Let’s talk about stress, baby. Let's talk about you and me...

While I know stress isn’t one of the sexiest topics out there, in our modern-day world, it’s become a major issue because we've all become super busy! While we praise busy-ness and love to talk about how busy we are (seriously, it's like a competition these days!), the stress that comes with it isn't always a good thing. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I always try to remember to listen to my own gut instinct; by that I mean to take things slower when I'm feeling like everything is becoming a little too much and I try to reduce stress as much as possible by slowing down. 

Stress plays a huge role in gut health, altering the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota and likewise, an unhealthy diversity of bacteria can impact emotional behaviour and exacerbate our stress response. While we all try to find balance by going to work, spending time with family, seeing friends, exercising, cooking healthy meals, and the list goes on, this kind of busy lifestyle can lead us down stress street! 

If an adult hasn’t inherited healthy lifestyle and eating habits from their family or community when young, it becomes increasingly harder to develop and implement them in later stages of life. We all know it’s a lot easier and more convenient to choose processed, take-away food over home-made food but really, in the long run it's not always the best choice for long term health. The thing with processed and instant foods are that they can be difficult to digest, really slow down our digestive systems and take a huge toll on the health of our gut micro biome.

If you’re looking to make ‘adulting’ at work a little more easeful, I'm sharing a few tips and tricks from my book Supercharge Your Gut to get you on the right track, because you know what - adulting is stressful enough. 

I recommend waking up early with the sun, drinking a large glass of warm filtered water with the juice of half a lemon or apple cider vinegar to kick-start that digestive system and liver into full gear. I love getting up and moving first thing in the morning. Not only does getting out into nature help start the day off on the right foot, it also resets the circadian rhythms which stimulates the pituitary gland, releasing feel-good hormones. Now you have no excuse to not be a morning person!

Once you’re home from your morning exercise, try dry body brushing with a long handled brush. Then shower and switch between bursts of hot and cold water to get the lymphatic system pumping. While you’re in the shower, try oil-pulling. Place 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil or sesame oil in your mouth upon rising, before you’ve eaten or drunk anything. Swish the oil around your mouth for 10 minutes, then spit it out. Never swallow the oil, which will be full of bacteria.

Brush your teeth and tongue thoroughly afterwards, to remove any excess oil, or invest in a tongue scraper. Including this simple ritual in your day will offer benefits such as whiter teeth, clearer skin, healthier gums, fresher breath, clearer sinuses, an improved lymphatic system, better sleep and increased energy, and for pre-menopausal women better regulated menstrual cycles. 

When you’re ready and dressed, make yourself some Love Your Gut Powder in a glass with water. If you're low on time in the morning, I recommend preparing breakfast the night before. Recently, I've been loving my Golden Gut Nice Cream, Mocha and Banana Smoothie Bowl, Golden Gut Granola Clusters or Smashed Avo on Golden Gut Loaf for breakfast. They're all seriously delicious and can be prepared before-hand for ultimate convenience. 

Throughout the day, be sure to hydrate! Sip on ginger, lemongrass, fennel and fresh mint teas, and flask it. You can also stash pre-made tea mixes in your desk drawer at work to enjoy throughout the day.

And now, for lunch! If you can, use your lunch time as a break in your day. Try to enjoy lunch away from your desk, instead of doing that half-eating, half-typing or writing thing – not good! Go for a walk during your break, do some yoga poses or stretches and remember to breath!

If you've got a meeting after lunch, try warrior pose for strength and firm foundations.  It takes just a few minutes and you'll be surprised how different you feel afterwards. Find an empty meeting room or do it in the bathroom! Avoiding being sedentary can reduce stress and increase focus and productivity.

If you’re keen for an absolutely delicious lunch; one that’ll take your whole office to the streets of North Vietnam with its fragrant smell, you have to try out my Beef Pho Broth. Pho originated in the early 20^th century and was sold at dawn and dusk by roaming street vendors, shouldering mobile kitchens. Don’t be put off by the list of ingredients, as this wonderfully fragrant broth is very simple to prepare. My advice is to make the broth beforehand on a weekend and freeze it.  That way you'll have it on hand when you need it. It also works beautifully in a slow cooker. Pho is as comforting as it is delicious – it’s like a mid-day hug for your insides.

If you’re prone to snacking, you may want to pack some snacks so you’re well prepared and not munching down on the packet of stale crisps that has been sitting at the bottom of your desk drawer for three weeks too long. Try vegetable sticks with hummus, tuna dip and/or an avocado. If you're feeling extra zesty, why not pop half a lemon in your bag for a citrus squeeze? 

