4 Reasons to Intermittent FastFasting really? Intermittent fasting has been popular for many years, especially among those wanting to lose weight. It’s now known that the health benefits of intermittent fasting go way beyond weight loss. Intermittent fasting doesn’t restrict what you eat, just when you eat it. Some practitioners suggest fasting for 16 hours, say from 8pm until 12pm or 6pm until 10 am. Others believe that eating normally for 5 days and then restricting calories to 500 or 600 for two days is the way to ...
Can blue Light Affect our Sleep?Can blue light affect our sleep? The short answer to this is ‘yes’. The modern world and its technology is full of man-made blue light, from our energy saving light bulbs to our TVs, computers and smart phones. We are being bombarded with blue light, from when we wake up in the morning until we go to sleep, and this is seriously affecting our circadian rhythms and therefore our sleep. What is Blue Light? Natural blue light is everywhere and, before the advent of electricity and gas, it was ...
3 Reasons to eat ApplesBelieve it or not, there are a staggering 7,500 varieties of apple around the world, although only 100 varieties are presently cultivated. We have archaeological evidence of apples being eaten as far back as Ancient Egypt, where one rich lady was sent on her way with a plate of sliced apples. Apples are an Excellent Source of Fibre Just one medium sized apple contains 17% of our recommended daily fibre intake. The fibre of an apple is made up of insoluble and soluble (pectin) fibre. ...
3 Reasons to go Gluten FreeWhat is gluten? Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. What many people don’t realise is that it’s also found in oats. Supermarkets that label their oats ‘Gluten Free’ are usually referring to the fact that the oats were grown, processed and packed in an area without the presence of wheat, rye or barley. However, oats contain the gluten protein ‘avenin’. There’s a large body of research on this particular debate which is worth investigating. Coeliac Disease Coeliac disea...
The Benefits of PlankingHuh... what is a plank? Planking is considered one of the best exercises for core strengthening, and, as we all know, a strong core is essential for everything we do. One of the joys of planking is that it can be done anywhere, anytime and needs no equipment. Professor Stuart McGill, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, insists that you only need to hold the planking position for 10 seconds to see and feel the results. Others, such as Benji Tiger, insist that the optima...
Does diet affect our mood?Good mood food... Scientific evidence shows that what we eat not only affects our physical health, but also our mood and mental health. Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates Junk food is full of sugar, some seen and some unseen, and refined white starches. That sugary doughnut may give us an immediate lift, but it’s always followed by a low. Sugar, processed foods and refined carbs, such as white bread, instantly increase your blood sugar levels and make you feel great but that high is short live...
Natural Slow Release Energy FoodsSlow release energy? Most of us suffer from energy slumps at various times of the day. For some of us it’s the battle to get out of bed in the morning, for others, it’s the famous afternoon drowsy feeling. Whatever you do, don’t grab an energy drink when tiredness hits, instead, eat a diet which contains natural, slow release energy foods and the problem will disappear. Which Foods? Firstly, choose foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Then look at foods that keep yo...
The Healthiest BerriesMmmmm you’ve gotta love berries… Berries have been eaten by man for millennia. Ancient man, or rather ancient woman, foraged for these Superfoods and enjoyed the colourful, nutrient rich gifts from Mother Nature. They contain exceptionally high levels of antioxidants, making them the perfect food for fighting off disease and maintaining a healthy body. Blueberries Blueberries have it all. They are great anti inflammatories and have antibacterial qualities as well. They are full of antioxi...
Magnesium BenefitsOur bodies contain only 25 grams of magnesium, most of which is stored in the skeletal system. This 25 grams may be a small amount, but it’s involved in more than 600 enzymatic reactions, from metabolising our food to creating and repairing our DNA. Below are some of the major benefits: – Healthy Bones Magnesium is vital for the formation of healthy bones and in maintaining bone density. It’s therefore one of the major players in the prevention of osteoporosis. Absorption of Calcium Magne...
The Benefits of Using Digestive Enzymes"It's not what you eat, it's what you absorb" - Dr. Wallach Simply put, digestive enzymes are proteins that break down our food into minute pieces to allow them to enter our bloodstream and be carried around our body. Although, you may follow a healthy diet, it’s possible that the nutrients you are taking in aren’t providing you with any goodness. This particularly applies to people who have IBS, Crohn’s, coeliac disease, leaky gut or food allergies/intolerances. This inabi...
Apple Cider Vinegar and DigestionApple cider vinegar has been used medicinally for a variety of ailments for thousands of years. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed apple cider vinegar and honey as a cure for a variety of health issues. It’s even said to have been used by Cleopatra as a facial cleanser and toner. However, here we talk about the benefits of apple cider vinegar on our digestive systems. Apple cider vinegar is made by firstly crushing apples and then adding a bacterial yeast. This causes t...
