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I’ve touched on the nutritional benefits of quinoa before and this week it was a feature in the first ever edition of the Optima Health quiz on Instagram. Hence, I thought it timely to post a salad featuring this most brilliant grain. This is my broccoli and quinoa salad. Its nutty, its fruity, its plain […]
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In the first part of ‘The Foundation Series’ vitamin and mineral edition, we focussed on magnesium – my all time favourite mineral! Now, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to Vitamin A, another amazing vitamin required in adequate amounts for optimal health and wellbeing. Okay, so there are two parts to this story. […]
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The ‘Silly Season’ is in full swing – Christmas parties, summer barbecues, sporting wind-ups, school functions – it’s never ending! Often, in these circumstances, the temptation of food and drink (of the alcoholic variety) is running on high. Eating, drinking and just being merry is an incredibly important facet of the festive season. At this […]
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I love pumpkin. Its orange, its so incredibly versatile, and it tastes amazing. It’s also full of so many health benefits – such as its high in fibre, zinc, sulfur, vitamin A, phytosterols, protein and tryptophan. Being rich in these nutrients means that pumpkin gives us better immunity, better digestion, clearer skin, reduced cholesterol, stronger […]
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In ‘The Foundation Series’ thus far, we have focussed on the macronutrients; namely protein, carbohydrates, fat and fibre. It is now time for a change; an inside look into the major nutrients we require on a daily basis. All of these nutrients (read: vitamins and minerals) are important in their own way, and each week […]
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This is a crowd pleaser type of salad. Its got crispy iceberg lettuce amongst mixed leaves, crunchy almonds, soothing parsley, shredded chicken and so much more. Make extra and save for lunch the next day…your stomach will thank you! Serves 4. Ingredients: 5/6 decent handfuls of mixed greens. I used what I had in the […]
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Laughter draws us together is both a physical and emotional way. It triggers positive physiological changes in the body. We know it strengthens relationships, improves the way we think and feel, it helps us find greater happiness and fulfilment…but did you know it actually benefits health in a number of different ways too? Laughter helps […]
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Why do we need protein again? Protein plays an important role in the growth and repair of our muscles and the timing of protein intake (within the hour) is imperative after exercise. Consuming adequate protein is important for muscle growth, but won’t guarantee muscle GAINS. Tune in to Protein: The 411 for more on this. Isn’t […]
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Good nutrition and self care are the keys to healthy hair. Back when I was in the midst of health imbalance – you can read my story here – my hair suffered terribly. It was super dry, brittle and ratty and was just plain unhealthy. It was even falling out! These days after cleaning up […]
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What is fibre? Scientifically speaking, dietary fibre refers to the non-starch polysaccharide components of plants that are resistant to digestion in the small intestine. Stay with me. In other words, it encompasses the non-digestible parts of plant-based foods with the main sources being fruit, vegetables, cereals/grains and legumes. There are three main types of fibre: […]