Why we should be eating more Seaweed

Leave a reply

Why we should be eating more Seaweed

Seaweed is one of the healthiest, most versatile foods on the planet and offers the widest range of minerals than any other food.
Some of the earliest humans that lived along the coastlines consumed alot of seaweed but today many westerners dont include enough of it in their diet.
In many countries around the world and especially in New Zealand there is an iodine deficiency. Seaweed is high in iodine which is why it is so important especially for New Zealanders to consume more of this nutrient rich food.

Some of the most popular edible seaweeds include Wakame, Kombu, Nori, Dulse and Kelp.
Seaweed is high in Vitamins A, C and B12. Infact it is one of the few vegetable sources high in Vitamin B12 making it a perfect food source for vegetarians and vegans.
It is rich in Potassium, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iodine.  It is also high in Fibre, Protein and Omega 3′s.

seaweed

Health benefits of seaweed

Thyroid health

Seaweed is one of natures richest sources of iodine and iodine is one of the key ingredients for thyroid health. In Chinese Medicine seaweed has been used to decrease inflammation and swelling in the thyroid. Iodine is a component of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3, both of these are extremely important for humans. Our body adds iodine to tyrosine to make these two hormones. These two hormones regulate metabolism in the body and if the body isn’t getting enough iodine it can have negative effects on your health. Common signs of a iodine deficiency include an enlarged thyroid gland, called a goiter. Hypothyroidism is another symptom of an iodine deficiency. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, constipation, weak nails, dry hair and skin and a sensitivity to the cold.

Cancer protection

Seaweed is high in lignans, these are substances that become phytoestrogens. These block the chemical estrogens that can later predispose to cancers. Kelp has been known to stop the binding of estradiol to estrogen receptors and progesterone to progesterone receptors in the body. Estradiol in females acts as a growth hormone for the tissues of the reproductive hormones. Seaweed is a nutritional powerhouse that is high in so many cancer fighting vitamins and minerals. Seaweed also has anti-inflammatory properties and chronic inflammation and stress are both risk factors for the development of cancer.

Digestion

Seaweed is high in fibre, making it beneficial for someone who suffers from constipation.  Fibre prevents constipation, regulates bowel movements and helps the liver flush out toxins by transporting them out of the digestive system.  When someone is eating enough fibre it will bind to toxins and the toxins will be excreted out of the body.  Seaweed also helps to regulate blood sugar levels because of the high fibre content. Fibre slows down the rate at which foods are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream.

My favourite brand of Seaweed is Kiwi Wakame. They have a high quailty wakame which is harvested from Stewart Island and Foveaux Straight in the South Island.

fronds

The benefits from Seaweed are countless and it contains the broadest range of minerals than any other food on earth. Sprinkle some seaweed over your salads and stir-frys or use it as a substitute for salt.

Libby xx

The health benefits of Hemp Seed Oil

Leave a reply

Over the past month I have been using Hemp seed oil in my cooking and I cannot rave enough about how amazing it is! I have been using a product by a New Zealand company called Kimmithgone that make a cold pressed Hemp seed oil using hemp that is grown in the South Island on the Canterbury Plains.

1-200x300

The healing properties of Hemp have been used for thousands of years and only until recently the oil has been easily accessible in New Zealand. A lot of people classify hemp oil as a superfood due to its high essential fatty acid content of Omega 3, 6 and 9.
Hemp seed oil is derived from hemp seeds, it is pressed from the seed of the plant (cannabis).  Hemp seed oil has a nutty flavour and is a light green colour.  There is alot of speculation over the use of Hemp seed oil but this product is completely safe and legal.

