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These Mushrooms Can Help You Boost Your Immune System!

mushrooms

As a kid, I used to wonder why we eat these umbrella shaped things. It is for a frog to hide themselves when it rains (something I saw on a cartoon show). One day, out of curiosity, I asked my mom the same question to which she replied, “Frogs stay in the water only, so they don’t need to hide themselves when it rains. So, it’s left for us to eat!” Obviously, she was not aware of its nutritional benefits at that time. As a nutritionist, now I understand the numerous health benefits that Mushrooms offer along with it’s property to boost immunity. 

When we have an infection or disease, our immune system regulates to battle the infection and it works without any break. Hence, it is crucial to boost it on a daily basis so that it does not get exhausted and thankfully, Mushrooms can help this cause. While all edible Mushrooms provide you with essential nutrients, below are some that are nutrient dense and packed with Antioxidants, Beta Glucan, certain Vitamins and minerals that makes them a heart healthy choice to boost your immunity.

Types Of Mushrooms & Their Benefits 

  • Shiitake Mushrooms: These are one of the popular ones as they are a rich source of Fiber, Vitamin B and are low in Calories. They are native to Japan. However in India, it can be found in an Indian Super market too and have been in the limelight for their immunity boosting properties.
  • Oyster Mushrooms: They’re one of the biggest edible Mushrooms. It gets its name due to having a similar appearance as an oyster. They are an excellent source of essential Vitamins and Minerals including Niacin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and Thiamine. Along with boosting immune function, it also lowers cholesterol and boosts heart health.
  • Enoki Mushrooms: are also known as ‘Golden Needle Mushrooms’. They are widely available in the Indian supermarket. The healthy Amino acids present in them serves to improve the immune system and is also used as a remedy for hypertension, high cholesterol and liver disease in Asian culture.
  • Reishi Mushrooms: They support the immune system because they may support the body’s natural response to occasional stress by supporting the endocrine system.
  • Chaga Mushrooms: help in the formation of Cytokines protein that regulate the immune system. They also stimulate WBC’s (White blood cells) which are essential for fighting harmful bacteria or viruses.

All these varieties are like unsung heroes. So now that you know how they help, include them in your diet along with other food sources to boost your immunity! They are quite versatile and can be added to your soup, sauteed with other vegetables, sandwiches and you can pickle them too – the possibilities are endless! 

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below! For more on foods that boost immunity, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to nutrition classes by experts on GOQii Play. 

To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to personalized coaching here:  https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu 

Eat healthy & #BeTheForce 

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Recipes With Seasonal Vegetables

recipes with seasonal vegetablesIf you’ve been sitting at home for too long, trying to cool yourselves under ACs and fans, there’s a simple way to maintain body heat and that’s food! Seasonal vegetables and fruits are loaded with micronutrients which not only help you stay hydrated but healthy as well – a much needed benefit for the current times. Let’s try these 2 recipes with vegetables still available in the market! 

Healthy Recipes With Seasonal Vegetables 

1. Pumpkin Soup

pumpkin soupIngredients:

  • Olive oil – 2 tbsp 
  • Onion – 1 finely chopped 
  • Leek – 1, white part only – finely sliced 
  • Garlic clove – 1 crushed 
  • Ground coriander – ½ tsp 
  • Ground cumin – 1 tsp 
  • Freshly grated nutmeg – ½ tsp 
  • Peeled pumpkin – 1kg diced 
  • Potato – 1kg peeled and diced 
  • Vegetable liquid stock – 1L 
  • Thin cream – ½ cup (125ml) 

Method: 

  1. Heat oil in a large saucepan on low heat, add the onion and leek and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened but not colored. 
  2. Add garlic and spices. Cook while stirring for 30 seconds. 
  3. Add pumpkin, potato and stock and bring to boil. 
  4. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, and then blend in batches.
  5. Return the soup to a pan, stir through cream and reheat gently. 
  6. Season and add a little more nutmeg if desired.

2. Brin Baba Ganoush 

baba ganoushIngredients:

  • Egg plant – 2 large 
  • Garlic clove – 2-3 
  • Tahini paste – 3-4 tsp 
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp 
  • Yogurt – 2 tsp 
  • Salt to taste
  • Olive oil – 4-5 tsp
  • Finely chopped parsley and olives to garnish.

