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July 25, 2022 By Shaeba Shaikh 3 Comments

6 Indoor Exercises For a Rainy Day!

With the weather being unpredictable, stepping outdoors to get a good workout or a run might be practically impossible, especially if you’re not a fan of running in the rain. Don’t be disappointed! Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Don’t skip your workout routine just because the weather isn’t in your favour. Here are some indoor exercises you can perform from the convenience of your home.

6 Indoor Exercises To Get You In Shape

1. Stationary Sprinter: A Great Cardio exercise(very similar to high knee jogging) to up the heart rate and burn calories.All you need to do is just stand in one place and fast jog for 60 seconds at a stretch. Do 3 sets of 60 secs each!

2. Superman Pose

A simple exercise that works fantastically on the core, lower back and Glute muscles Begin with lying in the prone position, with your arms stretched, raise your hands and legs 4-5 inches above the ground, hold for 10-15secs, then come back to the beginner position. Repeat the procedure for 3-5 reps.

3. Mountain Climbers

A great core exercise concentrating majorly on the oblique muscles. Great way to tone the abs while burning calories. Start with lying in a plank position, then move your right leg front and back as though climbing a mountain, following the same procedure with your left leg. Try to do it as fast as you can for 60 secs. Follow it with 5 reps of 60 secs each.

4. Push-Ups

Start with lying down in a prone position. Place your arms with your palms facing the floor shoulder-width apart. Bend elbows and Upper body to do a Push-up. Repeat the push-ups for 10-12 reps. Do at least 3 sets of 10-12 reps each.

This exercise works brilliantly to tone and strengthens the Chest(Pectoralis Major), Tricep and Shoulder muscles.

5. Squats

Begin with a standing position, torso upright. Keep your feet hip-width apart. Bend down as if you are sitting on a chair with your arms extended. Do the exercise for 15-20 reps. Repeat it for 3-5sets of 15-20 reps each.

6. Crunches

No exercise routine is complete without a crunch. Begin the exercise in a supine position, with your knees bent in a 90-degree angle and feet firmly on the floor. Place your hands behind your head so that the thumbs are behind your ears. Curl the upper body up, to crunch your abdomen. Repeat it for 15-20 reps. Try to do 3 sets of 15-20 reps each. This is one of the best and simple exercises to help in toning the abdominal muscles.

A simple exercise plan can be formed using the above-mentioned exercises, starting with the Stationary Sprinter, followed with Push-ups, Crunches, Mountain Climbers, Squats and Superman pose. You can complete your workout with a cool down stretch at home.

We hope these 6 indoor exercises help you not skip your workout! How do you beat a rainy day to get in a workout? Let us know in the comments below!

For more on workouts and fitness, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to our live, online classes on GOQii PRO, where our certified fitness experts will guide you on the correct form and posture in real time, while making sure that you are well motivated! You can book a class now from the GOQii App.

Stay Active and #BeTheForce

May 21, 2022 By Arooshi Garg 3 Comments

Choose The Right Cup! Different Teas And Their Benefits

Tea is considered to be the 2nd most popular drink after water. An article in National Geography dated April 2014, reiterates this statement. According to the article, the world’s top beverage is not Coffee or Beer, its Tea. And a perfect start to the day is with a good cup of Tea.

But What Does Research Say?

Various studies have been done emphasizing the health benefits associated with consumption of tea. A paper titled –Tea and Health: Studies in Humans authored by Naghma Khan and Hasan Mukhtar with affiliation to Helfaer Professor of Cancer Research, Director and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, says that drinking tea has been considered a health-promoting habit since ancient times and modern medical research is providing a scientific basis for this belief. The evidence supporting the health benefits of tea drinking grows stronger with each new study that is published in the scientific literature.

In their paper, the authors say, “Tea plant Camellia sinensis has been cultivated for thousands of years and its leaves have been used for medicinal purposes. Tea is used as a popular beverage worldwide and its ingredients are now finding medicinal benefits”.

“Encouraging data showing cancer-preventive effects of green tea from cell culture, animal, and human studies have emerged. Evidence is accumulating that black tea may have similar beneficial effects. Tea consumption has also been shown to be useful for the prevention of many debilitating human diseases that include maintenance of cardiovascular and metabolic health,” they add.

With tea becoming the latest super-drink among health enthusiasts all over the world, trying various options and experiencing its health benefits, it’s time for us to magnify our knowledge for the same! It’s no wonder that Green tea, Black tea, and Chamomile tea, to name a few, have gained acceptance among many as a health drink. And, why not? They are helping us in numerous ways!

If you are not aware, some of the new entrants into the tea world are Dandelion tea, Ginseng, Peppermint, Cranberry, Liquorice, Thyme, and Raspberry Leaf tea, among many others.

This article will assist you in choosing the right type of tea for the health benefits that you are looking for.

