tweaking algorithms could assist in making offending content well nigh inaccessible to viewers in a particular jurisdiction.
From the business strategy standpoint, I think Netflix and other competitors are rapidly moving towards strategic convergence. Strategic convergence will make it difficult for a platform to secure a competitive advantage over the other. We are already seeing signs of this. Consumers will settle for those platforms that they are comfortable with. Viewership will get divided, and business stasis is likely to emerge.
Strategic convergence is a major risk to Netflix and others.

PS:

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Can you really lose weight using herbal formulations?

I have researched for scientific study-based support for most of the herbs used in weight loss formulations in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese medicine.

To give you a flavor of the scientific evidence for these, I am sharing some key findings for a couple of the popular weightloss formulations:

Garcinia extract:

The plant lowered body weight and reduced fat mass in humans. (Heymsfield et al., 1998) Visceral fat accumulation reduces with Garcinia cambogia extracts. (Hayamizu et al., 2003)

Hydroxycut:

The primary ingredients in this product are caffeine, extracts of Alchemilla vulgaris (lady’s mantle), Oleo europea (wild olive), Cuminum cyminum (cumin), Mentha longifolia (wild mint), and Coffea canephora (coffee bean).

Cumin taken for eight weeks by overweight subjects has the same effects as Orlistat 120 on weight and BMI. Beneficial effects on insulin metabolism were comparable to those of orlistat 120. (Taghizadeh et al., 2015)

The green decaffeinated coffee extract possesses fat-burning action via a glucose metabolism mechanism. (Blum et al., 2007)

My analysis has shown that many of the herbal formulations do show weight loss properties. However, all the scientific evidence that I could find has not been robustly tested in human clinical trials. Until these trials are not undertaken, the evidence supporting these formulations should be regarded to be tentative.

References:

Natural Solutions for Obesity Similar Posts:

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Why am I not able to sustain my weight loss?

There are various levels of constructs that influence health behavior. Self-regulation is the most effective in behavior modification, which helps in obesity control and management.

Motivation helps to improve physical activity levels and quality.

Through behavioral interventions, changes in diet and physical activity can be affected. These assist in weight loss, which in turn leads to improvements in health parameters.

Setting goals, feedback processes, planning, and revisiting goals bring about improvements in physical activity. These also help in teaching the habit of eating healthily (Hutchesson et al., 2015). Internet-based applications help get instant personalized feedback. These assist in bringing about substantial weight loss. This gain was observed at least in the short term (Sherrington et al., 2016).

While behavioral interventions seem to be effective in promoting weight loss, maintaining them is a challenge. Most individuals tend to regain the weight or at least a part of it within a year, even after losing weight.

Behavior change helps sustain weight loss. Behavior change happens if you enjoy it, and it prevails when accompanied by self-monitoring and coping strategies.

Physical and psychological resources are required to be made available to maintain self-regulated change behavior. The changes need to be supported by a supportive environment and social support.

A systematic, goal-based comprehensive approach supports behavior change. According to the non-profit Obesity Action Coalition organization based out of the US, the following are the critical components of a behavior change strategy:

1. Setting up realistic goals and self-monitoring mechanisms

2. Increasing physical activity

3. Teaching the body and understanding how to nourish behavior change.

4. Engaging in a support group

If you follow these recommendations, you will be able to sustain weight loss.

Additional reading:
Natural Solutions for Obesity

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What’s driving the ESG investing trend?

Climate risk is real. Global warming is shaping business trends worldwide. Investments in renewables have exponentially risen. The move away from carbon-based energy is real.

The change in energy sources will cause tectonic environmental, technological and social change. Fossil fuel reservoirs will become stranded assets. Carbon energy-based economies will get directly hit. The spillover impact on businesses worldwide will be far-reaching.

An investor’s success depends on the ability to assess business risk as accurately as possible. Companies are analyzed for various risks before making an investment decision. Therefore, it is natural for investors to now start studying climate risk in a business before deciding to invest.

Businesses also have to factor in the shift away from carbon energy. The resultant technological change will be massive. Boards must understand the evolving climate-driven changes and drive operational change, social behavior, and governance models. These changes are causing countries to undertake policy and regulatory changes.

Investors are beginning to factor in risks from climate, their impact on society, and the governance of companies. All this is fueling ESG investing.

Sudhir Ahluwalia is a professional business strategy expert from Wharton, a business consultant with decades of experience in natural resources. Similar Posts:

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What makes a startup successful?

