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| www.amazingcentral.com |
OMG! I am so happy today!
Do you want to know how your hormone imbalances affect your weight?
Do you want to ditch the old fashioned diets and actually lose weight and be super fit and healthy?
Do you want to be armed with real honest knowledge to help you sort your issues out?
Look no further! Marlene Watson Tara, the Goddess of all things plant based for great health has written us a super inspiring article for today's blog. Marlene's article this week could be the life changer you need, it certainly has made all the difference to me. I can't praise Marlene enough without sounding like a complete sycophant and stalker but what the heck - she is awesome! You will find her article "Dieting is out, healthy eating is in" further down the blog today.
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| Marlene in her kitchen |
In today's blog!
* "Dieting is out, Healthy eating is in" - Marlene Watson-Tara
* Weekly Chit Chat - Wimbledon Fortnight and Succulent Strawberries
* D is for...........................
* Strawberry Face Mask Recipe for a miracle facial
* Move more, chill a bit less
* Coming Thursday......
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| www.totalprosports.com |
Soooooooooo, it's that time of year when I become super fit! Not because I've gone to the park to play tennis but because Wimbedon fortnight has begun today and I can't move my car out of the road cos I will never get it back in its' space for the next two weeks! It's good news mind you as I added an extra three miles to my "moving more and chilling less" programme just this morning. SW19 is packed with happy people and there is a great atmosphere about here. It's faaaaab!
As you would expect strawberries are abundant in all the shops here as well as in the tournament grounds! They are great to eat of course and make a great ingredient for skincare! In Thursdays blog I will be featuring some of the recipes that An Apple A Day readers have sent in.
Today I thought you might like a lovely relaxing facial mask recipe. Living a healthy life doesn't just include eating it also includes feeling good about yourself and I know when I do this facial I feel confident cos my skin glows!
Strawberries are fab for skin care because they treat acne, are anti-oxidant, astringent, full of vitamin C, have omega 3 fatty acids and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is my favourite skin care ingredient and it works! This means your skin will glow, tighten, moisturise and see a reduction in fine lines.
Strawberry Mask for acne, scarring and nixing fine lines.
2 tbsp strawberries mashed to a puree
2 tbsp natural yogurt
Mix the two ingredients together. Cover face with your mix, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Moisturise if required. Tada! You look grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!
D is for;
Daikon (check out Marlene's fat busting tea recipe in her article)
Dandelion (great with pasta)
Dill (great natural flavour)
Dates (satisfy my sweet needs)
Dasheen
I'm not giving you a recipe today as if you click here you can browse for recipes including daikon from Marlene. Her recipes are tasty, tasty, tasty!
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| See, DAIKON is something you have seen before! |
I will be myth busting again next week as Marlene's article blasts a good few myths already! Don't forget to read her brilliant piece below!Move More, Chill a bit less
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| www.tennis.com.au |
Okay, so the England football team weren't too great were they? Talk about over rated and over paid and let's be honest the womens' team is far better. Anyway, the world cup isn't the only sport dominating the TV schedules right now. Living here in Wimbledon there is no escaping all the wannabe tennis players about in Wimbledon Park! Now whilst it always amuses me how they come out to play for a fortnight, tennis is actually an amazing sport to take up. Granted we probably aren't going to play like Sharapova but just playing is going to give us the following enormous benefits:
* moving is fab for the body and mind
* its for any age group and any level of fitness (so what's your excuse?!)
* it decreases the risk of heart disease (3 x more women died from heart disease than breast cancer)
* your flexibility and co-ordination will improve (no need to have to rely on a man for help)
* boosts your brain power (ok, so we are already owners of powerful brains!)
* increases your bone health (who wants to develop osteoporosis?)
* can help you lose inches ( oh hell yeah!)
Your local fitness/leisure centre will almost certainly have tennis lessons and courts you can hire. The Lawn Tennis Association have a really useful LTA website click here .Why not go and google it today and send me your pics of your tennis escapades!
Here it is......................................................Marlene's article that will change your life! (sounds gushy and american? Oh well I don't care on this occasion cos it is true!)
DIETING
IS OUT – HEALTH EATING IS IN!
By
Marlene Watson-Tara
Over
the past 10 years in particular with all the developments on why we
are ‘gaining weight’ and so many ‘silver
bullet’
‘diets’ hitting the market there has been little movement toward
any improvement and many nations of the world continue to pile on the
pounds. Latest polls show that British women are the fattest in
Europe. Food
is the Problem and Food is the Solution!
