Which diet actually works?

We are constantly bombarded with diet plans.  We could easily spend a lifetime of limiting this and cutting out that and as a result have a horrible relationship with food and probably feel miserable.

So what are we meant to do?  Who should we listen to?

I used to think ‘listening to your body’ was a good idea (and it is when you get to the point that you have cleansed your body and it is being honest with you - telling you what will make it feel good). However, most of the time people listen to their body when it has already picked up bad habits and is telling them they want sugar, fat and food additives, as that is what it has learnt to crave.  

So, rather than listening to your body at first, I think it is better advice to accept that what is right for one person is not always right for another and that you have to work out and create your own 'personal world of food' that suits you.  This is called bio-individuality - we all need different foods to suit us.  This should be a plan of food for YOU that makes you feel vital, energised, happy and shows in your skin.  This can take a while to get right, but I think it is better than jumping from one book of rules to another. 

1. Add foods and take foods away, don't throw one diet book away and buy another.  

2. Read books on nutritional advice and alternative health methods and take from each of them things that fit with you.  

3.  Knowledge is power, gather lots of it and draw your own conclusions. 

There are books on blood type diets, high protein diets, combining diets, low carbs, juices and smoothies, wheat and gluten free diets, calorie counting...I could go on.  There is some truth in most of them, but definitely none in a few of them. I think the best thing to do is start with a good detox or cleanse which strips away your cravings and leaves you with a clean start, a click of the reset button.  This way, you can start to add things slowly and can then make an accurate test on foods you suspect don't suit your body.

If you can get to a good detox centre or embark on a home detox after careful research then you are on to a winning start.  But this is not always available immediately so you have to start with the basics. I think it is always best to start adding good stuff as a priority, if you cannot take away the bad stuff at first, start adding good.  The most important thing is to get your nutrients from somewhere, so adding that all important green smoothie and boosting your current diet with salads and vegetables is the best step forward.

I don’t like to use the word ‘diet’ too much when working with detox guests (although I have used it endlessly in this post so far) as it has too many negative connotations with limitation and makes you feel like you are giving things up.  We are only human and I like to think that perfection is found in our imperfection and a point of balance is where we succeed.  

So, fad diets are everywhere.  I suggest you start by filling your belly with lots of colours and shapes in the form of snacks, soups, salads and shakes and simply not get too bogged down with all the fads.

See you soon.

Josie

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Surrender to the Smoothies

For the last year, since moving to Thailand, I have been a smoothie fanatic and my love for them has only blossomed as I try new recipes.  The best thing about living in this part of Asia is the abundance of fruit and veg to experiment with. 

I feel so spoilt here and am making the most of every tropical fruit available while I still can.  Mangoes are by far my favourite, I don’t think I could ever get bored of them.  The best thing is they never go out of season here on Koh Samui, which is just unbelievably fantastic (for me).  However, I don’t want to put you off by talking about a load of fruit you may not have access to.  Whichever country you are in, it will have its own special seasonal fruits that you can experiment with.

Smoothies are such a nutrient rich energy boost and can even replace a meal if you balance them correctly.  The green smoothie is a particularly jam-packed vitamin injection to try.  All you need to do is add 40% green veg to the blender and 60% of your chosen fruit, then whizz away. To start your day with a green smoothie is such a wise move.  If you include the dark leafy vegetables such as Kale or spinach it is a rich source of calcium and protein.  The fruit will support your body with live enzymes and vitamins in abundance.  If you add two teaspoons of flax seed (linseed) to the smoothie, this will provide you with extra protein, fibre and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.  This is a great nutrient rich start to the day.  The key is to balance with protein and fat.

How to Get Started

The smoothie process is all about finding out what you like.  I have a couple of recipes below to give you an idea of amounts and possible blends, but it really is about experimenting.  All you need is a tabletop food processor/blender, a good knife and a chopping board. 

Start with fruit if making a green smoothie as this is full of water and blends better, the greens will then whoosh in with the fruit pulp easily.  Add the flax/oil and water at the end and be sure to blend until all flax seeds are broken.  If they are still intact your body will not be able to draw the nutrients from them as effectively.  When it comes to water, just add as much as you like to get the consistency you prefer. 

If you are already a keen greener, then add some herbs too, basil, mint or coriander go surprisingly well with fruit.   I like mine quite bitter now and add up to 60% greens sometimes.  It’s all about experimenting.  I would love to hear any ideas you have or recipes you have tried and loved.

Tropical Teaser

½ Small Papaya

½ Mango

2 cups of spinach

2 teaspoons of flax seed

1 tbsp coconut oil

Summer Berry Green Boost

1 cup raspberries

1 cup strawberries

2 teaspoons flax

1 tbsp coconut oil

2 cups kale

Happy blending, be back soon with some more ideas...

Best Wishes

Josie

How to live a healthy life.

I used to scoff at those who ate ‘too' well and called them extremists, puritans and, frankly, BORING. However a few problems with my body and an accident involving a long flight of unsuitably placed stairs robbed me of my health and made me sit up and pay attention (well sort of half listen at first).  I am going to share my experiences of healthy living in general, detoxifying the body and ultimately, how to be the best version of you possible, in a way that feels right for you.

A lot of us think we are healthy. We try to eat the right things and do the best we can given our busy lifestyles. But, we still seem to lack energy. There are so many excuses we come up with for feeling less than our best, but 90% of the time it is related, at least in part, to our diets. I am here to help you feel vital and energetic in a few, surprisingly easy, delicately trodden steps. Once your energy levels improve you can start to take leaps and bounds.

We often create an experience of time limitation in our lives, where there never seems to be a moment in the day to do what we want to do and this leads to neglect of our bodies and our diets. It is amazing how often I hear, ’I don’t have time’. What if I told you that it is actually really easy to increase your energy levels by 20% just by making a few simple changes?

I know we all have our forbidden fruits, our treats, our cravings. I think we should have those things sometimes, just not everyday. You should enjoy your food and make health changes gradually…and who knows, eventually those cravings might disappear? Actually, if you do this right (in your own time) I can guarantee they will, perhaps not overnight but when it’s right for you. If over time you choose to cleanse your diet even more, then that is fantastic.

I see this journey as a ladder to health. We climb it gradually at a speed which is right for us. Food really is the key to making us feel better about ourselves emotionally and physically. It is nature’s medicine.

Best Wishes


Josie Was this useful?  Like My facebook page... :)