Tag: fruit

Wholefood for the whole body

We know foods impact on the body is huge. During the wholefood for the whole body journey, we continue to prove how powerful many foods can be when used on both the inside and outside of the body. This week it is all about the fruit believed by the ancient Egyptians to offer protection against poison – lemons.

Nourish from within:

Think clearly by reaping the benefits of the potassium contained in lemon, it is listed as one of the top seven natural sources for potassium.

Keep digestion in check with the natural citric acid content of the fruit.

Support the immune system by including the phytochemicals from lemon in a balanced diet.

How to:

Quench: Unfortunately most commercial lemonades are more sugar than lemon. To get the nutritional benefits as well as the yummy taste, try this simple, delicious recipe from the clever peeps over at I quit sugar: https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/sugar-free-lemonade/

Be sweet: This recipe provides a perfect, healthy, refined sugar free alternative for those with a sweet tooth: https://www.thehealthychef.com/2012/06/lemon-yoghurt-cupcakes/

Savour(y) it: I haven’t always been a keen cook. When I first began experimenting with recipes, this was one of my first. It is one that I have returned to time and time again because it is just simply divine, give it a go: http://fitterlondon.co.uk/food/lemon-and-olive-chicken-tagine/

lemonade

Treat the outside:

Lemon is well known for having anti-bacterial properties and containing vitamin C. These things combined make it the perfect, natural treatment for an oily skin.

How to:

Face scrub:

Ingredients:

Method:

Combine all of the ingredients in a clean bowl and mix well until mixture becomes coarse. Apply to the face and neck massaging with circular, upward movements for 2-3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and follow with your usual toner and moisturiser.

lemon 1

Wholefood for the whole body

We know foods impact on the body is huge – inside and out. Since the beginning of the wholefood for the whole body journey, we have proven the brilliance of the avocado, discovered why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is referred to as liquid gold; explored nature’s very own multivitamin – the egg, we’ve found out how to cure-all with chamomile, benefited from ‘the fruit of the Angels’ – papaya, and enjoyed nature’s ultimate energy snack of bananas.

Several weeks ago we asked the question – what wholefood would you like to see featured as our wholefood for the whole body? And at your request, we got spicy with the powerful properties of turmeric, and went nuts with almonds. Next on the list is a food referred to in Tibet as ‘the key to eternal youth’. Traditionally used in both Chinese and Tibetan medicine, the uses of the goji berry are surprisingly broad.

Nourish from within:

Reduce the signs of ageing with the antioxidant properties goji berries are so well-known for.

Promote healthy glowing skin by benefiting from the betacarotine goji berries contain.

Keep a weight-loss program on track by incorporating fat-free, low-calorie, fibre rich goji berries in a healthy diet plan.

How to:

Add them: This week I discovered that you can add goji berries to just about anything! Here is what I made them an addition to:

Rice – adding a handful of berries to my rice gave it a great sweetness.

Trail mix – I added a handful to my usual homemade trail mix; the chewy texture seemed to make it last longer than usual – winner!

Salad – I made a super simple summer salad and threw in the berries to enhance the apple slices in the mix, it worked!

Juice – Throwing a handful in with my usual veggie juice mix was a great way to jazz up the other green ingredients.

Spread them: Jams are delicious, and usually full of refined sugars and other nasties. This recipe from http://gojiberry.com/ keeps it clean without losing any yum factor. Give it a go:

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup Tibetan Goji berries, soaked, keep and use soak water
  • 1/2 tsp orange zest
  • 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 pitted date or 1 tsp raw honey

Method:

Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until pureed, spread on sprouted bread – perfection.

Roll them: Truffles are usually a decadent treat the health conscious choose to avoid. With this recipe from www.sungodssuperfoods.com.au you can now indulge with a clear conscious.

Makes 16 one inch truffles

Ingredients:

For truffles:

  • ¼ cup tahini
  • ¼ cup pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoons carob powder
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 2 tablespoons cacao nibs, ground fine
  • 2 tablespoons goji berries, ground fine
  • 1 teaspoon maca powder
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • About ¼ cup pine nuts
  • Whole goji berries

Method:

Combine all ingredients , except pine nuts and whole goji berries, in a small bowl. Mixture should be shiny and smooth, pulling away from the sides of the bowl. You can add a little more carob if it seems sticky. You may chill the mixture to firm it up a little before shaping.

Roll into 16 one inch balls

Roll each ball into pine nuts

Press one goji berry into truffle

May be stored covered in fridge for about 1 week or so, if you hide them!

goji salad

Treating the outside:

With its proven anti-aging powers, why wouldn’t goji berries be just as good on the outside as they are on the inside? The enzymatic action of these berries is quite intense so a little goes a long way.

How to:

Goji peel.

This was the first time I have used goji’s as a DIY treatment; this is what I did:

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup goji berries ground down
  • 1 cup almond oil

Method:

Mix the ingredients together, well. Apply liberally to the skin (I used in the shower) using circular motions, rinse well and follow with your usual moisturiser. The result of this experiment was healthy glowing skin.

Final thought: Prior to the request for them to be featured as a wholefood for the whole body, goji berries were something that had been a rare inclusion in my diet. Researching their uses and benefits proved that they are indeed a great addition to a balanced, healthy diet. It also lead me to learn that when eaten in excess, goji berries can have some negative side effects. As with all things, moderation is key.

goji shower

 

 

Wholefood for the whole body

1 Comment

We know foods impact on the body is huge – inside and out. Since the beginning of the wholefood for the whole body journey, we have proven the brilliance of the avocado, discovered why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is referred to as liquid gold; explored natures very own multivitamin – the egg, we’ve found out how to cure-all with chamomile and have benefited from ‘the fruit of the Angels’ – papaya. This week I found out how nature’s ultimate energy snack can do more for you than you might think.

