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5 Healthy Recipes For Janmashtami

healthy janmashtami recipes Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated all over India with vigor and zeal. Devotees of Lord Krishna observe a fast and offer Puja to the Lord. Most people observe a fast religiously without even drinking a single drop of water while others do the same with various considerations. So, here are a few Healthy Janmashtami Recipes for people who observe the Phalahar kind of fast, while keeping healthy eating in mind.

1. Sago Uttapam

Ingredients:

  • Soaked Sago (Sabudana) – ½ cup
  • Water Chestnut Flour (Singhara Atta) – ½ cup
  • Curd – ½ cup
  • Boiled Potato, Chopped Tomato – 1 each
  • Grated Carrot – ½ cup
  • Grated Paneer – ½ cup
  • 2 Green Chilies chopped
  • Ginger (grated) – ½ inch
  • Chopped Coriander Leaves
  • Ghee or Coconut Oil – 1 tbsp
  • Sea Salt to taste

Method:

  1. Grind sago, boiled potato & curd together in a blender.
  2. Mix Singhara Atta into this & make a smooth batter. You can mix water to adjust consistency of this batter. Let it rest for 15 minutes.
  3. Now add salt in the batter & heat a nonstick pan. Pour few drops of oil/ghee on pan & spread Uttapam batter in desired thickness.
  4. Sprinkle vegetables and grated paneer over Uttapam & let it cook from one side. After few minutes, flip it & let it cook from another side as well.
  5. Your healthy Uttapam is ready.

2. Creamy Coconut Chutney

Ingredients:

  • Fresh Grated Coconut – 1 cup
  • Roasted Peanuts – ¼ cup
  • Sea Salt to taste
  • 3-4 Green Chilies
  • Chopped Coriander Leaves – ¼ cup
  • Curry Leaves – 10 to 12
  • Hung Curd – 2 to 3 tbsp
  • Water as required

Method:

  1. Blend all the ingredients in a mixer until you get a smooth paste
  2. Add 2-3 tbsp of water at a time
  3. Your creamy coconut chutney is ready to have with the Uttapam

3. Fruity Delight

Ingredients:

  • Low Fat Hung Curd – 1 cup
  • Pomegranate Seeds – ½ cup
  • Fruits (Banana, Apple, Pear) – 1 of each
  • Pineapple – ½ cup
  • 10-12 Cashews
  • Cardamom Powder – ¼ tsp
  • Honey – 2 tbsp (optional)

Method:

  1. First chop banana, apple, pear & cashews & keep aside
  2. Whisk hung curd with cardamom powder & honey in a bowl
  3. Add all fruits & chopped cashews
  4. Keep in fridge for half an hour before serving

4. Carrot and Dates Kheer

Ingredients:

  • Skimmed Milk – 1 glass
  • 2-3 Dates (chopped)
  • 4-5 chopped Cashew
  • Grated Carrot – 2 tbsp
  • 1 pinch Cardamom Powder

Method:

  1. Boil milk in a deep pan & add dates & carrot
  2. In another pan dry roast cashews & keep aside
  3. Let the milk simmer at low flame till it reduces to half. Keep stirring in between
  4. Let it cool a little & then add cardamom powder & roasted cashew. Serve warm

5. Paneer Rolls

Ingredients:

  • 2 Boiled & Grated Potato
  • Grated Paneer – 2 cups
  • 1 Green Chili Chopped
  • Chopped Ginger – ½ tsp
  • Black Pepper Powder – ½ tsp
  • 7-8 Raisins Chopped
  • Cardamom Powder – ½ tsp
  • Chopped Coriander Leaves – 2 tbsp
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tsp Ghee

Method:

  1. Take boiled potato & paneer in a bowl. Add green chili, ginger, black pepper powder, raisins, cardamom powder, coriander leaves & salt.
  2. Mix all ingredients well and make a dough.
  3. Make rolls of desired size out of dough & keep aside.
  4. Heat a nonstick pan & grease it with some ghee. Now place the rolls in pan & fry till they get golden brown.
  5. Keep turning them a little so they cook evenly. Serve hot.

Highlights of the Healthy Janmashtami Recipes

  • All the recipes have a good mix of carbohydrate, protein & healthy fats.
  • Fruits, dry fruits or veggies provides vitamins & minerals.
  • Preparing all these recipes this Janmashtami can make a complete thali with variety of flavors.

