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Why Should You Opt For A2 Cow Ghee?

A2 cow ghee

Ghee has always been a part of the Indian tradition as one of the healthiest milk products. In Indian households, we generally use ghee made at home with cow milk. Recently a new type of cow ghee has appeared in the dairy market known as A2 Cow Ghee. Looking at the name, A2 Cow Ghee seems like some kind of a new trend in the health market but it is cow ghee made from A2 milk. Let’s understand it better.

We all know that milk is a good source of protein. However, ghee is pure fat but contains a very small amount of protein as well. There are two types of protein found in milk called casein and whey. There are also different types of casein protein, one of which is beta-casein. A1 & A2 are actually two variants of beta-casein that make up about 30% of total protein in cow’s milk. Traditionally in India, cows produced milk that contained only the A2 form of beta-casein, but today, most of the milk available in local stores contains mostly A1 proteins.

The Difference Between A1 and A2 Cow Ghee 

Reading the name, both types seem like brothers of the same family but there is a huge difference between their source and effect on health. Ghee when made using A2 milk which has only A2 Beta casein (a type of protein) is called A2 ghee. This type of protein is found in the milk of only some native Indian breed of cows and some other animals like the Indian buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, etc. 

On the other hand, ghee made from milk having only A1 beta-casein or sometimes both A1 and A2 beta-casein is called A1 cow ghee. A1 beta-casein is found in all commercial dairy products that we use in general due to foreign breed or crossbreed cows in India. It’s cheaper as the milking capacity of crossbred cows is greater than desi cow and the total number of them is also huge. Obviously, A1 milk is no way better than A2 milk. 

The beta-casein in A1 milk has a structure that allows a short molecule called beta-casomorphin-7 or BCM-7 to split off during digestion. Some foreign researchers say that this small protein can cause various problems ranging from juvenile diabetes, autism, schizophrenia, allergies to auto-immune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. While the percentage of people with immediate effects is very small, the consequences are severe for affected individuals. On the other hand, A2 cow milk is comparable with breast milk when it comes to health benefits and digestibility.

What Are It’s Benefits? 

Being higher in nutrition values such as protein, iron, sodium, calcium, vitamin A, D, E with Omega 3 and 9 fatty acids, A2 cow ghee has many health benefits.

  • Slows the aging process and is good for skin & hair
  • Helps recover from wounds
  • Prevents diseases like asthma & headaches & alleviates insomnia
  • Best for joint massage & treating broken bones
  • Treats gastric issues
  • Lowers bad cholesterol and does not cause blockages
  • Makes your voice soft
  • Great for people who are trying to lose weight
  • Boost immunity
  • The best option for Nasya kriya which has many benefits for health
  • Suitable for even lactose-intolerant people
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Excellent for growing kids and pregnant women

Hope this information is helpful. Don’t hesitate to add at least 1 tsp of A2 cow ghee in your daily diet considering its multiple benefits for your body and mind.

You can get Pure Desi A2 Cow Ghee from the GOQii Health Store for a discount using GOQii Cash – all within the GOQii App. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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Healthy Eating: Millet Soup

millet soup

Believe it or not, Millets have been in the winter superfoods list since time immemorial. Millets are hardy grains and because they grow like weeds, they can withstand any temperatures (hot, cold and even drought). Let’s learn an interesting way to include this superfood in our diet with a healthy Millet Soup recipe! 

What You Will Need: 

  • Curd – 1 cup
  • Bajra flour – 3 tbsp 
  • Water – 3-4 cups 
  • Boiled sweet corn – 2 tbsp 
  • Yellow & green bell peppers – 3 tbsp chopped
  • Carrot – ¼ cup chopped 
  • Onion – ¼ cup chopped 
  • Cabbage – ¼ cup chopped 
  • Coriander leaves – ½ cup chopped 
  • Desi cow ghee – 2 tsp 
  • Cumin seeds – ¼ tsp 
  • Green chilly – 1 tsp finely chopped 
  • Ginger – 1 tsp grated ginger
  • Coarsely ground black pepper – ½ tsp
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp 
  • Salt to taste 

How To Prepare

  1. Take curd and bajra flour in a bowl and whisk to make a smooth mixture. 
  2. Gradually add 3-4 cups of water while whisking the mix. Add salt & pepper to this mix and keep it aside.
  3. In a pan, heat ghee and crackle cumin seeds. Add all the veggies except coriander leaves & sauté for a minute.
  4. Slowly add bajra and curd mix into the pan with sautéed veggies while stirring. Cook this on medium to low flame for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Turn the flame off, add lemon juice and fresh coriander. Your hot and tasty millet soup is ready! 

