 "Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food" (Hippocrates 400BC) |
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I hope you've all had a good summer break despite the amount of rain we've had and the lack of sunshine. I read somewhere that we could be seeing more people with SAD syndrome earlier than usual this year because of this. The seasons definitely seem to be changing as I have noticed that the winters don't seem so cold, they're just wetter and the summers are not so hot, yet again, they seem to be wetter. Plants are flowering earlier or at different times than they would normally, so we all need to try and do our bit to look after the environment we live in and accumulatively we can hope to slow down the green house effect. I have had a fantastic summer and been very busy working on my new website (although I have had a lot of help from a very good friend of mine Mike Simmonds, for which I am very grateful!) which I hope you'll like as I'm keen that you get involved by submitting:
I am currently undertaking the Nutrition training for the local authority catering employees which I am very pleased about, as they now have to have some basic Nutrition training as it is being recognised as being of great importance to the future health of not only our children but also to every one of us! I offer a basic one day introduction to Nutrition which gives you a basic understanding of the way nutrients are used in the body and what foods they are found in. You will also learn about the different groups of foods, the amounts needed for a balanced diet and ways we can make dishes healthier. This is a very interactive course making for a very interesting, relaxed but informative course that you will find you can use not only at work but in your personal life as well. This course is open to anyone working within the catering industry or for anyone wanting a basic introduction to Nutrition. More details can be found on my website or e- mail me if you want more information. What to drink I am always being asked for alternative suggestions to drinking tea and coffee for those of you that are trying to cut down on your caffeine intake, so I thought I would write a few of these down. I am often asked for my thoughts on articles that promote tea and coffee as having some health benefits, such as antioxidants and my response to this would be that there are far better sources of antioxidants in foods other than resorting to tea and coffee as the negative factors outweigh the positive ones. They are dehydrating drinks, plus there is still the issue that caffeine can have a negative effect on your health as it upsets your blood sugar balance and this is one of the key factors for good health. So, I would suggest keeping your caffeine intake to a minimum and avoid drinking it with food as it can inhibit the absorption of minerals. Drink it away from meal times and try not to drink it after 6pm as it is stimulates the adrenal glands. It is important to start winding down for the day after this time to promote refreshing sleep, so start including a few alternatives incorporating some of the more relaxing ones in the evening. Although green teas contain important antioxidants bear in mind that they still contain a certain amount of caffeine too but not quite as much as ordinary tea and coffee. A better alternative is rooibos (or redbush tea). It tastes like tea, is full of antioxidants but doesn't contain any caffeine. This is widely available in supermarkets now, as well as in your local health store. I particularly like herbal teas and there are so many to choose from now that it never gets boring. Unlike tea and coffee they are hydrating, whilst the various herbs have a supportive role to play on the body. You can choose different ones depending on the result you want to achieve but try and vary them.
I had a wonderful herb tea at a yoga open day that I went to recently which I would like to share with you. I found it wonderfully refreshing and loved the naturally sweet, fresh lemony taste that you get from it without it being bitter. Try putting equal parts (small handful) of lemon balm, lemon verbena and sweet cicely in a teapot and infuse for 5 – 10 minutes. Good substitutes for coffee are the roasted cereal grains such as barley, chicory, rye and dandelion root. They are generally available in powdered or granule form or you can grind your own dandelion root. Carob powder is an alternative to drinking chocolate although you will need to check labels for its sugar content. Smoothies and fresh juices are a great way to boost your vitamin and mineral intake and can be quite powerful cleansers. More information on these and their benefits can be found on the recipes page on my website. www.seekingbalance.co.uk/recipes Of course the most refreshing, hydrating fluid we can drink is clean, filtered water! Aim for 1 – 2 litres per day. It is amazing how symptoms such as headaches, general aches and pains can often be improved by decreasing your intake of dehydrating drinks- tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol and increasing your water intake. Try it for yourself! Events Natural Living Show – Dragon Hotel, Swansea city centre October 4 th and 5 th 2008 Contact: Jayne Sayers 07834 034 661
The West Wales Health Show – Withybush Showground, Haverfordwest October 25 th and 26 th 2008 Come and say hello at the show as I will have a stand there on Saturday the 25 th of October only and will be doing Juicing and Food Intolerance Testing . This will be at discounted prices for the show day only. www.thewestwaleshealthshow.co.uk
27 th Natural Health Show – Students Union Building Cardiff November 1 st and 2 nd 2008 Contact: 01446 796 065 / 07736 246 512 www.visionforliving.co.uk For more information contact: Joanne Hughes 07962 580912 Pure – Organic Baby Foods This is a new local business that I was pleased to be asked to get involved with in its developmental stages. Linda was keen to ensure that all her products were the best that they could be and suitable for young babies as there are strict guidelines that have to be followed, as well as taking into consideration the fact that their immune systems have not yet developed properly. So, it is advisable to feed them low allergen foods to start with. For all you new mum's out there this is a great place to get high quality products that you know are going to be nutritious for your baby with the peace of mind that they are made from the best local ingredients available and free from any additives of any sort. www.pureorganicbabyfoods.co.uk Health and happiness May Lauder |
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