Walk the Talk by Dr. Prerna Sehgal

Suddenly I felt that there is a requirement that we bring experts on the platform and guide people, right?

You are 100% right. There is so much of nonsense going on on WhatsApp and Google both. So, you know, yes, we need to educate our masses, we need to educate our family, we need to educate our friends. On fact.

Thank you, Dr. Prerna, for supporting this. And this is how this channel started. And today we have the session of Tales of Transformation. So these are people like you who actually don't only speak, they walk the talk.

Yeah.

So, Dr. Prerna, what has motivated you in life to actually walk the talk when it comes to being healthy?

See, Dr. Preeti, there is a law of attraction in the universe. They say like attracts like. There is another notion going on, opposite poles attract each other, but I believe in like attracts like, you know. So I am that lively, that bubbly, that love the life kind of person, so ever ready to try new new possibilities. So when I saw this post by you in one of the doctors' group, how to be a superwoman, I said to myself, I'm doing it. I told my husband, he's very supportive, and he was like, yeah, you must. The problem was traveling to Delhi in harsh winters, but you know, then once I had made up my mind, I'm going means I'm going, nobody can stop me. So then, you know, I was there and I was one of the first persons along with Dr. Poonam. Yes, we entered, we were the first ones to enter the hall and we made ourselves comfortable. And then in some time I get to know that Dr. Preeti has her roots in Pitankot. I was so damn happy. Wow, it's a small world. I say to myself, very small. Yeah. And then there was kind of a, you know, connection between you and me. The moment I got to know that you belong to my city, my town, there was an unseen bond, you may say.

Yes.

So, uh, then, yeah, I attended the challenge— the workshop, not the challenge. First I attended your workshop. Then I was kind of impressed. Then I enrolled myself for the 21 Days Challenge. And then, you remember, I gave you this idea, let's do it in Pathankot. Yes, but you, you were kind of not very convinced at that time. And after a week, I If I'm not wrong, after a week I get a call from you, let's do it there. Yes, and both of us went into it.

Exactly.

Yeah, yeah, and we got it done there and it was a grand success. The entire hall was jam-packed. We had to put some chairs outside also. So yeah, so quite a few number of my friends also enrolled themselves for the challenge. And then started the challenge. And believe me, I enjoyed it so much. There were so many new things that I learned during those 21 days, you know. I being a doctor, and I kind of love reading also, right? Keep reading newer things. So I used to think that, yes, I know everything. But then There I was proved wrong. I, I, I didn't know, you know, there's something known as food allergy which can trouble you so much. So it was during those 21 days only I got to know I am lactose intolerant. I was like, but lactose intolerance is out of question. Right. And then I was more than happy to know that this is the thing which is troubling me so much. You know, I used to have sore muscles, I used to have aching joints, I used to have a bloated abdomen all the time, then puffy face. And during those 21 days when I gave up milk, everything disappeared. I was more than happy. And it's not that I don't take tea with milk, but I am very, very careful. You know, most of the— and rest is green tea. And you were the one, you were the one who introduced me to the world of green tea. You know, previously I'm feeling very good. Previously, you know, we used to think as kids, you know, my bua, she would have this desi tea whenever she used to visit our place. We all, the entire family, would be having that normal milk quality, and she would take out some powder, you know, from her bag, and she said, and we would laugh it off. My God, Auntie, But now today I know, you know, what does it mean to have herbal tea? What is green tea exactly? It has so many benefits. So I'm really thankful to you to have, you know, gotten me away from my addiction of milk tea. And you were the one who put me this good habit of taking green tea. Another thing I learned, yeah, another thing I learned was to drink warm water daily in the morning. And I think that is the thing which has taken out all the water retention from my body. Otherwise I would be so bloated all the time. Or kidney function test. In fact, there was this meeting of ours and my friend pointed out Yes, I remember 2 or 3 of my friends pointed out, why is your face looking so puffy? Your eyes look swollen. Are you all right? Did you sleep well? I said, of course, sleep is never a problem with me. I came back, I went to the lab straight away, you know, and I told my guy, everything came out normal. Then I was like, I don't know, maybe menopause. You know, at the end of it, this is what my kids say, Mama, everything can't be menopause. You have to take care of your health. No, I agree. But it was really nice. I got to know what was the thing which was troubling me, you know. It was milk.

