Thursday 18 September 2014

Cold and Flu Fighter Tea



Cold and Flu Fighter Tea


A warming drink to support the immune system, soothe sore throats and reduce coughing.


Bring one litre of water to the boil and add

  • honey- 1 tablespoon
  • ginger-2 teaspoons of fresh grated
  • lemon- 1 large sliced leaving skin on, do not use waxed fruit
  • cinnamon- 1 stick or 1/2 teaspoon of powder
  • cloves-6
  • garlic- 1 medium clove
  • chilli-1/4 teaspoon of fresh chopped
Continue to boil for one minute.

Allow to cool slightly and drink at a warm temperature throughout the day.

Both honey and chilli can be left out if desired. The honey does give it a more pleasant taste. 
The amount of chilli is too small to give a hot taste but if you have a sensitivity to
 chilli it is best left out.The tea will still be beneficial.

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Food Star Ratings

 Food Star Ratings

The Sydney-based George Institute for Global Health is launching its own website that rates 55,000 packaged food products commonly found in supermarkets. This is in response to the federal government dragging its feet on their promised website.  You may remember a website was put up and pulled down in 24 hours in February 2014 with health advocates claiming the government had caved in to industry pressure.

This new website has no links with industry but is open to correcting any data they put up that is out of date.
Currently their data is based on December 2013 figures.

http://www.foodswitchstars.com.au/

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Fat Loss not Weight Loss

Fat Loss- Not Weight Loss

  1. Set realistic behavioral goals rather than a specific weight loss outcome.
  2.  Do not attempt or expect to lose weight fast.
  3. It is especially risky if you are very overweight to lose weight fast.
  4. Plan and follow a regular exercise program designed to burn fat.
  5. Diet needs to be composed of 30% protein, 30% good fats and 40% carbohydrates.
  6. Take most carbohydrates in the form of vegetables,legumes and fruit.
  7. Drink 8 glasses of water (preferably filtered) daily.
  8. Prepare your own meals and record what you eat.
  9. Eat slowly and chew your food well.
  10. Use a medium sized plate, this helps to reduce portions.
  11. Buy fresh and unrefined food whenever possible.
  12. Avoid shopping when you are hungry.
  13. Eat a hearty breakfast and don't skip meals.
  14. Avoid snacking or choose healthy snacks.
  15. Limit salt and sugar intake

Monday 15 September 2014

Raw Foods

Raw Foods

Raw organic foods, in particular raw leafy greens, are an essential component of a healthy diet. They are full of essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals and protein- yes protein. Leafy greens can, however, be difficult for some people to digest especially those people with low levels of stomach acid (HCl). This difficulty can be overcome by processing greens in a blender with water. Be sure to add fresh fruit as this will ensure your smoothie is not only healthy but delicious also.

It is important to use a variety of leafy greens rather than for example spinach every day for a week. This is because most plants contain defensive chemicals to discourage their consumption. With a variety of leafy greens these defensive chemicals will only be ingested in small quantities thus allowing the body to easily deal with them.

Some beneficial greens are baby spinach, beetroot leaves, rocket, dandelion, parsley, kale, chickweed, collards, nettle, purslane, fat hen (lambs quarters) and carrot tops. Ideally these will be organic and freshly picked.