Over the last few weeks I have done some filming in my role as brand ambassador for Wagner Health. Unfortunately at the same time I have felt rather unwell so I turned to the power of foods to help me. My goal was to reduce inflammation and bloating caused by the viral infection. I checked the research and decided on a list of foods that were therapeutically placed to beat the bloat! Let me share them with you:
Peppermint tea – peppermint has a natural anti gas effect
Pineapple – contains bromelains, an enzyme that aids protein digestion
Watermelon – the high water content helps remove excess sodium
Ginger – nature’s best digestive aide
Cucumber – has quercetin, a bioflavonoid which reduces swelling
Banana – rich in potassium, which helps to offset excess sodium and high in vitamin B6, a natural diuretic
Papaya – papain enzymes break down protein in the gut, reducing fermentation of undigested food in the colon
Asparagus – natural diuretic and kidney tonic
Fennel – add seeds to your food as it relaxes gut spasms and allows gas to move through the colon
Avoid dairy – lactose intolerance is a sure fire way to feel bloated!
My Top 10 Anti Bloating Foods
GalleryCommunity Detox Rockstars Edition #5 – Louise Crowe
In the last of my series of interviews with Community Detox Rockstars, I chat to Louise Crowe about her journey. She not only lost 6kg but both her psoriasis and chronic back pain radically improved! Louise is incredibly inspiring, honest and one committed woman. I am so proud of her and simply can’t wait to see her back on board in June.
What was the biggest achievement you experienced on Community Detox?
Gosh where do I start?
My biggest personal achievement was actually sticking to the plan. I’ve tended to be somewhat feast or famine where my diet is concerned and any attempts at healthy living quickly saw me fall off the wagon and I’d inevitably just throw in the towel (wow that’s a lot of metaphors!). I viewed the Community Detox as the first step towards a long-term lifestyle change.
As for the biggest physical achievement, I lost over 6 kg during the program. I’m not a big woman by any stretch but in completing CD I came within 1 kg of my optimal fat levels. I had some tests (live blood analysis and bioimpedence tests) done at the beginning and end of CD and received an unequivocally positive result, with the phrase “you’ve got just about a perfect score card” making me extremely happy and proud of all my efforts.
My biggest health achievements were seeing my psoriasis improve radically as well as a massive reduction, if not cessation, of the chronic lower back pain I’ve had for the past 8 years (I spent almost two years unable to lift my infant children off the ground). I was diagnosed with sacroillitis and a bulging disk a few years back and have been treating it with daily anti-inflammatories and Pilates and restricting certain exercise […]
GalleryCommunity Detox Rockstars Edition #3 – Lee Sutherland
What was the biggest achievement you experienced on Community Detox?
The biggest achievement for me wasn’t anything that the scales told me (however dropping over 3% body fat in four weeks is pretty great!) what I loved was about putting the focus back on me, to nurture me. I work in the health industry (holistic PT, health coach, nutrition/herbal medicine at Fitness in the City) and it can be common to put all our focus into other people and forget the much important ‘self love’ we need to give our selves!!
How would you describe Community Detox to someone?
I would describe it a beautiful community cleanse where you eat real food, drop some bad habits for a few weeks all with the support of experts and other people who are also doing the cleanse. Watching other people kick goals or see pics of their delish healthy meals is enough to motivate anyone!!
Can you explain exactly how you achieved your amazing results? Do you feel there were any specific elements of Community Detox that really helped you?
To be honest the food component of the cleanse is very similar to how I currently eat anyway, so the only difference was cutting out red meat for 4 weeks (which was harder than I thought!!), no sneaky dark chocolates at night-time (tear) but the real game changer was Emma introducing me to Intermittent Fasting, something I have read a little about in the past but never have put it into practise. Emma made the info really easy for everyone to understand which I love and then we had two IF days a week which is where the real fat loss would have came from. It is something I will continue to […]
GalleryCommunity Detox Rockstars Edition #2 – Emma Peters
In the second interview with my Community Detox Rockstars I am chatting to Emma Peters, mum to a 9 month old. Listen as she shares with you her winning highlights from a month of super healthy living. From FOMO to a whopping 7kg drop on the scales this woman will completely inspire you!
Edition #2 – Emma Peters
What was the biggest achievement you experienced on Community Detox?
My biggest achievement was getting over my “fear of missing out” on my favourite treats. They were my way of relaxing and rewarding myself after an exhausting day. After a month of eating mindfully, I can finally say no to those pesky treats and enjoy a healthy substitute – so empowering.
Oh, and just over 7kgs weight loss and counting!
How would you describe Community Detox to someone?
Community Detox is the most supportive environment with a winning combination of education, encouragement and structure. On good days, there’s always someone to congratulate you. On difficult days you get cheered on to make the best decisions. This was very sustaining for me.
Can you explain exactly how you achieved your amazing results? Do you feel there were any specific elements of Community Detox that really helped you?
I stuck to the rules as best I could. It seems all or nothing works for me. The great recipes inspired new meals throughout the month. Planning for the week ahead with groceries to suit was key. My detox buddy and sister, Hannah, constantly checked in on me and gave me advice. And applying mindful eating – this eliminated grazing or mindless snacking.
