Category: Health

Lemon Balm The Calming Herb for Anxiety, Stress and Insomnia

Anxiety affects many people young and old. It is more than just worrying about your financially situation, stressed about work or not wanting to go to school. It is an overwhelming feeling that slowly becomes consuming in your everyday thoughts, actions and wellbeing. Anxiety effects your sleep, willingness to participate in group situations, avoiding social gatherings, making friendships, relationships, limiting your potential with a negative mindset, and increasing low self esteem.

Not that long ago anxiety wasn’t even spoken about, it was often misread as soft, naughty or defiant behaviours, dramatic or unsociable. Luckily nowadays there is so much more knowledge on the subject and the stigma has somewhat changed as we continue to learn more and more about mental health. Not just limited to adults the amount of children living with anxiety seems to be increasing each year.

(more…)
by Green Leaf Living

What is Fire Cider & How Do I Make it?

I was going to leave this for a later date closer to the beginning of Winter but with all this talk of the Coronavirus I thought you may find this helpful to have it prepared a little earlier. I have been learning more about traditional herbs and plants and how they can be our natural medicine and help assist our body for wellness. Whilst doing so came across this popular recipe which seems quite fitting for us at the moment.

IMG_4446

(more…)

by Green Leaf Living

Why you need to start making your own Strawberry Chia Jam at home

If you haven’t tried making your own jams before than you need to start. It is easier than you think, much more flavoursome and this recipe contains no added refined sugar so making it much better for you.

I’m an advocate of sugar free foods that is added refined sugars and only like to use natural sweeteners in small amounts where necessary. When making this strawberry chia jam I just let the juicy overripe strawberries be the star of the show. Adding some pure honey as a natural sweetener, though the real sweetness evolves when the strawberries are gently boiled and start to break down and soften.

Like most homemade products the quality starts from the produce. Look out for some good quality, ripe strawberries from your local fruit shop or farmers market usually on sale or quick sell stand are ideal. Adding chia seeds means you don’t need pectin which is the thickening agent used in most jams. Chia seeds absorb liquid when left to set and the added bonus is they are little balls of goodness. Chia seeds are full of protein, minerals and fibre they can be found in the health food isle in the supermarket or health food store.

Make sure to have sterilised jars handy to fill, let the jam set in the fridge until cool for a few hours at least and you will have juicy flavoursome fruit jam ready for your morning toast, afternoon scones or children’s sandwiches.

Homemade Strawberry Chia Jam

  • Servings: makes 2 large jars
  • Print

Recipe from Donna Hay

Ingredients

800g ripe strawberries, hulled and halved

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup maple syrup, honey or rice malt syrup

2 vanilla beans, split and seeds scraped

1 tablespoon white chia seeds

Directions

  1. Place the strawberries, lemon juice, water, maple syrup and vanilla beans and seeds in a medium saucepan over high heat.
  2. Cook for 15mins, stirring occasionally until strawberries are soft.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in chia seeds. Transfer to sterilised Jars and refrigerate until cool.

by Green Leaf Living

Top 10 Benefits of Eating Kale & How To Make Kale Chips

IMG_1852

Kale is definitely one of the healthiest and most nutritious plant foods in existence. Kale well earns its superfood badge, here are 10 reasons why.. (more…)

by Green Leaf Living

Immune Boosting Tonic

IMG_1752

It’s well into the Winter season which means cold and flu season is upon us. I am a firm believer in food as medicine and using plants, herbs, oils to help heal ourselves and assist our bodies to what nature intended it to do. Especially to prevent the severity of viruses, because we all get sick from time to time.

If you are eating a relative healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables your body tends to fight off any nasty antibodies more quickly because your immune system kicks into gear fighting it off as soon as you start to feel run down. There are many ways we can assist our bodies to help us on the road to recovery quicker. (more…)

by Green Leaf Living

Lets Talk About Matcha…

Have you tried Matcha Green Tea? Cooked with it? Or even know what it is?

image

This ancient Japanese green tea is an antioxidant powerhouse! This powerful superfood is made from Japanese green tea leaves stone ground into a powder form which makes an even higher amount of health benefits than green tea leaves itself. It supports sustainable energy and weight management, helps control stress levels and boosts immunity which can be helpful in cancer prevention.

Without getting too technical in a nutshell Matcha Green Tea can make you feel more relaxed, vitalise your skin and an overall powerful detox for your body.

image

So how do we use it?

There are many ways in which you can include Matcha in your day, easiest way is in your morning smoothies, smoothie bowls, adding it to heated milk to make an evening latte. You can also use it in baking cakes, biscuits, ice-cream and raw desserts.

The first time I’ve experimented in cooking with it I made a raw Matcha Mint Slice and I was definitely pleasantly surprised. It has more of a subtle flavour when mixed in baking but gives this vibrancy of colour that is just divine. The combo with the mint works so well together the possibilities are endless. The Japanese have a lot to say when it comes to health and vitality the figures show for itself. Start enjoying that cup of Matcha Green tea sooner rather than later and you will feel better for it. Makes sure to get an organic high quality ceremonial grade one, which is of highest quality, ask your health specialist at your local health food market for recommendations.

I will be trying a few different recipes with Matcha, some choc Matcha bliss balls may be next!

image

(more…)

by Green Leaf Living