I was giddy with excitement at last nights Third Metric event hosted by the Huff Post and the rather fabulous Arianna Huffington. I'd been invited on the premise that it was something to do with health but I wasn't quite prepared for what I was about to hear.
We love this incredibly tasty and healthy RAW dessert by the wonderful Rebecca Kane at Shine on Raw Ingredients Base 1 ½ cups of ground almonds 3 Tbsp melted coconut oil ¼ cup agave syrup 1 Tbsp vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt Topping 1 ½ cup cashew nuts – soaked for 4 hours ½ cup water ½ cup agave syrup 1 cup of fresh strawberries ½ cup of melted coconut oil 2 Tbsp vanilla extract Pinch of salt Equipment Food Processor Blender Directions Base Mix ingredients in a food processor Press into...
These raw chocolate brownies are just as sticky, chewy and delicious as the real thing, except these are guilt free (well almost). Best of all they only take around 10 minutes to make – what are you waiting for? Ingredients 1 ½ cups of walnuts 8 pitted medjool dates 1/3 cup of cacao or carob powder ½ tsp of vanilla extract Pinch of salt 2 tsp of water Equipment Food processor Directions Place the walnuts in the food processor and process...
This tastes like pesto pasta, honest! Ingredients For the Pasta 2 courgettes For the Pesto ¼ cup pumpkin seeds ¼ cup of pine nuts ½ cup olive oil 2 Tbsp lemon 2 cups lightly packed basil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp salt Equipment Spiraliser or vegetable peeler Food processor Directions For the Pasta Spiralise the courgettes or use the vegetable peeler to peel strips of courgette so you end up with a ‘tagliatelle’ style pasta For the Pesto Blend the ingredients in a food processor Pour the pesto...
Ingredients 2 large tomatoes (carb) 1 desert spoon sun dried tomatoes (fat) Handful basil, coriander or parsley (whichever is your favourite) Pinch of Himalayan pink salt 2 soaked dates (carb) Pinch of cumin Handful of cashews (fat) A mugful of water Blend all the above in a powerful food blender - add more water if it needs to be thinner or more cashews if you prefer it creamier. Blend until its really...
This is such a tasty warming drink. Get a big mug to put in for maximum cuddling. Ingredients Almond Milk Vanilla Pod Raw Agave Nectar or Honey Cinnamon or Nutmeg Warm some almond milk and a vanilla pod in a pan with a Add in either raw agave nectar or raw honey once temp has been reached (to your taste). Remove the vanilla pod Sprinkle over a small amount of cinnamon and nutmeg. Delicious!...
Crunch away at these delicious posh crisp alternatives guilt free! Ingredients 1 bag of kale well washed (carb) 1.5 cups cashews (fat) Juice of half lemon (carb) Large pinch Himalayan salt Desert spoon of nutritional yeast In a food processor mix the yeast, salt, lemon juice and cashews until it makes a paste - add a little water if necessary. Coat your kale in the mixture. Pop your kale on a baking sheet and pop...
I have become obsessed with my menstrual cycle. Not just in that usual way where we log the dates in our diary and maybe check the consistency (which lets be honest is enough). I mean totally, deeply and utterly engrossed in it. Clearly my interest was piqued a year ago when I wrote about difficult periods but this interest has deepened to become a way of really identifying with myself.
Here is a marvellous recipe for some very tasty wheat-free, dairy-free pancakes. Ingredients: - 250g spelt flour (a mixture of white and brown is nice) with a nice pinch of sea salt (carb) - 2 organic eggs, lightly beaten (protein) - 600ml approx organic almond milk (fat) Lightly whisk the spelt flour in a bowl to get rid of lumps, then add the eggs into the middle of the flour and whisk in. Add the milk slowly....
[caption id="attachment_2610" align="alignleft" width="328"] Bowel Bits[/caption] When I first introduce myself and my line of work I usually get strange looks. Firstly because people don’t know what I do - Systematic Kinesiology is virtually unknown in this country, my Dad checked the English dictionary and its not even in there! Secondly I specialise in bowels. That always gets an odd look or a nervous laugh. What do you say to a woman...
There is a famous adage "if you want something doing, ask a busy person". That's me, busy and always doing stuff. I'm a doer - always have been, always will be, I've always got a stack of projects on the go and a few more waiting on the sideline
Not everyone is this way. I had a friend who had to stop her dance class when she was buying a house because it was too overwhelming.
