Combat a cough
Sage is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and immune boosting, so it’s ideal for easing coughs. Place two sage leaves in a cup and pour boiling water over them. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then strain and drink.
Category Archives: Diet
THE SECRET SUPERFRUIT.
Pineapples are loaded with nutrients and powerful enzymes that will benefit your health no end. The real star of the show is the enzyme bromelain, which this tropical fruit is full of.
It has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits that can have an effect on reducing arthritis and healing time from sports injuries, wounds and stings.
Bromelain can also lessen hay fever symptoms, increase the absorption of antibiotics, reduce blood clotting and some studies have shown it can even help in controlling the growth of tumours.
It also gives the metabolism a short-term boost by speeding up digestion.
Pineapple is fibre-rich, so great for digestion, and high in vitamin C, essential for a healthy immune system.
It’s a good source of thiamine, copper – essential for healthy blood cells – and potassium, which helps control blood pressure.
Don’t overdo it though, it’s quite a high-sugar fruit.
HEALTH CURES: LINSEEDS.
Beat constipation
Linseeds – also called flaxseeds – are full of fibre, minerals and vitamins, and soothe the lining of the intestines – all of which makes them great for constipation. Soak a teaspoon in water overnight and drink the next morning to get your digestive system moving.
CLASSIC DIET TRUTHS… FACT OR FICTION?
Grapefruit helps you to lose weight
It was once believed that grapefruit contained fat-busting enzymes, but the truth is in it’s ability to reduce levels of the hormone insulin in our blood. This, in turn, causes us to feel less hungry and we are therefore more likely to eat fewer calories.
Spicy foods speed up your metabolism
Research has proven that eating spicy foods, such as chilli sauce and hot mustard, with your meal can increase your metabolism and therefore increase the number of calories you burn. This small metabolisim-boosting effect may be useful when losing weight, but only as part of an overall mix of weight-loss efforts. Strength training (i.e. lunges, squats and exercising your biceps and triceps) can increase your metabolism by 15%.
Missing meals helps you to shed pounds
Not true. When we miss a meal our bodies go into primitive survival mode and cleverly slow the rate at which we burn calories. Skipping a meal also makes you feel hungrier at the next one, so you’re more likely to eat more to compensate for the meal you did not have. Eat three balanced meals a day, plus healthy snacks in between, to keep your metabolism and appetite steady.
Separating proteins and carbohydrates makes you slimmer
Not so. Our bodies are perfectly capable of digesting the nutrients in a mixed meal. However, research shows that we naturally eat less when we eat just one type of food per meal, because we get bored so stop eating sooner. As a result, people who follow ‘food-combining’ diets where they separate protein from carbs often tend to lose weight successfully.
HEALTH CURES: GINGER.
Bust a headache
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is a traditional remedy for headaches – especially migraines, because it can also help nausea. Grate about a teaspoon of fresh ginger, pour boiling water over it, leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then drink.
SALT CONSUMPTION ON THE DECREASE, BUT THERE’S STILL A WAY TO GO.
It has been revealed that the average salt consumption by adults has dropped by almost 1g in the last decade. This is an encouraging result, as high levels of salt can cause blood pressure to rise, which in turn can increase the possibility of strokes and other health issues.
However, despite this good news, adults are still eating about 8g per day which is over the recommended amount of 6g for good health. Most of the salt being consumed is in the foods we buy, and the reduction may be as a result of pressure on the industry to minimise salt levels.
How can you reduce your salt intake?
- Compare the labels on packaging, you’ll be surprised at how much salt you can cut this way
- Go for reduced salt meats, such as unsmoked back bacon. Cured meats and fish tend to be high in salt content, so buy these less often.
- Buy tinned vegetables without added salt
- Tomato based sauces are often lower in salt than ready-made pasta sauces
- Eat healthier snacks as opposed to crisps or crackers, or check the labels to choose those lowest in salt.
HEALTH CURES: CINNAMON.
Zap fat
Cinnamon can help balance blood sugar and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Dissolve a teaspoon in warm water and drink with your breakfast.
THE SUPERFOODS YOU’RE THROWING AWAY.
It is likely that you are throwing away the most nutritional parts of certain foods. Take a look at the list below to see how you can put the ‘waste’ to good use.
- Broccoli Stalks
Rich in antioxidants, the stem contains more digestion-bossting fibre than the florets. Use in juices and soups, or grate over salads. - Sprouted garlic
When garlic sprouts a green shoot, it contains five times the antioxidants of fresh, lowering the risk of heart disease still further. - Orange and lemon peel
The skin contains more flavonoid phytochemicals – linked to better brain health – than the fruit itself. Grate unwaxed zest into salad dressings or to flavour natural yogurt. - Strawberry tops
Strawberry leaves contain more antioxidants than the fruit. These slow down cell damage linked to wrinkles. Blitz a few into your smoothie. - Celery greens
Higher in vitamins than the fibrous stalks, celery leaves are a good source of immunity-boosting vitamin E. Juice like any other green or add to stocks/soups. - Pineapple core
Tough pineapple cores contain twice as much bromelain – an enzyme with pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties – as the flesh. Slice thinly and bake on a low heat to make pineapple crisps.
TURMERIC: THE SUPER SPICE.
We all know turmeric as a curry spice, giving the dish it’s vibrant colour. But did you know it also has some serious health benefits?
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory, lowering the levels of enzymes in the body that cause pain and swelling. It’s often used to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and ulcerative colitis. It may also help to ease the effects of chronic conditions with low levels of inflammation, such as Alzheimer’s.
The spice also works as an anticoagulant, slowing and stopping blood platelets from grouping together to form clots, thereby contributing to lowering the risk of blood clots.
It’s high antioxidant levels also fight the effects of free radicals in the body, making it helpful in lowering the risk of certain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT AVOCADOS?
With a 25% rise in sales last year, what has got everyone obsessed with the humble avocado?
- Healthy heart – rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids that can help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.
- High in soluble and insoluble fibre – helping keep the blood cholesterol levels low and your digestive system healthy. Also, high potassium levels help with regulating blood pressure and heart rate.
- Full of vitamins – a high concentration of vitamin E for healthy skin, vitamin A for a strong immune system and vitamin K for blood-healing functions.
- An antioxidant punch – high levels of phenol essential for counteracting the effects of free radicals.