Search Results for: green tea

December 4, 2018 By Trupti Vyas (Pandya) 4 Comments

Healthy version of Green Coffee

After Water, the most preferred drink is either tea or coffee for most of us. Many usually begin their day with a cup of a bed tea or coffee. And, some even complaint of dullness or a headache without that first cup of tea or coffee.

A cup of black coffee provides almost no nutritional value. Some even prefer it with loaded Sugar. Coffee provides caffeine, a stimulant that boosts metabolism and gets people energetic But, Caffeine consumed in larger amount has many side effects such as dehydration, increase body stress levels, ,upsets stomach, hampering digestion and increases anxiety levels for the body.

Is there a healthier version of Coffee just as we have Green Tea? Yes there is Green Coffee

Before that let’s understand some basics of Coffee

There are three types of Normal coffee beans varieties:
Coffee Arabica.
Coffee Robusta
And the blended types.
How to differentiate from normal Coffee from Organic Green Coffee Beans?

Normal Coffee beans are light to dark in color as it depends upon region, temperature and roasting conditions. See Image given below-

Arabica coffee beans differ from Robusta coffee beans at many levels. See the following image –

Un-roasted bean color: In its un-roasted form, Arabica will be a darker shade of green, where Robusta tends to be more straw colored.

Arabica beans tend to have a sweeter, softer taste, with tones of sugar, fruit, and berries. Their acidity is higher, with that winey taste that characterizes coffee with excess while Robusta beans yield a harsher, bitter tasting cup often described as grain-like, oatmeal and woody. lint acidity.

Advantages of Green Coffee-

The Green Coffee that we get is derived from dried green coffee beans (Coffee Robusta) and has an active ingredient called Chlorogenic acid. (CGA).Latest research has confirmed that organic green coffee contains high concentrations of antioxidants in the range of 200 to 550mg per cup (6oz) – a level far exceeding that of green tea. But, although both green coffee and green tea contain high levels of antioxidants, green coffee tends to contain higher levels of the simple phenolicsand tea contains larger levels of catechin.

Other Variety of green coffee-

Organic Coffee:This Organic Coffee is grown on fertile volcanic soil, without pesticides and grown domestically without chemical fertilizers.
Organic Gourmet Coffee-Organic Gourmet Coffee is premium quality coffee (predominantly some of the best varieties of Coffee Arabica) that is grown organically. Based on content of caffeine it can be divided into two types, namely caffeinated and decaffeinated. From the point of view of health, the decaffeinated one will be the best but, you may have to compromise with the taste and flavor slightly.

Decaffeinated coffee– In this method of decaffeination the beans are steamed for about 30 minutes in order to open their pores. Once the coffee beans are receptive to a solvent, they are repeatedly rinsed with either methylene chloride or ethyl acetate for about 10 hours to remove the caffeine, which reduces harmful effect of caffeine.

How To Select And Store Organic Coffee?

1) If you bought whole beans, try to grind them just before you want to brew it to get the best flavor and aroma out of them. Buy only the fresh beans and if possible roast them at home.

2) Always buy “100% Organic Coffee”/ Decaffeinated beans. Do not compromise with “Contains Organic” type of coffee.

Benefit Of Green Coffee are many

Rich in anti-oxidants: Green Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants, which reduce the damaging effects of free radicals in our body and take care of our overall health. A number of studies have confirmed that raw and unprocessed green coffee beans possess 100% pure Chlorogenic Acid (CGA), which is basically an ester of caffeic acid having strong antioxidant properties. It can put a check on the levels of glucose in our bloodstream and prevent our skin cells from getting dented.
Good for skin, hair, reduces effect of free radical: Chlorogenic Acid present in green coffee beans can reduce the effects of free radicals in our body up to 10 times than regular green tea. As the beans are not roasted, there are some other anti-oxidative agents from the polyphenol family, ferulicacid, etc., which decelerate the ageing procedure and give us youthful skin, hair, prevent hair fall.
Boost metabolic rate – The Chlorogenic Acid present ingreen coffee beans is also known as a metabolism booster. It increases the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) of our body to a great extent, which minimizes excessive release of glucose from the liver into the blood. Due to the lack of glucose, our body starts burning the stored fat cells in order to fulfill its glucose requirement. Thus, pure green coffee beans raise our fat burning capability and eventually help us shed off excess weight.
Normal Recommendation – 2 cups Of Green Coffee in a day. You can have it either in hot form-(add pinch of Cinnamon Powder ) or Cold form-(by adding Ice + Mint )

Please Note – Many a times Green Coffee is a bean. There is also Green Coffee Bean Extract supplement with GarciniaCambogia but, it has many side effect because of high toxicity levels present in Such supplements are hazardous for the body. Try Avoid Using Them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends not to use such products and be cautious when it comes to such supplements. If you take any medicines regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using green coffeesupplement. It interferes with many medicines.

