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GHEE – For a healthier and beautiful life!

GHEE-For-a-healthier-and-beautiful-life

I am not sure how many of you understand what’s ghee? Its homemade pure butter made from milk, preferably cows

Reading the title of this article you must be thinking Have I lost it?. How can Ghee give you a healthy and beautiful life? But, it’s true it can.

Ever since my childhood days I have enjoyed my meals with Ghee and the trend continues even today. Having said that let me clarify that despite having Ghee I have always been lean. Many would attribute this to my genes. Well, no it’s not because of my genes but, largely due to the lifestyle and the food I eat. However, I have come to realise this only now, as a nutritionist. And, a major contributor to my lean and mean body is GHEE.

You would wonder how could that be possible? Believe me it’s no rocket science. Ghee has been an essential part of our cooking and food from ancient days. Our grandparents ate loads of Ghee and yet had no health issues or any kind of blockage in their heart etc. and the best part is they were healthy in every which way- physically and mentally.

Cut to the present times: When I as a nutritionist recommend people to have ghee with their food on a daily basis they are pretty shocked. Some even give me dirty looks as though I have said something that I shouldn’t be saying. Most are worried and ask questions such as how will ghee make me healthy? Ghee is so unhealthy, your cholesterol levels can go up, it can give us heart ailments like a blockage, and certainly it cannot reduce my weight and make me thin. These questions are natural because in the last one decade, we have been told to avoid foods full of saturated fats including ghee because they would cause heart attacks.

Well, you will be surprised to know that this is not true. In fact, research has indicated that the frequency of heart attacks, high cholesterol levels, joint pain, etc, occur more due to the exclusion of ghee or cutting down on it on a daily basis. A 2010 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition meta-analysis that looks at many studies and was done by researchers at Harvard concludes, the evidence linking saturated fats to a higher risk of heart attacks is not convincing.

Let me clarify your doubts and explain to you the properties of ghee, so you understand why it is good to have ghee for your health. Ghee comprises of short, medium and long chain fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated. It also contains the most healthy and popular fats-Omega 3 and Omega 9 which are also known as essential fatty acids. Ghee also contains Vitamins A, D, E and K. Ghee when prepared from cow milk provides us with the highest natural sources of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which helps you to mobilize the stubborn fat in your body to energize you.

Ghee helps one in many ways. It is known to give longevity. Its elemental qualities balance the aging characteristics by enriching the living body.

For centuries now, Ghee has been used as a digestive and an elimination aid to rejuvenate one’s life. It gives one energy, sexual vitality, healthy skin and eyes. Can be used as a lubricant or joints and for alkali sing the blood.

The purity of ghee allows it to penetrate deep in the membrane (protective covering) of cells and nourish when it passes through it.

This is one of the reason that vitamins and minerals from food cooked in Ghee are considered much healthy. The assimilation of the nutrients in the body increases when suspended in a ghee matrix. Due to these inherent properties that ghee possesses, many herbal preparations use ghee as their main carrier oil.

SO all those who have kept ghee aside due to the fear of heart ailments and other health issues, get it back into your daily food routine and see the difference. Believe me you will only feel healthier and beautiful. Find high-quality Ghee at the GOQii Health Store here. For additional nutritional insights, explore Healthy Reads or for personalised information and guidance, subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Ignite the path to a healthier and more beautiful life!

#BeTheForce

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8 Simple Ways to Keep the Environment and Yourself Healthy

World Environment Day

Imagine that you’ve just started out on your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. You go out for a jog. A few minutes away from home, you have to run through garbage and breathe in polluted air that goes above the recommended AQI. In the bargain of trying to get healthy and active, your body has gotten a little more damaged because of an unhealthy environment.

Unhealthy Environment! Does that ring a bell? A whooping 9 out of 10 people on Earth breathe highly polluted air and more than 80% of urban dwellers across the world have to endure outdoor pollution that exceeds health standards as per the World Health Organization’s World Global Ambient Air Quality database.

This essentially means that even if you lead a healthy lifestyle by eating the right foods, exercising and getting the required amount of rest, you can still fall prey to illnesses and disease based on the environment you’re living in. This scenario is especially worse in a country like India where pollution levels are at an all-time high!

So how exactly can you keep yourself healthy while helping the environment? The answer lies in taking small steps towards sustainable development. Here are a few things you can do!

