It’s incredibly easy to get lost in the crazy world of social media and completely lose sight when it comes to healthy eating. While celebrities and supermodels promote insane diets, unhealthy skinny teas, sugar-laden ‘protein’ bars and more, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for us to navigate a reliable source of information and the best way to achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

If you want my opinion, the best way to do that is to eat real food and love your gut.

Which brings me to my next point – protein.

While some people rave on and on about how you need "x" amount of protein to build muscles, become lean, pick up buildings, etc. it’s important to note that you don’t need to eat meat for every single meal to get enough protein. There are plenty of sources of plant-based protein that can be enjoyed by everyone, not just your hippie vegan friends.

So, without further ado, it’s time to pass the spotlight onto the product of the moment – hemp seeds.

Before I go on, I think it’s important to clarify a few things about our hemp-y friends. Hemp seeds aren’t the smelly stuff your neighbours have been smoking and it won’t impair your state of mind either. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that hemp isn’t the same. Hemp seeds are the fruit of the hemp plant, and only contains trace (<.5%) amounts of the psychoactive element THC so it won’t affect your state of mind.

The Thompson’s Hemp Range contains proteins full of amino acids, including the essential amino acids that our bodies are unable to produce. They’re also high in essential fatty acids, dietary fibre and boost energy. Plus, they’ve got a delicious nutty taste and super satisfying crunch.  I love that they’re a low allergy food and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

If you’re loving the idea of hemp but unsure where to begin, as always, I’ve got a delicious recipe up my sleeve! I’ve created crispy salmon cutlets with hemped-up protein and a rocket salad with a hemp and lemon dressing. It’s super simple but sure to satisfy every single one of your cravings. I love the sweetness of the pumpkin, the crunch of the hemp seeds and the zing of the lemon & hemp oil dressing.

Pumpkin’s aren’t just good for Halloween! Pumpkins are packed full of fibre, antioxidants and minerals. They can also help boost our immunity and reduce inflammation. Undoubtedly, the best way to enjoy pumpkin is baked in the oven. I love when it comes out sweet, toasty and ultimately, delicious.

Of course, this dish wouldn’t be complete without some salmon. Salmon is a serious wonder-fish. It’s high in omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins for energy and protein. It’s one of the most nutritious foods on the planet - it can even promote eye, skin and heart health!

I’ve combined these three wonderful ingredients, pumpkin, salmon and hemp, to create the ultimate dinner or lunch to impress. Make it for yourself, your family, your friends or even your special someone and they’ll be blown away with your cooking abilities and new-found knowledge on all things hemp!

Are you ready to get hemp-y?

You can find the new Thompson’s range at pharmacies and health food stores across Australia.

Crispy Salmon Cutlets with Hemped-up Pumpkin and rocket salad with a hemp and lemon dressing

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 2 salmon cutlets

For salad:

• 1/4 pumpkin chopped into squares
• 1 tbs olive oil 
• 2 cups rocket leaves
• 1 cucumber peeled and slices
• 2 tbs Thompson's hemp seeds
• 2 tbs pine nuts

Method:

• Heat oven to 175 degrees Celsius
• Lay pumpkin on a baking tray and cover with olive oil then bake for about 30 mins till crispy 
• Five minutes before the pumpkin is roasted warm oil in heavy frying pan and add salmon, cooking until crispy then turning over to crisp up the other side
• Once cooked set aside and arrange salad ingredients between two plates, make dressing and drizzle salad with dressing. 
• Top salad with Thompson hemp seeds and pine nuts. 

For Dressing:

• 2 tbs Thompson’s hemp oil
• Juice of one lemon squeezed

Method:

• In a small bowl mix dressing ingredients with a fork until combined 
• Pour over salad and enjoy

What do you get when you film a whole lot of health-loving, grooving and inspiring people and put these videos into one platform?

Food Matters Australia's FMTV, of course!

It’s basically the Netflix of the health world. Don't fight me on this.

I can honestly say that Food Matters Australia changed my life in more ways than you can imagine.

After being diagnosed with a non specific auto-immune disease and fibromyalgia a few years ago, I was accustomed to being in pain, feeling lethargic and depressed. I was prescribed to a cocktail of steroids, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Suffice to say, I wasn't feeling too flash hot. I just knew there was more to this; something in me (hello gut instinct!) saying there was something else I could try to keep the inflammatory symptoms under control.  I was waiting for my sign from the universe... and just like that, there it was.

(more…)

Forget avocado and toast, Harry and Meghan and every female's love-affair with Hugh Jackman after seeing the Greatest Showman, and say hello to another power couple; my 2-day Supercharge Your Gut Program and Supercharge Your Gut book. I know this is a big statement to make but I'm making it: they're bound to be your favourite conscious coupling for 2018 (book-pun totally intended). 

I'm so excited to be officially launching my 2-day Supercharge Your Gut Program alongside my brand new Supercharge Your Gut Book and can't wait to bring you along for the adventure.

