Monday, October 29, 2012

HEALTHY HABITS: SUPPLEMENTS/VITAMINS I USE

We all know that our daily food provides us with nutrients such as calcium, iron, Vitamin C, magnesium and protein but a lot of the time, especially when on a diet and eating less than usual, we may need some help reaching the required amount of such nutrients. Supplements help enure we are getting the proper nutrition that we need each day therefore they are great to incorporate into your everyday routine.
MULTIVITAMIN (once daily)
I'm talking about a multivitamin first because this really is the basic essential of all supplements and everyone should be taking a good whole food multivitamin on a daily basis. This makes sure that we are getting all of the necessary nutrients from complete whole food sources as the body requires. Although a multivitamin isn't necessary if you have a good diet full of super foods (such as goji berries, chia seeds) and other natural sources, it's still recommended to take one on a daily basis for added protection and benefit. I suggest choosing one that is aimed specifically towards your needs. I'm just about to turn 17 so I still take a "teenage"multivitamin but there's one for every type of person and they all do a similar thing but vary slightly depending what your wanting it for.
FLAXSEED OIL (6 daily; 3 in morning, 3 at night)
This rich source of healing compounds come in both capsule and liquid form, full of flaxseed oil and it's essential fatty acids. These are particularly valuable because the body needs them to function properly and can't manufacture them on its own. They keep healthy cell membranes working efficiently while healing damaged ones. Flaxseed oil is also an excellent source of omega-3s similar to those found in fish which reduce the risk of heart disease and many other ailments. They ALSO lower cholesterol, counter inflammation, treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn and rosacea, minimize never damage, reduce cancer risk AND they have also been linked to weight loss.
MAGNESIUM (1 daily)
Magnesium is an essential mineral for staying healthy and is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions int he body! This handy supplement regulates body temperature, detoxifies, helps produce energy, helps form healthy bones and teeth, improves bone mineral density, improves calcium, helps PMS, prevents the risk of coronary disease, regulates high blood pressure, treats diabetes, migraines, insomnia and depression. I use i because I take this supplement for the relaxing benefits because I have a tendency to get overwhelmed and stressed over not only school work but other little things so I feel like this helps me with that. I also really like the fact that it detoxifies and helps have healthy bones and teeth.
VITAMIN C (2 daily; 1 morning and 1 night)
We all know how great oranges are for your health due to all of the anti-oxidants and so this supplement probably doesn't come as a surprise. Vitamin C is crucial to have in our bodies for many reasons, particularly to strengthen the immune system and when sick it reduces the severity and duration of a cold. You need two of these a day because Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin that can not be stored in organs and fatty tissues so it is quickly used up and eliminated from the body within six hours which makes taking one both morning and night important.
IRON (when required)
I don't eat a lot of meat so sometimes I can lack iron in my system which makes me very tired and weak. If I find myself feeling like this, I will sometimes take an iron tablet to give me more iron in my system and therefore more energy. This is something that you have to think about if you need. For example, if you eat meat nearly every day then you can probably survive on the iron from that whereas if you only eat meat one every week or so, you may need this to assist you with your iron levels.
ECHINACEA (when required)
This is a supplement with similar benefits to Vitamin C as it's main role is to strengthen your immune system and help prevent sickness but it can also shorten the symptoms and severity of a sickness. I don't take this every day because I don't feel like it's necessary but if I feel like I'm getting sick then I will and most of the time it helps fight off the cold and I never end up getting sick! It's the coolest thing! I definitely recommend having a bottle of Echinacea on hand whether it be liquid (and you mix it with water) or capsules.

So those are all of the supplements and vitamins I take! Of course this all depends on what your body requires and which supplements and vitamins you feel like you need but I hope this was helpful!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

HEALTHY HABITS: SNACK IDEAS!


So I know not many of my recipes are actually healthy but I am someone who tries to eat well and it's often requested for me to do health/fitness related videos so I have finally posted my first one all about "Healthy Snack Ideas". Watch the video to find out the kind of healthy foods I like to snack on!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

HALLOWEEN CAKE POPS

Halloween is quickly approaching and I thought it would be fun to do a recipe for those who are hosting parties and want Halloween themed food! Everyone loves a cake pop so I thought it would be fun to create some themed ones for this scary season!
Ingredients:
* Pre made cake
* Frosting
* Candy Melts
* Bat and Pumpkin Sprinkles
* Coloured Sugar

I get my Candy Melts in Australia from a shop called Matchbox.
I purchased my coloured sugar and sprinkles from eBay, the seller is archangel0400.
Method:
1. Turn the pre-made cake into crumbs and add frosting to create a thick cake mixture.
2. Roll the mixture evenly into balls and place them in the fridge for an hour or if your impatient the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
3. Just as your cake pops are about to come out of the fridge, melt the candy melts.
4. Dip your stick into the melted candy mixture and then into a cake ball and cover the cake ball in the melted candy mixture.
5. While the mixture is still wet, roll them in your orange coloured sugar and bat/pumpkin sprinkles.
6. Leave them standing up right by sticking them into a shoe box to harden.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this was helpful if maybe your hosting a Halloween party this year and were looking for treat ideas!
 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

HEALTHY HABITS: SUPER FOOD- GOJI BERRIES

We often hear about these "super foods" which apparently contain properties which are the key to success in a healthy eating plan. I have decided to join the hype and begin experimenting with these super foods to see what I think about them. This time I will be talking about Goji Berries! What they are, how they benefit you, what they taste like, how you eat them and if they are worth it.

What are they?
Also known as Chinese Wolfberry, they are berries that grow on vines.

What are the benefits?
* 21 minerals
* Super high in Vitamin C and A
*  Complete Protein (18 amino acids)
* Super high in Antioxidants with a score of 25, 300 compared to blueberries that are 2400

What do they taste like? How do you eat them?
Most people find that they taste like cherries but to me they are a bit more bitter than that. You can enjoy them straight from the bag or mixed in with trail mix that you can check out my recipe for if you click here. You can add them to smoothies, salads or cake/biscuit/muffin batters.

Are they worth it?
They can get quite pricy costing $8 for a small pack at the supermarket but considering they are higher in antioxidants than blueberries which cost the same amount; I think they are definitley worth it when it comes to nutrition!