Right. And very strangely, Dr. Prerna, what is happening is 60% of Indians are now allergic to milk.

Yeah. And you know, there was a time when I thought that lactose intolerance has to be inborn. You know, now I got to know there's something known as acquired intolerance also. So maybe, I, I don't know, in my case maybe it's not, uh, inborn, not congenital, it must be acquired.

Definitely.

Yeah, there is so much of pollution, there is so much of adulteration in food, so we are bound to develop these allergies.

Exactly. Until the time we stay in denial, we try everything else, but you know, the thought of So what will happen? I also started this a similar way prayer. Now what happened was, and then what happened? I, every time I used to try and quit my doodh wali chai, I couldn't do it more than one day. And then once somebody told my father, To give him company, I said I will also quit. And you know how daughters are, type of thing. I quit Doodh Wali chai and milk for 6 months, but the day I started having it, I was down with abdominal pain for 3 days. Then I got my genetic test done and I found 100% lactose intolerant. And very interestingly, what happened is now this 21-day challenge I do once a year, my patients have actually come back and given me brands. Ma'am, soya milk, brand is market, you can try it.

I don't know if I can ever try soya milk or coconut milk. I tried, you know, this time I tried. It tastes so bad.

Next, next 21 days. So this was very interesting, Prerna. But I also remember, Prerna, this time when we did the 21-day challenge which was for doctors, you know, for detoxification, right? You found some additional benefits?

Yeah, of course. This time I got rid of the pain in my small joint. You know, lately I developed stiffness in my small joint, even small nodules also. And my husband being an orthopedic surgeon, when I showed him He's saying, oh, arthritis. There is a nodule also, so this is that you have developed.

Okay.

And in the meantime, in the meantime, I get this message from you for the detox plan. And, uh, corona times, you know, I was a maid, I was a cook, I was a doctor, I was a helper, everything. I was a tutor. For my son, then I say to myself, this time it's not going to be possible for me, you know. Where do I have the time? And then, then Rajinder, she pinged me. She was like, this is the plan and I'm also there, so do join. Then I was like, there's no harm in trying. Even if I'm not able to complete it, where's the harm in trying? Let me do it.

Right.

And you know, I, I joined late, slightly. I think 2-3 days later.

2-3 days late.

But yeah, 2-3 days later. But once I budge into something, then full on, you know. I can't leave it midway. That's how I am.

Yeah, no, both groups were hosted by you, Prerna.

Yeah. And it was really fun, you know. We were so busy cooking gluten-free, lactose-free, and pure vegetarian food. And it was so much fun. I mean, I didn't feel as though we were locked inside our houses or that my practice was slow. I really enjoyed my lockdown to the fullest, you know. And I learned so many new recipes also. There's one thing called I had never eaten it in my life, leave aside cooking. So when I seen the group, someone having posted this, I immediately get it from the market. And then cleaning the bhajra is a big job. I was like, man is cleaning it. And then I made the khichdi and wow, it was so tasty. And then I It is very nutritious. This is what I got to know. Bajra, all the millets, in fact, all the millets, all the millets, very good for health, right?

So Prerna, you just said that you were very busy. Lockdown was the time, especially I remember those early days, you know, when doctors were very stressed. And that is the reason some of my classmates said, Preeti, we need it now. Right, what motivated you still? You know, one pain is not all. What, what made you actually go through the program?

I had already attended your 21 Days Challenge, so I knew how it feels after those 21 days. You know, you feel totally detoxified. You, you are totally energized. You feel so fresh. Plus, interacting with those enterprising and like-minded people is so much fun. Knowingly or unknowingly, you learn from each person that you come across in your life.

Yes.

So I was like— and then when I knew Rajinder, Jyoti, they were all there, so I was like my friends also there. Let me also join.

Let me also join.

