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April 2, 2018 By Priya Prakash 58 Comments

7 Differences between Chia Seeds & Sabja Seeds

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CHIA Seeds on the left side and SABJA seeds on the right side

Chia seeds are tiny power-packed seeds that have been documented to be around since 3500 bc in the diets of Aztecs and Mayans. They had identified that these super seeds had the ability to increase stamina and energy over long periods of time.

What is the difference between chia seed and sabja seeds (basil seeds)?

Chia seed is a native of Mexico and it does not have an Indian name. However, it has time and again been confused with basil seeds which are also known as Sabja in Hindi. Be it in appearance, origin or health benefits; Chia seeds are different from Sabja in numerous ways. Both chia seeds and sabja seeds originate from the mint family and hence the resemblance.

So how do you differentiate one from the other? Below are a few simple ways that can help you do so:

Native

Chia seeds are native to central and southern Mexico while Sabja seeds are native to India and the Mediterranean region.

2. Colour

chia 2a chia2b

As can be seen in the above image, the left side is CHIA SEEDS. They are usually a mixture of grey, black, white and sometimes even brown seeds. However, even the black ones are not pitch black in colour. Instead, a dull pattern or a mosaic is visible on them. On the right side is SABJA SEEDS, uniformly jet Black in colour.

3. Appearance

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Chia seeds are oval in shape and Sabja seeds are elliptical, like tiny grains of rice.

4. On Soaking in Water

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Sabja Seeds in the water on the left, Chia seeds in water on the right

Chia seeds take time to absorb water. It has the unique ability to gel by absorbing over 10 times their weight. Sabja seeds swell up within seconds of being mixed with water. A translucent coat forms around the seed and it appears much larger in size when compared to a soaked chia seed.

5. Taste of Soaked Seeds

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Sabja seeds in water on the top glass, Chia seeds in water on the bottom glass

Chia seeds do not have any taste of its own and can easily be incorporated in any kind of dish. Sabja seeds have a mild flavour of basil and impart the same to drinks and desserts.

6.Usage

Chia seeds can be consumed raw or soaked. Sabja seeds can be consumed only after soaking.

7. Health Benefits

Both, Chia and Sabja seeds have their own set of health benefits. They have been known to aid in weight loss due to their ability to make you feel fuller faster. Here are the most beneficial properties of the seeds.

Chia seeds

Good source of proteins and Omega 3s
The naturally low-carb and high-fibre food helps in digestion
Highly recommended for weight-loss
Promotes energy and endurance
Helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels

Sabja Seeds

One of the best body coolant
Has a soothing effect on the stomach and hence useful to combat acidity
Good source of vitamins and Iron
Helps to promote healthy skin and hair
Acts as a detoxifying agent and helps to cleanse the blood

FACTOR	CHIA SEEDS	SABJA SEEDS
Native	to Central and southern Mexico	Native to India and the Mediterranean region
Colour	Usually a mixture of grey, black, white and sometimes even brown seeds. However, even the black ones are not pitch black in colour. Instead, a dull pattern or a mosaic is visible on them	Uniformly jet Black or pitch black in colour
Appearance	Oval in shape	Elliptical, like tiny grains of rice
On soaking in water	Chia takes time to absorb water. It has the unique ability to gel by absorbing over 10 times their weight.	Sabja swell up within seconds of being mixed with water. A translucent coat forms around the seed and it appears much larger in size when compared to a soaked chia seed
Taste of soaked seeds	Does not have any taste of its own and can easily be incorporated in any kind of dish.	Has a mild flavour of basil and imparts the same to drinks and desserts
Usage/Health Benefits	Can be consumed raw or soaked. Good source of proteins and Omega 3s	Can be consumed only after soaking. Has a soothing effect on the stomach and hence useful to combat acidity.

*Chia Seeds from Naturally Yours is now available on GOQii Store.

March 12, 2018 By Palak Mittal 12 Comments

10 health and diet tips for Women

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March 8^th is considered International woman’s day but at GOQii we dedicate this whole month to focus on Women’s health. This month, I want you to sit back and relax and take some time out to focus on your health. I have carved out some easy-to-follow tips that will help you keep up with your health and fitness along with your diet habits.