What
I am going to share with you is based on solid science. What makes
me different from so many of the health professionals is that my
Weight Loss Nature’s Way Course is unique in that it’s about
taking responsibility for your own health and that healing and weight
loss starts in your own kitchen with you in charge of what you eat on
a daily basis.
You
simply can’t change your life, without changing your life. No
matter what the latest fad crazy diet food, pills or others tell you,
trust me…. The only path to sustainable weight loss and good health
is by eating a wholefoods plant based diet. Anything that is new is
generally not good for you, anything that is old is. I have been
teaching the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and
Macrobiotics for over 30 years. TCM is thousands of years old, and
these cultures have no weight issues until they adopt a standard
western diet.
There
are many books currently on the market ‘Grain Brain’ and Wheat
Belly’ being two of the many that quote such dishonest information
to the general public. They are big fans of meat (of course) so they
demonize all grains for all people…..and tie it in with gluten
problems and coeliac disease. Shocking or what!
Complex
Carbohydrates are where we get our energy that sustains our life. I
have counselled hundreds of people with ill health who have been
eating high protein diets. The only way forward for human health,
planetary health and sensibility is by adopting a wholefoods plant
based diet. Pure and Simple.
Next
up with his nonsense was the food writer Mark Bittman from New York
who had the world in a frenzy with his article on ‘Butter is Back’
(he has been discredited from writing that article). OF course,
people love to hear good news about their bad habits but you need to
be up early to catch me out on all the articles that sweep the
internet and create huge confusion among consumers. Weight Loss
being at the top of the pile.
I
have compassion and understanding that so many of us are unaware of
the addictive additives laced in food and my vision and mission is to
inspire as many people as I can to start learning simple home
remedies and cooking techniques to take control of their weight
problems and health.
I
am not bogged down by an overriding ‘theory’ to prove. I teach
what I teach with fun and an open mind. I have a no-nonsense
approach to what works because that is what I continue to see year
after year with clients who adopted this way of living.
The
information I share is simple, direct and hugely effective. If you
follow my advice you will be better for it and that is what I
guarantee.
ARE
YOUR HORMONES OUT OF BALANCE?
Hormonal
balance is an important part of understanding how weight loss works
and the results sustained. You can change everything you believed
about dieting because hormones control your fat burning switch!
There are hormones that create weight gain and hormones that keep you
lean. I refer to this as having your fat burning switch in the on or
off position.
There
is so much cutting edge data now equating hormonal imbalance with
weight problems. Eating a hormone balanced diet is the way forward to
not only losing weight but also creating great health and vitality.
My Weight Loss Nature’s Way programme is in line with the
recommendations from organizations such as the Centre for Disease
Control and the World Health Organization. In this article I am
addressing two major hormones in particular – one that stores fat –
and one that burns fat.
SO
HOW DO YOU BURN FAT?
Insulin
is the hormone responsible for allowing sugars to be used for energy.
Insulin rises and falls according to blood sugar levels and is
greatly influenced by what you eat. Carbohydrates are broken down in
the digestive system and converted into glucose (blood sugar) to be
used as energy in your body.
When
glucose enters the blood stream the pancreas produces the insulin
that allows the billions of cells in your body to open up and receive
this energy to use for their various functions. If you eat too many
refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, pastries and sugar
rich foods, the sugars in these foods causes a rapid rise in blood
sugar. The flood of sugar stimulates pancreatic production of insulin
over long periods of time. This causes your cells to remain
receptive. These excess sugars are stored as fat. Normalizing
insulin
levels is essential to stop this storage from happening. Dramatically
reducing or eliminating these ‘refined’
carbohydrates is the best way to accomplish this.
Insulin
has a sister hormone, and its name is glucagon.
This
hormone is a critical component of your fat-burning biochemistry.
When you need more energy and there is not enough glucose, glucagon
is
secreted. The purpose of this hormone is the exact opposite of
insulin’s.
Glucagon
stimulates the release of stored fats to be used as energy.
Reducing
the consumption of simple sugars and refined carbohydrates stimulates
the production of
glucagon
and stimulates the burning of stored fats. If a healthy diet is
combined with even moderate exercise the combination of less fat
storage and better fat burning is promoted. The dietary advice below
describes some of the main features of a diet that promotes hormonal
balance and healthy weight loss.
