Wheatgrass juice boost for energy slump

Wheatgrass juice is pure green power

After a month in Nepal eating rice, I returned to the UK and gorged on fresh baked bread.

Consequently, the gluten ground my digestive system to a halt and my energy levels, having been Himalayan high, stooped to all time low.

Does dairy free ice-cream taste good?

I scream for ice-cream
image by Michael Chambers

Dairy free foods are on the increase. Not just for vegans, but for those of us who experience acne, bloating, high cholesterol, hormone imbalances, are lactose intolerant and for those who wish for healthier foods.

But often, our real measure of food  is in the taste. So I put a few dairy free products to the test, because let's face it - who wants a life without ice-cream.

Top 5 raw chocolate treats

I've always had a sweet tooth, but as this is a health blog I thought I'd eat my way through a load of raw chocolate as it's full of goodness, or so the makers claim.

To know about the health benefits,  click here .for a previous article, or read to discover what I found on my raw chocolate binge.

Raw chocolate for the weight conscious

Globally, Britons come second to the Swiss with regard to annual chocolate consumption - something in the region of 17.5 lbs per person each year (the Swiss eat 19lbs per person).

But this brings problems with dental care and obesity - serious health issues! So how do we satiate our sweet teeth without adding to the NHS burden of disorders and addictions? The answer lies in raw chocolate.

Healing properties of lemons & how to use them

Lemons may not be your favourite fruit to suck on, but our alkalising little friend has a lot to offer by way of health care. there's no better start to the day than hot water and fresh lemon juice to kick start your liver in the morning.

Lemon juice
Lemon juice prompts the liver into making bile, thereby stimulating organ function. Some people swear by it as a cure for hiccups, although I've never tried that, but it does a great job of flushing out my digestion.

Acai berry for weight loss

The Acai berry (ah-sigh-ee) is an Amazonian superfood with high nutritious properties and an ability to support weight loss.

However beware as some 'scam' miracle diet products linked to the berry have led to a misunderstanding of the super food and caused consumer concern over legitimate trading and health claims.

In this article, I'll explain what the berry is, what are the nutritional benefits and how it can help the ongoing management of weight loss.

Complementary healthcare for cancer

If you or a loved one are awaiting results, or undergoing treatment for cancer, there are a wide number of complementary therapies available that are proving to ease pain and assist recovery.

For decades, health practitioners have been aware of the powerful effect of a positive mental attitude coupled with a whole range of therapies - from drinking Essaic herbal tea, to eating paw paw to exploring the Gerson therapy - on cancer patients.

3 healthy snacks for winter fuel

We get hungrier than ever when it's cold outside, and we want to reach for breads, pastas and pies - but spare a thought for your mind and body as you wolf down carbohydrates. We do need more fat in the winter, but it can be good fat!

I've discovered some snacks that fight fatigue, keep the body's fuel gauge high and lower the risk of heart disease.

Fight flu & signs of aging with cranberries

Not just the fodder for a winter fruity sauce, the little red cranberry is packed with antioxidants and anthocyanidins which help to maintain your skin's elasticity so you look young and fresh.

They are a rich source of vitamin C, so a daily dose will keep colds and runny noses at bay. And the cranberry is an invaluable source of fibre.

Green tea - eat it or drink it? Either way it's good for you!

Green tea, the favourite drink in Aisa, has made a deep imprint in the western health psyche. It seems researchers and scientists can't get enough of this antioxidant, immune boosting, fat burning tea leaf, which when picked transforms into a light, delicate drink suitable for most occasions.

Is alkaline water better than tap water?

Water water everywhere but not  a drop to drink. Or so it may seem as facts and figures about the toxicity of tap water are frequently dripped into the media. Which can be a problem when you want to drink your 2 litres a day

Which type of water for me?
We have plenty to choose from - straight from the tap, bottled, filtered, alkaline, carbonated, room temperature, cold, flavoured etc - the list is endless

However, scientists and health professionals do concur that the acid alkaline balance of the body is essential for good health.

Boost your stamina with powerful Tulsi

If you've not yet heard of Tulsi, you will now.  This sacred herb is gaining in popularity. Renowned for its healing properties, this herb has been use in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine for thousands of years as a means of:

• Improving stamina
• Reducing stress
• Boosting the immune system
• Supporting the metabolism - thus making this purple herb popular in the battle of the bulge.

How? What is it exaclty?

Pomegranates are No 1 for heart health

Pomegranates contain the highest amount of naturally occurring antioxidants than any other fruit juice or drink, including red wine and green tea, according to Professor Michael Aviram.

Pomegranates form a major ingredient in many skin care products and the proven health benefits of this plump red fruit include increased circulation, better heart health and reduced cholesterol.

So if you're not already chomping into this healthy snacking superfruit, it's time to make friends with pomegranates.

IBS or digestive trouble? Cut out wheat, eat spelt insead!

There's little in life more tempting then the smell of fresh baked bread. Crusty edges and soft floury dough adds warmth to a cold breakfast and complements homemade soup.

Alas, for many of us, wheat causes havoc with our digestion, energy levels, moods and constipation.

Top tip on getting your greens

Every child is told to eat their greens, but adults need them too. But if you don't have time to chew through a bowl of broccoli, kale and sprouts every day you can get everything you need in a healthy green drink, even from a ready made blended sachet.

Vital Greens, Green Magma and Kean's Supreme Greens Alkaliser are just three of the super healthy drinks and foods containing essential vitamins, nutrients, minerals, probiotics, antioxodants, akalines, enzymes... meaning your body will never be without what is needed, and your health will benefit.

Drinking tea reduces the risk of heart disease

The British cuppa is officially a re-hydrating healthy drink. Tea contains flavonoids - from the polyphenol family - that not only boost your health but reduce the risk of coronary heart disease  - a major killer in the UK affecting 1 in 5 men and 1 in 6 women every year.

Add to this the fact that each cup counts towards your daily requirement of 2litres of water and we have a seriously healthy drink. So let's talk tea and find out why it's so good for us.

5 of the best sports & energy snack bars

Trying to find a decent healthy snack or sports bar that provides you with plenty of nutritious protein and energy in a natural, organic way?

Like most people, I spin several plates at once, work, study, family etc and I want quality healthy snack foods that energise me. So in a bid to find delicious, nutritious energy bars that enhance my thinking, keep me alert and satiate my appetite, I've been eating my way through various types of bars and balls and here's what I found.

5 healthy uses for ginger

Culinary and medicinal, ginger has been sought, bought and sold around the globe, it used to travel great distances across ancient and treacherous spice routes, guarded by Arabs and ingested by kings. 

Today ginger is cultivated for its widespread use to cure the body and alleviate symptoms of: 

• nausea
• motion sickness
• colds & flu
• menstrual cramps & morning sickness
• gas & bloating
• headaches

Spirulina - cancer inhibiting, weight losing super food

How has an algea, dredged from the bottom of a pond, become a world renowned healthy snacking, healthy drinking super-food?

Over the past twenty or thirty years Spirulina - a green spiral-shaped fresh-water plant - has been tested and recorded and is known as the world's richest 'whole food' source  of iron, protein, GLA and beta-carotene. 

Guarana - SuperFood health snack & better than caffeine

This Amazonian plant (Paullinia cupana) contains the planet's most naturally occurring caffeine.  Used widely in South America before Columbus, this mysterious plant provides a hefty, but natural, dose of guaranine, or caffeine.

And when mixed with other ingredients, it's a very healthy snack that fuels you for hours