Once you've finished work and got home, it's usually the time to start thinking about dinner. I know how hard it can be to motivate yourself to cook something after a long day of work, but it's so worth it! For me, I like to use cooking as a time to de-stress and reconnect. After a long day, I recommend choosing a meal with protein such as my Asian Kelp Noodle Salad,  Supercharged Savoury Mince or Vegan Caesar Salad!  They're quick and easy to prepare and so Yum.

Make sure you’ve had enough to eat by indulging in a gut-soothing dessert. Try some Turmeric Fudge (which can be pre-made on the weekend and frozen) and, if you’re still hungry, finish the night with a Maca and Tahini Latte.

For ultimate stress-busting benefits, be sure to try out my beautiful broth below! I promise you won't be disappointed. To make it easy for you, don't forget to make the broth on the weekend then it's so easy to heat up for mid-week dinners and lunches, just by adding the extra ingredients.

Beef Pho Broth

Serves 4-5

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil
• 1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) beef bones — shin, knuckles, marrow and gelatinous cuts are good
• 6 star anise
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 cardamom pods
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 litres (68 fl oz/8 cups) filtered water
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 brown onion, thinly sliced
• 7.5 cm (3 inch) knob of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari
• 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) beef sirloin, thinly sliced
• 3 zucchini (courgettes), spiralised
• 1 handful of bean sprouts
• 1 large handful of mixed fresh basil, mint and coriander (cilantro)
• 2 limes, cut into wedges or cheeks

Directions:

To make the broth...

• Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Melt the coconut oil in a flameproof casserole dish over medium heat. Add the bones and stir to coat.
• Put the lid on, transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the bones are browned. Place the casserole dish back on the stovetop.
• In a dry frying pan, toast the spices over medium heat for 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add them to the casserole dish with the filtered water and vinegar.
• Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, then simmer for 1 and 1/2 hours, adding a little more filtered water from time to time if necessary.
• Using tongs, carefully remove and discard the bones. Allow the broth to cool, refrigerate or freeze, then scrape off any congealed fat on top (keep it for cooking with).

To make the soup

• Add a bit of the stock fat to a frying pan and lightly sauté the onion and ginger. Transfer the mixture to the casserole dish.
• Bring back to the boil, stir in the tamari and season to taste.
• To serve, arrange the beef and zucchini in bowls. Pour in the boiling broth and top with the bean sprouts and herbs. (The boiling broth will book the meat. If you prefer the beef to be cooked longer then add it to the casserole dish when bringing to the boil). Serve with lime wedges.

Easter is hoppening soon and you know what that means – chocolate, sleeping in, long weekend celebrations, chocolate, the Easter Bunny, chocolate, oh and did I mention chocolate?

If you’re looking for a new delicious Easter egg to bring to your table or basket, why not try out my Cherry Ripe Easter Eggs?

I know what you're probably thinking - Why Cherry Ripe?

I think it’s safe to say, Cherry Ripe's are sometimes one of the most unpopular chocolates of the bunch - they're the one that are usually left at the bottom of the packet. There’s just something about the combination of dark chocolate and cherry glace that’s usually off-putting, especially to children! I must admit, out of all the chocolates out there, the one I would never choose was the Cherry Ripe. I just never jelled with it 😉

However, seeing that I’m a big believer in giving things a fair go, I decided to give them a second chance.

And you know what? I’m happy I did!

These chocolatey, cherry and coconuty raw, refined sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly Cherry Ripe Easter Eggs are perfect bite-sized snacking, just in time for Easter! If you were never a cherry ripe fan, but like me, love cherries, coconut and chocolate, you’re in for a real treat.

If you’re someone who usually feels a little bit lethargic, tired or bloated after holiday period, these are the Easter eggs for you! While I love celebrating holidays with good food, it’s very easy to overindulge over the holiday season and feel a little queasy afterwards. Be sure to fill up on good-quality, wholesome food, rather than leaving too much room for dessert! If you fill up on mains, you’re less likely to overindulge when dessert’s ready. However, if you’re looking for a dessert perfect for Easter, these Cherry Ripe Easter Eggs are exactly what you need.

By consuming real, home-made Easter Eggs you can avoid the processed one’s on the shelf, usually packed full of additives, vegetable oils and sugar. Home-made goodies such as these Easter eggs always taste better because you can truly taste the love that is rolled into them! 

The combination of cherries and chocolate makes this recipe extremely high in calcium and Vitamin C. Cherries are bursting with antioxidants and can help reduce bodily inflammation. These Cherry Ripe Easter Eggs also have a little Love Your Gut Powder to help soothe your tummy after some necessary Easter feasting!

