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Healthy Eating: Schezwan Dosa

schezwan dosa

Most of us are avoiding that delectable street food thanks to the monsoons. But, what can we do in those tiny moments of weakness when we crave it more during the rains? It’s only natural to feel this way after braving the scorching summer heat and facing the drop in temperature which makes our body crave for some nice warm, cozy, comfort food. While it may sound like a legitimate reason to indulge, let’s keep in mind that it needs to be healthy too! So here’s a mouthwatering street food recipe with a healthy twist – let’s learn to make some Schezwan Dosa! 

What You Will Need 

For Dosa:

  • Semolina – ½ cup 
  • Rice Flour – ½ cup 
  • Multigrain flour – ½ cup 
  • Curd – 1 cup 
  • Flaxseed powder – 1 tbsp 
  • Salt to taste 
  • Schezwan sauce – 2 tbsp 
  • Oil for cooking

For Stuffing: 

  • Oil – 2 tsp 
  • Chopped garlic – 1 tsp 
  • Spring onion – ¼ cup 
  • Carrot – ¼ cup 
  • Cabbage and capsicum – thin juliennes 
  • Schezwan sauce – 1 tbsp 
  • Salt to taste 
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp 
  • Chopped Coriander – ¼ cup 

How To Prepare the Schezwan Dosa

  1. First, grind the Semolina into fine powder. 
  2. Now mix the rice flour, semolina powder, multigrain flour, flaxseed powder and curd together. 
  3. Whisk it and make a pouring consistency batter adding water. 
  4. Keep it aside for 15-20 minutes. Then add salt and whisk the batter once more.
  5. For the stuffing, heat oil in a pan and add all the vegetables along with salt. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. 
  6. Now add the schezwan sauce and lemon juice. Turn the gas off and cover the pan for 2 minutes.
  7. For the dosa, first heat a dosa tawa and spread a ladle full batter. Spread it over to get a round dosa. 
  8. Let it cook till the edges get light golden brown. 
  9. Now spread some schezwan sauce over the dosa and put the vegetable stuffing over it.
  10. By this time, the dosa is crispy and golden brown. Sprinkle some freshly chopped coriander leaves and fold the dosa over. 
  11. Serve hot with any sauce or chutney of your choice.

We’re sure you’ll enjoy this tasty, nutritious and delicious fusion of South Indian and Chinese cuisine, bringing back some of your fondest monsoon memories without compromising your health. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 

For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

You can also purchase some nutrient-rich Schezwan Sauce from the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii app for a discount using your GOQii Cash! 

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How Regular Exercise Can Help You Fight Against Infections

regular exerciseRegular exercise has a major effect on the immune system. Staying active supports our immune system in a variety of ways such as reducing inflammation, increasing the presence of innate immune cells and positively affecting our gut microbes – all of which support our body’s defense mechanisms.

The Science Behind Exercise

  • Exercise stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and induces an integrated response from the body.
  • This response works to maintain an appropriate level of homeostasis for the increased demand in physical, metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular efforts.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO RUN A MARATHON! 

  • Exercise doesn’t need to be long, intense or unpleasant to be effective.
  • Engagement in moderate activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, dancing for less than an hour can provide a range of immune benefits.
  • In contrast, a substantial sudden increase in physical activity can have adverse effects on our body’s defenses and increase the risk of tissue injury.
  • Moving the body in a way you enjoy can provide a much-needed positive boost

Health Benefits of Regular Exercise 

  • Reduces health risk
  • Strengthens bones and muscles
  • Improves sleep
  • Better endurance
  • Improves mood and provides stress relief
  • Increase in energy and stamina
  • Weight management

Few Important Exercises & Their Uses 

  1. Aerobic Exercises: speed up your heart rate and breathing, which is important for many body functions. They help reduce the risk of many conditions including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type- 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke and certain types of cancers. Weight-bearing aerobic exercises, such as walking, help decrease the risk of osteoporosis as well as assist in weight management and/or weight loss.
  2. Strength Training: No secret that strength training makes you stronger and fitter! It protects bone health and muscle mass while helping you keep weight off for good. It also helps you develop better body mechanics and helps keep chronic diseases at bay. 
  3. Stretching: This is a must if you sit for long hours as stretching for a few minutes can help you improve your performance while working out or doing other physical activities. A good warm up and cool down stretch can help you prevent injuries. It also helps your joints move through their full range of motion and maintain flexibility. 
  4. Balance Exercise: This form of exercise helps you feel steadier on your feet. It helps prevent falls and reduces the risk of lower–extremity injuries such as knee and ankle injuries as well as improves proprioception.

We hope this article helps you get into the habit of regular exercise! Do you already engage in some activity? Let us know your favorite in the comments below. 

If you’re a beginner and want to start exercising or if you want to take your exercise routine to the next level, book a live, online session with an expert on GOQii PRO within the GOQii App now! 

For more on health and fitness, explore Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Get Active and #BeTheForce  

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How Yoga Can Affect Your Endocrine System

endocrine systemYoga not only plays an important role in maintaining our health but also has a very good effect on our endocrine system. Due to a hectic lifestyle and everyday stress, people are experiencing a lot of hormonal problems. Some of the health issues faced by both men and women are hormonal changes, underactive or overactive thyroid and hormonal imbalance. Increase in cortisol levels, insulin deficiency or insulin resistance, early puberty and early menopause are few hormonal disorders that women face. It’s therefore good to know more about the endocrine system. The Endocrine system is a collection of glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream to the targeted cells.

