Natural NourishmentArticles

28 Days of Celery: The Results

There has been a significant amount of talk recently based around the idea of starting each day with celery juice. It is something that was hugely popularised by the Medical Medium who claims this green liquid is literally the panacea for all things.

Now from my viewpoint nothing in isolation will offer the answer to all our health questions, but I also see no issue in the addition of something bursting with micronutrients & electrolytes first thing in the morning. So it was with this in mind that I decided to put it to the test, because how could I really know the benefits/pitfalls & be able to hold my own in a conversation without having tried it myself.

And so my #28daysofcelery challenge was born.

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Kombucha: Fermented & Fabulous Or Fashionable Fad

Have you heard of kombucha? Well if not this will be even more of an enlightening experience for you!

So let’s start off with the basics – what actually is it?!

Kombucha is a naturally carbonated fermented tea. The process to make it is actually exceedingly simple & basically involves adding a colony of specific bacteria known as a SCOBY (which looks like a slightly alien mat, you’d have to see one to understand what I mean) to a cooled container of tea with a little sugar (this feeds those bacteria & fuels the fermentation process). That goes on for 2-4 weeks, then the SCOBY is removed & the partially fermented tea bottled under pressure. You can add flavourings like a little juice or cordial at this point & then the kombucha is left for its 2nd fermentation for another 10-14 days to produce its characteristic fizz.

So why on Earth is everyone going crazy for this stuff – well that’s the interesting bit!

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Just Call Me The Jammy Dodger: Turning The Tables On Toast Toppings + RECIPE: Rose & Raspberry Chia Jam

I would like to think people don’t actually refer to me as ‘The Sugar Police’ when I’m not looking, but I might be fighting a losing battle….Oh well there are worse things I suppose!

Anyway in terms of all things in moderation, today I wanted to shine my foodie spotlight onto the world of preserves, conserves, jams & jellies (delete as appropriate depending on your location & preference).

This issue I have with these products is unlike something like a piece of fresh or dried fruit which will also contain significant quantities of naturally occurring sugars, these things will be pure refined sugar, concentrated down through the cooking process, & presented to you in the absence of the balancing elements of fibre, fat & protein.

And such a severe whack of glucose straight into the bloodstream is nobody’s health friend.

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Lend Us Your Ears: Podcasting With Matt Gardner

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I frequently get asked for my ‘Top Tips’ when it comes to simple changes people can make to their diets & routines to improve their health. Now in these cases I always try to come back with some easy bits & pieces but in all honesty depending on the person in from of me that select handful could be any number of things.

That’s not to say there aren’t fundamentals we can all work on, but as we are all wonderfully unique going into more detail can set me off on a train of thought & those ‘Top Tips’ have turned into a 25 minute conversation….

Anyway with the mention of my rambling mind firmly to one side for now, today I am really happy to share this wonderful session I recently recorded with Matt Gardener for his Big Feed Up HQ podcast.

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When Training Gets Personal: My Experience with Individualised Exercise & An Introduction to Nathalie Hayward

Strength Training — *Surprise & awe – the 2 continuing emotions when I realise I have actual muscles!*

I have always been an active person, even stretching back to my childhood when (much to my chagrin at the time) my Mum used to drag me & my sister outside for a walk when all of our friends got to sit on their bums & watch TV (I cannot express my gratitude for her enough now!). But yes I always thought I knew the ins & outs of exercise, how to keep myself fit & what I needed to do to look good. And with that we can just curtail this paragraph because unsurprisingly I didn’t (we can’t all be masters of everything!) & I actually ended up with a multitude of injuries & fatigue as a result. Oops.

Then I had the great fortune to meet the wonderful Nathalie. Not only is she an infectiously energetic person who will have you reaching heights in your fitness you never thought you could, she is also fantastically in-tune with what you as an individual need from a holistic health perspective, because exercise isn’t just for the body, it is for the mind & soul too.

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Brand Love: Dr Hauschka

I think this photo just epitomises the ethos of this fantastic skincare & make-up brand, & to say they are an absolute mainstay in my bathroom, well that’s potentially underplaying how much I love their products!

When entering into the world of conscious skincare there are levels, those brands which utilise natural ingredients & those who go that step further & harness the functional nature of the elements they choose to include, & this is where Dr Hauschka shines.

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