The best part about them? No cooking is required! Yes, that’s right – it’s raw! If that’s not an Easter miracle, I don’t know what is. Oh, and they contain cherries – I mean, who wouldn’t be happy with their kids hunting for fruit?

So, go on... I know you want to.

Happy Easter everyone!

Cherry Ripe Easter Eggs

Makes: 12–15 Easter eggs

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups desiccated coconut
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons coconut cream
• 2 tbsp Love Your Gut Powder
• 1 tbsp rice malt syrup (optional)
• 1 cup cherries, pitted, frozen

Chocolate Coating

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp cacao butter
• 2 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 10–12 drops liquid stevia or to taste (optional)

Method

1. In the food processor, pulse coconut, coconut oil, coconut cream, powder and rice malt syrup if using until combined. Be careful not to over mix. Add in the frozen cherries and pulse until combined.

2. Using your hands, scoop up about 2 tablespoons worth of mixture, shape into an Easter egg shape and place on a tray. Repeat until you use up all of the mixture. Place in the freezer to set for 2 hours.

3. After about 1 ½ hours, prepare the chocolate coating by melting ingredients together in a small pot over a low heat. Transfer to a bowl, place in the fridge for 15 minutes to let it thicken slightly.

4. To cover in chocolate coating, first prepare a rack over a tray to catch any dripping chocolate. Carefully dip the eggs in the chocolate coating mixture and place on the rack.

Note: You want to work quickly here to prevent the eggs from melting. This is why it’s important your chocolate mixture isn’t too hot but is still melted and has a liquid consistency. You may wish to work in batches. Place back into the freezer as soon as possible to set the chocolate.

5. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Design by Catfish Creative

The gut is one of the most important components of the body. We interact with it daily and are constantly receiving feedback from it and yet, it’s something that as a society, we tend to keep on the down-lo. We don’t like to talk about our digestive systems in public because it can feel a little too personal, but it’s something so intricately connected to every single thing we do.  

Feel nervous about something? It’s more than likely you’ll have butterflies in the pit of your stomach. Did you eat something that didn’t agree with you? You’re probably feeling bloated or, maybe you’re running to the bathroom.

When we have these issues, we usually take on great measures like eating more vegetables, piling on the sauerkraut, taking fantastic gut-boosting powders such as my Love Your Gut Powder, and so on, but it can be hard to tell if what we’re doing is working and what our best course of action actually is.

So, I’ve decided it’s finally time to reveal the truth. Get those pens out, brains open and ears listening because it’s time to go back to school – gut school!  Get ready for Gut Health 101, with your teacher, Lee Holmes. Are you ready?

Let’s imagine our gut as a beautiful Amazonian rainforest. It’s a naturally complex and dense ecosystem that, when thriving, is luscious and ever-expanding. Every single unique part in the forest plays a role in creating one of the most beautiful environments on the planet. To keep it that way, we need to balance what we feed it to keep it thriving. However, when we diminish its diversity, cause pollution or create damaging conditions, the naturally flourishing system can become harmed and limit its ability to keep us protected and thriving. We need to look after this ecosystem to prevent issues. But, where do we begin?

Well, we need to first figure out where we went wrong. This is where technology comes in.

Luckily for us, the gut is constantly under the microscope, with new scientific research and growing technological findings every day. This has hugely improved our understanding of the microbiome of our gut. There are a multitude of tests available now which can help give us a greater understanding of what’s going on in our digestive systems. These tests can help us understand the reason behind some of the gastrointestinal issues we may be experiencing; however, not everyone needs to get these tests done. If you’re experiencing digestive problems, I recommend speaking to your GP or health practitioner and figure out together whether a test is right for you.

First up, we’ve got the comprehensive stool analysis. This test helps give us a greater understanding of the garden of our microbiome. The stool analysis takes a look at the colonies of bacteria within the gut, as this has a huge impact on our digestion, hormones, immune system and brain. This test can also identify if there’s a build-up of negative bacteria in the gut. If this is the case, Love Your Gut Powder and Golden Gut blend can come in handy as they can help sweep out impurities, heavy metals, parasites and nasty gut bugs without interfering with or wiping out the beneficial bacteria we need for our guts to thrive.

Second on our list of tests is none other than the SIBO breath test. SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) negatively affects the structure of the small intestine which can affect the way in which nutrients are absorbed. This can also be connected to 'leaky gut', where the intestinal walls become permeable to proteins which make their way into the bloodstream, causing abnormal immune responses, allergies, intolerances and autoimmune issues. The SIBO breath test is simple and can be ordered online or done through your GP or health practitioner. Diets can also play a major role in helping eradicate SIBO and prevent relapse. You might like to read my 21 Day SIBO guide plus recipes and meal plan eBook.

