Experience can not be gathered all in one place. To be truly happy I think you have to try a few things out and discover what happiness feels like, uncover what unhappiness feels like and find a happy medium that makes you feel content.
Happiness to me is accepting that you cannot always be happy, it is allowing yourself space to be thouroughly unhappy once in a while. I think that once you realise that all emotions come and go, that every situation that troubles you will dissolve with time and that whatever happens you are always going to be ok, then you can find a nice place where you feel happy in the now.
I have a few friends who trouble themselves over finding out what they want to do with their lives, finding a passion that makes them 'happy'. This is a really tricky one which can seem hard to tackle. My advice is to stop focusing on the goal and start with something, anything, to make a change. By staying in one place wondering about other places, there is no room to grow and flow. By putting a foot forward in any direction, you are sending out the message that you want to move somewhere, and with that one step will come new opportunities and experiences that could prove to be just what you are looking for.
Happiness in relationships is sometimes about accepting that relationships alone cannot make you happy. We often put too much pressure on relationships to be perfect when of course it is impossible for them to be even close to that. We judge ourselves harshly as partners and judge our partners harshly if they do not meet our expectations. Accepting our differences and finding fulfillment in all areas of our life, not just our relationships, often gives them a new lease of life.
This works the same way with friends, one friend cannot be everything, each friend will have different strengths for you to draw on, and equally they will have weaknesses. Love them for both and draw on different friends at different times depending on your needs. Balance is the key to happy friendships.
This may all seem rather cryptic and strange, finding happiness exactly where it is not. But I believe, and you dont need to agree of course, that it is by accepting life as it is, totally imperfect, it becomes perfect. Its imperfection can be marvelled at and laughed at and embraced. We never know what is around the corner, so to enjoy where we are is the best bet we have at being content, even if where we are feels a little bland and boring. After all, out of the darkness always comes light and why not enjoy the process?
If you want to be extra happy, come and do a detox in Koh Samui, I can guarentee it will leave you with a glowing new light inside, ready to take on the world...I will be there if you need me!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
My Five First Steps to Living Better
People often ask me...
-How they can feel better?
-What they should do to be healthier?
-How they should start on the road to being brighter, slimmer and more vital?
It is not realistic to do everything and suddenly be perfect; far too much effort, probably a bit depressing and potentially disastrous.
I have put together my five top tips for getting on the road to feeling how you are supposed to feel.
1. Green Smoothies.
I cannot sing the praises of green smoothies enough. They truly are the best choice you can make. They are the most readily absorbed way of getting a wonderful blend of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fibre in one delicious gulp. Every cell of your body will be singing with delight if you have a green smoothie once or twice a day.
http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/09/surrender-to-smoothies.html
-How they can feel better?
-What they should do to be healthier?
-How they should start on the road to being brighter, slimmer and more vital?
It is not realistic to do everything and suddenly be perfect; far too much effort, probably a bit depressing and potentially disastrous.
I have put together my five top tips for getting on the road to feeling how you are supposed to feel.
1. Green Smoothies.
I cannot sing the praises of green smoothies enough. They truly are the best choice you can make. They are the most readily absorbed way of getting a wonderful blend of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fibre in one delicious gulp. Every cell of your body will be singing with delight if you have a green smoothie once or twice a day.
http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/09/surrender-to-smoothies.html
2. Raw Foods.
Raw food is such an effective way of getting live enzymes and fresh vital vitamins into your body. Salads, snacks or elaborate raw recipes, all do a tremendous amount of good. Add some raw food to your day and enjoy the result. With raw foods you find the more you eat, the better you feel and as a result, the more you crave (this is the only way it is similar to vodka jelly).
Raw food is such an effective way of getting live enzymes and fresh vital vitamins into your body. Salads, snacks or elaborate raw recipes, all do a tremendous amount of good. Add some raw food to your day and enjoy the result. With raw foods you find the more you eat, the better you feel and as a result, the more you crave (this is the only way it is similar to vodka jelly).
3. Superfood Powder Support.
Superfoods are a bit of a buzz these days and that is because we have such busy lifestyles that anything that takes time puts us off. Superfood powders are a very do-able, fast way of getting a fast injection of nutrients into the body. We should try not to depend on these for all our nutritional needs, but they are a great way to support a hectic lifestyle where optimal nutrition is harder to acquire.
Superfoods are a bit of a buzz these days and that is because we have such busy lifestyles that anything that takes time puts us off. Superfood powders are a very do-able, fast way of getting a fast injection of nutrients into the body. We should try not to depend on these for all our nutritional needs, but they are a great way to support a hectic lifestyle where optimal nutrition is harder to acquire.
4. Fermented foods and pro-biotics.
We often hear about 'pro' and 'pre' biotics and there is definitely a place for them in a good nutritional profile. Our digestive systems rely on a good balance of bacteria to function effectively and absorb nutrients efficiently. So natural pro-biotics such as sauerkraut, live yoghurt regularly, or a supplement if your digestive system feels a little out of balance, is a great idea.
