GOQii

Blog

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

February 21, 2023 By Meenakshi Sharma 2 Comments

Are There Any Winter Superfoods?

winter superfoods“Superfoods” are foods that have a substantial amount of nutrients and very few calories. They contain a high volume of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. But, do winter superfoods really exist? 

Do Winter Superfoods Really Exist? 

Some winter foods do have a powerful impact but it’s your overall diet that really matters. Enriching your diet with nutrient-rich foods may help deal with issues such as joint problems, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and hair fall in winter and let you enjoy good immunity, good skin and overall good health. Let’s look at a few foods which may be considered as Winter Superfoods. 

  • Pearl Millet /Bajra: is a versatile food rich in fibre, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B. It promotes heart health, controls BP, muscle gain and helps you get dense, frizz-free hair with great volume. The high iron content plays a vital role in curing anaemia and can help to strengthen your bones as well. It is a heating grain, so it should be had in winters only. You can use Bajra to make malt, bhakri, ladoo, khichdi, cookies, uttapam, idli and dosa. 
  • Green Vegetables: Add green leafy vegetables to your meals to fight infections and boost immunity. These are excellent sources of fibre, folate and carotenoids, antioxidants, vitamins C and K and the minerals iron and calcium. Include palak, methi, sarson, pudina, moringa and green lasun to your diet. Green lasun boosts immunity and alleviates the burning sensation in hands and feet due to its anti-inflammatory properties. You can add them in rotis, dals, juices, soups and chutneys. 
  • Root Vegetables: Include all kinds of root vegetables in your diet, especially during the winter season. Sweet potatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnip and its leaves have antioxidant properties, vitamin C, are rich in beta carotene, fibre, vitamin A, and potassium. Regular consumption can help in curing constipation, improving immunity and reducing inflammation. Beets are also sources of anthocyanins, that have been linked to lower instances of heart disease, and nitrate – which improves the dilation of blood vessels. You can make soups, tikkis, sabzis or simply roast them. 
  • Seasonal Fruits: Citrus fruits are bursting with Vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants, making them ideal during winter. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, pomegranates, kiwi, guava, amla and lemons are also high in minerals and phytochemicals that help protect the body from infections and pathogens. They help in enhancing your immunity, reducing hair fall, improving skin and digestive health. Eat a fruit in the morning and the evening as a snack. If you find Amla too sour, consume it with a dash of salt and black pepper or in the form of instant powders.
  • Ghee: is an invaluable source of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. It helps with joint lubrication, skin hydration and keeps the digestive system functioning well. It can help you boost immunity and prevent yourself from falling sick. Cook your meals in ghee or top your dal, rice, roti, etc. with it. 
  • Til/Sesame Seeds: are a good source of calcium, essential fatty acids, vitamin E and are good for bones, skin and hair. It helps you maintain body temperature and keeps you warm and energetic during winter. Add sesame seeds to your roti, chikki, gajak, ladoo and chutney.
  • Nuts: Peanuts have more protein than any nut (7g per serving), containing more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals, and are a good source of polyphenols, fibre and good fats. Daily intake of almonds and walnuts lower bad cholesterol, control blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium. They’re also rich in omega 3 and have anti-inflammatory properties. We can have soaked nuts, add them in ladoos, chikkis, granola bars or simply have them as snacks. 
  • Turmeric: is known as a therapeutic superfood due to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.Turmeric can help reduce inflammation and fight infections. Make the famous “Haldi Doodh” or a pickle with fresh turmeric.
  • Honey: is another energetic superfood to look upon for winters. You can use it as a substitute for sugar. Mix honey with your tea and sip it every morning to fight cold, sore throat and other infections.
  • Gond: keeps the body warm, protects against the cold, treats cardiovascular, chronic kidney diseases, lubricates the joints and strengthens the bones. It also helps one manage menstrual problems and combat gas issues. You can turn gond into ladoo or panjiri mixture i.e. a mix of gond, wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, nuts and cardamom.
  • Garlic: is a tasty herb that has high amounts of calcium, potassium as well as certain sulphuric compounds that are good for getting rid of infections. You can make chutneys, add it to soups and dals. You can also have crushed garlic with honey in the morning.

We hope these “Winter Superfoods” help you make a positive and healthy lifestyle change. For more on winter and nutrition, click here or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching.

#BeTheForce 

February 19, 2022 By Shivani Dalvi 1 Comment

Is Quinoa Really Worth The Nutritional Hype?

quinoa

With the rise in awareness about the right food for good health, people are changing what they eat. New foods or superfoods specifically, are added to the everyday routine foods to get an add on benefit. One such highly popular or highly trending food is “Quinoa” (pronounced as keen-wah)

What is Quinoa?

It is a pseudo-grain but because of its nutritional resemblance to grains, it is considered as a grain. If we look at its source, it is a seed available from the Chenopodium Quinoa Plant. It was widely produced only in South America and the Incas used to call it “the mother of all grains”.

In the year 2013, it was named “The International Year of Quinoa” by the UN because of its valuable qualities and potential to fight world hunger.

Is It Really Worth Including In Our Meals? 

The answer is yes and there are several reasons for it. 

