Sunday, 10 February 2013

CHEWY CARAMEL AND ALMOND SLICE





INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Almonds (coarsely chopped)
¾ Cup Coconut Nectar Syrup
½ Cup Ghee or Coconut Oil
½ Cup Coconut Concentrate or Nut Butter
¼ Cup Honey
¼ tsp. Rock or Sea Salt

METHOD

1. Place the Almonds into a medium size saucepan and continually stir over medium heat until they brown slightly.
2. Once the almonds become fragrant, add the coconut nectar and honey and bring up to a gentle bubble making sure the sugar doesn’t burn. Continue to stir with a wooden spoon for 1 minute.
4. Add the ghee or coconut oil, coconut concentrate and salt to the sweet, nutty, bubbling concoction in the saucepan and mix until well combined. Turn the heat to low and gently simmer for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick and burn.
6. While the mixture is bubbling away, grease and line a 20cm square (or similar) baking dish with baking paper.
8. Remove mixture from the stove and pour into baking dish being careful not to get it on your skin. Spread the almonds evenly through the slice.
9. Place the baking dish in the freezer and chill for about an hour or until hard.
10. Remove from freezer and lift the slice out of the dish using the edges of the baking paper and cut into pieces using a sharp knife
11. Keep refrigerated until you are ready to serve.

To avoid the sugar coma, consume responsibly!
ENJOY!

source: http://www-mammothkitchen.myshopify.com/blogs/mammoth-recipes/6975220-chewy-caramel-and-almond-slice

BACON EGG AND VEGETABLE CRUSTLESS QUICHE





INGREDIENTS
8 Free Range Eggs
8 Rashers of Bacon (chopped)
2 tsp. Coconut Oil or Ghee
10 Mushrooms (quartered)
10 Spears of Asparagus
2 Brown Onions
4 Cups of Spinach, Silverbeet or Kale (coarsely chopped)
½ Cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)
½ Cup Fresh Chives (chopped)
¼ tsp. Freshly Cracked Pepper
¼ tsp. Rock or Sea Salt

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 160°C and grease a pie flan or baking tray with ghee or coconut oil.
2. Heat coconut oil or ghee in pan and fry the onion, bacon and mushrooms until the onions caramelise.
3. Chop the asparagus into large pieces and add to the pan with the chopped spinach. Cook until spinach wilts and then pour into a pie flan and spread evenly.
4. Whisk the eggs in a bowl and then add the chopped fresh herbs, salt and pepper, combine and then pour into pie flan on top of veggie mix.
5. Bake uncovered in the oven for approximately 30 minutes or until the egg has cooked in the middle.

This recipe has everything you need in it so no need for a side dish.

ENJOY!

source: http://www-mammothkitchen.myshopify.com/blogs/mammoth-recipes/6888107-bacon-egg-and-vegetable-crustless-quiche

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Omega 3 for Wellness and Prevention



Omega Sufficiency Fish Oil (Lemon Flavor)

The role of Omega-3 EFAs (specifically EPA and DHA) in the promotion of health and the prevention of illness has been studied a great deal in recent years.  Both scientists and practitioners are celebrating the results that have been found to date and with every research study the importance of EFAs for health promotion and illness prevention becomes more evident.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are some of the most crucial essential nutrients for human and other animal health ever identified.  Over 2000 scientific studies provide evidence of the importance of EPA and DHA essential fatty acids for the maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of disease. 

Omega 3 EFAs are extremely important in the structure and function of every cell in the body and the function of your cells is what determines your health.  Your cells are what determine your immune function, healing, hormone levels, heart function, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, digestion, moods etc.  Literally, the function and health of your cells determines every aspect of your health. EPA and DHA omega 3 EFAs are part of every cell membrane and are required to maintain the proper shape, flexibility or fluidity, and slipperiness of cell membranes.
 
The flexibility and slipperiness of cell membranes is important for the flow of blood through blood vessels and decreasing the risk of stroke and heart attack. This fluidity or flexibility of cell membranes is also crucial to ensure the proper flow of nutrients into cells as well as the proper shape of cell receptors for hormones such as insulin.

In addition, EFAs are required for proper nerve signal transmission (memory, concentration, cognitive ability, muscle coordination and strength) and immune function including defence against cancer.  This is why EPA and DHA deficiency are linked with cognitive impairments and learning and behaviour disabilities such as ADHD, with depression, and with decreased cognitive ability and increased risk of Alzheimers and dementia in the elderly. EPA and DHA deficiency is also highly correlated with increased risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. 

EPA and DHA omega 3 EFAs also play a major role in regulating inflammation via substances called prostaglandins.  EPA and DHA Omega 3 fatty acids produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins while Omega 6 fatty acids produce pro-inflammatory prostaglandins.

Having a diet that is toxic with Omega 6 or deficient in Omega 3 EFAs creates a pro-inflammatory state within the body.  This is very significant because inflammation is at the root of virtually all of the common chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression as well as the autoimmune and atopic diseases such as arthritis, Crohns Disease, irritable bowel, psoriasis, eczema, allergies, fibromyalgia, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.  Inflammation is also a major factor in dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain and/or cramping), headaches, and back and neck pain.