Here are some of the health and diet tips every woman must follow to remain healthy and fit

Do not cut out any food groups from your diet

If you are dieting, do not think of cutting down on any food groups, be it carbohydrate or fat. Include lean proteins, calcium and other nutritional foods that will help your body function better. All you need to do is to ensure portion control and not go overboard, especially with unhealthy foods. Moderation is the key to a healthy you!

Load up on lots of water

Water is the one solution to all your health problems; it helps flush out the hazardous toxins produced in the body due to poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, et al. Drink lots of water or just add some lemon and honey to make it healthier. Not only will it help keep your body hydrated but also will leave your skin glowing.

Kick-start your day with a healthy and heavy breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; no matter how busy or caught up you are, take out some time to indulge in a good and healthy breakfast full of proteins to keep you energized through the day.

Do not obsess over dieting

One must not obsess over dieting. It is okay to accept your body as it is; what is important is to ensure eating healthy and keeping yourself physically fit. Focus on building your stamina and engage in exercises.

Feed your skin with healthy and natural ingredients

It shouldn’t be only your overall health but also your skin that needs some attention. For once, toss your chemical-laden commercial skincare products and use natural kitchen ingredients instead. They will help you get a gleaming skin.

Do not forget to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise

It is not just your diet that will ensure a healthy body, but also some physical activity or exercise. It is not necessary to spend two hours at the gym, but just 30 minutes of your favourite outdoor sport, gaming, running, walking, et al can help you out.

Get yourself checked every six months

In order to take care of others in the family, we neglect minute health problems we generally go through. Take some time out and get your body checked for any suspicious growth or anything that you think should be flagged before it gets too late. Go in for a comprehensive health check up once in a year.

Do not stop yourself from indulging

Keeping yourself healthy does not mean you forget munching on your favourite foods. Indulge in these foods once in a while to make yourself and your tummy happy and going. Do make sure you don’t overeat only to ruin your diet.

Stop stressing! Include bright coloured foods to up your mood and get going

Nowadays, stress has become synonymous with us humans and one cannot avoid considering the many pressures in personal and professional lives. Load up on de-stressing foods and include more bright coloured fruits and vegetables in your diet that will help liven up your mood instantly.

Avoid smoking and alcohol

While occasional drinking is fine, making it a lifestyle habit is extremely dangerous. Not only do smoking and drinking cut short your lifespan, but also make you look a lot older and dull.

Follow these basic health and diet tips to lead a positive, fit and enduring life!

February 22, 2018 By Saba Mirza 1 Comment

Are Fats the only culprit behind those flabs?

Many times I have come across people saying, ‘I have been avoiding all kind of fats such as ghee, oil, fried foods, cream, cheese since a long time but, I am just been unable to get rid of all the flab’.

If you ask me I would say that there are mistakes people make in the process of burning all those fatty bags. Let’s see what these mistakes are

Mistake 1-CUTTING DOWN ALL KIND OF FATS: The first mistake most make is avoiding fats completely.Fat is the 3rd major nutrient needed by the body for the optimal functioning of various vital systems like cardiovascular system, skeletal system (bones and joints), and neurological system.If you don’t provide the required amount of fat to the body, it will start storing other nutrients like carbohydrates in the form of fat in fear of an emergency.

The key is to avoid bad fats (the fat which is saturated at room temperature like ghee, butter) and opt for good fat(the fat which is liquid at room temperature like vegetable oils and also the fat from nuts and seeds) and have it in moderation.

Mistake 2-HAVING INVISIBLE FATS: Look for the invisible fats which you might be consuming unknowingly.You might be providing invisible bad fats to your body in the form of all kind of processed foods like biscuits, cookies, fast foods, cakes, pastries, ice creams, chocolates etc.

Mistake 3-INACTIVITY: If you are sitting all day in front of the computer, then there is no need for the body to burn the calories and chances are the bodies are storing all kinds of excess calories coming from carbohydrates and proteins in the form of fat.So, do make a habit of getting up from your work seat and walking in the corridor, doing some office desk exercises, just to provide an excuse to your cells to burn the calories consumed during meals.

Mistake 4-SKIPPING MEALS: When you are avoiding your breakfast or lunch, the body goes into the fat-preserving mode in fear of a deadly situation. So keep providing some nutritious food in the form of meals or snacks, at least, every 3 hours to keep your metabolism running.

