Marine vegetables, such as seaweed, are not an item that historically have been part of the UK diet. However, there are so many delicious ways to bring seaweed into your kitchen without training as a sushi chef: these include sushi bowls (all the fun of sushi without the technical drama), the use of roasted nori seaweed strips or seaweed flakes to jazz up soups and salads, or a simple Itsu seaweed snack. Seaweed is a powerhouse of nutrients such as amino acids, omega 3 fats, vitamin A, B, C and E plus it is a rich source of minerals, a key player being iodine. With this immune boosting profile, now is a great time to introduce this marine vegetable into your diet.

Beetroot and Ginger soup with Black garlic paste. A warming and nourishing soup for wintry lockdown days. But there is more to these super foods than flavour.

Our favourite new recipe creation of the 2021 lockdown; a blend of Moroccan spices, Blue Zone root vegetables (the wonderful sweet potato) and my new kitchen pals - Belazu Rose Harrisa Pesto and Suma’s tinned organic Beluga lentils. All comes together in a mouth watering extravaganza (I know, the small things in life can be hugely exciting during lockdown!)

The key to Longevity is not all about nutrition. Let’s consider other well researched common factors found in areas of the world with high rates of wellness.

‘Peace on Earth’ is a phrase that we associate with this time. For many, we may be wondering where that PEACE has gone and whether it will return. There are many things that we cannot control in this pandemic, but we can still pull in some healthy rituals to keep us mentally strong.

Notes and research links from last nights webinar …

Three immune boosting reasons to share your home with fluffy friends over lock down and beyond.

Thyroid imbalances have far reaching effects and elicit fatigue, depression, coldness, constipation, poor skin, headaches, PMS, dysmenorrhea, fluid retention, weight gain, anxiety/panic attacks, decreased memory and concentration, muscle and joint pain, and a low sex drive. Read on if this symptom pattern resonates.

What is Functional Testing? Functional Testing digs deeper. The term refers to diagnostic testing in order to understand the root causes of illness or disease.

Is it possible to measure our stress levels by understanding our stress hormone output? Yes, read on!

In a previous blog post I cited the 2018 Mental Health study which indicated that over the last year 74% of people had felt so stressed they had been overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Working on our ability to cope with stress with good nutrition, lifestyle changes, mindfulness and, if relevant, supplementation rather than simply patching up the symptoms is so vital to long term health.

Were you told as a child that eating carrots would help you to see in the dark? Did you believe it?

This ‘old wife’s tale’ has more validity than the outdated expression ‘old wife’s tale’, the latter defined as ‘a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect’.

Well let’s think again, let us look further into these beliefs, cast aside any historic misogynistic ideologies and hail carrots as wonderful vegetables which do indeed help us to see in the dark. It is a fact and can be linked to science so the wise females of the world should be given credit even when ‘old and married’.

Many theorists on 21st C stress point out that we were not designed to experience ‘fight or flight’ reactions as frequently as our ancestors.

I disagree. Cave dwellers were regularly exposed to plummeting temperatures, predators, rival tribes, extreme hunger, intense exercise and more. So why is it that we are failing to adapt to the stressors of modern day life?

In my ‘Why are We Stressing’ webinars we will consider the aspects of life which allow us to remain resilient to stress; these include healthy sleep patterns, social interaction, our attitude to our lives, validation, dopamine hits, the gut microbiome, genetics and a healthy diet.

A beautiful blend of tomatoes and red peppers with natural sweetness oozing from this tasty plant-based recipe.

In this balmy and beautiful weather it’s inevitable that deeply entrenched ice-cream cravings may creep in. This creamy and deliciously smooth alternative will be way more friendly to the gut and equally as delicious as an ice-cream.

There have been many times over the last 6 weeks of self-isolation that I have heard of a friend, client or family member having a Urinary Tract Infection. Why during this Covid-19 isolation are UTI’s seemingly more apparent? And what can you do about it.

Oats are associated with satisfaction. And rightly so. Starting the day with an oat-rich breakfast has long been a tradition in the UK and other parts of the world. Oats offer a slow release carbohydrate with keep us fuller for longer. They are rich in fibre and low in calories; just 1 cup of oatmeal contains about 150 calories, 4 grams of fibre (about half soluble and half insoluble), and 6 grams of protein. Oats also boast a wide array of health boosting nutrients such as thiamine, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iron.

Are you bored of over-night oats? Or need a dessert because you’ve run out of yogurts and the usual stuff. Here is a sweet and delightful dish which works well for breakfast or as a pudding. In these self-isolating times, tins of prunes with their post war out-dated image are not flying off the shelves so you should have no problems in locating some. Their highly palatable sweet stickiness blends perfectly with frozen blueberries, tender banana and oats. The walnuts offer some brain boosting nutrients and a level of satisfying fat which keeps us fuller for longer.

Sunday cook along live ZOOM sessions - get organised before we start with this step by step guide.

As I was mulling over what my 80 year old thoughts might be, one of my favourite songs came on the radio. Perfect for this moment in time. The Sunscreen Song by Baz Luhrmann which gives various pieces of advice on how to live a
happier life and avoid common frustrations. Have a listen, it’s just the perfect antidote to what’s going on right now.

I decided to write my own lyrics based on our current massive frustration – self-isolating. So many people still walking the streets resisting the main message for whatever their reasons. So have a read, have a smile and maybe feel
inspired to write your own words. Show it to your kids, if you have them. Keep it somewhere safe and take it out for a recap when you hit that 80th year.

In these uncertain times one thing that we can be sure of is that cooking from scratch with healthy ingredients bursting with flavour can support our health and fill the hours of self-isolation. This dish will fill the house with the aromatic smells of spices from far-reaching areas of the world, so take a moment to close your eyes and teleport yourself to a warm and wonderful beach somewhere.

Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukyu Islands located off the coast of Japan between the East China and Philippine Seas. Reports dating back only several years ago indicate that Okinawans have an average lifespan of about 110 years. The greatest levels globally. So what are their secrets?