Do I Burn Fat Whilst Sleeping?Burning fat whilst sleeping?? Surely not! When you think of burning fat, you imagine a tough workout at the gym or running a half marathon and eating a healthy, lean diet. This may be one way of burning fat, however, research has shown that a good night’s sleep is imperative to keeping that unwanted fat at bay. Studies A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sleep is one of the most powerful fat burning tools. Two groups were put on a calorie-controlled diet (1450 ...
The Benefits of Citrus FruitWhen people think of the health benefits of citrus fruit, most concentrate on its high vitamin C content, but there is so much more to citrus than vitamin C. Good Source of Fibre An average sized orange contains around 2.3 grams of fibre, of which 50% is soluble. Not only does this help lower cholesterol levels, it also makes it a great food for dieting, as you feel full for longer. Keeping our cholesterol levels in check obviously reduces our risk heart disease. Vitamin C Vitamin C is vita...
3 Reasons to Consume Folic AcidFolate, and its synthetic counterpart folic acid, are also known as vitamin B9. This vitamin is essential for forming and repairing our DNA and producing red blood cells. Not getting enough folic acid in our diets can lead to a deficiency in a few short weeks. Folic acid can be taken as a supplement and it’s found in a wide range of foods. It can be found in the following foods: – Leafy greens – such as broccoli, spinach and lettuce Fruits – such as bananas, lemons and melons Vegetable...
How Good Nutrition Can Aid SleepHow many hours of good quality sleep do you get each night? What we eat affects our health, which in turn affects our sleep. Ana Krieger, Medical Director of the Centre for Sleep Medicine says, “Eating healthy and allowing the body to absorb proper nutrients provides the brain with the chemical environment that it needs to produce the neurotransmitters that it needs to maintain adequate sleep. The nutrients we get from food serve as the building blocks for other minerals and proteins that ar...
How Much Water Should We Drink?The amount of water each person should drink a day varies enormously. Everyone has different requirements. Variables such as climate, health and exercise need to be factored into water requirements and, even then, there’s no set amount. The important thing to remember is that when you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. What’s Right for You? There are many factors to consider when deciding how much fluid is right for your body. Is it an exceptionally hot day? Are you planning on running a ...
4 Reasons to Intermittent Fast
Fasting really? Intermittent fasting has been popular for many years, especially among those wanting to lose weight. It’s now known that the health benefits of intermittent fasting go way beyond weight loss. Intermittent fasting doesn’t restrict what you eat, just when you eat it. Some practitioners suggest fasting for 16 hours, say from 8pm until 12pm or 6pm until 10 am. Others believe that eating normally for 5 days and then restricting calories to 500 or 600 for two days is the way to ...
Can blue Light Affect our Sleep?
Can blue light affect our sleep? The short answer to this is ‘yes’. The modern world and its technology is full of man-made blue light, from our energy saving light bulbs to our TVs, computers and smart phones. We are being bombarded with blue light, from when we wake up in the morning until we go to sleep, and this is seriously affecting our circadian rhythms and therefore our sleep. What is Blue Light? Natural blue light is everywhere and, before the advent of electricity and gas, it was ...
3 Reasons to eat Apples
Believe it or not, there are a staggering 7,500 varieties of apple around the world, although only 100 varieties are presently cultivated. We have archaeological evidence of apples being eaten as far back as Ancient Egypt, where one rich lady was sent on her way with a plate of sliced apples. Apples are an Excellent Source of Fibre Just one medium sized apple contains 17% of our recommended daily fibre intake. The fibre of an apple is made up of insoluble and soluble (pectin) fibre. ...
3 Reasons to go Gluten Free
What is gluten? Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. What many people don’t realise is that it’s also found in oats. Supermarkets that label their oats ‘Gluten Free’ are usually referring to the fact that the oats were grown, processed and packed in an area without the presence of wheat, rye or barley. However, oats contain the gluten protein ‘avenin’. There’s a large body of research on this particular debate which is worth investigating. Coeliac Disease Coeliac disea...
The Benefits of Planking
Huh... what is a plank? Planking is considered one of the best exercises for core strengthening, and, as we all know, a strong core is essential for everything we do. One of the joys of planking is that it can be done anywhere, anytime and needs no equipment. Professor Stuart McGill, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, insists that you only need to hold the planking position for 10 seconds to see and feel the results. Others, such as Benji Tiger, insist that the optima...
Does diet affect our mood?
