Jyoti Sawant, Author at GOQii

May 5, 2015 By Jyoti Sawant 22 Comments

Amazing Health Benefits and Uses of Jamun Fruit

Jamun or Black plum is an important summer fruit, associated with many health and medicinal benefits. The black plum is known to relieve stomach pain, carminative, anti-scorbutic and diuretic. Black Plum vinegar is good to reduce enlargement of spleen, diarrhoea, and those have urine retention problems. Jamum’s ployphenolic compounds are effective against cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, asthma and arthritis.

Black Plum fruit and its leaves are good for diabetic patients. The black plum has anti-diabetic features. The fruit helps to convert starch into energy and keep your blood sugar levels in check. In the summer season, the sugar patient should eat Black Plum regularly because of its low glycemic index. It reduces the symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination and thrusting. The extract of bark, seeds, and leaves are too beneficial in the treatment of diabetes.

Black Plum has adequate amount of iron and vitamin C. The presence of iron in the black plum is good to increase the haemoglobin count. The fruit’s iron content acts as blood purifying agent. Since, it is the medium of purifying your blood; therefore, it is good for skin and beauty. Iron content is beneficial in menses where the lady faces blood loss. People suffering from anemia and jaundice should eat Balck Plump because of its high iron content.

Black Plum juice has many health and medicinal benefits. Being a seasonal fruit, one should try to have more and more amount of Black Plum juice during the month of June, July and August. Some of the amazing and surprising health benefits of this juice are given below.

It is used to treat digestive disorders such as diarrhoea
This juice along with curd is good against digestive problems.
Teeth related problems can be solved by applying black Plum juice or by drinking it.
Jamun juice is beneficial in treating of piles.
Drinking of the fresh fruit juice helps in cough and asthma.
Jamun juice enhances your immune system.
It protects you from cold and acts as anti-aging agent.

April 16, 2015 By Jyoti Sawant 3 Comments

Herbs and Spices – Key to reducing your Sodium Intake

Most Americans eat too much sodium, and, as a result, more people are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. The average intake of sodium is 3,400 milligrams per day – more than double the 1,500 milligrams that the American Heart Association recommends!

By following a heart-healthy, low-sodium diet you can decrease your chance of developing high blood pressure and other harmful effects.

But, reducing salt doesn’t have to mean reducing flavor! Herbs and spices are great salt substitutes and add intense flavor to all kinds of dishes. Here are five common herbs and spices and quick ways to incorporate them into your meals.

*Basil

-It’s highly fragrant leaves and are used in a variety of foods, but basil is most commonly used as the main ingredient in pesto. Whenever you can, try to use fresh basil over the dried form for more intense flavor. Blend with garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese and pine nuts for a quick pesto sauce.

-Layer fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves for a colorful salad. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

-Freeze in an ice cube tray covered in water to use in soups later on.

*Oregano

-The warm, aromatic flavor of oregano makes it a perfect addition to Mediterranean and Mexican dishes.

-Garnish your pizza with fresh oregano.

-Sautee with mushrooms and onions. ( if you have an allergic to Mushrooms you can use Bell Peppers)

-Sprinkle chopped fresh oregano onto homemade garlic bread.

*Rosemary

-The wonderful fragrance and flavor of rosemary goes a long way to flavor chicken, lamb, pork and fish dishes, as well as soups and sauces. Before using rosemary, give it a quick rinse under cool water and pat dry. Most recipes call for rosemary leaves, which can easily be removed from the stem. You can also add whole sprigs to season roasts and soups.

-Seasoned chicken and lamb dishes.

-Add to your favorite soups or stews.

-Puree rosemary with olive oil for a dipping sauce for bread.

*Turmeric

-Turmeric has a peppery, warm flavor similar to orange and ginger. It’s used most commonly in curry dishes and to color mustard.

-Add to egg salad to bring out the yellow color.

-Sprinkle on steamed green beans or cauliflower.

Use 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder in your smoothies to increase the antioxidant power.

*Ginger

-This spicy, aromatic spice adds great flavor to Asian stir fries and veggie dishes. You can buy fresh ginger in the vegetable markets.

-Add to lemonade for spicy kick.

-Mince fresh ginger and add to sauteed veggies or salads.

-Grate fresh ginger into hot water and a splash of lemon for an invigorating hot drink.

The more herbs and spices you add, the less salt you will need for flavor. By lowering your sodium intake, you can decrease your chance of developing high blood pressure and other harmful effects. Take care of your heart!

December 18, 2014 By Jyoti Sawant 1 Comment

“Get ready for the big day” – fitness for Brides & Grooms

It is that time of your life when you want to look the best and fit. It’s your big day when you are going to tie the knot with your groom or bride and get hitched for life. So if you’re on your way to get married, now is a good time to take your health and appearance more seriously.

