Fountain of Youth

 

HEALTH AMPLIFIED

Fountain of youth

With the heat wave that has spread across South Africa this past week or two, fires raging and almost drought like conditions, everyone is in desperate need of water. Water is a basic, essential need, and without it people can die.

Our family drinks a lot of water! We don’t keep juice in the house, except when we have visitors. So it is mostly water, smoothies and rooibos tea during the day. We love flavouring our water with bursts of flavour of cucumber, mint leaves, ginger, cut up fruit or lemon. Then we add some chia seeds for texture, nutrition and fun! The little seeds swell after about 10 minutes in water and are packed with protein and fibre, and our kids love the fun element in it! Make sure to give it a good shake or stir before you have a sip. We sometimes call it vegetarian caviar!

Store bought flavoured water is actually cooldrink. It is filled with sweeteners and flavouring, it just lacks the colourant. Most store bought flavoured water contains high amounts of sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners, fructose, flavouring, vitamin C balls, chia seeds, basil seeds or carbonated water.

Try to stay away from sugar water and non-nutritive sweeteners, it will only cause havoc with your hormones and can cause chemical imbalances. Even if it does contain healthy “happy” seeds and vitamin C balls. Rather grab plain or sparkling water and a fruit if you want hydration and vitamins.

Checkers has a flavoured water which is just water and flavouring. It takes a bit to get used to if you are a regular flavoured water drinker. There is also a sparkling flavoured water available containing fructose and flavouring. Fructose does cause a little less havoc, so keep this in mind when looking for water next time.

I’m very excited to try Kangen water! This is a water machine that you can install in your kitchen, and is manufactured by Enagic. This machine has the ability to change the pH level of your water, depending on what you want to do with the water. Our bodies function better if it is more on the alkaline side, that is also why a diet rich in raw fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthier pH level in our bodies.

The “strong water” setting’s pH is alkaline at a pH of about 11 on the pH scale. This pH is recommended when washing your fruit and vegetables. Normal tap water does not remove any wax or oil substances on your produce. Chemicals, pesticides and dirt is in this waxy layer. The “strong water” setting emulsifies the wax when washing and ultimately helps to keep your produce fresher for longer. You will also not have all those terrible chemicals entering your body.

There is a water setting that can act as a surface household cleaner, without bringing harmful chemicals into your house. The pH level can kill germs, emulsify oils and dirt, and make your house sparkly clean without using other products.

The drinking water setting has an optimal pH that will hydrate your cells in your body for optimal cell metabolism, energy and better performance.

Then there is my favourite, “Beauty water”… With the optimal pH for your skin, you can place it in a spritzer bottle to hydrate and freshen your skin wherever you are going. This is also seen as an anti-ageing water because it also helps to plump up your skin cells. Use this settings water when you want to wash your face. I wouldn’t suggest bathing in it, because it will take a while to fill up your bath using that little machine!

Vichy Skin Care uses thermal water in their skin care products. There are also other skin care products available on the market that use thermal water as an ingredient. The water has a unique composition acting as a purifier, anti-oxidant and calming agent. Vichy is well known for their face spritzer.

I have personally not made use of Kangen water, because the machine can cost you R70 000. BUT, I think if you had to add up cleaning products, health bills and skin care products, it can quickly add up to R70 000. I would love to hear anyone’s comment on this machine. Please have a look at the links below to find out exactly what this machine can do for you!

https://youtu.be/10s-0gkSoEA 

https://youtu.be/zfzD-eEz8Fo

Lizelle

 

Recipes:

Healthy “Halva”

This is a Turkish sweet treat made with sesame seeds and sugar. I used to always have “Halva” on my Christmas present list as a child! This is my healthier version. Our kids don’t like it very much, but it is for me!

1 Cup desiccated coconut

1 Cup sesame seeds (ground in seed/coffee grinder)

1 tsp vanilla

3 Tbsp melted coconut oil

2 Tbsp raw honey

-Place everything in the food processor and process until it starts to stick together.

-Press into a small flat dish or oven pan lined with baking paper. Press down and inwards to compact it.

-Freeze until just set (about 15 min).

-Cut into small blocks, place in airtight container and keep in the fridge or freezer.

 

Peanut honey snack

Raw peanuts (Find it in the isle where the dried beans, lentil and soup mixes are.)

2 Tbsp honey

Cinnamon

Pinch of pink salt

-Oven 170 degrees Celsius.

-Place raw peanuts in an oven pan to cover the bottom.

