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5 Foods To Help You Prevent Wrinkles Naturally!

prevent wrinklesWrinkles! Those fine lines which tell you, “You’re getting old!” If you’re worried about them, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll guide you on how you can prevent wrinkles naturally with food! 

Aging gracefully is a sign of maturity but wrinkles can mess with our confidence. When the skin begins losing its elasticity, wrinkles appear. Weak collagen (protein) can cause wrinkles and loss of elasticity in the skin. Collagen can lead to skin dryness which leads to wrinkles. This is a very natural process but with the help of healthy foods, we can postpone it naturally. 

5 Foods To Help Prevent Wrinkles 

  1. Aloe Vera: is rich in Malic acid which helps in improving skin elasticity. Just apply Aloe Vera gel on the face, leave it for 15-20 mins, let it dry and wash it off. Aloe Vera is also a natural sunscreen. One can consume Aloe Vera juice too.
  2. Green Leafy Vegetables (GLV): help the skin stay hydrated and healthy. Consuming GLV smoothies are a quick and easy way to absorb nutrients. Smoothies are another great way to incorporate GLVs in good quantities in our diet. Include spinach, kale, fenugreek leaves, coriander leaves, etc. daily
  3. Berries: Dark and bright, they give you loads of antioxidants which help in reducing free radicals formed by exposure to the sun, pollution and consumption of junk food. It’s always advisable to mix your berries and then eat them. Mixing berries will give you different kinds of antioxidants like anthocyanins, ellagic acids, resveratrol, etc. Example- Blueberry, Strawberry, and Blackberry mixed together.
  4. Fish: is rich in protein, omega 3 and potassium. Potassium prevents sodium retention. Sodium retention means the body just can’t let go of sodium, which holds on water. So we carry more water weight and many times get swelling. The dark circle under your eyes can be genetic or due to excess of sodium in the diet. Fish will help repair the damages which happen in the body and skin. Include fishes like Tuna, Rockfish, Cod, Halibut etc. in your diet. For vegetarians, you can have 1 mini banana instead of a fish.
  5. Rooibos Tea: or red bush tea is a native of Africa. It is a kind of herbal tea and a very good caffeine-free alternative for green tea or coffee. Polyphenols (antioxidants) are present in Rooibos tea which help protect premature aging of the skin and hydrate it as well! 

Apart from all of this, Water plays a very important role in hydrating the body. Water helps in maintaining ph. balance in our body, which is very important for your skin. Try to form a habit of sipping on water throughout the day. Even restricting alcohol (30ml to 90 ml/week), Caffeine (not more than 3cups/day), acidic foods, avoiding processed foods and stress will definitely help you increase collagen for that lovely, hydrated glowing skin.

We hope this article helps you. For more healthy tips, check out Healthy Reads or speak to your GOQii Coach directly by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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Inflammation – What you should know?

Benefits_of_Fish_Oil_Blog_Reduce_Inflammation

When you think pain, think inflammation. Inflammation is a good thing. It’s your body’s way to rise up to fight germs/bacteria/infections, heal bruises when you fall, heal torn ligaments/tissues/tendons etc. Once it does its job of fighting out these invaders or foreign organisms, the inflammation should reduce to normal. The problem is when that doesn’t happen.

Have a torn ligament or muscle pulls that your struggling to heal? Seen the best doctors, therapists etc., and still not fixed? Struggling with arthritis and joint pain? Check your CRP (C-Reactive Protein) levels and focus on reducing inflammation. The cure is in reducing inflammation.

Many of us live with chronic inflammation and that’s dangerous. It’s also the reason people – struggle to lose weight, experience painful joint pain, age faster than normal, feel tired thru the day. Also with chronic inflammation there are higher chances of heart disease, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, struggle with diabetes, feel depressed. Low silent inflammation can destroy your nerves and cellular health, suppressing and weakening your immune system, leading to deadly diseases like cancer, etc.

What’s scary is the fact that you can be extremely healthy and fit, but silent inflammation could be eating into you from inside, which is one of the many explainable reasons why cancer or heart attacks can strike down a healthy and young human being.

Checking Cholesterol levels, Vitamin D3, B12, SGOT, SGTP is imperative, but what most people miss out on is checking their CRP levels. (C-Reactive protein). This is such an important protein level to check and a simple blood test will cover that for you.

CRP level will tell you volumes about the amount of inflammation you have in your body. In my years of experience what stands out in a cancer report of a person is an increase in CRP levels and white blood cells and the immediate action is to reduce inflammation thru food and lifestyle change. Diseases breathe in inflamed environments, in environments that are acidic and in environments where there is less oxygen supply to the cells.

Over training causes inflammation. Vigorous exercise, inconsistent exercise and high intensity training which is not planned for your body type will make your CRP levels soar and kill your immunity, which is why many trainers ask their clients to take a Vitamin C and E post workouts. Running marathons without proper nutrition causes massive inflammation.

