Archives for May 2020

May 30, 2020 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Small Changes Lead To Big Results – Charanjit Dangotra User Journey

Stomach and digestion issues are not something you want on your side and if you’ve already had your run in with them, you know how they can hamper a good day. One of our GOQii Players Charanjit Dangotra faced a similar issue but with help from his GOQii Coach, he was able to turn his condition around and make a positive lifestyle change! Want to know how he battled Gastritis and won?

Life Before Joining GOQii

Like every working professional in Mumbai, the 33 year old Charanjit Dangotra led a very erratic lifestyle which revolved around long traveling hours and work. Untimely eating habits, no physical activity and a general lack of concern for health took their toll. 3 years back, he was diagnosed with Gastritis and has been on medication for the same.

Due to his long commuting hours, Charanjit Dangotra couldn’t find time for any physical activity and his available time was spent on television or his phone. When things couldn’t get any worse, his doctor advised him to take up the GOQii program in June 2019. He got a free 3 month subscription and from there on, there was no looking back.

Making the Shift to a Healthier Lifestyle

Once he was aboard the GOQii platform, he was assigned a GOQii Coach who spoke to him to understand his medical condition. The first thing addressed by his GOQii Coach was regularizing his meal timings. Now, he eats all his meals on time no matter where he is. He finished his dinner by 9 PM and sleeps by 11:30 PM on most days.

He manages to go to the gym 6 days a week where he performs cardio along with weight training as advised by his Coach. He has also begun introducing salads and fruits to his diet on a daily basis.

As a result of the minute lifestyle changes he made, he saw positive changes.

Although he still continues with his medication, the frequency of stomach pain has reduced. He feels more energetic nowadays and can give more time to things he couldn’t before. He has also reduced his weight from 69kg to 60kg.

What Does Charanjit Dangotra Think About His GOQii Coach?

He happily attributes all his improvements in health to his GOQii Coach. He says that it is due to her constant motivation, prompt responses and close monitoring of his habits that helped him make the shift. If he was unable to follow any habit for one particular day, his Coach would suggest alternatives. This gave him the flexibility he needed to manage his health while traveling.

“I trust her completely and reach out to her for anything and everything. I have even begun doing yoga once a week – an activity I was never inclined to. That’s how much she has influenced me!” He said.

What Does His GOQii Coach Have to Say About Him?

“Charanjit was a bit curious about what he can consume without causing any more stomach pain but was determined to improve his medical ailment (Gastritis – burning sensation and pain on right side of stomach) when he came on board. I was impressed by his sincerity to achieve his goal. We started with incorporating some physical activity in his routine. Along with that, we also worked on his nutrition. Since he was determined and followed habits regularly, we started seeing results such as reduction is stomach pain.

Slowly, we began working on his sleep and stress too. In between, he got a fissure problem, which after making a bit of modification in his water and nutrition we were able to improve to a 100%. Currently, he is not suffering from it and isn’t taking any medication for it either.

After constantly working on his goal and achieving good results, his doctor has also advised him to start incorporating foods which he was not allowed to eat before. Seeing his progress motivates me too and I’m sure that soon enough, we will be able to achieve his goal!”

After seeing all these wonderful results and changes, Charanjit has renewed his subscription to a whole year! What’s stopping you? Subscribe to GOQii now and witness the power of a healthy lifestyle. To read more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce

May 29, 2020 By Neha Goyal Leave a Comment

Refreshing and Healthy Iced Tea Recipes

Water is probably the best drink you can have during a hot summer day! Drinking at least 2 litres of water or more during the day helps your body dissipate excess heat – especially if you’re exposed to a high-temperature environment. A lot of people struggle with drinking water and rather opt for beverages full of sugar. Instead of hydrating on drinks detrimental to your health, why not opt for some tasty and healthy Iced Tea? Let’s look at some thirst-quenching recipes.