We often hear about 'pro' and 'pre' biotics and there is definitely a place for them in a good nutritional profile. Our digestive systems rely on a good balance of bacteria to function effectively and absorb nutrients efficiently. So natural pro-biotics such as sauerkraut, live yoghurt regularly, or a supplement if your digestive system feels a little out of balance, is a great idea.
5. Juicing.
This is a commitment, but it is one worth making. Once you have the system in place it can just be part of your daily routine - one that will make your body scream with thanks. An instant injection of nutrients and enzymes to support and nourish your body through tough times.
Try these tips as a stepping stone to feeling brighter!
Josie
Sunday, September 11, 2011
How to sustain your energy levels throughout the day...
An average day for most of us is pretty hectic, bustling here and there and everywhere, including getting to and from work. We often wake up with an alarm before our body is ready and drag it around all morning. We then push it midday onwards and flop aimlessly when we get home. We spurt back and forth from pushing and flopping and rarely have a balanced settled day unless it is a day off (and then we usually push ourselves to have as much fun as possible in this window of freedom, only to return to work flopping even further). Ok, you know what I mean.
So the question is... how do we support our bodies through these highs and lows? And perhaps an even bigger question is... are our highs and lows created by our diet rather than our schedule?
Blood sugar changes throughout the day and the type of food we eat as well as the times and conditions in which we eat it make a massive impact on the way our body uses the energy in our food.
My five top tips to keep your blood sugar stable...
1. Choose complex carbs which are slowly released into the system rather than simple refined carbs which will give you a sudden high followed by a sudden low, leading to food cravings and sugar rushes (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/08/wholewheat-or-white-facts.html)
2. Eat good fat foods such as nuts which are loaded with protein. They are high in energy and release slowly (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/10/fatit-not-all-bad.html)
3. Moderate your meals, having snacks throughout the day and never leave too long without eating. Try to get a good breakfast with slow release carbohydrates that will keep you going all morning. Snack on bananas and nuts if you feel an energy slump mid morning (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/04/binge-eating-you-are-not-alone.html)
4. Raw Food is a great way to take away cravings for empty foods like bread and cake. Try to snack on raw fruit and vegetables as often as possible to cut those useless cravings (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/01/raw-food-lets-cut-to-chase.html)
5. Drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated is so important to keep your brain sharp and your energy levels up, keep a bottle with you at all times (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/11/water-you-know-it-makes-sense.html)
So, do you think it is your schedule or your diet making your life rollercoaster each day? Work out which one it is and try and address it to create a little more balance in your life. After all, we only get one body in this lifetime and it would be a shame to wear it out too soon if we can avoid it.
Good Luck
Josie
So the question is... how do we support our bodies through these highs and lows? And perhaps an even bigger question is... are our highs and lows created by our diet rather than our schedule?
Blood sugar changes throughout the day and the type of food we eat as well as the times and conditions in which we eat it make a massive impact on the way our body uses the energy in our food.
My five top tips to keep your blood sugar stable...
1. Choose complex carbs which are slowly released into the system rather than simple refined carbs which will give you a sudden high followed by a sudden low, leading to food cravings and sugar rushes (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/08/wholewheat-or-white-facts.html)
2. Eat good fat foods such as nuts which are loaded with protein. They are high in energy and release slowly (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/10/fatit-not-all-bad.html)
3. Moderate your meals, having snacks throughout the day and never leave too long without eating. Try to get a good breakfast with slow release carbohydrates that will keep you going all morning. Snack on bananas and nuts if you feel an energy slump mid morning (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/04/binge-eating-you-are-not-alone.html)
4. Raw Food is a great way to take away cravings for empty foods like bread and cake. Try to snack on raw fruit and vegetables as often as possible to cut those useless cravings (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/01/raw-food-lets-cut-to-chase.html)
5. Drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated is so important to keep your brain sharp and your energy levels up, keep a bottle with you at all times (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/11/water-you-know-it-makes-sense.html)
So, do you think it is your schedule or your diet making your life rollercoaster each day? Work out which one it is and try and address it to create a little more balance in your life. After all, we only get one body in this lifetime and it would be a shame to wear it out too soon if we can avoid it.
Good Luck
Josie
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Is brown better than white?
When you make a choice in the supermarket between white or wholemeal products it would help to know why the choice you make is so crucial to your body's happiness. White Tiger Loaf or Whole seed and grain? Brown Rice or White Basmati? White Flour or Wholewheat Spelt? Wholemeal Shell Pasta or Pretty White Bows?
Boggling choices.
When you take a wholegrain you have the complete complex form of the grain, for example a wheat kernel. The outer brown layer contains all the minerals and nutrients and the centre is less nutrient dense and more easily ground down.
When you pick a wholegrain version of a product you are choosing an option with more fibre, more nutrients and a slower burning carbohydrate (complex carb). The whole seed is ground down and this is released into the body as glucose much more slowly and steadily.
