Up the anTea

The benefits of tea have forever been widely known throughout the East. Historically regarded as the key to good health, happiness and wisdom, it is culturally believed to hold copious amounts of medicinal healing properties that can decrease the growth of cancerous cells, reduce stress, help with maintaining balanced cholesterol, weight, diabetes and improve mental alertness. The positive effects of drinking tea quickly caught the attention of researchers, nutritionists and holistic foodies in the West, seeing more and more individuals experimenting with various blends subsequently introducing them into their daily lives.

Nutritionists agree that any tea is good tea however the main categories are Green, Black, White, Oolong and Pu-erh tea. Although herbal teas contain many antioxidants and cleansing properties, purists consider only the non-compounded leaves that are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant – a shrub native to China and India – the real thing. Green, Black, White, Oolong and Pu-erh tea are all derived from this plant and all contain caffeine and theanine, which seem to heighten mental alertness, as well as ECGC, which may help the body against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease and clogged arteries.

Green Tea Benefits:

• ·      High concentration of ECGC.
• ·      High antioxidants which can assist in the reduction of growth of cancers in the bladder, breasts, lung, stomach, pancreas, and colorectal.
• ·      Prevents clogging of the arteries.
• ·      Fat Burn.
• ·      Counteracts oxidative stress.
• ·      Reduces the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• ·      Reduces the risk of stroke.
• ·      Improves cholesterol levels. 

Black Tea Benefits:

• ·      Highest caffeine content, which can assist in mental alertness.
• ·      May protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke.
• ·      Reduces the risk of stroke.
• ·      High in antioxidants. 

White Tea Benefits:

• ·      Contains the most potent anticancer properties.
• ·      High in antioxidants.

Oolong Tea Benefits:

• ·      High antioxidants.
• ·      Lowers bad cholesterol levels.
• ·      Assists in weight maintenance.

Pu-erh Tea Benefits:

•  May assist in the prevention of weight gain.
• Reduces LDL cholesterol.
• High in antioxidants.

During my venture into discovering more teas, I stumbled across this quaint local brand titled Up the AnTea, which specializes in organic, handcrafted teas that don’t contain any artificial flavours or sweeteners. Manufactured by two intelligent ladies based on the Gold Coast, Up the AnTea promotes only the highest grade of tea leaves, herbs and fruits, and each flavor has its own cleaver spin on incorporating the word ‘tea’ into its titles. They are passionate about creating blends that exude great flavor whilst giving support to great health and wellbeing. A lot of research goes into each blend Up the AnTea creates therefore giving you complete confidence that only the healthiest of benefits will be filling your cup every time.

I have had the good fortune of trying a variety of flavours from their growing 22, and have already put in my orders for Christmas! So far, my favourite infusion is a blend titled AphrodiTea – a concoction of organic raspberry leaves, organic hibiscus, organic rose petals, organic calendula, safflower, organic cranberries and wild yam root. This tea promotes glowing skin, balances hormones and summarizes women’s health to a ‘tea’…(see what I did there?) It tastes superb drunk either hot or chilled with honey.

For more information about Up the AnTea and their range of teas, please visit their page. 

**Please note: tea should not be used as a diarrheic or substitute for food. Click here to hear what my friend Ashley has to say about the effects of tea on her site Move Eat Heal.

Seasonal Pumpkin & Potato Soup

This is one of the easiest and tastiest soups you'll ever make! My husband was not originally a fan of pumpkin soup, but he seems to be a fan of this version. So does my sister, and myself. And, it's a great way to use your potatoes and pumpkin quadrant when they begin to get a little old.

Ingredients

1 x Organic Pumpkin Quadrant
2 - 5 Organic Potatoes (depending on size)
1 x Organic Brown Onion
3 x Cloves of Garlic (minced)
1 L Vegetable Stock
300 mL Cooking Cream (if desired)
Freshly cut chives (if available)
Salt & Pepper for taste
Sour Cream to serve
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds to serve


Method

1. Cut pumpkin into blocks and de-skin/de-seed. Wash. Put in pot.
2. Wash and peel potatoes. Put in pot.
3. Mince onion, garlic and put in the pot. Add chives if desire.
4. Add 1 L Vegetable Stock and bring to the boil. Let boil for 20 minutes or until both pumpkin and potato are soft.
5. Remove from boil and puree either electronically with a machine or manually with a masher. Add chives, cream (if desire), and salt & pepper for taste. Return to boil, stirring the cream until evenly stirred through.
6. Dish up a bowl and serve with a dollop of sour cream and pumpkin seeds for extra flavour. 