Omega 3, 6 and 9 is needed in our diet as our body cannot produce them naturally, they are crucial for healthy circulation, cell growth, immunity and brain function. These oils must be ingested in their pure form which is why Hemp seed oil is so beneficial and it is a vegetarian alternative to fish oil.  Hemp seed oil contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, chlorophyll, vitamin E and it has high levels of antioxidants. Hemp Seed Oil has been known to help eczema when applied directly to the skin, it lowers cholesterol and is used for people that have asthma and high blood pressure.

hemp-seed-oil-benefits

The high levels of Omega’s in Hemp seed oil make it beneficial for women’s health as they help to balance out hormones. Many women that have an essential fatty acid deficiency may suffer from PMS, anxiety, low sex drive, acne, wrinkles, weight gain and water retention. Great improvements in hormonal balance have been found when Hemp seed oil is used in the diet. It can be used for skin health as it increases the skin elasticity and water retention capacity in tissues. Many skin care products contain Hemp seed oil as it contains a component that is similar to our skin lipids which makes it the perfect moisturiser and it is used to calm and cool irritated skin.

The importance of having essential fatty acids in our diet is extremely important. Hemp seed oil can constitute an important element in health and nutrition and can prevent many diseases and health disorders.

If you want more information regarding Hemp seed oil check out the Kimmithgone website which also contains some really tasty recipes using Hemp seed oil.

Libby xx

 

Cacao Crackle

4 Replies

This recipe contains my two favorite foods – chocolate and coconut.  We have featured cacao and coconut oil in many of our blog posts so if you have been reading you will be aware of the health benefits of these super foods.  If not, have a read of this post about coconut oil and this post about cacao.

IMG_0750All of the ingredients I have used in this recipe are what I had in my cupboard.  If you do not have buckinis then use more oats.  If you don’t have pumpkin seeds use chia seeds or sesame seeds.  If you do not have cacao butter use 1/3 cup more coconut oil.  There is no right or wrong way to make the crackle, experiment with your favorite foods and make it your own.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cacao butter
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup buckinis
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup desiccated coconut
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

IMG_0747

Method:

  1. In a pot over medium heat melt the cacao butter and transfer into a bowl.  Add in raw cacao powder and coconut oil.  Mix ingredients together.
  2. Get an oven tray, baking dish or anything that can be put into the freezer, line with baking paper.  Size of the tray doesn’t matter as the crackle can be thin or thick, it still tastes the same.
  3. In a bowl combine coconut, oats, buckinis and pumpkin seeds.  Pour dry ingredients into tray that you have just lined with paper.  Spread the ingredients evenly.
  4. Pour the cacao/coconut oil mixture over top of the dry ingredients and spread evenly so that the wet cacao mixture is covering everything.
  5. Place in freezer and wait for the crackle to harden.  Once hard break into pieces and store in the freezer in a container.

Julia x

IMG_0739 IMG_0752 IMG_0742

Coconut Kale Chips

3 Replies

Coconut Kale Chips are one of my favourite healthy snacks because it contains two of my favourite Super foods which are Coconut Oil and Kale.

Kale or the ‘queen of greens’ is a nutritional powerhouse that is packed with Anti-oxidants, Calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, Fibre and vitamin A, C and K. It is also known as ‘the new beef’ because of its high levels of Iron.

Coconut oil is one of the few oils that is not damaged when heated to temperatures used in cooking, baking and frying. Coconut oil slows down digestion which helps prevent blood sugar fluctuations after a meal by slowing the rate carbohydrates are broken down into glucose. Coconut oil helps cleanse the body, balances the digestive tract and nourishes all cells in the body.

These Kale chips are the perfect snack and taste great on top of a green salad, in a sandwhich, wrap or in a stir-fry.

Ingredients

5 big leaves of kale

1 lemon

1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

2 garlic cloves

Salt

Pepper

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 175C, and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2.    Wash and thoroughly dry the kale. Cut off the the stalks on the kale, and cut the kale into      chip size pieces.

3.    In a bowl mix the coconut oil, balsamic vinegar, crushed garlic, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the kale and make sure it is spread evenly over all the leaves.