If you pick a white refined product you are choosing a fast burning, nutrient depleted, fibre poor version (simple carb). The brown nutritious coating has been ground away. This will be converted into glucose quickly, used quickly and leave you wanting more. This leads to over eating, nutrient depletion and stored body fat in the form of glycogen.
So, it makes sense to pick the lovely wholegrain version.
Grains such as millet, quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), spelt and amaranth make for a nutrient rich blast that will keep you going longer and fill you with strength, so keep your eye out for these. If you are wheat intolerant these versions can be nice alternatives for you.
Just to complicate matters it is worth noting that not all wholegrain options are good quality, always check the label and choose something as natural as possible. Some brown versions are coloured with molasses and certain labelling can be deceiving. Make sure you are choosing 'Wholegrain' or 'Wholewheat' on the label, 'Wheat flour' is not the same.
It is also worth bearing in mind that some natural simple carbohydrates are good for you, such as fruit. It is the refined ones which have no positive effect on the body other than an empty high and often have hidden fats and sugars to add insult to injury. I personally think that diets which tell you to limit fruit due to their high sugar content are avoiding the real problem, which is too much refined food and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Please don't stop eating bananas because they are full of sugar and carbohydrates, I hate to hear that. Moderation is key with plenty of fresh produce, a balance of good fats (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/10/fatit-not-all-bad.html) and let's not forget...exercise.
Agh, so much to think about? I know, but be reassured that there are so many ways to feel better and brighter! Make the best choice you can, as often as you can.
Questions welcome.
Josie
Boggling choices.
When you take a wholegrain you have the complete complex form of the grain, for example a wheat kernel. The outer brown layer contains all the minerals and nutrients and the centre is less nutrient dense and more easily ground down.
When you pick a wholegrain version of a product you are choosing an option with more fibre, more nutrients and a slower burning carbohydrate (complex carb). The whole seed is ground down and this is released into the body as glucose much more slowly and steadily.
If you pick a white refined product you are choosing a fast burning, nutrient depleted, fibre poor version (simple carb). The brown nutritious coating has been ground away. This will be converted into glucose quickly, used quickly and leave you wanting more. This leads to over eating, nutrient depletion and stored body fat in the form of glycogen.
So, it makes sense to pick the lovely wholegrain version.
Grains such as millet, quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), spelt and amaranth make for a nutrient rich blast that will keep you going longer and fill you with strength, so keep your eye out for these. If you are wheat intolerant these versions can be nice alternatives for you.
Just to complicate matters it is worth noting that not all wholegrain options are good quality, always check the label and choose something as natural as possible. Some brown versions are coloured with molasses and certain labelling can be deceiving. Make sure you are choosing 'Wholegrain' or 'Wholewheat' on the label, 'Wheat flour' is not the same.
It is also worth bearing in mind that some natural simple carbohydrates are good for you, such as fruit. It is the refined ones which have no positive effect on the body other than an empty high and often have hidden fats and sugars to add insult to injury. I personally think that diets which tell you to limit fruit due to their high sugar content are avoiding the real problem, which is too much refined food and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Please don't stop eating bananas because they are full of sugar and carbohydrates, I hate to hear that. Moderation is key with plenty of fresh produce, a balance of good fats (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/10/fatit-not-all-bad.html) and let's not forget...exercise.
Agh, so much to think about? I know, but be reassured that there are so many ways to feel better and brighter! Make the best choice you can, as often as you can.
Questions welcome.
Josie
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Which teas are good for you?
I am a tea lover. Actually, I am a tea worshipper. There is never a bad time for tea. Can you tell I am English?
But, I am a Brit with a difference, because I am not going to be talking about a milk and two sugars cup. I want to suggest you try some herbal teas, speciality teas and herbal infusions in your day.
I totally understand that herbal tea can feel boring at first, especially when you first make the transition and are used to a sweet, milky brew. However, as you drink more of it and allow your body to adjust to this new tea experience, you may find that it is better than you think. Occasionally I will have a normal English Breakfast tea at a friends house when there is nothing else around and I still enjoy it (and it would be rude not to). But, if I am at home I always have a wonderful selection of infusions that make a decision hard and every teatime different.
We are all told caffeine makes tea bad and this is true if you drink too much of it, because it mimics the stress response and unsettles our day and night. However, small amounts in green tea and other varieties is ok and some caffeine free teas and herbal infusions are so fantastically good for you that we should drink them in abundance.
But, I am a Brit with a difference, because I am not going to be talking about a milk and two sugars cup. I want to suggest you try some herbal teas, speciality teas and herbal infusions in your day.
I totally understand that herbal tea can feel boring at first, especially when you first make the transition and are used to a sweet, milky brew. However, as you drink more of it and allow your body to adjust to this new tea experience, you may find that it is better than you think. Occasionally I will have a normal English Breakfast tea at a friends house when there is nothing else around and I still enjoy it (and it would be rude not to). But, if I am at home I always have a wonderful selection of infusions that make a decision hard and every teatime different.