Let’s Grab a Cup Of Green Coffee now and kick start you’re day with a healthy version of coffee.

July 24, 2018 By Priya Prakash 2 Comments

Green Banana flour: 9 Reasons to switch to this Super food today

benefits-of-banana-flour

Green banana flour is slowly but steadily joining the superfoods wagon in India due to its numerous health benefits. It is made by drying unripe green bananas and grinding them to a fine powder.

It has a mild nutty taste and is very similar to wheat flour, thus making it an ideal replacement in gluten-free recipes. Since it has a high starch content it allows you to use less flour than required in your everyday recipes. So whenever it is used as an alternative to wheat flour, the quantity of banana flour to be used should be 30% less than the quantity of wheat flour mentioned in the recipe.

One of the primary reasons for the numerous benefits of green banana is the presence of resistant starch in it. Most starches are broken down by enzymes in our small intestine into sugar, which is then absorbed into the blood. However resistant starch is a type of starch that isn’t fully broken down. Instead, it gets fermented in the large intestine and produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). SCFA are known to provide a host of benefits such as inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, promoting colon health, increasing nutrient circulation etc.

Resistant starch is only present in raw green banana. The ripe yellow ones have undergone the natural process of hydrolysis wherein their starch has gotten converted into sugar thus making them sweet to taste.

Some of the benefits of Green Banana flour are:

Heart health: It is an excellent source of potassium which helps to control the electrical activity of the heart. It also helps lower cholesterol and aids nerve and muscle activity.
Diabetic friendly: Since the young bananas are picked before they ripen, their sugar content never fully develops. Hence they are lower in natural sugars.
Ideal for weight watchers: The resistant starch in green bananas slows the release of food through the gut. This slows the insulin response and prevents that sugar spike and consequent sugar crash. Thus, ensuring that we feel fuller for a longer period of time and avoid binging on unhealthy snacks in between meals.
Aids in digestion: The high content of prebiotic fibre in banana flour helps to support the good bacteria present in the gut, bowel, and colon. This, in turn, promotes a healthy digestion and bowel movement.
Inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria: RS II, (Resistant Starch subtype II) present in green banana flour, breaks down into short chain fatty acids & raises the pH level of the large intestine which creates adverse conditions for pathogenic bacteria while favouring the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Increases absorption of minerals– especially calcium which can aid in preventing Osteoporosis.
Promotes colon health: Resistant starch increases faecal bulking which promotes colon health and also acts as a re-hydrating agent for those suffering from diarrhoea
High in essential minerals and vitamins including zinc, vitamin E, magnesium, and manganese
Gluten Free: Ideal for those suffering from gluten intolerance especially since it behaves very similar to wheat flour and serves as an ideal replacement in wheat containing recipes.

** Banana flour is available in our GOQii Store

June 19, 2018 By Trupti Hingad 4 Comments

Steam or Sauna- which is better for health

steamsauna

After a long tiring day or a hectic week, we all deserve to relax and rejuvenate ourselves and get pampered. There is no better way to do this than by visiting a health spa/gym with a steam room and sauna? Isn’t it?

Did you know that there are health benefits to using a sauna or steam room?

But, in the Sauna vs Steam room debate—which treatment wins?

Steam bath also called as Turkish style bath provides moist heat. The temperature in a steam room may range from 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but it may feel warmer because of the high humidity.

The gentle warming of the muscles through steam treatment is increasingly found to improve your health and feeling of well-being. The steam room helps to open up airways which improve your breathing and alleviates congestion. The wet heat from the steam room thins and opens the mucous membranes in the body, which helps to relieve pressure. This helps in releasing congestion and sinus relief

For people with bronchitis and asthma, sitting in the steam room might not suit you. This could vary from person to person. If you are stressed and anxious about sitting in a steam room, you can opt for taking steam inhalation (using a bowl). The moist heat will loosen the sputum and clear the airways.

The steam room also increases metabolism and can help in weight loss. The steam room causes you to sweat, which means that your body is losing excess resulting in shedding some pounds. The sweat also helps to remove toxins and cleanses the body.

Being in the steam room can also decrease your body’s production of cortisol— the stress hormone. In fact, the simple act of sitting quietly for ten minutes provides that benefit. When the cortisol level drops, you can feel more in control, relaxed, and rejuvenated.

The pain you feel after working out is called delayed onset muscles soreness (DOMS). Moist heat works best for muscle recovery. So it’s best to take a steam bath after a good intense workout at the gym. A steam room can also be used before a workout, as it helps to loosen up the joints and increase flexibility.

