Powerful n Punchy Pineapple!

Ok! So Mango Mania is very sadly coming to an end...well really, the truth is, it's over :(

The delectable, delicious and incredibly delightful fruit is over its peak season and just not where it's at right now.

I have had to come to acceptance of this sad fact of nature, and instead direct my desires and cravings in another direction :)

So....I followed my nose at the local farmers markets to the just as divine, delectable and delicious PINEAPPLE!

Wow! These babies are RIPE, JUICY and oh so yummy! To add to that they are incredibly GOOD for you and should be enjoyed VOLUMINOUSLY! ;p

I still remember the day I watched in ABSOLUTE HORROR as a well-meaning "expert" from The Biggest Looser television series tossed one of these amazing fruits into the garbage claiming it was too high in sugar and off limits for contestants!

That was enough to swear me off that TV show for life! Professing that ANY type of fresh, whole fruit or vegetable is bad for you and should be avoided, is a SURE SIGN of a FAD to me!

In my many years of experience I have NEVER seen anyone suffer ill-health due to eating fresh, whole fruit AND similarly I have seen MANY health-benefits from people making these delights their BEST FRIENDS! :)

In fact, I have had many diabetic clients in the past who upon my enquiry into their fruit consumption told me that they avoided fruits, especially tropical ones, because they were strictly advised to by their specialist!

When I heard this I would quickly overcome my horror then immediately go on to explain the dynamics of fruit digestion in the body, insulin response, and how eating biscuits and cakes because they were avoiding fruit, probably wasn't the most sensible idea....

Anyway, long story short, pineapple IS good for you!

Just SOME of the health benefits of this oh-so-yummy fruit are:

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY- due to pineapple's bromelain content, eating this fruit will infuse into your body powerful little substances that help to heal bruising, swelling, tenderness and pain. If you suffer from any type of arthritis, this is especially good news :)

Also, bromelain is also responsible for pineapple being a great digestive aid! Bromelain helps to break down the amino-acids in proteins, thereby promoting good digestion (funny how my body intuitively feels like some pineapple after an evening meal! Intelligent system me think! ;p)

ANTIOXIDANT and IMMUNE booster- pineapples are loaded with VITAMIN C and this baby is the body's primary water-soluble anti-oxidant responsible for protecting many of it's cells from free-radical attack. When free-radicals are allowed to run riot they promote plaque build up in our arteries, contribute to airway spasms that lead to asthma attacks, turn healthy cells into cancerous ones as well as cause pain and stiffness experienced in joint conditions such as osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C is also ESSENTIAL for the correct functioning of the immune system and so a good one to load up on to prevent colds, flu and recurrent ear-infections.

ENERGY- pineapple is an excellent source of manganese- an essential component of energy-producing pathways in the body. As well as manganese, pineapple is also a good source of the energy producing B vitamin, Thiamine. So, instead of B-B-Berocca...maybe...P-P-Pineapple will do the trick! Cheaper, yummier, easier! ;p

EYES N GUMS- fruit has been shown to be one of the most significant protectants against age related macular degeneration. Additionally, because of its high Vitamin C content, pineapple is excellent for helping to prevent periodontal disease and gingivitis, which left untreated leads to the destruction of gum tissue and underlying jaw bones. These conditions are also linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes...eeeek! cut me some pineapple NOW!

Wow...yes a powerful little fruit that really packs a PUNCH!

So....what are you waiting for?!

Get this juicy, delightful and oh-so-good-for-you fruit into you TODAY! :)

Enjoy fellow health-monks! ;p



Mwah!

BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant

www.newleafnutrition.com.au
bridget@newleafnutrition.com.au

Bad cholesterol: It’s not what you think

Review of Article from Men's Health by By Paul Scott

This is a long and windy read BUT if you have high cholesterol OR take lipid lowering medications, otherwise known as STATINS, you SHOULD make time to look over this one!

I have been beating this band-wagon drum for years...taking what doctors, specialists and institutions tell us as "God's word" and not investigating our symptoms and their real causes further ourselves, may not truly serve us.

I myself have been at the helm of well-meaning practitioners who have condemned me with some condition/disease/affliction, only for me to look or ask further and find out that in fact, although a great professional opinion, the same picture could in fact be interpreted in much a different way. A way that meant I was not victim to some horrid state.

It is really important that we always go back to basics with things and see how they sit with our own common-sense and "gut-feeling". Regardless of what any specialist can tell you about you, YOU know YOU best!

Yes, take their advice on board, take their information, but then allow this to sit in your own psyche. Investigate further, get second opinions, and find out the CAUSE of the problem and what OTHER OPTIONS you may have for resolution.

Just as smashing out the light on your car's dashboard that signals there is wrong with the engine WONT fix the problem, taking medications is sometimes akin to simply silencing the signal telling you that something is amiss.

We are the captain's of our own ship. It is important we feel what is happening on deck and below board is all for the greater good of the entire journey.

Never go against your own feelings and always trust yourself to look further, if you so have the inclination.

I do. I encourage my clients to, too. :)

You can see their personal stories of overcoming adversities and medical diagnoses at http://bit.ly/4xJHa9

Enjoy!

See original article at: http://bit.ly/cQcuIJ

Health, happiness, fun and success to you all!

Mwah!

BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer Speaker Consultant
www.newleafnutrition.com.au

A handful of nuts...what they can do for you!

I am sure there are MANY imaginative ways to interpret the title of today's post.... :) Let's not go there! haha

What I would like to share with you today though, is ONE incredibly powerful habit that you can EASILY establish that will make an AMAZING difference to your health and well being, not just now, but in the long-term as well.