We are all told caffeine makes tea bad and this is true if you drink too much of it, because it mimics the stress response and unsettles our day and night. However, small amounts in green tea and other varieties is ok and some caffeine free teas and herbal infusions are so fantastically good for you that we should drink them in abundance.
I am not suggesting you never have your normal tea, that would upset too many people. But I do encourage you to mix and match your tea throughout the day so you get a variety of healing benefits and calming, cleansing reactions.
Here are my top five Teas/Infusions
1. Tulsi Tea: Holy Basil Tea
2. Yogi Tea/Bright Mood Tea
3. Fresh Peppermint from the Garden
4. Fennel from the Garden
5. Dr Stuarts/Detox Tea
Try some new teas today and eventually you will find a herbal tea that makes you go, mmmmm. Or, if you think it all tastes like pond water, try fresh ginger in hot water.
Enjoy!
Josie.
Here are my top five Teas/Infusions
1. Tulsi Tea: Holy Basil Tea
2. Yogi Tea/Bright Mood Tea
3. Fresh Peppermint from the Garden
4. Fennel from the Garden
5. Dr Stuarts/Detox Tea
Try some new teas today and eventually you will find a herbal tea that makes you go, mmmmm. Or, if you think it all tastes like pond water, try fresh ginger in hot water.
Enjoy!
Josie.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
What is synchronicity?
Sometimes we get lent a random book which answers our question, bump into someone on the street who changes our future or an opportunity appears, sent at the perfect time. Synchronicity of events is something that can feel so mystical, magical and sometimes terrifyingly succinct. So, what is it all about? Why does it happen? And...how can we get more of it?
Synchronicity is the link between people and events that occur together in a way which makes them seem strangely connected. It goes a lot deeper than this and there are lots of very clever people who can explain it in a way that loses me rather fast. There are also a lot of scientists who think it is a ridiculous notion, but I usually love things scientists think are silly, which is why my brother and I bang heads sometimes.
What is it?
Some people think that synchronicity is just coincidence, but I like to think that it has more meaning than this. It refers to events that happen together or because of one another that are uncannily linked in a way that makes you think, hmmmmm? Interesting!
I believe that people, for example, come into our lives for a reason and often bring us a lesson or a message that we learn and, hopefully, receive before they leave our life again. In some situations they hang around forever. When you look at life as one big magical journey with lessons to learn and people to connect with, it becomes so much more exciting and interesting.
Occasionally I will find myself in a conversation with a stranger at a shop or at work, or...anywhere knowing me! I often find that something in our lives at this point is interestingly similar, or they have some information on my situation that shifts my perspective on it. Sometimes they actually know someone that may have an opportunity for me, or perhaps I help them in some way. Sometimes small connections like this can have a startling effect on how we approach something we are doing in our life or send it on a new course entirely. This is what I call synchronicity, people and things, messages and thoughts, coming at times that are so wonderfully in line that the results of them are profound and exciting.
Why Does it Happen?
I reckon we all have a path in life, a higgildy piggildy one which changes and turns and leads us in all sorts of directions, furthering ourselves and helping each other. I believe synchronicity exists to give us nudges and winks as to which way to go next. It reminds us that there is possibly something greater at work which is in someway helping us move forward with prompts, reminders and planted ideas.
I like to think that these linked events are beautifully designed in a way that makes us believe that anything is possible and baffles us into believing that miracles can happen. Sometimes events seem to fall into place so impossibly that you sit back and think, wow, you couldn't write this! It is often only when you look back on a year of your life that you realise how small events have created massive changes or strange repetitions have occurred.
How do we get more of it?
I think the best way to allow more positive synchronicity into your life is to open your mind to it and play around with the idea that perhaps there is a wonderfully helpful pattern occurring around us. Sometimes awareness and belief and the hope that something positive and fantastic is at our fingertips is enough to make magic happen in our lives. Sometimes when you think there is no way out of a situation, a book, person or job falls in your path and presents a whole new perspective or option that was not there before.
Of course I can see this all looks a bit mad and new age, but I cannot help but like the idea. It does not feel like blind faith in something that makes life manageable, it feels like accepting the posibility of a link in lifes tapestry. Some people believe in fate, others believe we make our own luck. I think it is a wonderful mixture.
When I was in Bali with my friend Nick we met a man called Fred who was on holiday with his wife Judy. We talked to this unbelievably negative man for some time and he told us repeatedly, that 'Life is a choice of problems'. Sometimes being open to wonderful things happening is all it takes for wonderful things to happen. I do worry about Fred, but mostly about Judy.
Have a think about things that have happened in your life that are linked in a wonderful way. Be open to it happening and pay attention to people and things around you, they might just be the missing link to something new, but only if you let them.
Over and Out.
Josie
Synchronicity is the link between people and events that occur together in a way which makes them seem strangely connected. It goes a lot deeper than this and there are lots of very clever people who can explain it in a way that loses me rather fast. There are also a lot of scientists who think it is a ridiculous notion, but I usually love things scientists think are silly, which is why my brother and I bang heads sometimes.