How Tea Can You Help You

1. For your digestive system: Jasmine, Peppermint, Chamomile, Dandelion and Cranberry tea are the most effective teas that can provide relief to your stomach and liver. A number of restaurants serve Jasmine tea as an appetizer before meals. That’s because of Jasmine tea aids in digestion and helps produce saliva which contains digestive enzymes.

Chamomile tea eases and relaxes the digestive system and peristaltic muscles. It also helps to reduce menstrual cramps. A paper titled Chamomile: An herbal medicine of the past with bright future reiterates the above statements. It says, “Chamomile preparations are commonly used for many human ailments such as hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids”. The study also says that Chamomile tea is one of the world’s most popular herbal teas and about a million cups are consumed every day.

Peppermint and dandelion tea can help reduce bloating after a heavy meal and also increase the secretion of digestive enzymes. Another study titled: A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea, suggests that Peppermint tea, brewed from the plant leaves, and the essential oil of peppermint are used in traditional medicines.

2. For cold, cough and flu: Ginger, Thyme, and white blossom tea have essential oils which help the body fight against viruses and infections. A concoction of ginger tea with honey is an age-old Indian alternate medicine for treating common cold and cough. The anti-inflammatory compounds gingerols and shogaol in ginger root help relieve a sore throat quickly, and they also kill cold-causing viruses.

3. To relieve aches and pains: Green tea, Chamomile, Red bush and Rooibos Tea. Nothing can be better than Green tea to cure body aches, pain, and swelling! These teas have huge amounts of antioxidants and minerals that give them the magical pain relieving properties.

Green tea also helps reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eyes when a soaked and cooled tea bag is used as an eye pad to soothe the eyes and area around it. Many of the beneficial effects of green tea are related to its catechin, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, content. “There are human studies on using green tea catechins to treat metabolic syndromes, such as obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors,” the study adds.

4. For healthy and radiant skin: Calendula, White tea, Green tea and Liquorice tea help clean the skin at the cellular level by removing toxins. These teas play a major role in activating the lymphatic system and detoxifying the liver. Their extracts can prevent pigmentation, eczema, and pimples.

A study –Green Tea and Skin concludes that the outcome of the several experimental studies suggests that green tea possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic potential, which can be exploited against a variety of skin disorders. Although more clinical studies are needed, supplementation of skin care products with green tea may have a profound impact on various skin disorders in the years to come

5. For reducing stress and lack of sleep/insomnia: Chamomile, Passion-fruit, Lemongrass and Mint tea promote placidity and coolness into the body, reducing stress and promoting calmness.

Chamomile tea is made with dried flowers of the chamomile plant and it can help fight insomnia. Fruit teas are packed with vitamin-C and antioxidants, making them a fresh and fruity option for the tea lovers.

Lemongrass tea is stimulating and helps the body recover from tiredness and discomfort. Lemon balm and mint teas are ideal for winters as these protect from cold and also help in improving concentration. Mint when added to any ice tea can be another refreshing option.

6. To refresh and energize you: Green, White, Oolong, Calendula, Roasted Dandelion, Natal, Lemon balm and Liquorice root teas are best for maintaining health and fitness due to the brimming amounts of antioxidants present in them. These herbal mixes are effective in the detoxifying body as they act as natural diuretics which help in removing toxins from kidneys.

Lemon balm and Liquorice tea is ideal for nervous system and maintains a regular flow of energy through the body. Green tea promotes weight loss – which can be attributed to the thermogenic effect of the antioxidants and caffeine present in it.

7. To prevent and treat nausea and vomiting: Apart from being refreshing, Peppermint, Ginger, and Raspberry teas provide other benefits too.

To begin with, peppermint is Anti-emetic (prevents vomiting) and also promotes the formation of bile in the gall bladder for better digestion of fat. Many people find the taste of this tea to be very strong, but one can adjust the strength by dilution according to the taste.

Ginger tea is a venerable solution for cold, cough and sickness in India. Hot ginger tea can be made either pure or with a ginger and herb mix. Raspberry leaf tea is a boon for pregnant women to overcome morning sickness as it is said to be a tonic for the uterus.

Based on your needs, you can pick and choose which teas and their benefits you’d want to explore! Hope this article helps you. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

For more articles like this, check out Healthy Reads. To know more about teas and other concoctions that can help you, speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

April 1, 2022 By Neha Goyal 3 Comments

Why Should You Opt For A2 Cow Ghee?

Ghee has always been a part of the Indian tradition as one of the healthiest milk products. In Indian households, we generally use ghee made at home with cow milk. Recently a new type of cow ghee has appeared in the dairy market known as A2 Cow Ghee. Looking at the name, A2 Cow Ghee seems like some kind of a new trend in the health market but it is cow ghee made from A2 milk. Let’s understand it better.

We all know that milk is a good source of protein. However, ghee is pure fat but contains a very small amount of protein as well. There are two types of protein found in milk called casein and whey. There are also different types of casein protein, one of which is beta-casein. A1 & A2 are actually two variants of beta-casein that make up about 30% of total protein in cow’s milk. Traditionally in India, cows produced milk that contained only the A2 form of beta-casein, but today, most of the milk available in local stores contains mostly A1 proteins.

