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Your Guide To Organic Food

Your Guide To Organic FoodWith fitness and healthy lifestyle taking the world by a storm, Organic Food has become a common phrase associated with this storm. Everyone is talking about buying and consuming organic food over processed food but what exactly constitutes organic food?

Basically, organic food is the usual edible food but is produced, processed and packaged in a different way without using chemicals, pesticides, insecticides, non-organic fertilizers, antibiotics or any artificial hormones which are used otherwise. Organic food meets strict standards and is thus, safe to eat.

Advantages of Organic Food

  • Retains at least 50% more natural nutrients like vitamins and minerals than artificially grown food
  • Not hazardous for health as they contain no chemicals
  • Tastes more natural and delicious as there are no added sweeteners, coloring, flavors and preservatives
  • Organic food protects one from cancer and other diseases
  • Organic agriculture keeps our oceans, lakes, rivers and water supplies clean

Disadvantages of Organic Food

  • It is an expensive proposition
  • Not easily available everywhere
  • Lack in variety
  • Short shelf life because of no added preservatives

What Types of Foods Are Available as Organic?

Most consumers think of fruits and vegetables when they think of organic food but there are many other organic foods which include pastas, sauces, frozen juices, cereals, soups, chocolate, cookies, meat, poultry, dairy and even wine.

Not only the vegetarian food items but even poultry and meat have gone organic. Isn’t that interesting for non-vegetarians? But how does it work? It is because poultry and animals are fed only organic feeds and that puts them in the category of organic non-vegetarian food. Also, the animal and birds are not given any growth hormones for their mass production.

Tips to Buy Organic Food

  • Look for the label or logo that has approved the production of the food as “organic”
  • Remain informed about the organization that is an authorized seller of organic food
  • Pay attention on the expiry date. As no preservatives are added to the food, their natural shelf life is less

People may mistake Natural Food as Organic Food as it has not reached many areas in the world due to support from the government, proper authentication, etc. So there is a difference between Natural Food and Organic Food

What is the Difference Between “Organic” and “Natural”?

“Natural” is often misrepresented in product labeling as “healthy” but “natural” only means that the product has undergone minimal processing, no certification or inspection system. Also, “natural” does not necessarily relate to growing methods or the use of preservatives.

As we all know, eating unhealthy creates health issues whereas eating healthy and organic not only helps you get healthier and live better but most importantly, it develops the good habit of eating right.

Was this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below. For more on eating healthy and nutrition, click here or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching.

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Healthy Eating: High Protein Hariyali Appe

hariyali appeGreen veggies are available throughout the year and these veggies can really help you boost your mood. But, apart from boosting your mood, what if these greens gave you a high protein boost? Let’s try making these delicious, crispy on the outside yet warm and tender on the inside, high protein Hariyali Appe that will help kickstart your mornings! 

What You Will Need 

  • Semolina (Suji) – 1½ cup 
  • Green peas – 1 cup 
  • Curd – ¾ cup 
  • Cashews – 8-10 
  • Oil for tempering – ½ tsp 
  • Cumin seeds – ¼ tsp 
  • Asafoetida – 1 pinch 
  • Chopped green chilly – 1 tsp 
  • Grated ginger – 2 tsp 
  • Baking soda (optional) – ½ tsp 
  • Salt to taste
  • Water as required 

How To Prepare 

  1. Soak green peas and cashews for 10 minutes, then grind these using ¼ cup water.
  2. In a bowl, take semolina, add curd, green peas paste, green chilly, ginger and salt. Mix everything together to make a smooth batter using water as required.
  3. Heat the oil in a tadka pan and add the cumin seeds. When it starts crackling, switch the flame off and add asafoetida.
  4. Add this tempering in the batter and mix everything together.  Keep this batter aside for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Check the consistency of the batter once again and add more water if required.
  6. Heat the appe mould on medium flame. Pour a spoonful of batter in each cavity and cover the pan to let the Appe steam nicely while getting crisp from the bottom.
  7. Flip & cook the other side as well but don’t cover it this time.
  8. Remove from the pan and  serve hot with green or coconut chutney.

Highlights and Tips For The Hariyali Appe Recipe 

  • This recipe is high in protein and fiber – it makes a perfect choice for those who are looking for vegetarian recipes providing enough protein.
  • Just like regular Appe, you can add more chopped veggies of your choice to make it more fiber rich.
  • You can also use ⅓ Dalia powder or multigrain atta to replace semolina in this recipe.