Good mood food... Scientific evidence shows that what we eat not only affects our physical health, but also our mood and mental health. Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates Junk food is full of sugar, some seen and some unseen, and refined white starches. That sugary doughnut may give us an immediate lift, but it’s always followed by a low. Sugar, processed foods and refined carbs, such as white bread, instantly increase your blood sugar levels and make you feel great but that high is short live...
Natural Slow Release Energy Foods
Slow release energy? Most of us suffer from energy slumps at various times of the day. For some of us it’s the battle to get out of bed in the morning, for others, it’s the famous afternoon drowsy feeling. Whatever you do, don’t grab an energy drink when tiredness hits, instead, eat a diet which contains natural, slow release energy foods and the problem will disappear. Which Foods? Firstly, choose foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Then look at foods that keep yo...
The Healthiest Berries
Mmmmm you’ve gotta love berries… Berries have been eaten by man for millennia. Ancient man, or rather ancient woman, foraged for these Superfoods and enjoyed the colourful, nutrient rich gifts from Mother Nature. They contain exceptionally high levels of antioxidants, making them the perfect food for fighting off disease and maintaining a healthy body. Blueberries Blueberries have it all. They are great anti inflammatories and have antibacterial qualities as well. They are full of antioxi...
Magnesium Benefits
Our bodies contain only 25 grams of magnesium, most of which is stored in the skeletal system. This 25 grams may be a small amount, but it’s involved in more than 600 enzymatic reactions, from metabolising our food to creating and repairing our DNA. Below are some of the major benefits: – Healthy Bones Magnesium is vital for the formation of healthy bones and in maintaining bone density. It’s therefore one of the major players in the prevention of osteoporosis. Absorption of Calcium Magne...
The Benefits of Using Digestive Enzymes
"It's not what you eat, it's what you absorb" - Dr. Wallach Simply put, digestive enzymes are proteins that break down our food into minute pieces to allow them to enter our bloodstream and be carried around our body. Although, you may follow a healthy diet, it’s possible that the nutrients you are taking in aren’t providing you with any goodness. This particularly applies to people who have IBS, Crohn’s, coeliac disease, leaky gut or food allergies/intolerances. This inabi...
Apple Cider Vinegar and Digestion
Apple cider vinegar has been used medicinally for a variety of ailments for thousands of years. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed apple cider vinegar and honey as a cure for a variety of health issues. It’s even said to have been used by Cleopatra as a facial cleanser and toner. However, here we talk about the benefits of apple cider vinegar on our digestive systems. Apple cider vinegar is made by firstly crushing apples and then adding a bacterial yeast. This causes t...
Do I Burn Fat Whilst Sleeping?
Burning fat whilst sleeping?? Surely not! When you think of burning fat, you imagine a tough workout at the gym or running a half marathon and eating a healthy, lean diet. This may be one way of burning fat, however, research has shown that a good night’s sleep is imperative to keeping that unwanted fat at bay. Studies A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sleep is one of the most powerful fat burning tools. Two groups were put on a calorie-controlled diet (1450 ...
The Benefits of Citrus Fruit
When people think of the health benefits of citrus fruit, most concentrate on its high vitamin C content, but there is so much more to citrus than vitamin C. Good Source of Fibre An average sized orange contains around 2.3 grams of fibre, of which 50% is soluble. Not only does this help lower cholesterol levels, it also makes it a great food for dieting, as you feel full for longer. Keeping our cholesterol levels in check obviously reduces our risk heart disease. Vitamin C Vitamin C is vita...
3 Reasons to Consume Folic Acid
Folate, and its synthetic counterpart folic acid, are also known as vitamin B9. This vitamin is essential for forming and repairing our DNA and producing red blood cells. Not getting enough folic acid in our diets can lead to a deficiency in a few short weeks. Folic acid can be taken as a supplement and it’s found in a wide range of foods. It can be found in the following foods: – Leafy greens – such as broccoli, spinach and lettuce Fruits – such as bananas, lemons and melons Vegetable...
How Good Nutrition Can Aid Sleep
How many hours of good quality sleep do you get each night? What we eat affects our health, which in turn affects our sleep. Ana Krieger, Medical Director of the Centre for Sleep Medicine says, “Eating healthy and allowing the body to absorb proper nutrients provides the brain with the chemical environment that it needs to produce the neurotransmitters that it needs to maintain adequate sleep. The nutrients we get from food serve as the building blocks for other minerals and proteins that ar...
How Much Water Should We Drink?
The amount of water each person should drink a day varies enormously. Everyone has different requirements. Variables such as climate, health and exercise need to be factored into water requirements and, even then, there’s no set amount. The important thing to remember is that when you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. What’s Right for You? There are many factors to consider when deciding how much fluid is right for your body. Is it an exceptionally hot day? Are you planning on running a ...