What is it?
Some people think that synchronicity is just coincidence, but I like to think that it has more meaning than this. It refers to events that happen together or because of one another that are uncannily linked in a way that makes you think, hmmmmm? Interesting!
I believe that people, for example, come into our lives for a reason and often bring us a lesson or a message that we learn and, hopefully, receive before they leave our life again. In some situations they hang around forever. When you look at life as one big magical journey with lessons to learn and people to connect with, it becomes so much more exciting and interesting.
Occasionally I will find myself in a conversation with a stranger at a shop or at work, or...anywhere knowing me! I often find that something in our lives at this point is interestingly similar, or they have some information on my situation that shifts my perspective on it. Sometimes they actually know someone that may have an opportunity for me, or perhaps I help them in some way. Sometimes small connections like this can have a startling effect on how we approach something we are doing in our life or send it on a new course entirely. This is what I call synchronicity, people and things, messages and thoughts, coming at times that are so wonderfully in line that the results of them are profound and exciting.
Why Does it Happen?
I reckon we all have a path in life, a higgildy piggildy one which changes and turns and leads us in all sorts of directions, furthering ourselves and helping each other. I believe synchronicity exists to give us nudges and winks as to which way to go next. It reminds us that there is possibly something greater at work which is in someway helping us move forward with prompts, reminders and planted ideas.
I like to think that these linked events are beautifully designed in a way that makes us believe that anything is possible and baffles us into believing that miracles can happen. Sometimes events seem to fall into place so impossibly that you sit back and think, wow, you couldn't write this! It is often only when you look back on a year of your life that you realise how small events have created massive changes or strange repetitions have occurred.
How do we get more of it?
I think the best way to allow more positive synchronicity into your life is to open your mind to it and play around with the idea that perhaps there is a wonderfully helpful pattern occurring around us. Sometimes awareness and belief and the hope that something positive and fantastic is at our fingertips is enough to make magic happen in our lives. Sometimes when you think there is no way out of a situation, a book, person or job falls in your path and presents a whole new perspective or option that was not there before.
Of course I can see this all looks a bit mad and new age, but I cannot help but like the idea. It does not feel like blind faith in something that makes life manageable, it feels like accepting the posibility of a link in lifes tapestry. Some people believe in fate, others believe we make our own luck. I think it is a wonderful mixture.
When I was in Bali with my friend Nick we met a man called Fred who was on holiday with his wife Judy. We talked to this unbelievably negative man for some time and he told us repeatedly, that 'Life is a choice of problems'. Sometimes being open to wonderful things happening is all it takes for wonderful things to happen. I do worry about Fred, but mostly about Judy.
Have a think about things that have happened in your life that are linked in a wonderful way. Be open to it happening and pay attention to people and things around you, they might just be the missing link to something new, but only if you let them.
Over and Out.
Josie
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
How to Make Salads Sensational...
Some people think of salad as rabbit food, a hideous combination of lettuce and cucumber that they leave on the side of the plate.
But wait, do not cast it aside too soon, salad can be a truly wonderful taste sensation if you are willing to put in a bit of effort and experiment. Here are my top five tips for making a super salad this summer.
1. Vary the Leaves, including herbs!
So often we reach for a gem lettuce or an iceberg and the plate looks dull already. Try a mixed bag of leaves or even better grow your own. Choosing a combination of colours and textures will not only create a varied taste, but will add to the salad experience. Choosing rocket and peppery leaves with more flavour will instantly lift the salad to the next level. Herbs such as parsley, marjoram, coriander or mint will also give it extra depth.
2. Nuts and Seeds.
This is a great way to add good fat and healthy oil as well as adding texture. Try to choose raw seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin. These are also good sources of zinc and magnesium, which we are often deficient in. Experiment with any seeds and grind them into the dressing if you prefer it without the whole seed.
3. Get the dressing right.
It is better not to use thick creamy sauces made with cream or mayonnaise that you often get in jars. Experiment with olive oil or cold pressed flax seed oil, apple cider vinegar, raw garlic, crushed seeds, chopped herbs... I tend to do all sorts of combinations and some work and some don't. It really depends on the texture and taste you prefer. My favourite at the moment is a crushed clove of raw garlic, a spoonful of apple cider vinegar and a spoon of cold pressed olive oil. Simple but great.
4. Chop, chop, chop away.
If you chop a salad finely, it not only gets more flavour per mouthful, but you can eat more of it. It is more dense, more textured and more full of yummy tastes. Simply chop it all really finely and cube all bits you put on the top and give it a good shake, coating the whole salad with the dressing. It makes all the difference.
5. Colour!
Choose as many different colours of vegetables, leaves and fruit you like. The more colour, the more phytonutrients. You want to get as much variety as possible to get a full spectrum of wonderful nutrients which actually work to help each other absorb and get utilised by the body. Sprout your own seeds and add these to the mix for a really crunchy colourful array.