We hope you enjoy this high protein Hariyali Appe recipe! Do try it out and share your experience in the comments below or share it on social media, tagging GOQii. For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or get them directly from your GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Eat healthy and #BeTheForce

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Pistachios – Your Powerful Nutritional Punch!

Pistachios your powerful nutritional punchPistachios are edible seeds of the pistachio tree, member of the cashew family. They are nutrient-packed nuts that can be enjoyed both as a healthy snack or as part of a delicious recipe. Available both in the shell (in-shell) or with their shell already removed (shelled), they’re typically sold roasted and salted, although unsalted options are available, as well as some flavoured varieties, too.

How Does It Give a Powerful Nutritional Punch?

  • Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals: Pistachios are a rich source of protein, dietary fibre, several minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, sodium and selenium. It is also a good source of vitamins like vitamin A, K, C, E, B6, B1, B2, B3, B9, and B5.
  • Good Source of Antioxidants: They contain more antioxidants than most nuts and seeds, second only to walnuts and pecans. You can literally “see” the nutrients through the various colours in pistachio. The green and yellow colour of the actual nut comes from lutein and zeaxanthin. The thin purple skin surrounding the nut is loaded with anthocyanins, the same type of antioxidants found in grapes and cranberries.
  • Lowest in Fat: A serving of pistachios has 13 grams of fat, of which about 1.7 grams are saturated, 3.5 grams are polyunsaturated, and 7 grams are monounsaturated fats. Compared to most other tree nuts, pistachios are one of the lowest in fat.
  • Cholesterol-Free: Pistachios have the highest phytosterol content (214 milligrams per 100 grams) amongst nuts. Phytosterols come from plants and because they have a similar structure to cholesterol, they compete with cholesterol for absorption by the body, ultimately limiting the amount of cholesterol absorbed.
  • Compared to other tree nuts, pistachios have a higher essential amino acid ratio and the highest percentage of branched-chain amino acids. Pistachios are a great plant-based protein option for everyone, but especially those eating a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Health Benefits of Eating Pistachios

  1. Heart Health: A number of studies have shown that pistachios significantly reduced total cholesterol and the “bad” LDL-cholesterol levels while increasing the “good” HDL-cholesterol level. They may increase antioxidant concentrations, which is linked to improved dilation of blood vessels as a result of a reduction in inflammation.
  2. Weight Management: It may seem counterintuitive but eating pistachios—a high-fat, calorie-dense food—has actually been associated with weight management. Pistachios are rich in fiber and protein, both of which increase satiety by helping you feel full and eat less .
  3. Gut Health: Pistachios are high in fiber, which moves through our digestive system mostly undigested. But some types of fiber are digested by the good bacteria in your gut, acting as prebiotics. Gut bacteria then ferment the fiber and convert it into inflammation-fighting short-chain fatty acids, & also results in decreased the number of lactic acid bacteria. It also increases the number of butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut more than eating almonds does.
  4. Blood Sugar Control: Despite having a higher carb content than most nuts, pistachios have a low glycemic index, meaning they don’t cause a large spike in your blood sugar. Also rich in fiber and healthy fats, antioxidants, magnesium, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, which are beneficial for blood sugar control.
  5. Good For Eye Health: Pistachios are rich in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which are essential for eye health, as they reduce the chances of developing eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
  6. Prevents Cellular Damage: As our cells grow older, they accumulate oxidative damage due to the presence of free radicals, which can cause considerable damage to cells. Pistachios, being rich in antioxidants, including lutein, beta-carotene, and gamma-tocopherol, has oxidative damage-fighting benefits which also play a key role in reducing the risk of disease, such as cancer.

How to Include Pistachios in Your Diet?

One of the simplest ways to enjoy pistachios is as a snack on their own. You can also throw chopped pistachios on your yogurt or morning oatmeal or use them as a crunchy topping for your salads. Pair pistachios with a piece of fruit for your afternoon snack, their fiber, fat and protein will keep you satisfied.

Takeaway

Pistachios are very nutritious. Regularly eating pistachios may be a good way to improve health and wellbeing. But stick to plain, unsalted pistachio nuts in their shells and avoid eating more than 30gm a day. Before you begin eating them, do consult with your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian.

