Mamta Joshi, Author at GOQii

August 19, 2020 By Mamta Joshi 4 Comments

A Complete Guide To The Benefits Of Oil Pulling

Immunity has become a common discussion during these pandemic-stricken times. No doubt that good immunity is the key to a healthy and disease-free body. The Ministry of Ayush has listed some immunity boosting measures for self care during the pandemic and oil pulling is one such Ayurvedic procedure.

What Is Oil Pulling?

It is an ancient Ayurvedic practice known as Kalava but not many are familiar with it. It is known to improve immunity and prevent more than thirty systemic diseases when practiced regularly. The oral cavity harbors billions of microorganisms, some of these contribute to the development of systemic diseases. In oil pulling, edible oil is swished around the mouth, continuously for 20 minutes like a mouthwash. Ayurveda believes that the tongue is connected to every organ of the body. Microbes and toxins build up in the mouth and swishing oil in the mouth for a prolonged amount of time draws out impurities from the mouth. Oil acts as a cleanser before these microbes get a chance to re-circulate and spread.

How To Do It?

It is quite simple, no side effects and involves a few steps with just 1 ingredient.

Take 1 tbsp of coconut oil.
Swish it around in the mouth, between teeth, all over the gums, tongue, towards the cheek for 20 minutes.
Spit out the oil and rinse your mouth well with water.

Caution: Oil may thicken and clog your drain so spit it in the dustbin. Children shouldn’t do it as there are chances they’ll swallow the oil.

Initially you may find it difficult to swish oil for long, so just start with 5 minutes and gradually build it up to 15–20 minutes. Coconut oil contains lauric acid which is proven to be anti-inflammatory and can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, virus and fungi. Early morning is the best time to practice, even before drinking water. During sleep, the body detoxifies and the tongue gets coated with a white film which is full of toxins and microbes.

Benefits Of Oil Pulling On Oral Health

Oil pulling is beneficial for oral hygiene as it reduces a number of harmful bacteria in the mouth. It is helpful for conditions like:

Bad breath
Bleeding gums
Plaque
Cavities
Oral candidiasis
Gingivitis
Reduces tooth pain
Reduces problems like dry mouth, sore throat and chapped lips
Gives whiter teeth, pink lips and gums.

Benefits To The Skin

When you oil pull, you constantly exercise your facial muscles which encourages blood flow to your face. Oil Pulling can:

Reduce wrinkles, fine lines, dry face and other signs of aging
Improve skin elasticity
Reduce double chin
Define your jawline

Apart from the above, it can call help with:

Improving gut health, metabolism, digestion and immunity
Detoxifying the mouth and body
Improving energy levels and sleep
Balancing hormones
Reducing acne, eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems
Alleviating headaches and migraine
Providing relief from stiff joints and allergies

We hope you try this ancient Ayurvedic method of detoxifying your mouth and body. Do share your experience with us. For more articles on health and wellness, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

July 25, 2020 By Mamta Joshi 1 Comment

Healthy Eating: Chickpea Soya Cutlets

With some parts of the country still in lockdown, it’s difficult to get fresh veggies and groceries. So, let’s look at a simple recipe with minimum ingredients which are available in our kitchen. This protein-rich Chickpea Soya Cutlets are easy to prepare and are apt as a snack or a main meal as well.

What You Will Need

Chickpeas (kabuli chana), boiled and drained- ½ cup
Soya granules – ½ cup
Finely chopped mint leaves – 1 tbsp (approx)
Green chilli – 2
Ginger – 1 inch
Red chilli powder -¾ tsp
Turmeric powder – ¾ tsp
Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking – 2-3 tsp

How To Prepare

Soak the soya granules in hot water for 10-15 minutes. Drain and squeeze out all water and keep aside.
Blend the chickpeas, soya granules, mint, ginger and green chilli together to make a coarse mixture.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, lemon juice, salt to the paste and mix well.
Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape it into round, flat cutlets.
Cook them on a non-stick pan using a little oil till both sides are golden brown.
Serve hot with green chutney.

Highlights of the Chickpea Soya Cutlets

Provides great satiety as it is high in protein and fiber.
It is gluten-free and a great option for vegans
Recipe is high in Iron and folic acid as well which is required for formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
Other finely cut veggies of your choice can be added as per availability.

Do try this delicious, lip-smacking Chickpea Soya Cutlet recipe and 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.

Stay home. Stay safe. Eat healthy and #BeTheForce

June 15, 2020 By Mamta Joshi 4 Comments

Should You Wear A Mask While Exercising Outdoors?

If you ever ventured out with a face mask on a normal day, you’d probably get strange looks from people but within the paradigm of the new normal, it has become commonplace and mandatory for everyone to wear a mask. As the lockdown is being slowly lifted and people are beginning to slowly get back to their outdoor workout routines, does it make sense to wear a mask while exercising outdoors?

Should You Wear A Mask While Exercising Outdoors?