I'm the opposite. A while ago we knocked down our house and I project managed the rebuild whilst running my clinic. At the same time I was teaching, participating in a a massive self development course, kept my network marketing business moving forward, fitted in 3 holidays and a nutrition diploma and found time for my family and a bit of retail therapy. This is not to say "I'm better than my friend - actually it's taken an awful lot of work for me to realise that my body has an overwhelm level and I have to listen carefully to it to make sure I'm not going to crash. What I want to do with this blog is give some guidelines to help those who don't stop.Could this be the best chocolate cake ever? We think so. Dark, moist and delicious with no wheat or dairy. Ingredients 2 Aubergines 300g Dark Organic Chocolate 50g Cocoa Powder 60g Ground Almonds 200g Clear Honey 2tsp Baking Powder 1/4 tsp Salt 3 Eggs Method Boil aubergines for 5 minutes, skin them and puree Add chocolate, stir until melted In a large bowl whisk together all the other ingredients until slightly bubbly Fold in the melted chocolate and aubergine in the large bowl with...
Written by Louise
How many times have you heard of women going to the doctors with one of the following symptoms: IBS, headaches, depression, lethargy, pre-menstrual tension, post-menstrual tension, all month menstrual tension! Skin conditions, panic attacks and stress to name but a few? These are common ailments that the modern day woman is cursed with.
Have you ever been to the doctors and been told that you need to keep a record of what you eat to see if there are any "triggers" for the above symptoms or maybe you were sent away with a list of medication or even those wonderful antidepressants that are going to level out your hormones and make everything just perfect? (excuse my cynicism)![fusion_text] Here at Balanced Wellness we recommend Fresh clean filtered water Herbal teas, no caffeine including black tea or coffee Salads in the summers, warm cooked crunchy vegetables in the winter Seasonal vegetables and fruits where possible Organic where possible Brown rice – short grain is excellent for soothing the digestion Wheat free pasta Nuts and seeds Use houmous and spreads such as almond butter on oat cakes try coconut oil as a spread instead of butter and please never margarines or...
This incredible shake is perfect to women suffering with low oestrogen thanks to the mix of protein, soya and omega oils. If you are suffering with period problems, fertility issues or menopause difficulty that is specifically linked with low oestrogen, give this a go for 3 months, you will be amazed at the results. Start on the first day after your period finishes (or chose a day if your periods have...
[fusion_text] Diabetes and obesity is on the increase thanks to the excess sugar in our diets. Sugar can be found in Processed foods Cakes Biscuits Puddings Sweets Chocolate Icecream Desserts Fizzy drinks Alcohol Effects on the body include Raises insulin levels – can cause diabetes, hyperglycaemia Increases body fat and cholesterol Decreased overall energy Creates bad bacteria in the gut – yeast, candida, thrush, digestive problems Interferes with hormones Weakens eyesight Interferes with the absorption of protein Causes food allergies Skin conditions such as eczema / psoriasis Lowers immune Contributes to osteoporosis Sugar alternatives Avoid sugar replacements such...
[fusion_text] Many people are becoming intolerant to cows dairy. Cows dairy can be found in Milk (skimmed, semi skimmed, full fat) Cheese (cheddar, blue, etc) Butter Cream (single, double etc) Cottage cheese Yogurt Effects on the body can include Mucus forming Immune compromising Milk is designed to feed a calf until it is weaned. Then the mother pushes it away to eat grass. Humans are not designed to consume dairy. Humans loose the digestive enzyme lactase which digests milk when we are...
[fusion_text] Many people are becoming intolerant to wheat due to recent modification of the grain that has increased the gluten content. Wheat can be found in Bread (brown, white and wholemeal) Cereals Pasta Couscous Cakes Effects on the body include absorption block of vital vitamins and minerals bloating and digestive problems energy drain If you are looking for wheat alternatives here are our recommendations amaranth pearl barley buckwheat maize (corn) millet oats quinoa rice rye soya spelt (this is a wheat grain but the original unprocessed version) Make sure you do not replace your...
Rich in beta carotene, this soup is a wonderful deep purple colour and has a sweet taste to it. Experiment with the recipe by adding different types of root vegetables and different herbs and spices. Its very versatile! 1 red onion, peeled and diced (carb) garlic clove, peeled and sliced (carb) 1 large sweet potato (carb) 2 raw beetroot (carb) 3-4 organic carrots (carb) a pinch dried chilli flakes (optional) 1 tsp of cumin seeds 300ml...
This is so easy to make, delicious and relatively healthy. Serve with organic short grain brown rice and some organic green veggies. olive oil 2 garlic cloves , sliced a small fennel bulb , halved and chopped a pinch dried chilli flakes 1 tsp paprika 150ml white wine 1 x 400g tin plum tomatoes 300ml chicken stock 400g firm white sustainable fish, skinless, cut into chunks 250g cooked peeled prawns a bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large,...
This is SO delicious and simple to make! one pack of soft silken tofu 6 tbspns of xylitol 1/2 cup of carob powder 1/2 cup of cocoa powder (use raw cacao if you have it for extra goodness) 1/2 cup soya milk Blend all the ingredients together, put in a bowl and chill.. thats IT easy!! As a variation add in a desert spoon of peppermint essence or layer crushed rasperries on top..mmmm!!!...
