It’s unbelievable how quickly Christmas has rolled around this year. It seems like only yesterday I was celebrating ringing in the New Year with family and friends and making resolutions for the year ahead.

As this year comes to a close and I take a few weeks off the blog, I’d love to get your creative juices flowing with a few scrumptious recipes that you can make over the holiday period.  I’ll be posting up a selection of brand new recipes from my book Supercharged Food, Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian in the next couple of weeks and also want to share with you today, a hot-out-of-the-oven Christmas cake recipe that I concocted in my kitchen yesterday.

I adore this time of the year, not just because of the delicious treats I knock up in secret stashes for the wind down to the holidays, but also because I love the thought of families and individuals embracing their Christmas menus and creating a spirit of festivity with illuminating fairy lights, multi coloured decorations and imaginative window displays. Not to mention baubles and foil covered chocolate coins.  It’s also a time when my daughter starts whistling and jingle-belling Christmas carols; every year without fail, it happens about three and a half weeks before Christmas. That’s when I know Christmas is close!

I hope you’ll enjoy my fool proof Fruit Cake recipe which can be made simply and easily and with a minimum of fuss.  It’s a handy one to have at home in case a friend drops in or you can leave it in its baking paper and wrap it up in a pretty bow to take to your Christmas party.  You have my personal guarantee that everyone will be very impressed!

This cake is one of those flexible feasts for stress free festive entertaining. You can add in whatever dried or dehydrated fruit you have in your cupboard or try it with a combination of fruits depending upon your tastes, guaranteeing you a different experience each time you make it.

The fruit adds an element of natural sweetness so there’s no need to add any refined sugars, or sugar substitutes.  I bought my dried fruit individually at my local supermarket as many of the mixed fruit varieties had added preservatives and additives as well as sugar.  I used dates, prunes, cranberries, raisins, sultanas and currants and a few of my own dried apricots and blueberries.  I also added Omega 3 rich walnuts to impart a delicious crunch as you bite into the cake.  The richly dark and intense flavour means you’ll only need a small slither to be fully satisfied.

Mixing is the fun part of the recipe. I used my hands to get all of the ingredients conveniently jam-packed into the tin.  You can be as creative as you like with the cake tin too, I baked mine in the shape of a heart because Christmas is about celebrating the love we share for one another.

This cake will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a month.

Supercharged Christmas Fruit Cake

Makes one cake

Ingredients

• 200 g almond meal
• 50 g walnuts chopped
• 650 g mixed dried fruit of your choice, such as currants, cranberries, blueberries, raisins, figs, apricot, sultanas, cherries, dates
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp allspice
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp gluten free baking powder
• ½ tsp bicarb of soda
• 1 tsp vanilla powder or extract
• Pinch Celtic Sea Salt
• 1 TBS lemon zest grated
• 3 TBS lemon juice
• 4 TBS coconut milk
• 3 TBS walnut oil (or almond or light olive oil)
• 3 eggs lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup blanched almonds for decorating

Method

• Preheat your oven to 160 C and line an 18cm cake tin with baking paper
  In a mixing bowl combine almond meal, chopped walnuts, dried fruit, spices, baking powder, bicarb of soda, vanilla, sea salt and lemon zest
• In a separate bowl place lemon juice, coconut milk, oil and eggs and whisk together
  Add the dry ingredients to wet and fold through with a wooden spoon
  Spoon the mixture into prepared tin then press the mixture down into the tin using your hands so that it is compact and tightly packed
• Bake for 1 hour on the middle shelf of the oven
• Open oven and placed blanched almonds on top and return to oven for 30 mins
• Check cake with a skewer and remove the cake from the oven when the skewer comes out clean
  Let cool and then carefully remove from tin
• Stored in sealed container in fridge

Happy Cooking!

Lee xo

Nutrient absorption occurs primarily in your small intestine as digested food passes through and the intestinal walls uptake nutrients. Factors, like compromised gut health, medications, and chronic stress can hamper the efficiency of this process.

When absorption is impaired, you don't reap the full benefits of dietary nutrients, which, over time, can lead to deficiencies and health issues. The good news is you can take strategic steps to maximize absorption.

Optimizing nutrient absorption safeguards you from deficiencies that can negatively impact immunity, energy levels, hormones, and important body processes. Here are 7 effective methods to improve digestion and help your body thrive by getting the most from your diet:

1. Eat Plenty of Prebiotics and Probiotics

Boosting gut health enhances absorption, and prebiotics and probiotics are key allies. Prebiotics provide “fuel” to nourish probiotics - the beneficial bacteria in your digestive system. This optimizes gut flora, protects intestinal walls, and aids digestion. Excellent prebiotic foods include bananas, onions, garlic, lentils, and oats.

Probiotic foods help restore optimal bacterial balance. Try kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt and kombucha. Reliable supplements for digestion and absorption can help those with deficiencies. A healthy gut equals improved nutrient absorption. For more information on gut health recipes and you can also visit my gut health blog.

2. Stay Hydrated with Fluids

Sufficient hydration keeps your digestive system functioning properly. Fluids help break down food and transport nutrients efficiently through the intestines into your bloodstream. Aim for adequate daily water, either through foods or beverages.

Drinking fluids during meals is optimal for absorption rather than chugging water afterward. Beverages like herbal tea, bone broth, and fruit/veggie smoothies are great hydrating options. Dehydration impedes the absorption process.

3. Chew Your Food Thoroughly

Don’t rush through meals - take time to chew each bite thoroughly to improve absorption. Chewing breaks food particles down smaller for easier digestion by your body’s enzymes. The more finely food is chewed, the greater the surface area for nutrient absorption once it reaches your intestines.

Digestion starts in your mouth. Chewing signals your stomach to release acids preparing for food particles. Take at least 20 chews per bite, focusing on quality over speed.

4. Avoid Heavy Processing and Additives

Heavily processed foods and certain additives hinder absorption. Refined grains and excess sugar deplete gut bacteria diversity. Food dyes, emulsifiers, and sulfites can damage intestinal walls and cause inflammation.

Instead, eat a diet rich in whole foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and minimally processed grains. Also, limit alcohol, which damages the gut lining. Focus on quality fuel for your body.

5. Manage Stress

Long-term stress impacts the production of hormones, enzymes, and acids vital to proper digestion. Stress causes blood to divert away from your gut to muscles, interfering with optimal absorption.

Adopt stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and mindfulness. Allow time to rest and recharge. Keeping stress at bay ensures your body’s systems can sync for peak absorption.

6. Supplement Absorption Aids

Certain supplements support your body’s absorption abilities. Digestive enzymes help break down macronutrients for better conversion. Supplements like zinc, iron, and magnesium citrate increase mineral absorption. Omega-3 fish oils boost fat absorption.

Chat with your doctor before supplementing to ensure safety and efficacy. Targeted supplementation tailored to your needs can enhance your natural digestive and absorptive capacities.

7. Exercise Regularly

Regular physical activity keeps digestion regular and going strong. Exercise accelerates food’s transit time in your system, making for optimal nutrient absorption. It also decreases inflammation and insulin resistance, which impair absorption when elevated.

Aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate activity like brisk walking. Strength training aids muscle movement related to digestion. Keep your gut and body active.

Conclusion

Maximizing nutrient absorption empowers your body to reap the full rewards of eating healthy. Support your digestive system by staying hydrated, managing stress, exercising, and avoiding gut disruptions.

Eat more prebiotic and probiotic foods to enrich gut flora while limiting heavily processed items. Follow these steps to ensure you properly break down and absorb nutrients from your diet. Pair smart nutrition with optimized absorption for good health.