Palak Mittal, Author at GOQii

May 2, 2019 By Palak Mittal 1 Comment

Refreshing Low Calorie & Nutritious Summer Drinks

There is nothing in the world that spells summer better than an afternoon spent lounging by the pool with an icy cold beverage in hand! Like me, how many of you have been craving something chilled throughout the day?

While the idea of consuming a refreshing summer drink is plagued with thoughts of weight gain and the fact that most of these drinks are loaded with sugar, we thought of a few drinks that are low on calories and high on health. Try these refreshing summer drinks to beat the heat!

Coconut Water

Coconut Water is a beautifying beverage worth sipping all year long! It’s slightly sweet taste is particularly refreshing during summer. In addition to guzzling coconut water post-hot yoga flow or mixing it in to your A.M. smoothies, there are many other ways to enjoy it. Think on a popsicle stick, in a pudding and what not. Try adding some crushed mint leaves and lime juice to usual coconut water to make it more interesting.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint Tea is a delicious and relaxing beverage that has numerous health benefits. Whether you are preparing it from a tea bag or using fresh leaves, peppermint tea can be made in a matter of minutes. Introducing a batch of iced peppermint tea to a summer party is an invigorating experience! All you’ll need is:

3-5 mint tea bags (or 30 fresh peppermint leaves)
4 cups (32 ounces) water
Lemon or honey to taste (optional)

Watermelon Lime Juice Cooler

This super refreshing Watermelon Lime Cooler is a great way to beat the heat on hot summer days. Best of all, it takes a few minutes to prepare.

What you need is:

2 cups chilled Watermelon chunks
1 tbsp Lime Juice
Ice Cubes
Few Basil or Mint Leaves
2 cups Seltzer or Club Soda (240ml)

Blend Watermelon chunks and Lime juice in a blender. Serve chilled.

Cucumber Mint Squash

Another tangy yet delicious drink loaded with detox properties. It is a perfect blend for a hot afternoon!

What you need is:

Mint leaves – 1 cup
Cucumber – 1/2 cup
Lemon juice – 1 1/2 tbsp
Water – 2 cup
Honey – 1 tbsp to taste
Salt – 1/2 tsp (to taste)

Blend everything in a blender. Add lemon juice after blending and mix it well. Filter the juice through a sieve and check the seasoning. Add if required. Serve chilled with ice cubes.

Strawberry Lemonade

There’s nothing that beats homemade lemonade, except adding strawberries to the mix!

What you need is:

2 cups fresh strawberries
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 5 lemons
Chilled Water
1 extra lemon, thinly sliced

Add strawberries and lemon juice to a blender and pulse until strawberries are liquid. Pour juice into a 1/2 gallon pitcher, add slices of lemon, and fill with chilled water. Don’t over fill pitcher with water, add just enough to make 1/2 gallon.

Try these delicious recipes out and let us know which ones were your favorites.

Were these recipes helpful? Want more? Type it down in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

June 25, 2018 By Palak Mittal Leave a Comment

8 Incredible health benefits of Surya Namaskar

surya-namaskar-yoga

Surya Namaskar literally means “Salutations to the Sun.” It is a combination of 12 yoga asanas, where the body, mind, and soul are brought into complete synchrony. They are done in sets, some do 12, some 15, while some 30 depending on their endurance. Scientifically too, there are multiple benefits from Surya Namaskar. Let’s know more.

1) Stretching and flexibility: The 12 asana which is part of the Surya Namaskar ensure that every part of the body is exercise. The flexibility that comes with it is to be experienced to believe. This is extremely beneficial for the bones, joints, and ligaments of the entire body and spine.

2) Improves internal organ functioning: The various stretching improves blood flow to the organs and improves their functioning. The result is a better functioning digestive system and kidneys, which help in better absorption of nutrients from food and thorough elimination of metabolic wastes. Detox happens naturally, with the release of trapped gasses and improved enzyme secretion.

3) Weight loss: One of the best-proven ways to lose weight is to do Surya Namaskar on a daily basis. It is a perfect workout involving the complete body and is great for losing weight around the belly. It also is proven to improve the thyroid gland functioning, which plays a significant role in metabolism and leads to weight gain.

4) Bone health: Traditionally, it is done during the early morning hours, at sunrise, which ensures the body gets the required amount of vitamin D. This is essential for good bone health.

5) Stress buster: Stress release happens in multiple ways. Deep focused breathing is one of them. While performing the asanas, control over breathing is very essential and so stress control is ensured. Various muscles and bones get tense with stress, and thorough stretching helps relieve the stress buildup. The mind is also calmed during the workout, and so stress relief is further enhanced.

6) A cure for insomnia: People who are not able to sleep should do Surya Namaskar on a regular basis and ensure sound sleep regularly. Both stress relief and the perfect workout ensures good sleep is guaranteed.

7) Helpful in menstrual cycles: Women who have cramps during their menstrual cycles have shown very good improvement with the inclusion of this exercise. It also is shown to benefit people with irregular menstruation via the improved circulation. Pregnant women doing Surya Namaskars are more likely to have a normal delivery.

8) Glowing Skin: With the release of toxins and stress, a glowing skin is but natural

June 15, 2018 By Palak Mittal 3 Comments

Amazing benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel

copper_vessel

Ancient Ayurveda scriptures state that storing and drinking water from a copper vessel is beneficial for one’s health. For thousands of years Indians and Asians in general are aware and have been following this technique.

Copper is found to possess a plethora of health benefits, including weight loss. It has the potential to kill the microorganisms (molds, fungi, algae, and bacteria) present in the water that are harmful to the body. When you store water in a copper vessel overnight or for over 8 hours, a very small amount of copper ions gently leaches into the water and lends all its positive properties, thereby creating a natural purification process. This also has the ability to destroy a wide range of harmful microbes, fungi etc. To yield the optimum health benefits, store water in the copper vessel overnight and drink it soon as you wake up in the morning.

Here are some of the benefits.

Good for digestion

Copper contains intrinsic properties that promote better digestion. The properties in copper help stimulate the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the stomach that helps food get digested and move along the digestive tract. Since copper can kill harmful bacteria and reduce inflammation in the stomach, drinking water stored in a copper pot can be a great remedy for gas, ulcers, indigestion and infections. Drinking copper water may also help regulate the functioning of liver and kidney by cleansing and detoxifying the stomach.

Aids in weight loss

If you’re trying to shed a few pounds, then, this one is definitely for you – drink water stored in copper pots every day. Copper can help your body break down fat and eliminate it effectively so that you do not put on the piles. To lose weight quickly, try swapping copper-infused water for those calorie-laden beverages that contribute to weight gain. In addition to this, follow a healthy lifestyle, including sticking to a fitness routine and eating a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc.

Prevents heart disease and cancer

Copper has been found to regulate heart rate, blood pressure and lower blood cholesterol level, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the American Cancer Society, some studies showed that copper has anti-cancer effects although the exact mechanism for such activity is still unclear.

Heals wounds

The antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties in copper can quickly treat and heal wounds quickly. Perhaps, copper peptides are considered as one of the best healing agents. According to the Mayo Clinic, peptides are protein fragments that, along with copper, stimulate collagen production and can improve the effectiveness of antioxidants. The copper compound increases the amount of protein synthesis in collagen and elastin, which helps in wound healing.

Regulates thyroid function

A deficiency or low levels of copper in the body can cause thyroid problems. Copper is one of the most important trace minerals the thyroid needs to function normally. Although there are many things that can contribute to thyroid disorders, drinking water from a copper vessel may keep your thyroid healthy and functioning correctly.

A word of caution: Too much of copper can be detrimental to health, remember, the metal is not instinctively utilised by the body. So, avoid overdoing it – drinking water twice or thrice a day from a copper vessel may be enough to reap its numerous benefits

May 2, 2018 By Palak Mittal 3 Comments

Living well with regular Yoga and good Nutrition

yoga lead

Yoga is not simply a set of exercises but a lifestyle. When practising yoga, asanas and nutrition go hand in hand to improve your quality of life. Your digestive system, immunity and energy levels are directly linked to the food you intake. If there is a problem with any of these, yoga asanas can help resolve it.

Digestion: Not all food is easy to digest. Instead of popping laxatives and antacids after every meal, change the food you’re eating. Citrus fruits and leafy vegetables that are rich in fibre aid digestion and prevent constipation. Some foods like yoghurt, buttermilk are probiotics that support the growth of gut bacteria and keep your stomach healthy. Also include carminatives or foods that prevent the formation of gas like cumin, ginger and oatmeal.

Yogic Asanas such as the Spinal twist, Apanasana and Paschimottanasana can help smoothen the digestive process.

apanasana

Immunity: Eating the right food can help boost your immunity. Citrus fruits are rich sources of vitamin C that directly strengthen the immune system. Herbs like turmeric, ginger and garlic are rich in antioxidants and linked to the prevention of a number of diseases including several types of Cancer. Proteins also help nourish your immune system and hence should not be ignored.

A combination of asanas and yogic breathing techniques can help boost your immunity. Some asanas to try to include Viparita Karani, Bhujangasana, Matsyasana and Adho Mukha Svanasana. These poses help lower stress and boost immunity by pumping rich oxygenated blood to all the parts of the body.

bhujangasana

Energy: The food you eat is turned into glucose to fuel the body and maintain a constant supply of energy. Soy and green leafy vegetables that are rich in iron can effectively boost your energy levels. Fruits like apples, bananas and oranges can also help increase your energy. Yoghurt rich in magnesium does not directly contribute towards the creation of glucose but helps the body release this energy whenever needed.

Yoga asanas help increase blood flow and increase the heart’s capacity to pump blood through the body. A few yoga poses that can boost energy are the camel pose, tree pose and warrior asana.

Relaxation: Sipping on a cup of green tea is a good way to end the day and relax. Other food like honey, milk, celery and oatmeal can also help calm the body and fight off the day’s stress. Apart from being delicious, dark chocolate also releases hormones that ease stress and help relax a person.

Practising yoga breathing techniques like Pranayama can effectively release tension. Supta Baddha Konasana, Viparita Karani and the Supta Matsyendrasana can also help increase energy levels.