Highlights of the Millet Soup recipe 

  • This soup is the perfect option when you are hungry but want to have something warm and light.
  • It is high in iron content 
  • It’s all organic as millets are naturally non-GMO and pesticide free 
  • Millets are not only high in macronutrients like protein and fiber but are also a powerhouse of many vitamins and minerals too.

We’re sure this Millet Soup will become your go-to winter recipe. Try it now and let us know your thoughts in the comments below! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or get the right nutritional advice from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Eat healthy and #BeTheForce 

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Is Olive Oil Suitable For Indian Cooking?

Olive Oil

With newer superfoods making their mark on our plates, olive oil has gained a lot of popularity in India. Indians use oil in everything while searching for the healthiest alternative at the same time. As a result, the markets are flooded with brands and variants of olive oil. The most important question to ask here is that does it fit in the Indian kitchen? Let’s find out by understanding what you are buying from the market because not all of them are created equally!

Different Types of Olive Oil 

There is no doubt that it is healthy fat obtained by crushing olives using different methods. The catch is that the quality of olive oil sitting in your pantry is determined by the process of extracting the oil from the olives, the varieties and how/whether they should be used in different cooking methods. 

  1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This is the highest quality extracted from freshly squeezed juice from olives using stone, wood or steel rollers. It has a very strong flavor, aroma and contains no more than 0.8% acidity. No chemical solvent or industrial refining process is used while producing this variant. In fact, temperatures are kept below 75 degree Fahrenheit during the whole process. Even after packaging, it is mandatory to keep it away from heat and sunlight. So it is clear that to get benefits from this high grade oil, you should not heat it. You can drizzle it over your pasta, salad, soups or use it for making dips.
  2. Virgin Olive Oil: This is also an unrefined variety but slightly lower in quality. Containing 1.5% acidity, it is considerably a subpar option to extra virgin variant. Still, it has a good aroma and is suitable for low temperature sautéing and baking as you are trying to substitute butter or any other saturated fat.
  3. Refined Olive Oil: If you see a bottle with “pure olive oil”, “Lite olive oil” or simply “olive oil” in a supermarket, they are usually Refined olive oils (or are mixed with some other refined oils). They are prepared using olives that are in bad condition or rancid olive oil after treating them with heat and chemicals to remove any unpleasant flavors as well as neutralize free fatty acid content. Being heavily processed, they do not contain any benefits of the extra virgin variant. You can use these for any kind of regular cooking. But don’t expect too much from it in terms of health.
  4. Olive Pomace Oil: Pomace is the word used for the leftover olive pulp after the first extraction which consists of skin, pulp, seeds and stems. The amount of oil present in pomace is so minimal that it cannot be extracted through pressing but only using chemical solvents like hexane and high heat. Clearly it has no benefits but calories. This variant is for people who are attracted by the benefits of olive oil, but are looking for something in their budget.

Are These Variants Suitable For The Indian Kitchen? 

After going over these variants, if you’re wondering which oil is suitable for an Indian pantry, then go back to your grandma’s kitchen. In India itself, we have so many healthy oil options that you don’t need to run after everything that the western world is popularizing . But just like olive oil, you need to choose the least processed or filtered variety of different oils. Some good options for Indian style high heat cooking are filtered or cold pressed varieties of sesame, groundnut, coconut or mustard oil. Also, let’s not forget desi ghee which accompanies “Maa ka pyar” in every traditional meal. Last but not the least, Consumption of any oil should be in moderation while following a balanced diet and regular exercise for good health.

We hope you find this article useful. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or you can ask a GOQii Coach by simply subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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Why Does Your Body Look Different From Others? We’ve Got the Answer!

Have you ever wondered why one of your friends or neighbours belonging to the same age, having the same height and weight as you, looks leaner? When you go shopping, have you noticed how the same person buys size M clothing but you might have to ask for a size L for the same clothes? Body Composition is the answer to your confusion.

