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Amazing benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel

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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

 

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Eating healthy during Ramadan fasting

Eating healthy during Ramadan fasting
Who says you cannot be healthy if you’re fasting for an entire month?

You can eat healthily and feel good during an entire month of fasting provided you follow the right methods. The Holy month of Ramadan has begun this week and I have been fasting regularly for over two decades during Ramadan.

Considering the heat wave that is still on in the city with no rains as yet, one has to be extra careful and prepared about what to eat during the non-fasting period, so that you can maintain your health, fitness, endurance and flexibility during the entire month.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan or any other religious months/period can be good for your health if it’s done correctly. All changes happen in the body system during fasting (starvation). Stored nutrients, especially muscle proteins are broken down to provide fuel to our body. Fasting diet lacks in macronutrients like carbohydrates and fats which leads to weakness. In order to avoid this having healthy options of food during fasting is very important.

A person who is fasting needs good and nutrient-rich food which will help to maintain the energy levels in our body on a day to day basis.

Here are few tips for healthy eating options while Ramadan or any other holy fasting period.

Go with Natural food, Not Junk or Processed Foods:

Well, in today’s time processed foods might come across as a very convenient option, but they’re usually filled with unhealthy things like high-fructose corn syrup that leads to overconsumption. Secondly, contains a lot of artificial Ingredients. Most processed foods are Low in Nutrients.

It requires less energy and time to digest processed foods. Processed foods contain MSG (Monosodium glutamate – to enhance flavour), it also contains lots of sodium and typically all the wrong heart-clogging oils. Therefore it is always good to go with natural food available if possible go with homemade food.

Don’t break your fast with a feast:

Be Careful. If you are not careful, the food eaten during the pre-dawn and dusk meals can cause some adverse effects. Those observing the fast in Ramadan month should have at least two meals a day, the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) and a meal at dusk (Iftar).

The way to approach your diet during fasting is similar to the way you should be eating outside of the Ramadan month. It should contain foods from all the major food groups:

– Fruit and vegetables

– Bread, cereals and potatoes

– Meat, fish, or alternatives

– Milk and dairy foods

– Foods containing fat and sugar

Hydrate Your Body:

When we fast for long hours, our body gets dehydrated over the course of the day. During the non-fasting period, we should take care of the hydration levels in our body. After a long day of fasting, it’s difficult to drink a lot of water or have lots of water-based food items. But, we can have fruit juices and soups made with veggies to give our body the additional water it needs. A great way to break the fast is with ‘Dates’. Also consider having coconut water, or making smoothies, coolers and fruity drinks which are super-hydrating.

Wholesome foods during Ramadan:

Suhoor- the pre-dawn meal should be a wholesome and moderate meal that is filling and provides enough energy for many hours. Ideally, it should be slow digesting food like salads, brown bread, cereal (especially oats) so that your body will get energy for a long time constant. Also, you can have some fluids with vitamins, such as fruit and vegetable juice.

It’s customary for Muslims to break the fast (Iftar) with some dates. Dates provide a burst of energy.  Fruit juices also have a similar, revitalizing effect. My favourite, of course, is “FALOODA”. Start by drinking plenty of water, which helps rehydrate and reduces the chances of overindulgence.

SOME QUICK TIPS: What to have and What to avoid:

Foods to avoid

– deep-fried foods, for example, pakoras, samosas and fried dumplings

– High-sugar and high-fat foods, including sweets such as gulab jamun, rasgulla and balushahi

– High-fat cooked foods, for example, parathas, oily curries and greasy pastries

– Fatty meats, Liver and organ meats, Hotdog and sausages, large amounts of prawn, shrimp and shellfish

– Whole milk, Ice cream and whipped cream, full cream yoghurt and labneh, Full cream cheese especially yellow cheese, Creamy and cheese sauces

– Coconut (the only fruit rich in saturated fats that are unhealthy for the heart), Fried vegetables, Boiled vegetables with butter, Juices with added sugar