We LOVE this, its like a gorgeous comforting veg stew mmmm For the soup: – please note this is the basic recipe you can add in ANY extra green veg that you fancy. Be creative and seasonal! 1 courgette cut in half lengthways and sliced into semi circles (carb) 1 leek cut in half lengthways and sliced into semi circles (carb) 1 brocolli de stemmed and cut into florets (carb) 1 pack of green...
Really easy! 2 apples 1 carrot Handful strawberries 1 orange Add this to a blender with a handful of strawberries and blend to your preference of smoothness and enjoy!...
Free from naughtiness, really easy and totally delicious! A packet of cashews (or almonds if you are blood group O) A punnet of strawberries (can be swapped or added with any berry fruit) 1 banana Chuck everything in a blender, if you would like it sweeter add agave nectar – its like angel delight!...
Makes 3 pizza’s 640gs Spelt flour 435mls water (warm) 6s Salt 6s Dried yeast Pinch of Sugar 60gs Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 pinches Oregano Method Dissolve dried yeast in a little of the warm water, add all the sugar and a small amount of the spelt flour until it resembles a wet batter. Cover and leave for 5-10 mins for the yeast to activate. Knead the mixture thoroughly til it is dough like leave for 30 minutes to rise Roll into...
These are DELICIOUS, you will not know they are free from 140g/5oz cold butter or Pure vegan spread, diced 225g/8oz plain spelt flour 50g/2oz ground almonds 50g/2oz golden caster sugar 1 orange, zest only pinch of salt 1 egg yolk 1-2 tsp cold water 280g/10oz good quality mincemeat (suet free if you are veggie) 1 egg, beaten icing sugar for dusting Preparation method Preheat oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Rub the butter into the flour and add the almonds, caster sugar, orange rind and salt...
This is the recipe for our famous “wheat, dairy and syrup but NOT taste free vegan gingerbread”. They are delicious and make GREAT gifts! Preparation time : 20 minutes Cooking time : 10 minutes Total time : 30 minutes Makes: 25 gingerbread people Ingredients 125g butter (or soya spread if you are vegan) 100g dark muscovado sugar 3 tbsp maple syrup 325g spelt flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp ground ginger 1 inch grated...
1 cup of quinoa 1 sweet potato 5-10 asparagus spears Handful of kale handful of chopped dried apricots or dried fruit ½ cup diced feta cheese (optional) Handful of toasted pine nuts Olive oil Freshly squeezed lemon Salt and pepper to taste Cook the quinoa in double the amount of water until the water is absorbed and the grains have swelled and the little thread appears. Peel the potato, cut into cubes and boil for 5-10 minutes until soft. Whilst...
I'm having a really good day, actually I'm having a really good few weeks.
We all have highs and then of course we all have lows but I'm pretty certain my good mood isn't just a cyclical thing. I have recently rediscovered some soul enriching activities that are really helping me align to my core truth.I am an aunty.
On 14th October 2011 my baby sister had a baby. He's a gorgeous little man and I'm totally smitten.
When my sister told me she was pregnant in February I offered my skills as a nutritionist to help her stay healthy. I am ridiculously passionate about supporting the body during pregnancy. It's got a huge job to do. The woman’s body is actually producing another person! This miracle never fails to amaze me. The body is incredibly clever and will prioritise during pregnancy. It will put the baby first before the mother so often deficient mothers will suffer with health problems during and after pregnancy whilst the child remains healthy.
I was invited round for dinner by some gorgeous friends of mine this week. They have a regular dinner club and I’m feeling rather privileged to make the cut and join them. As always I get the question ‘what do you eat?’ Hmm, good question. Over the last 20 years I have had some weird and wonderful eating habits. In my teens I was a so called vegetarian eating nothing but cheese. When I discovered the wonderful world of nutrition I became incredibly strict cutting out pretty much everything except brown rice and vegetables, then I became a raw foodist, a vegetable juicer, a blood group dieter, a pescatarian, I’ve cut out wheat, dairy, sugar, processed food, you name it I’ve tried it.
A friend of mine sent me an email this morning "have you seen Kerry Katona in Heat magazine, she has put on so much weight!" I, like the rest of Britain, have been following the chaotic soap opera that is the ex-Atomic Kittens life and I logged on to take a look. Six months ago Kerry had a whopping £15,000 worth of surgery to loose 6 stone only to put...
As someone who makes her living as a "healer" I've always been a bit negative about the word "cure". When I mentioned this to my friend she replied "why don't you like the concept of curing? Surely if you are healed you are cured, the objectives are the same." Well this got me to thinking so I thought id do some digging. Given that I am a self confessed geek I...
News about wheat being bad for you is everywhere. These days all the big supermarkets stock wheat free this and gluten that but the truth is that most of us mere mortals aren't sure why it's so bad or what to eat instead. So here is a few facts. I often hear "people didn't have these problems years ago" that's true, here's why. Prior to the 1970's wheat was grown in relatively...