1. Take a Walk Anywhere! 

Definitely the best exercise known to mankind! Walking helps you shed weight, improves your health and is great for the environment! Why take a vehicle to a walkable distance? You’ll be saving fuel as well as your health! You can even up the pace by jogging or running.

2. Cycle Your Way to Good Health

To cover distances that are too far to walk, there’s nothing like cycling! You’ll be amazed at the amount of fuel you will be saving by riding your bicycle to work. As a plus point, it is a great way to stay in shape and improve your aerobic fitness. If you haven’t yet, try this amazing environmentally friendly mode of transport now!

3. Opt For a Reusable Water Bottle

Bottled water is never a good idea. Given the fact that the chemicals in plastic bottles are not good for your health or the environment. What you drink in a few minutes, lingers in the environment for a thousand years. Instead, opt for an environmentally-friendly reusable stainless-steel bottle. Avoid contributing to the piling loads of plastic bottles and disposable tea/coffee cups.

4. Shower Less

If you love water as much as we do and want your future generations to enjoy the same, cut down on your shower time! While contemplating existential queries for an hour under a warm shower seems like a good idea, you’re wasting an important resource that might get scarce soon! Preserve for the future!

5. Give it Back! Plant a Tree

In your backyard or as a part of a community, you can plant a tree (or several) as a family project. Plants and trees keep you cool and are your natural source of oxygen! It is especially important to do so in a city where pollution levels only keep rising. Having greens around you is never a bad thing.

6. Grow Your Own Food

Do you frequent the supermarket for your food? Well, how about growing your own? Having a small vegetable garden of your own can be quite fruitful! For instance, the vegetables you grow will be fresh, tasty and pesticide/insecticide free. Also, imagine the long hours of exercise you’ll be putting in to grow them! You can also explore micro-greens as an option!

7. Take The Stairs

Give your butt and legs a great workout while saving on power used to run escalators and elevators! Taking the stairs is a great way to get in shape and reduce power usage!

8. Organize a Clean Up Drive

Karma has always been an important part of GOQii and there’s no better way to give back to nature all the good things it provides than cleaning it up! While out on a walk or run in your park or locality, keep a grocery bag handy and pick the mess you find along the way. You’ll be a lot fitter and will feel more productive.

To add to it, your park or locality will be a lot cleaner thanks to your efforts. You can take this a step ahead and organize a clean-up drive at a nearby beach, park or community.

Every small step towards a greener, cleaner and healthier future helps! As Captain Planet once said, “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle! The power is yours!”

#BeTheForce

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The Rainbow Diet: Decoding The Color Of Foods For Good Health!

the rainbow diet

Different foods have different colors, this is because of the different coloured pigments in them. These pigments, also called phytonutrients (phytoplants), provide various benefits to our body. Specific phytonutrients have specific functions, each playing a crucial role in the well being of humans. While immunity and good health is just a play of a well functioning organ system, it is very important to take care of each organ and function in particular. This can only be made sure when the diet is diverse and sufficient in all essential nutrients and in moderation. Hence, the Rainbow Diet! 

What Is The Rainbow Diet?

The rainbow diet focuses on the consumption of a variety of colourful and fresh produce in your meals. Ensuring a colourful diet, ensures indiscriminate intake of all nutrients and also protects from any deficiencies that may have detrimental health outcomes. As a low or high of any one specific nutrient can disturb the peculiar balance of the optimum nutrient complex imperial to maintain good health.

The mantra of “eating the rainbow” inspires to add more color and colourful plant foods to the diet. It is a health based trend rather than the fads that provoke masses to avoid gluten, fats, lactose, carbs and what not! Here, all you need to do is add as many colors to your diet as possible in the form of different coloured plant based foods and that’s how you make sure you are doing right to your body! That way, one never has to worry about balancing as the rainbow diet is naturally balanced and with no side effects.

How Does It Help?

The abundance of supply of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules from the rainbow diet, translates to a good immunogenic response by the body and allows effective combat against biological stressors and oxidative stress. In addition to this, plant foods are rich in fiber and prebiotics, both of which improve digestive function and gut health, making sure the best absorption of all available nutrients.

In all, the rainbow diet is beneficial for avoiding cardiovascular diseases and maintaining heart health, protecting against cancer, building good immunity and restricting infections. Additionally, it also helps in reducing weight, keeping away obesity related disorders, helps maintain good hair, skin and nails, keeps your energy levels high and improves overall good mood!

The Color Code Of Foods 

Here you may find options of foods under each color and health function category and learn about its role.