Mistake 5-STRESS: Stress is an integral part of our lifestyle nowadays and yes, in acute situation, it does reduce the appetite because of the secretion of stress hormone, but a persistent stressed out situation maintains a higher level of cortisol hormones for a longer time, whose job is to replenish the body even after the stress has passed out and this increases your appetite and makes you crave for your favorite desserts. So do try to include some relaxation technique in your day to day life to soothe your body and keep the hormones under control during the stressed out situations.

Mistake 6-SLEEP DEPRIVATION: Here is how disturbed sleeping hours affects your waistline badly-Lack of sleep makes you feel exhausted, makes you skip your workout, makes you crave for some brain stimulant like coffee, tea, and makes you binge on some bad calories while being awake for more hours than sleeping.

Mistake 7- HAVING A HEAVY DINNER: Dinner has always been considered as the only family meal which we have all together. But do you know, at that time, your body is preparing itself for a slowdown at night, your metabolism is at it’s lowest.So anything in excess, especially carbohydrates, which body is unable to digest at that time is getting collected in the central area of your body.That doesn’t mean that you go to bed feeling hungry.Plan it wisely. Have a heavy nutritious evening snack and a light dinner which is low in carbohydrates, moderate in proteins and high in fibres.

Mistake 8-HAVING FRUITS AT WRONG TIME: Combining your fruits with meals and having them post-sunset or at bedtime is a sure way to get those flags on your waistline, as they are again a form of instant carbohydrates.Have them as individual meals or snacks instead.

And if you still feel that you are guilty of none of these mistakes and stuck with these flaws, do consult your doctor. There might be an underlying medical condition like hypothyroid or other hormonal imbalances which is keeping your metabolism disturbed and maintaining all the fatty bags despite your efforts to be healthy and fit.

February 11, 2018 By Mohammed Tufail Qureshi 1 Comment

Hidden dangers of sugary drinks

Sugar… as sweet as this word sounds one needs that much more careful. Behind all that shine there is a deep dark secret.

Sugar is an empty calorie. Empty calories are foods that provide high amounts of energy with very little or zero nutritional value. Sugar that does not get broken down by the body will be converted to fat. Sugar makes you very hungry and gives rise to what is known as ‘hunger craving’. In this case, you may not be physically hungry, but your body demands more food or more sugar to bring your blood sugar levels back into balance.

Sodium benzoate, which is derived from benzoic acid, has been used for years by the carbonated drinks industry to prevent moulds from developing in soft drinks. The ingredient has been a subject of concern for cancer because when mixed with Vitamin C, it turns into a carcinogenic substance called benzene. An international news report once said that the Cola drinks lead to the formation of stones in the kidney which can gradually damage the kidneys. The acid and radical mineral imbalances in dark-coloured sodas affect the kidneys. The phosphoric acid in the drinks’ absorbs calcium from bones and is eliminated through the passage of urine. This slowly forms stones in the kidney.

The phosphorus acid content takes away calcium from the bones thus leading to bone loss. Well, this is not enough!! There is more to learn about SUGAR.

It makes your body acidic which is a house for the pathogens to breed in.

Phosphoric acid present in drinks damages the enamel of the tooth and drains calcium from bones.

It has aspartate, an artificial sweetener which makes us feel hungry and craves for food, which leads to weight gain.

It gives empty calories and no nutrients.

Contains lead acetate damages kidney and nerves.

Soft drinks contain sugar which means less oxygen to your cells.

Increases risks of heart diseases

Risk of diabetes as it can cause insulin resistance.

Sugary drinks do not make you feel full and are strongly linked to weight gain. Large amounts of sugar are turned into fat in the liver. Sugar also increases belly fat as it contains no essential nutrients… Sugary drinks are highly addictive because of its delicious yet devilish taste.

It leads to high risk of cancer, damage dental health and increased risk of gout.

The next time you take a can in your hand to consume it, try and think what its taste and bubbles can do to your body.

7 Differences between Chia Seeds & Sabja Seeds

10 health and diet tips for Women

Are Fats the only culprit behind those flabs?

Hidden dangers of sugary drinks

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