What is Body Composition?

Body composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone, water, and muscle in human bodies. Two people of the same sex and body weight may look completely different from each other because they have a different body composition.

In physical fitness, body composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone, water and muscle in human bodies. Because muscular tissue takes up less space in the body than fat tissue, body composition, as well as weight, determines leanness.body composition

What is Body Composition Analysis (BCA)?

With the number of people who are overweight or obese continuing to grow, Body Composition Analysis is gaining more traction as the best measure of assessing health-based on body size. Unlike weight or Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Composition Analysis determines how much of your body is and isn’t fat. The non-fat part of your body is called lean tissue, which includes your muscle, water, bone and organs. Lean tissue is known as metabolically active tissue, the tissue that burns calories all day.

Why Do We Need To Measure It?

Health practitioners universally agree that too much fat is a serious health risk. Problems such as hypertension, elevated blood lipids (fats and cholesterol), diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, respiratory dysfunction, gallbladder disease, and a myriad of other health problems are all related to obesity.

This has highlighted the importance of knowing a person’s body fat for short-term and long-term health. It’s common to assume that having as little fat as possible is healthy. However, being thin does not automatically reduce one’s health risk. Being thin refers to weighing less than the recommended values in age-height-weight tables. Leanness, however, refers to the muscle, bone, and fat composition of one’s body weight. Being lean intrinsically indicates greater muscle mass development than thin.body composition

Benefits of BCA

As you now know how BCA can help understand differences between thinness, leanness, overweight, and obesity, here are some more points to know why it is important to know a person’s body composition for them & their health care providers:

  • It provides baseline data for nutritional counselling & treatment of obesity
  • Helps devise a precise plan for muscle gain & fat loss
  • Helps monitor body fat loss & muscle growth due to diet & exercise
  • Gives an idea about metabolic rate & hydration levels
  • Gives an idea of fat distribution throughout the body, which can provide some insight into possible hormonal imbalances
  • Tells us about visceral fat rating which is the most dangerous kind of fat
  • Can measure bone health and determine your chances of getting osteoporosis
  • Helps identify personal long term health risks

How Do You Measure Body Composition?

There are several ways to get an estimate of your body fat percentage at home, at the gym, or from your doctor. Here is what you need to know about commonly used methods:

  1. Body Circumference Measurements: Measuring the circumference of certain body parts is a simple method of body fat estimation. This method has been in use for a body fat calculation that simply requires an individual’s age, height and a few circumference measurements. This method is easy and affordable.body composition But Body circumference equations may not be accurate for all people due to differences in body shape and fat distribution.
  1. Skinfold Calipers: Calipers are used to measure the thickness of two layers of skin plus the subcutaneous (that right under the skin) fat at four to six locations around the body. The most common locations are triceps, shoulder blades, abdomen, calves and love handle areas.body composition Skinfold calipers are very affordable, and measurements can be taken quickly. The method requires practice and basic anatomy knowledge.
  1. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis: Although the name might sound a bit intimidating, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) puts the buzz in body composition measurement with its internal electrical calculations. Subject either stands on a scale like device or holds an apparatus with outstretched hands and pushes a button. Button sends a very small current of electricity through that specific part of the body. Fat acts like the rubber insulation on a wire while muscle, bone and water all conduct electricity well. The larger the drop in current, the greater the body fat percentage. body compositionBIA is a quick procedure and BIA devices are incredibly mobile.  However, beware of accuracy as water and electrolytes both positively affect current flow, so dehydration will cause body fat to be overestimated.

There are more ways to assess body composition but they need either medical setting or expensive machines. They are not easily accessible and quite expensive, like:

  1. Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
  2. Hydrostatic Weighing
  3. Air Displacement Plethysmography
  4. 3D Body scanning
  5. MRI & Spectroscopy
  6. Isotopic dilution

Bottom Line: For almost all methods, it’s best to perform your measurements in the morning after an overnight fast, after you go to the bathroom and before you eat anything or begin your daily activities. Assessing yourself the same way each time will reduce error rates and make it easier to tell if you are making progress.

We hope this article helps you! To read more about nutrition and weight loss, check out Healthy Reads. To get more information and guidance, consult a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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