Superfoods can heal, stimulate internal cleansing, nourish organs, improve digestion, increase your mental and physical energy, increase sexual desire, improve stamina, boost immunity - and much more.
They're the most powerful nutrient-packed foods you can find - with almost no fat or calories they are quite simply the best you can do for your body!
We all know what foods are good for us, but how many people know that food can actually supercharge their health? Scientists believe that superfoods can prevent and even reverse major health problems such as heart disease and cancer. It is truely incredible that our diet can dramatically affect our health.
Some foods can actually detoxify the liver! Eating foods that are low in fat and high in fibre will do wonders for your digestive system. To help your liver detox eat cabbage-they increase phase 2 enzymes that help the liver take out toxins. Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables is advisable- it is said to help your liver regenerate its self.
Recommended superfoods are:
berries (blueberries / raspberries)
Black pepper
Carrots
Garlic
Mustard
Seeds (sunflower / flax / pumpkin)
Sweet potatoesTender stems
Tomatoes
Turmeric
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Hide and seek.. Will playing games appeal to underage smokers?
Following recent legislation tobacco displays will be banned from shops. This is another government attempt at cutting down on the number of smokers in England. The last initiative worked- as far encouraging people to quit smoking and protecting the health of non- smokers goes. The smoking ban DID however have a massive impact on small business’s, especially on pub trade. As the smoking ban was enforced pubs have lost trade.
And with the news laws to ban all tobacco displays plenty more small businesses feel that this will cut their sales so significantly that it will cause them to struggle.
It has been questioned whether this is a good time to bring in the new laws. The country is in recession and small businesses need as much help as they can get as many of them battle through the current economic crisis.
But, I feel that regardless of the pubs that have lost out since the smoking ban, and the shops that will probably lose out due to the ban of tobacco displays. The nations health should surely be the government’s first priority.
They feel that the ban will prevent children from smoking. As there will be no point of sale advertising. I have my doubts about how effective it will be as many children choose to smoke because its dangerous and risky, and the fact that it is frowned upon (for good reasons) by many adults makes it ‘cool’. I worry whether hiding tobacco products might increase the appeal for children. Children may now feel that smoking is an even greater risk of rebellion.
And with the news laws to ban all tobacco displays plenty more small businesses feel that this will cut their sales so significantly that it will cause them to struggle.
It has been questioned whether this is a good time to bring in the new laws. The country is in recession and small businesses need as much help as they can get as many of them battle through the current economic crisis.
But, I feel that regardless of the pubs that have lost out since the smoking ban, and the shops that will probably lose out due to the ban of tobacco displays. The nations health should surely be the government’s first priority.
They feel that the ban will prevent children from smoking. As there will be no point of sale advertising. I have my doubts about how effective it will be as many children choose to smoke because its dangerous and risky, and the fact that it is frowned upon (for good reasons) by many adults makes it ‘cool’. I worry whether hiding tobacco products might increase the appeal for children. Children may now feel that smoking is an even greater risk of rebellion.
Don’t let your Christmas party lead to a killer hangover
There is absolutely no acceptable excuse for drink driving – I would find it impossible to believe that anyone isn't aware that it is extremely frowned upon in our society and is of course, very dangerous. Especially after these messages were dramatically reinforced as part of the recent ‘know your limits’ campaign that shocked us all with disturbing adverts showing us frightening videos of drink drivers killing children.
So those of us that aren’t irresponsible and reckless safely take a taxi home the next day, we go to sleep and then... When do we next drive? The next day; when we are safely under the limit?
I was reading an article in the Daily Mail that brought to my attention the fact that many of us drive hung over. I am usually prone to reading over and ignoring the constant, and often unreliable health scares published within the Mail: Unnecessary health scares such as: ‘How teaching children to eat more slowly cuts cancer risk’.
But, this particular article made me stop and think.
Being hung over the day after drinking- suffering with tiredness, headaches, lethargy and sometimes nausea is typical. Many people have to take days off work, as their concentration levels drop and they generally lose touch with the world. Yet, these people are, apparently ok to drive!