And, and the best part was, and I was relieved of those pains, you know, and, and hot flushes also this time.

Yes, I was wanting to know this.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because, you know, 1.5 years earlier when I did the 21-day challenge, that time maybe it was winters, that was another reason I wasn't having those troublesome flushes. But this time, maybe because of the COVID stress, because of the weather, because of the, you know, I caught up with 1.5 years of age also this time. So I, I was I wanted you to say that. No, no, no, this time I was in real trouble. You know, I would get up in the middle of my sleep, I would be drenched in sweat. So after this detox, I've seen one thing. The moment I give up milk my body kind of starts rejuvenating itself. So that was it.

Very rightly said. So what happens, Prerna, is two things which I'm seeing in my practice, right? Because I practice functional medicine, so you know the cause of the problem. One is I'm seeing increase in allergic responses. So I'll tell you, today morning I had a patient IgG 2000+, IgE 700+. That guy is on anti-allergic for last 8 years. He's a diabetic, 100 kgs plus, eating anti-allergic day after day. And he says, one day I don't take an anti-allergic, I feel scratchy in the evening. But for 7 years, nobody has done anything for the itching or allergy or whatever, which is— and I find this so common. So there's another friend of mine, you know, she's also similar example to yours. She manages a very big hospital. He had some symptoms, and for last 1 year she was getting all her tests done. She got her CT done, her MRI done, all blood tests done, everything done. So after 1 year Thank you. So what happened? She came with all her reports and I saw her IgE was 1700. I said, boss, and now she's, you know, perfectly all right. And, um, I shouldn't say, but then her doctor wants to speak to me. So if you've not been able to talk, then what will you do? But fortunately or unfortunately, I didn't do anything much. I hope you moved the food items which she was allergic to and brought her IgE down.

Uh, food is one, and I think the surroundings can also add to the allergy.

Exactly.

But what, you know, there are people who live on the countryside And they have forests all around, and they have these pine trees. Pine— that is very strong.

Yes, yes. Because food may pesticides.

I know, I know. Adulteration is at its maximum.

Second thing which I'm seeing, which I don't know you are seeing or not, is fungal infection in Indian gut.

Gut, I'm not aware of, but vaginal infection.

I'm stubborn because more attention into the gut, right? Yeah, all these repeated candidases and all which you get, this is becoming very common, fungal gut infection. So I think very important is that we should not ignore these things. They are easy to try, and we should look at these things. So, Prerna, if you have to tell somebody, youth, my good sleep, right?

And I drink a lot of water. Wow, wow, wow.

And third, one more.

Third is my supportive family, babe. You know, I don't have that in my house. Yeah, I listen to them and they listen to me.

Yeah, second, I'm thinking But it is a beautiful thing you have said. Stress really creates havoc with our bodies, and we should try and stay away from stress, right? And I'm very, very thankful to you, Dr. Prerna, for taking out the time today to share your experience. And I'm like, you know, in a wow state currently because All those old memories are flashing. The first time we met, the workshop, then the camp workshop, then the two 21-day challenges together.

Yeah, yeah. And the best part was, Preeti, you know, in the first 21 days challenge, the way you molded me and the way you motivated me to get all the tests done. You know, I am such a hypochondriac. HP or sugar or max-to-max RFT. When my friends pointed out one that your face looks puffy, beyond that, you know, I— because of the lactose intolerance, I used to be having gastritis all the time. And my husband would say, you have gallstones, you know, you should get an ultrasound done. And I was like, oh my God, if I get an ultrasound done and if I'm diagnosed with gallstones, next thing is surgery. No, no, no, I am not getting an ultrasound done. But you know, the, the way you, uh, kind of hypnotized me and you told this, this, this, and immediately I got all the tests done. I got an ultrasound done too. So I mean, I was able to break the shell.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah. Thankfully all the reports came out good.

Definitely. And yeah, and then we met 2 years back and now you are 5 years younger.

Oh, thanks for those kind words.

No, no, I mean it.

I really mean it.

