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Top Foods To Lower Cholesterol Levels

lower cholesterol levels

High cholesterol is one of the common causes that leads to heart diseases. Luckily, there are a few good natural food sources to help you lower cholesterol levels. When you start working on your eating habits along with other lifestyle modifications like no smoking, reducing alcohol, being physically active and exercising daily, you will not only see the improvement in your cholesterol levels but also your overall health.

Which Foods Can Lower Cholesterol Levels? 

Eating more fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, including healthy fats and protein in our meals, may help lower cholesterol levels in your blood. Some of these foods include:

  1. Whole Grains: Including high-fiber, whole grain food in your diet can help lower cholesterol levels. Oats and barley contain a soluble fiber called beta-glucan which helps in lowering LDL levels. Starting your day with a bowl of oatmeal is the best choice. Quinoa is a great choice too with its antioxidant, Vitamin B and fiber content which helps in reducing cholesterol levels.
  2. Nuts: Fiber, protein and antioxidant rich nuts which are also high in monounsaturated fat like almond, pecan, walnuts and pistachios help in lowering cholesterol levels. Just make sure you limit the intake to a handful of nuts a day to limit the calorie intake.
  3. Fruits: are high in fiber, potassium and pectin – a type of soluble fiber which helps in lowering LDL. Some fruits good for lowering cholesterol level are apples, avocados, grapes, strawberries, oranges and other citrus fruits rich in Vitamin C. 
  4. Fatty Fish: Salmon, tuna and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acid – which helps in lowering triglyceride levels. They help in reducing inflammation and increase the level of good cholesterol. So, eating fish 2-3 times a week is good for heart health.
  5. Vegetables: Being high in vitamins, minerals, fiber and low in calories, vegetables help in lowering cholesterol levels. Vegetables like carrot, okra and eggplant are good sources of soluble fiber, which can help you lower cholesterol levels.
  6. Beans: are high in soluble fiber and they take time to digest, keeping you full for longer. You can include any beans from kidney beans to chickpeas to black eyed peas and any other.
  7. Healthy Fats: Replace saturated fats with monounsaturated fats like olive oil, canola oil and polyunsaturated fats like flax seeds, soy, sunflower seed oil. These are said to help you lower your LDL level and boost your HDL level.

So, include at least 3-5 portions of fruits and vegetables each day along with a handful of nuts. 

Prepare your food by grilling, poaching, roasting, boiling, baking instead of deep frying to reduce fat intake.

“The Foods We Choose, Make A Difference.” – Michael Greger

We hope this article helps you make better food choices to lower cholesterol levels! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below! For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

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Healthy Eating: Eggless Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake

Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake

This Cake reminded me of my childhood Britannia cakes. We, as kids, could not stop at one slice. The minute that packet was opened, the whole cake vanished with no crumbs left behind. Marble Cake has both vanilla and chocolate flavors and two distinct colors are mixed together to create a marble effect. To top it all, this gorgeous marble cake is a stress buster for me and made my life super special over the weekend. It is a perfect cake to accompany a cup of Tea or Coffee. Bake a loaf and gift it to your loved ones. I am sure they will love it.

What You Will Need

(1 cup= 200 gm,  1 tbsp=15 gm , 1tsp= 5 gm)

  • Whole wheat flour – 2 cups 
  • Odorless oil/Pure ghee – ½ cup 
  • Jaggery powder/syrup (melt jaggery in ⅛ cup water) – 1 cup 
  • Cocoa powder (unsweetened) – 1 tbsp 
  • Vanilla essence – 1 tsp 
  • Baking powder (7.5gm) – 1 ½ tsp
  • Baking soda (5gm) – 1 tsp 
  • Warm water – 1 cup (can be replaced with milk)  

