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Refreshing and Healthy Iced Tea Recipes

iced tea

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: 

  1. 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. 
  2. Remove the tea bag after 3-5 minutes if you don’t want to make it very strong. 
  3. Add raw honey or any sweetener of your choice (avoid processed sugar) and mix well.
  4. 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: 

  1. Heat 1 cup water in a saucepan. Add fennel seeds & boil until it reduces to half. 
  2. Add the green tea bag for a few minutes. 
  3. After a few minutes, remove the teabag and strain the tea in a tall glass. 
  4. Add raw honey and mix well. 
  5. 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: 

  1. Boil 2 cups of water with cinnamon and cardamom for 5 minutes. 
  2. Turn off the gas, add a teabag to this and cover for 5 minutes. 
  3. Put apple slices in a glass jar and pour the boiled mixture over this after removing the teabag. 
  4. 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: 

  1. Put all the ingredients, except honey and ice cubes in a glass jar. 
  2. After 5 minutes, remove the green tea bag, add honey and mix well. 
  3. Let this sit for another 30-60 minutes at room temperature. 
  4. 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: 

  1. Boil cardamom, cloves and cinnamon with water for five minutes. 
  2. Kill the flame and add the green tea bag and orange peel in this. Cover for 5 minutes.
  3. 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 

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5 Super Slimming Smoothie Recipes

super slimming smoothie

Have you gone to unfathomable lengths to shed those extra kilos from your body? At one point, even I did the same. I, in fact, tried everything but still hit a plateau even after following a strict exercise regime and eating healthy. To combat the plateau, I switched to smoothies for breakfast instead of what I ate normally. I made the best use of veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds stored in my fridge. That’s how my super slimming smoothie recipes came into existence!

Needless to say, they delivered results. Apart from that, these super slimming smoothie recipes are palatable, take less time to prepare, look tempting and are really nutritious!

Let’s take a look at them!

1. Sapodila (Chiku), Chia seeds and Almond Milk Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Sapodillas: 3 – 4
  • Chia Seeds: 1-2 tbsp  
  • Almond milk: ½ cup
  • Almond flakes: 1 tbsp

How to Prepare:

  1. Wash the Sapodillas. Peel, remove the seeds and chop them roughly
  2. Put the chopped sapodillas into the blender and add almond milk.
  3. Blend into a smooth paste and pour it in a glass
  4. Add Chia seeds and stir well
  5. Top it up with Almond flakes before drinking.

2. Celery, Pear and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Chopped Celery: 1 cup
  • Chopped Pear: 1 cup
  • ACV: 1 teaspoon
  • Himalayan Salt: 1 Pinch

How to Prepare:

  1. Put the chopped celery and pear in the blender, blend it well and pour in a glass.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and a pinch of Himalayan salt and blend again for a few seconds.
  3. Stir well before drinking.

3. Blueberry, Oats and Pumpkin Seeds Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Blueberries: ½ cup
  • Oats: ¼ cup
  • Pumpkin Seeds: 2 tbsp
  • Low Fat Milk: 1-2 cups

How to Prepare:

  1. Blend the blueberries, oats, pumpkin seeds and milk together in one go.
  2. Pour the contents in a glass and enjoy.

 4. Banana, Almond and Dark Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Sliced Banana: 1 Cup
  • Almonds: 8
  • Grated Dark Chocolate (80% cocoa): 4 tbsp
  • Chilled Low Fat Milk: ½ cup

How to Prepare:

  1. Toss the sliced bananas, almonds, grated chocolate and chilled milk into the blender and give it a spin.
  2. Pour the smoothie in a glass and enjoy!

 5. Purple Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Jamun (Black Plum) Pulp: 1 cup
  • Curd: ½ cup
  • Soaked Chia Seeds: 1 tsp
  • Organic Honey: 1 tbsp

How to Prepare:

  1. Pour the Jamun pulp and curd in the mixer and blend well.
  2. Add the organic honey to the above mixture along with the entire contents of the soaked chia seeds with water and blend well.
  3. Pour the smoothie in a glass and drink it.

