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FREEBIE: Belly Flattening 4 Day Meal Plan - Click Here

Benefits of Being in an Alkaline State

24/2/2020

 
​Did you know that for optimum health your blood pH should be around 7.3 - 7.5? 
This puts your body in an alkaline state. 

In this alkaline state, your body's metabolism, immune system, enzymes and repair mechanisms work effectively.

When the pH moves out of this ideal range then
  • the waste products from our cells build up,
  • toxins are not removed,
  • nutrients from the foods we eat don't get used properly.

As a result; bacteria, parasites and fungi grow really well and reproduce at an alarming rate, like bunnies!!!

​
Being too acidic contributes to 
  • diseases,
  • digestive problems like constipation, bloating, diarrhea,
  • tiredness,
  • poor sleep habits,
  • headaches and
  • body pains, like gout.

What causes us to be acidic?
  • Eating processed foods, sugar and grains like bread and pasta
  • Not eating enough vegetables and fruit
  • Toxins in the environment and from chemicals
  • Metabolic processes withiour our bodies
  • Stress
  • Alcohol 
  • Smoking
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When we are acidic then our body requires minerals to buffer and rebalance our blood pH.

Our body can draw these minerals from the fluid surrounding our cells.
BUT once that is used up,
our body begins to draw these rebalancing minerals from our bones!

And THEN our illnesses begin!
To find out what your pH is 
you can measure your urine.

You can purchase pH testing papers from your health shop. Dip your pH paper into your first week of the day. 

A range of between 6.5 - 7.5 is fairly neutral. Below 7, which is the pH of water, shows that you are acidic.

If your reading is below 6.5 it is a good idea to start making dietary changes to bring your urinary pH back t the ideal range of 6.5 - 7.5

Also take a mineral supplement which will help your body in stabilsing your blood pH and a vitamin C supplement.

You could use an alkaline powder which has minerals that are necessary to alkalise your blood pH.

You may think that an acidic tasting food like an orange or pineapple would be acid producing for your body. BUT that assumption is flawed.

When foods are broken down acids are produced that are neutralised by alkaline mineral salts like magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium.

The types of foods that we eat affect our acid-alkaline balance.

Most vegetables  are alkaline forming and contain calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium.

On the other hand, animal proteins, dairy and grains tend to be acid forming and contain chlorine, phosphorous, sulphur and nitrogen.
​What foods will help to alkalise you?

Sweet potatoes                Parsnips                Mushrooms
Broccoli                           Cauliflower             Cabbage
Kale                                  Parsley                  Rocket
Bell peppers                     Pumpkin                 Aubergine / Egg plant
Garlic                                Asparagus
Watermelon                      Raspberries            Blueberries
Pineapple                         Peach                      Melons
Pears                                Cherry                     Apples
Avocado                            Olives
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Switch to these foods
  1. Use quinoa and wild rice instead of pasta and other grains.
  2. Use Xylitol as your sweetener as it won't affect your blood sugar levels.

Apple Cider Vinegar may taste acidic but it is extremely beneficial. 
  • It promotes healthy digestion.
  • Increases blood oxygen levels
  • Regulates calcium absorption
  • Prevents food from putrefying in your gut which will reduce your bloating and gassiness
  • And it contain malic acid which helps to neutralise toxins.

When buying Apple Cider Vinegar make sure you choose ORGANIC. ​

Read more about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar here...
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Feel a Difference in 4 Days
The 4 Day Jump Start Cleanse is a good start to alkalising your body.

I recently ran a FREE Online Challenge - 4 Day Jump Start Cleanse with a group of ladies. 
The feedback was great...

Sandra said, " Would you believe I didn’t miss a thing! How does that work! A bit of cheese would have been nice but otherwise I was pretty satisfied with what I ate this week! Huge thank you to you Lee for making this happen and being there for me! 🙏"

Bonnie said, " Coffee and sugar at first but was ok from day 2"

And the results of doing the Cleanse - - -
Sandra lost 2kgs, Anika lost 500g, I lost 1kg and Bonnie said, "Didn't weigh myself before so I don't know,but I feel less tired,junk food cravings under control" 

Delicious Strategies for Chocolate Lovers

12/2/2020

 
​Enjoy your chocolate, just choose the type that benefits your health goals. 

Delicious Weight Loss Strategies for Chocolate Lovers

Do you love chocolate?
And you want to lose weight?
Good news! There are ways to keep those calories from sabotaging your diet.

All you need to do is pick the right kind of chocolate, control your portions, and eat a balanced diet.

Here are some suggestions for taking care of your health while you indulge your sweet tooth.

Choosing the Right Chocolate:

1. Eat dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is good for your heart and health.
Studies show that it contains plant flavonoids and antioxidants. These can improve how well your blood vessels function. They also protect you from clogged arteries.
When you want something sweet, go with dark chocolate, 70% +.

2. Drink cocoa.
Cocoa is the ingredient that endows dark chocolate with its health benefits.
Make a cup of cocoa with less sugar or use xylitol for sweetness. Keep in mind that milk can interfere with how your body absorbs the antioxidants. Another way could be to sprinkle some cocoa onto your yoghurt.

3. Enjoy chocolate scents.
Between meals, surround yourself with chocolate scents. Today, you can find products ranging from candles to lip balms.

4. Avoid milk chocolate and white chocolate.
White chocolate contains no cocoa solids. Only sugar.
Milk chocolate contains much less cocoa than the darker version.
Dark chocolate is much more nutritious.

Controlling Portions:

1. Plan ahead. Limit your treats to once a day. If you want choc chip brownies with dinner, pass on the birthday cake at the office. When you've had a chocolate muffin for breakfast, eat berries for dessert.