Chronic stress, Improper nutrition (high fat foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, doughnuts, white sugar, aerated drinks, salty foods, packaged foods), Smoking causes inflammation. I’ve seen CRP levels fall in a smokers blood report within 10 days of kicking the butt.

How to keep your inflammation in check:

– Smart and moderate exercise

– Meditation and controlling your stress and BP levels

– Nuts and seeds, Green leafy veggies and fruits

– Good fats (like nuts, olive oil, coconut oil)

But, it has been proven that a small amount of alcohol can actually lower CRP levels.

-Vitamin D3, Curcumin (turmeric extract) is one of the best spice based inflammation fighters

Inflammation, the silent orchestrator of health woes, demands our attention. CRP levels offer a symphony of insight. Embrace a melody of smart exercise, mindful nutrition, and stress soothers like meditation. Share your thoughts on inflammation and for more insights, explore Healthy Reads or connect with a certified expert through GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here. Your journey to well-being awaits!

#BeTheForce

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4 Healthy Pizza Recipes You Can Try for World Pizza Day

4 Healthy Pizza RecipesHave you been craving for a delicious slice of pizza? While indulging in this forbidden treat can be a sin for those who are on their way to being healthy and fit, there are some who just can’t resist. Now that there’s no possible way you can cheat on your diet, let’s try some awesome healthy pizza recipes you can make at home!

1. Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Base

(Recipe by Azra Faisan)
Whole Wheat Pizza Base
You can’t possibly go wrong when your foundation is this strong! Try this Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Base for starters:

Ingredients:

  • 2 Cups of Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 Cup of All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 Cup of Grounded Oats
  • 1 tbsp Yeast
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 Cup of Lukewarm Water
  • 1/2 a Cup of Milk
  • 2 tbsp Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper Powder
  • 1 tsp Oregano (optional)
  • 1 tsp Dried Basil (optional)

Method:

  1. Dissolve the sugar in lukewarm water
  2. Mix the yeast and keep it for 15 – 20 minutes in a warm place
  3. Mix all the dry ingredients (grounded oats, pepper powder, etc.)
  4. Add the wet ingredients, including the yeast mixture
  5. Mix them with a spoon and bring them together with your hands (You may have to wet your hands a bit).
  6. Keep them in a dry place for 2 hours for proving. By this time, the dough will have expanded to twice it’s volume or more
  7. Punch it down and carefully shape it into balls
  8. Roll each ball and flatten them to make a thin pizza base
  9. In a pre-heated oven, pre-bake the base at 200°C for 8 minutes (only if you want a pre-baked base)
  10. If you want to skip pre-baking the base, then add your choice of ingredients (choose a few veggies and add only a little cheese to make it even more healthy!)
  11. Bake at 200°C for 10-15 minutes

2. Roti Pizza Recipe 

(Recipe by Urvi Gohil)
Roti Pizza
One of the easiest healthy pizza recipes ever made!

  • Prepare a Wheat Roti
  • Apply pasta sauce or you can even mix ketchup with chilli sauce
  • Add chopped onions, tomatoes, olives, lettuce, or any veggies you have at hand
  • Top it off with cheese, paneer and condiments such as oregano, mixed herbs or chilli flakes
  • Bake them in the oven or you can pan fry it for a healthy and delicious treat!

3. Cauliflower Pizza

(Recipe by Shraddha Shetty)
Cauliflower pizza

This might seem like a bad idea until you taste it! A must try recipe for anyone who loves their veggies!

Ingredients:

  • 2 Cups of Riced Cauliflower Florets
  • 1 Cup of Parmesan or Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1 Egg
  • Salt to Taste
  • Mixed Herbs

For Topings:

  • Tomato Sauce (Tomato puree, fresh garlic, mixed herbs, black pepper powder, salt)
  • Your Choice of Vegetables
  • A Little Cheese

Method:

  1. Clean the Cauliflower Florets by washing and drying them well
  2. Pulse the florets in a food processor or grate them into rice-like granular consistency
  3. Take the riced cauliflower and transfer it to a non-stick pan. Keep stirring on low flame till most of the moisture is gone (ensure that it does not turn brown) and let it cool
  4. Beat 1 egg in a bowl, add cheese and mix them well
  5. Add the riced cauliflower and mix well with salt and herbs
  6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and transfer this mixture onto it to make a pizza base
  7. Gently pat the mixture to make a base of your desired shape with a thickness of a quarter inch. Ensure that you keep the edges slightly thick to avoid burning
  8. Place it in a pre-heated oven at 200°C for 20 mins
  9. Remove and let it cool
  10. Once cooled, spread the tomato sauce, add any topping of your choice with a little cheese and bake it again at 200°C for 10 minutes
  11. Serve hot!