These are a few of the super slimming smoothie recipes for weight loss. If you’re looking for something uniquely nutritious, this is it! So hit the kitchen and go super healthy! Do share your experience in the comments below.

For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play.

To get more advice on recipes, nutrition, weight loss and diet tips, subscribe to personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

Eat Healthy, Stay Home, Stay Safe and #BeTheForce

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Tea is for Therapy

tea

When you hear someone say tea, you are bound to picture that wonderful, aromatic concoction made from milk, sugar and tea leaves. Have you ever felt a slight amount of guilt for loving this enchanting drink when the rest of the world is telling you it is unhealthy? Tea has evolved so much over the centuries from the first time when it came to India, that its original shape and taste is only restricted to additives and the harmful effects of the additives are attributed to tea.

Does it feel like we’ve forgotten the true meaning to tea, which as per Merriam Webster dictionary is – “an aromatic drink, prepared by soaking the part of various plants (such as leaves or roots) and is used medicinally or as a beverage!’’

Here I am enlisting a few authentic teas which have some magical benefits on your health!

1. Wake Up Call Tulsi Tea
Tulsi or holy basil is one of the most sacred herbs in India, also known as “queen of herbs”. Chewing on a few Tulsi leaves is beneficial for you! Imagine sipping on hot Tulsi tea in the morning! The antioxidants in Tulsi Tea clean your body off all the accumulated toxins after the wear and tear which happens during deep sleep.

Its metabolism booster effect helps in optimizing your fasting blood sugar levels while anti-cortisol action is great to reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body, making you ready to welcome the day with a super refreshed and rejuvenated mind!

How to Brew: Take a cup of water in a saucepan. Add 2-3 Tulsi leaves and bring it to a boil till the water absorbs its colour and flavor. After about 2-3 minutes, strain the tea and sip it hot! You can add honey and lemon for more added flavor and nutrients.

2. Mid-Morning Green Tea
Known as one of the world’s healthiest drinks, we are aware of the numerous health benefits of green tea and how it boosts the metabolic process. But do you know that there are some specific times in a day when green tea can do more harm than benefits?  For example, drinking green tea early morning on an empty stomach can increase the acidic environment in the gut or very close to the meals, when the tannins present in it can hamper the absorption of essential nutrients like iron, calcium, proteins from the food. An ideal time to drink this elixir is mid-morning, around 2 hours after your breakfast or 2 hours after lunch.

The natural antioxidants, catechins, which make about 30% of green teas’ nutrient content protect the body from cell damage, and prevent the occurrence of a variety of cancers and degenerative nerve cell disorders like Alzheimer’s.

How to Brew: Pour hot water over loose tea leaves or teabag. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Three minutes for mild flavor, five minutes for a robust full flavour as per your taste.

3. Afternoon Black Tea
Afternoon, around 1-2 hours after lunch is the time when we crave for tea the most. The feelings of dizziness, lethargy, sleepiness, heavy headedness all attack the body together and the need for an instant stimulant is unavoidable. At that time, ditch the harmful additives altogether (milk, sugar) and go for pure, super brain stimulant black tea. L-theanine, the amino acid present in tea increases alpha activity in the brain, resulting in relaxation, better focus and alertness. Black tea is also found to have positive effects on heart health by reducing the levels of LDL – the bad cholesterol when taken consistently.

How to Brew: Pour hot water over a tea bag or boil 2-3g of tea leaves with one cup of water. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on the flavour you prefer. Strain it and sip to enjoy the rush of energy!

4. Before bed Chamomile Tea
This is one of the best non-caffeinated drink which you can have at bedtime. Chamomile is a herb which comes from the daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae family which have been used for centuries to reduce inflammation, anxiety and treat insomnia. The best time to relish this naturally sweet tea is 30 minutes before bedtime, as the antioxidant ‘epigenin’ present in it binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain that may decrease anxiety and cause mild sleepiness. Some studies have found it effective in positively reducing the anxiety during the postpartum period.

