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Healthy Eating: Immunity Boosting Ladoos

immunity boosting ladoos

Are you craving for ladoos but hesitate due to the guilt? The question is – why control this craving? Don’t worry. We’ll help you out with an awesome, tasty and delicious immunity boosting ladoos recipe that will rev up your immunity and help you enjoy this treat guilt-free! 

Preparing The Immunity Powder (1 tbsp = 15gm) 

  • Organic Turmeric Powder – 7 tbsp 
  • Cumin Seeds – 4 tbsp 
  • Coriander Seeds – 4 tbsp 
  • Fennel Seeds – 7 tbsp 
  • Whole Black Pepper – 2 tbsp 
  • Cardamom – 3 tbsp 
  • Dry Ginger Powder – 2 tbsp 
  • Cinnamon Powder (Dalchini) – ½ tbsp or 1 stick

Method: Lightly roast all the ingredients (except turmeric powder and dry ginger powder) on a slow flame till you get a nice aroma. Once cooled, transfer them in a grinder and grind them to a powder. Add turmeric and dry ginger powder to it and mix with a dry spoon. Store in a clean, airtight glass or steel jar for 4-6 months.

How To Make The Immunity Boosting Ladoos 

Ingredients (1 cup = 200gm) 

  • Sattu Powder – 1 cup 
  • Ghee – ¼ cup or 3 tbsp 
  • Immunity Powder – 2 tbsp 
  • Grated Jaggery – ½ cup 

Method: 

  1. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan. 
  2. Add 1 cup sattu powder. Mix it and roast it for only 2-4 min on low flame. Shift in a bowl.
  3. Add ½ cup grated jaggery.
  4. Add 2 tbsp. Immunity powder and mix it very well.
  5. Then, add 2 tbsp. ghee (room temperature). Mix it  well.
  6. Shape into ladoos while the mixture is still warm.
  7. Store these immunity ladoos in an airtight steel or glass jar for a week.
  8. Enjoy 1 immunity boosting ladoo daily as a mid-morning snack/ post workout meal/ early morning on empty stomach for energy as well.

Tips while making the Ladoos

  • If you do not have sattu powder then grind roasted chana dal to a fine powder, sieve it and use it.
  • You can also use jaggery powder. If there are granules in jaggery powder, grind it in the mixer grinder to make fine powder.
  • If you are not able to bind ladoos, add a few tsp. ghee as required.
  • If you are allergic to sattu/chana dal flour you can have ½ tsp immunity powder with 1 glass warm water in early morning or with 1tbsp ghee or can be used as garam masala in gravy.

Health Benefits of the Immunity Boosting Ladoos  

  • Sattu is known as the “Poor man’s protein” and is loaded with protein, calcium, fiber, iron and magnesium. It helps in building strength and muscle mass rapidly. 
  • It is excellent for bone health to prevent osteoporosis, cleans out the colon and stomach. Is an excellent cure for constipation and aids fat loss. 
  • It has cooling effects on the body.
  • Ghee is full of fat soluble vitamins, helps to  build strong bones. 
  • Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It boosts immunity and guards the body against harmful pathogens.
  • Turmeric aids in the healing of osteoarthritis, CVD, diabetes, asthma, allergies, skin diseases, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer diseases. 
  • Cinnamon helps to improve glucose and lipid levels. 
  • Cardamom, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and coriander seeds are rich in antioxidants and help in relieving digestive issues like bloating and indigestion. Piperine in black pepper can increase absorption of nutrients like selenium, B- complex vitamins, Beta carotene and rich in potassium, manganese and iron. 
  • Dry ginger powder contains thermogenic agents that help burn fat and reduce cholesterol and triglycerides.

We hope you enjoy these immunity boosting ladoos! Do share your experience in the comments below! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing

women's health

In a world where health often seems like a commodity, influenced by life’s ups and downs and how good the healthcare systems are, the assertion “My Health, My Right” is not just a statement; it’s a rallying cry to take control. This year’s theme also highlights a fundamental human right: access to quality healthcare.

Taking Ownership of Your Health Through Preventive Healthcare

Imagine a world where prioritizing your well-being isn’t just a privilege, but a right. Preventive healthcare offers everyone that proactive approach, placing the power back in our hands.It is the silent guardian of our wellbeing, operating on the principle that prevention is better than cure. It’s an approach that encourages us to engage proactively with our health, to make informed decisions that ward off diseases before they take root. This philosophy underscores the importance of regular health screenings, vaccinations, healthy lifestyle choices, and timely intervention, all aimed at reducing the risk of chronic diseases that are increasingly becoming a global burden.