4. Buckwheat Flour Bread Pizza

(Recipe by Shilpi Agarwal)

Ingredients:

  • 4 Slices of Whole Wheat Bread
  • 100 gm Buckwheat Flour
  • 1 Chopped Onion
  • 1 Chopped Tomato
  • Grated Carrot
  • Finely Chopped Green Chillies
  • Salt to Taste
  • 4 tsp Oil

Method:

  1. Mix the Buckwheat Flour and chopped vegetables
  2. Adding salt and water, make a batter of thick consistency
  3. Pour 2 tbsp of this batter on one slice of bread and spread well to cover the whole surface of the bread
  4. Heat a non-stick pan and grease it with oil
  5. When the pan is heated, put the bread coated with batter in the pan upside down
  6. Add ½ tsp oil and let it cook for a minute
  7. Turn it, add ½ tsp oil again and let the other side get cooked
  8. Take the bread slice off the pan when both sides turn golden brown
  9. Serve hot with tomato ketchup or tamarind chutney or a little bit of cheese

We hope you try these healthy pizza recipes at home and level up your health. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

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Why should we eat more turmeric?

Curcumin

Turmeric is traditionally named as “Indian Saffron” because of its deep yellow-orange colour and has been used throughout the ancient Vedic culture of India as a condiment, healing remedy and textile dye. It is one of the most researched condiment and is used in almost all Indian curries, this spice has almost no calories and zeroes cholesterol. It is rich in dietary fibre, iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6. The wide range of turmeric health benefits come mainly from its main ingredient, curcumin. Turmeric is used for arthritis, heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhoea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders. It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fever, menstrual problems, and cancer. Some people apply turmeric to the skin for pain relief, ringworm, bruises, leech bites, inflammatory skin conditions and infected wounds. In short, Turmeric provides a wide variety of benefits, but there are seven standouts. Once you know about these seven benefits you’ll be eager to add the spice to your diet.

  • Potent Antioxidant

Curcumin has a huge therapeutic value as boosting immunity is one of its most important properties. Curcumin exerts powerful antioxidant effects by neutralizing free radicals, chemicals that can travel through the body and cause great amounts of damage to healthy cells and cell membranes. This is important in many diseases, such as arthritis, where free radicals are responsible for the painful joint inflammation and eventual damage to the joints.The high antioxidant power of turmeric also helps to put the brakes on aging process.

  • Maintains Healthy Heart

Oxidized cholesterol damages blood vessels and promotes plaques formation that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Curcumin not only prevents the oxidation of cholesterol in the body but is also beneficial in reducing bad cholesterol and improving good cholesterol. In addition, turmeric is a good source of vitamin B6, which keeps homocysteine levels under control and thereby protects direct damage to blood vessels caused by elevated levels of homocysteine.

  • Cancer Prevention

The most promising quality of turmeric is its ability to prevent cancer. Turmeric can be beneficial for preventing breast, prostate, skin and colon cancer. This super spice  helps the body to destroy mutated cancer cells and prevents its spreading into other organs. Moreover, It causes cancer cells to commit suicide. Turmeric prevents cancer progression by 2 ways: first, by enhancing liver function and second by preventing blood supply to cancer cells which may be necessary for their growth.

  • A Potent, Yet Safe Anti-Inflammatory

Curcumin is thought to be the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric. This makes it effective for fighting heart disease, osteoarthritis pain and other health problems related to inflammation. Curcumin is believed to reduce certain enzymes in the body known to trigger inflammation. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects are comparable to the potent drugs like hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects (ulcer formation, decreased white blood cell count, intestinal bleeding), curcumin produces no toxicity.

  • Promotes Weight Loss

Curcumin promotes weight loss and reduce the incidence of obesity-related diseases. Turmeric stimulates the production of bile which helps to break down fatty foods, which in turn, may help you lose weight. Taking one teaspoon of Turmeric powder with every meal may help in losing weight. This of course doesn’t cancel the fact that you need to eat healthy and exercise.

  • Slows the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Curcumin in turmeric has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration together with declining activities of daily living and behavioral changes. Various effects of curcumin, including anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant property, improves overall memory in Alzheimer’s patients.

  • Natural Painkiller

Turmeric can be considered as an instant painkiller option. Turmeric is capable of fighting a variety of pain that would otherwise be rated with over-the-counter pain medication which just suppresses the pain unlike turmeric which attempts to heal the pain as well.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas to include turmeric in meals:

  • Add turmeric to egg salad to give it an even bolder yellow colour.
  • Give salad dressings an orange-yellow hue by adding some turmeric powder to them.
  • Season rice, vegetables and curries with turmeric.
  • Turmeric is a great spice to complement recipes that feature lentils.
  • Include the spice as an ingredient in your regular meals.
  • You can make a tea out of turmeric. Boil about four cups of water with a spoonful of turmeric for about ten to fifteen minutes. Strain and drink. The best remedy for a sore throat.
  • Add turmeric into your daily smoothies
  • Add turmeric to a glass of organic warm milk which helps fight cold and flu and a remedy for better sleep

Thus, turmeric is safe and offers a variety of general health benefits, you have nothing to lose by adding it to your daily diet in moderate amounts. We hope this article helps you. For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]