  • Quinoa is non-GMO and a naturally gluten-free grain
  • It is one such plant-based food exception that it is a complete protein: a complete protein means where all the essential amino acids are present which the body cannot produce until we feed it through food. It specifically contains lysine, methionine and cysteine amino acids which generally all plant-based protein food lacks
  • High antioxidant and inflammation reducing capacity: It contains flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol which help in acting as an antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-cancer and anti-depressant
  • Fibre-rich grain source: 17-27gm of fibre is found in 1 cup of Quinoa (185gm approximately) which is a lot more as compared to other grains, which helps in reducing the total fat/lipid percentage in the body
  • Helps in Improving Blood Sugar Control: One definitely because of its fibre-protein content and another because it contains compounds that inhibit alpha-glucosidase, one of the enzymes involved in digesting carbohydrates, resulting in the delayed breakdown of carbohydrates and hence slow release of sugar in the blood
  • Because of its high magnesium content (1 cup cooked quinoa can provide one-third of daily requirement), it is recommended to have it often to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
  • Helps in reducing weight: As Quinoa is high in fibres, proteins and has a low glycemic index, it can make one feel fuller for a longer time, reducing frequent hunger pangs
  • The nutritional content of one cup of cooked quinoa is 222 calories and 4 grams of fat; with 39 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fibre and 8 grams of protein

Quinoa also contains few anti-nutrients like saponins, phytic acid and oxalates. However, they do not affect health when cooked properly. It can be used as a replacement for any grain like rice, or can be added to cold salads, soups, sprouts, etc. Click here for some interesting recipes you can try using Quinoa. 

We hope this article on Quinoa helps you! Do share your thoughts in the comments below! To learn more about grains, food and healthy eating in general, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

Search

Recent Posts

  • (no title)
  • Reframing Obesity as a Disease: From Blame to Biology
  • All You Need To Know About Visceral Fat
  • Everything You Need To Know About Fiber, Fat Loss and Your Health
  • Hidden Hunger: Are You Suffering From It?

Stay Updated

Archives

  • July 2025 (2)
  • June 2025 (18)
  • May 2025 (13)
  • April 2025 (21)
  • March 2025 (26)
  • February 2025 (23)
  • January 2025 (26)
  • December 2024 (26)
  • November 2024 (26)
  • October 2024 (27)
  • September 2024 (25)
  • August 2024 (31)
  • July 2024 (22)
  • June 2024 (27)
  • May 2024 (31)
  • April 2024 (27)
  • March 2024 (29)
  • February 2024 (26)
  • January 2024 (27)
  • December 2023 (18)
  • November 2023 (19)
  • October 2023 (24)
  • September 2023 (25)
  • August 2023 (23)
  • July 2023 (24)
  • June 2023 (25)
  • May 2023 (27)
  • April 2023 (25)
  • March 2023 (25)
  • February 2023 (20)
  • January 2023 (16)
  • December 2022 (12)
  • November 2022 (16)
  • October 2022 (15)
  • September 2022 (13)
  • August 2022 (11)
  • July 2022 (19)
  • June 2022 (11)
  • May 2022 (10)
  • April 2022 (6)
  • March 2022 (6)
  • February 2022 (13)
  • January 2022 (13)
  • December 2021 (7)
  • November 2021 (3)
  • October 2021 (6)
  • September 2021 (3)
  • August 2021 (8)
  • July 2021 (7)
  • June 2021 (15)
  • May 2021 (16)
  • April 2021 (10)
  • March 2021 (7)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (10)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • August 2020 (3)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • June 2020 (4)
  • May 2020 (10)
  • April 2020 (12)
  • March 2020 (10)
  • February 2020 (4)
  • January 2020 (4)
  • December 2019 (3)
  • November 2019 (7)
  • October 2019 (5)
  • September 2019 (4)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (9)
  • June 2019 (11)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • April 2019 (9)
  • March 2019 (8)
  • February 2019 (9)
  • January 2019 (8)
  • December 2018 (9)
  • November 2018 (3)
  • October 2018 (3)
  • September 2018 (5)
  • August 2018 (10)
  • July 2018 (6)
  • June 2018 (13)
  • May 2018 (8)
  • April 2018 (18)
  • March 2018 (9)
  • February 2018 (8)
  • January 2018 (15)
  • December 2017 (12)
  • November 2017 (19)
  • October 2017 (13)
  • September 2017 (15)
  • August 2017 (4)
  • July 2017 (8)
  • June 2017 (7)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • April 2017 (8)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (7)
  • January 2017 (10)
  • December 2016 (10)
  • November 2016 (7)
  • October 2016 (7)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (11)
  • July 2016 (9)
  • June 2016 (9)
  • May 2016 (12)
  • April 2016 (17)
  • March 2016 (17)
  • February 2016 (8)
  • January 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (9)
  • October 2015 (7)
  • September 2015 (9)
  • August 2015 (11)
  • July 2015 (9)
  • June 2015 (12)
  • May 2015 (9)
  • April 2015 (13)
  • March 2015 (8)
  • February 2015 (5)
  • January 2015 (12)
  • December 2014 (14)
  • November 2014 (11)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (13)
  • August 2014 (12)
  • July 2014 (6)
  • June 2014 (2)
  • May 2014 (7)
  • April 2014 (5)

(no title)

Please Wait While Loading... … [Read More...]

Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]

Devesh Srivastava

Devesh Srivastava Lowers His HbA1c from 6.7 to 5.8 With GOQii

Have you ever suffered from a cold or fever and thought to yourself that you can manage this? In fact, there’s a good chance that with some medication and rest, the symptoms of a cold or fever have subsided. But, when you deal with issues such as Diabetes and Hypertension, trying to manage the issue […]

Dhiren Matani - Healthy lifestyle

Transforming Health and Life: Dhiren Matani’s Inspirational Journey to Wellness

In the face of persistent health challenges, Dhiren Matani, (43), an entrepreneur from Mumbai, embarked on a journey of resilience and transformation. Battling weight issues and a heart condition for some years, he refused to succumb to the daunting odds. Through sheer determination, he took control of his health at the right time by adopting […]

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

Copyright ©2016 GOQii