You really cannot eat enough salad, it is so wonderful for you. You can add goats cheese, organic meats, or plenty of extra sprouts if you are a veggie.
I must encourage you to go as organic as possible with salad, unfortunately as they are high in water content they are prone to storing chemicals if grown with them. Wash any salad that is not organic really really well.
Post any recipes you recommend here.
Happy chewing.
Josie
But wait, do not cast it aside too soon, salad can be a truly wonderful taste sensation if you are willing to put in a bit of effort and experiment. Here are my top five tips for making a super salad this summer.
1. Vary the Leaves, including herbs!
So often we reach for a gem lettuce or an iceberg and the plate looks dull already. Try a mixed bag of leaves or even better grow your own. Choosing a combination of colours and textures will not only create a varied taste, but will add to the salad experience. Choosing rocket and peppery leaves with more flavour will instantly lift the salad to the next level. Herbs such as parsley, marjoram, coriander or mint will also give it extra depth.
2. Nuts and Seeds.
This is a great way to add good fat and healthy oil as well as adding texture. Try to choose raw seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin. These are also good sources of zinc and magnesium, which we are often deficient in. Experiment with any seeds and grind them into the dressing if you prefer it without the whole seed.
3. Get the dressing right.
It is better not to use thick creamy sauces made with cream or mayonnaise that you often get in jars. Experiment with olive oil or cold pressed flax seed oil, apple cider vinegar, raw garlic, crushed seeds, chopped herbs... I tend to do all sorts of combinations and some work and some don't. It really depends on the texture and taste you prefer. My favourite at the moment is a crushed clove of raw garlic, a spoonful of apple cider vinegar and a spoon of cold pressed olive oil. Simple but great.
4. Chop, chop, chop away.
If you chop a salad finely, it not only gets more flavour per mouthful, but you can eat more of it. It is more dense, more textured and more full of yummy tastes. Simply chop it all really finely and cube all bits you put on the top and give it a good shake, coating the whole salad with the dressing. It makes all the difference.
5. Colour!
Choose as many different colours of vegetables, leaves and fruit you like. The more colour, the more phytonutrients. You want to get as much variety as possible to get a full spectrum of wonderful nutrients which actually work to help each other absorb and get utilised by the body. Sprout your own seeds and add these to the mix for a really crunchy colourful array.
You really cannot eat enough salad, it is so wonderful for you. You can add goats cheese, organic meats, or plenty of extra sprouts if you are a veggie.
I must encourage you to go as organic as possible with salad, unfortunately as they are high in water content they are prone to storing chemicals if grown with them. Wash any salad that is not organic really really well.
Post any recipes you recommend here.
Happy chewing.
Josie
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Amazing Menstrual Cycle...
Oh god, here I go again, talking about things that you would rather not hear about.
Periods Yes, really.
Rather than talking about 'periods' as a time of the month where a woman menstruates, I am talking about the whole cycle of change a woman experiences each month. I am not suggesting all women experience, or are aware of, extreme changes in their mood. I just wish to highlight the cyclic nature a women has available to her, if she wishes to discover it.
I used to think that women who made a fuss about their periods were silly and it was an excuse to be grumpy and miserable. However, over the years as I have observed my own nature and that of the women around me I have developed a deeper respect for the profound changes a woman experiences in the month. I realise that at different times in her life and her year, she will experience shifts in her cycle and its effects on her will also
change. Diet, climate and stress levels will all have a profound effect on hormones and therefore on a woman's experience of life each month.
Women are cyclic in nature, like the rhythm of the moon their bodies change and adapt throughout the month. With these hormonal changes come disruptions in their mood, changes in their opinions, style and massive shifts in their sexual needs and desires. How could anyone keep up when she can't keep up with herself?
It is a shame that associations of the cycle always focus on the troubled stage before menstruation, although it is often the stage other people notice. It is important for women to be more gentle with themselves at this stage and not to push themselves into social situations or heavy work schedules that could end in tears, however at other times in the month she is radiant and powerful and ready for anything.
I often feel sorry for men as they try to decipher the complexities of a woman's mood and needs without realising what she wants today is not what she will want next week, or maybe the next hour!
I am not just talking about bad moods and tantrums here, I am talking about creative energy, abundant physical energy, insightful thoughts, empathy, compassion and inspiration. There are times of the month when all of these wonderful attributes will be greater and stronger and with an understanding of when these times will be, she can harness them and put them to good use.
At work yesterday a female staff member began to cry all of a sudden at something seemingly small, the confused male waiter said to me angrily, 'I don't think a man is any different to a woman, we must keep our emotions quiet at work and get on with our jobs. It is not my job to understand why she is crying.' Oh dear I thought, that is either a very confused or lonely life you are embarking on good sir, for women are going to keep surprising you like this. You must at least try to understand if you want to remain intact.