For more on nutrition and healthy eating, check out Healthy Reads or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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Fat Facts That Are Easy to Digest

fat facts

It’s a shame that the word “Fat” has developed such a notorious reputation over the years with every health-conscious individual hellbent on removing that word from their dictionary. Before we condemn the word, we need to understand that the quality of fat is just as important as the quantity of it. So let’s bust some myths with these fat facts! 

Fat is one of the macronutrients which provides 9kcal per gram and it is also essential for many functions of the body like solubilizing fat-soluble vitamins, secreting hormones, protecting our vital organs, etc. It is imperative to classify fats into broad categories. Now, let’s delve a little deeper into fat facts.  

1. Fats Which Are Bad For You

Here are the types of fats which are bad for your health.

  • Saturated Fat: Saturated fats are usually found in animal fats like beef, pork, lard, dark chocolate, full-fat dairy products like cheese, etc. They are usually solid at room temperature. Saturated fats were previously thought to cause cardiac problems but saturated fats are known to increase the amount of both HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol), hence it is safe to have saturated fats in lower amounts.
  • Trans-Fat: are produced during hydrogenation of fat when the oil is hardened to increase its shelf life. Apart from the natural Trans-fat present to some extent in dairies and meats, the artificial trans fat produced as a result of hydrogenation of fat is very harmful to health. It is found to increase the level of LDL cholesterol, thus increasing the risk of artery blockage and heart disease. It is also known to cause free radical damage to the body resulting in cancer. Trans-Fat is found in fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken, crackers, microwave popcorn, pizza, doughnut, cakes, muffins, pies, nuggets, sausages, non-dairy creamers, margarines, etc. Avoid this type of fat to stay healthy and free from diseases. Not more than 2% in a 2000kcal diet is permissible.
  • Cholesterol: is one of the most misunderstood subjects of this decade. Cholesterol is a wax like substance present in our body and can be obtained from many dietary sources like egg, meats and dairy products. It is necessary for bile formation and many other important functions of our body. According to recent studies, our total cholesterol level is not affected by entirely dietary intake as the body itself maintains the cholesterol balance. Then again, we should be careful about choosing the type of cholesterol to be consumed. There are 2 types of cholesterol: 
  1. HDL (High Density Lipoprotein): is very beneficial for the body as it removes plaques from the arteries and makes blood circulation smooth, preventing arterial block or damage. Its sources include olive oil, beans and legumes, high fiber fruits like avocado, chia seeds, nuts and fatty fish like salmon, trout, etc. These must be present in our diet.
  2. LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein), VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein): are considered to be very harmful to the body. They create atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries, constricting proper blood circulation and cause the narrowing of blood vessels and heart blockage. Most of its sources include pork, beef, lamb meat, milk, butter, cream and cocoa butter. These should be present sparingly in our diet.

2. Fats Which Are Good For You

Let’s take a look at fats which are actually good for you!

  • Unsaturated Fats: contain double bonds in their structure and are known to be most beneficial among all. It may be of 2 types:
  • Monounsaturated Fats: These contain a single double bond and are known to be helpful in many ways. Evidently, they aid weight loss, reduce cardiac problems and decrease inflammation. Its major sources are avocado, nuts like almond, pistachios, vegetable oils like safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, canola oil, etc.
  • Polyunsaturated Fats: are considered as the most beneficial among the fat family. These fats are mainly of 2 types:
    1. Omega 3 Fatty Acids: are known to improve heart health, protect the nervous system, increase brain function, reduce anxiety and stress, improve eye function, reduce inflammation and help fight cancer as well. Sources include soya beans, chia seeds, walnuts, canola oil, salmon, sardine, etc. It’s good to have them as a part of daily diet.
    2. Omega 6 Fatty Acids: This type of fat helps balance good and bad cholesterol, it helps reduce asthma or respiratory problems especially in children, relieves diarrhea in children and is essential for improving brain function. Sources of Omega 6 Fatty Acids include hemp seed or hemp seed oil, flaxseed or flaxseed oil, walnuts, almond, avocado oil, eggs, tofu etc.

These fatty acids are called “essential” because they are not produced in the body and that is why they have to be present in our diet.

Considering all the fat facts listed above, we must focus more on the types of fat we are consuming. In a typical Indian diet, about 15-20% of total calories should come from fat and the most desirable proportion of Saturated Fat (SFA), Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) must be 1:1.3:1.

We hope this article helps you make the best food choices. To know more about fat facts, bust more myths about food and nutrition, ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalised health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

#BeTheForce 

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