1. Rose Iced Tea

Ingredients:

Handful or rose petals fresh or dried
Cardamom – 2 crushed
Green Tea – 1 bag
Raw honey – 1-2 tsp
Hot water – 1 cup
Ice cubes or chilled water

Method:

Put rose petals, crushed cardamom and a green tea bag in a glass jar. Pour 1 cup hot water over this. Let this sit for 15-20 minutes.
Remove the tea bag after 3-5 minutes if you don’t want to make it very strong.
Add raw honey or any sweetener of your choice (avoid processed sugar) and mix well.
Strain the rose petals. Fill a glass ¾ with ice cubes & pour this tea over ice cubes or add chilled water. Your refreshing rose tea is ready!

2. Fennel Coconut Tea

Ingredients:

Fennel seeds – 1 tbsp
Coconut water – 1.5 cup chilled
Green tea – 1 bag
Raw honey – 1 tsp

Method:

Heat 1 cup water in a saucepan. Add fennel seeds & boil until it reduces to half.
Add the green tea bag for a few minutes.
After a few minutes, remove the teabag and strain the tea in a tall glass.
Add raw honey and mix well.
Pour over chilled coconut water and enjoy.

3. Apple and Cinnamon Tea

Ingredients:

Apple – ¼ cup chopped or thinly sliced
Cinnamon – 2-inch stick
Cardamom – 1 crushed
Green tea – 1 bag
Raw honey – 1 tsp
Water – 2 cups

Method:

Boil 2 cups of water with cinnamon and cardamom for 5 minutes.
Turn off the gas, add a teabag to this and cover for 5 minutes.
Put apple slices in a glass jar and pour the boiled mixture over this after removing the teabag.
Add honey and mix well. Keep this in the fridge for minimum of 30 minutes to let the flavours infuse. After 30 minutes, strain and serve.

4. Pineapple and Ginger Iced Tea

Ingredients:

Pineapple – ¼ cup finely chopped
Ginger – ½ inch thinly sliced
Mint leaves – 4-5
Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Green tea – 1 bag
Raw honey – 1 tsp
Hot water – 1 cup
Ice cubes

Method:

Put all the ingredients, except honey and ice cubes in a glass jar.
After 5 minutes, remove the green tea bag, add honey and mix well.
Let this sit for another 30-60 minutes at room temperature.
Now fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes, strain and pour the tea mix.

5. Orange Peel Tea

Ingredients:

Peel of half an orange or kinnow
Water – 2 cups
Green Cardamom – 2 crushed
Cloves – 2
Cinnamon – 2 inch stick
Green tea – 1 bag
Raw honey – 1 tsp

Method:

Boil cardamom, cloves and cinnamon with water for five minutes.
Kill the flame and add the green tea bag and orange peel in this. Cover for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture, add honey and let it cool in the fridge for 30 minutes at least before serving.

Tips and Highlights of the Iced Tea Recipes

These recipes can help you fight inflammation, boost digestion, improve immunity and also aid you in removing toxins.
These iced tea recipes can be a great addition to your routine to curb hunger pangs and promote weight loss.
If any of these flavours become your favourite, you can lock in those flavours in the form of ice cubes and preserve it for a few days to enjoy it without waiting.

We hope you try these recipes and enjoy them. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play.

Stay home, stay safe, hydrate well and #BeTheForce

May 28, 2020 By Madhu Soni 3 Comments

Healthy Summer Salads to Keep You Cool

The scorching sun is shining brighter than ever! The resulting heat wave can have an impact on our health and appetite. During summers, it is important to watch what we eat. To balance the heat, we have listed a few scrumptious summer salads to help you stay cool!