I read in the Daily Mail article that after completing simulated driving tests, using fit and then hung over test subjects, they found that the drivers that had been drinking the night before swerved more, and couldn’t always stay within the yellow lines.
But, the part I found most concerning is that the drivers who’d been drinking the previous night drove faster. Therefore more dangerously- as SPEED KILLS!
So those of us that aren’t irresponsible and reckless safely take a taxi home the next day, we go to sleep and then... When do we next drive? The next day; when we are safely under the limit?
I was reading an article in the Daily Mail that brought to my attention the fact that many of us drive hung over. I am usually prone to reading over and ignoring the constant, and often unreliable health scares published within the Mail: Unnecessary health scares such as: ‘How teaching children to eat more slowly cuts cancer risk’.
But, this particular article made me stop and think.
Being hung over the day after drinking- suffering with tiredness, headaches, lethargy and sometimes nausea is typical. Many people have to take days off work, as their concentration levels drop and they generally lose touch with the world. Yet, these people are, apparently ok to drive!
I read in the Daily Mail article that after completing simulated driving tests, using fit and then hung over test subjects, they found that the drivers that had been drinking the night before swerved more, and couldn’t always stay within the yellow lines.
But, the part I found most concerning is that the drivers who’d been drinking the previous night drove faster. Therefore more dangerously- as SPEED KILLS!
Saturday, 22 November 2008
The world is your gym
The countdown to Christmas is approaching and many of us are beginning to think about attempting to shift the pounds in attempt to fit into that perfect office party dress.
Joining a gym or health spa (and paying a usually steep and contract binding membership), or hiring a personal trainer would, of course, seem like the perfect fat busting solution. But if I was to go by recent high street sales figures and the frenzy of the credit crunch- I could assume that many of us will be struggling with our finances more than ever this year and really cannot afford this.
Don’t let this deter you from doing exercise. The world is your gym. There is very little that can be done more effectively in a gym, than without the use of expensive gym equipment, and pushy membership contracts.
Admittedly a personal trainer provides many of us with the self motivation, that many of us lack when it comes down to convincing ourselves that 30 minutes of exercise actually will make us feel (and of course, look) ten times better than curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea. (No, lies; this is a proven scientific fact. Exercise is good for our mental wellbeing.) But they’re expensive and we don’t NEED them. They’re this generations new craze, a perfectly good idea, but not necessary. Motivate yourself. It worked for years before somebody tapped into how appealing, our progressively ‘lazy’ society, would find someone willing to essentially do the hard part (getting yourself out of bed/ or off the sofa) for them.
Run in fields, swim in the sea, lift cans of beans, bound up and down the stairs. Walk, everywhere and walk fast. Dance in your living room, dance with friends and dance in clubs. Stretch. Do pull up’s on (strong) tree branches, pretend to box.
Do whatever you please- just don’t pay for it.
Joining a gym or health spa (and paying a usually steep and contract binding membership), or hiring a personal trainer would, of course, seem like the perfect fat busting solution. But if I was to go by recent high street sales figures and the frenzy of the credit crunch- I could assume that many of us will be struggling with our finances more than ever this year and really cannot afford this.
Don’t let this deter you from doing exercise. The world is your gym. There is very little that can be done more effectively in a gym, than without the use of expensive gym equipment, and pushy membership contracts.
Admittedly a personal trainer provides many of us with the self motivation, that many of us lack when it comes down to convincing ourselves that 30 minutes of exercise actually will make us feel (and of course, look) ten times better than curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea. (No, lies; this is a proven scientific fact. Exercise is good for our mental wellbeing.) But they’re expensive and we don’t NEED them. They’re this generations new craze, a perfectly good idea, but not necessary. Motivate yourself. It worked for years before somebody tapped into how appealing, our progressively ‘lazy’ society, would find someone willing to essentially do the hard part (getting yourself out of bed/ or off the sofa) for them.
Run in fields, swim in the sea, lift cans of beans, bound up and down the stairs. Walk, everywhere and walk fast. Dance in your living room, dance with friends and dance in clubs. Stretch. Do pull up’s on (strong) tree branches, pretend to box.
Do whatever you please- just don’t pay for it.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
And we all enjoy a spot of exercise. Dont we?
