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July 1, 2020 By Priyanka Mangla 6 Comments

The Hidden Benefits of Okra Water

okra waterThe Okra, Bhindi in Hindi or Ladies’ Finger, whatever name we call it, is an all time favorite for most of us. Fortunately, we get it throughout the year. You know, besides tickling your taste buds, okra as a vegetable and in the form of okra water has multiple benefits. Raw okra is 90% water, 2% protein, 7% carbohydrate and is negligible in fat. It is rich in dietary fiber, Vitamin C,  Vitamin K, some amounts of thiamine, folic acid and magnesium . Let’s discuss the benefits of Okra water one by one and I am sure, after knowing them, you won’t hesitate using okra water in your daily diet.

Benefits of Okra Water 

  1. It Lowers Blood Sugar: Okra Water is a low-carb diabetes fighting drink. Okra seeds contain alpha-glucosidase enzymes and its gum contains insoluble fiber. They prevent the release of sugar in the bloodstream by inhibiting the carbohydrate metabolizing enzyme. This helps in slowing down the rate of digestion, thus resulting in delayed absorption sugar in blood, keeping your blood sugar from rising too fast.
  2. Keeps the Liver Healthy: Okra water helps in liver-detox. The slimy substance of the okra binds with the cholesterol and bile acids, thereby helping the liver flush out toxins from the body. It also helps in reducing cholesterol levels and is included in many weight loss programs.
  3. Prevents Cancer: Being rich in folic acid, it helps in cancer prevention.
  4. Prevents Stroke: It is rich in Vitamin C, which we all know is one of the most powerful free-radical fighters. In other words, it is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C is very essential in keeping our blood vessels healthy, keeping blood pressure under control and preventing stroke.
  5. Boost Immunity: Being rich in Vitamin C, Okra helps boost our immunity as well, which is the need of the hour. Vitamin C is also required to keep our skin healthy by producing collagen. Skin is the largest protective organ of our body. Healthy skin ensures a good protective barrier to the entry of germs in our body.
  6. Improves Brain Power: It has good amounts of potassium as well which is required for normal functioning of the brain. Potassium has other benefits too like controlling high blood pressure, preventing stroke, strengthening our bones.
  7. Improves Digestion: The slimy substance of Okra which contains insoluble fiber, helps in the smooth movement through the gut and eases constipation.
  8. Good Source of Non-Dairy Calcium: Those who cannot tolerate dairy products like milk, cheese, curd or are lactose intolerant, can opt for Okra. There is 82mg of calcium in just 1 cup of okra. This means, a single 100 gm serving of okra supplies about 8% of your daily calcium requirements. Now, we all know how useful calcium is for our bones, muscles, nerves and even weight management.

It is very easy to prepare Okra Water. All you need to do is soak 3-6 Okra pods (split each into two) in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, remove them and drink the water. This way, you get all the necessary benefits you need! 

We hope this article helps you. Do give it a try and leave your thoughts in the comments below! For more useful information on nutrition and food, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to experts on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

 

May 2, 2020 By Mamta Joshi 1 Comment

Smart and Healthy Recipes For The Lockdown!

smart and healthy recipesGiven the current scenarios, it is quite difficult to get your hands on fresh foods and somewhere we tend to succumb to options like processed foods which aren’t healthy at all. If you’re facing difficulty in deciding what to cook while avoiding the monotony of taste, we’ve got some smart and healthy recipes you can try out during lockdown! 

Smart and Healthy Recipes You Can Try 

These smart and healthy recipes can be prepared using leftover food which is common such as dal and rice. Let’s take a look:

1. Leftover Rice Chilla 

What you will need:

  • Cooked and mashed rice – 2 cups
  • Whole wheat flour – ¼th cup
  • Gram flour (besan) – ½ cup
  • Curd – 2 tbsp
  • Red chilli powder – 1/4th tsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4th tsp
  • Jeera -1/2 tsp
  • Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch
  • Chopped green chilli – 2
  • Small onion chopped – 1
  • Tomato finely chopped – 1
  • Coriander leaves – finely chopped
  • Salt – to taste
  • Oil for greasing tawa

How to prepare: 

  1. Take all the ingredients in a big bowl and pour little water to make a thick, pouring consistency batter.
  2. Now heat the non-stick Tawa and grease it with a little oil.
  3. Pour a ladle full of batter and spread evenly.
  4. Let it cook from one side till it gets crisp. Flip it over and cook the other side.
  5. Your leftover rice chilla is ready! Serve it with green chutney.

Tasty and healthy way to finish off leftover rice, plus it is an ideal recipe for breakfast.

2. Dal Dhokli from Leftover Dal

What  you will need:

  • Leftover toor dal
  • Wheat flour – ½ cup
  • Gram flour (besan) – ¼ cup
  • Red chilli powder – ¾ cup
  • Coriander powder – ½ tsp
  • Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
  • Carom seeds (ajwain) – ¼ tsp
  • Sesame seeds (white til) – ½ tsp
  • Baking soda – a pinch
  • 2 tsp oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Water to knead dough

Method: 

  1. Take wheat flour, besan in a large mixing bowl, add all other ingredients, combine well and knead the dough by adding water as required.
  2. As the dough turns soft and smooth, take a small ball size dough and roll it to form a thick chapati-like shape.
  3. Once rolled, cut it into diamond shapes of medium size. Keep dhokli aside.
  4. Boil the leftover dal, add a cup of water if the dal is thick.
  5. In the boiling dal, add 10-12 groundnuts, little tamarind pulp or juice, a small piece of jaggery and lastly, add the diamond-shaped dhokli and cover with a lid. Cook it for 10-15 minutes till the cooked dhokli will float over the dal (add diamond-shaped dhokli in dal depending on quantity of dal, adding too many may make dal dhokli too thick in consistency). 
  6. For Tempering: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan, add a tsp of mustard seeds, a few curry leaves and pour over the dal dhokli, garnish with coriander leaves.