What was the key lesson you learnt on this Community Detox?
I learnt that I can say no to unhealthy food, substitute in healthy choices, and not […]
GalleryCommunity Detox Rockstars Edition #1 – Trudie Hood
This week I have been interviewing some of the members of February’s Community Detox. We had incredible results all round but there were certainly some Rockstars amongst the group. Make a cuppa and get comfortable as I discover the secrets of these amazing people!
Edition #1 – Trudie Hood
What was the biggest achievement you experienced on Community Detox?
My biggest achievement was losing 7kg in a month and being in a good mindset to stick to my goals. Also not giving into peer pressure to ‘have an odd wine” or “surely one coffee wont hurt”. The feeling gained from being strong is amazing
How would you describe Community Detox to someone?
CD is a life changing experience, this is my second one and I have once again gathered so much more information and learned much about myself. CD is a real time of honesty and change if you truly want it. The sense of community really lifts you and at the same time remains a private space to share your experience. Detox for me has to be a month only then can you truly see what you need to change.
Can you explain exactly how you achieved your amazing results? Do you feel there were any specific elements of Community Detox that really helped you?
I think mainly because I was focused, I didnt cheat and prepared well knowing it would be tough and I wanted so much to kick start a change. Choosing to ramp up my detox with intermittent fasting probably made the difference as it allowed me to see how much I was eating and why I was eating. This in turn helped me shed the kilos while still eating amazing food. The advice from Emma and […]
Nutritional Punch of Hemp Seeds
I have been eating hemp seeds for a while now and love their nutritional bang. The members of Community Detox are getting just as addicted as I am!! I add them to smoothies, make milk by soaking them, blending and straining and also put on my fruit for a protein hit.
Hemp seed oil is also a wonderful addition to a salad dressing or add a drizzle over cooked vegetables. Although a little challenging to find, hempseeds and oil are well worth the effort.
Hemp kernels are produced by removing the outer shell of the hemp seed, with no other processing or additives. The kernels are raw and free of chemicals and artificial additives.
Hemp seed contains both Omega 3 and Omega 6 in an ideal ratio of 1:3 along with uniquely high levels of vitamin E, which protects and preserves the delicate oil from oxidation. Further, unlike marine Omega 3, hemp seed is free from dioxins, PCB and other contaminants, making it an ideal choice for pregnant women and children.
Why eat hemp kernels?
Hemp kernels contain a complete range of amino acids and are suitable for those who choose vegetarian or vegan diets. Because they are low in carbohydrate, they are also suitable for diabetics.
Hemp kernels can be eaten straight from the packet, sprinkled over cereals of fruit salad, or added to a variety of sweet or savoury food. It is generally not recommended that kernels be cooked, although they can be added to baked goods, biscuits or breads, to boost the nutritional value of these products.
Store in freezer or fridge to ensure optimal freshness.
Nutritional value of hulled hemp seed per 50g serve – grams or % of required daily intake for an adult male
Essential fatty acids […]
GalleryWhy Dieting Doesn’t Usually Work
In this fascinating TED talk, neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt explains why our brains are simply not hard wired for weight loss. Her case for mindful eating is one I champion – intuitive eaters eat only when hungry while control eaters try and control their eating through willpower. The vast majority of people trying to lose weight are control eaters and research shows that if you do lose weight, in 5 years time you will more than likely have put it all back on, PLUS some more! This is because the WAY you eat hasn’t changed – the mindset is one that relies on willpower alone rather than the intuitive advantage that relies only on hunger signals. Fascinating how much information research is shedding on the weight loss conundrum!
How Many Hours You Sleep Will Affect Your Weight!
After wearing my Body Media arm band for the last week I discovered that my sleep is shocking. I always try to get into bed by 11pm and now that Sophia generally sleeps till 6am, I thought that 7 hours would be enough. But apparently I am usually awake from before midnight until 1.30am – and I didn’t even realise!
So the reality is that I sleep well from 1.30 until 6am and that explains why I always feel shattered when Miss S wakes me up with a very loud WAKE UP MUMMA at 6am. After 4 1/2 hours sleep my body is craving a whole lot more down time. And sleep deprivation has an enormous effect on you – both physically and mentally. According to research, sleep deprivation will increase both your BMI and waistline. Here is the study.
Body Mass Index (BMI) varies as a function of habitual sleep duration, according to a research abstract. Results indicate that twins who slept between 7 and 8.9 hours each night had a lower BMI (25.0 kg/m2) compared to those who slept more (25.2 kg/m2) or less (26.4 kg/m2) per night. The relationship between sleep duration and BMI remained after controlling for genetics and shared environment.
According to the lead author of the story, Nathaniel Watson, MD, co-director at the University of Washington Sleep Institute, in Seattle, sleep habits have a significant impact on weight and BMI.
“Findings of the study point towards an environmental cause of the relationship between sleep duration and BMI,” said Watson. “Results were robust enough to be present when the sample was limited to identical twins.”
The study included data from 1,797 twins, including 634 twin pairs (437 monozygotic, 150 dizygotic and 47 indeterminate pairs) and […]
