Healthy Easter Alternatives

Healthy alternatives this Easter...

With Easter fast approaching, everyone starts to think about that friendly little animal; the Easter Bunny, delivering copious amounts of chocolate that has to be devoured as quickly as possible so it stops staring at you from the kitchen cupboard!

But with summer just around the corner, the last thing you want to do is gain weight over Easter, just as the lighter clothing comes out of the wardrobe.

We have come up with some treats and tips so that you can have fun this Easter without the guilt.

Carob, healthier and as yummy as chocolate for all the family

Carob can be used as a chocolate alternative as it has many health benefits such as being rich in antioxidants and insoluble fibre to help support a healthy level of cholesterol. Carob also contains half the amount of fat found in chocolate and is a third of the amount of calories. Don’t forget the pets too; carob is a great treat for dogs. Carob does not contain theobromine which is found in chocolate and poisonous to dogs.

Xylitol, sweet as sugar without the weight gain

Xylitol is a natural sugar found in plants that is low in calories, does not affect insulin levels and healthy for your teeth. Therefore it is worthwhile looking for chocolate that contains xylitol rather than sugar or making your own sweet snacks by using xylitol to sweeten them.

This way you can cut your calories and you won’t be disrupting your blood sugar levels so much. You are therefore less likely to store fat around your tummy area.

Chromium, to reduce those sugar cravings

If you really want to resist the chocolate and even the healthier alternatives try getting chromium into your diet. Chromium is a mineral that is classed as having a ‘Glucose tolerance factor’ (GTF), this basically means that it helps balance your blood sugar levels.

Therefore, people choose to take this when their energy levels are low or they are having sugar cravings as it helps maintain a healthy insulin response.

Cinnamon, flavoursome and keeping you fuller for longer

A sprinkling of cinnamon in yoghurt, porridge or over fruit and nuts should improve glucose uptake and a healthy insulin response. You could try to make a chai tea containing cinnamon and ginger to sip throughout the day of the Easter egg hunt to aim at reducing your sweet tooth cravings.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Niacin supports a healthy blood sugar response, therefore people tend to take this after having lunch, to reduce the chance of them having an energy slump in the afternoon and reaching for a bar of chocolate.

Have a healthy week.

Fight the Flu

Fight The Flu

Millions of people are struck down by flu each year, with the virus usually at its peak between December and March. So this month we are focusing on keeping ourselves fighting fit and flu-free.

Fight February Flu

Millions of people are struck down by flu each year, with the virus usually at its peak between December and March. So this month we are focusing on keeping ourselves fighting fit and flu-free.

Symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, fatigue and vomiting can last days and sometimes weeks.

So we would like to share some cold and flu fighting, immune boosting tips with you this week.

1. Vitamin C helps to guard the immune system. High doses (1-3g/day) of vitamin C (buffered form so that it is sensitive on the tummy) orally have been shown to decrease the duration of cold symptoms by 1 - 1.5 days.

2. Elderberry has been used for centuries to fight the common cold and flu with good reason. This powerful berry has been shown to improve the rapid recovery of the flu by 93% due to its protective properties against the virus attacking the mucous membranes.

3. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the amount of times children develop flu. With the winter months having shorter days, you are less likely to produce the amount of vitamin D you need so try increasing your levels by adding it into your dietary intake.

4. Zinc has been shown to step up the immune response and reduce the replication of the virus thus shortening or possibly even preventing the signs of the virus. This is especially useful to be used if the flu jab is used to reduce possible symptoms.

5. Moderate exercise seems to be the best for immune health. A study has shown that people who are in better physical shape and get at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise on five or more days a week are not only much less likely to get a cold, but will also have milder symptoms than those who are less fit and don’t exercise much.

6. Horseradish, papaya and berries are all easy to digest when the appetite is low. The berries will help with rehydrating and repair damaged tissue. Whereas papaya and horseradish help with a stuffy nose and a congested head by breaking down the mucus.

Stay healthy

Go with your Gut Feeling

Go with your Gut Feeling The digestive system is commonly thought of as your second brain. This is because it contains a number of mind functioning hormones and billions of different types of bacteria. Go with your Gut Feeling The digestive system is commonly thought of as your second brain. This is because it contains a number of mind functioning hormones and billions of different types of bacteria.

Our bacterial friends look after us by encouraging vitamin B to be produced as this supports our happy hormones, our immune system and food digestion which helps with maintaining a flatter stomach.

With friendly bacteria being so good to us, here are a few tips to help you look after them.

Prebiotics keep your friendly bacteria happy

Prebiotics tend to be the insoluble part of the food that is not absorbed by the body but works in the gut by feeding the good bacteria. Popular prebiotics such as F.O.S. (fructooligosaccharides) are found in foods such as bananas, chicory, onions and G.O.S. (galactooligosaccharides) which is naturally found in breast milk.

Reduce bloating with digestive enzymes

The body naturally produces digestive enzymes and raw foods naturally contain them. Digestive enzymes are effective in breaking down food groups such as carbohydrates, protein and fat into smaller molecules that are easier for the body to digest and absorb. Improving digestion helps with reducing any possible bloating and helps the body in absorbing the nutrients from the food.

Added flavour to keep tummy bugs at bay

Flavour your food with garlic, oregano, ginger, cloves and coconut oil to look after your digestive health as these help to eradicate any harmful bacteria from the system. These ingredients can be especially good for you when you are travelling to protect your digestive system from viruses and infections that you may pick up from the food and water in foreign countries.

What to consume for a healthy digestive system:

Prebiotic foods Salads Slippery Elm Aloe Vera Juice Bio-live yogurt Drink 1.5L of water a day Fibre

Stay healthy,