This soup makes a great snack or lunch and can be eaten by itself or accompanied with warm, toasty bread. いただきます!!

Super Food: Pumpkin

I really got into pumpkin throughout the winter. Able to suit both sweet and savoury flavours; grilled, roasted, steamed, mashed, it's an incredibly versatile vegetable! It's high in vitamins A and C, fibre, manganese, potassium, and antioxidants - carotenoids being one of them. 

The journal Cancer Research published a study in 2009 based on women and their risk to breast cancer. They reported that women with the highest levels of alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin in their blood had as much as a 50 percent reduction risk of breast cancer. This was particularly true for women with high mammography density, a common condition and a major predictor of breast-cancer risk. 


Serving/Facts: Butternut

(1/2 cup/102 g)

Calories: 41 (173 kJ)
Protein: 0.9 g
Total Fat: 0.1 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 11 g
Fiber: 5 g



Origin: South America
Season: Late Autumn
Home Garden: Easy to grow at home

Serving/Fact: Pumpkin
(1/2 cup/122 g)

Calories: 24 (102kJ)
Protein: 0.9 g
Total Fat: 0.1 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 6 g
Fiber: 1.3 g

Nutra Organics Super Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 x Ripe Organic/Local Banana

3 x Tablespoons of Natural Yoghurt (any flavor)

1 x Tablespoon Raw Honey

250 mL Unpasteurized Milk

1 x Heaped Spoonful of Nutra Organics Maca Powder

1 x Heaped Spoonful of Nutra Organics Acai Berry Blend Powder

1 x Heaped Spoonful of Nutra Organics Vanilla Protein Powder

A sprinkle of Chia Seeds

A generous sprinkle of ground Cinnamon

Directions:

•  Peel banana and place in blender.
• Add milk, yoghurt, honey, chia seeds and the required servings of Nutra Organics Maca, Acai and Protein powders.
•  Blend.  (Feel free to add ice if you desire your smoothie extra frosty.)
•  Enjoy a tasty, low-maintenance, convenient super smoothie packed with antioxidants, probiotics, omegas and protein, which enhances your natural energy whilst invigorating the libido!

NB Feel free to add the Nutra Organics Super Greens and Reds powder for an added alkalizing component.

In Focus: Nutra Organics

Hello Fellow Readers!

My latest article about Nutra Organics is up on the Move Eat Heal site!
It explains the fundamentals of this great family owned business and their passion to help provide vital nutritional support for families on the go. 

I have even attached my own, personal super-smoothie recipe at the end for you all to try. It's very yummy, I promise. I enjoy it every morning for breakfast. Happy Reading!!

For those of you who would rather see it here first, then please keep on reading...:-)

“Nutrition today for a healthy tomorrow”

Lifestyles today are busy. It seems the more we develop as a planet, the less time we have for preparing fresh, nutritious, well-balanced meals. There’s always something to do, or someone to see, and by the time it gets to mealtime, we just need a quick feed so we can move onto the next task.  The other factor is, it’s not always easy to know what is in the food we’re digesting, where it came from, or if it is particularly nourishing to us at all! Your body is complex and precious, and replenishing back what you give out is a vital tool for survival. Nutra Organics provides practical, holistic support to help you reach and maintain optimal health.

Since 1998, Founders/Directors Mark and Darlene Powell have been on a journey to help people live healthy, energetic and fulfilling lives. Nowadays, lots of produce is heavily sprayed with harmful chemicals and most soils are very depleted in nutrients. Mark and Darlene started to source out organically grown foods that came from nutrient rich soils that they could incorporate into their daily lifestyle, as well as pass onto their children and grandchildren. This passion became a goal, which would soon see the birth of Nutra Organics. The range of products provides the wholesome goodness you may be missing out on in your daily food intake. All organic, rich in antioxidants, alkalizing ingredients, with nothing artificial added like synthetic fillers. Each product is 100% whole foods, packed with essential nutrients to boost your intracellular health whilst processed in a way to maintain the nutritional contents of the foods vitamins, minerals and enzymes, without damaging the cell walls of the foods. That way, you can be sure you’re getting the most out of every spoonful!