At its core, preventive healthcare is about knowledge and action. It begins with understanding the risk factors associated with various health conditions—be it lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension or genetically predisposed conditions. Armed with this knowledge, individuals can then take proactive steps towards mitigating these risks. This could mean adopting a healthier diet, incorporating regular physical activity into one’s routine, managing stress effectively, or avoiding harmful habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

The role of regular health screenings cannot be overstated in the preventive healthcare paradigm. These screenings are pivotal in detecting potential health issues early on when they are most treatable. Whether it’s routine blood tests, cancer screenings, or heart health assessments, these checks serve as a critical line of defense against the onset of serious health conditions.

Preventive healthcare also extends to the mental and emotional dimensions of wellbeing. Mental health, often relegated to the background in discussions around health, is integral to our overall wellbeing. Stress management, mindfulness practices, and seeking timely help for mental health issues are all preventive measures that contribute to a healthier, more balanced life.

Addressing Health Disparities

The reality is, millions globally lack access to essential healthcare. Social factors like poverty, location, and discrimination significantly impact health outcomes. This World Health Day, we acknowledge these inequalities and advocate for closing the healthcare gap.

Empowering Your Health Journey

The good news?  Taking control of your health is achievable. Here are some ways to get started:

Embrace Preventive Care:

  • Regularly schedule checkups with healthcare professionals.
  • Prioritize Healthy Habits: Focus on a balanced diet, regular exercise, and quality sleep.
  • Educate Yourself: Explore credible resources to understand your health and wellness needs.
  • Building a Healthier Future

Spread Awareness about “My Health, My Right” and encourage others to prioritize their well-being.

Support Healthcare Initiatives: Advocate for organizations working on health equity and access to healthcare for all.

Embrace a Preventive Mindset: Remember, small, proactive steps today lead to a healthier tomorrow.

By taking charge of our health and advocating for change, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

Together, let’s make “My Health, My Right” a reality!

#BeTheForce

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Dark Chocolate: A Delicious Path to Better Health

Who does not love chocolates? Everybody does but, chocolate and especially (75% and above) dark only a few of them. One needs to cultivate a taste for it. And, believe me, once you have developed that eating dark chocolate can be super beneficial.

How? Well, let me take you through the benefits ….

(1) Dark Chocolate Cuts Stroke, Heart Disease Risk

I recently read an article in an English Tabloid that said mentioned that dark chocolate is good for the heart.. Quoting from the article, according to one of the researchers Simin Liu, “The analysis found that Cocoa flavanol intake may reduce dyslipidemia insulin resistance and systematic inflammation, which are all major subclinical risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases”.

As per another new study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, eating flavanol-rich dark chocolate has been found to protect against the risk of heart disease and stroke by improving platelet function within two hours of consumption.

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health examined the effects of consumption of dark chocolate that was enriched with cocoa extract in the blood of 42 healthy volunteers, 26 women and 16 men. They compared platelet function of the participants who ate enriched dark chocolate with those who ate dark chocolate that contained a lower cocoa and flavanol content, and white chocolate.They found the dark chocolate enriched with flavan-3-ols significantly decreased platelet activation and aggregation in men, but only decreased platelet aggregation in women.

“Taken together, these findings support the notion that flavanol-rich foods, including cocoa products, may help to promote cardiovascular health,” Dr.Kelm said.

(2) Dark Chocolate helps in increasing endothelial function of SMOKERS…

The researchers studied smokers because their blood vessels tend to respond poorly to changes in blood flow, possibly related to impairments in how nitric oxide sends signals to the inner lining, the endothelium, of blood vessels. This impaired endothelial function is a marker for increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

A dozen smokers (six men and six women) in their early 30s, who did not have any known health problems, were enrolled in the double-blind crossover study to compare the effects of a cocoa drink rich in flavanols to a cocoa drink that tasted the same but contained very low levels of flavanols. Circulating nitric oxide levels and blood vessel responses (flow-mediated dilation) were measured before drinking the cocoa and again two hours later. Each participant drank flavanol-rich and flavanol-poor cocoa drinks during different testing sessions.There were significant increases in circulating nitric oxide and flow-mediated dilation after ingestion of drinks. These changes correlated with increases in flavanol metabolites. In addition, the improvements were reversed when the participants were given a drug (L-NMMA) that interferes with nitric oxide signalling, thus supporting the idea that the flavanol-rich cocoa drink produced its effects by influencing the nitric oxide system.

The researchers pointed out that the cocoa drink they used was specially processed to retain much higher levels of flavanols than are typically found in commercially-available cocoa drinks; so it is unlikely that drinking more hot chocolate would produce a similar effect. Nevertheless, the conclusion drawn from these results have to be interpreted with caution, because it is not known whether or not the chronic consumption of flavanol-rich foods leads to sustained increases in endothelial function and the prevention of future cardiovascular events. In particular, in smokers, it is unlikely that cocoa can completely attenuate the deleterious effects of continued smoking, the study says.