Method:

  1. Roast the egg plant directly on flame till it becomes soft and tender. Remove the peel and mash the pulp.
  2. Run this pulp in a mixer, add garlic, tahini paste, lemon juice, yogurt, salt to taste and half the quantity of oil. Remove it in a serving bowl.
  3. Garnish with finely chopped parsley, red chili flakes, olives and olive oil. 
  4. Baba Ganoush can be served with multigrain bread, pita bread or veggies. You can also add finely chopped onions and tomatoes.

We hope you enjoy these recipes with seasonal vegetables. Do try them out, upload your pics on social media or the GOQii Arena and tag us! For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

To get more advice on recipes, nutrition and diet tips, subscribe to GOQii and ask your GOQii Coach: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu  

Eat Healthy, Stay Home, Stay Safe and #BeTheForce 

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Build Your Immunity With These Antiviral Foods

build immunity with antiviral foodsViral infections are responsible for global morbidity rates across the world. With the second wave of COVID-19 hitting the country hard, It has become an absolute necessity to focus on the treatment as well as prevention of the deadly virus. While the epidemic has already claimed more than 200,000 lives in the country, people are more aware of the immediate need to take precautions than ever before by focusing more on building one’s immunity as well as overall health. One of the key ingredients for good immunity is eating lots of antiviral foods. 

Top Antiviral Foods For Good Immunity 

  • Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are rich in Vitamin C, B complex, Beta carotene and plant cyclotides. It reduces the risk of infection and reinfection and protects the respiratory system. So the intake of vegetables and fruits are highly recommended as a part of a balanced diet. Plant cyclotides prevent the T-cells malfunction as well. Citrus fruits like lemon, orange, mosambi are very rich in Vitamin C content. They boost immunity. All the fruits and vegetables are rich in Vitamin C. So, it is recommended to include at least 2 portions of fruits and 3 portions of vegetables in your daily diet. Green leafy vegetables provide much more vitamin C than Normal vegetables. Vitamin C also protects our body from oxidative stress.
  • Spices and Herbs: Garlic, tulsi, neem, basil, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper are important spices and herbs. Neem contains lots of vitamins like vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and B complex. Curcumin, which is present in turmeric, has been used for centuries to treat various disorders. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol. Turmeric is proved to be effective against Herpes virus, Hepatitis, Chikungunya virus and dengue virus thanks to its antiviral properties.  The lyophilized juice which is extracted from the ginger has been effective against Hepatitis. It reduces virus replication. Ginger also has an effect on Influenza viruses. Cinnamon is a popular spice. It contains 2 compounds – cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, which have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Studies show that the herbal extract of cloves, Eugeniin, has the ability to simplify the virus compound. Basil leaves, Garlic and Giloy also contain antiviral properties. So try to add these spices and herbs while cooking.
  • Dairy Products: are rich in Vitamin D which help lower viral replication, reduce the infection rate and reduce the chances of lung pneumonia. Include any one dairy product such as milk, yogurt, cheese, curd or paneer in your daily diet. As we all know, curd is a probiotic so it can enhance the gut-lung axis related respiratory fitness also.
  • Nuts and Seeds: are rich in immune protective phenolic compounds as well as Vitamin E, selenium and magnesium. You can add one handful of nuts in your daily diet. Brazil nuts are rich in selenium which helps to strengthen our immune system. Seeds like sunflower, sesame, pumpkin and nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans are rich sources of  vitamin E. We can use these seeds and nuts in normal form as well as powdered form and can also incorporate them with dough, batter and salads.
  • Dark Chocolate: contains large amounts of polyphenols and magnesium. Magnesium is involved in lots of biochemical reactions in our body. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits. For Diabetic patients, we can use sugar free dark chocolates. 

Today many viruses remain without any absolute remedies and treatments and getting rid of these viruses seems hard. However, natural products and antiviral foods play a vital role in the protection against and prevention of life threatening disease. 

We hope these antiviral foods help you build your immunity! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on building immunity, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to experts on GOQii Play. 