Balance
is the key to life at all levels. Here are some simple explanations
on how to balance the four hormones that cause you to gain weight and
increase the three super heroes to help us burn fat.
THE
4 FAT STORING HORMONES
TO
BALANCE INSULIN
- Cut out refined carbohydrates
- Remove sugar from your diet and replace with grain syrups like rice and barley malts.
TO
BALANCE ESTROGEN
- Cut out processed foods
- Increase your daily intake of fibre
- Cut down on coffee and alcohol
- Do not use a microwave
- BPA is an estrogen compound found in plastic cups and leaches into the food particularly when heated.
- Assist the body in breakdown and elimination by eating a natural foods diet
TO
BALANCE CORTISOL
- Reduce stress in your daily life
- Elevated cortisol levels lead to higher insulin levels (create hunger pangs)
TO
BALANCE LEPTIN
- Cut out MSG and all commercial seasonings
- Low levels of leptin signal the body to store fat
- Sleep well
- Eat slowly – chew well
- Increase your consumption of sea vegetables
THE
3 FAT BURNING HORMONES
TO
INCREASE HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE
- Get a good night’s sleep - Sleep deprivation almost completely abolishes HGH production.
- Eat HGH Building Blocks. These include foods high in the B vitamins, like whole grains (quinoa), legumes, vegetables and proteins, and the mineral zinc which is found in seaweed.
- Go Organic – Many of our foods are loaded with pesticides and chemicals which lower HGH.
- Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Workouts improve your body chemistry, including levels of HGH. You can dramatically slow down the aging process, increase your strength as you age and eliminate the many risks of so many diseases that come about through lack of exercise.
TO
INCREASE TESTOSTERONE
Eat Testosterone Builders –foods rich in beta-carotene (yellow and orange vegetables and green leafy vegetables, foods high in B vitamins and foods containing boron (fruits, nuts and legumes. All of these foods cause your body to produce more testosterone.
Other testosterone boosters are amino acids. They are the building blocks of cells, antibodies, muscle tissues and enzymes.
A diet high in fat alters testosterone levels. Good fats are important for keeping testosterone levels up so eating more monosaturated fats from nuts, olive oil, avocados and polyunsaturated fats is a good idea because they are burned for fuel and don’t make your fat.
Caffeine and alcohol affects your testosterone levels.
TO
INCREASE PROGESTERONE
- Progesterone enhancing foods include B vitamins in particular vitamin B6 found in beans, as well as many fruits and vegetables like avocados, spinach and tomatoes.
- The other key nutrient in progesterone production is magnesium. Eat plenty of organic dark green leafy vegetables, and sea vegetables, almonds, seeds, nuts and beans which are all good sources of magnesium and also keep your liver healthy.
- Poor liver function suppresses progesterone.
As
you will see from the above it really is very simple to adopt a
hormone balanced ‘diet’ into your life and alleviate weight
problems for life.
THE
HORMONE BALANCING FOOD PLAN
- Eat at least 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks
- Focus on portion size, not calories – chew well
- Maintain a constant blood sugar level
- Eat natural foods rich in phytoestrogens
- Include good sources of vegetable protein; beans, legumes, tofu, tempeh,
- Drink filtered water, green tea or herbal teas
- Eat cooked foods
- Lightly cooked fresh vegetables
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Sprouted seeds such as alfalfa and mung beans
- Pressed salads and pickles
- Colourful fruits in season
- Almonds, walnuts, sunflower and pumpkin and sesame seeds
- Seaweeds
- Shitake and Maitake Mushrooms
- Miso/Shoyu/Tamari
- Wholegrains – short grain brown rice, quinoa, millet,
- Soba & udon noodles
- Naturally sweetened desserts (occasionally) using barley malt or rice syrup
- Go Organic
- Good fats and oils in moderation and used sparingly
EAT
HORMONE FRIENDLY
ELIMINATING
THE FOLLOWING FOODS
- Refined carbohydrates
- Processed foods
- Alcohol and caffeine
- Non-organic fruits and vegetables
- MSG soy sauces
- All commercial seasonings
- Coffee (try grain based)
- Sugar laden drinks and juices
- Meat
- Dairy
- Sugar
FOODS
TO USE REGULARLY FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WEIGHT LOSS
Whole
grains: Whole
grains are low-calorie; complex carbohydrates that haven’t been
processed or milled like white flour or white rice. This means they
haven’t been robbed of their essential nutrients or dietary fibre
so essential in keeping weight down.