4.   Make sure that the kale aren’t too soggy as they won’t be able to dry out in the oven.

5.    Place the Kale onto the oven tray and make sure it is all spread out. Bake the kale chips for  10 minutes or until the chips begin to turn crispy.

931444_10151679924748140_2060642288_n

2013-04-09 16.40.24

2013-04-09 16.46.15

DSC01023

Libby xx

Red Lentil Patties

3 Replies

The fun thing about cooking vegetarian meals is experimenting with new flavours – spices, herbs, sauces and seasonings.  Letting all of the ingredients be important parts of the dish.  It’s easy to cook meat as the flavour is already there.  With vegetarian meals you usually have to be a bit more adventurous as lentils and chickpeas can be uninteresting on their own.

These red lentil patties have had the tick of approval from a meat eater, in fact he loved them so much the whole batch I made was gone in one night.  I was planning on saving some for lunch the next day as these are great cold in salads.  The beauty about these is that they are so easy to make I whipped up some more after dinner.  They take all of fifteen minutes.

IMG_0701

Red lentils are a member of the legume family, they are cooked more quickly than other lentils and are said the be the tastiest of them all.  Cooked red lentils provide you with protein, fibre and calcium.  Due to the protein and fibre content lentils help you stay fuller for longer.  They are virtually free from fat so are an excellent food source for people watching their weight.

Ingredients: 

1.5 cups of cooked red lentils (I use dried lentils, soak them in 3 cups of water overnight, drain and then boil)
2 brown onions, diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 organic eggs, beaten
1/2 cup gluten-free bread crumbs
1 carrot, grated
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 cup freshly chopped parsley
1/2 cup freshly chopped coriander
Juice from 1 lime
Himalayan salt and pepper
Olive oil or coconut oil for cooking

Method:

  1. If you are using dried lentils soak them in a bowl overnight in 3 cups of water, drain water before boiling.  If using canned lentils remove from can, give them a good wash.  Place lentils in a pot with 3 cups of water, bring lentils to boil in water, reduce heat to simmer and let lentils cook for 10 – 12 minutes until soft.  Remove from heat, place in sieve and drain lentils well, try to get most of the water off them.   
  2. In a frying pan saute onion, garlic, carrot, turmeric and cumin seeds in oil for 2-3 minutes until onion is golden brown and you can smell the spices.  Remove from heat.
  3. In a bowl combine lentils, beaten eggs, bread crumbs, lime juice, fresh herbs and the onion, garlic and carrot mixture.  Combine ingredients thoroughly and season with Himalayan salt and pepper.
  4. Place saucepan on heat, heat frying pan at quite a high heat, add coconut or olive oil.  Get a 1/4 measuring cup and working in batches placing mixture onto saucepan.  You might only be able to fit 3 – 4 patties at a time.  Turn heat down to medium so that the patties do not burn on the outside.  You want them to warm throughout.  Press down on mixture with a spatula to create flat patties.  After a few minutes turn the patties over, they may be quite fragile so handle with care.
  5. Once golden brown on both sides remove from frying pan and work on your next batch.  Once done serve warm on a bed of salad greens with lots of vegetables.

As I said earlier these are fantastic cold the next day for lunch.  You can also freeze patties if you make in large batches and re heat in the oven for a quick meal.

Julia x

IMG_0697 IMG_0700 IMG_0702 IMG_0706

Chickpea Bread

5 Replies

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans have many nutritional benefits.  They are very high in fibre, between 65-75% of the fiber found in chickpeas is insoluble fiber, and this type of fiber remains undigested all the way down to the final segment of your large intestine.  Chickpeas also contain zinc, folate and protein which is why they are a great animal protein substitute.

As I am not able to eat grains for the next two and a half weeks I wanted to find a suitable food that had the same texture as bread, was simple and easy to make and a good base for my guacamole, salsa or pesto.  I have eaten chickpea bread before but never made it and after looking online discovered how easy it was.

