Posts in Nutrition 101
Beets + Thyroid

I truly believe that healing your body requires more than simply taking a few pills or herbs.  I believe it requires a complete overhaul of your body, mind and spirit.  

 

When it was first discovered that I had a thyroid issue, I was automatically put on conventional pharmaceutical thyroid medication by my doctor, and at the time, I felt sooo much better.  The swelling in my thyroid went down and the symptoms disappeared.  To be honest with you, at the time, I thought that was it.  Done and dusted.  I was fine.

 

And then a year later the symptoms all came back.  Tenfold!

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Raw Cacao + Iron

Did you know that raw organic cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron?

 

Did you also know that it contains more calcium than cow’s milk?

 

Say what?!

 

However, as the iron found in raw organic cacao is non-heme (as is all plant-based iron), you’ll body will get maximum benefit if you combine eating it with vitamin C.

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Blackberries + Paris

 

Blackberries.  I've not found them to be so plump, sweet and berry like in flavour than the one's I enjoy when in France.

 

Big, juicy blackberries where the little pips get stuck in your teeth and the juice dribbles down your chin, staining your lips.

 

So what to do with the extra basic raw chocolate you've just made?

 

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know where I'm going with this....yep, add in a blackberry!

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Raw Organic Cacao + 4 Recipes

 

Well hello there lovelies,

 

Tell me something.  Are you feeling a little sluggish now that Winter has been with us for a little while? 

 

Perhaps you’ve been experiencing fatigue, apathy, insomnia and irritability?

 

Maybe craving a little more energy in your life, pep in your step, clarity and focus?

 

My hands are in the air….hell yeah!

 

Can I also ask, have you perhaps thought it might simply be due to a lack of Magnesium in your diet?  Hunh!

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Nourishing Hot Chocolate

I don’t know the facts behind this little statement, but I’m assuming this was before we bastardised raw cacao and processed it into the cocoa we know and consume today.  I could be wrong!

 

What I DO know, however is that this quick, nourishing and clean hot chocolate recipe, IS super good for you and your body. 

 

Wanna know why?

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3 Tips for a Healthy Thyroid

Suffering the horrible effects of thyroiditis?  I hear ya sista!

 

For me it varies, from a swollen/sore thyroid, a splitting headache and extreme lethargy to dry skin, mood swings and the desperate wanting to curl up in a ball and not interact with anyone!

 

Chatting about these symptoms with my everyday GP last year, I was told there was nothing I could do – this was just “how it was”.  Seriously????

 

So you guessed it, I started to research this fact for myself. 

 

 I turned to whole, organic foods and I listened to my body…very closely.  Straight away I implemented 3 simple everyday steps into my daily routine as an experiment.  So far, I haven’t looked back.  Perhaps you may also like to experiment with them?  I figure, anything is worth a shot when trying to support your healthy thyroid.

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Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts.

 

Wondering what so good about them?

 

Wonder no longer people as I have the answer you’ve been waiting with baited breath for.  These little beauties are wonderfully rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals and are brilliant for your heart, nervous system and overall digestive health. 

 

Don’t believe me?  Here’s a little snapshot of just how good they are:

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Vitamin A + Thyroid Health

 

Vitamin A.  A fat soluble vitamin, which means it MUST be consumed with fat in order to have optimal absorption.

 

A vitamin I am sadly deficient in, as revealed by my naturopath.

 

Vitamin A is essential for our vision, for boosting our immune function and for giving us healthy glowing skin.  It is also needed in the production of T3 (thyroid hormone) – which is just one of the many reasons I suffer hypothyroidism symptoms (and perhaps you too?)

 

Did you know that without this essential vitamin, our thyroid levels can suffer?

 

Did you also know that there is a strong connection between vitamin A deficiency and hypothyroidism?

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Turmeric - The Super Root

Turmeric.  A powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant containing a mix of manganese, iron, vitamin B6, fiber, copper and potassium.

 

It's what gives curry both its flavour and yellow colour, but did you know it has also been used for thousands of years to help with numerous health conditions?   

 

Studies suggest that this super root helps with inflammation in our bodies, reduces tumour growth and aids in liver detox.  It helps protect our bodies against heavy metal toxicity and can also potentially benefit those of us with autoimmune thyroid conditions as a happy liver is crucial for proper thyroid hormone conversion.  

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Potassium

I play the love/hate game when it comes to getting test results back.  Are you the same?

I love knowing exactly what is happening with my body (especially the why), as it gives me the opportunity to be the true Taurean that I am and run head first into finding a solution.

Sometimes, however it’s like opening a can of worms.