Hey Lee, what’s your Supercharge Your Gut Program?

I thought you’d never ask!

My 2-day SYG Program is an uncomplicated online gut health program that's designed specifically for you – yes, you! It'll help restore and maintain your inner health so that you can experience complete wellness from head-to-toe, gain more energy and vitality, lose weight and feel healthier. Plus you'll have alot less of any uncomfortable gut symptoms.

The great part about it is that you only need to commit two days a week to maintain a healthy gut. It’s not time-consuming or a complicated drawn out program, just a super easy couple of days a week to implement into your weekly routine.

The SYG program provides step-by-step guidance on how to improve and maintain a healthy gut with delicious food to achieve enduring results. An the good news is that it's really affordable. For just $10 a week or $35 a month you can have your tumeric scrambled eggs and cancel anytime!

If you're not yet convinced, here are just two of the many testimonials we've received: 

Danielle C says: It's been an eventful body ride with ups and downs to which 8.6 kilo was dropped 1.8% body fat lost, many new habits have formed and a clearer happy tummy is proven for no tummy aces YAY!  It's the longest I've gone without booze for over a year! 
Natural foods taste incredibly sweet to me now. What a relief to cut out sugar!! It's encouraged at least 3-4 people around me to improve their diet. I can now know the correct way to fast for two days a week. So many delicious recipes that will stay in my food regime! 

Kaaren says: I realised that although my family do have a good diet (whole foods, grains fruit, veggies, not much junk food) we weren't having "enough" of  the good stuff. I started your program in September this year, my 11 year old daughter even asking me what was different about this diet. My reply was "this is how I grew up, eating all these foods  (the ratatouille reminded me of what my mum used to make) and this is how we are supposed to be eating",  however with our busy life I had forgotten what to do. I now feel fantastic and have reignited my passion for food and rarely have any side effects. 

When you sign up you’ll receive a welcome pack, two days of recipes and meal ideas delivered to your inbox, additional gut-loving recipes adapted to meet your specific needs, web videos and daily expert advice to keep you on track and encouraged.

You’ll also receive guided mediations that can be listened to where and whenever you need them. These are great to help you unwind and relax. I like to listen to them before I go to sleep as they send me into a very deep sleep. They truly instil positive, constructive messages to help relax and unwind your body and mind. Speaking of the body, I’ve also included a whole lot of yoga poses that are key for digestion. These will help alleviate symptoms such as bloating and constipation.

Oh, that does sound great... and what's this book you speak of?

Well, if you're ready to further your insight into all things gut health, this is the book for you. Supercharge Your Gut, the follow-up to the best-selling book Heal Your Gut is here, and it’s going to change your life forever. Get ready to sink your teeth into the latest gut research, over 100 gut-loving recipes and explore the ins and outs of our most influential body part.  Supercharge Your Gut offers a two day a week maintenance program that’ll set your gut health up for life.

Prebiotic Baked Tray from Supercharge Your Gut

Mocha and Banana Smoothie Bowl from Supercharge Your Gut

In a really easy-to-digest format, you'll discover just how to care for and improve your immune system, hormones, sleep, nervous system and more! Learn all about SIBO, histamines and that FODMAP diet that Claire is constantly going on about at work.

If you're ready to totally transform the way you feel from head-to-gut-to-toe, these two tools are exactly what you need.

And just incase you need more convincing, I'm going to share with you a delicious recipe from my latest and greatest, Supercharge Your Gut.

My turmeric scrambled eggs are perfect for easy breakfasts, late summer dinners and everything in between. Plus, if this recipe is anything to go by, you’ll find that the recipes in both the program and the book are equally nourishing, tasty, simple to make and easily digestible. All recipes are gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and sugar-free and include wholefood ingredients that can be found in your local supermarket or healthy grocer. I've included recipes for delicious, nutritious, easily digestible meals like nutrient-packed smoothies, soothing soups, healing broths, comforting mashes, bowls, crockpot meals and stews, easy to digest dinner dishes and desserts that'll nourish your body and leave you satiated.

Make a two-day commitment to the health of your gut and you'll be surprised at how good you can feel.  I hope you will join me in making your gut healthy and happy today via the program or grab a copy of Supercharge Your Gut.

If you're not yet convinced, you'll have to give my delicious Turmeric Scrambled Eggs a whirl, they're scrumdidiliumptious.

Turmeric Scrambled Eggs

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 2 TBS olive oil or coconut oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 small brown onion, chopped
• 4 eggs whisked
• 1 TBS wheat-free tamari
• ½ tsp cumin powder
• 2 tsps turmeric or to taste
• 2 TBS nutritonal yeast flakes
• Fresh Basil to serve

Method:

Sauté garlic and onion in frying pan until translucent.
Add in eggs, and stir and then add tamari and spices.
Cook for about 5-7 minutes continuously stirring.
Sprinkle with nutritional yeast and torn basil to serve.