-Roast peanuts in the oven, giving it a good shake every 5 minutes to prevent burning etc.

-Roast about 20 minutes.

-Remove from the oven, drizzle honey over the peanuts, sprinkle cinnamon and a pinch of salt over it, mix well.

-Place it back in the oven and roast until golden and sticky.

-Remove from the oven, and let cool.

-Use a spatula to loosen nuts from the bottom from sticking. (The honey hardens as it cools.)

-Store in an airtight container when completely cooled.

* Optional: Replace cinnamon with masala powder or any spice of choice.

 

Buckwheat

 

             Health Amplified

Buckwheat

We love using buckwheat in pancakes, flapjacks, and porridge! It is a healthy cereal grain, and is part of the ancient grain family. With its nutty, earthy flavour, it is similar to brown rice or wheat kernels. Fortunately, it is not a wheat, and it is totally gluten free.

 

Buckwheat is a highly nutritious grain and is high in protein and fiber. The high protein content keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and the fiber is excellent for your gut. If anyone has a constipation issue, then this is a grain to consider adding to your pantry. The high quantity of anti-oxidants also makes it a superfood.

 

Benefits:

·    Improves heart health by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

·    High in anti-oxidants.

·    High digestible protein.

·    High in fibre.

·    Can help prevent diabetes.

·    Non-allergenic.

·    Supplies important vitamins and minerals.

Buckwheat seeds are also called groats or kasha in some areas, and this seed has been eaten in abundance in Asian countries, with buckwheat soba noodles being at the top of the list. Now buckwheat soba noodles are not readily available in S.A. If you do find it, you will find it at a price.

 

Be sure to incorporate the grain in soups, stews, and stir fries. Our family enjoys it when I cook half oats and half buckwheat kernels as a breakfast porridge. Serve with cinnamon, plant-based milk and dates or a little raw honey. You can purchase the flour to use in baked goods, even substituting some of the flour  when baking bread.

 

I prefer to buy the buckwheat groats, and then grinding it into a flour as I need it. One of our daughter’s favourite meals is buckwheat pancakes or flapjacks topped with home made apple sauce. We gently simmer peeled, chopped apples in a little water until soft. Add some cinnamon and mash it up. ( See recipe below for flapjacks and pancake recipe.)

 

A Sunday night winner is buckwheat pancakes served with a little raw honey, cinnamon and a squeeze of lemon juice. It fills you up much more than processed white cake flour pancakes due to the high protein and fiber content. You can really pull it up a notch by having it with healthy home-made Nutella…

 

A showstopper sure to impress guests, is serving buckwheat flapjacks with cherry sauce or compote. We are going into cherry season soon, be sure to look out for it, or have a look in the frozen berry section. I made a healthier version by simmering cherries in a little water until soft. Remove from heat, add in some chia seeds to thicken it up. Mash it a little and let stand for half an hour for chia seeds to swell. You can add a little honey if the cherries are too tart for your taste. Serve over flapjacks with a dollop of coconut cream or milk. You can use any berry in the same way, and this can then be substituted for jam.

 

How about making your own berry non-dairy ice cream and serving your flapjacks with a scoop of ice cream?

 

You can be as basic or as creative as you would like to be. Have the basics in place and let everyone in the family invent a topping that is healthy and delicious. In this way, you can even have dessert for breakfast or as a main course!

 

Lizelle

Recipes:

Buckwheat flapjacks and pancake batter

1 Cup buckwheat groats (soak in 2 cups water for half an hour)

Blend in soaking water.

Add 1 cup raw oats, blend again.

Add a pinch of salt.

Add 1 tsp vanilla.

Add one flax “egg”/chia “egg”/chicken egg

Add quarter cup tapioca flour.

*Optional: Add 2 chopped dates or a 2 tsp raw honey.

Blend together, add more water for flapjack consistency.

(I grind 1 cup buckwheat in a grinder to make flour. No need to soak the buckwheat  groats then, OR buy buckwheat flour)

*To make flax or chia “egg”, use 1 Tbsp flaxseeds or chia seeds, mix with 2 or 3 Tbsp water and let stand for 10 min.

*You can add 1 grated apple and a tsp cinnamon to your batter.

Fry ladles full in a little coconut oil.

Turn when bubbles form. Fry till slightly golden in colour.

FOR PANCAKES, DILUTE FLAPJACK MIXTURE WITH MORE WATER OR PLANT-BASED MILK TO GET A MORE RUNNY CONSISTENCY.

