new year, time for a change

So it's that time of year again, when we have all over done it and are feeling bloated, grubby and out of sync. Yep that's me, not to mention the few lbs more i have attached to my midriff.

So where do you start, with a little difficulty i should imagine. But with some willpower and determination, you can ease yourself back into a healthy regime, i'm not talking about going in with all guns blazing and just quitting all the not so good habits picked up over the festive season in one go, I don't know about you but the thought of the all or nothing approach is daunting. Gradual changes is what works for me, like cutting back on  my sugar intake. I use stevia daily, why don't you give it a go, try swapping sugar for stevia liquid, it's great for anything from tea and coffee to adding it to your natural yoghurts, puddings and baking. It's calorie free and a healthier alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Here's a little recipe i found and tweeked slightly.

Ingredients:

1 100g bar of dark chocolate 80% cocoa solids(it contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals)
Around 45 Almonds.
dried cherries, or fruit of your choice. I used raisons(watch out for added sugars in dried fruit)
10 drops Stevia liquid or to taste.
Coconut shavings(I dried these ones in the dehydrator)


                                                                     Melt the chocolate

  

                         Lay the almonds out on a lined cookie sheet, i put three per cluster.

        once the chocolate has melted add the dried fruit and about 10 drops of stevia, or to taste.
                   My stevia bottle is a bit worn, I carry it in my handbag wherever I go.

Drop spoonfulls of the chocolate mixture over the almonds, then put a few coconut shavings on top.

                                               put the tray in the fridge to let them harden


    And that's it, you can have a little cluster for those moments when you feel like something sweet.

A green tea that taste great and packed with healthy ingredients

So now that i'm in the swing of getting back to health and nature, thought i'd share with you my green tea fave at the moment. I cant get enough of citrus cool right now, so refreshing, especially when it's cold.

Makes a good drink for heading to the gym. And according to research, the ingredients are packed full of health benifits. Just read on and see for yourself.

Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants called catechins. The catechins in green tea help reduce inflammation and oxidate cell damage. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, green tea may also boost metabolism and burn fat.


Orange peel

Because of its many active constituents, orange peel tea helps you stay healthy. One cup brings many health benefits.

Orange peel tea helps you fight against viruses and bacteria. It is also useful when treating coughs, asthma, bronchitis, tightness in the chest, and colds. Generally, it is good at helping the body eliminate the phlegm in the lungs. Another benefit is related to stimulating blood circulation and the flow in the lymphatic system. Also, orange peel tea is useful with helping you fight stress, nervousness, and insomnia.

Lime peel

Limes and other citrus fruits are considered a diabetics super food for a number of reasons. Mainly, the high levels of soluble fibre found i limes make it an ideal dietary aid to help regulate the body's absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, reducing the occurrence of blood sugar spikes. Also limes and other citrus fruits have a low glycemic index, meaning they dont cause unexpected spikes in glucose levels. More info on the link below.

Citrus Peel Benefits | LIVESTRONG.COM


Lemon verbena


Lemon verbena is said to protect against muscle damage.
A 2011 issue of the "European journal of applied Physiology" included at 21 day study where participants worked out for 90 minutes each day and took lemon verbena extract as an antioxidanty supplement to their regular diet. Researchers found that lemon verbena reduced the amount of muscle damage the participants experienced, while not having any effect on their ability to build endurance and speed.

 

                                       So drink up folks