A handful (or about 30-40g) of raw, unsalted nuts a day can:

- help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight (yes! It's true! They do contain fat, which is why we LIMIT the amount we have, yet as nuts are what we term a "whole food fat", the amount of fat digested and absorbed is LESS than you would derive from oil versions of fats- more on Whole Food Fats in another post)

-help manage existing diabetes better, AND prevent the ONSET of diabetes later in life! Wow! Powerful hey? (there are SO many reasons why this is the case including the healthy FATS they contain, which are protective against heart disease- something diabetes are much more at risk of; the fact they have a LOW Glycemic Index, which minimises insulin response and spikes; they contain an amino acid, arginine which has been shown to help insulin work more efficiently as well as to keep blood vessels healthy; they contain FIBRE, which helps to reduce cholesterol, insulin response and hunger; they are a powerful source of ANTI-OXIDANTS which help to reduce any inflammation in the body- a key contributor to blocked blood vessels and clogged arteries; they contain Vitamin E which also helps improve insulin sensitivity)

-help to prevent heart disease (in fact you can HALVE your risk of developing heart disease SIMPLY by eating a handful of nuts 5 or more times a week! Wow!)

So.....what are you waiting for?!?!

The time, energy, effort and $$ you invest into this ONE SIMPLE HABIT, really can and WILL make a difference in your life...

Test it out.... :)

By the way! Peanuts are NOT nuts....they are a legume :) And whilst very healthy and a great source of protein, they will not necessarily confer the benefits discussed above...we will address peanuts in ANOTHER blog :)

So! There you have it ladies and gents! :)

Would LOVE to hear your thoughts/comments/feedback and personal experience :)

Oh, and to add...for those who do not "like" nuts...I challenge you to a 21 day trial of giving them a go each day....there have been many nut-dislikers converted to nut-lovers, simply by persisting and TRAINING their taste-buds ;p

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE WITH ALLERGIES!! If you are allergic, you know to avoid nuts, and we don't need to go there :)

For more info on ANY of today's topics, including fact sheets are more fun nut facts, go to www.nutsforlife.com.au GREAT WEBSITE for all your NUTTY NEEDS ;p

BIG LOVE to you all!

Mwah! xoxooxo

BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant
www.newleafnutrition.com.au
http://bridgetjaneguru.blogspot.com
http://bridgetthompson.blogspot.com
http://bridget-jane.blogspot.com

The YUMMIEST wedges you've EVER had!

Well I was in the kitchen an about to "bang" together our most favourite wedges for dinner when I was suddenly inspired to share these amazing delights with you!

I LOVE them because not only are they super speedy and EASY, they are also PACKED full of incredible nutrition AND they TASTE amazing!! :)

So! Without further ado, you will need:

-sweet potato (as much as you need for who you are feeding). I allow 1 large one, or 2 smaller ones, for my partner as he is a MEATY MALE with hungry MUSCLES :)
-fresh or jarred minced garlic
-dried mixed herbs
-extra virgin olive oil

What I do to prepare these are:

PRE-HEAT Oven

1) WASH the sweet potato- DO NOT peel! The skin is where a BULK of the goodness lies and peeling it away will do you a GREAT disservice! Simply wash well :)

2) CHOP sweet potato into "wedge" chunks. There are many ways to cut these but we like a fat wedge best. When we have less time to cook, we cut them into thin circles-like chips! :)

3) TOSS into a mixing bowl and add a dash of olive oil (not more than 1 tblsp per person), a teaspoon or 2 of minced garlic and a good shake of your dried mixed herbs :)Yes it is great to use FRESH ginger and herbs, but if you are like me and like a balance of great nutrition and convenience, these are BRILLIANT staples! :)I always say GOOD, BETTER, BEST :) Fresh is BEST, but the other is GREAT! :)

4) SPREAD the prepared wedges onto a BAKING PAPER lined tray and pop into a PRE-HEATED oven. The right temperature depends on your oven..I suggest experimenting here. We use 200 degrees celcius and they take 20-30minutes :)

5) EAT and enjoy!!! Yum, yum! Serve as a great side dish to some fish and salad...mmm..mmm. OR a healthy Thai Fish Cake Burger, as pictured! DELICIOUS! You can email me for this ripper recipe!

The benefits of these sweet tato wedges are MASSIVE! Just SOME include:

-a potent dose of anti-oxidants and phyto-chemicals (dried herbs are a CONCENTRATED power-house of these!)

-anti-inflammatory properties as GARLIC is a super hero in this department! This means garlic can be helpful in reducing the severity of conditions where inflammation plays a role, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
It is also a potent anti-bacterial so is GREAT for boosting the immune system!

-healing properties as sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and a very good source of vitamin C. These2 beauties are very powerful antioxidants that work in the body to eliminate free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals that damage cells and cell membranes and are associated with the development of conditions like atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries which causes high blood pressure), diabetic heart disease, and colon cancer. This may explain why beta-carotene and vitamin C have both been shown to be helpful for preventing these conditions.

In addition, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed to convert homocysteine,which is an intermediate by-product of a chemical process (methylation) that occurs in the body, into other non-harmful molecules. Since high homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, having a little extra vitamin B6 on hand is a good idea.

I could go on forever but you get the gist!!

Well I better get back to actually MAKING ours, otherwise I'll have one hungry fella on my hands! haha

Big love to you all!

Mwah!
BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant
www.newleafnutrition.com.au
http://bridgetjaneguru.blogspot.com
http://bridgetthompson.blogspot.com
http://bridget-jane.blogspot.com