(3) Dark Chocolate helps in preventing the development of Atherosclerosis

A flavanol-rich drink is capable of increasing nitric oxide levels in the blood and reversing the detrimental effect of smoking on vascular adaptation. It remains to be seen whether the acute beneficial effect of a flavanol-rich drink translates into a long-term benefit, in terms of attenuating or preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

(4) Dark Chocolate helps in improved thinking, decreased appetite, obesity, as well as type-2 diabetes.

Cocoa, the basic ingredient of chocolate, is one of the most flavanol-rich foods around. That’s good for chocolate lovers because previous research has shown that flavanols in other foods such as grapes and tea can help fight weight gain and type-2 diabetes. But, not all flavanols, which are a type of antioxidant, are created equal. Cocoa has several different kinds of these compounds. Researchers found that adding one particular set of compounds, known as oligomeric procyanidins (PCs), to the food made the biggest difference in keeping the weight down if on high-fat diets. They also improved glucose tolerance, which could potentially help prevent type-2 diabetes. Oligomeric PCs appear to possess the greatest antiobesity and antidiabetic bioactivities of the flavanols in cocoa, particularly at the low doses.

5.Dark Chocolate helps in Lowering blood pressure

In particular dark chocolate which contains higher levels of flavanols than milk chocolate, may protect against the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure, blood flow, and improving blood lipid levels. The link between cocoa and blood pressure stems from the discovery that the indigenous people of San Blas Island in Central American, who drink flavanol-rich cocoa drinks every day, have normal blood pressure regardless of age. However, flavanol concentrations in cocoa and chocolate products vary according to cocoa processing procedures and types of chocolate, so it is difficult to establish the optimal dosage for an effect.

Satisfy your sweet cravings guilt-free with dark chocolate, a delectable treat packed with health-boosting properties. From enhancing cardiovascular health to supporting weight management and improving endothelial function, dark chocolate offers a myriad of benefits. Embrace the power of dark chocolate and indulge in its delicious goodness for a healthier, happier you!

So go ahead and be a Chocoholic!!!! For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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Healthy Recipes For Kids: Healthy Twist on Snacks & Sweets

Healthy Recipes For KidsAs mentioned in the previous article of Healthy Recipes For Kids, We spoke about the aspects of healthy eating for children not being different from adults. We need the right nutrients in the right quantities. Here, we’ve got some healthy recipes for a snack and a sweet that we’re sure your child will enjoy. 

Healthy Recipes For Kids

1. Healthy Mathari 

mathariWhat you will need: 

  • Wheat flour – 200 gm
  • Roasted Gram flour – 50 gm
  • Amaranth seed flour – 50 gm
  • Semolina – 20 gm
  • Desi ghee – 4 tbsp
  • Salt – a per taste
  • Dry fenugreek leaves – ½ tsp
  • Asafetida (Hing)  – 1/4th tsp
  • Roasted Muskmelon seeds powder – 2 tsp
  • Roasted Sunflower seeds powder – 2 tsp
  • Carom seeds – 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

  1. Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl and add hot melted ghee. Gently mix all the ingredients until ghee spreads all over the flour.
  2. Knead the dough with lukewarm milk to provide a soft texture
  3. Keep it aside for half an hour.
  4. Roll out a big chapati and cut desired shapes with a cookie cutter as it appeals to kids.
  5. These Mathari or salted cookies can be baked or fried on a low flame.
  6. These serve as a good snack at the evening hours with milk, juices or smoothies.

2. Jaggery Protein Chikki/Laddoo

healthy recipes for kidsWhat you will need:

  • Almonds – 50 gm
  • Walnuts – 50 gm
  • Sunflower seeds – 20 gm
  • Pumpkin seeds – 20 gm
  • Muskmelon seeds – 20 gm
  • Fox nuts – 50 gm
  • Rolled oats – 30 gm
  • Dates – 6-7 in number
  • Jaggery – 200 gm
  • White pepper powder – ½ tsp
  • Poppy seeds – 30 gm

Method of preparation

  1. Roast all the ingredients separately without jaggery, dates & pepper powder
  2. Make a coarse powder by adding dates 
  3. Melt jaggery on low flame. Once melted, start adding the white pepper powder
  4. Mix all ingredients gently
  5. Ladoos can be rolled from this mixture on slight cooling or chikki can be made by spreading the mixture on greased plate.
  6. These high protein chikkis or ladoos can be combined with breakfast or the evening snack

Benefits of These Recipes 

  • These matharis are rich in protein and contain seeds. Seeds are a compact source of many nutrients and generally kids don’t want to eat these seeds, so this is an easier way to get your kids to eat them.
  • Jaggery laddoo or chikki is a power pack compact source of many nutrients, rich in protein, iron and white pepper powder is very good for the eyes.
  • These snacks are much much better than the usual chips, mixtures and other unhealthy snacks. 

We hope you enjoy these Healthy Recipes For Kids. Do try them out, upload your pics on social media or the GOQii Arena and tag us! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

To get more advice on recipes, nutrition and diet tips for kids, subscribe to GOQii and ask your GOQii Coach 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 […]