Curried Sweet Potato & Lentil Soup

Ingredients: 1kg sweet potato1 cup celery1 tomato diced1 carrot, diced1 long red chilli finely diced1.5L of vegetable stock1 cup fresh cannellini or borlotti beans (hydrate overnight) or organic tinned beans1 cup kidney beans1 cup of lentils, pre-soaked for 1 hour or tinned2 tsp of fresh ginger1 tsp of cumin powder1  tsp  or  coriander  powder½ a cup parsley or coriander leavesSea salt and pepperInstructions:Peel the sweet potato and cut into small cubes. Add it to boiling stock and bring to the boil. Add lentil, celery, carrot and tomatoes.Simmer for 15 minutes…

Roasted Beet, Sweet Potato & Kale Salad– serve warm or cold

Winter salad

Packed with greens, proteins and fibre plus a rainbow of nutrients, this is the perfect salad that will also double as a complete meal!INGREDIENTSSalad 1 large sweet potato 1/4 cup dried, unsweetened cranberries 1/4 cup chopped pecans 4 beets peeled 1 head of kale chopped 1/2 cup cooked quinoa 2 tablespoon of coconut oil Salt and pepper Dressing 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar 1 tsp wasabi (or other mustard if preferred) Juice of a lime ÂĽ cup extra virgin olive oil METHOD Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) Dice sweet…

Pineapple & Turmeric Anti-inflammatory Smoothie

smoothie

This smoothie is not only yummy but also excellent for anyone with a winter cold or flu or a training recovery drink. So you’ve read about the health benefits of turmeric, but not sure how you can use it? Here’s a smoothie recipe that uses it in the most refreshing way while offering a host of health benefits! Turmeric would have to be one of Mother Nature’s best gifts! With uses from detoxing the body, lower inflammation and support healthy immune system. Pineapples contain the digestive enzyme bromelain, a natural enzyme that supports the…

Shaking it up- Are meal replacement shakes a healthy option for us?

meal replacement

Meal replacement shakes come at a high price and promise great results so are they worth the price we pay? In today’s article we’ll delve into the ingredients added to meal replacement shakes that may be doing your body more harm than good.Meal replacement shakes are usually processed products that people drink in place of eating one of their main meals. Dieters, the elderly, busy people on the go with little time to cook or those with digestive complaints are most likely to use meal replacement shakes. In the short…

Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent Fasting

To fast or not to fast….understanding intermittent fastingOver the past few years intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular, but is it good for us?Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves periods of food restriction (fasting) followed by normal eating. Interestingly this pattern of eating has been proven to help in weight loss, disease prevention and increasing the lifespan (1, 2).Experts seem to agree that it is more beneficial for metabolism than overall daily calorie restriction which may decrease metabolism (3).The following is an article written by Kris Gunnars who investigates…

Gluten Intolerance or Gliadin Intolerance?

Gluten

Today’s article is the second article dedicated to the gut and sensitivities, this week will focus on gliadin a protein found in many gluten containing foods. This article has been adapted from an article written by Ben Greenfield – https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/ Gluten has become an “inflammatory” subject with many people believing that they have a gluten intolerance. The food industry has jumped on the bandwagon labelling many food products as gluten free, even when there has never been gluten in the product. It is no wonder that consumers are confused and as…

Gut Sensitivity in Athletes and Non-Athletes- FODMAP’s

FODMAP

My next few articles will be dedicated to the gut and sensitivities that many of us may experience on a daily basis whether we are athletes or not. Today’s article will focus on FODMAP sensitivity which may be a leading factor in gut issues. This article has been adapted from an article written by Ben Greenfield – https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/ A recent study actually found that people with self-reported “gluten sensitivity” had actual zero bad gut effects from eating gluten and instead experienced complete elimination of their gut issues after they simply underwent a dietary…

Sleep! Are you getting enough?

sleep

Not Getting Enough High-Quality Sleep can Lower Metabolism!I thought it might be timely to write about sleep in the wake of daylight savings throwing some of our bodies into turmoil. Anyone that knows me well knows that I am an extremely early riser that loves early training sessions, however I still struggle with the transition to daylight savings and adjusting the body clock.Sleep is important for many reasons which include good health and longevity. Not enough sleep can increase our risk factors for many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease…

Sugar…Hidden in Plain Sight

sugar

Did you know that 74% of packaged foods, both sweet and savoury, have added sugar?Even if you are not a sweet tooth you may be consuming more sugar than you realise. Some foods promoted as “natural” or “healthy” are laden with added sugars, compounding the confusion for consumers.Eating too much sugar is really bad for your health. A high sugar intake has been linked to an increased risk of many diseases, including obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.Pre-packaged foods and drinks that are higher in sugar than you…

Mushrooms: Health Benefits, Facts, Research

Mushrooms

Mushrooms, though classified as vegetables in the food world, are not technically plants. They belong to the fungi kingdom and although they are not vegetables, mushrooms provide several important nutrients.It’s common knowledge that the key to getting enough vitamins and minerals in the diet is to eat a colourful variety of fruits and vegetables – the more colour, the better. However, this philosophy tends to leave mushrooms in the dark. In many cases, if a food lacks colour, it also in turn lacks necessary nutrients. However, mushrooms – which are commonly white…