Has the festive over indulgence gone? February is a short month and if the damage isn’t recovered by the end of February you will be on the slippery slope and heading for the next over indulgence of Easter! It is very easy to add a few pounds at xmas, birthdays, Easter, holiday, etc and before you know it you are looking at half a stone plus, each and every year.
This can be a factor in deteriorating health as we get older. It doesn’t have to be like that. If the weight goes on quick, it can come off quick, but you have to address it in the short term, don’t let it drift as one over indulgence can quickly morph into the next. SUGAR is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE, be that sugar in drinks, including alcohol, or sugar in foods.
The benefits of cutting all sugars (with the exception of naturally occurring sugars in fresh fruit and vegetables) from your diet will be a welcome break for your body. Try it for the rest of this month and see the difference it makes. You won’t believe it ‘til you feel it!
LOVE = Healthy Mind + Healthy Body
Without the above formula in balance, you aren’t maximizing your precious gift of life and enjoyment on this planet.
Do not feel guilty for allocating “me” time to your daily schedule. It’s essential. Me time can be anything from exercise, home or salon beauty treatments, a soak in the bath, listening to tunes, to cooking and eating! Farm shops are full of fresh produce to make beautiful meals.
My favourite meal at the minute requires very little preparation, hardly any washing up and tastes delicious and nutritious. It’s like rocket fuel for the body, and leaves you feeling full and satisfied.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: 2 x large field mushrooms, 3 handfuls of spinach, 2 x fresh eggs, salt and pepper seasoning, garlic optional
Mushrooms: National cancer institute have published that mushrooms can help prevent a variety of cancers, they provide folate, fibre, antioxidants, vitamin Bs and D which all help with muscle movement, learning and memory.
Spinach: Eating spinach may benefit eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels. Spinach is an extremely nutrient rich vegetable. High in insoluble fibre which may help digestion. High in vitamin A (good for vision, immune and anti ageing), viamin C (great for skin health and immune, viamin K (helps blood clotting, folic acid, iron and calcium which will aid health of cells, tissues, bone health, nervous system, heart and muscles.
Eggs: a high quality protein and a natural source of many vitamins and minerals, A, Bs, D, E, K, calcium and zinc which is basically providing a little bit of every nutrient your body needs.
All you need is a good large non stick pan (worth the investment), pop in a couple of really large field mushrooms, sliced and chopped to your preference, add garlic if desired, and cook on a medium heat. A pan lid over the mushrooms will help create the juices quicker, you can remove the lid once you have enough juice.
After a few minutes add the spinach which will nicely wilt in (it really reduces with the heat so don’t be afraid to be generous with the spinach you add). Pop a couple of fresh eggs in vigorously boiling water (that’s the trick for firm, tight whites, and dippy yolks!), when the froth bubbles on the egg pan rises, skim it off and turn off the heat, the eggs will continue to cook. That should be the mushrooms and spinach done, simply stir and add to the plate, add the eggs and season with salt and pepper. You will likely not have had the hobs on for more than 5 minutes!
Whether we are talking about meals or “me” time, if you don’t plan, it won’t happen. Each morning you wake up you should know what you will be eating for the 3 meals that day and when you will be taking your “me” time. Take control, write a list, shop it, and stick to it.
Everyone knows to move more, and eat less, but it’s not always that simple for everyone.
If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them in the next edition. Just email me dianne@rejuvenateathypoxi.co.uk. Previous copies of my health column can be found at www.rejuvenateathypoxi.co.uk
Best wishes, Dianne x