Search Results for: winter

February 26, 2021 By Neha Goyal Leave a Comment

7 Reasons Why You Should Avoid Caffeinated Drinks During Winter

Caffeine is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee and cacao plants. Billions of people rely on caffeine to start their day and to get through their night shift or afternoon slump. It works by stimulating the brain and the central nervous system, helping you stay alert, reducing the onset of tiredness. Nothing is as comforting on a chilly morning as a hot cup of tea with a cozy blanket. For most people, intake of these caffeinated drinks increases during winter as they believe it provides warmth to beat the cold. But is that really so? Is there a reason to avoid caffeinated drinks? Let’s find out!

How Caffeine Works

While caffeine is considered safe, drinking too much raises some concerns. When you drink any caffeinated drink, your gut absorbs it very quickly and sends it to your bloodstream. From there, as it reaches your brain, it starts blocking the effects of a neurotransmitter called adenosine. Adenosine relaxes your brain and makes you feel tired. So by blocking its receptors, caffeine helps you stay awake and alert. But with alertness comes anxiety as well. At the same time, caffeine also stimulates our stress or “fight & flight” hormones.

Reasons To Avoid Caffeinated Drinks During Winter

Dehydration: During winter, most people feel less thirsty and their water intake automatically reduces. All caffeinated drinks are diuretic and tend to flush out water from the body through urine, making it deficient in not just water but also vitamins and minerals that are required for the smooth functioning of the body.
Amplified Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Winter is not a good time for people with heart conditions and high blood pressure. They are always advised to stay away from low temperatures as it can constrict their blood vessels and lead to high blood pressure. Caffeine being a stimulant also increases heart rate and blood pressure. So it may increase difficulties for such people.
Empty Calories: Most caffeinated drinks are loaded with sugar and give you not just empty calories but a sugar crash later, which might make you feel more lethargic after some time.
Effect on Digestion: Being a stimulant, caffeine increases gut motility or the contraction of muscles that propel the contents in the gastrointestinal tract. This might be a reason why you feel like having tea or coffee with or after a heavy meal. But this actually isn’t good because it reduces the time your food stays in each part of your digestive system, not letting the nutrients fully absorb. In fact, too much can lead to diarrhea which is followed by dehydration.
Pregnancy & Lactation: Caffeine can easily cross the placenta and can reach breast milk. So, women who consume caffeinated drinks may need to limit their intake to avoid risk of miscarriage or low birth weight.
Interaction with Medication: Our body flushes out caffeine generally within 6-8 hours but while in the system, it can react with your medication and supplements, causing poor absorption or side effects.
Suppresses Appetite: Now this can be both good and bad for all weight watchers. Research shows that caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant but increases higher plasma levels of PYY & Leptin (anorexic hormones). It might make you eat less calories, but with less food, there is less nutrition as well. So beware of consuming too much caffeine, as our body needs more nutrition to maintain immunity.

Now, the purpose of all this information was not to coax you off caffeine but to ensure you control your intake. Controlled amounts can have some benefits too! Make sure you drink the right quantity and the right version. 1-2 cups of black tea, green tea and black coffee are better options than sugary and cream filled versions. Also ensure that you drink your last cup 6-8 hours before you sleep.

We hope this article on why you should avoid caffeinated drinks in winter helps you! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

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February 23, 2021 By Meenakshi Sharma Leave a Comment

Are There Any Winter Superfoods?

“Superfoods” are foods that have a substantial amount of nutrients and very few calories. They contain a high volume of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. But, do winter superfoods really exist?

Do Winter Superfoods Really Exist?

Some winter foods do have a powerful impact but it’s your overall diet that really matters. Enriching your diet with nutrient-rich foods may help deal with issues such as joint problems, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and hair fall in winter and let you enjoy good immunity, good skin and overall good health. Let’s look at a few foods which may be considered as Winter Superfoods.