Ideally it is best to prep the bread in the morning for baking in the afternoon/evening.  I started the process at 11:00am and baked the bread at 5:00pm.

If you are wondering where you can purchase chickpea flour from Auckland people you can find it here and here, Wellington people here and Australian people here.  Its other name is Besan flour, so have a look in your local supermarket as some do sell the flour.

IMG_0682

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of chickpea flour
3 1/2 cups of water
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
himalayan salt and pepper to taste
optional: 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated.

Method:

  1. Pour the chickpea flour into a mixing bowl.  Add water slowly, whisking at the same time to avoid the flour from going lumpy.  Mix until smooth.  Add himalayan salt and pepper to the mixture, just enough to season.
  2. Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 3 – 6 hours, cover with a tea towel and leave on the kitchen bench.
  3. When ready to bake pre heat the oven to 175 degrees celcius, fan bake.
  4. Skim off any froth or bubbles that have formed on the surface of the mixture with a slotted spoon.
  5. Prepare the tray you are going to bake the bread in by pouring the olive oil onto the base.  The tray I used to cook the bread was 33cm L x 23cm W.  You want the layer of mixture to be about 1cm deep.
  6. Place in the oven and bake for 25 – 30 minutes.  You will see the bread will go quite crispy on top.

Serve hot when just out of the oven or let bread cool and keep in the fridge for lunches.  I served mine with guacamole and fresh herbs, and for the cheese lovers sprinkle 1/4 cup of parmesan over the bread when it is fresh out of the oven.

Julia x

IMG_0661 IMG_0684 IMG_0693 IMG_0676

Far Infrared detox sauna

1 Reply

I had been hearing a bit of talk about Infrared saunas and being interested in everything health and wellness I wanted to see what all the hype was about and try one out for myself.

infrared_sauna

How does an infrared sauna differ to a traditional sauna you ask?

Traditional saunas are heated to a higher temperature, between 80 – 100 degrees Celsius, and are what I would say much more of a harsh environment.   Because the temperatures in an infrared sauna are significantly lower (between 35 – 60 degrees Celsius) the environment within the sauna is much milder.  For those who want the benefits of heat therapy but do not like the “harsh” climate of a traditional sauna, an infrared sauna is the perfect alternative.

Infrared saunas are known for their ability to remove toxins from the body safely and quickly.  Far Infrared heat is not ultraviolet radiation but a narrow band of energy.   The energy travels to a depth of 1-2 inches into the body to increase circulation and nourish damaged tissue.  The infrared energy triggers the release of toxins stored within your cells and your skin excretes the toxins through sweat.

Studies indicate that benefits of far infrared sauna use include: muscle relaxation; stress, tension and headache relief; reduction and removal of body toxins; increased cardiovascular strength; increased blood circulation; strengthened immune system; improved lung function, and refreshed, moisturized skin.  The benefits do not stop there; far infrared rays improve blood circulation, lower lactic acid, kill certain bacteria and parasites, and stimulate endorphins and burn calories.

releasetoxins

My infrared sauna experience was amazing; the hardest part was picking out what magazine to read.
Yes I did break out into a sweat but it wasn’t the type of sweat you experience when doing a workout.  I didn’t sit there waiting for my sauna session to end and dash to the shower.  It was enjoyable, relaxing and the best part was knowing that my body was getting a gentle cleanse from the inside out.  I left the spa feeling lighter, clear headed, refreshed, I had a glow and felt fantastic.

An infrared sauna experience is something that I would recommend to everyone.  For those of you who play intense sport, have been indulging a little bit too much, if you have muscle or joint pain or just simply want to give your body some TLC.

Alkaline Spa is where I went for my sauna so for those of you living in the Sydney area this is where I recommend you go.  Alkaline is a beautiful holistic day spa with the most incredible list of treatments available.  I booked my self in for live blood screening and will be blogging about that in the next few weeks.

Julia x