Do try these healthy recipes & enjoy a guilt free feast on Janmashtami in controlled portions. Do tell us which one you liked the most in the comments below! To get these Healthy Recipes directly from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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5 Simple and Effective Home Remedies For Common Cold

common cold home remedies

The common cold season is here, where common cold is not that common! Symptoms such as congestion, a runny/stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, body aches, low-grade fever and Malaise (general unwell feeling) run rampant! The Common Cold is an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) mostly caused by the Rhinovirus. It is very common during this time of the year but can be managed well with these 5 simple home remedies!

5 Simple Remedies To Fight Common Cold Naturally

  1. Ginger Ale: Simply boil water, switch off the flame, add a crushed (inch sized) piece of Ginger to it, half tsp turmeric powder, a pinch of black pepper, and cover it for 3-5 minutes. Strain and have it with a tsp of raw organic honey. It works very well for clearing congestion, improve runny nose and also to relieve headaches and a sore throat.
  2. Chicken/Veg Broth: Boil chicken or any veggies of your choice with 1 onion, few pods of garlic, 1 inch piece of ginger, salt and black pepper. Once boiled, remove the onions, ginger, garlic, blend them and add them back to the broth. The anti-inflammatory properties in them will help reduce congestion, can open up a blocked nose, will give a soothing effect to the body and help in reducing any aches/pains.
  3. Lukewarm Water Gargles: Gargling with Lukewarm salt water works wonders to clear any throat itching/congestion, as salt has a tendency to absorb the water and along with it the infection causing Microbiota. Best time to do this is early in the morning after waking up.
  4. Honey-Pepper Mix: Mix 1 tsp of raw organic honey with a pinch of black pepper and half tsp fresh ginger juice. It is a good remedy to reduce dry cough. Works very well on an empty stomach.
  5. Hot Water Steam: Boil water in an open vessel, add a tsp of turmeric powder or Eucalyptus oil (1-2 drops) in it. Cover your head with a towel while covering the vessel. Take this hot water steam in the morning and evening for 10-15 mins to cure blocked/stuffy nose and/or Chest congestion.

A simple Tulsi leaf decoction will also work wonders in reducing the effects of Common Cold. If this article helped you, let us know in the comments below! Find more articles on staying healthy during the monsoon season here or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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This Is How Stress Affects Your Waistline

stress affects your waistline

Have you been regular with your daily exercises and have maintained a healthy diet but you’re still not able to get rid of those extra inches on your waistline? Much to your surprise, the major reason for this may be stress! Yes! Stress! This can be the criminal putting those extra notches on your belt. Well you would say who doesn’t have stress these days? And you are right! Feeling stressed is an increasingly common problem. As long as the graph is small in height, it is fine. But how is it that stress affects your waistline? Let’s find out! 

What happens when we feel Stressed?

When we are stressed, our body goes into “fight or flight mode”. Stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, are released to help us respond to the ‘danger’, our heart pumps faster, muscles contract and our senses become sharper. Too much stress can constantly have our body in fight or flight mode and that can be a problem.

In limited doses, stress helps us stay focused, energetic and alert. But high levels of stress can lead to feeling anxious, depressed and result in many medical concerns like cardiovascular issues, damage to the immune system, Type 2 Diabetes and cause weight issues as well, to name a few.

How Stress Affects Your Waistline 

Glycogen is the energy stored in our liver, primarily sourced from carbohydrates. When cortisol is released, glycogen is released to give us extra energy to ‘get away from stressful situations’.

We have glycogen receptors in our body and they are increased when we face high levels of stress, especially the ones located around our abdomen to protect our vital organs. Glycogen is being released to provide energy, but if not utilized, it is stored around our waistline, causing the inches to rise.

When stress levels increase, so does the production of the stress hormone, cortisol.

And you unknowingly start facing the following:

  • Making bad food choices and increasing the fat cells in the body.
  • The stress hormone cortisol can lead to sugar levels dropping down and makes you less sensitive to insulin.
  • Increases the appetite which gives you those hunger pangs. Which means you are more likely to reach out to burgers or pizzas which are calorie dense junk foods that quickly satisfy your hunger and you feel good. Hence, stress can cause you to eat more than required.
  • Constant high levels of stress can cause increased levels of fat cells and the rate at which the body stores fat also goes up which leads to weight gain.