Watermelon Feta Salad

Ingredients:

1 big bowl of Watermelon cubes
½ cup crumbled Feta Cheese or Paneer.
1 medium bowl Cucumber cubes
Handful of Mint leaves
1 tsp Honey and Olive oil
A pinch of rock salt
1 tsp Lemon juice

Method:

For the dressing combine Honey, Lemon juice, Olive oil and rock salt
In a large bowl, take the Watermelon and Cucumber cubes
Add the finely chopped Mint leaves to it along with the dressing
Garnish with Feta Cheese or Paneer
Serve chilled

Healthy Benefits: High water content of Watermelons makes it an ideal fruit during summer. Feta Cheese is comparatively low on calories and is loaded with calcium.

Hung Curd Salad

Ingredients:

1 cup Hung Curd
1 cup Chickpeas
½ cup each of Tomato, Cucumber, Onions and Bell Pepper.
Juice of a Lemon
Handful of Coriander and Mint leaves.

Method:

For the dressing, mix the Hung Curd, Lemon Juice, Rock Salt and Pepper
In a bowl, take Chickpeas, add finely chopped Tomatoes, Cucumber, Onions and Bell Pepper
Add the Hung Curd dressing and garnish with Coriander and Mint leaves

Healthy Benefits: Curd is an excellent probiotic. It helps in keeping stomach ailments away during summers. Chickpeas provide the much needed proteins and the veggies add a dash of freshness.

Mint Paneer Salad

Ingredients:

200 gm Paneer
1 cup thick Curd
Chopped Cucumber, Tomatoes and Onions
1 cup Lettuce leaves and Salad leaves
Lemon juice and Lemon rind
1 cup Bread Croutons [non fried-tossed on non-stick pan]
Handful Mint leaves
Salt and Pepper
Tandoori masala [store bought]

Method:

For the dressing, whisk half of the curd with mint leaves
Add Lemon juice and Lemon rind to it along with Salt and Pepper
Marinate the Paneer cubes in thick curd along with Tandoori masala
Shallow fry on a non stick pan till golden brown
In a large serving bowl, add roughly chopped Lettuce and Salad leaves
Add chopped Tomatoes, Onions and Cucumber followed by the Mint dressing and mix to coat well
Adjust the seasoning if required. Add the Bread Croutons and Paneer cubes.

Healthy Benefits: This is a perfect summer pot meal to cool you down. It has a good amount of fiber and proteins. The mint leaves aid digestion and take care of skin allergies during this harsh weather.

Hope you enjoy these summer salads! To make them more interesting, try adding these refreshing, low calorie summer drinks to your meal. If you’re looking for more healthy recipes, tune in to the Simple Healthy Cooking class by Arooshi Garg on GOQii Play. Download the app now!

May 27, 2020 By Sunita Arora 1 Comment

Explore The Wonderful Health Benefits and Uses of Honey

Honey is a food and medicine which is well-known for its antioxidant, antibacterial and soothing effects. People have used raw honey in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. This sweet, natural substance contains elements that processed honey does not have. Raw honey, which comes straight from the beehive, contains healthy bee pollen, bee propolis, and plenty of antioxidants. Due to processing and pasteurization, there is a loss of many beneficial elements. So, it is important to always choose raw honey instead of regular one for good health. Choosing raw or pure honey over refined sugar is a much healthier option for a diabetic person because it is a natural sweetener which is made with fructose and minerals.

Did You Know?

1 tablespoon (21g) of raw honey contains 64 calories and 16g of sugar with so many vitamins and minerals like calcium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin, riboflavin etc. Diabetic patients can also take it, but in lesser amounts and with a strict check on the blood sugar levels at all times.