It’s ready to serve! Dal dhokli in itself is a complete meal, a good combination of carbohydrates and proteins.

Do try the above recipes and share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For more recipes, check out Healthy Reads within the GOQii App or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

October 19, 2019 By Urvi Gohil Leave a Comment

Healthy Eating: Beetroot Mix Dal Dosa

beetroot mix dal dosa

Depending on your preferences, beetroot can be the most loved or most hated vegetable on your plate. Now, whether you hate it or love it, you can’t deny the fact that beetroots are extremely healthy for you! They are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Beetroots are low in calories, help reduce blood pressure and improve digestive health, among many other benefits.

Enriching your normal day meals with a superfood always fetches you more nutrients! Today, let’s make beetroot more interesting than it already is by preparing this beetroot mix dal dosa! It is packed with protein and all the nourishment from beetroots!

Let’s get started.

What you will need:

  • Chana Dal – 2 tbsp
  • Moong Dal – 2 tbsp
  • Toor Dal – 2 tbsp
  • Urad Dal – 2 tbsp
  • Rice – 2 tbsp
  • Shredded beetroot – 1 medium sized
  • Garlic – 5-6
  • Shredded Ginger – 1 tsp
  • Green Chillies – 2
  • Finely Chopped Coriander – ½ cup
  • Jeera (cumin seeds) – 1 tsp
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil

How to Prepare

  1. Take a bowl and mix all dals and rice after washing them thoroughly. Add 1 cup of water to it and soak for 4-6 hrs.
  2. Once soaked, remove excess water and blend it together in a mixer and make a smooth paste. Add 2 tsp of water if required. Keep the batter aside in a bowl.
  3. Now, add beetroot, green chillies, jeera, ginger and garlic in a blender jar and blend it all without adding any water.
  4. Mix the beetroot paste with blended pulses thoroughly.
  5. Add salt and coriander to the batter and allow it to settle for 10-15 min.
  6. Now heat a nonstick pan, brush some oil and using a spatula, spread the hot pink batter on the pan. After cooking it on one side, flip it over.
  7. Serve it hot with coconut chutney.

Highlights of the Beetroot Mix Dal Dosa:

  • Best way to start your day! The proteins keep you full and beetroot gives you all the essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, manganese, potassium, iron, Vitamin C along with very important nitrates. These nitrates help in reducing blood pressure.
  • It is a must to try for kids as the color fascinates them.
  • Also instead of beetroot you can incorporate blanched spinach or even carrots.

Did you find this recipe new and exciting? Will you try it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

For more healthy recipes, do check out the live sessions on GOQii Play within the GOQii App.

#BeTheForce

July 10, 2019 By Madhu Soni Leave a Comment

6 Foods That Help Reduce Acid Reflux

Ever felt that burning sensation in your chest after a big meal or when you eat after a long gap? That feeling is known as acid reflux. Acid reflux is a condition where the acid content of the stomach flows up to the esophagus and pushes the food out from the mouth.

This is often called a heartburn but has nothing to do with the heart.

One of the major reasons for this condition is a weak lower esophageal sphincter – which acts like a valve to prevent the food in the stomach from going back to the food pipe.

Besides this, other factors contributing are excessive caffeine intakes, erratic meal patterns, eating in large portions, excessive junk food, sleeping immediately after meals and obesity, etc.

Modifying our diet is the easiest way to reduce acid reflux. Try these simple and easily available foods from your kitchen to get some relief.

1. Fruits 

Alkaline food will help to reduce the backflow of acid and fruits are the best example. Fruits like bananas, watermelon, pomegranate and cantaloupe help to neutralize the acid content and numb the effects of reflux. Banana is a natural antacid. The high fiber content of fruits helps to improve the digestion and ward off indigestion.

2. Herbal tea

Herbal tea with ginger, licorice, mint and Tulsi [Holy Basil] helps to curb acidity. Ginger has anti inflammatory properties and along with Mint leaves, stimulates the digestive system to produce more bile for better digestion. Ginger has the capability to destroy the acidity triggering pylori bacteria. Licorice is said to increase the mucus lining on the esophagus and thus have a calm effect on the stomach. Tulsi leaves are a natural cure for acidity and burning sensation in the stomach.

3. Curd & Buttermilk

Curd is a probiotic which help in digestion and has a soothing effect on the stomach. It keeps discomfort at bay. Being a good source of protein it helps digest the food and boost the immune system.

Cold buttermilk is a good antidote for acidity. The good bacteria in buttermilk helps in digesting the food well and prevents bloating and gas formation which eventually leads to acid reflux. Adding a pinch of jeera powder and pepper makes it more beneficial.

4. Coconut Water

One of the lesser known reasons for acid reflux is less intake of water. Sipping on coconut water is a great way to stay hydrated. Coconut water is rich in potassium which regulates the pH balance crucial for acid reflux. Having coconut water daily helps to reduce bloating drastically.

5. Aloe Vera

The antibacterial compounds of Aloe Vera fight the bad bacteria in the digestive system which cause bloating and belching. The bad bacteria present not only weaken the digestive system but also reduces the digestion ability of the body. Aloe Vera juice and gels work very well on acid reflux condition. Aloe Vera soft gel and powder can also be tried.

6. Lemon Water

Although lemons are acidic in nature, they have an alkaline effect on the stomach and help in neutralizing the acid and thus reduce acid reflux. For better results, replace the sugar with rock salt in the lemon water and feel instant relief. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C, which help fight infection and boost immunity.

Was this article helpful? Do you have your own home remedy? Want to know more? Drop us your thoughts and queries in the comments below!

#BeTheForce 

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