Why Is The Endocrine System Important For Us?

Endocrine system  helps maintain the body’s homeostasis (balance). Metabolism, growth, sexual development, mental growth, mineral balance, heart rate regulation, setting our sleep cycle, muscular and skeletal growth are the functions of endocrine gland.

Role of the Hypothalamus: Hypothalamus is a part of the brain that is responsible for the direct control of the endocrine system through the pituitary gland. Hypothalamus is also the center of emotions and is affected by strong emotions, odor, powerful thoughts, taste, stress, laughter, etc.

Pituitary gland is the master gland controlling the whole endocrine system including the pineal gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, thymus gland,  adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries and testes. The hypothalamus sends signals to pituitary gland, which then releases chemicals to stimulate the hormones from other endocrine glands. So this will work like Hypothalamus–pituitary-organ pathway.

The Role of Yoga in Controlling the Hormonal System

  • Pranayama: has a good effect on the endocrine system. Pranayama means stretching , modifying and lengthening the breath. Pranayama has dual benefits. In Pranayama, when you control your breath, it controls both your mind and your body. We supply more oxygen to the lungs which is transported to each and every cell of the body. The blood supply and the oxygen supply to the brain and hypothalamus increases, thereby, improving their functioning. One can control stress and emotions in a better way because stress can disturb the functioning of the hypothalamus. Pranayama improves the relationship between hypothalamus –pituitary and the other glands and thus, the entire endocrine system is balanced.
  • Yog Nidra or Yogic Sleep: is a great way to control stress and emotion. It is not about going to Shavasana and just sleeping but staying awake and controlling your thoughts and senses, replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, relaxing and energizing your mind and body. Yog Nidra will improve the functioning of the brain, hypothalamus and the relationship between hypothalamus and pituitary and the other endocrine glands.
  • Yogic Poses: like Sirsasana, standing forward bend increases blood flow to brain and improves the functioning of the brain and hypothalamus along with improving the  functioning of pituitary and pineal gland. Halasana and shoulder stand improve the functioning of thyroid and parathyroid gland. Ardh Matsyendrasana and Balasana will stimulate pancreas for the release of insulin and glucagon from pancreas. Setubandhasana and Bhujangasana will stimulate testes and ovaries.

We hope this article helps you improve the functioning of your endocrine system and bring balance to your mind and body! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on how yoga can help you, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

You can also practice yoga online with guidance from a certified expert by subscribing for GOQii Pro Classes within the GOQii App.

#BeTheForce

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5 Wonder Herbs To Help You Battle Diabetes Naturally

battle diabetesDiabetes has been listed as an epidemic and it seems to be on the rise, worldwide. Diabetes is a disorder which alters the blood sugar levels and production of insulin that can cause various complications if left untreated. It can be treated through lifestyle modifications and exercises. We do have few spices and herbs available in nature, along with dietary changes, to help control diabetes. These remedies are not only economic to the pockets but can also help in reducing medicines. There are so many herbs (leafy part of the plant) that have proven boon to regulate blood sugar. Here, I am mentioning the most common and effective herbs to control blood sugar levels effectively.

5 Herbs To Battle Diabetes 

  1. Oregano: due to it’s high content of glycosides, flavonoids and polyphenols, oregano helps in lowering blood sugar levels. It helps in increasing the level of insulin in the body too. In dry form, oregano can be added to salads, soups or other dishes. Fresh herbs can be added to boiling water, let it steep for 5 mins, strain and drink as tea in the morning. You can also chew 5-6 oregano leaves regularly.
  2. Curry leaves: are the aromatic leaves and widely used in culinary preparations. It helps in decreasing blood sugar levels and also promotes carbohydrate metabolism. They can be chewed every day on an empty stomach or can be used while preparing food. 
  3. Giloy: is an Ayurvedic, magical plant that can not only help in controlling blood sugar levels and other symptoms of diabetes but is potent enough to alleviate many issues arising from your head to toe. Giloy also gives a boost to immunity. Powered with Antioxidants, it protects  the body from any damage caused by free radicals. To consume it, take 1 tsp of Giloy powder or ½ an inch of fresh crushed Giloy stem, mix or soak it in a cup of water overnight. Drink it on an empty stomach the next morning. You can also boil ½ inch of Giloy stem in a cup of water till it reduces in half and drink it hot, twice a day.
  4. Sadabahar: is a common plant found in India. Its flowers are the main component to help reduce blood sugar levels. Sadabahar flowers can be boiled in water for a few minutes. You can strain and drink it in the morning as tea. 3-4 leaves can be chewed daily on an empty stomach as well. 
  5. Peppermint: contains natural antioxidants which are helpful in fighting diabetes, heart disease, aging and cancer. It also adds great flavor and aroma to teas. Peppermint is available both in fresh and dried leaves or tea bags in the market but it is better to go for fresh leaves. The leaves can be added to tea for good flavor and your daily dose of antioxidants. Alternatively you can add them to salads or chew 4-5 leaves on an empty stomach. Please Note: People with GERD or people prone to acidity should avoid it as it relaxes the muscle that closes the stomach from oesophagus causing acid reflux.

We hope this article helps you battle diabetes. Before you switch to using any of these wonder herbs to battle diabetes, please ensure that you check with your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian in case of any allergies or other medical conditions. For more on Diabetes, check out Healthy Reads.

For further guidance and motivation by certified experts, join the GOQii Diabetes Care program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

#BeTheForce

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