As we all know eating healthily is just not enough. We must also indulge in that dreaded word; 'exercise.' Exercise involves moving your body to burn calories, strengthen your muscles and heart. A simple concept with many torturous connotations. An absolute chore, but essential to maintaining a healthy body.
The word automatically draws up the mental image of a sweaty gym full of miserable red faces. I refuse to believe that anyone (who has not falsely convinced themselves otherwise) actually enjoys working out in these places.
The 30-minute slog on the treadmill- spent viciously cursing the slow moving clock. Enviously staring at the woman in the corner, who has smugly finished her workout and is on to lapping up cups of cold, refreshing water. All the while I consider whether the intense overheating and the fact that I feel that I may collapse with tiredness or just boredom alone is actually worth the two pounds that I may lose. (If I don't devour my body weight in chocolate again tonight!)
Reading back over that last paragraph caused me to highlight many similarities to a prison camp- ok, so I've just over exaggerated a little. But the overall feeling of torture and pain bears its resemblance. Surely?
I present to you the reality that; we can actually enjoy exercise. There is so much to choose from. In my opinion, there is nothing better than a thirty minute swim in the morning to wake me up. Its not too strenuous and I don't get sweaty or smelly.
Trampolining is also tremendous fun, and excellent for building muscle and burning fat and calories. You will become so involved with learning the skill that you'll forget you're working out. Brilliant!
The key is to learn a skill. Find something you enjoy, and then concentrate on training to better yourself. Why make exercise a chore?
The word automatically draws up the mental image of a sweaty gym full of miserable red faces. I refuse to believe that anyone (who has not falsely convinced themselves otherwise) actually enjoys working out in these places.
The 30-minute slog on the treadmill- spent viciously cursing the slow moving clock. Enviously staring at the woman in the corner, who has smugly finished her workout and is on to lapping up cups of cold, refreshing water. All the while I consider whether the intense overheating and the fact that I feel that I may collapse with tiredness or just boredom alone is actually worth the two pounds that I may lose. (If I don't devour my body weight in chocolate again tonight!)
Reading back over that last paragraph caused me to highlight many similarities to a prison camp- ok, so I've just over exaggerated a little. But the overall feeling of torture and pain bears its resemblance. Surely?
I present to you the reality that; we can actually enjoy exercise. There is so much to choose from. In my opinion, there is nothing better than a thirty minute swim in the morning to wake me up. Its not too strenuous and I don't get sweaty or smelly.
Trampolining is also tremendous fun, and excellent for building muscle and burning fat and calories. You will become so involved with learning the skill that you'll forget you're working out. Brilliant!
The key is to learn a skill. Find something you enjoy, and then concentrate on training to better yourself. Why make exercise a chore?
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Mumps jab..... Have you had yours??
Mumps jab…… Have you had yours??
And somebody else has mumps…. I automatically cringe after hearing this.
Firstly, because this; when in living in close quarters as I am at university, is usually followed by the word ‘outbreak’, and I assume it has got out of hand. It always appears to be uncontrollable!
Secondly I’m a complete hypochondriac, I don’t like illness. Frankly it scares me.
My concerns are completely irrational and totally unjustified as I have little knowledge of what it actually entails. Except that I’m sure it causes you to have a hamster like resemblance which doesn’t appeal to me at all.
The university website has kindly calmed the panic with a notice causing me confusion as to whether I have had the MR or MMR jab?! Apparently I should have records of, or at the very least have some sort of idea of how many of these jabs I’ve had. I hope I’m not alone in having absolutely no recollection of receiving it once let alone twice!
The symptoms (which I plucked up the courage to read before I began my self diagnosis) include; fever, shivers, tiredness and painful swelling of the glands. Men come off worst from the virus as their testicles swell (painfully apparently!) It can also reduce their fertility. It’s not treated with antibiotics…. unusually. Painkillers simply do the job.
There are complications. For the benefit of the over paranoid among us I wont list them.
According to the very reliable BBC health website the prevention is of course the bloody jab! You receive the first one when you are between 12 and 15 months and you receive your second jab when you are between 3 and 5 years. And there is my explanation as to why I can’t remember having it!
