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April 20, 2018 By ASHWINI PRAKASH CHAUDHARI 5 Comments

Power of Pomegranate: Very Nutritious

There are many fruits available with good nutritional value and fibre in them. But, while many are seasonal fruits and can be enjoyed only for a specific period of time, there are many others which are available through the year such as apple, banana, pomegranate, etc. Couple of month’s back I wrote about the benefits of an Apple. As every fruit has its own benefits Today, I am going to tell you about the ‘Power of Pomegranate’.

As a fruit, Pomegranates are high in carbohydrates and low in fat than other food groups. It contains no cholesterol or saturated fats. It is a good source of soluble and insoluble dietary fibres. The fruit is also a good source of antioxidant vitamin-C and many vital B-complex groups of vitamins such as a Pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5), folates, pyridoxine and vitamin K, and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, and manganese which give a properly balanced nutrition for good health.

Pomegranates have most powerful antioxidants among all fruits. Antioxidants in pomegranates include polyphenols, such as tannins and anthocyanins. In fact, pomegranates may have even more antioxidant power than cranberry juice or green tea.

Pomegranate contains approximately 50 percent of our daily recommended vitamin C, as well as pantothenic acid (B5), which may help us in preventing muscle cramping and insulin resistance. As it is a good source of Vit C and dietary fibre, it improves resistance to outer infections caused by the viruses. Eating pomegranates regularly helps strengthen our immune system in the body and protects us from harmful diseases.

Again, the dietary fibre helps our digestive system becoming smooth and controls bowel movements. It also helps in improving blood circulation in the body. As its low in fat and has zero cholesterol, it helps to reduce the weight. The soluble and insoluble dietary fibre content reduces extra fat deposits all around the body.

Regular consumption of pomegranate is found to be effective against prostate cancer, the antioxidants present in pomegranate help in the combination process of free radicals in the body. Daily intake of pomegranate juice reduces the thickness of fat accumulation in the arteries. So it helps to fight and cure cardiovascular diseases. The fruit’s anti-inflammatory properties protect against asthma, piles, diarrhoea and other diseases. Studies show that pomegranates may have benefits to relieve or protect against depression and osteoporosis.

It’s not only the fruit even its peels have nutritional benefits. In recent times, Chinese researchers have claimed that the pomegranate peel does hold immense potential as it contains double the antioxidants than the fruit pulp contains.

As it is a good source of Vitamin C, the growth agent helps heal wounds and form scar tissue. It acts a protein agent to build body mass and is an important player in the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones and teeth.

1 tbsp of pomegranate peel powder should be taken twice daily with water for preventing bad breath. Again the peel helps in cough relief. The mixture of peel powder in hot water and gargling with that water helps relieve sore throats. The fruit consumption also helps in the prevention of hair fall. Daily intake of pomegranate will also make your skin glow. Because of all these qualities, the pomegranate is called a super fruit.

The pomegranate arils make a perfect garnish for salads and other dishes also. Its juice is used in soups, jellies, sauces and different other types of cakes and its juice also add natural sweetness to the dishes with a unique flavour.

Try them sprinkled over salads, swirled into yogurt, or blended into a smoothie.

You can have pomegranates with a bowl of curd and 2 tsp of Flax seeds.

Spinach and pomegranate salad or juice will be a good combination for detoxifying the body.

So if you have not been having Pomegranate start doing so from now on a daily basis.

April 17, 2018 By Neha Morche 3 Comments

Beat the Heat with cool drinks

Its summer and the heat have already started to sap us out. The heat starts creeping in, finding its way to draw fluids from our body cells as we sweat while playing, travelling or even just sitting around in the sun. Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart pump blood easily through the blood vessels to the muscles. Hence, the muscles work efficiently.

Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet, lack of concentration, lethargy, headache to heat stroke.

Let’s beat the heat by ensuring optimum hydration through adequate water intake throughout the day and grabbing some hydrators like:* Coconut water This has natural electrolytes to replenish lost minerals in perspiration

* Buttermilk it is a blend of curd with water and dash of Cumin powder, asafoetida, coriander leaves, rock salt, ginger all of which aid in improving digestion.

* Lemon water/Lemonade: Lemon a citrus fruit has a good amount of vitamin C, it turns our body alkaline.

* Jaljeera water: It a mixture of rock salt, cumin powder and is known to reduce indigestions.

* Soya milk Flavoured/plain soya milk as it provides a good amount of proteins apart from hydrating the body.

* Berry/seasonal fruit sorbet: Blending any berry like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries (which has a lot of antioxidants to increase immunity) with ice is good.

* Mint Mojito: blend of water + mint leaves and few drops of lemon for flavour. Mint leaves are extremely good body coolant.

* Green tea lemonade: a bunch of antioxidants and vitamin C from lemon to increase immunity.

* Peach ginger ice tea: Mash 6 canned peach halves with 1 and 1/2 cups of the juice, raw honey and 1 tablespoon grated ginger in a pitcher. This aids in good digestion.

* Peanut butter frappe: A glass of cold milk blended with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. In summer our food intake drops down drastically, apart from hydration this drink also provides a good amount of proteins and required fats.

* Honeydew ice: 1 cup each frozen honeydew melon and frozen diced cucumber with the juice of 1 lime and some raw honey.

* Any fruit or dry fruit milkshakes. (which will be a good substitute for evening snack)

* Subja (chia seeds) soaked overnight in water is a natural coolant, it can be had with milk

* Vegetable juice ( leafy vegetables/beets/cucumber) + citrus fruits + ginger + garlic + lemon

* Solkadi (a blend of coconut milk+kokum+ginger+corriander leaves) known for reducing acidity and is a body coolant.