Needless to say, the list that’s as long as my arm received from my recent visit to my Naturopath of all the vitamins and minerals I’m severely deficient in and the list of all the vitamins, minerals and metals my body is inundated with has left me a little overwhelmed, to say the least.

So I’m taking it a step at a time and thought I’d share my finds with you, just in case you too are a little overwhelmed with it all at the moment.

So first up to the plate, is da da daaaaa…….Potassium.  

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Pecans + Your Thyroid

Pecans.  Rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, they can help decrease “bad cholesterol” and increases “good cholesterol” levels in the blood.

 

Seriously.  A simple nut can help do this?!

 

They’re also a wonderful nut to consume for those of us suffering the effects of hypothyroidism, as they’re a rich source of manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.

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Magnesium + Thyroid

Did you know that our thyroids cannot function without magnesium?  It’s something I’m learning a lot about at the moment. 

It’s actually responsible for converting the inactive T4 thyroid hormone into the active form of T3, which is extremely important for those of us out there with hypothyroidism.  This is what affects our metabolism and is something I’m working on with my naturopath at this very moment, as it’s a depressing sight when you see your weight increasing as if by magic in such a short amount of time.

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IN SEASON: Beetroot

Beetroot has long been hailed as a natural healer for their ability to help lower blood pressure.  However, did you know that they have also been traditionally used to treat fever, constipation, bloating and gas?   

Did you also know that the greens from beetroot are chock full of calcium, iron and vitamins A and C and should definitely not be overlooked.  Simply cook them up just like you would spinach.

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Avocado + Sweet Potato

COOKBOOK: Nourish

December 30, 2015 

 CookbookRecipe

 

It's no secret that I'm a fan of the cookbook Love Bake Nourish by Amber Rose, so when she released her new book Nourish, in collaboration with 2 of her talented friends, I was first in line.

Nourish is not your typical cookbook as it's split into 3 sections.  The first section (I'm being honest) is my favourite as it's filled with gorgeous fresh recipes by Amber.  The other 2 sections cover health and nourishment for the mind, body and soul.  This book gives tips, tricks, solutions and answers for getting your health back into shape, stilling your mind and just simply maintaining a positive and happy outlook.  It's simply stunning.

 

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My Home For The Holidays !

December 27, 2015

 

Christmas + the countryside = one very happy girl!

It really is pretty simple.  A house surrounded by bushland (no neighbours please!), Bing Crosby, twinkling Christmas lights and a big bowl of fresh prawns.  That's all it takes to make me forget about the working year that's been, allowing my shoulders to drop and the biggest smile to appear permanently on my face.

This is my perfect Christmas, all wrapped up with a big red bow.

 

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My Christmas Tart !

December 23, 2015 

 Recipe

 

3 simple words that when said apart, make me smile, but when said together, make me swoon .... Fruit.  Mince.  Tart.

In my old life, these 3 simple little single syllable words would conjure up so many good memories, making me feel comforted, happy and oh so "Christmassy".

Now, having run away from gluten and sugar, these words when said together do (if I'm being honest) bring up a little feeling of deprivation, but more so bring up feelings of sugar highs and slumps, sleepiness and foggy brain.  Not to mention a swollen thyroid!  I’m not one to say “never”, but with the knowledge I now have of how sugar affects my body, I just can’t imaging EVER consuming these little tarts that I once held in such high esteem, again.

 

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Christmas Cake !

December 20, 2015 

 Recipe

 

Plump, boozy dried fruit, glace cherries and nuts.  All the things I loved in the Christmas cakes of my past.  The denser and the darker the better.  Cake that would (and could) last for months (if I didn't eat it sooner).  And cake that stayed moist without the need for refrigeration.

My body and taste buds may no longer be able to tolerate these sweet fruit cakes of my youth, but I still have a need (and a desperate want) for a boozy, spicy and dense sliver of cake to sit proudly and lovingly alongside my cup of tea on Christmas day.

 

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Avocado + Sweet Potato

December 16, 2015

Do you ever get a food fetish where all you think, dream and eat is a particular food? 

I get it ALL the time, and at the moment my fetish is avocado.

I’m eating it like a machine. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner - there’s no stopping me, and my favourite way of eating it is in this most delightfully, fluffy, light and zingy way….

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IN SEASON: Celeriac

Celeriac.  Have you ever seen a more ugly vegetable?  By golly it's delicious though!  Probably one of the least used and most under-rated root vegetables, which is such a shame as it has some serious health benefits.  It’s high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6, which help our bodies absorb nutrients, expel waste, improve immunity and maintain our blood sugar levels.  

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

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