Archives for June 2021

June 16, 2021 By Soni Thakur 1 Comment

These Mushrooms Can Help You Boost Your Immune System!

As a kid, I used to wonder why we eat these umbrella shaped things. It is for a frog to hide themselves when it rains (something I saw on a cartoon show). One day, out of curiosity, I asked my mom the same question to which she replied, “Frogs stay in the water only, so they don’t need to hide themselves when it rains. So, it’s left for us to eat!” Obviously, she was not aware of its nutritional benefits at that time. As a nutritionist, now I understand the numerous health benefits that Mushrooms offer along with it’s property to boost immunity.

When we have an infection or disease, our immune system regulates to battle the infection and it works without any break. Hence, it is crucial to boost it on a daily basis so that it does not get exhausted and thankfully, Mushrooms can help this cause. While all edible Mushrooms provide you with essential nutrients, below are some that are nutrient dense and packed with Antioxidants, Beta Glucan, certain Vitamins and minerals that makes them a heart healthy choice to boost your immunity.

Types Of Mushrooms & Their Benefits

Shiitake Mushrooms: These are one of the popular ones as they are a rich source of Fiber, Vitamin B and are low in Calories. They are native to Japan. However in India, it can be found in an Indian Super market too and have been in the limelight for their immunity boosting properties.
Oyster Mushrooms: They’re one of the biggest edible Mushrooms. It gets its name due to having a similar appearance as an oyster. They are an excellent source of essential Vitamins and Minerals including Niacin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and Thiamine. Along with boosting immune function, it also lowers cholesterol and boosts heart health.
Enoki Mushrooms: are also known as ‘Golden Needle Mushrooms’. They are widely available in the Indian supermarket. The healthy Amino acids present in them serves to improve the immune system and is also used as a remedy for hypertension, high cholesterol and liver disease in Asian culture.
Reishi Mushrooms: They support the immune system because they may support the body’s natural response to occasional stress by supporting the endocrine system.
Chaga Mushrooms: help in the formation of Cytokines protein that regulate the immune system. They also stimulate WBC’s (White blood cells) which are essential for fighting harmful bacteria or viruses.

All these varieties are like unsung heroes. So now that you know how they help, include them in your diet along with other food sources to boost your immunity! They are quite versatile and can be added to your soup, sauteed with other vegetables, sandwiches and you can pickle them too – the possibilities are endless!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below! For more on foods that boost immunity, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to nutrition classes by experts on GOQii Play.

To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu

Eat healthy & #BeTheForce

June 15, 2021 By Dr. Naina Sudarshan Leave a Comment

How Long After Getting Infected Can You Get The COVID Vaccine?

It has been a daunting journey for over fourteen months where many have lost their family and friends due to the pandemic. Going through the COVID-19 journey has been a rancorous experience to many, especially during the second wave. Now, there’s hope for survival with the coming of the COVID vaccine.

How Does Vaccination Help?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases, before they come into contact with them. It uses our body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes our immune system stronger. So basically, vaccines do the same action as when we are exposed and are infected with the disease causing organism. But here, the symptoms may be very mild as they will be injecting the weakened version of disease causing organism or a part of the same organism, so our immune system gets trained on how to respond if the actual disease causing organism invades us.

Whenever our body is infected with any of these microorganisms, our body fights against it. Our immune system remembers the specific virus or bacteria by producing its antibodies so that we can fight against it without getting symptoms for the next time when we are exposed to same type of virus or bacteria. But some of these antibodies may not last long enough to protect us from getting infected again in the future. Though a lot of research has been conducted on COVID-19, as far as we know, the antibodies of COVID-19 in our body may not last long. So, getting a vaccine is recommended, regardless of whether you were infected with COVID-19 or not.

Can You Get The COVID Vaccine If You Were Infected?

As the COVID vaccines have rolled out, people who were not infected are getting them but people who have already been infected might have questions related to the COVID vaccine such as – Can I get the vaccine? If yes, how long do I need to wait to get the vaccine after being infected with COVID-19? How long will I not get infected again if I don’t take the vaccine? Let’s look at the official recommendations.

As per the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) in India, based on the current situation of the pandemic, guidelines have been given on how long you need to defer the COVID-19 vaccine after getting infected with it.

Someone who had tested positive for COVID-19 should wait for 3 months to get their COVID Vaccine after recovery.
If you have received the 1st dose of the COVID Vaccine and then got infected before completing the 2nd dose of vaccination, you also need to wait for 3 months to get your 2nd dose after recovering from the infection.
People who got infected with the virus and were treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma need to defer getting vaccinated for 3 months after getting discharged from the hospital.

These guidelines are accepted by the Ministry Of Health and Family Affairs, India. Please note that the earlier recommendation to get the vaccine post COVID-19 infection was just four weeks before. So, the above recommendations are the latest updates recommended by NEGVAC, accepted by the Ministry of Health in India, which applies to all States and Union Territories. However, if you, or anyone in your family or friends who had COVID-19 positive with severe complications and comorbidities, or have undergone any major surgeries during this period or after the 1st dose of the vaccine, it is advised to talk to the doctor who treated you before taking the COVID Vaccine, keeping your safety in mind.

After getting the vaccine, remember not to stop the protocols of wearing a clean mask, sanitizing and washing the hands often, social distancing, avoiding crowded places, having healthy food, regular exercise, good quality sleep and managing stress. Don’t forget, just getting a vaccine cannot guarantee that we will not get infected in the future. All these precautions can save us from being the victims of the next wave.