Red Immune health Cherry, cranberry, raspberry, watermelon, pomegranate, red plums, strawberry, red grapes, dragon fruit, apple, tomato, red pepper, beetroot, kidney beans, red amaranth Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune modulating
Orange Reproductive health Orange, papaya, sweet potato, persimmon, pumpkin, cantaloupe, mango, muskmelon, peach, apricot, almond, paprika Endocrine modulation, fat-soluble antioxidants, role in ovulation and fertility
Yellow Digestive health Banana, pineapples, ginger, lemon, yellow zucchini, corn, sweet lime, yellow pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, honey, whole grains and husk Anti-inflammatory, binders, fibres, catalysts, gastric motility, glycemic response, prebiotic
Green Cardiovascular health Spinach, kale, fenugreek, radish leaves, micro greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cucumber, green beans, olives, avocado, kiwi, grapes, green apple, pear, parsley, pumpkin seeds Clotting, detoxification, methylation, vasodilation, binders, antioxidants
Blue- Purple Brain health Purple grapes, fig, purple jam, blueberry, mulberry, jamun (java plum), prunes, plums, eggplant, purple cabbage, purple onion, lavender Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, brain protective, cognition support, neuronal support
White Skeletal health Cauliflower, milk/curd/paneer (cottage cheese), coconut, sesame, radish, soyabean, turnips, white onion, garlic, sunflower seeds Probiotic, strengthening, absorptive, energising

We hope this article on the Rainbow Diet helps you choose and adapt these foods to your diet! Do try it and let us know in the comments below! For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or to get nutrition information, tips and recipes directly from your GOQii Coach, sign up for Personalised Health Coaching here. 

Eat healthy and #BeTheForce 

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Importance of good food for the human body to be healthy

preliminary step to weight loss

In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy body has become more crucial than ever. Good food is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and plays a vital role in promoting overall well-being. The food we consume provides essential nutrients, energy, and nourishment to our bodies. In this article, we will explore the significance of good food in maintaining a healthy body and the positive impact it has on our physical and mental well-being.

  1. Essential Nutrients for Optimal Functioning

Good food provides our bodies with the necessary nutrients required for optimal functioning. These nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, protein, minerals, vitamins, and water. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy, while proteins are essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues. Fats play a significant role in hormone production, brain function, and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Vitamins and minerals are necessary for numerous bodily functions, including immune system support, energy production, bone health, and protection against oxidative stress. Additionally, water is essential for maintaining proper hydration and facilitating various physiological processes.

  1. Disease Prevention and Management

Consuming a balanced and nutritious diet significantly reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats provides the body with essential antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber that help combat inflammation, boost the immune system, and protect against cellular damage.

  1. Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall health. Good food choices, combined with regular physical activity, help manage body weight effectively. A balanced diet with adequate portions ensures that our bodies receive the necessary nutrients without excess calories. High-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, provide a feeling of fullness, reducing the likelihood of overeating. In contrast, processed foods high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and empty calories contribute to weight gain and various associated health problems.

  1. Mental Well-being

The impact of good food extends beyond physical health; it also influences mental well-being. Several studies have shown a strong connection between diet and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Nutrient deficiencies, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and minerals like zinc and magnesium, have been linked to an increased risk of mental health disorders.

Conversely, a nutrient-rich diet, including whole foods, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats, has been associated with improved mood, cognitive function, and overall mental well-being. Healthy eating habits can also enhance sleep quality, energy levels, and brain performance, thereby promoting a positive mindset and reducing stress.

  1. Longevity and Quality of Life

Good food choices and a healthy lifestyle contribute to a longer, healthier life. Studies have consistently shown that individuals who adhere to a nutrient-dense diet have a lower risk of premature death and age-related chronic diseases. The combined effects of proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle factors can improve vitality, increase longevity, and enhance the overall quality of life.

The importance of good food for a healthy body cannot be overstated. A well-balanced and nutritious diet provides the essential nutrients, energy, and protection necessary for optimal bodily functions. It not only prevents diseases and helps manage weight but also supports mental well-being, promotes longevity, and enhances overall quality of life. By making conscious choices to incorporate whole, unprocessed foods into our diets, we empower ourselves to lead healthier, happier lives. Remember, food is not just fuel; it is the foundation of our well-being.

We trust you’ve found this article informative and beneficial, please let us know in the comments below. You can discover more articles on enhancing your lifestyle here. To get personalized guidance and expert advice consider subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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