Wearing a face mask while exercising outdoors helps prevent the spread of the virus, but it can also lead to breathing difficulties. When you are running, jogging, doing any activity which increases your respiratory rate, the oxygen requirement goes up several times and you need to inhale that much more air to deliver the required oxygen to the body.

A mask can restrict airflow in and out of the mouth and nose, creating a situation where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange are compromised. There’s a possibility that you may not be able to fulfil the increased oxygen requirement when exercising with a mask on. There are chances of inhaling the exhaled carbon dioxide. This can create health complications, especially in people with weaker lungs, chronic bronchitis, asthma and other health complications.

Symptoms You Might Experience While Wearing a Mask and Exercising Include:

Anxiety
Fatigue
Headaches
Breathlessness
Dizziness
Loss of consciousness

Precautions To Be Taken While Exercising Outdoors

Though it is important to wear a face mask in an enclosed space where social distancing may not be possible – like when going out for work, when using public transport or at grocery stores, restaurants, malls, etc. but when it comes to exercising with a mask on, be cautious.

Listen to your body: You may feel fatigue faster due to a mask, so do not push your exercise limits.
Don’t ignore any of the symptoms mentioned above or any other difficulties and put a break on your exercise immediately.
Wearing a face mask or not is a matter of social distancing. For someone walking/running and alone outside where social distancing is maintained, a mask isn’t required.
Try exercises where you use the same spot. For instance, stationary cardio workout – you can pick a location where there aren’t any people around.
Keep your distance and be mindful of others. Keep as much space between yourself and others as possible or bring a mask with you and put it on when needed. You can also put a face covering down around the neck and pull it up over your face if you encounter someone.
Opt for a breathable, well-fitting face mask. Too tight can make you feel uneasy.
Masks become wet when you wear them and can lead to skin infections. If you’re using a reusable mask, wash it regularly to prevent the build-up of bacteria.

Ideally, it would be best to not rush out. Prefer indoor workouts. You can learn a few of them from Healthy Reads or join our fitness experts LIVE on GOQii Play every day!

We hope this article helps you. Do share your thoughts in the comments below!

Stay home, stay safe, get active and #BeTheForce

May 2, 2020 By Mamta Joshi 1 Comment

Smart and Healthy Recipes For The Lockdown!

Given the current scenarios, it is quite difficult to get your hands on fresh foods and somewhere we tend to succumb to options like processed foods which aren’t healthy at all. If you’re facing difficulty in deciding what to cook while avoiding the monotony of taste, we’ve got some smart and healthy recipes you can try out during lockdown!

Smart and Healthy Recipes You Can Try

These smart and healthy recipes can be prepared using leftover food which is common such as dal and rice. Let’s take a look:

1. Leftover Rice Chilla

What you will need:

Cooked and mashed rice – 2 cups
Whole wheat flour – ¼th cup
Gram flour (besan) – ½ cup
Curd – 2 tbsp
Red chilli powder – 1/4th tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4th tsp
Jeera -1/2 tsp
Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch
Chopped green chilli – 2
Small onion chopped – 1
Tomato finely chopped – 1
Coriander leaves – finely chopped
Salt – to taste
Oil for greasing tawa

How to prepare:

Take all the ingredients in a big bowl and pour little water to make a thick, pouring consistency batter.
Now heat the non-stick Tawa and grease it with a little oil.
Pour a ladle full of batter and spread evenly.
Let it cook from one side till it gets crisp. Flip it over and cook the other side.
Your leftover rice chilla is ready! Serve it with green chutney.

Tasty and healthy way to finish off leftover rice, plus it is an ideal recipe for breakfast.

2. Dal Dhokli from Leftover Dal

What you will need:

Leftover toor dal

Wheat flour – ½ cup
Gram flour (besan) – ¼ cup
Red chilli powder – ¾ cup
Coriander powder – ½ tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Carom seeds (ajwain) – ¼ tsp
Sesame seeds (white til) – ½ tsp
Baking soda – a pinch
2 tsp oil
Salt to taste
Water to knead dough

Method:

Take wheat flour, besan in a large mixing bowl, add all other ingredients, combine well and knead the dough by adding water as required.
As the dough turns soft and smooth, take a small ball size dough and roll it to form a thick chapati-like shape.
Once rolled, cut it into diamond shapes of medium size. Keep dhokli aside.
Boil the leftover dal, add a cup of water if the dal is thick.
In the boiling dal, add 10-12 groundnuts, little tamarind pulp or juice, a small piece of jaggery and lastly, add the diamond-shaped dhokli and cover with a lid. Cook it for 10-15 minutes till the cooked dhokli will float over the dal (add diamond-shaped dhokli in dal depending on quantity of dal, adding too many may make dal dhokli too thick in consistency).
For Tempering: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan, add a tsp of mustard seeds, a few curry leaves and pour over the dal dhokli, garnish with coriander leaves.

It’s ready to serve! Dal dhokli in itself is a complete meal, a good combination of carbohydrates and proteins.

Do try the above recipes and share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For more recipes, check out Healthy Reads within the GOQii App or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce