Navnee Garg, Author at GOQii

October 1, 2021 By Navnee Garg 1 Comment

9 Hidden Benefits of Coffee You May Not Know

What makes your morning better? Is it the bright morning sun, ushering a new day with its warm rays? Or the melodious chirping of birds? Is it the fresh aromas of flowers or morning dew? If you thought of a freshly brewed cup of coffee, a newspaper and sitting under a blue sky, then we have a lot in common!

Yes, I orchestrate my mornings with Coffee! If coffee is bad and me being a nutritionist, might have you wondering why I am starting my day with it? Well, today I am writing to make you believe that, “A bad day with coffee is better than a good day without it!”

Surprisingly, coffee has some amazing hidden benefits which we don’t often address. Apart from the warmth, the energy spike, and the freshness, there are a lot more benefits that coffee beans offer.

Let’s Brew the Hidden Benefits of Coffee

Keeps the Body Cells Healthy: Sipping coffee every morning is like flooding our body with antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals. Not every antioxidant has this power. Only Coffee antioxidants are blessed with the ability to fight and delay the death of cells, so keep sipping!
Digestion of Carbs Gets Easier: Coffee and carbohydrates work really well together. Few chemicals in coffee beans help the body turn those wonderful bread nutrients into energy. Also, antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid, quinic acid are found in coffee that help the body process and utilize carbs effectively. Isn’t it wonderful! Now we know why coffee and sandwiches makes the best pair! It’s all scientific.
Sip to Kick Stress & Depression Away: Caffeine has an impact on neurotransmitters in the brain including the “feel good” hormones serotonin and dopamine. The mental boost we get after the first sip of coffee is not all due to caffeine.
Aids Hair Growth: Growth promoting effects of caffeine on human hair follicles encourages hair growth in both men and women. Caffeine helps to block the effects of DHT, the chemical hormone responsible for hair loss.
Improves Performance on Tracks: Sipping coffee as a pre workout allows muscles to better convert fat to fuel, thus making you more energized. Try this amazing bulletproof coffee recipe, made popular by our Founder and CEO Vishal Gondal! Trust me, it does wonders!
Coffee-licious Daily Scrub: What else to ask for? Coffee does wonders as an exfoliant! Mix fresh or grounded coffee beans with olive oil or coconut oil, and scrub to get clean and softer skin.
Good to the Liver: A cup of coffee a day, keeps cirrhosis away. Yes! That is true! Researchers say that coffee protects the liver and reduces the chances for cirrhosis by 80%.
Green Coffee is a Multitasker: Green coffee is unroasted coffee beans that grow on the coffee plant, called Coffea Arabica. It is rich in antioxidant, increases metabolic rate from 3% to 11%, encouraging weight loss. It is also a natural detox, and controls unnecessary food cravings and stops us from overeating.
White Coffee is NEW in Town: White Coffee comes from the same hard green coffee beans that regular coffee comes from. Not to be confused with the creamy coffee we get in coffee shops, this one is different. The main differences between the two are in the roasting process, time of roasting, and the result/flavor. White Coffee has up to 50% more caffeine, but is less acidic which makes it easy on the stomach and retains more antioxidants.

Do these awesome hidden benefits of coffee make you feel like brewing a cup? Just remember that having anything in excess is bad for your health. Drinking too much coffee may do more harm than good. So limit your coffee intake to only 2 cups a day and avoid sipping on coffee after 7 PM or it may end up hampering your sleep.

We wish you all a happy International Coffee Day! How do you enjoy your coffee? Tell us in the comments below.

To know more hidden benefits like this, speak to your GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

August 3, 2021 By Navnee Garg 1 Comment

8 Home Remedies For Dry Cough

With the increasing pollution levels, exposure to chemicals, the ongoing pandemic and the unpleasant viral & flu, we wouldn’t be particularly surprised if you were looking for home remedies for dry cough. A dry cough is a nonproductive cough that doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus. Dry cough is generally caused by viral infections and allergies. It is very necessary to consult a doctor to find the underlying cause of cough. Along with prescribed medications and treatment, you can also try a couple of home remedies to find relief.

Turmeric Milk: or Haldi ka Doodh, as it is popularly known in India, is one of the oldest and most trusted home remedies for dry cough. Turmeric is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, which helps in treating infections. Also known as Golden Milk in the west, it is easy to prepare and highly effective. Drink a cup before going to bed to see the best results!
Honey Tea: Honey is an important ingredient for many different home remedies. It is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties that help ease the throat. You can use honey in various ways, like adding a teaspoon in warm milk or water. You can also just have a spoonful before going to bed.
Masala Chai: Masala Chai or Spiced Tea is one of the easily available home remedies for dry cough especially in Indian house setups. Apart from soothing the irritation in the throat, the antioxidant quality of cardamom and cloves also help release the toxic and cough-triggering effects of pollution and dust particles. Just add black pepper, cinnamon powder, cardamom and cloves while preparing tea and sip while hot!
Ginger: eases a dry or asthmatic cough, as it has anti-inflammatory properties. It also relieves nausea and pain. Prepare a soothing ginger tea by adding 20–40g of fresh ginger slices to a cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for a few minutes before sipping. Add honey or lemon juice to improve the taste and further soothe a cough.
Lukewarm Salt-Water Gargle: Gargling is the most common home remedy for dry cough. For relief from dry cough, try gargling with lukewarm salt-water. This soothes the throat by adding moisture to it. Add half a teaspoon of salt to a cup of lukewarm water till it dissolves completely. Let the mixture sit at the back of the throat for a few seconds before spitting it out. Gargle with salt-water three times a day until the cough improves.
Eucalyptus Oil: has natural healing energy which makes it helpful in relieving dry coughs. Use eucalyptus oil to decongest your throat. This oil not only promotes vitality but also helps in treating the infection. Add eucalyptus oil to a cotton cloth piece and keep it near your nose and mouth. The other way to inhale this is to add 2-3 drops to hot water and inhale the steam.
Bromelain: is an enzyme that comes from pineapples. Bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties and may also have mucolytic properties. This means that it can break down mucus and remove it from the body. Drink pineapple juice daily to reduce mucus in the throat and suppress coughing.

Warm liquids to Find Relief from Dry Cough

Staying hydrated is important when you’re down with dry cough. Warm liquids reduce the symptoms of a sore throat and cough and thus, provide immediate relief from dry cough. Hot beverages that may be helpful include:

Clear broths
Herbal teas
Decaffeinated black tea
Warm water

If you haven’t noticed any improvement in your dry cough even after 7 days, it is necessary that you consult your doctor. Home remedies for dry cough can be an added measure but not a permanent solution for a persistent cough.

We hope these home remedies for dry cough help you find relief! Is there a personal home remedy that works for you? Share it with us in the comments below!

To know more home remedies, ask your GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

June 16, 2020 By Navnee Garg 1 Comment

Does Food Cooked In Different Utensils Impact Your Health?

If cooking is an art, then the utensils are the canvas. With different cuisines in our country, even the variety of utensils are different – each has its own use. This makes it essential to know how the metals react to different foods. While we’re busy choosing fancy non-stick cookware or microwave friendly utensils, we need to understand that they aren’t safe as they can harm your health in the long run. Back in the day, clay pots, iron, brass and bronze utensils were used for cooking as they not only preserved the nutrients in food but also enhanced the taste.

How Do Different Utensils Impact Your Health?

Stainless Steel: It is the most commonly used iron alloy made up of chromium, nickel, carbon and silicon and has aluminium or copper coating at the bottom for heating purposes. Stainless steel is considered the safest metal to use for cooking as it does not react with food or flake or leach harmful chemicals into the food leading to no adverse effects on the immune system.
Aluminium: Our baking utensils are mostly made up of aluminum as the metal is ideal for high temperatures. Aluminum also has a larger than life use in our Indian Kitchen, in the form of utensils or a foil wrap. Food cooked in aluminum utensils tends to absorb aluminum because aluminum dissolves into food and water during the cooking process. But cooking alkaline foods in aluminum is completely safe for our immune system as the amount of aluminum soaked is very less. It is always better to avoid cooking acidic food like tomatoes or sauerkraut in aluminum as it can react quite badly with the metal and may release harmful compounds in your meal, making it dangerous to consume.
Cast Iron: A very popular metal for our kitchens. All our kadhai, tavas and skillets are made of Cast Iron. Cooking in iron is an excellent way to add some iron in our diet as it leaches iron into our food. Iron is not only a metal but also an essential mineral required by the body. Imagine cooking an iron rich food in an iron pan, this would help you add value to the daily required Iron for your body. For example , premenopausal women require 18mg of iron per day and A serving of scrambled eggs cooked in a cast iron skillet increased from 1.49 mg to 4.76 mg of iron. And along with it, we can prepare tomato sauce in an iron pan that can provide 5mg off iron which is 60% of RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance). Infact, cooking regularly in iron utensils can help you hit the struggle to achieve daily iron RDA.
Non-Stick: Mostly called as Teflon coating, this is an easy cookware to use and clean. But unfortunately, as a Nutritionist, I do not recommend excessive use of these utensils as the chemicals used to manufacture the non-stick coating can harm human health by causing abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation, cancer, elevated cholesterol and reduced immune system response. We can use non-stick for a few recipes like pancakes, cheela or dosa which is not a daily staple meal. But, I would not recommend making paranthas or subzis on a daily basis.
Glassware: Considered another Neutral cookware and a good heat conductor to consider for baking your dishes. Although a few unhealthy components such as lead and cadmium leach out in food while cooking but the amount is minimal to harm human health.
Ceramic: is considered to be the safest when it comes to healthy cooking. An environment friendly cookware made using all-natural clay, water and gas. This can be a great replacement for dishes we cook in Teflon non-stick pans and pots as it does not affect the immune system adversely.
Copper: An excellent metal to promote health from your kitchen. Copper utensils with tin or nickel coatings can be used for cooking rice due to its antibacterial properties or storing drinking water due to its medicinal properties, the ability to improve the digestive system, slow down ageing and heal wounds faster. Copper can also detoxify the body and increase Hemoglobin. But you need to take care while cooking in copper as acidic foods react with copper and can hinder the taste.

Every metal has its own pros and cons. The ideal way to cook is to choose the perfect cookware as per the recipe. Try some more ancient methods of cooking in iron, clay/earthen pots as they are not only safe but loaded with various health benefits like retaining/adding nutritive value to the food and helping the immune system.

We hope this article helps. For more tips on health and wellness, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to experts LIVE on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

May 8, 2020 By Navnee Garg 2 Comments

Hand Sanitizer vs Washing Hands: Which Works Better?

Head-to-toe hygiene is a high priority for each one of us and these days, keeping your hands clean is essential to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Whether you’re using a sanitizer or washing your hands with soap, you’re on the right track as this habit will help you keep micro germs and viruses away. But, the question is – hand sanitizer vs washing hands – which one is better?

Are Sanitizers Good Enough?

There is no doubt that sanitizers are now a staple in every purse, pocket or even keychain. These small bottles are a convenient way to clean your hands, are more portable and accessible on the go, which helps reduce the transmission of viruses. It is a perfect option when soap and water are not available. Unfortunately, hand sanitizers are not effective against all types of viruses such as the norovirus which may cause diarrhoea. So while they definitely serve a purpose, they’re not a perfect prophylactic. Some sanitizers also may leave residue on the hand which may feel slick or uncomfortable on the skin.

Why Should You Prefer Soap and Water?

Though we find big bottles of sanitizers at the doctor’s clinics, as per health experts, soap and water are a better choice anytime over the sanitizers. Soap and water are simply more thorough as washing hands kill the bacteria more effectively and sanitizers don’t remove the actual dirt and debris. Soap kills germs, binds them, and helps physically remove them with water, off your skin and down the drain. One can try using antibacterial soaps if one wants to go the extra mile for the best results but even normal soaps would kill the viruses.

So in the end, if we squeeze up, sanitizers are good as second alternatives only when soap and water are not available. Hand sanitizers are great in a pinch and are more convenient, but soap and water ultimately are better.

We hope this article helps you understand what works between a hand sanitizer vs washing hands. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more safety and hygiene tips, do visit GOQii Play and watch LIVE videos by experts!

#BeTheForce