Cherry non-dairy ice cream

2 Thirds frozen bananas

1 Third fresh or frozen cherries or berries

Little coconut cream or plant-based milk (about 100ml or less depending on the amount of bananas.)

-Peel and chop bananas into 2cm chunks, freeze in sealed container.

-Place everything in a blender or food processor.

-Blend or process until smooth and creamy. (It may take a while. Stop and mix in between)

-Serve immediately for optimal flavour and consistency.

Enjoy!

Spring has sprouted

 

           Health Amplified

Spring has sprouted

One of my early childhood memories is of a glass jar with seeds in it standing on the kitchen counter. It had a thin blue, breathable dishwashing cloth over the opening, sealed with an elastic band. I remember watching and waiting for the little shoots to appear. We ate the sprouts on sandwiches with Marmite, or in salads.

Spring has sprung, or shall I say sprouted! Little buds and blossoms everywhere, fresh birdsong in the morning. It’s time to plant and grow. Why not start growing your own sprouts straight out of your kitchen? Alfalfa seeds, lentils, mung beans, chickpeas, fenugreek. Alfalfa seeds are the quickest and easiest to grow. Make sure that your lentils are whole and not the split ones.

 

Why eat sprouts?

Sprouts are the first that appear on germinated seeds of beans, grains etc. Fresh raw sprouts are a rich source of vitamins B, C, iron, fiber, folic acid and phytonutrients, magnesium etc. Sprouting helps specific enzymes become activated during certain stages of germination. The nutrition from the sprout is more readily available for the body to absorb it.

 

Sprouts are easy to grow, very affordable and highly nutritious. If you don’t feel up to the challenge, then buy some sprouts at the supermarket. Add to sandwiches and salads. These are a bit of a challenge with kids! Maybe they can help grow them and mom and dad can eat them?!

 

I’ve recently started using mung beans that we found in a local health shop. It sprouts so easily and the unsprouted bean can be made into a wonderful soup when cooked with onions, carrots, turmeric and cumin. These little green beans can pack a punch. They are one of the healthiest sources of plant protein, if you have a look at the amino acids or building blocks in nature.

 

Benefits of mung beans:

·    Anti-oxidant

·    Anti-microbial

·    Anti-tumor effect

·    Lowers cholesterol

·    Lowers high blood pressure

·    Fights obesity, keeps you fuller for longer

·    High protein content

·    Decreases PMS symptoms

·    Easier to digest than many other beans

 

How to sprout:

-Place 3 Tbsp seeds, lentils or mung beans into a clean glass jar. Cover seeds with water.

-Cover jar with a muslin cloth or new blue dishwashing cloth. (It also comes in a roll.)

-Cover with an elastic band.

-Soak in water overnight.

-In the morning, discard water through the cloth with the cloth still on.

-Open up the jar, fill with water, close cloth again and drain water.

-Repeat process at night.

-Continue rinsing and draining morning and night for 3 days. Shoots will start to appear.

-Let the shoots grow a bit.

-Scatter into a plate and leave open for about an hour.

-Seal in a Tupperware, keep in the fridge.

-Eat within 4 days.

WARNING! MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMOVE ANY SEEDS, GRAINS OR LEGUMES THAT DID NOT SPROUT. YOUR TEETH WILL THANK YOU LATER…

Sticking to the topic of tiny bits. A good friend of mine recently introduced me to toothpaste in pellet form. This is a very interesting concept! You put the small tablet in your mouth, bite down until it disintegrates. Wet your toothbrush and start brushing. Rinse as usual and you’re done! No mess, no fuss.

You can find it online at  https://shopearthly.co.za/, a proudly South African brand. These toothpaste bits are bought in a biodegradable refill bag and you can store it in a small metal tin (also available from them.) Just refill as needed. It comes in mint flavour, as well as teeth whitening activated charcoal. Some of the ingredients include activated charcoal, spearmint, sodium bicarbonate and xylitol.

This company is all about natural ingredients, no nasty chemicals and preservatives and is environmentally friendly. No more toothpaste holder wastage. They also sell bamboo toothbrushes and nifty bamboo toothbrush holders. Have a look at some of their other products that include soap-, shampoo- and conditioning bars. It contains some luxurious ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, dried rose petals and essential oils.

I think these can make wonderful, unique gifts for someone, even if it is toothpaste and a toothbrush holder!

Happy sprouting!

Lizelle