2. Eat slowly. Enjoy your food by sitting down and savouring every bite. Eating slower will also help you notice when you're full.

3. Share desserts. Many restaurants serve enormous portions. Ask for one dessert and two spoons so you and your companion can share. You'll both be better off. 

4. Give away holiday chocolates. Do you get lots of chocolates on special occasions? Christmas chocolates? Valentines Day chocolates? Birthday chocolates? These can be a huge temptation. It's time to share these with co-workers and friends. Most farmers market type chocolates are best eaten while fresh. But you can freeze some varieties for a later date.

5. Buy individual size chocolates. Many bakeries, sweet shops, and grocery shops sell individual pieces of chocolate. Or slices of cake. If you find it difficult to resist the lure of a whole box of chocolate only take one home.

Eating a Balanced Diet:

1. Know your calories. Even though dark chocolate is healthy, you need to check the amount you eat if you're trying to lose weight.
Those calories can add up fast!

2. Replace other sweets with dark chocolate. One easy strategy is to replace less nutritious snacks and desserts with chocolate.
Two squares of dark chocolate will have far less calories than a bag of almost any potato chips.

3. Get more exercise. Complement your healthy eating with regular exercise. Daily movement is the best way to lose weight. Take a walk or go ride a bike. It can also help to curb cravings.
Look for opportunities to stay active throughout the day. Like taking the stairs, walking a bit further at the car park. Doing squats while you watch TV. It all adds up.

As long as you stick with dark chocolate, the treats you love can be good for your health.
Eating a square of dark chocolate won't undo your healthy eating habits. Eating an entire slab could put you back.

​Being aware of what you and how you feel when you eat it makes a difference to whether you are going to overeat.

Come on over and join me and other women in my Facebook group. We're looking to get healthy through simple steps. Join us here 

Spinach + Feta + Almond Salad

4/2/2020

 
Servings: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 200 g baby spinach washed
  • 4 spring onions
  • 1 red pepper
  •  salt and pepper to taste
  • 200 g feta cheese
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 4 tbsp flaked almonds or almond sprinkles
  • 60 ml olive oil
  • 45 ml wine vinegar
Instructions
  1. Line a serving plate with spinach leaves. Trim and finely shred the spring onions. Quarter, deseed and finely slice the red pepper. Scatter these over the spinach and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Cut the cheese into1 cm cubes and scatter over the salads. Peel and finely chop the garlic and set aside.
  3. Immediately before serving, put the almonds in a small heavy-based frying pan and shake over a moderate heat until they begin to colour and develop a toasted aroma.
Immediately add the oil and garlic to the pan and continue to shake over the heat until the garlic sizzles and begins to turn pale golden. Immediately add the wine vinegar, then pour the dressing over the salads. Serve straight away

How to Become a Morning Person

4/2/2020

 

Becoming a morning person is so much more than just waking up early. 


Being a morning person allows you to take full advantage of the first few hours in the morning so that you can develop a healthy routine and start your day off with a positive attitude.

I'm a morning person for sure, so I am biased towards encouraging you to become a morning person too! 

I love waking up early and listening to the birds welcoming in the new day.
I love the stillness of the morning before the world wakes.
​And I love seeing the clouds change colour as the sun rises.


And on Saturday mornings when I do get to lie in, I love that first cup of tea that I didn't have to make myself! 


Here are some ideas for becoming more of a morning person.

And the bonus - 
This can also help you to develop a morning routine that helps to boost your metabolism!
 
Get Better Sleep

Of course you need to start with getting good sleep the night before.

If you go to sleep night with constant distractions, and never sleep through the night then you will have a very hard time getting up early and actually being productive in the morning.
Makes sense,right?

Make sure you have a comfortable mattress and pillows.

Clean bed linen - i'm not suggesting changing it every day but regularly is a good idea. And maybe more often in warmer weather.

Have a fan or aircon for the warmer nights (but don't leave the aircon all night)

And of course aim for as little noise as possible - it doesn't have to be a tomb but you don't want noise that disrupts.

I like to use an app called SleepBug for those times when I am wired and need to go to sleep. 
 
Stop Sleeping with Distractions
There are many things that can distract you at night and keep you from getting good sleep.

Firstly, turn your phone off or at the very least put it on vibrate. I set my phone to switch off automatically at 9.30pm every night.

Don’t fall asleep with your TV on.
It might seem like it is helping you fall asleep, but certain noises and the blue light from the TV could wake you, keeping you from getting the sleep you need in order to be a morning person.

 
Develop Morning and Nighttime Routines
To be a morning person, you need to have good routines and habits during the day and at night.

Your nighttime routine helps you get prepared for bed so you can sleep better.

Routines in the morning will help you to gradually become more of a morning person.
 
Find the Reasons You Want to Be a Morning Person
You need to have good, solid reasons for wanting to be a morning person.

Do you want to be more productive?
Are you trying to focus on a healthier morning routine?
Do you need a better start to your day?

Write down reasons why you want to be more of a morning person, and keep those in mind when your alarm goes off and you desperately want to hit the snooze button.
 
Energize Yourself in the Morning
In the beginning, you will need a little extra motivation.
Think of healthy habits for your morning that will help you to have more energy and a positive attitude.

This might include start off with yoga routine or stretching,
having some lemon in your water, and
writing in a journal or planner.

Maybe you want to listen to upbeat music to get you going, or go for a quick walk around the block.
These can all help you to become a morning person.

If you're a morning person - head over to our Facebook group - Being Healthy Made Simple - and share your morning and night-time routines. 
And if you're not - then come and join us to learn how you can get better sleep and enjoy more energy during the day.  :) 

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