November 10, 2022 By Mubasheera Chaiwala 1 Comment

5 Yoga Poses To Detoxify Your Liver

The liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate itself! The liver’s primary function is detoxification. The other organs like intestines, kidneys and lungs work together with the liver to ensure that toxins are transformed into less harmful substances and excreted from the body via urine, stools, sweat or breath. A regular cleansing of these organs is essential to make sure they function smoothly. So, how do you detoxify your liver? It’s simple! You can detoxify your liver by correcting your lifestyle! That’s where yoga comes into the picture.

How Can Yoga Help Detoxify Your Liver?

There are a few asanas that stimulate the digestive system and massage the internal organs such as the liver. They make the abdominal muscles stronger and elastic. They are also effective in the proper removal of waste materials. It’s always good to incorporate some form of a twist into your yoga practice. Twists detoxify and rehydrate your spinal column while releasing any tension from bad posture. With proper alignment, twist variations can also reduce back pain and improve digestion. Include these twist variations in your yoga routine to stimulate your liver, which in turn will help it function better along with other digestive organs and muscles.

1. Paschimottanasana

Sit up with the legs stretched out straight in front of you on the floor.
Keep the spine erect and toes flexed towards you.
Slowly raise both the arms straight above your head and stretch up.
Slowly breathe out and bend forward from the hip joint, chin moving toward the toes keeping the spine erect.
Place your hands on your legs, wherever they reach, without putting much effort.

2. Ardha Chakrasana
Ardha Chakrasana can be done in different variations. Both the bending asanas have varied benefits.

First take the tadasana position, raising your hands while you’re inhaling.
Now, place your both hands on the backside of your hips.
Breathe in and try to slowly backbend your upper body

3. Bhujangasana

Lie down on a mat in a prone position. Keep your feet together.
Now, place your hands on the floor at the level of your chest,
Next, raise your upper body, Extend through and deepen your stretch to create a graceful arc in your back.

4. Shashankasana
Shashankasana is one of the postures which is very easy to perform. There are some variations of shashankasana. One can do as per their comfort.

Sit comfortably in Vajrasana and keep your palms on your thighs.
Inhale and raise your hand straight upwards and stretch.
Now exhale and bend forward.
Touch your nose or chin to the ground.
Keep your arms stretched and palms on the ground.

5. Anulom Vilom
I know this is not an asana , but a Pranayama practice. I am including this because of the benefits this breathing practice has on our body internally and externally. Oxygen is pure and required by the body for every single process to take place and therefore it is vital for us to breath right and lom vilom serves the purpose, also it is my favourite !

Close the right nostril with the right thumb. Inhale slowly through the left nostril.
Remove your thumb from your right nostril, as you remove your thumb from your right nostril just exhale.
When you exhale use your middle finger to close your left nostril then inhale with your right nostril and remove the thumb from the right nostril then exhale. Repeat this process .

There are many other poses which have varied benefits. These are a few which are simple and can be performed at home. It is advisable to perform the practice as per one’s body’s capacity and avoid going beyond or forcing the body. Do consult your doctor before you begin any yoga practice.

We hope these yoga poses to detoxify your liver help you! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on yoga, check out Healthy Reads or join an expert on a live, interactive session on GOQii PRO within the GOQii App.

#BeTheForce

October 3, 2021 By Hajra Mithani 1 Comment

Healthy Eating Tips To Detox The Body

Are you looking to detox your body before the Navratri festivities begin? If you’re planning to indulge or go off your healthy routine for a while, it would be great to take these few days to detox the body. It is a good opportunity to give your body a break. Take these steps to detox the body, clean out your GI tract and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to thrive. You can also follow these steps post festivities.

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the process of cleansing our body from chemicals, waste, toxins, and harmful substances. Our body has its own internal detoxification system through our liver, kidneys, colon, skin, lungs and lymph glands. However, when our body becomes overloaded with toxic substances, such as from pollution, a poor diet of fast food, alcohol, medications, illness and stress, it needs help in rebooting so it can function optimally again.

In essence, detox is all about eating a diet that supports and improves the functioning of our liver. Unlike popular belief, detoxification is not about weight loss alone. It’s mainly about helping and supporting your body to get rid of all the waste through proper dietary choices. It is beneficial for one and all.

Who Needs To Detox The Body?

Anyone who is suffering from unexplained fatigue, dull skin and hair, allergies, tired and puffy eyes, menstrual irregularities, and feelings of anxiety and depression. This also includes people suffering from constipation as it’s likely to be a result of harmful toxins lingering in your body, preventing the absorption of essential nutrients – and when this happens your immune system will not fight bacteria efficiently resulting in colds and flu most often.

Benefits of Detox

Removes toxins from the body
Improves digestive health: The digestive system is one of the most critical areas of the body. It’s where nutrients from the food you consume are absorbed, keeping your body functioning as it should.
Mindfulness
Increase in energy
Control food cravings
Micronutrient bonus

What To Consume To Detox the Body?

1. Natural Detox Waters

Lemon water consumed with black salt immediately improves digestion, cleanses your liver and maintains PH levels of the body.
Coconut water has composition that mimics our plasma and helps clear out impurities from blood.
Water infused with cinnamon sticks overnight and having it the next day.
Water infused with cumin seeds, coriander seeds, ajwain and fennel seeds overnight and having it next day
Water infused with 1 inch ginger, slices of orange, mint/tulsi leaves overnight or you can simply use any sliced fruit and sliced vegetable and herbs.