For more information check out the BBC Health website, (a recommended source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mumps2.shtml
See the university website for information on 'the probable outbreak': http://resources.glos.ac.uk/staff/news/mumps.cfm
And somebody else has mumps…. I automatically cringe after hearing this.
Firstly, because this; when in living in close quarters as I am at university, is usually followed by the word ‘outbreak’, and I assume it has got out of hand. It always appears to be uncontrollable!
Secondly I’m a complete hypochondriac, I don’t like illness. Frankly it scares me.
My concerns are completely irrational and totally unjustified as I have little knowledge of what it actually entails. Except that I’m sure it causes you to have a hamster like resemblance which doesn’t appeal to me at all.
The university website has kindly calmed the panic with a notice causing me confusion as to whether I have had the MR or MMR jab?! Apparently I should have records of, or at the very least have some sort of idea of how many of these jabs I’ve had. I hope I’m not alone in having absolutely no recollection of receiving it once let alone twice!
The symptoms (which I plucked up the courage to read before I began my self diagnosis) include; fever, shivers, tiredness and painful swelling of the glands. Men come off worst from the virus as their testicles swell (painfully apparently!) It can also reduce their fertility. It’s not treated with antibiotics…. unusually. Painkillers simply do the job.
There are complications. For the benefit of the over paranoid among us I wont list them.
According to the very reliable BBC health website the prevention is of course the bloody jab! You receive the first one when you are between 12 and 15 months and you receive your second jab when you are between 3 and 5 years. And there is my explanation as to why I can’t remember having it!
For more information check out the BBC Health website, (a recommended source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mumps2.shtml
See the university website for information on 'the probable outbreak': http://resources.glos.ac.uk/staff/news/mumps.cfm
Thursday, 30 October 2008
We eat free diaries
We eat free diaries
I can’t believe that I am voluntarily restricting the food that I can eat. Believe me cutting food groups out of your diet is a complete pain in the ass! I’m so fed up of analysing labels in supermarkets – food shopping is boring enough! But after nearly two months of sickness, cramps, bloating, and little useful advice from my clueless and apparently useless doctor; I have decided to test to see if I have food intolerance.
Hours of my time have been spent, and probably wasted, reading about this relatively new scare that has recently hit our diet obsessed nation. I am slightly cynical about the ‘craze’ and am usually very against self diagnosis from internet reading. But after months of uncomfortable symptoms, anything is worth a shot!
I began the test by eliminating dairy from my diet. This meant that consuming milk, cheese, yoghurts, cream and butter was strictly prohibited. I thought it would be quite easy, although I have little confidence in my own willpower! I found breakfast a problem; I love cereal in the morning, I obviously couldn’t have milk so I thought this was out of the question, toast isn’t worth eating without butter and green tea will never replace a Tetley teabag with a splash of cold milk. I tried eating plenty of fruit in the morning but ended up feeling hungry by 12, and am usually far too busy to eat lunch this early. I then discovered soya milk; it goes perfectly with cereal! It has a creamy nutty taste and compliments crunchy cereal beautifully in the mornings. But it really doesn’t taste so good in tea! Green tea is actually growing on me though, and it’s a lot healthier as it doesn’t contain caffeine and I don’t drink it with milk or sugar.
My commitment to this diet was lost at the first sight of a roast dinner and more importantly a Yorkshire pudding, which is easily my favourite part of the traditional dish. Sorry, but the diet just didn’t seem worth it! If you are now thinking how weak I am you haven’t tasted my housemate’s Yorkshire pudding!
I have just begun week two and after failing the dairy free diet I have moved on to a diet that doesn’t contain wheat. This means no bread, no pasta, no cakes, pastries or biscuits. I was surprised to find that most sauces were out of bounds as well, including soy sauce and mayonnaise. This is definitely proving to be a challenge. Many people find that they lose weight on this diet, probably because you have to cut out processed food, and stodgy carbohydrates from your diet. For breakfast, I am eating porridge, a healthy breakfast that keeps me full till lunch and warms me up in the mornings! I usually have a salad for lunch as I can’t have a sandwich and for dinner I usually have chicken, fish, vegetables or a jacket potato. I think I have found this diet hard to maintain as there are many things that I didn’t realise contained wheat. Soup, burgers and sausages are good examples of this.