Vegetables:
Bite
for bite, vegetables and whole grains provide more nutrients and
fibre with fewer calories than any other food group, making it easier
to control your weight.
Sea
Vegetables: They
are a rich source of many trace minerals. Seaweeds break down and
digest slowly compared to processed foods. This actually allows
hormonal balancing to occur. Research shows that seaweed is not only
an amazing health food but speeds up weight loss by blocking fat
intake and promotes fat burning.
Beans and Bean
Products:
Regular bean eaters are less likely to be overweight and have smaller
waistlines than those who pass on legumes. Beans release energy
slowly into the body, making them a great weight loss food. 'They are
also high in protein and fibre, which satiates the appetite and helps
keep you full for longer periods of time.'
Along
with Fruits: Nuts and Seeds: Vegetable Oils: and the Medicinal Teas
you have a winning combination.
FOODS
TO REDUCE OR AVOID FOR HORMONAL BALANCE & WEIGHT LOSS
Sugar
Tropical
Fruits:
Deep
fried foods:
Refined
grains
Highly
processed foods with chemical additives:
Cheese
and dairy:
Red
meat, pork and chicken
My
Top 3 Exotic Foods for Natural Weight Loss
‘Turn
on Your Fat Burning Switch’
Sea
Vegetables
Seaweeds
break down and digest slowly compared to processed foods. Seaweeds
are also nutrient density, especially minerals; contribute greatly to
hormonal balance too. Research shows that seaweed speeds up weight
loss by blocking fat intake and promotes fat burning. Alginate
the natural fibre found in sea kelp blocks the body from absorbing
fat far more effectively than anti-weight treatments currently sold
over the counter. A 2010 study by Newcastle University demonstrated
what has been known for centuries in the Far East – Sea Vegetables
are a powerful tool for weight loss.
Shitake
Mushrooms
Dried
Shitake mushrooms have traditionally been used in Traditional Chinese
Medicine as an aid to the immune functions of the body and for
breaking down fatty tissue. Japanese researchers discovered that this
is because of eritadenine,
a substance that reduces cholesterol. Researchers S. Suzuki and
Oshima found that a raw Shiitake eaten daily for one week lowers
serum cholesterol by 12%.
Daikon
Radish
This
magical vegetable is superior to anything I have used for years with
clients to achieve amazing results. It is a fantastic natural
diuretic with a very gentle action that is excellent for managing the
fluid retention that so often accompanies weight gain. The more fat
cells we have, the more fluid we store. You can see me making this
amazing tea using the fresh and dried version on my ‘you tube’
channel.
Marlene’s
Fat Burning Tea
Daikon,
Shitake and Kombu Drink
This
tea helps the liver to open up and discharge smoothly.
1
dried shitake mushroom
½
cup dried daikon
1
inch strip kombu seaweed
3
cups spring water
Place
the shitake, dried daikon and kombu in a small bowl, rinse and then
cover with water. Leave to soak for about 10 minutes. Discard the
water. Slice the shitake and place the ingredients into a pan. Add
the water, cover and bring to a boil on a medium flame. Reduce the
flame and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Remove and discard the
ingredients. Drink the tea whilst hot.
All
of these ingredients are readily available in natural food stores and
many supermarkets.
For over 30 years Marlene has been actively teaching all aspects of health and wellness. As an International Author, Macrobiotic Counsellor and Cooking Teacher she has worked with thousands of clients around the world seeking to revitalize their lives through the philosophy of a wholefoods diet and exercise. Alongside her husband Bill Tara www.billtara.net they run their very successful Macrobiotic Health Coaching Programme with students who have graduated from 17 countries. Their passion of human ecology will soon become mainstream.
Her
latest book
‘Macrobiotics for all Seasons’ is available on amazon
Sign up to the blog to receive news of next weeks awesome blog prize! It's worth a bomb and I only wish I could enter to win!!!!! You will have to wait 'til the blog is released to find out what the fab prize is that you can win! hahahaha I love teasing! (ooer!)
I hope you have loved this weeks mahoosive blog entry. I'd love to hear what you think and what you'd love to see me write about. Contact me here.
Coming on Thursday
Wimbledon Strawberry Recipes to tickle your taste buds
The diary of a wannabe healthy mum
Weekend out and about
Must have book review
Motivation central
and lots more!!!!
Enjoy your week and I really hope that by taking your small steps you are reaping the benefits of healthy living.
Love to you all
Janie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Contact me here and tell me your healthy living story.