The Difference Between A1 and A2 Cow Ghee

Reading the name, both types seem like brothers of the same family but there is a huge difference between their source and effect on health. Ghee when made using A2 milk which has only A2 Beta casein (a type of protein) is called A2 ghee. This type of protein is found in the milk of only some native Indian breed of cows and some other animals like the Indian buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, etc.

On the other hand, ghee made from milk having only A1 beta-casein or sometimes both A1 and A2 beta-casein is called A1 cow ghee. A1 beta-casein is found in all commercial dairy products that we use in general due to foreign breed or crossbreed cows in India. It’s cheaper as the milking capacity of crossbred cows is greater than desi cow and the total number of them is also huge. Obviously, A1 milk is no way better than A2 milk.

The beta-casein in A1 milk has a structure that allows a short molecule called beta-casomorphin-7 or BCM-7 to split off during digestion. Some foreign researchers say that this small protein can cause various problems ranging from juvenile diabetes, autism, schizophrenia, allergies to auto-immune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. While the percentage of people with immediate effects is very small, the consequences are severe for affected individuals. On the other hand, A2 cow milk is comparable with breast milk when it comes to health benefits and digestibility.

What Are It’s Benefits?

Being higher in nutrition values such as protein, iron, sodium, calcium, vitamin A, D, E with Omega 3 and 9 fatty acids, A2 cow ghee has many health benefits.

Slows the aging process and is good for skin & hair
Helps recover from wounds
Prevents diseases like asthma & headaches & alleviates insomnia
Best for joint massage & treating broken bones
Treats gastric issues
Lowers bad cholesterol and does not cause blockages
Makes your voice soft
Great for people who are trying to lose weight
Boost immunity
The best option for Nasya kriya which has many benefits for health
Suitable for even lactose-intolerant people
Reduces inflammation
Excellent for growing kids and pregnant women

Hope this information is helpful. Don’t hesitate to add at least 1 tsp of A2 cow ghee in your daily diet considering its multiple benefits for your body and mind.

You can get Pure Desi A2 Cow Ghee from the GOQii Health Store for a discount using GOQii Cash – all within the GOQii App. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

March 29, 2022 By GOQii Leave a Comment

GOQii To Launch Health Metaverse In Partnership With Animoca Brands

Even a year back, could you imagine that your healthy lifestyle could extend to the virtual world? Imagine being able to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in the virtual world as well! GOQii’s recent partnership with Animoca Brands is striving to make that a reality.

Animoca Brands is a global leader in gamification and blockchain with an extensive portfolio of over 170 investments in NFT-related companies and decentralized projects contributing to building the open metaverse. GOQii will collaborate with Animoca Brands and its ecosystem companies and projects to develop various offerings that leverage blockchain tokens and gamification in preventive healthcare.

What Is The GOQii Health Metaverse?

GOQii’s metaverse ecosystem will be powered by a unique virtual token program, the Token. Consumers will receive the virtual token, which powers the GOQii metaverse ecosystem that incentivizes healthy behaviors and gamified fitness actions. These tokens can then be used to unlock products ,services, purchase NFTs, participate in special events and game modes, and access curated and discounted health-focused goods, medical services and insurance products.

GOQii launched ‘GOQii Cash’ in 2018, a virtual rewards program for completing steps taken targets and other health goals. GOQii Cash can be redeemed at the GOQii Health Store for discounts. The GOQii Health Store is a healthcare marketplace with over 200 brands and 6,000+ products including supplements, Ayurveda products, healthy snacks, fitness equipment and many other offerings from brands such as Kapiva, Sri Sri Tatvaa, TGL, Yoga Bar, Sleepy Owl, Neemans and others.

GOQii’s Metaverse is committed to driving innovation within the healthcare industry, as the company seeks to address the complex challenges of healthcare accessibility and affordability. With the launch of India’s National Digital Health Mission, India is set to bring healthcare into the digital sphere, and GOQii’s metaverse is well poised to benefit consumers across the spectrum of healthcare requirements.

To get a better understanding of the GOQii Health Metaverse, check out our video below:

Our Founder and CEO Vishal Gondal commented: “We are excited to onboard Animoca Brands to the GOQii journey. Animoca Brands is one of the most prestigious names when it comes to gamification and blockchain. Web 3.0 is going to change the way companies interact with consumers. This investment from Animoca Brands and the close partnership will help GOQii bring best-of-class products to consumers and further keep them motivated to #betheforce in their journey of fitness.”

Yat Siu, the executive chairman and co-founder of Animoca Brands, commented: “Animoca Brands is delighted to invest in GOQii and support its mission to make people healthier. GOQii has built a platform that leverages the power of gamification to make the preventive healthcare journey enjoyable for the masses, and we look forward to leveraging its synergies with OliveX and other companies in our portfolio.”