All of the Nutra Organic products are Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Corn and Egg Free.

Some of my daily favorites are;

Acai Berry Blend – With omegas 3 and 6, essential fatty acids, amino acids, anthocyanins, vitamin C, iron and nutrient packed with antioxidant-loaded berries. This blend contributes to normal energy metabolism; immune system function and can reduce tiredness and fatigue.  Delicious in smoothies or on yoghurt.

Super Greens + Reds – Loaded with phyto rich greens and nutrient rich reds, this readily absorbable comprehensive formulation is packed with quality ingredients to help you get more out of your day. It’s an all-in-one wholefood multivitamin!

Organic Maca – 100% certified organic maca root powder, this super food is densely packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and sterols. It’s believed to stabilize the glandular hormonals and increase libido! Also, unlike many other Maca Powders, this one is smooth, creamy and subtle in taste. Goes great in smoothies!

Coco Biotics: Probiotic Energy Bar – Gluten, dairy, soy, corn and egg free with no added nuts, this delicious treat focuses on gut health and digestive balance whilst tasting awesome and making a perfect, healthy snack on the run.

Nutra Organics Mason Jar – Made from glass with an stainless steel screw lid, this jar is so handy for transporting your homemade smoothies, juices, or mixing in your powders with liquids.

For more information about the amazing Nutra Organics range including their ‘Thriving Protein’ and Kids Superfoods, please visit their site here. 

Get In Touch

Nutra Organics Pty Ltd

(E) info@nutraorganics.com.au

Free call Australia-wide: 1300 743 161

(P) +61 07 5534 2510

(F) +61 07 5534 2520

As mentioned before, it’s a family run business and each member is extremely friendly. Their only goal is to help you find what will further enrich your life! So feel free to get in touch.

"Like A Girl"

This morning, my friend sent me this video (link below), which was all about what it means to do things in life "like a girl". The clip was entertaining, insightful, inspiring and sad. I select the word 'sad' objectively. It was sad because of how the phrase "like a girl" is viewed as a negative within our society. Even after global female liberation, in todays modern equal opportunity world, being "like a girl" is still considered an insult.

I'm not going to give the video away; it's really something you should watch for yourselves - female or male- but I will say this...To all the girls out there trying to figure out who you are, what you want from life or where you want to progress in the future, I tell you this, no matter how you go about doing those things - whether it be in a dainty female-like manner or with bold female strength, if anybody, and I mean anybody, tells you that you do it "like a girl"...You look that person straight in the eyes and you say to them,"Actually, I do it like me! But I just so happen to be a girl, you neanderthal." (Okay, the neanderthal part is optional, but it's there if you want it.)

This is not feminism. It's humanism. 

Let's all try to live up to our 'most intelligent species' title and progress forward from #likeagirl being an insult.

Cruelty-Free & Good For You

There has been a lot of talk in regards to beauty products that are cruelty free, environmentally friendly and yet, still nourishing to your hair, skin and body. Making the shift from something you have trusted for years towards a new product can be daunting. Where do you start? Which product will work best for your skin type? How do you know this new product won't make you breakout or smell like patchouli, or worse, unpleasant body odour? How do you achieve the same result without spending a fortune?

Well, look no further than below!

I have listed some staple items that every lady has (or should have) in her bathroom in order to maintain impeccable hygiene and a radiant glow...that won't break the bank even when you're saving.

Natural Instincts

I have only been using the Foaming Facial Wash and Body Lotion from the Natural Instinct range and so far I am very pleased with the results. I have combination skin, and the face wash manages to take off all the excess oils that may accumulate on my T-zone throughout the day yet manages to keep the hydration in my skin. I've found that since using this face wash, my skin has become less oily in the T-zone area. The cost of this product is very decent too! I've found that most chemists stock this brand and seem to have the most competitive prices.