* Kokum Sharbat: Kokum extract (after soaking in water) blended it with water, Cumin seed powder and rock salt. Kokum is again known for reducing acidity

* Aam (Mango) Pannah is raw mango drink mostly available in Maharashtra region of India. It has heat resistant properties. It is also rich in Vitamin B1, B2, niacin and vitamin C.

* Aloe Vera juice: This is natural coolant. It is available in the market in a concentrated form. It needs to be mixed with water. It has anti-bacterial, antifungal properties too.

* Bottle guard + 1 cup of black basil ( mint optional) is an excellent cooling agent.

April 16, 2018 By Vrushali Athavle 1 Comment

KOKUM: The healing and cooling spice

Recently, my mother called to check if I had finished the Kokum juice and dried Kokum that she had given me when I had visited her during the summers. I have been having Kokum for so many years but had never checked its nutritional content. It always acted as a rescue food in most of the digestive illness which my family suffered. Today, I however thought to check more about it and share with all of you.

Kokum’s botanical name is Garcinia indica. It is a tiny fruit which is red in colour when it is raw and turns into deep purple when it ripens. It is then dried and used as a culinary and medicinal agent in most of the houses.

Nutritional value:

Nutritional value of Kokum is amazing. It is low in calories, no saturated fats and high in fiber. Apart from this it is rich in Vitamin C and also contains vital minerals such as Potassium, Manganese and Magnesium.WOW! What a power packed food.

I very well know about its contribution in fighting all the digestive issues but when researched more about it, here is what I found.

Benefits of Kokum:

Anti-oxidants: Kokum fruits are packed with antioxidants which ensure protection from all the worldly diseases. It also promotes cell regeneration and repair which makes it an important nutrient to consider for cancer patients. It’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties stops the growth of cancerous cells.
Get rid on your allergies:It can be used as an application to get relief from any allergic skin rashes. Applying kokum butter on cracked heal has proved to be an excellent cure for my mother which she shared with me. Kokum butter, an emollient similar to shea or cocoa butter, is often used in cosmetics such as lipsticks, moisturizing creams, conditioners and soaps.
Beat the body heat:People store them to use it as a coolant and refreshing drink in scorching summer heat. It can be used as thirst quencher throughout the year by adding to your bottle of water.
Get relief from all digestive issues:

* Constipation: Approximately 500 mg of dried kokum fruits if taken at night, helps to ease constipation.

* Hyper acidity: In 1 liter of water, drop 6 to 7 dried kokum and keep sipping it throughout the day to get relief from acidity.

* Flatulence: Make a nice mixture of kokum, ginger, organic honey and get quick relief from flatulence, stomach pain and gaseous distention.

* Indigestion: Due to lot of travelling my husband faces a lot of indigestion problems. Kokum has always helped him to get quick relief. He remembers to carry Kokum along with black pepper wherever he goes. Add it to your water and sip it.

Apart from all these, name any gastric and digestive issues like piles, fistula, dysentary, kokum has shown wonders. Not to forget about its antihelmintic (against worms) properties. You can give it to your kids to cleanse their system too.

Aids in weight loss: The hypocholesterolaemic agent, suppresses the activity of the enzymes responsible for conversion of calories into fat. It induces weight loss by hindering with the process of lipogenesis (fatty acid synthesis).

Side-effects and Precautions: The fruits of Gracinia indica shouldn’t be used in excess. Milk and milk products should be used after one hour.

Use of Kokum:

The dried version of kokum is used in daily preparation in most of the Marathi, Gujarati, Konkan, Kerala and Goan cuisines. They are added to veggies, dals and curries to give it a sour taste and obviously reap its other benefits too.

Let me end the blog by sharing a recipe: Goan speciality known as ‘Solkadi’

Soak 10 to 12 kokum rinds in 1/2 cup of water for about half an hour. Next squeeze them and add 2 cups of warm water and 2 cups of coconut milk to it. Add salt and temper it with mustard seeds, cumin, garlic, asafoetida and red chillies. Enjoy this delicious recipe with after you meals or with rice.

April 14, 2018 By Anusha Subramanian Leave a Comment

From couch to running Marathons

rajneesh-Active sunday player

It has been rightly said that you will never achieve your goal if you never try. And, this is exactly what Rajneesh Sharma of Hyderabad has experienced. Rajneesh was lazy and how and had no control over his food habits. He weighed 98kgs and had no exercise routine. Weekends were all about being lazier. Rajneesh Kumar Sharma from Hyderabad felt there was an urgent need to reverse his life but, did not know where and how to start. Last year mid-October it began with him joining the GOQii platform. He was introduced to being disciplined in life, eating right, sleeping on time, exercising etc and the direct impact of all this was that his health got better. His weight dropped to 85 kgs and from being a lazy person sitting on the couch, he is today a very active person. He works out 5 days a week. From not being able to run even for 1 minute, Rajneesh now runs 7 km in 34 minutes. His weekends are also active. His life is reversed for the better. Now Rajneesh aspires to be fitter. He is more active now on weekends as well and Sunday mornings he looks forward to attending the Active Sunday. He says, it is not about just exercising and being active on a Sunday morning, it’s also about meet and talk to people from different lifestyles and listen to their stories and get motivated. Rajneesh has started participating in various Runs organized in Hyderabad. He is happy about the fact that people around him have noticed a lot of change in him.

His fitness message to all is “Don’t give up. Nothing comes easy in life, you have to sweat it out”.