I am not suggesting here that all women cry each month, far from it, we live in feminist times and of course we are all( hopefully) more equal in work and play. However, our essential differences can get lost in these forced equalities. I like to think that our differences are complimentary and equality in found in these differences.
I have recently started studying to be a 'Red Moon Trainer' and will be ready to give workshops and individual sessions with women, helping them harness their energies each month and understand themselves and each other more fully. It is not about changing your life to suit your cycle, but being aware of how you interact with your life at difference stages of the cycle. Miranda Gray has written books on this topic including 'Red Mood' and is currently training Red Mood Facilitators across the world (http://www.mirandagray.co.uk/redmoon/red-moon.html.)
If you are a woman interested in charting your cycle email me and I will send you a moon dial. I promise you will be fascinated at how you change. If you are a man, I hope this was interesting and if you want to suggest it to your friend or partner, make sure it is not at the wrong time! ;) In miranda's book 'Optimised woman' she has a chapter for men on how to work around your lady's cycle and be aware of how it might and effect her and therefore...you!
Women who suffer from serious PMT (pre menstrual tension) can make massive changes by addressing their diet. I will post on this topic at a later date.
Opinions very welcome!
Over and Out.
Josie
Periods Yes, really.
Rather than talking about 'periods' as a time of the month where a woman menstruates, I am talking about the whole cycle of change a woman experiences each month. I am not suggesting all women experience, or are aware of, extreme changes in their mood. I just wish to highlight the cyclic nature a women has available to her, if she wishes to discover it.
I used to think that women who made a fuss about their periods were silly and it was an excuse to be grumpy and miserable. However, over the years as I have observed my own nature and that of the women around me I have developed a deeper respect for the profound changes a woman experiences in the month. I realise that at different times in her life and her year, she will experience shifts in her cycle and its effects on her will also
change. Diet, climate and stress levels will all have a profound effect on hormones and therefore on a woman's experience of life each month.
Women are cyclic in nature, like the rhythm of the moon their bodies change and adapt throughout the month. With these hormonal changes come disruptions in their mood, changes in their opinions, style and massive shifts in their sexual needs and desires. How could anyone keep up when she can't keep up with herself?
It is a shame that associations of the cycle always focus on the troubled stage before menstruation, although it is often the stage other people notice. It is important for women to be more gentle with themselves at this stage and not to push themselves into social situations or heavy work schedules that could end in tears, however at other times in the month she is radiant and powerful and ready for anything.
I often feel sorry for men as they try to decipher the complexities of a woman's mood and needs without realising what she wants today is not what she will want next week, or maybe the next hour!
I am not just talking about bad moods and tantrums here, I am talking about creative energy, abundant physical energy, insightful thoughts, empathy, compassion and inspiration. There are times of the month when all of these wonderful attributes will be greater and stronger and with an understanding of when these times will be, she can harness them and put them to good use.
At work yesterday a female staff member began to cry all of a sudden at something seemingly small, the confused male waiter said to me angrily, 'I don't think a man is any different to a woman, we must keep our emotions quiet at work and get on with our jobs. It is not my job to understand why she is crying.' Oh dear I thought, that is either a very confused or lonely life you are embarking on good sir, for women are going to keep surprising you like this. You must at least try to understand if you want to remain intact.
I am not suggesting here that all women cry each month, far from it, we live in feminist times and of course we are all( hopefully) more equal in work and play. However, our essential differences can get lost in these forced equalities. I like to think that our differences are complimentary and equality in found in these differences.
I have recently started studying to be a 'Red Moon Trainer' and will be ready to give workshops and individual sessions with women, helping them harness their energies each month and understand themselves and each other more fully. It is not about changing your life to suit your cycle, but being aware of how you interact with your life at difference stages of the cycle. Miranda Gray has written books on this topic including 'Red Mood' and is currently training Red Mood Facilitators across the world (http://www.mirandagray.co.uk/redmoon/red-moon.html.)
If you are a woman interested in charting your cycle email me and I will send you a moon dial. I promise you will be fascinated at how you change. If you are a man, I hope this was interesting and if you want to suggest it to your friend or partner, make sure it is not at the wrong time! ;) In miranda's book 'Optimised woman' she has a chapter for men on how to work around your lady's cycle and be aware of how it might and effect her and therefore...you!
Women who suffer from serious PMT (pre menstrual tension) can make massive changes by addressing their diet. I will post on this topic at a later date.
Opinions very welcome!
Over and Out.
Josie
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Digestive System: Our Health Epicentre.
Digestive wellness is a topic which makes most people withdraw from conversation.
However eating out, cooking food and celebrating how much we enjoy it is a regular discussion. So why is it, as soon as we consider how it travels through the body and (dare I say it) "how it comes out", we avoid the matter all together? It is understandably horrible to talk about poo I suppose, so I will try not to do that too much in this post.
However eating out, cooking food and celebrating how much we enjoy it is a regular discussion. So why is it, as soon as we consider how it travels through the body and (dare I say it) "how it comes out", we avoid the matter all together? It is understandably horrible to talk about poo I suppose, so I will try not to do that too much in this post.