2. Smoothies

Green Smoothie: Grind cucumber, parsely, celery, pineapple and chia seeds together and have it replacing your breakfast
Green Juice: Grind kale, spinach, broccoli, mint leaves, apple/pineapple and have it in your mid meals
Mango Smoothie: Grind 1 mango with almonds and have it replacng your breakfast
Apple Date Smoothie: Grind 1 apple, 2-3 dates, water and mint leaves and replace it with your breakfast.
Orange Banana Smoothie: Grind banana and orange or strawberry and banana with 1 tbsp of yogurt and ice cubes and replace it with breakfast.

3. Soups

Lemon and Coriander Soup (you can add chicken if you’re a non-vegetarian)
Beetroot and carrot soup
Tomato and carrot soup
Zucchini and broccoli soup
Green moong soup
Spinach and carrot soup
Egg soup
Corn soup

4. Salads

Sprouts salad
Moong salad
Green salad

For an entire list of raw detox salads, click here: https://goqii.com/blog/9-raw-food-diet-that-are-tasty-and-healthy/

Replace your aloo paratha with moong chilla and your maida pancakes with oats pancakes. Avoid milk and milk products, refined flours and oils, breads, pasta, sugar, fried foods, packaged foods, pickles, papad and junk food. Once a month try doing a complete detox by replacing your meals with smoothies, soups, salads, chillas and infused water. Make the most of this precious time by cleansing your body.

We hope this article helps you. For more tips to detox the body, check out Healthy Reads or ask your GOQii Coach directly by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Stay home, stay safe, detox the body and #BeTheForce

March 6, 2020 By GOQii 9 Comments

Have You Tried The Raw Detox Diet? Try It Now!

I’ve always wondered what a raw detox diet is and how does one eat raw vegetables. Then, I found that a raw food detox diet is the dietary practice of eating only uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods. It can include raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts, organic milk and organic milk yogurt. In India, most may not be comfortable with a long-term raw diet. However, including raw food in your diet as often as you can, definitely helps in detoxifying the system.

What is Detoxification?

It’s a way to recharge, rejuvenate, and renew your body. Detoxification can help you jump-start your body for a more active and healthier life. In our body, there is an ongoing process to remove the toxins which have been formed by the food we eat and also through the environment we are exposed to. Our body system is naturally designed to transform the toxins and excrete them out of the body. In order for this to happen naturally, our body should get a break from the regular exposure to processed foods, heavy diets, and environmental pollution.

Raw food is low in calories but contain good amounts of nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It also has high fiber content which eliminates toxins by managing bowel movement. The unhealthy diet has been the leading cause of headaches, fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling bloated, indigestion, bad breath, etc.

Including a raw diet will surely make you feel more fresh and energetic.

Remember to drink plenty of water when you are on a raw diet. It is the best detox food that you can have. Raw diet helps maintain your weight as well, it also saves your cooking time.

What Does a Raw Detox Diet Include?

Sprouts Salad: Sprouts provide good nutritious value and are easily digestible. They increase the vitamin and mineral content of the grain and decrease the carbohydrate and calorie content. Basically, any whole legume or grains can be sprouted. Some sprouts have a change in flavor after sprouting.

Avocado Salad: Avocado is a complete food with lots of nutrients. It is a very versatile fruit as it takes on both, sweet and savory taste, perfectly. It’s got a buttery texture and hence, can be used as a healthy substitute for butter with bread. This salad is very refreshing as an evening snack or as a side with roti. For those people under diet, this makes for a wonderful meal by itself.

Beetroot Pomegranate Juice: Pomegranates and beetroots, both contain good amounts of antioxidants and nutrients and are also rich in vitamin C. This colorful root vegetable contains powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects, and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. Beetroot is well known for its blood purifying properties. Due to the rich iron content, it is said to be an indispensable cure for anemia.

Tricolour Fruit Salad (Orange/ Papaya + Kiwi/ Dragon Fruit/ Berries/Tomato’s + Cucumber/ Lichi/ Honeydew): These fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and loaded with vitamins, minerals and water. It will help you to feel fresh and prevent any deficiencies of the same.

Cranberry Curds Salad: The possible health benefits of consuming cranberries include lowered risk of urinary tract infections, prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.

Tender Coconut Smoothie: Tender coconut water is a natural, nutrient-rich isotonic drink. It is high in electrolytes, chlorides, potassium, and magnesium and has a moderate amount of sugar, sodium and protein. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber, manganese, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin C.

Cucumber Juice: Cucumbers contain multiple B vitamins, including vitamin B1, vitamin B5, and vitamin B7 (biotin). B vitamins are known to help ease feelings of anxiety and buffer some of the damaging effects of stress. Cucumbers are rich in two of the most basic elements needed for healthy digestion: water and fiber

Fresh Tomato Salads: As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant called Lycopene, vitamin C, and other antioxidants, tomatoes can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer.

Fresh Fig Salads: Figs are high in natural sugars, minerals, and soluble fiber. They are rich in minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper and are a good source of antioxidant vitamins A, E and K that contribute to health and wellness.

If you have never tried a raw food detox diet, now is the time. Give it a go and do let us know how it helps you! Before you begin any diet plan or try any of the above, do check with your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian in case you have any allergies. For more tips, guidance and queries on nutrition, interact with experts LIVE on GOQii Play.

#LevelUp your lifestyle and #BeTheForce!