Neha Sharma, Author at GOQii

February 11, 2022 By Neha Sharma 3 Comments

12 Amazing Home Remedies To Reduce Acidity

Acidity can literally be a pain to deal with but before we move on to home remedies to reduce acidity, it’s important to know its origin, symptoms and causes. Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) is produced in the stomach to digest food and it plays an important role in digestion but sometimes, HCL is produced when there is no food inside the stomach and it leads to the eruption of the lining of the stomach, giving rise to acidity.

Sometimes, the acid finds its way to the esophagus and you experience inflammation and a burning sensation in the food pipe. This needs to be treated as soon as possible as it may lead to ulcers. Meal timings, physical activity, proper sleep, no stress, less consumption of tea or coffee, moderate intake of alcohol and modification in cooking are some of the key points which help keep acid under permissible limits.

Simple and Effective Home Remedies to Reduce Acidity

Let’s look at some simple but amazing home remedies to reduce acidity which can be easily included in your daily routine:

Basil Leaves: are easily available. One can chew a few leaves of basil or can have basil tea as its calming and soothing properties help reduce acidity.
Fennel Seeds: can be chewed after meals to increase the rate of digestion and they help in reducing acidity. Fennel tea can be taken 1-2 times a day or it can be infused with water and taken on an empty stomach to curb acidity from morning itself.
Buttermilk and Curd: are always considered important for digestion and lactic acid present in them normalizes the acidity in the stomach. You can also add roasted cumin powder, a pinch of black pepper and a few leaves of mint & coriander to ease digestion.
Ginger: Grated Ginger can be boiled with water and that water can be taken the whole day or before and after meals to increase the rate of digestion. Ginger tea with honey can be taken without milk to reduce acidity.
Banana: gives instant relief from acidity. It can be taken during morning or mid morning and can also be combined with curd.
Ajwain: Ajwain water can be taken on an empty stomach (1 tsp of ajwain can be soaked in a glass of water overnight) or ½ tsp of ajwain with a pinch of black salt can be taken after meals to ease digestion.
Cumin Seeds: 1 tsp of cumin seeds can be soaked overnight in a glass of water or can be boiled in water and its water can be taken after meals to increase the rate of digestion.
Cold Milk: gives instant relief from acidity and one can have a cup of cold milk to neutralize gastric acids in the stomach. For those who are lactose intolerant, other options should be taken into consideration.
Cardamom: Chewing 1 cardamom pod after meals prevents acidity, flatulence and aids in digestion.
Coconut Water: turns the pH of the stomach alkaline and thereby prevents acidity and the lining of the stomach from getting ruptured.
Aloe Vera: Always go for fresh aloe vera! Mix the pulp with some water and have it 2-3 times a day. Otherwise, you have to go for organic aloe vera juice.
Lemon Juice: Have some lemon juice in lukewarm water on an empty stomach the first thing in the morning. It helps a lot in reducing acidity.

These are a few home remedies which you can use to reduce acidity. Last but not the least, positive lifestyle modifications also go a long way. Before you switch to any of these foods, consult your doctor, coach, nutritionist or dietitian.

We hope this article helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on acidity, digestion, nutrition and other lifestyle issues, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

November 23, 2021 By Neha Sharma 1 Comment

Lose Body Fat by Changing What You Eat

There are many of us who lead demanding and hectic lifestyles which are marred with extensive working hours, early mornings and late nights. In fact, late-night shifts affect our eating patterns a lot!

Due to erratic working patterns, processed foods, instant food items and junk food are in trend as they are easy to carry and can be ordered or eaten anywhere! People don’t carry home food as much and always eat food at work in a hurry, knowing that they are gulping their food without chewing.

If we pay a little attention to what we are eating and how we are eating it, it makes a big difference. The statement, “Lose body fat by changing what you eat” holds true in this context.

How Can One Lose Body Fat with Food?

First of all, you have to see the natural foods around you which have the capability to help you lose body fat. Try including some of the following option in your daily meals.

Whole Grains: contain a good amount of fiber and as they are complex in nature, they release carbohydrates slowly in the body. They need energy from the body to breakdown and in turn, help you lose fat. So, include brown rice, whole wheat flour, rolled oats, Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra over refined flour like maida, suji and white rice.
Pulses & Legumes: are an excellent source of fiber and vegetable protein. Protein gives you a feeling of satiety which stops you from overeating and decreases your total calorie intake resulting in fat loss. Choose whole pulses like white & black chana, cow pea, kidney bean, sprouts and have them in at least two meals.
Vegetables & Fruits: are excellent sources of fiber and are low in calories. They require a lot of energy to breakdown and some fibers don’t digest in human bodies. They need to be excreted and absorb fat from the body while doing so, thereby reducing fat and cutting down total calorie intake. Have at least 2-3 servings of fruits & vegetables. Their way of cooking can be changed like sautéing, steaming, baking, shallow frying, or roasting instead of deep-frying.
Healthy Fats: can be obtained through nuts, fish & seeds to improve omega 3 fatty acid which is anti-inflammatory and helps in controlling visceral fat accumulation. Cut down your intake of all types of visible fats such as butter, ghee, oils and avoid refined oils. Instead, use soybean oil, sesame oil, mustard & groundnut oil.
Water: increases the metabolism of the body by flushing out toxins and cleansing the liver. The best part? It has zero calories. Drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day.
Tea: Replacing your tea with green, turmeric or lemon tea and avoiding or minimizing visible intake of sugar [1tsp of sugar (5gm) = 20 calories] helps you lose weight.

Meal timings are also crucial in shedding extra fat. This is because the metabolism of the body slows down as the day progresses. That’s why late-night eaters are prone to weight gain. Low calorie and nutrient-dense food can be chosen by late eaters.

Chewing your food properly also increases the rate of absorption of nutrients and avoids extra accumulation of fat. Practicing mindful eating i.e. eating by paying attention and noticing each sip or bite, tasting your food, teaches you to control your hunger and actually helps in weight loss.

We hope these tips help you lose body fat. For more on how adjusting food habits can help you lose weight, ask a GOQii Coach for guidance by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

July 17, 2021 By Neha Sharma Leave a Comment

Healthy Recipes For Kids: Healthy Twist on Snacks & Sweets

As mentioned in the previous article of Healthy Recipes For Kids, We spoke about the aspects of healthy eating for children not being different from adults. We need the right nutrients in the right quantities. Here, we’ve got some healthy recipes for a snack and a sweet that we’re sure your child will enjoy.

Healthy Recipes For Kids

1. Healthy Mathari

What you will need:

Wheat flour – 200 gm
Roasted Gram flour – 50 gm
Amaranth seed flour – 50 gm
Semolina – 20 gm
Desi ghee – 4 tbsp
Salt – a per taste
Dry fenugreek leaves – ½ tsp
Asafetida (Hing) – 1/4th tsp
Roasted Muskmelon seeds powder – 2 tsp
Roasted Sunflower seeds powder – 2 tsp
Carom seeds – 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl and add hot melted ghee. Gently mix all the ingredients until ghee spreads all over the flour.
Knead the dough with lukewarm milk to provide a soft texture
Keep it aside for half an hour.
Roll out a big chapati and cut desired shapes with a cookie cutter as it appeals to kids.
These Mathari or salted cookies can be baked or fried on a low flame.
These serve as a good snack at the evening hours with milk, juices or smoothies.

2. Jaggery Protein Chikki/Laddoo

What you will need:

Almonds – 50 gm
Walnuts – 50 gm
Sunflower seeds – 20 gm
Pumpkin seeds – 20 gm
Muskmelon seeds – 20 gm
Fox nuts – 50 gm
Rolled oats – 30 gm
Dates – 6-7 in number
Jaggery – 200 gm
White pepper powder – ½ tsp
Poppy seeds – 30 gm

Method of preparation

Roast all the ingredients separately without jaggery, dates & pepper powder
Make a coarse powder by adding dates
Melt jaggery on low flame. Once melted, start adding the white pepper powder
Mix all ingredients gently
Ladoos can be rolled from this mixture on slight cooling or chikki can be made by spreading the mixture on greased plate.
These high protein chikkis or ladoos can be combined with breakfast or the evening snack

Benefits of These Recipes

These matharis are rich in protein and contain seeds. Seeds are a compact source of many nutrients and generally kids don’t want to eat these seeds, so this is an easier way to get your kids to eat them.
Jaggery laddoo or chikki is a power pack compact source of many nutrients, rich in protein, iron and white pepper powder is very good for the eyes.
These snacks are much much better than the usual chips, mixtures and other unhealthy snacks.

We hope you enjoy these Healthy Recipes For Kids. Do try them out, upload your pics on social media or the GOQii Arena and tag us! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play.

To get more advice on recipes, nutrition and diet tips for kids, subscribe to GOQii and ask your GOQii Coach: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Eat Healthy, Stay Home, Stay Safe and #BeTheForce

July 3, 2021 By Neha Sharma Leave a Comment

Healthy Recipes For Kids: Healthy Twist On Pizza & Rolls

There is a saying that “In all this world, there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child,” by L. Frank Baum. We can define happiness in many terms but for a child, a healthy child is the happiest one. Healthy eating is very important for the overall growth and development of a child. Albeit, it is not a one off process, it has to develop from early childhood. It protects children from many chronic diseases, builds immunity and keeps them happy and healthy in the long run. Aspects of healthy eating for children are not different from adults. Both need the right nutrients in the right quantities. Keeping that in mind, here are some healthy recipes for kids with a twist!

Healthy Recipes For Kids

1. Healthy Pizza

What You Will Need For Dough:

Wheat flour – 150 gm
Boiled & mashed Spinach – 50 gm
Boiled & mashed beetroot – 50 gm
Oil – 2 tsp
Salt – ½ tsp

For dressing:

Hung curd – 50 gm
Tomato sauce – 50 gm
Mixed herbs – 1 tsp
Grated carrot – 50 gm
Chopped capsicum – 50 gm
Boiled chopped corns – 50 gm
Finely chopped pieces of Cottage cheese – 100 gm

Method of Preparation

Prepare two dough, one of spinach & other of beetroot by rolling out slightly two big & thick chapattis. These chapatis can be baked or can be cooked like normal one but partially.
Spread one layer of fresh hung curd and one layer of tomato sauce over it.
Spread all the veggies one by one in an interesting manner that appeals to kids.
Sprinkle mixed herbs, salt and some cheese on top of it.
Now this chapati pizza can be cooked/baked in a kadai or an oven for 4-5 min.
Enjoy hot with hung curd sauce or tomato sauce.

2. Tangy Protein Rolls

What You Will Need:

Overnight soaked moong dal – 100 gm
Rice Flour – 2 tsp
Boiled potato – 2 in no.
Boiled & mashed peas – 50 gm
Cottage cheese – 100 gm
Grated carrot – 100 gm
Finely chopped capsicum (all colors) – 100 gm
Finely chopped onion – 50 gm
Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
Curry leaves – 6-7 in no.
Sesame seeds – 1 tsp
Dry mango powder – ½ tsp
Grated fresh coconut – 1-2 tsp
Chopped Cashew and raisins – 1 tsp
Tomato sauce – 2-3 tsp
Salt – ½ tsp
Oil – 2-3 tsp

Method of preparation:

Grind soaked moong daal to a coarse paste and add rice flour and after mixing well, keep it aside for 5-10 min.
In a pan add oil, cumin & mustard seeds, curry leaves and chopped onion. Sauté for a while till it becomes slightly pink in color.
Add all the veggies one by one, dry mango powder, salt, grated coconut, sesame seeds, chopped nuts and properly mix all the ingredients for 2-3 mins.
Roll out the veggie mixture in the form of hotdogs.
Make chilla out of moong dal mixture and put one veggie hot dog in between, apply some tomato sauce and roll out the chilla and it’s ready to curb evening hunger pangs!

Health Benefits Of These Recipes

These are homemade and are absolutely safe for kids.
Pizza is junk and consists of blank calories but this one is super healthy as it consists of many colorful veggies, provides vitamins & minerals and wheat flour chapati with spinach & beetroot is always a healthy option!
In spite of many sauces, if hung curd and tomato sauce is used, it is absolutely good for health.
Moong dal cheela & sesame seeds are rich in protein. Sesame seeds support bone health and when stuffed with healthy filling, there is nothing more perfect than this.
These recipes satisfy the kids’ emotional part as they are colorful and look exactly what they want from the outside.