Pearl Millet /Bajra: is a versatile food rich in fibre, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B. It promotes heart health, controls BP, muscle gain and helps you get dense, frizz-free hair with great volume. The high iron content plays a vital role in curing anaemia and can help to strengthen your bones as well. It is a heating grain, so it should be had in winters only. You can use Bajra to make malt, bhakri, ladoo, khichdi, cookies, uttapam, idli and dosa.
Green Vegetables: Add green leafy vegetables to your meals to fight infections and boost immunity. These are excellent sources of fibre, folate and carotenoids, antioxidants, vitamins C and K and the minerals iron and calcium. Include palak, methi, sarson, pudina, moringa and green lasun to your diet. Green lasun boosts immunity and alleviates the burning sensation in hands and feet due to its anti-inflammatory properties. You can add them in rotis, dals, juices, soups and chutneys.
Root Vegetables: Include all kinds of root vegetables in your diet, especially during the winter season. Sweet potatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnip and its leaves have antioxidant properties, vitamin C, are rich in beta carotene, fibre, vitamin A, and potassium. Regular consumption can help in curing constipation, improving immunity and reducing inflammation. Beets are also sources of anthocyanins, that have been linked to lower instances of heart disease, and nitrate – which improves the dilation of blood vessels. You can make soups, tikkis, sabzis or simply roast them.
Seasonal Fruits: Citrus fruits are bursting with Vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants, making them ideal during winter. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, pomegranates, kiwi, guava, amla and lemons are also high in minerals and phytochemicals that help protect the body from infections and pathogens. They help in enhancing your immunity, reducing hair fall, improving skin and digestive health. Eat a fruit in the morning and the evening as a snack. If you find Amla too sour, consume it with a dash of salt and black pepper or in the form of instant powders.
Ghee: is an invaluable source of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. It helps with joint lubrication, skin hydration and keeps the digestive system functioning well. It can help you boost immunity and prevent yourself from falling sick. Cook your meals in ghee or top your dal, rice, roti, etc. with it.
Til/Sesame Seeds: are a good source of calcium, essential fatty acids, vitamin E and are good for bones, skin and hair. It helps you maintain body temperature and keeps you warm and energetic during winter. Add sesame seeds to your roti, chikki, gajak, ladoo and chutney.
Nuts: Peanuts have more protein than any nut (7g per serving), containing more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals, and are a good source of polyphenols, fibre and good fats. Daily intake of almonds and walnuts lower bad cholesterol, control blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium. They’re also rich in omega 3 and have anti-inflammatory properties. We can have soaked nuts, add them in ladoos, chikkis, granola bars or simply have them as snacks.
Turmeric: is known as a therapeutic superfood due to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.Turmeric can help reduce inflammation and fight infections. Make the famous “Haldi Doodh” or a pickle with fresh turmeric.
Honey: is another energetic superfood to look upon for winters. You can use it as a substitute for sugar. Mix honey with your tea and sip it every morning to fight cold, sore throat and other infections.
Gond: keeps the body warm, protects against the cold, treats cardiovascular, chronic kidney diseases, lubricates the joints and strengthens the bones. It also helps one manage menstrual problems and combat gas issues. You can turn gond into ladoo or panjiri mixture i.e. a mix of gond, wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, nuts and cardamom.
Garlic: is a tasty herb that has high amounts of calcium, potassium as well as certain sulphuric compounds that are good for getting rid of infections. You can make chutneys, add it to soups and dals. You can also have crushed garlic with honey in the morning.

We hope these “Winter Superfoods” help you make a positive and healthy lifestyle change. For more on winters and nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

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February 16, 2021 By Trupti Vyas (Pandya) 4 Comments

Winter Skincare Tips For Dull and Dry Skin

With the temperatures dipping, dry winter air zaps the moisture from your skin and leaves it dry and flaky. But it doesn’t mean you have to live with dull and dry skin all through winter. A few effective winter skincare tips and a proper skincare routine can facilitate your skincare game on point even in the chilly months. Let’s discuss some very useful skin care tips to keep your skin healthy and happy in winter.