Hope this article helps you! To read more on COVID-19 and managing its symptoms, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

To get these tips and queries directly answered by a GOQii Coach, subscribe to personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce

June 13, 2021 By Urvi Gohil Leave a Comment

Healthy Eating: Chilli Bean Soup

The onset of the cool, rainy weather calls for a bowl of piping hot soup! As you have been trying out some new recipes at home, why not try this recipe for a delicious bowl of Chilli Bean Soup?

What You Will Need

Boiled Kidney Beans – 1 Cup
Finely Chopped Onion and Tomato – 1 Medium Sized
Chopped Carrot – ½ cup
Finely Chopped Red, Green and Yellow Bell Peppers – ½ cup
Chopped French Beans – 2 tbsp
Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 tbsp
Chopped Coriander – 2 tbsp
Chopped Green Chilli – 1
Pepper Powder – ½ tsp
Chilly Sauce – 1 tsp
Tomato ketchup or puree – 1 tsp
Vegetable stock or water – 2 cups
Oil for seasoning
Salt to taste

How To Prepare the Chilli Bean Soup

Take a pan and heat a tsp of oil.
Add ginger garlic paste and saute till slightly brown.
Also add onion and chopped green chilly. Saute onion till translucent.
Add tomato, bell peppers, carrot and french beans to the pan.
Saute the vegetables for 5-7 min with closed lid.
Now add kidney beans and stir along with vegetables.
Add the pepper powder, salt, chilly sauce and tomato ketchup.
Stir well and add 2 cups of vegetable stock.
Close the pan with a lid and allow the soup to simmer for another 5-7 min.
Serve the Chilly Bean Soup hot.

Highlights:

It is a great mid meal snack or even a meal option when you wish to end your day light.
The soup will help you clear your throat and work as an anti-inflammatory agent because of vegetables and pepper.
Choose your vegetables very wisely this monsoon and use them only after washing nicely.

We hope you try this delicious Chilli Bean Soup recipe and enjoy it. 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, eat healthy and #BeTheForce

June 12, 2021 By GOQii 2 Comments

“I Will Be With GOQii Lifelong!” – Rabin Talukdar On His Health Journey

We’ve always advocated that making small, manageable lifestyle changes can lead to good health in the long run. Multiple health issues often stem from unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity and sleep. Managing these effectively can help you a lot! Here’s an interesting journey of our Player Rabin Talukdar who managed several lifestyle diseases by making a positive lifestyle change.

Life Before GOQii

Currently at the age of 40, Rabin Talukdar resides in Assam. He says that his health issues began organizing a Durga Puja celebration during 2019. His meal timings were off and he found himself munching on unhealthy food all the time. His stress was high and he began experiencing a burning sensation in his chest, dizziness and lack of sleep. Soon after, he consulted with a doctor for multiple issues like hyperacidity, fatty liver and high blood pressure. His doctor said that along with medication, lifestyle modification is what will give him faster relief and suggested he join GOQii.

Making a Lifestyle Change

Rabin Talukdar began his journey under the guidance of Coach Trupti Pandya and shared all his reports with her. After carefully examining his reports, she assured him that he can start off with small changes such as detox water, avoiding maida and other processed foods while eating more vegetables in the form of salads and curries. He started with ACV for 3 months which also helped him reduce weight. He began walking on the treadmill for 20 mins along with yoga and pranayama for 20 mins a day. He now finds himself involuntarily setting aside time for physical activity everyday no matter how busy his work schedule is.

Recovering from COVID-19

In 2020, he was infected with COVID-19 and was admitted for 10 days. Though he experienced no major symptoms, he felt extremely weak and his BP was fluctuating. He returned home and still felt too weak to move around the house. He says his coach helped him a lot with diet tips on how to recover slowly and regain his strength. She asked him to include nuts, dates, peanut butter, add multigrain and millets in his meals. She even made him consume turmeric milk which was something he had always detested. She also sent him inspirational messages everyday which helped him stay positive. His coach guided him through every step like when to start walking, how much to walk in a day and constantly advised him not to strain himself and rest as much as possible.

As a result of all the above lifestyle changes, Rabin’s acidity is completely under control and he doesn’t have to take medicines anymore. His weight has also reduced by 4kg in the last one year. He says, “Thanks to GOQii, I stopped all medicines. I am so happy with my coach that I have renewed my subscription for another 12 months. I will be with GOQii lifelong. In fact, the whole of India needs GOQii, especially during this time when people are getting infected and dying all around. Only a healthy body can fight these infections and my GOQii Coach helped me realize that.”

What Does Coach Trupti Have To Say About Rabin Talukdar

Player Rabin has always been very determined towards his health goal, which was to target weight loss in a healthier way and control his medical conditions. He had high BP: 140-90, Fatty liver: Grade 1, borderline high Creatinine: 2 & LOW (BUN) urea: 14, Low Vit. D: 5, dizziness while working out, gastric trouble, and severe acidity with chest burning sensation. He was taking 3 tablets a day. His stress levels were high due to his concern regarding his medical condition and disturbed quality of sleep with only 2 hrs sound sleep. He was 5kg overweight.

His sincerity, determination, dedication, and consistency helped him achieve his goals in a healthy manner and till March 2021, his overall medical condition is resolved and his medication has stopped as well.

His Vit. D is 24 now, BP is 120- 80, borderline creatinine to 1.3mg/dL normal range and urea issues now 17. The previous issue for fatty liver is resolved completely. He only takes Vit. E tablet and his liver ranges are normal. He lost 4kg and 1 inch waist size with zero gastric trouble and his stress levels are under control with 7 hrs sound sleep now. Energy levels have improved 80% and no dizziness after workouts!

He honestly updated and acknowledged me about his condition and progress logs from time to time… and the result is a big victory in a short span of time.

Does Rabin’s story inspire you to make a lifestyle change? Then download the GOQii App and subscribe to personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu

To read more inspirational stories, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce