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10 foods with super qualities that will help in healthy living

image of fruits and brocolli

All foods are unique in their calorie count, and unique in the way they are digested. Those foods with negative calories burn more calories than they contain. These foods are usually plant-derived foods that are high in water content and rich in fiber: grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, except for fatty fruits like avocados and olives. Since your body takes a longer time to burn off fibrous foods, your metabolism continues to stay revved up, giving you a jump start to your weight loss.

While these foods may be an important source of micronutrients, they are not sources of fat packing calories.That works because your stomach senses when it is physically full, and it will trigger your brain to stop eating when you can’t handle more food.

This is why, believe it or not, the simple act of drinking a glass of water before each meal is a proven weight loss strategy. It fills your belly with water, thereby reducing the amount of space left for other foods.

This is the common property among all: They all contain a lot of water locked in a fibrous matrix. Apples are essentially “water fruits,” as are grapes and watermelons (hence the name). Many vegetables are also “water vegetables,” meaning that they’re loaded with water. Celery, for example, is the classic example of a water-rich negative-calorie food. I am providing you with the examples of negative calorie foods:

  1. Apple:Apple contain amazingly powerful nutrients that improve your quality of life. Studies have also shown some evidence that the quercetin found in apples could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by protecting your body from the damage that can be caused by dangerous free radicals.
  2. Lettuce and leafy Veggies:Lettuce and other leafy greens, including kale and spinach, are extremely low in calories. These contain 50% water to 50% fiber. As a result, leafy greens are an excellent source of energy, and definitely help to reduce the urge to eat sweet treats.Dark greens are packed with Vitamins and nutrients as well.
  3. Broccoli:Broccoli has a couple of different properties that make it an ally of those who are trying to lose weight. The fibre content is huge, helping to keep you feeling full and satisfied after you eat broccoli, and the protein is equal to that found in rice (while it contains just a fraction of the calorie content of rice). You should either steam the Broccoli or consume it raw if you want to make sure that you preserve all of the nutrients that make this vegetable a superfood.
  4. Papaya:Papaya’s also like Oranges are just as rich as oranges in vitamin C and contain 15 times more of the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin. Papaya’s fibre is also good for combating constipation and keeping cholesterol in check.
  5. Celery: About 75% of a celery stick is actually water; the other 25% is fibre and other roughage. The high water content of celery means that you will burn more calories eating it than it actually contains.
  6. Cucumber:Cucumbers are mostly made up of water. The cucumber is one of the best vegetables when it comes to providing vitamin C, and there is plenty of evidence suggesting that a high intake of vitamin C is linked to an improved ability to resist invasion by bacteria and viruses.
  7. Tomato:This veggie is more than 90 percent water. t has small amounts of carbohydrate, protein and fat, and it is rich in vitamin C, B, E and K, carotenoids and lycopene.The chromium that they contain might help your body to regulate blood sugar levels, keeping them within healthy limits by controlling the amount of sugar that gets absorbed in your blood.
  8. Radish: Radish has an extremely low calorific value. It has good amount of of vitamin C, B and A. It is interesting that in the same amount of radishes there is 2 mg of iron and other minerals.
  9. Watermelon: This fruit is extremely low in calories and contains no fat. It is a rich source of B vitamins, which increase your energy levels and reduce your need to eat extra foods.
  10. Orange: Oranges are wonderful for heart health in a couple of different ways. Firstly, they contain magnesium and potassium, which naturally regulate blood pressure. They are also a source of something called herperidin, which lowers levels of bad cholesterol. .

Having talked about negative calorie foods, please understand that eating negative calories will not replace exercise.In GOQii, we do not believe in Calorie intake and we do not cunt calories, what we encourage is to eat a balanced diet and exercise to live a healthy life.

To sum up, these super foods with negative calorie qualities can significantly benefit your journey to healthy living. If you’ve found this information helpful or have any thoughts to share on these foods, please feel free to do so in the comments below. Remember, embracing a balanced diet and regular exercise is the key to achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For more articles and guidance on holistic well-being, explore our Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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How to fast right? This Festive season

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Today marks the third day of Navratri and most men and women fast through these 9 days of the festival. But, does anyone know what it means to fast right? Yes! You read it right! Fasting right! One would question, what could possibly go wrong with not eating?? The answer – A lot! could go wrong.

Many people fast during the navratri for various reasons. Some for religious beliefs others to just weigh a little lighter or just give your system a break or detoxify! Whatever, be your reason for fasting, it is important to do it right !

When done properly fasting has its own benefits for the body. It helps in re-setting the electrolyte balance, detoxification and freedom from bloating and water retention.

Well, a healthy fast should not put your body through stress. It should help you achieve your goal or purpose of fasting and make you feel good emotionally and not leave you irritable or feeling drained or sick. It should give you a feeling of fulfilment and accomplishment and make you feel energetic the next day and reduce cravings.

Starting the fast –

  1. Start your day with a glass of warm water.
  2. Have tender coconut water as this will keep you hydrated and energized through the day.

Through the day –

  1. Do not stay hungry for a long period of time as that would bring about a drop in the metabolic rate, lower blood glucose levels and blood pressure resulting in giddiness and headaches. Staying hungry for a long time sends out a famine signal to the body which then goes into a conservation mode. It conserves all the energy or calories from your next meal and stores it as fat for future use fearing it might have to go without food for a long time! Bang goes your efforts to loose weight and burn fat!  Therefore, it is advisable to have plenty of fruits and cucumber through the day as it will keep you hydrated and provide essential micro nutrients to keep you going. It will also help the body balance it’s pH and stay alkaline. Make sure you include papaya as they are one of the best foods to cleanse the liver, purify blood, reduce inflammation and remove harmful toxins. Also, if you eat papaya through the day, it will help in digesting the meal that you eat later during the day. It will help prevent constipation that might occur after fasting.
  2. Drink tender coconut water or buttermilk. These would provide you with all the essential electrolytes and energy and also help the body attain an alkaline pH.
  3. Snack on unsalted nuts and dry fruits and makhana (foxnut) through the day. Makhanas (foxnut) are a rich source of fibre, calcium and potassium and are an ideal low calorie snack. CAUTION – they are highly addictive too!
  4. Avoid sugar through the day. Have natural sugar in the form of dates, raisins, figs, apricots and prunes. Use jaggery and honey to sweeten things.
  5. Avoid dairy products like milk and yoghurt. Choose coconut milk or almond milk. A fast is beneficial when we maintain an alkaline pH and dairy or milk is highly acidic in nature. That is the reason why some people experience acidity, bloating and discomfort during or after a fast. So, have buttermilk, coconut water, nimbu pani with honey or coconut milk instead and reap the benefits of fasting.
  6. Avoid tea and have herbal teas instead. You can even sip on warm water with lemon and honey through the day. Lemons are great sources of vitamin C, which helps make glutathione, a substance needed for detoxifying the liver. They also contain a phytochemical called limonene, which enhances phase two detoxification of the liver and get rid of chemicals inside of the body.

Ending / breaking / opening the fast –

  1. Always break your fast by having a glass of water or coconut water as this would hydrate you and activate your digestive enzymes and intestines and prepare your body for the food you are going to eat.
  2. Certain fasts require you to break or open the fast by eating certain foods. In that case, have a glass of water and after 5 minutes have a small quantity of the recommended food item and then have fruits. After that you can eat a proper meal.
  3. Refrain from a fat laden meal at the end of the day and avoid puris, kachori and deep fried sago vadas as they are deep fried and loaded with fat and also a source of empty calories in large amounts which are nutrient deficient. Moreover, eating a fried dish after a day’s fast is difficult to digest and leads to acidity. Opt for healthier options like roasted or boiled sweet potato and Singhada or lotus seeds.

If you are required to eat kootu ka atta (buckwheat flour) or singhade ka atta (water chestnut flour) then opt for healthier options like cheelas * instead of deep fried puri, kachori or pakodi. Remember not to feast while you fast!

Besides having powerful antioxidant properties and being a rich source of beta carotene, vitamin C and potassium, sweet potatoes contain a strong chelating agent – compounds that can bind heavy metals like cadmium, copper, mercury, and lead to help detoxify the body.

  1. Use Sendha namak (Rock salt) instead of regular iodized salt or table salt. Sendha namak is low in sodium ad rich in potassium and helps in re-setting the electrolyte balance.
  2. If you are fasting for entire 9 days, one will have to get back to normal diet very gradually. Start by having coconut water. Move over to a non citrus fruit like apple or banana. Then have semi solid foods and finally progress to a proper whole meal !

Please do not fast if you have a medical condition or are unwell and / or are on medication.

So, this navratri wish you happy FASTING! Try fasting the above mentioned way and transform your body. Feel the changes at many levels and do share with me or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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Healthy Eating Tips for Women at 40

Healthy-eating-tips-for-women-at-40

“Lordy, lordy, look who’s forty!” The big 40—it’s a milestone for sure, signalling a time of transition from young adulthood to middle-age.

This is an important decade for preventing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and many cancers later in life. So, if you’ve been making healthy lifestyle choices, keep it up in your 40s, and if you haven’t, now’s the time to start!

Healthy habits like eating right, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and not smoking can help reduce your risk for a number of chronic medical conditions.

Age 40 is a milestone when the risk of many health conditions increases. This makes the 40th birthday a perfect time for taking stock of your health. Today, Forty is considered the new twenty. So if you want to feel young and healthy now is a good time to take stock of the situation. Though there might be other things out there more important, do take a deep breath and feel good and healthy.

Adopting a healthy eating plan is the best preventive measure against disease. It involves both avoiding certain foods and incorporating others in varying proportions, making the transition gradual yet effective.

Good nutrition starts with the basics: a well-rounded diet consisting of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean sources of protein. These kinds of foods provide women with plenty of energy, the means for lifelong weight control, and the key ingredients for looking and feeling great at any age. Our diet has a major effect on our food cravings, stress levels and energy throughout the day.