How to Brew: Pour hot water over tea bag or infuser. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Add in the flavour of your choice like lemon or mint leaves if needed and enjoy the calmness.

Tea For Home Remedies

Let’s see some age old remedial teas from our grandma’s kitchen!

1. Lemon Honey Tea for Cold and Sore Throat
It is one of the most popular drinks, especially in winters, which instantly soothes a sore throat and reduces congestion. Lemon helps in reducing congestion because of its anti-inflammatory action, while honey helps in soothing the throat.

How to Brew: Add the juice of half a lemon and one teaspoon of organic honey to one cup of hot or warm water and drink instantly!

2. Ginger Tea for Nausea
The active components present in ginger i.e. Gingerol and volatile oils have been found to be effective in reducing nausea caused by pregnancy, chemotherapy or post-surgery. It can also help in calming down the symptoms of motion sickness like dizziness, vomiting and cold sweats.

How to Brew: Add 3-4 slices of peeled, raw ginger in one and half cup of water and let it boil on medium heat for 10-20 minutes, depending on how strong you want it. Remove from heat and add in lemon and honey as per your taste.

3. Peppermint Tea for Bloating
Peppermint is one of the most widely used herbal tea all over the world as a home remedy for various health conditions. It is sometimes known as ‘stomach healer’, as it is known to soothe various gastrointestinal ailments, including stomachache, heartburns, bloating, indigestion and diarrhoea and to promote healthy digestion. It is particularly effective after a meal if you experience heartburn or at the onset of stomach problems.

How to Brew: Add fresh (preferably) or dried peppermint leaves to boiling water. Steep it for 5-10 minutes. Strain the leaves, drink it warm and not scalding hot.

Did you find this article helpful? Try some of these and share your experience with us in the comments below. For more on tea, check out Healthy Reads. You can also buy our select teas, curated by experts from the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii App. Download now!  

#BeTheForce 

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Healthy Eating: Quinoa Kheer Recipe

quinoa kheer

No Diwali celebration is complete without a spoonful of that tasty, delicious kheer! It is the most versatile sweet and is extremely simple to make. In this recipe, we’re going to add a healthy twist to light up your Diwali with good health! Let’s try the exciting, healthy Quinoa Kheer recipe! 

What You Will Need 

  • Quinoa – ½ cup 
  • Milk – 1½ cup
  • Ghee – 1 tsp 
  • Cashews – 4 chopped 
  • Almonds – 4 chopped 
  • Walnuts – 4 chopped 
  • Pistachios – 4 chopped 
  • Jaggery – ½ cup 
  • Saffron strands – 5-6 

How To Prepare

  1. Rinse and wash the Quinoa thoroughly and cook it in a pan at low to medium heat for 15-18 minutes. Once done, use a fork to mix it up and transfer it to a plate to avoid over cooking.
  2. Heat a pan, add ghee and roast all the chopped nuts for 3-5 minutes until they slightly change the color.
  3. Time to pour the milk. Keep the flame on medium and add the jaggery. Give it a nice mix and wait till the jaggery melts. It will take around 10 minutes.
  4. Now, add the cooked Quinoa and mix it well and allow the kheer to simmer for 5 more minutes.
  5. Soak the strands of saffron in some milk and then add it to the kheer. Give it a gentle mix and you will have the desired color of the kheer.
  6. Your delicious Quinoa Kheer is ready! Serve hot. 

Note: You can use oats instead of quinoa. Just replace the quinoa with oats and follow the same method.

Highlights of the Quinoa Kheer Recipe

  • With the goodness of healthy fats and protein, this sweet will be most loved by all! 
  • It will provide more satiety in less quantity  
  • Ideal for celebrating a healthy Diwali, guilt-free! 

We hope you enjoy this Quinoa Kheer recipe and share the joy of guilt-free sweetness with your friends and family. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more Healthy Recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

Wish you all a happy and healthy Diwali! 

#BeTheForce 

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