Plant Based Nutrition

You know I get asked this a lot and there is a simple and easy answer to it. Unfortunately when it comes to talking about anything that’s important to you as your values and ethics, it can quickly turn into a heated subject.  I have learned over the years that usually this questions comes at a dinner table when you are surrounded by meat eaters and you have ordered something different to them and they feel either uncomfortable about their choices (in terms of health or weight loss) or they are trying to flirt/tease me! (oh yes) So, I usually preface the answer with : ‘Do you really want to know? The reason I ask is that when I give my answer most people can get upset or defensive and I really just want to enjoy my dinner!” If said in a lighthearted, jokey manner I can sometimes diffuse a sticky situation and make light of it, or it just makes them more curious. If prompted I then say, “I do not believe in violence against animals and I believe we are evolved enough to not need them to live healthy lives and we no longer need to choose to…

Cucumber helps the body flush out toxins because it contains the organic compound citrulline, which is an amino acid that has been shown to help the liver and kidneys filter and get rid of ammonia. Ammonia comes in external forms, but is also a by-product of the proteins our bodies are burning up constantly for energy, and it’s quite damaging to our cells. Water is just plain good for us, but it’s thought that it helps flush nasty toxins and waste through our system, giving organs like the liver and kidney an easier time doing their job. Lemon or lime juice helps stimulate and regulate the digestive track (which is why it’s so helpful with constipation, heartburn and gas), stimulates bile production, and thins out bile, which allows it to flow more freely. Bile is produced by the liver and ends up in the small intestine to break down lipids (fats) that we’ve consumed.   Mint leaves are a nice refreshing flavor to add to your drink. On top of that, it can help you digest more effectively, improving the flow of bile from the liver, to the gallbladder, to the small intestine, where it breaks down dietary fats. Mint…

About 3 years ago after going to see a kinesiologist practitioner, I was told I had a leaky gut. I knew I had problems close to what the average person would call IBS but I just didn’t know the extend of what was going on. Basically, no matter how well I was eating, my gut was no allowing it to be absorped properly. Later I found out this was very similiar to what happens when I eat gluten. It was at this point I started to look for different ways to look after my gut! The best way to ensure you are digesting the healthy food you are putting in- which also means that you are more efficiently dealing with waste and remove the ‘congestion in the digestion’ this not only helps with fatloss but just overall health and wellbein,- you can try these things: 1. Probiotics: I take a fos a dophillus capsule everyday- you can get one from your local health shop By way of the National Institutes of Health: “Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called ‘friendly bacteria’ or ‘good bacteria. The idea is that…

Most people know and understand the many health benefits of leading an active lifestyle that includes regular exercise. Exercise can benefit anywhere from increased lean muscle mass to improved bone density to better flexibility and better aerobic and anaerobic capacity. What most don’t know is that there is one significant detrimental effect of exercise… Exercise induced oxidative stress. Exercise induced oxidative stress increases as exercise becomes more rigorous. Oxidative stress can significantly impact body repair and recovery post-exercise and as a result, hinder optimum performance. However, individuals can markedly reduce their oxidative stress and the impact it has on the body through proper nutrition. With proper nutrition, individuals can ensure the maximum health benefits from their exercise regime. Watch below about what a world class athlete has to say about the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables and the role that Juice Plus+ can play in improving one’s health and well being. Juice Plus+’s ability to reduce exercise oxidative stress is proven and published in sports and nutrition journals. Proper nutrition can enhance your physical performance and ensure you are getting the maximum health benefits from your physical activity. Here’s what a world-class athlete has to say about Juice…

It’s Olympic fever and I thought I would boast about something that I believe in that has already been awarded gold- 28 times! The Juiceplus+ Product is the most proven nutritional product in history with 28 Gold Standard studies. The only nutritional supplement clinically proven to provide the protection that athletes need is Juice Plus+. This is why Juice Plus+ is the official nutritional support for the German, Swiss and Austrian teams competing in the 2012 Olympics in London, as well as many other Olympic and world class athletes around the world including: The US Olympic Gymnastics Team Melanie Knosher Irish swimmer from Northern Ireland qualified for London 2012 US Jo Brigden-Jones Sprint Kayak qualified for London 2012 Scott Evans Irish Singles Men Badminton qualified for Olympics Juice Plus+ is the most thoroughly studied and proven nutritional product in history, and has been tested on elite athletes in several different environments. You can read an overview of the research here. Two articles published in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and the Journal of Nutrition, documented an in-depth study of 41 highly trained men (Austrian special forces, the ‘Cobras’) consuming Juice Plus+ for 28 weeks. Juice…

Everything starts with a choice and then a little baby step. I think we can get too hung up on what something means or being labelled as ‘this’ or ‘that’. If you have ever thought about being vegetarian, for whatever reason, it can start with one simple meal and then maybe once a week. I’m an all or nothing kinda girl, which comes across as either highly ethical and unwielding in my principles or just plain stubborn, but it doesn’t have to start for you that way. In fact, sometimes, dipping your toe in and giving it a try can be a pleasant experience as there is no grand announcement and people watching in anticipation. Maybe you are trying to lose weight, then this is a perfect way to continue to eat a healthy diet but without a lot of the saturated fat that exists in meat. You could start by simply using a meat substitute. Making your usual meals and replacing some elements. Or you could be more creative and try new recipes like Chickpea Curry, Three Bean Chilli or Vegetarian Paella. These meals are featured in my Healthy Vegetarian Handbook. Let’s take for example, eating out. Why not…

About five per cent of the UK population consider themselves to be vegetarian, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. That’s about 3 million people, with women more likely to call themselves vegetarian than men. The figure for vegans is smaller – consumer surveys suggest they make up about one per cent of the UK population. People choose to follow vegetarian and vegan diets for a variety of social, religious, lifestyle, moral, environmental and health reasons. Why be a Vegetarian? Firstly, let me state that vegetarianism isn’t for everyone. If you are fanatically devoted to meat, you might not be interested. If you already eat healthy, or you’re not interested in your health, you might not be interested. However, if you want to make changes to your lifestyle, perhaps lose weight, reduce your cholestrol, get leaner, save money, save the slaugherting of animals or support non violence in the world. Here are some reasons others have chosen to do it: I really enjoyed the reasons presented by Zen Habits which he resourced from Goveggie.com amongst other sources, plus a few of my own. See if you can see yours in there too. Cut the fat. While meat provides a…

Here is Part 3 for you finally… 8. Can vegetarian diets lead to some nutritional deficiencies? Only strict vegans are at risk of deficiencies in some nutrients. Lacto-ovo vegetarians and pesco vegetarians (who also eat eggs and dairy products) are unlikely to suffer from nutrient deficiencies, as long as they have a balanced diet, since there are no essential nutrients in meat that are not also found in eggs, dairy, and fish. Yet these are the nutrients at risk: Vitamin B-12 deficiency (which can lead to loss of peripheral nerve function) is of some concern for vegans, since animal foods are still the best source of vitamin B-12. Plant foods do not naturally contain B- 12. Soy foods, such as some forms of tempeh, may contain vitamin B-12, but soy B-12 is not as biologically active as the vitamin B-12 in animal foods. Check the B-12 content of soy products on the package label. Vegans need to consume foods fortified with vitamin B-12, such as tempeh, cereals, or brewer’s yeast, or take B-12 supplements. Don’t worry about suddenly developing a vitamin B-12 deficiency after becoming a vegan. The liver stores so much B-12 that it would take years to become…