Applying some simple rules will assist our bodies in maintaining hormonal balance and promoting long-term well-being.

Focus on whole, plant-based foods. Fill most of your plate with fruits and leafy green vegetables. Also include a variety of whole grains, beans, and other legumes to give a filling fiber.

Bone up on calcium. Women are at a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis, so it’s important to get plenty of calcium to support your bone health. While dairy products are high in calcium, their animal fat and protein can accelerate bone loss. So also consider plant-based sources of calcium like beans, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and collard greens.

Make sure you get enough iron. Many women don’t get enough iron in their diet. On top of that, women lose a lot of this important mineral during menstruation. Boost your intake by eating iron-rich foods such as lean red meat, dark poultry, lentils, spinach, almonds, and iron-fortified cereals.

Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Women who consume more than two alcoholic drinks a day are at a higher risk of osteoporosis. Caffeine consumption interferes with hormone levels and also increases the loss of calcium. Try to limit alcohol consumption to one glass once in a while and caffeine to one cup a day.

Eat the right type of protein. Protein is an essential part of any healthy diet. Protein at this point in your life will help maximise your current metabolic rate and also prevent the loss of lean muscle mass. Eating too much animal protein can cause calcium loss and lead to a decrease in bone density and osteoporosis. Instead of red meat and processed meat, such as hot dogs, bacon, and salami, opt for fish, skinless chicken and turkey, low-fat dairy, and plant-based protein sources, such as beans, nuts, seeds, peas, tofu.

Some of the healthy tips to be focused on:

Avoid

– Ready made meals and microwaving your food in plastics and cling film.

– Genetically modified foods

– Sugar as much as possible

– Food additives such as MSG (monosodium glutamate or better known as Ajinomoto), Fructose, Glucose-Fructose-Syrup, Corn Syrup, Aspartame, Colourings, and E numbers.

– Cut down on sodium

– Eating any food that is burnt

– Carbonated beverages, especially ‘diet’ varieties

– Margarine and other ‘fake’ butter

All foods labelled ‘diet’ or ‘low calorie’ or ‘fat-free

Highly processed foods

Refined grains (white).

Options that can be included in the meal platter:

Eat plenty of raw organic fruit and vegetables

Eat complex carbohydrates

Eat Essential Fats – oily fish, nuts, & seeds (avoid nuts in cases of acne and allergies)

Include healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil and butter

Increase your fiber intake

Drink sufficient clean water every day

Eat good, clean sources of proteins.

Eat vegetarian at least once each day

Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.

Feed your body high-quality fuel, monitor its intake and routinely push your engine’s limits to keep it running smoothly. Remember, you are the captain of your plane. Just reach out and take the controls.

We hope this article equips you with valuable insights for maintaining a healthy and balanced life. If you found this information helpful, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Find more articles on Women’s Health here. For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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5 Interesting Ways To Include Citrus Fruits In Your Diet

citrus fruitsThe moment one imagines citrus fruits, you get the image of yellow-orange coloured tangy fruits which can instantly add taste to a dish. Citrus fruits mainly include lemon, sweet lime, orange, grapefruit and tangerine. They are packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, antioxidants, flavonoids, potassium and citric acid which have many health benefits like maintaining electrolyte balance, regulate acid-alkaline balance in the body, prevent heart disease, manage acidity and improve digestion also prevent constipation, build good immunity, etc. 

While lemon is widely used in beauty products for its immense benefits on hair and skin, including it in your diet adds to its taste and nutrients. Citrus fruits can be included in your diet easily to make your meals more appetizing and tasty. All this while also giving you the much required health benefits. 

How To Add Citrus Fruits To Your Diet 

  1. Breakfast: Include vegetable and citrus fruit smoothies like tomato and orange juice or celery, sweet lime and spinach juice or whole fruits to your breakfast. It is an easy and quick way to add nutrients to your meal especially if you’re running late for work. You can replace your morning coffee with orange juice or add lemon juice to your green tea instead of drinking milk tea with breakfast. 
  2. Sprinkle Lemon Juice: on your sprouts or peanut salad or include lemon slices as a salad. You can have this as your mid-morning or evening snack. This may help you reduce stress eating and also aid weight loss as well as manage acidity as these snacks are low on fat and loaded with a good amount of micronutrients.
  3. Make a Dessert: using citrus fruits or citrus fruit juices. You can also add lemon zest to your cakes and puddings or add orange juice to your nutrition bars instead of sugar. This will enhance the taste and up the nutrient content, making your dish more flavorful.
  4. Pickling: citrus foods is the oldest and most widely known method of preserving them. It can be stored for the whole year and can be had during seasons when we do not get foods rich in Vitamin C. These fruits can also be used in making jams which can be stored for quite some time.
  5. Detox Water: Add lemon, orange or grapefruit slices to your water. This helps clean your system by removing toxins from your body. It also improves energy levels, keeps the skin clear and healthy, improves sleep quality and also your mood with its potassium levels! It also supports weight loss.  

We hope this article helps you. Is there an interesting way you add citrus fruits to your diet? Let us know in the comments below. For more interesting tips on diet and nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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