Any business, startup or otherwise, will be successful when:

It selects the right business model to execute its idea.There is demand for its products or services.The business strategy and business operations give it a competitive advantage over its competitors.The business evokes trust amongst its customers.The promoters select a great team that helps the company operate efficiently, produce great products and services, and its business operations are customer-centric.

Let me briefly explain these points with an example of a successful company.

Airbnb began by identifying a service – renting homes for which there was demand in the location where it started its operations – San Francisco. It worked on its product and fine-tuned its business model, taking feedback from its customers. Its functions and procedures were all customer-centric. As it evolved, it was able to build trust with both its hosts and renters.

Brian Chesky and Gebbia, the initial two promoters, added Blecharyzk to the promotor team. The latter helped Airbnb develop its platform. As the business grew, Chesky, who became the CEO of the company, spent a lot of time hiring individuals that had not just the skills but were fully aligned to the business culture and ethos of the company.

The product and the platform were continuously upgraded and developed to keep these at a competitive advantage. Its business strategy and business model constantly evolved to sustain the competitive edge over competitors.

The above example will tell you that at the heart of a successful company is a great business strategy and business model executed efficiently and diligently by an efficient team aligned to the company’s vision.

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I am a 25-year-old lady and my weight is 80kg. I have tried the gym and all kinds of physical workouts, but still I am not able to reduce my weight. What is some other effective way?

Let me share with you a few extracts from my research on Natural Solutions to Obesity. These probably will be of help.

The Centers for Disease Control and the Homepage | World Obesity Federation mention three critical factors that play an essential part in the development of obesity. These are:

Behavior- influences food choices. Behavior management is a useful tool for obesity control. Excess calories get converted into fats.The environment plays a crucial role in shaping our habits and lifestyle. Availability of motorized transport at home, convenience foods, and home entertainment solutions are some factors that determine the low expenditure of energy.Genetics, too, has a role in obesity. Genes can cause disorders resulting in obesity.Obesity is sometimes associated with an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Medications help manage this condition. (Prevalence of Obesity | World Obesity Federation)

Behavior:

A systematic, goal-based comprehensive approach supports behavior change. According to the non-profit Obesity Action Coalition organization based out of the US, the following are the critical components of a behavior change strategy:

1. Setting up realistic goals and self-monitoring mechanisms

2. Increasing physical activity

3. Teaching the body and understanding how to nourish behavior change.

4. Engaging in a support group

Goals could be as simple as deciding to keep only healthy food at home.

1. Dense, high-calorie food is just not bought or stored at home.

2. When you are hungry and need to snack, keep low-calorie snacks ready and accessible.

3. You may also decide not to eat while watching a movie or watching television as one tends to eat more at the dining table.

4. Avoid keeping tempting snacks at your desk. I would not want to be sitting next to my work desk with a bag of potato chips in my lap.

5. I regularly chew sugar-free gum while writing. I also keep a bottle of water handy, which I frequently sip, reducing the need for frequent snacking.

6. As a matter of habit, fill half your plate with vegetables and split the rest between lean protein and starchy food like a potato. That should not just make for a satisfactory but also an enjoyable meal.

7. You may also decide to take a walk during work breaks instead of snacking

Physical activity:

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking, leisure bike ride, light swimming, etc.) and 75 minutes of vigorous (soccer, basketball, jogging, hiking, aerobics, etc.) activity in a week will help keep you in good health. Of course, the nature and extent of physical activity will depend on the individual’s actual physical condition. It is, therefore, vital to check with your physician before embarking on an exercise routine.

Aerobic activity of 240 to 300 minutes per week will help the individual additionally by reducing calorie intake. These are generic recommendations and will vary with the condition of the individual.

For results, regular measurement of goals and monitoring results is critical. It is best to write down the duration and intensity of a physical activity per day and follow the progress towards meeting your goals. The goal should be quantifiable, realistic, and measurable.

Good luck.

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The Looping Effect – Book review

This book is about business growth. It is not a theoretical book on business. It is a practical guide.

Successful companies follow a virtual cycle of growth. The author call’s this growth cycle – The Looping Growth Cycle. Growth is sustained when a virtuous cycle of product portfolio, market demand, and customer behavior is created. Business growth is supported by innovation. The book analyzes the growth strategies of five of the world’s fastest-growing companies – Airbnb, Alibaba, Apple, Walmart, and Elon Musk– Tesla and SpaceX.

The author draws practical lessons from this analysis and presents them in the book. It is a must-read for entrepreneurs and students of business growth. I rate it five stars.Similar Posts:

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