How To Prepare

  1. Preheat  the oven at 350*F/180*C for 10 mins. Take a normal size Cake Loaf Pan (7-8 inches) and grease it lightly. You may also line it with a parchment paper for easy handling.
  2. Take a big bowl and sift 2 cups of flour, baking powder and baking soda into it. Mix it well with a fork and set it aside.
  3. In another bowl, add ghee/oil, curd and mix well. Add jaggery powder/syrup and beat the mixture till jaggery dissolves. 
  4. Add all the dry ingredients and mix gently with a cut and fold method. Add ¼ cup warm water/milk and fold it again. If you feel the batter is thick then slowly add warm water/milk  till the batter is in flowing consistency (DO NOT OVERBEAT THE BATTER).
  5. Now divide this batter into 2 equal parts.
  6. In one part of the batter, add vanilla essence. Mix it well till incorporated in the batter. This is your vanilla Batter.
  7. In the other half of the batter, add the cocoa powder. Mix well with a fork till well incorporated and therefore, the whole of this batter turns chocolate brown in color.
  8. To pour the batter, add 1 tbsp vanilla batter first at the bottom of the greased pan.Then pour the 1 tbsp chocolate batter on top.Tap the pan on the counter a few times so that the batter settles down evenly with no gaps in between.You may pour the vanilla and chocolate batters in the pan in an alternate sequence or the sequence of your desire, could also be chocolate first and vanilla later. However you want to do it.
  9. Keep it  in the oven for 30-40 mins. at 180*C. After 30 mins, check the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean then remove the cake tin from the oven and keep it on a cool down wire rack . Demould the tin when it completely cools down. (If it sticks on a toothpick, then bake it for more than 10 min. at 160*C .Temperature may vary in different ovens/OTGs.
  10. Cut it into small pieces according to your choice and store it in a steel or glass container in the refrigerator for a week. Enjoy a hearty slice of your Marble Cake with a cup of coffee or tea.

Why Is This Marble Cake Healthier Than A Bakery/Store Cake?

  • We are adding whole wheat flour in a cake which has more fibre, packed with B vitamins, while a bakery cake is made with maida (refined flour). Eating maida raises your bad cholesterol (LDL), makes you put on weight, clogs arteries, raises BP, disrupts blood glucose, keeps you hungry, causes you to crave for sweets, causes mood swings and ruins your health. People eat it because they’re probably unaware of its consequences.
  • We are using jaggery as a sweetener in cake, which is a good source of iron, helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance, aids digestion and helps prevent water retention thanks to its potassium content. Bakery cakes are loaded with white sugar and contain only empty calories without any nutrients. Excess sugar creates higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes and fatty liver disease.
  • In Bakery cakes, they use shortening and margarine, which are Trans Fats (Hydrogenated fats) that raise your risk of heart disease. They also raise your “bad” cholesterol levels, lower your “good” cholesterol and cause inflammation, therefore, hardening of your arteries.

We hope you enjoy this Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake recipe. Do try it out and leave your feedback in the comments below. For more Healthy Recipes, checkout Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

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Vitamin C Supplements: Do You Actually Need Them?

Vitamin C Supplements

While the COVID-19 pandemic made us realize the importance of health and immunity, there has been an unprecedented hype about taking nutritional supplements, especially those that are claimed to protect us from infectious diseases. One such supplement that gained a lot of popularity is Vitamin C. According to data by a research firm, The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), India sold around 171 crore pills of Vitamin C Supplements and 13 crore pills of vitamin C combined with other multivitamins in 2020. The growth in sales of vitamin C supplements in the year 2020 was almost 110%.

Health Benefits of Vitamin C 

Vitamin C has numerous roles in our body and has been linked to some impressive health benefits! 

  • It is a powerful antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defenses
  • May lower the risk of heart diseases
  • Has been linked to reduced blood uric acid levels and lower risk of gout
  • Can improve the absorption of iron from the diet and helps prevent iron deficiency, anemia
  • May boost immunity by helping white blood cells function more effectively, strengthening skin’s defense system and help heal wounds faster
  • Low vitamin C levels have been linked to an increased risk of memory and thinking disorders like dementia, while just about the right amount taken from food sources has been shown to have a protective effect

Does More Mean Better Health and Immunity? 

Given all the benefits of Vitamin C, can you consume more than required? Well, when it comes to vitamins, more is not always better. In fact, more can sometimes be dangerous. As vitamin and mineral supplements are available over the counter and without any prescription of a doctor/nutritionist, the masses assume that they are safe at any dosage. In the case of Vitamin C, our body cannot store it, so when consumption exceeds 2000 mg/day, it will be eliminated by the kidneys through urine, as it is a water soluble vitamin.

Too much vitamin C can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb copper, a mineral that is essential to the human body for carrying out major functions. Dosages above a 1000 mg coagulate iron in the cells of the body and oxidise them, causing an actual rusting action! Too much vitamin C or calcium (a regular component of vitamin C supplements) might cause bloating and stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, headaches, insomnia, and in prolonged uses, kidney stones. This means that your immunity can be rather compromised than being boosted by unjustified popping of supplement pills.