How Can You Control It? 

  • Indulge in Exercise: It’s the best way to relax your body and mind
  • Take a few deep breaths: It can take the pressure off you right away
  • Balanced meal: Consult your GOQii Coach to help you make right food choices. Never skip a meal as it can actually worsen the situation 
  • Say no to caffeine: Since it increases the production of the stress hormone.
  • Drink plenty of water: Dehydration can cause increased production of cortisol 
  • Avoid processed foods: They can affect your gut microbiome, stress response and energy levels
  • Sleep well: Sleep deprivation and chronic stress can play havoc with the production of the stress hormone.

We hope this article on how stress affects your waistline helps you! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on stress management, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

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Health, Fitness and Nutrition For Senior Citizens

senior citizensDoes old age mark the end of physical fitness? If you retire from work, with reduced responsibilities, does it mean you can retire from exercise as well? At any given age, physical fitness and exercise play a crucial role in leading a healthy lifestyle, especially for senior citizens. Whether you’re young or old, working out and keeping yourself active shouldn’t stop as exercise is important even when you’re a senior citizen.

Here are a few benefits of working out for Senior Citizens

  • Prevents Diseases & Chronic Conditions: Being regular with any kind of physical activity helps keep away diseases like diabetes, heart ailments and cancer.
  • Reduced Risk of Fall: With old age, the risk of falling increases, which can have a disastrous effect on being independent. Exercise improves the strength and flexibility of the body and as a result, it improves balance and coordination.
  • Improved Mental Health: Exercise induces endorphins – the happy hormone, which helps to feel good and keeps stress away. Exercise has a direct impact on sleep. Insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns which are common aspects with senior citizens is taken care of with regular exercise.
  • Social Engagement: Responsibilities reduce with age and so does the social life. Being regular with any kind of activity, be it yoga or a laughter club, helps to interact with people of the same age with similar problems. Now, they have their own tribe and this brings in confidence as it deals with depression and loneliness.
  • Better Cognitive Function: Fine-tuned motor skills improve cognitive functions which lower the risk of deteriorating memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform daily activities.
  • Keeps Weight in Check: Metabolism slows down in old age and as a result, losing weight becomes a challenge. Regular exercise helps in increasing metabolism and losing weight.

Get Started With an Activity

  • Walking: Be it brisk walking or a stroll in the park, walking improves stamina and makes you feel good!
  • Yoga: It helps in improving flexibility and mental health.
  • Workout at Fitness Studios: Use body weight to keep fit and meet like-minded people!
  • Swimming: Ideal for those having aching joints as it is not weight bearing. Swimming will help you tone your body and improve stamina.
  • Cycling: Low impact sport which is good for the cardiovascular system.
  • Resistance Bands: Improves muscle strength, balance, coordination and range of motion.
  • Laughter Clubs: Laughter is the best medicine. Visiting laughter clubs will help you stay positive and stress-free.

Points to be Kept in Mind:

  • Get a clearance from your Doctor about your fitness regime
  • Start with warm ups and end with cool down to prevent injuries
  • Always start slow and gradually increase the intensity
  • At any point if discomfort or pain is felt, stop immediately and consult your Doctor

Nutrition for Senior Citizens

Eating the right food in old age is very important as weak bones, lower immunity, poor digestion are all a part of the routine. Hence, eating healthy is very important.

Tips for Healthy Eating:

  • Have five to six small meals during the day to help in better digestion and absorption
  • Since appetite reduces with age, care should be taken to include sufficient proteins like whole grains, eggs, milk products, chicken, fish, etc.
  • Eat a good amount of fruits as they are rich in antioxidants
  • Including salads helps to keep constipation at bay due to their fiber content
  • Stay hydrated with sufficient amount of water
  • Avoid processed food

Eating right and exercising can help you stay youthful and active even in old age! We hope this article helps. Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For more on healthy living, check out Healthy Reads. To get the right tips and guidance from an expert, subscribe for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Wish you all a Happy and Healthy Senior Citizens Day!

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

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