Nourish from within:

Beat depression with bananas high levels of tryptophan.Tryptophan is an amino acid which converts to serotonin; serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for balancing mood.

Sleep better with the combination of serotonin production and the magnesium contained in this fruit. It is the perfect before bed snack.

Make quitting easier with the high levels of B-vitamins, potassium and magnesium bananas contain. This vitamin and mineral combo speeds up recovery from the effects of withdrawal.

How to: 

Banana Bread – this convenient comfort food has endless, healthy variations. Don’t be fooled by the shop brought banana breads that are likely to be laden with refined sugar, give this recipe a go instead: http://trainerluke.com/recipes

Banana Brekkie – who doesn’t love pancakes for brekkie? The experts at Bottoms Up! Fitness show you how to excite your taste buds and nourish your body with this brilliant recipe:

Easy-Peasy Protein Pancakes:

Ingredients

  • 1 Banana (the larger sugar bananas work best, or 2 small lady fingers)
  • 2 eggs
  • Pinch of nutmeg and a teaspoon of cinnamon
  • A little organic butter, or coconut oil (for frying)
  • Toppings of choice. BUF loves frozen berries and CoYo coconut yoghurt. We’re also partial to a little almond butter, or a drizzle of organic maple syrup.

Method:

  • Pop bananas, eggs, a pinch of nutmeg and generous serve of cinnamon in your blender and mix well.
  • Pour your batter into a slightly oiled or buttered pan and cook as you would regular pancakes. Recipe makes one large, or two small cakes.
  • Serve with your topping/s of choice.

BUF Tip: Best eaten on a sunny balcony, with the Jack Johnson song, ‘Banana Pancakes’ playing in the background. Sigh…

For more marvelous recipes, a wealth of knowledge on all things health and fitness, or to train with a bunch of inspirational women, visit www.bottomsupfitness.co.au

Banana Break – of course, a simple banana alone is a great, easy, old-fashioned snack. Try freezing one for instant healthy ice cream – perfect!

banana recipe

Treating the outside:

Packed with all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy, glowing skin, the benefits of a banana don’t stop at eating them. Available all year round the banana is the perfect addition to anyone’s beauty regime.

How to:

Face mask

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe banana
  • ¼ cup plain yogurt
  • 2 Table spoons honey

Method:

Mash all the ingredients together in a clean bowl, apply to the face and neck avoiding the eye area. Lay back and relax for 15-20 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Follow with your favourite moisturiser.

Tips:

  • If your skin is on the oily side add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
  • For a dryer skin add a couple of drops of almond oil.
  • If you are looking to reduce those wrinkles, replace the yogurt with ½ an avocado.

Final thought:

Bananas are a great source of energy. It has been proven here that they really are a great addition to any grocery list, in more ways than one. However, as with all foods moderation is the key. Too much of any food can lead to an increase in weight and poor nutrition. Although there is no set rule for how many bananas to eat per day, if the amount you eat affects your nutritional balance, then you’re eating too many.

banana pic 2

Wholefood for the whole body

We know foods impact on the body is huge – inside and out. Over the past month we have proven the brilliance of the avocado, discovered why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is referred to as liquid gold; explored natures very own multivitamin – the egg and we’ve found out how to cure-all with chamomile. Christopher Columbus called this week’s wholefood ‘the fruit of the Angels’. Let’s put that statement to the test this week by using papaya as our wholefood for the whole body.

Nourish from within:

Improve digestion with Papain, an enzyme contained in papaya that helps to digest proteins. This enzyme is often extracted from the fruit for use in digestive enzyme supplements.

Fight colon and prostate cancer with the vitamin and mineral profile of papaya, namely: carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids; the B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid; potassium, copper, magnesium and fibre.

Protect against Macular Degeneration with the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E; and carotenoids found in papaya.

How to:

Salad – I became addicted to papaya salad whilst on holiday in Thailand. Traditional recipes contain a lot of sugar and when I arrived home I got to work creating my own, reduced sugar version. Give it a go:

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

  • 75 grams green beans
  • 1 large unripe papaya, peeled, seeded and julienned
  • 150 grams carrot, julienned
  • 2-3 tomatoes, diced
  • 2 tbsp good quality fish sauce (check the ingredients to make sure it isn’t full of nasties)
  • 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
  • 2 tbsp rice malt syrup
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • Pinch of chilli flakes (or more if you like it spicy)
  • 1 tbsp cashew pieces
  • Spring onion, finely sliced

Method:

Combine the raw, washed green beans, papaya, carrots and tomatoes in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the lime juice, rice malt syrup, crushed garlic, chilli, fish sauce and coriander. Then pour this mixture over the green beans, papaya, carrot and tomatoes and mix well, toss through ½ of the cashews and the spring onion. Use the remaining cashews and spring onion to top the salad and serve.

Dessert – Make tropical fruit kebabs with papaya, pineapple and mango. Simply cube the fruits and slide them on to a wooden kebab stick – delish!

Tip: soak the kebab sticks on water before hand to prevent splinters.

Snack – Most people discard papaya seeds, but they are actually edible. Their flavour is quite peppery and an acquired taste, try it!

Pap seeds

 

Treating the outside:

The enzymes contained in papaya make it the perfect natural exfoliator.

How to:

Peel

Ingredients:

The skin from one green papaya

Method:

The easiest of DIY beauty treatments; this miracle of nature treatment can be used on the face and neck for younger looking skin, the back of the hands to correct age spots or anywhere else on the body you need a peel. Simply work the fleshy part of the papaya skin over the area of the body you wish to treat, leave the residue from the flesh on the skin for 10-15 minutes and rinse well and follow with your preferred moisturiser for perfect peeling.     

pap shop