The Body Lotion from this range is smooth and silky. My legs just drink it up! It also isn't too thick or sticky, so my skin feels like it can breath throughout the day/night and not have random pilings of fluff stick to it either in bed or at the office. Yes Please!

All the products in the Natural Instinct range are committed to the Natural Ingredient Standard; meaning they guarantee that all their products are formulated with the finest plant-derived ingredients, certified organic extracts and pure essential oils. None of the products in both the adult or baby range contain sulphates (SLS and SLES), petrochemicals, propylene glycol, paragons or PEGs. There are no artificial colours or fragrances, harsh detergents, silicones, animal derivatives or mineral oils added to their face, body, hand, hair, sensitive or baby product ranges.  Natural Instinct is not tested on animals, is vegan friendly, proudly made in Australia, grey-water safe and made of recyclable packaging.


Eco Store

I have been lathering my way through the various body wash scents from Eco Store and I love them! Each bathing experience has been a burst of calming scents that make shower time more soothing.

Eco Store was started in 1993 by Malcolm Rands and his wife in the basement of their eco-home in New Zealand. It is a principals-based company which promises their products are healthier for you, safer for our environment, packaged in the best materials available, labelled with a full list of ingredients - so you know exactly what you are putting on your body or bringing into your home, concentrated to save you money, not tested on animals, and GE free.


Al'chemy Haircare by Purist

The haircare products from the Al'chemy range are beyond fantastic!! For a natural product, it's amazing how it is able to give the same results to my hair as salon shampoos, but without all the nasty chemicals. Purist uses the power of active botanicals in order to restore or maintain skin and hair to their natural conditions. Each ingredient is carefully selected and tested for how they best combine with each other and for their compatibility with the skin and hair. Their philosophy is grounded in the belief that all things are best for you and better for the earth in their purest form. They are vegan and cruelty free, and use only recyclable packaging in order to help reduce their carbon footprint on the Earth.


Sukin

I have been using various Sukin products for over two years now and they never fail to impress me. Decently priced and a proud Australian brand, Sukin is dedicated to offering the ultimate in natural personal care. Free from the myriad of harsh chemicals used in many products on the market today, Sukin products do not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), synthetic fragrances, animal derivatives, harsh detergents, propylene glycol, artificial colours, triethanolamine, mineral oils, EDTA or parabens. The Hydrating Serum and Rose Hip Oil are two of my favourite products from this range, and I use them when my skin needs a little moisturising boost! The facial scrub also works a treat as my weekly exfoliate and is suitable for sensitive skin types.


Body Crystal

The deodorants for the Body Crystal range are the best natural deodorants I have ever used! During my pregnancy, I was being really strict about not putting any harsh chemicals on or in my body as I did not want any of those artificial ingredients travelling to my baby via osmosis through my skin or lymph system. I was in my third trimester during the peak of Summer and had not yet found a natural deodorant that did not make me smell worst than I was if I just went natural. Finally, I found Body Crystal in the beauty isle of my local Coles and decided to try it. Success!! The Botanica roll-on managed to keep me smelling fresh all day, whilst being heavily pregnant and in the height of the hot season. Body Crystal produces the finest quality crystal deodorant products, as well as being environmentally friendly and not tested on animals.


Thursday Plantation

If you have a nasty sunburn or zit - Thursday Plantation Aloe Vera or Tea Tree products are what you need! 100% Australian owned for forty years, Thursday Plantation believe in the power of pure plant oils to restore your skin. Therefore, their range does not contain synthetic parabens, sodium lauryl, sulphate (SLS), sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES), or harsh detergents. All of their products are also free from animal testing.


Tip: For a cooler sensation on your burnt skin, put the tube of Aloe in the fridge before use.


All of the above products are available at Mrs Flannery's or selected pharmacists.

Want More?

A fellow contributor to the Move Eat Heal site that I write for recently wrote an article on organic beauty products and their benefits. She also included a few of her favourite products, some of which are not listed above. It is a very insightful read and will help offer you more information if you are deciding to make a switch to 'go green'. Please check out her article here and enjoy educating yourself on becoming the change you want to see in the world.