To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, get your subscription here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu 

#BeTheForce 

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6 Magical Foods That Could Help Boost Your Immunity

boost your immunity

The winter flu coupled with the ongoing pandemic isn’t a very desirable combination. If you’re too worried about that cough or cold being a symptom of COVID-19, you need to boost your immunity this season! Being we get to the foods which can boost your immunity, let’s understand what immunity is all about! 

What Is Immunity? 

It is a condition of being able to resist a particular disease, especially by preventing the development of pathogenic microorganisms or by counteracting the effects of its products. The Immune system consists of organs, cells, tissues and proteins – together they carry out bodily processes that fight off pathogens (viruses, bacteria and foreign bodies that cause infection or disease). When our immune system comes into contact with a pathogen, it triggers an immune response. The immune system releases antibodies which attach to the antigen or pathogen and kill them.

In simple terms, immunity is the strength to fight and ward off viruses and bacteria which make us weak and ill. It’s the 1st line of defence. To build immunity, we have to choose a healthy lifestyle with: 

  • Regular exercise 
  • Healthy and nutritious food
  • Staying well hydrated
  • Good quality sleep
  • Stress management
  • Avoid smoking and alcohol
  • Avoid processed, canned, preserved and refined food

Magical Foods That Can Help Boost Your Immunity 

While the above certainly help you boost your immunity, here are a few magical foods that can help you as well. 

  1. Fruits: are packed with vitamins and minerals. They are a rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A which play a very important role in building immunity. They are packed with antioxidants. Citrus fruits like Orange, grapefruit, Sweet Lime, lemon as well as kiwi, papaya and all types of berries are the best. To get the best of fruits, we should always consume seasonal and locally grown fruits. 2-3 serving of fruits are recommended per day if there is no restriction.
  2. Vegetables: like green leafy veg, broccoli, red bell pepper are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Green leafy vegetables are packed with fiber and water. They are loaded with Vitamin A, C and K. Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium are the minerals which we can get from them. They are also good sources of phytochemicals like litein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene which revitalize our health. In fact, Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins A, C and E. It has sulforaphane which is an antioxidant. It has good amounts of fiber which supports the immune system. Red bell pepper has good amounts of Vitamin C which can be compared to Citrus fruits. If anyone wants a good amount of Vitamin C with fruit sugar (Fructose), bell peppers are the best option. It is also a good source of Beta carotene (which gets converted into Vitamin A). Along with helping boost your immunity, it also improves your skin and eye health.
  3. Nuts and Seeds: are good sources of good fat/omega 3 fatty acids and have protein and antioxidants in it along with Vitamin E minerals. In nuts and seeds, almonds and sunflower seeds help you boost your immunity. Vitamin E is fat soluble and almonds have plenty of it! Sunflower seeds are great sources of phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, Vitamin B-6 and E. Vitamin E is very important in regulating and maintaining the immune system.
  4. Roots like Ginger and Garlic: Ginger is anti-inflammatory and antioxidative in nature, hence it helps in preventing illnesses. Certain chemical compounds in ginger helps our body ward off germs. Both fresh and dried ginger are good to build immunity. Garlic is used in home remedies for common cough and cold and other illnesses. It has allicin in it which helps to lower down the blood pressure, cholesterol and helps in heart health.
  5. Green Tea: is packed with flavonoids and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which are antioxidants. In studies, it’s shown that ECGC helps boost your immunity. Green tea also contains L-theanine which is an amino acid that helps in the production of germ fighting compounds called T-cells, which reduce inflammation in the body and helps fight infections.
  6. Dark Chocolate: The Cocoa found in dark chocolate can strengthen the defence of our immune system. Dark chocolate may help fight a stubborn cough. It contains an antioxidant called theobromine, which may help boost your immunity by protecting the body’s cells from free radicals. But dark chocolate is high in calories and saturated fat, so it is important to maintain portion control.

These are the few foods which help boost your immunity. With these, there are many more foods that help us, such as amla, haridra, neem, tulsi and ashwagandha. They are known to strengthen the immune function. As with all foods, you need to maintain portion control. Before you try any of the above foods, check with your doctor, dietitian or nutritionist. 

For more on immunity, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

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