I have a friend that has been on the wheat free diet for 3 months. He started the diet as he wanted to lose weight and he has lost loads. He hasn’t been weighing himself for fear of becoming obsessive but the weight loss has been dramatic and therefore obvious. He looks amazing and says that he feels that he has a lot more energy. I am not entirely convinced that this is only because he has cut out wheat. The fact that he has had to eat more healthily has a lot to do with it.
For example, recently at a party, all the party food that was laid out such as crisps and cakes was untouchable. Instead he made a jacket potato. Wheat is not essential in your diet and I would consider it to be a safe method of losing weight.
And the conclusion of my test results? These are still unknown. I still haven’t completed the wheat free week and will update my blog as soon as I do.
I can’t believe that I am voluntarily restricting the food that I can eat. Believe me cutting food groups out of your diet is a complete pain in the ass! I’m so fed up of analysing labels in supermarkets – food shopping is boring enough! But after nearly two months of sickness, cramps, bloating, and little useful advice from my clueless and apparently useless doctor; I have decided to test to see if I have food intolerance.
Hours of my time have been spent, and probably wasted, reading about this relatively new scare that has recently hit our diet obsessed nation. I am slightly cynical about the ‘craze’ and am usually very against self diagnosis from internet reading. But after months of uncomfortable symptoms, anything is worth a shot!
I began the test by eliminating dairy from my diet. This meant that consuming milk, cheese, yoghurts, cream and butter was strictly prohibited. I thought it would be quite easy, although I have little confidence in my own willpower! I found breakfast a problem; I love cereal in the morning, I obviously couldn’t have milk so I thought this was out of the question, toast isn’t worth eating without butter and green tea will never replace a Tetley teabag with a splash of cold milk. I tried eating plenty of fruit in the morning but ended up feeling hungry by 12, and am usually far too busy to eat lunch this early. I then discovered soya milk; it goes perfectly with cereal! It has a creamy nutty taste and compliments crunchy cereal beautifully in the mornings. But it really doesn’t taste so good in tea! Green tea is actually growing on me though, and it’s a lot healthier as it doesn’t contain caffeine and I don’t drink it with milk or sugar.
My commitment to this diet was lost at the first sight of a roast dinner and more importantly a Yorkshire pudding, which is easily my favourite part of the traditional dish. Sorry, but the diet just didn’t seem worth it! If you are now thinking how weak I am you haven’t tasted my housemate’s Yorkshire pudding!
I have just begun week two and after failing the dairy free diet I have moved on to a diet that doesn’t contain wheat. This means no bread, no pasta, no cakes, pastries or biscuits. I was surprised to find that most sauces were out of bounds as well, including soy sauce and mayonnaise. This is definitely proving to be a challenge. Many people find that they lose weight on this diet, probably because you have to cut out processed food, and stodgy carbohydrates from your diet. For breakfast, I am eating porridge, a healthy breakfast that keeps me full till lunch and warms me up in the mornings! I usually have a salad for lunch as I can’t have a sandwich and for dinner I usually have chicken, fish, vegetables or a jacket potato. I think I have found this diet hard to maintain as there are many things that I didn’t realise contained wheat. Soup, burgers and sausages are good examples of this.
I have a friend that has been on the wheat free diet for 3 months. He started the diet as he wanted to lose weight and he has lost loads. He hasn’t been weighing himself for fear of becoming obsessive but the weight loss has been dramatic and therefore obvious. He looks amazing and says that he feels that he has a lot more energy. I am not entirely convinced that this is only because he has cut out wheat. The fact that he has had to eat more healthily has a lot to do with it.
For example, recently at a party, all the party food that was laid out such as crisps and cakes was untouchable. Instead he made a jacket potato. Wheat is not essential in your diet and I would consider it to be a safe method of losing weight.
And the conclusion of my test results? These are still unknown. I still haven’t completed the wheat free week and will update my blog as soon as I do.
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