Steam bath helps to boost immune system. Exposing your body to warm water stimulates leukocytes, which are cells that fight infection. Steam bath also helps to clear out any impurities from the skin which is especially good for those who have acne.

Now let’s understand what is Sauna?

The sauna uses dry heat method. In a sauna, the temperature range is about 170° to 190°F. The dry heat from a sauna soothes your nerve endings and warms and relaxes muscles, in turn relieving the tension from your body and minimizing joint pain. This is especially beneficial for those who suffer from illnesses such as arthritis, painful migraines and headaches, saunas can be used as a means of calming the body and relieving it of stress.

The heat from the sauna helps the body release endorphins, a feel-good chemical that reduces the effects of stress on the body which can relax you enough to sleep better. Sauna is better for muscle relaxation and lowering blood pressure. Sauna opens up your pores and increases blood and lymphatic circulation, which will effectively aid in softening your skin.

Sauna improves blood flow to our skin, which helps in the growth of new skin and also removes all the dead cells that were building up previously. Thus, Sauna helps you look younger. A sauna will help to eradicate blackheads to give you clearer skin.

Sauna helps in improving endurance during sports. Our body has a certain level for heat tolerance. Regular use of saunas increases the heat tolerance threshold. This leads to significant improvements in endurance, feel less fatigued and maintain energy levels during sports.

A sauna can make your hair look great. We have a special gland called the sebaceous gland on our scalp, which releases compounds that help condition and moisturize our hair. Spending some time in the sauna activates this gland, which will then release these useful compounds, thereby helping to make hair look great

So, the debate continues. Each has its own benefits.

To decide which one is better for you, you might want to ask yourself, which steam room or sauna is closest to me? Do I prefer dry heat or moist heat? Which facility am I likely to use on a regular basis?

Before you hit steam or sauna room…do consider the below precautions.

Precautions: Do make sure that you don’t stay in there too long—spending too much time in a sauna can lead to excessive thirst and too much time in a steam room can cause dizziness or even a rapid heartbeat.

It is advisable not to spend longer than 15-20 minutes inside. It is important to drink plenty of water prior, as well.

It is advisable to wear a towel and flip-flops or shower shoes when inside a steam room.

So, Get yourself relaxed, rejuvenated on this weekend in a different style.

NOTE: If you are pregnant, immune-compromised, or recovering from surgery, avoid the steam room and sauna until you get the green signal from your doctor.

May 10, 2018 By Trupti Hingad Leave a Comment

Hidden benefits of used tea bags

tea bags under the eye

Tea is Indians favourite beverage. Tea is known for many beneficial properties that it contains. Whether it is black tea or green tea or white tea…there are numerous health, home and cosmetic benefits attached to tea. Tea bags once used do not necessarily need be thrown away in the trash once they have been dunked and seeped into the boiling water and milk if you are using any.

Let me share a couple of hidden benefits of used tea bags

Tea bags for your eyes: The number of antioxidants present in tea makes it ideal when it comes to banishing those dark circles. After use, you can freeze these tea bags and press it on to your eyes for few minutes the next day. This will help in lightening the area and reducing the puffiness under the eye.

Tea bags for food flavouring: You can use tea bags to flavour the dishes too. This can be used as a robust condiment with pasta, grains, and chicken. You can use these tea bags in the water which will be used to boil grains and pasta so that the flavour can get infused in these ingredients. You can use flavoured tea bags like chamomile and cinnamon to make a difference to the dish that you are preparing.

Tea bags in the garden: In a large garden or small pots, you can use tea bags in the water used for watering plants. This will help in preventing the onset of any kind of fungal infection as far as the plants go.

Tea bags to deal with odours: Tea bags can be placed in muslin clothes and hung on rods and placed in corners to acts as deodorising agent. You can place these tea bags in the refrigerator too so that you can eliminate the various scents and odours that are not too pleasant.

Tea bags for cleaning: You can use tea bags to clean your rugs and carpets. These can be frozen before they are opened and the dried tea leaves can be spread over the various stains before being brushed away. This will lighten the stains gradually. Use the teabags to rub furniture and floor scratches to make them disappear.

Tea bags for healing sores: Chill a used tea bag in the freezer. Once it’s cold, place it on your canker sore. The cold plus the tea’s healing properties will help your sore feel better faster.

Tea bags for stopping bleeding on cuts: When a kitchen injury strikes while slicing and dicing, staunch the blood flow fast by saturating a black tea bag with hot water, then holding it against the injury for 30 seconds. The tannins in the tea will quickly clot the blood so you can cover the cut with a bandage and get back to whipping up your delicious dinner.

Tea bags to keep iron vessels rust proof: To make sure that your skillet stays rust-free by wiping it with a damp used black tea bag after every cooking session. The tea’s tannins will coat the pan with an invisible protective layer that prevents rust-causing oxidation.