The Healthy Other Half.

As promised, here are numbers 6 through 10 of my top health foods of the moment - Enjoy!

6) Shrimp
- Contains vitamin B12, which aids bone density and can help prevent osteoporosis
- Contains vitamin D, which is important for healthy skin and bones
- High in protein and low in fat

How do I include it in my diet? Add shrimp to stir-fries, salads and wraps


7) Raspberries
- Contain anthocyanins, which help to lower blood sugar levels and increase insulin production, making them great for those suffering with diabetes
- High in antioxidants
- Contain anti-inflammatory phytonutrients

How do I include them in my diet? Great with cauliflower (strange but true), or add to salads and sprinkle on your cereal

8) Flaxseed
- Contains ALA (alpha-linoleic acid), a healthy fat that improves the function of the cerebral cortex
- Can help to reduce cholesterol
- Contains omega 3 and fibre

How do I include it in my diet? Sprinkle it on salads, cereals or mix it into smoothies


9) Curly kale
- High in calcium
- Contains vitamins A and C
- High in antioxidants

How do I include it in my diet? Add it to salads, bake it to make kale chips or eat instead of spinach

10) Grapefruit
- Contains naringin, which can lower the level of cancer-causing enzymes in your body
- Contains vitamins A and C
- Can help to lower cholesterol

How do I include it in my diet? Eat it at breakfast, make into a juice or add to salads

More to come soon!

Nati xXx

The First Fab Five.

Time to bring you the first five of my ten big health-hitters of the moment. These all have great health benefits, and if you can incorporate at least some of them into your diet, you'll definitely be doing your body a favour! Foods that have been paired together contain the same/similar health benefits so have been added to give you a choice of foods to try. Here we go....

1) Walnuts/Almonds
- Packed full of heart-healthy omega 3s
- Anti-inflammatory
- Great source of protein

How do I include it in my diet? Sprinkle on salads or simply eat as a snack

2) Quinoa
- Both contain soluble fibre, great for digestive health
- Great source of protein
- Provides your body with slow-release energy

How do I include it in my diet? Incorporate oats into your breakfast, and cook quinoa and add it to salads. Quinoa can also be used to make porridge.

3) Blueberries
- Packed full of antioxidants
- Great source of fibre
- Contain vitamins A and C

How do I include it in my diet? Add it to your cereal or eat as a healthy snack

4) Sweet potato/Carrots
- Contain carotenoids, which are cancer-fighting compounds
- Anti-inflammatory
- Low calorie

How do I include it in my diet? Make soups/salads, or bake sweet potatos and turn them into delicious wedges!

5) Spinach
- Full of omega 3s
- Contains folate, which has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and osteoporosis
- Contains lutein, which helps to prevent muscular degeneration

How do I include it in my diet? Use it in salads and soups.

Hope that was helpful and the next 5 will be coming shortly!
Nati xXx

Goodbye Gluten & Hello California.

Hello all!

I'm back and once again coming to you from California! Sorry for the delay in writing this holiday post - the novelty of actually having sunshine in my life again took me away from the computer, but I'm ready to update you on my health notes!

As you know, back home in England I was first following the Paleo diet, to see if it would help my rheumatoid arthritis, and then simply a gluten-free/low-carb diet. I did have a feeling that it was mildly improving my symptoms, but I didn't know if that was my second set of meds finally kicking in, or my diet. I can now say with utter certainty that it was the latter.

                                          The enemy - carbs!

Here in California I have my aunt cooking for me, and have also been staying with my friends, so I've been unable to eat gluten-free, or to cut down on my carb intake. I've been here for 2 weeks and the effects are just kicking in now - I'm more bloated, my knees ache and swell more, and I'm just feeling generally more lethargic. Although this might get me down, I'm looking at it in a positive way - this month in California will be a good experiment to see the effects of carbs and gluten/wheat on my arthritis, and will give me extra ammo to follow a strict diet when I go back home. It's also good to know that in the future I may not have to rely so heavily on medication, and can instead look to altering my diet to help me.

 
           My knees, quite swollen - not attractive, but just so you get an idea of what I'm describing!

Anyway, this was just a quick update on the effects of being off my gluten-free diet, and I will continue to keep you updated on my eating habits while on holiday, and any other health facts I come across!

Back soon! xXx