How Much Of Vitamin C Supplements Is Enough? 

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, which means your body cannot produce it and one has to provide it from the outside. Yet, the daily need of this vitamin can be conveniently met with a balanced diet containing a good amount from natural sources as opposed to going for supplements. Found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, vitamin C is most abundant in Amla, Guava, Oranges, Strawberries, Kiwi, Bell peppers, Green chillies, Radish greens, Bathua Greens, Broccoli, Kale and Spinach.

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of Vitamin C:

  • 55-65 mg/day for normal healthy adults
  • 25-35 mg/day for normal healthy children (1-18 years of age)

We hope this article on Vitamin C Supplements helps you make the healthier choice! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

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Shreejit Nandkumar Reaches His Health Goal With Determination and Consistency!

Shreejit NandkumarLosing weight or getting fit isn’t just about hitting the gym regularly or having a fitness regime. Pumping iron by itself cannot guarantee sustainable weight loss. It needs to be supplemented with a proper diet as well. One of our players, Shreejit Nandkumar, learned this little fact that changed his life forever. 

 A 47 year old working professional based out of Mumbai, Shreejit Nandkumar received the GOQii tracker through his former company, Schneider Electric, around 6 years back. Initially, he did not find the time or inclination to follow his Coach’s instructions due to his hectic work schedule but he followed a fitness regime religiously. His diet however, was not balanced at all as it included a lot of sugar intake, alcohol and large portions on a daily basis. In spite of not missing a day in the gym, his weight didn’t seem to reduce. He weighed around 100kg till lockdown in March 2020. 

Lockdown – A Blessing In Disguise? 

When the pandemic hit hard, the work from home routine and being confined indoors came as a blessing in disguise for Shreejit Nandkumar, who now found the time to interact with his coach regularly. With gyms shutting down, his weight training was heavily compromised. He began cycling early morning which turned out to be an enjoyable experience. He now cycles for 2 hours, covering 50km every day. With gyms open now, he does his weight training in the evenings. 

Balancing Nutrition With Exercise 

For Shreejit Nandkumar, a major shift has been his diet and calorie consumption. He begins his day with warm water mixed with honey and lemon. Then some nuts followed by a high protein breakfast. He is advised to keep his dinner light. His alcohol consumption has been reduced from every week to once in 4-6 months. Desserts and sweet intake is almost nil. Thanks to these minor modifications in his diet, he was able to reduce his weight to 85kg, body fat percentage is 15.7% from 24% and visceral fat is within healthy range. 

He says that his daily interaction with his GOQii Coach, Unnati Cheddha, and her guidance has helped him see fitness from a new perspective. He has come to realize that meal timings, pattern and portion size have to be in sync with exercise. He says, “Every small thing matters and it’s  important to try and be fit every day. It’s a continuous journey which has no detours and stops!” 

What Does Coach Unnati Cheddha Have To Say About Shreejit Nandkumar 

Shreejit Nandkumar has always been very determined towards his health goal – which was to  lose weight. Weight loss was also targeted in a healthier way. Body analysis was done to keep a check on his body fat percentage and muscle mass.

He is very passionate about exercising. He will never miss his workouts. Before lockdown, he used to go to the gym regularly, which came to a pause. But this did not stop his passion towards achieving  his health goal. He continued his activities with the same motivation and dedication. He was not able to do weight training exercises due to space constraint, so he chose the outdoor option of cycling. This was quite refreshing for him. He still doesn’t miss a single day and feels incomplete without it. Besides physical activity, Shreejit has been very particular with his food habits, maintaining low fat, high protein, moderate carb diet with good water consumption. He also takes adequate rest/sleep hours to recover and rejuvenate. Shreejit started his weight training as soon as the gyms opened in Mumbai.

Changes observed

  • Weight loss: 100kg to 85kg
  • Waist inches: 40“ to 32”
  • Body fat percent: 20.5% to 15.5%

Shreejit’s sincerity, determination, dedication and consistency helped him achieve his goals in a healthy manner. We hope this story inspires you to make a positive and healthy lifestyle change as well! Head over to the GOQii App or our website to begin your journey today! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

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