Our digestive tract is the centre of our energy system, it is where we process all the nutrients we consume and it is from here they get transported around the body. How well these nutrients are absorbed and converted is all dependent on the health of our digestive tract and it's functionality is dependant mostly on the food we eat and the manner in which we eat it.
If our digestive health is askew, we will find it impossible to absorb nutrients, convert them and utilise them efficiently. This will create a complete breakdown in the chemical communication and complex synchronisation that occurs in our body's cells.
Digestive function is therefore a huge factor in improving ill health and often the primary cause of many diseases. Believe it or not, malnutrition is a huge problem in the West. It is ironic that when we have so much access to food, we still manage to get it wrong. It is of course, not because we don't eat enough food, but because we eat too much of the wrong food.
Digestive function is therefore a huge factor in improving ill health and often the primary cause of many diseases. Believe it or not, malnutrition is a huge problem in the West. It is ironic that when we have so much access to food, we still manage to get it wrong. It is of course, not because we don't eat enough food, but because we eat too much of the wrong food.
Wrong food/Portion/stress = Digestive Problems = Low absorbtion = Malnutrition = Disease
So, how do you know if your digestive system is on good form?
Most people think that if they go to the toilet once a day then things are looking good. However, optimal digestion would mean going to the toilet two or even three times a day. These bowel movements should feel easy, fast and complete. Your ...POO...should be...ok I won't go there...but if it is black and sinks then that is not entirely cool. I am not going to do a Gillian-get-my-gloves-ready McKeith on you. But light and floaty is better. Oh dear, I know.
If you suffer from bloating, belching, over fullness, fatigue or dis-ease after eating it is likely you are putting too much load on your system or are eating the wrong things for your body. Your digestive system is struggling and has developed an imbalance which needs addressing.
Ten Tips to get your digestive system healthy again.
1. Drink plenty of water and have a good amount of fibre in your diet.
2. Start eating more raw foods
3. Avoid processed refined foods
4. Take psyllium husk with water if you suffer from constipation
5. Start the day with a cup of warm water with lemon juice
6. Chew slowly and properly
7. Stop eating when you are full
9. Consider pro-biotics or digestive enzymes
10. Drink a Green Smoothie everyday!
Good Luck getting back in balance and feel free to email me any questions.
Good Luck getting back in balance and feel free to email me any questions.
Josie :)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Stress: How to Protect yourself
Everyone keeps telling me they are feeling stressed. Let's kick it.
I believe that so many diseases and illnesses could be eliminated by the removal of stress from our lives. The problem is, it is almost impossible to do that these days, so the best thing we can do is support our bodies during stressful periods with the right foods and as much rest as we can muster.
When our bodies are stressed all of their functions start to adapt, our nervous system changes its priorities. Digestion, renewal and restoration go out the window; our body is fighting something much more powerful (the queue in Tesco). All our nutrients are sucked out of their storage spaces (they were being saved for something worthwhile) and leached into our panicky body to try and help it survive this ordeal (the train you are about to miss).
When we are in a constant state of procrastination or in adrenaline producing stressful scenarios all day, it takes a massive toll on our body. Our immune system is depleted, wounds heal slower, we age more quickly, we are prone to stomach upsets and osteoporosis, eventually our life expectancy is reduced.
But, do not panic all is not lost...yet! Your body may be stressed, but there are tools at your fingertips and ways to support your body to keep it strong during these periods.
Here are my Top Ten Tips:
Here are my Top Ten Tips:
1. Breathe: Take a deep breath in now, fill your lungs and then slowly breathe out. Do this as often as you remember. We need oxygen to support us during times of stress and it calms our nervous system to slow our breathing.
2. Super Food Powders: When we are stressed we are often short of time. Super food powders like spirulina are a great way to give us a quick fix, a supreme nutrient boost!
3. Water: If we are stressed we are producing more acid and our body is a toxic environment, drinking plenty of water will help to flush and cleanse our body and make sure we eliminate all toxic waste faster!
4. Meditation: Taking time to reflect and draw your attention inwards is a great way to centre yourself and gain perspective on what really counts. Join a group or find a CD with guided meditations...it really works.
5. Avoid Caffeine: Everybody hates to hear this as we love tea and coffee, especially when we are short of sleep. But, caffeine mimics the stress response, this is clearly a terrible idea.
6. Almonds: These tasty nuts are high in magnesium which is really important in supporting our adrenal glands. If we are low in magnesium, we are more prone to feeling anxious.
7. Brown Rice: This is a slow release carbohydrate that will keep your sugar levels regulated and sustain your body. It is also associated with releasing serotonin, our feel good chemical.
10. Don't be too hard on yourself: Life is short and we spend so much of it beating ourselves up for not performing or achieving. We are human-beings not human-doings...so take time to do what you feel like and forget about what you should be doing once in a while :)
Keep Calm and Carry On.
Josie
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