Health Benefits of Honey

Rich in Antioxidants: It contains compounds like phytochemicals, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid which make it antioxidant-rich and reduces oxidative stress in the body and replenish the health of cells. By including it in the diet, we can reduce the risk of chronic disease like cancer.
Wound Healing: It works well in wound healing because of its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has an acidic nature which promotes wound healing if applied on minor cuts and burns. Always go for raw honey for the application over the wounds for faster healing.
Antibacterial Properties: It is an antibacterial and antimicrobial agent which kills harmful pathogens and bacteria which cause food poisoning, gastric infection and stomach ulcers.
Digestive Disorders: It contains several enzymes which help in improving digestion and treating digestive disorders like gastritis and GERD. As we know it is an anti-inflammatory agent and prebiotic which is very effective in reducing diarrhoea, abdominal pain, burning in the lining of the stomach and promotes gut health.
Anti-inflammatory: Due to the anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces inflammation including swelling and lowers irritation on the lining of the stomach and intestines. Honey is effective against IBS in the same way that it is against gastritis by triggering the immune cells into action to fight the infection.
Boosts Immunity: It contains special protein like Apisai which helps in boosting immunity and it also stimulates the immune system to provide a stronger and faster response to the diseases and infections.
Reduce Allergy Symptom: It contains pollen spores which are picked up by the bees from local plants. If these pollen spores introduce a small amount of allergen into our system. This helps to activate the immune system and over time, we can build up natural immunity against it.
Cough and Cold Medicine: Cough and cold are very common among children, especially with change in season. It has antiviral and antibacterial properties that help in treating viral and bacterial infections and give relief from cold and cough, sore throat, runny nose and even mild fever. Using a combination of honey with cinnamon or honey with ginger is a well-known home remedy for hundreds of years.
Energy and Memory Booster: It is an instant energy booster. If you need a quick energy boost before or after a workout, it will surely help you but make sure you have a healthy diet and get proper sleep. Regular consumption of honey helps in preventing cellular damage and loss within the brain as per Ayurveda.

Amazing Uses of Honey

Treating Cough: Mix 1 tsp of honey and 2 tsp of lemon juice. Swallow the mixture at once. You can have it 2-3 times in a day to alleviate coughing. Alternatively, you can also take 1 cup milk, ½ turmeric, ¼ tsp cinnamon, a pinch of black pepper and 2 tsp of Honey. Heat the milk and add turmeric and whisk it well. Then add honey and other ingredients and strain it. Have it twice daily till you get relief from cough.
Wound and Burn Treatment: Apply it directly to wound or to the dressing, cover with a bandage and change the dressing every 12 to 48 hrs ( Note: the darker the color, the stronger its antibacterial and antioxidant power but serious burns should be seen by a medical expert immediately).
Acid Reflux and Indigestion: Mix 2 tsp of honey and yogurt (small bowl) and have it with your meals. It helps in reducing acid reflux and indigestion.
Sunburn Remedy: Take 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp olive oil, ¼ lemon juice. Combine all ingredients and apply on sunburn skin, leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with water.
Glowing Skin: 1tsp honey, 1 tsp aloe vera gel. Mix both and gently rub on the face for 15 minutes and rinse with cold water.
Perfect Hair Conditioner: Take ½ cup of honey, ¼ cup of olive oil and slightly warm it. Apply on your hair and allow to soak in by wrapping the hair with a towel, then wash your hair with cool water.
Face Mask for Acne: Take 2 tsp of fresh milk, 2 tsp of honey, fresh juice of one lemon, one tsp of yoghurt and lukewarm water. Thoroughly mix all ingredients and apply on face, wait for a few minutes, so that it can get dry. After 10 minutes rinse off your face with lukewarm water. Use this mask 2-3 times in a week and need to prepare fresh every time.
Strengthen Weak Nails: Mix one tablespoon honey with ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar in some shallow dish. Soak your nails for 10 minutes once in a week to make your nails strong.

Precautions: Always take it in cold or lukewarm water, not with hot water, as the temperature degrades some of the beneficial properties. Children below 12 months should not be made to consume honey due to the fear of botulism poisoning. People suffering from pollen or bee allergy should not consume it.

We hope this article helps you use honey to its optimum purpose! Is there a special way you use honey? Let us know in the comments below. To know more about other foods and nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to expert nutritionists on GOQii Play.

Stay home, stay safe, eat healthy and #BeTheForce