Did you know that the function of your gut could be affecting the function of your brain, and the food you eat each day, can have a direct effect on your mood! When you consider that the incidence of anxiety and depression has reached epidemic levels in western countries, and antidepressant and anti anxiety medications are amongst the most commonly prescribed drugs, the question we need to ask ourselves is, what is driving this epidemic and what can be done to turn it around? Well the answer lies largely in the fact that we have a second brain hidden within the walls
Toasted muesli and granola are often promoted as a ‘healthy’ option for breakfast, but in reality they are typically loaded with sugar – thanks to being baked in honey and chocked full of dried fruit – making them anything BUT healthy! Toasted muesli and granola are also typically baked at high heat, destroying the goodness of the healthy fats in the nuts and seeds. They typically contain oats, which are a source of gluten, and being a grain, they are not conducive to fixing your gut or losing weight.But don’t despair! If you’re someone who can’t live without your morning muesli, my grain free granola recipe
GF, DF, PF, SF, DBF, AC, VV Fermented foods have been part of many traditional cultures diets for hundreds of years, as a natural way to preserve food and support digestive health. You may have heard of sauerkraut, which is fermented cabbage traditionally consumed in Germany, or Kimchi the traditional fermented vegetable dish of Korea and Bulgarians traditionally consumed plenty of fermented milk and kefir. Eating naturally fermented foods, like these delicious fermented vegetables, is a fantastic way of introducing probiotics, or good bacteria into your diet. Probiotics are essential for maintaining the balance of good and bad bacteria within your gut – which form what’s
GF, DF, PF, LS, DBF, AC If you’re a fan of conventional Shepherd’s pie, then this is a great low carb alternative compared to the traditional recipe made with mashed potato, yet still packed with all the flavour! It’s super easy to prepare and freezes well, making it the perfect meal to keep on hand for those nights you don’t feel like cooking or when unexpected guests pop in! The kids will also love it! What you’ll need… 1 batch of cauliflower rice 1 ½ Tbsps macadamia or virgin coconut oil 1 medium brown onion, peeled and diced ½
Kefir is a naturally fermented beverage that’s a little bit like drinkable yogurt. It’s traditionally made from cow’s milk, but because my program is cow’s dairy free, I recommend using coconut milk instead. I actually prefer coconut milk kefir because it’s naturally sweeter and doesn’t have the sour flavour like cow’s milk kefir. Including kefir in your diet is a great way to restore and maintain your healthy gut flora colonies which help to boost your immune defences; reduce inflammation and balance your moods. The key ingredient to making coconut milk kefir are kefir grains – live active cultures containing
You may recall in my video on the 8 essential foods to avoid, I recommended steering clear of food and beverages containing yeast because of the negative impact they can have on your gut health. But did you know that not all fermented foods and yeast are bad for your health and digestive function! In fact traditionally fermented foods have been a part of a healthy diet in many cultures for thousands of years! But with the advent of modern food processing techniques, many of these traditionally fermented foods disappeared from our diet, being replaced with packaged and artificially processed foods
Getting a deep and restful sleep each night can be like an elusive dream for many folks. In fact according to the Australian Medical Journal, it is estimated that 13%–33% of the Australian adults regularly experience difficulty either getting to sleep, or staying asleep. Prolonged sleep deprivation culminates into what is referred to as a “sleep debt” which has been scientifically proven to have a major impact on your health and wellbeing, even shrink your brain and shorten your lifespan! Research published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, suggests that people with chronic sleep disturbances may develop Alzheimer’s disease sooner than those who
Did you know that chronic stress can not only make you chronically sick, but it can also make you fat as well! Many folks in their quest to banish excess belly fat and wobbly thighs, embark on a path that fails to address one of the fundamental factors that influences the function of our metabolism….stress! Stress can basically be defined as anything that stimulates the over production of our stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol. These hormones are healthy and safe when released by the adrenal glands in small amounts, but the problem nowadays is that most of us are producing excessive levels of stress hormones