So there is a question for us, and I think you can take it there. Now the question is symptoms of lactose intolerance. So I think you've already posted, but if you could repeat it for Manan.

See, symptoms of lactose intolerance can be varied. Generally, the person feels bloated. It starts with bloating, gastritis. You have this rumbling tummy, and then you have this irritable bowel syndrome. You know, I used to be running to the loo throughout the day, and then I tried all kinds of gut antibiotics. Then nothing was working. I got fed up, I left. You know, probiotics, Okay, then, you know, later on my muscles started getting sore, my joints were stiff, and then when it got more aggravated, then puffiness of face. And then I think because of that rumbling tummy, uh, there was poor concentration also. I could not concentrate on anything that I did.

Yeah, right. And deficiencies also. And age, that's looking on your face, which has now gone off Prerna's face completely.

I don't know. No, no, no, you compare yourself. Yeah, if someone tells me, only then I can know, maybe, right?

So the second question for us is, how do we know that we have fungal infection in gut?

I will want infectionist.

I will— can I take this question?

Yeah, this is for you.

Thank you. So one simple trick which I have seen— of course, if you have history of repeated vaginal candidiasis, repeated sinusitis, get fungal infections for gut tested. But most importantly, try and quit sugar for 7 to 10 days.

Sugar is like poison.

I feel if your problem aggravates, you sure have big time yeast. I'll tell you with an example. So there was this girl with us in the 21-day challenge, Prerna. I won't name her, but you know, after the 21-day challenge, she wrote to me saying, uh, since 21-day challenge has started I have more acidity than before. I cannot sleep at night also. So I said, let's fix a consultation. So we fixed a consultation and we came to know she has autoimmune disorder. Okay. And I asked her, have you ever been told that you have fungal infection in the gut? She said no. I said, okay, start taking 2 spoons of sugar every day. 3 days, she writes back to me saying, Dr. Preeti, I've never met a doctor like you. I can sleep overnight now. Now the second— yeah, a 30-year-old girl, she's been thinking what she needs to do, what she needs to do, PCOS. And she quit sugar for 7 days and she started getting up at night. I told her to start taking a bit of sugar and her sleep was okay. Now why? Because yeast, fungus, they are the guys who ask you to take sugar. And friends, sugar is 20 times more addictive than cocaine. I had a 7-year-old kid. We got his gut microbiome tested. It was fungal infection. We treated it. Oh, his sugar thing went away.

This is a new learning for me too.

Thank you. Yeah, because initially, but now, in fact, yesterday I was talking to a scientist and he said, ma'am, Indian samples We don't know what is happening, but yes, as we are evolving, times are changing, I think these are also changing.

The microbes are co-evolving with us.

Exactly. And I think fungus is co-evolving more than what we require.

Yeah, true, true. And fungus is such a stubborn thing.

Yes. So I think, yes, we have taken all questions and Thank you, Prerna, for your time. And if you want to leave the viewers with any message, you can.

The message is, uh, see, I always watch Preeti's shows. Whenever I get a chance to attend her workshop, I do that. Then challenges, whatever times she has invited me, I've joined. So she's full of knowledge and latest updates. So whenever you get a chance to view her shows or attend her workshops, do that. Don't ever miss. You will definitely be able to rejuvenate yourself with her kind of knowledge. You know, just right now she pointed out that fungus thing in the gut is growing these days. So this I being a doctor, even I wasn't aware of this. This is because she keeps going to US to attend workshops, or maybe not workshops, I mean courses. Courses. She did her course and then she keeps going for trainings there. So the research, entire research takes place in US. That is the leading country, you know, which comes out with newer findings, newer researches compared to US. Hamari country me toh, I think 10% bina hai. So this is the reason we don't get to know, okay, in which manner is the world evolving. So they are the ones who guide us. So she being in touch with them, she knows the latest updates. So whenever you get a chance to attend her workshop or show or Maybe challenge, 21 days challenge. Don't ever miss it.

Thank you, and thank you, Dr. Prerna, for being with me live today. Bye-bye and see you soon.

Yeah, definitely.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

Okay, bye-bye.