Winter Skincare Tips For Healthy Skin

Cover Up: Winter brings along dry and itchy skin that can be annoying to deal with it but you can prevent them from stripping away your skin’s natural oils. Always wear gloves and cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or the collar of your jacket, especially if it’s windy. You can apply Vaseline or lip balm and sunscreen of SPF – 15 to lessen direct contact between the cold air and your skin (especially your lips) as the sun’s harmful UV rays can still cause damage in winters.
Watch your Diet: Your skin texture depends not only on external treatments but also on your food intake. A proper nutritious intake helps in rejuvenating the skin from within. Sometimes, when the skin is incredibly dry, it can also be helped by whole grains, pulses, brown rice, oatmeal and sprouts. Foods containing omega 3 fatty acids like chia seeds, almonds, walnuts, fish oil and flaxseed oil help increase blood flow to the skin, thus making it smooth and supple.
Make Hydration Easy: You’ve probably been told to drink plenty of water during winter, so don’t forget the ‘drinking 8 glasses of water’ rule that applies to winter as well.
High Water Content Foods: Vit. C rich fruits like guava, papaya, Amla, oranges, lemon juice, green tea, avocado and green veggies such as spinach, beetroot or carrot, broccoli soups and stews made with broth, can also help keep your body and skin from getting too dry by synthesising collagen. Collagen is the protein that holds the skin cells together, thus promoting the generation of clear skin and a fresh complexion.
Moisturize & Apply Natural Butters: Moisturizing is one the pretty basic winter skincare tips. Take it a step further by selecting moisturizers or natural butters like Shea, primrose, kokum, coconut oil or ghee, and almond butter. These can be applied to the skin after showering. Treating dry lips can also be done using a few common home ingredients like aloe vera gel and honey or Vaseline.
Practice Abhyanga: Abhyanga is an important aspect of Ayurveda, a treatment that involves self-massaging the skin with oil. You can use cold-pressed oils like olive oil, sesame seed oil, mustard oil, coconut oil, almond oil and castor oil, etc. that offers a great healing treatment for dry skin, bringing comfort and balance to the entire body.
Avoid Hot Baths: Always use lukewarm water instead of hot water while bathing to revive natural oil from the skin. You can also use mild soaps, bath oils or a good home-cleanser just like the top of the milk cream blended with a few teaspoons of gram flour (Besan) and a pinch of turmeric powder rather than a harsh soap which can dry out the skin.

These are some simple Winter Skincare tips to help you keep your skin moist, supple and healthy all season long. Include the easy changes above to your everyday routine to be able to feel your best!

We hope this article helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on Winters and Winter Skincare, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

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February 13, 2021 By Aruna Bhatia 2 Comments

Healthy Eating: Masala Gur – The Best Winter Dessert

Winter is the favorite season for many of us but it brings the challenge of keeping our bodies warm and staying healthy enough to fight off infections. On the other hand, it also leaves the body craving for food. You’ve noticed being hungrier during winter, especially for something sweet. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at a recipe that can help us satisfy that sweet craving, keep warm and boost immunity. Let’s learn how to prepare Masala Gur (Jaggery)!

What You Will Need

Jaggery – 100 gms
Makhana (fox nuts) – 10 to 12
Ghee – ½ tsp
Sonth (dry ginger powder) – 1 tsp
Ajwain (carom seeds) – ½ tsp
Pinch of Black Salt
Raw Peanuts – 2 tbsp
Almonds – 10 to 12 (roughly chopped)
Jeera – ½ tsp

How To Prepare

Grate the Jaggery into a bowl and keep it aside
Take a pan, add half a tsp ghee and roast the makhana in it till crisp. Move them to a bowl.
Next, dry roast peanuts and rub their skin off.
Now, add the grated gur into a non stick heavy bottom kadai and let it melt on medium flame.
When you feel the gur is melted and is in a semi-liquid state, add the ajwain, sonth, jeera and black salt one by one into this melted gur. Stir well so that the spices blend well with the melted gur.
Next, add the makhana, peanuts and roughly chopped almonds to it. Switch the gas off and mix well.
Grease a thali or a plate and pour this hot gur mix in it and let it cool. Once it cools down and gets hard again, break it into small pieces. Your Masala Gur is ready!

Benefits of the Masala Gur Recipe

This masala gur can be a healthy substitute to high fat and refined sugar desserts
The saunth, jeera, ajwain and black salt aids good digestion, improves metabolism and provides heat to the body
This treat should be enjoyed in small candy size pieces

We hope you enjoy making and eating this tasty Masala Gur winter dessert. Do try it and let us know your thoughts in the comments below! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play.

Eat healthy and #BeTheForce

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