– Pastries that contain large amounts of fat (doughnuts, croissants, Danish pastries), Fried rice, Fried potato chips or French fries

Healthy alternatives

– Baked samosas and boiled or steamed dumplings

– Chapattis made without oil

– Baked or grilled meat and chicken, Fish, Grilled or boiled skinless chicken, Lean veal or lamb, moderate amounts of prawns, Legumes such as beans, lentils, and peas, eggs

– Milk-based sweets and puddings such as rasmalai and barfee, skimmed or low-fat milk, skimmed or low-fat yoghurt and labneh, Low-fat cheese

– All fresh vegetables, boiled, baked, steamed or cooked with a little oil, Seasoned vegetables or vegetables with lemon juice or a little oil, Fresh fruits and natural fruit juice (in moderation)

– Brown bread, Plain spaghetti or rice (without ghee or high fat sauce), Grains with no added fat, Baked or boiled potatoes

Healthy cooking methods

– Shallow frying

– Grilling, Roasting, Steaming or Baking is healthier and helps retain the taste and original flavour of the food, especially with chicken and fish.

May everyone who observes the blessed month of Ramadan or other holy fasting period have a peaceful, healthy and happy time with family, friends and community.

Please consult with your physician regarding fasting or consuming any particular foods before doing so.

 

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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:

  1. 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

  1. Good source of proteins and Omega 3s
  2. The naturally low-carb and high-fibre food helps in digestion
  3. Highly recommended for weight-loss
  4. Promotes energy and endurance
  5. 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. 

 

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Eat Healthy Stop counting Calories

I used to count calories

It was part of my training as a dietitian – one of our homework assignments. It seemed everyone in my class was really good at it like they had memorized the calorie content of a bunch of foods. I treated the project as an experiment. What I mean by that is, if this is what we’re supposed to have our patients do, I should be able to do it well.

The funny thing however was, the more I counted calories and the less I was paying attention to the food in front of me. It was like looking at a spreadsheet on a plate. All you see is numbers.

I’d choose the less tasty entree because it was lower in calories, even if it didn’t sound appealing. If I got hungry after the meal, I’d second guess myself. “But I ate 700 calories!? That should be enough!”

It was like a battle between the calculator and my stomach. The calculations said I needed a certain amount of calories per day. If I went over, it was a “bad” day. If I went under, it was an excuse to eat junk food. I’d think to myself, “Well, these chocolates are only 90 calories…”

I’ll admit, I failed miserably at counting calories and gave up within a few weeks. I never really enjoyed it and I felt restricted, what I was going to develop is ordered eating.

Making good food choices is important for everyone. As a Nutritionist and Dietitian, I believe there are two important things you can do to achieve healthylifestyle—

# Make good food choices.

# Identify habits that you can keep doing over a long period of time, which fit easily into your daily routine, and can become a sustainable part of your life (what I mean by this is no fad diets!)

How else can you start making good food choices? Let’s start with the grocery store.

Here are some tips that may help you:

# Never shop when you are hungry. You will make much better choices if you shop after you’ve had a good breakfast or lunch, or when you’re not in a rush.

# Try to spend the most of the time while shopping in the fresh fruit and vegetable section. Most of us don’t eat enough vegetables, which offer many nutritional benefits and fill you up so you can better resist the temptation of unhealthy foods. Deeply colored fruits and vegetables provide more nutrients, so be sure to eat a variety of different color produce.

# Select whole grains instead of white flour, white pasta, and white rice. Quinoa is a great grain to try because it has a lot of protein, which is not the case for many grain products.

# Choose naturally low-fat and high-fiber foods (e.g., low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese, whole grain cereals).

# Know that not all oils are bad for you. Look for nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil and other healthy oils which can provide the fat you need in your diet.

# See if you can check out and exit the store without buying packaged and processed foods.

It’s simple to conclude that all you need to do is take in fewer calories than just count calories and make sure you are getting healthy fats into your diet each day.

 

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