*Diet: If you’re over weight or underweight consult a dietician to help you with a healthy balanced diet. Resist the temptation to crash diet. Instead of skipping meals, focus on what you eat: keep a food diary for two weeks and you will soon recognize your weak points. Eat healthy for a brighter fresher look, cut down on junk food and sugar, but go gaga over salad, sprouts, green leafy vegetable and of course water.

*Get enough protein – Your body uses 20-30% more energy to digest protein foods than carbohydrates. Make sure you have some protein rich food such as like fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, milk & milk products, nuts like almonds & walnuts, tofu, soybean or pulses during each meal.

*Make time for fitness – There’s no way around it, no quick fix or magic pill. Exercise is the magic pill! Not only does it help you shed pounds, it also reduces stress, rejuvenates your mood and helps you sleep. If you are just starting out after a long break from exercise, commit to 10 minutes a day and build up from there. Start any kind of cardiovascular exercise like jogging, walking, swimming, cycling or aerobics.

Below are few home remedies that will help maintain your Skin and Hair.

*Cleansing (Papaya): Cut a ripe papaya with skin, in the size of a bar of soap. Store it in your fridge. Everyday rub the pulp over your face and neck in a circular motion like you would with soap, keeping the skin side towards your palm. Rinse a bit later, this hydrates the skin well. Do this twice a day.

*Moisturizing (Aloe Vera): Aloe Vera is a gift for the skin. Massaging extracts of Aloe Vera all over the skin, provides essential nutrients, leaving your skin smooth and glowing.

*Hot oil hair massage: Apply olive oil and almond oil because they are healthy in nature and will enrich your hair with fatty acids and vitamins.

*Home made hair mask: Take 1 banana and mash it. Add 3 to 4 drops of almond oil and mix it well and massage it into the hair. Keep it for 30 minutes and wash with a mild shampoo.

Use these tips on regular basis to make your hair and skin healthy and soft.

*Sleep well – Get eight hours of sleep and do not take unnecessary stress. Research shows that stress and lack of sleep contribute to weight gain. Simply being conscious of the stress, trigger in your life and having a plan of how to deal with them when they come up will make a world of difference. You can’t always control, what comes your way, but you can control how you react to it.

So what are you waiting for get ready to be fit and look beautiful before the D Day!

November 17, 2014 By Jyoti Sawant 1 Comment

Why excessive sweating is not good-Part 2

In my previous blog I talked about how sweating is good and the health benefits of Sweating. But, having said that let me also caution you that excessive sweating is also not very good

Before I get to why it is not good, let us first try and understand what is excessive sweating or in other words ‘Hyperhidrosis’

What Is Excessive Sweating?

If you sweat more than other people when it’s hot or you’re exerting yourself, that’s not cause for concern. Sweating is a normal reaction when your body is working hard and needs to cool itself down.

Excessive sweating is usually defined as sweating an amount out of proportion with the temperature of a room or your activity level. Besides disrupting normal daily activities, excessive sweating can cause social anxiety or embarrassment.

Sweating that exceeds beyond the needs of the body—medically termed as hyperhidrosis—is fairly common but not a good sign. It affects 1%–3% of the population. Hyperhidrosis may be generalized but, most often it involves the palms, underarms, feet, and groin; it can take a social toll, making handshaking unpleasant and some handwork impossible.

Causes:

Sweating helps the human bodies stay cool. In most cases, it is perfectly natural. People sweat more in warm temperatures, when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.

Excessive sweating occurs without such triggers. Persons with hyperhidrosis appear to have overactive sweat glands. The uncontrollable sweating can lead to significant discomfort, both physically and emotionally.

When excessive sweating affects the hands, feet, and armpits, it is called primary or focal hyperhidrosis. In most cases, no cause can be found. It sometimes is genetic and runs in families.

Excessive sweating also occurs as a result of another medical condition such as Diabetes, Endocarditis, fever of undetermined cause, heart attack, menopause, Hyperthyroidism, obesity and stress it is called secondary hyperhidrosis. The sweating may be all over the body or it may be in one area.

Excessive Sweating: Treatment Tips

Hyperhidrosis is a very real and embarrassing problem, but there are some effective ways to treat it. Before you hide under bulky sweaters or move to a chillier climate, you can try these proven techniques for combating excessive sweating.

The easiest way to tackle excessive sweating is with an antiperspirant, which most people already use on a daily basis. Antiperspirants contain aluminium salts. When you roll them onto your skin, antiperspirants form a plug that blocks perspiration.

Many antiperspirants are sold combined with a deodorant, which won’t stop you from sweating but will control the odour from your sweat.