9 amazing uses of coconut oil you didn't know of!

It was not so long ago that the health world was warning people against oil and condemning saturated fats. However, in recent years coconut oil has been in the spotlight for all the right reasons, being branded as a “good” fat. All kinds of recipes have exploded onto the scene, from cakes to curries, including the oil as an ingredient.

picture from http://coconutbenefits.ca/

Chia seed pots - a great on-the-go breakfast or pudding

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so this is not a blog post lecturing about this. But even though we all know that, some of us don't manage it in the morning thanks to our on the go lifestyle. 

Trying to eat healthy on the go (especially breakfast) is always hard, but these chia seed pots are perfect!!! 

chia seed pots 

The great thing about these is that you can make them up the night before, pop them in the fridge and grab then and go in the morning. I even managed to eat one of these on a bus. No problem! Although I try my best to not eat at the desk, this is also perfect when you have too! 

A completely fuss-free but 100% healthy breakfast on the go...

"I quit sugar" Sarah Wilson: book review

As you may have seen from my blog posts in recent months, I am doing my best to cut down sugar. It all started when I completed a nutrition in weight loss qualification, and was horrified to discover that it isn't fat that makes you fat, it is sugar!!! 

I then found this book, "I Quit Sugar" by Sarah Wilson, the Australian journalist and presenter (she hosted the fist season of Australian Master Chef) but more importantly a former sugar junkie who has found ways to cut the sugar from her life without cutting the taste and enjoyment out of life.  Sarah made the change when she found she couldn't control her weight issues, sleep problems, mood disorders and thyroid disease. Switching to a 'clean' diet has helped resolve all her issues... and she looks fantastic for it! 

I Quit Sugar

Sarah Wilson 

Sarah's book is a good read - it is down to earth and actually pretty practical. I do enjoy eating clean and healthy but I will be the first to admit that you have to be prepared, wither with ingredients, your timing or planning ahead. It's not to use as an excuse, and with effort it can be done, but I did find this book more practical then some other health books I have read. Plus the layout, pictures and illustrations are gorgeous. 

So what are the benefits of limiting the sugar in your diet???

• reducing your risk of diabetes 
• reducing risk of heart disease 
• clearer skin
• reduced mood swings
• better sleep

In fact, researchers at the University of California, says sugar contributes to 35 million deaths a year! 

And if that doesn't encourage you, then read this article about how it can knock up to 20 years off your looks!

I am sold!  

pretty illustrations 

Fat loss pills – do they really work? My month trial...

Why take them???

Prior to my honeymoon, I did my best to tone up. Although the holiday wasn't going to involve much beach or bikini time, as this is my honeymoon obviously I wanted to look as good as possible. Whilst I had been eating healthily (ok, there has been the odd treat but life would be boring otherwise!), I was lured in to the promise of losing the stubborn fat around my middle with some fat burning tablets, called garcinia cambogia …

With adverts promising to cut the flab and transforming my 'flat pack’ into a ‘six pack’, seeing results in as little as a month, I was sold!!!! Over the past few months, I kept seeing adverts online, in magazines and even pictures on Instagram of women that have used the tablets who wowed me with their transformations.

picture from http://garciniacambogiaextract.co.nz/

What made these “diet pills” even more tempting was that there always seemed to be a free trial on these! For just a fiver you would receive your 14 day free trial of these tablets. Seeing as the RRP is over £80, I thought ‘what the heck’ and I made the order for my free trial on line. 

What are the benefits of flaxseeds?!

About three or four years ago I was advised to start incorporating flaxseeds into my diet and ever since have sprinkled a little here and there over my foods. When I first started using flaxseeds, they weren’t really common place but now they are readily available in the high street health shops and feature more and more in recipes and baking.  I know that they are good for you and that they are full of fibre, so I have brought a little tupperware box of them to South Africa with me to sprinkle over my brekkie and salads when we are on the road.

I bought these from Holland & Barraett

But before I went away, flaxseeds had got me thinking….
what is it about the flaxseed that makes it a health food? What are the benefits? Why was I recommended to add it to my diet (my memory doesn’t stretch back that far)?

So I did a little research in my quest to know more about their health benefits…