Omega 3 EFAs play a role in virtually every human function including growth and development, digestion, brain and nerve function, immune function, hormone production and regulation, maintenance of skin and bones, regulation of healing and  inflammation, heart function, vision, cholesterol levels, and even emotions and behaviour.

This is why consuming sufficient amounts of Omega 3 EFAs has been shown to help people with so many different illnesses.  In reality consuming sufficient amounts of Omega 3 EFAs will help anyone that is deficient in Omega 3 EFAs whether they have a diagnosed illness or not.  The fact of the matter is that everyone needs Omega 3 EFAs and due to dietary practices virtually everyone in Western society is deficient.  Without these essential nutrients cells cannot function properly and illness is inevitable even though it may take years before symptoms arise.   

This does not mean that a deficiency in Omega 3 EFAs is the only cause of all illness; that would be an unscientific and illogical claim.  However, it does absolutely mean that if someone is deficient in Omega 3 EFAs their cell function and thus their health is compromised and will be improved when they begin to consume sufficient amounts this is an indisputable scientific fact.  Obviously if Omega 3 EFAs are needed for proper cell function and cell function determines our health then Omega 3 EFAs are a significant determining factor in health.  This is exactly what research indicates.

The above information is why we stress the importance of consuming Omega 3 EFAs BEFORE illness develops.  It is both dangerous and illogical to wait until illness develops to begin to take care of yourself or your children or your pets!  How can we PREVENT ILLNESS or PROMOTE HEALTH if we wait until we are already ill before we take action?

Source: http://www.innatechoice.com/omegasufficiency.cfm

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Sweet Potato Brownies



Ingredients:

1 sweet potato
3 eggs, whisked
1/4 cup Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, melted
1/3 cup raw honey
1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
3 tablespoons Coconut Flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt


Instructions:

1) Time to bake that sweet potato. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, use a fork to puncture holes all around it, then throw in the oven for 25-30 minutes. (I’m sure you could microwave it, but I like the ole fashioned way. I’m just so ole fashioned.)
2) Once your sweet potato is soft and cooked through, peel off the skin and mash it up in a bowl. And turn your oven down to 350 degrees.
3) Now add your wet ingredients: coconut oil, honey, vanilla, and whisked eggs to the bowl and mix together.
4) Then add your dry ingredients: coconut flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and chocolate chips.
5) Mix well to incorporate all that goodness.
6) Pour into an 8×8 glass baking dish.
7) Bake for 30-35 minutes.
8) Let rest to cool a bit.
9) Eat those b*tches. Try not to eat them all in one sitting.

Source: https://www.againfaster.com/en/blog/2012/10/05/sweet-potato-brownies/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sweet+potato+brownies&utm_campaign=nutrition

Reflecting on 2012 and not waiting until 2013 to make a change in your life!




 New Year 2012, artwork

As 2012 quickly comes to an end, it's natural to begin to reflect on the year you have had and all the things that have happened. The peaks and the pits, the good and the bad... You may look back and smile, or you may dive into a litre tub of chocolate chip ice-cream using the biggest spoon you can find.

If you think of 2012 as 'not my year', STOP! Of course 2012 was your year. Every year is your year. Every year is open to a mountain of possibilities. You just have to tie your shoe laces, get on your running shorts and climb that mountain! Every year bad things happen to people but it is how you deal with the negative that matters!

If you look back on your year and think, 'Yep! This year was my year! Best year of my life!" Well.. It's the best year of your life, so far! There is always many great things to come and more things to achieve.

Take a minute.. or two.. or three.. to reflect on 2012.

What was the best thing that happened to you this year?
What was the worst?
How did you deal with the negative?
How did you deal with the positive?
What didn't you do this year that you really wanted to?
What did you do this year that you can be proud of?
How do you want 2013 to be different?

2013 is going to be the year of opportunities for you readers! Let's all get aboard the optimist train and have a wonderful rest of 2012 and begin 2013 in a positive light. Now is the time to think about all the things you want to achieve next year and to begin to make them happen!

Do you want something to change in your life? BEGIN NOW! Don't wait until 2013. Start this very minute. This very second. Change your mind, change your body, change your life. Whatever you want, (within reason of course, you can't teleport or anything like that...) it's yours!


Write a list of all the things you would like to achieve or accomplish in 2013 and how you can start to make them happen. Writing your goals down is the best way to ensure that you do it!

Let's not dwell on 2012 if it wasn't as you planned everyone. Let's celebrate our lives and start to make a change in the areas necessary. Enjoy and be grateful for the remainder of 2012, the beginning of 2013, and the rest of YOUR life!

From the team at West End Chiropractic and Wellness




P.s. Stay positive everyone :-)

Make a difference in any way possible!


Make a positive difference to your life, your friends, your family, a stranger... Make a difference and do something that makes you feel happy.

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”
― Barack Obama

Sunday, 4 November 2012

GOOD NUTRITION WORKSHOP

West End Chiropractic and Wellness is celebrating Good Nutrition & Men's Health Awareness Month. To celebrate, you're invited to our GOOD NUTRITION WORKSHOP - THURSDAY 29TH NOVEMBER. Do not miss this workshop. Don't wait until New Years to make a change in your life. To register call 3255 0255 or email info@westendchiropractor.com