Some people don’t tolerate histamines well, which can increase their sensitivity to particular foods high in histamine. The histamine tolerance test can help detect whether there’s a histamine intolerance present.

Intestinal permeability screening is a blood lab test that measures antibodies against bacterial toxins and other proteins in the gut. It can enhance our understanding of the permeability of the gut lining and can help indicate whether someone has ‘leaky gut’ syndrome.

The last test we’ll talk about is the cross-reactive food reactivity; a blood-test for people who’ve worked on their diet but still experience the same symptoms. This can happen when non-gluten containing foods interact with, or are in the same vicinity as, gluten-containing foods. Our bodies react as if the gluten has triggered a response. This test helps us figure out how severe the intolerance is.  

Fish and fennel Broth

Now that we’ve been tested, we have to figure out how to clean up our ecosystem! Some foods that I recommend when trying to heal and seal in order to supercharge the gut and keep the garden growing are bone and veg broths, probiotic-rich food if your histamine levels are ok and slowly-cooked vegetables and stews. I also suggest avoiding foods that inflame the gut. These include processed foods and packaged foods with chemicals and preservatives that our bodies don’t even recognise! Gums and thickeners are two common culprits of digestive disorders and should be avoided. Try limiting your intake of raw foods too as these can cause bloating and reduce your overall intake of gluten, alcohol, sugar, dairy and caffeine.

If you really want to take your gut health to the next level, my Supercharge Your Gut print book and Supercharge Your Gut online program work by nurturing the digestive system two days a week, helping to harness a balanced environment within the gut.

Supercharging Your Gut is a beautiful way to practice self-care; not only does it help calm the nervous system, boost energy, improve moods and reduce stress, it's also the perfect plan for optimising gut health. It'll give your gut a boost and beautify your inner-ecosystem without taking over your life. Your body will be propelled to convert energy more efficiently and take a load off your digestive system. With so many delicious recipes to try, mindful practices and lifestyle tips, you’ll be able to enjoy supercharging your gut and gardening that inner-forest of yours and experience the positive outcomes in no time!  

One beautiful and fun way to show the gut some love is to stimulate the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which can be compromised in gastrointestinal issues. While eating clean and doing mindful, stress-busting practices can help out our vagus nerve, it’s been found that gargling and singing can improve vagal functions. So, if you need me, you'll find me singing The Greatest Showman soundtrack in my car… it’s to boost my gut health, okay?

If you want to find out more tips on supercharging your gut to help you thrive, not just survive, and flourish that beautiful inner-ecosystem of yours, and get over 100 amazing recipes be sure to check out my new book Supercharge Your Gut!

I scream, you scream we all scream for Golden Nice Cream! Get ready for my golden take on the creamiest of desserts. 

I really like ice-cream… and by that I mean, I loooove ice-cream.

There’s just something so comforting about a creamy scoop of your favourite soft serve. Kids love it, adults love it, grandparents love it, everyone loves ice-cream!

However, our old, plain vanilla ice-cream is getting a little boring. So, I believe it’s time to step it up a notch, or as we like to call it around here, it’s time to SUPERCHARGE it... Bring in the Golden Nice Cream!

I know what you’re wondering, why the nice cream?

Well, this recipe is made extra nice because of the golden ingredients. They’re all completely natural, delicious and good for you! It's from my latest book Supercharge Your Gut.

Let’s start off with the star of the show, my Golden Gut Blend. A gorgeous blend that helps improve nutrient absorption and is high in anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, helping us fight off infection and disease. I like to think of it like fairy dust… seriously, I suggest sprinkling it on absolutely everything.

Bananas are another key ingredient in our nice cream. Not only are they absolutely, positively delicious, they’re also high in potassium, helping to look after our heart health. Bananas are rich in fibre, speeding up our digestion and keeping our guts smiling. They’re also full of magnesium which assists in reducing our muscles from aching. So yes, this is my permission for you to eat ice-cream as your new pre or post-workout snack. You’re welcome.

One of banana’s best partners in crime, nut butter, had to have an inclusion here too. I don’t know about you, but I have a serious nut-butter addiction. It’s so real. I'm personally loving cashew butter but feel free to use any nut butter you like! If you have an issue with nuts, you could try tahini or any other type of seed butter. 

This Golden Nice Cream is rich in so many vitamins and minerals. It’ll help boost your energy, add a glow to your skin and keep your gut happy and healthy! Watch just how I make it in the demo and check out the recipe below.

Golden Nice Cream

Serves 1

Ingredients: 

• 2 bananas peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp Golden Gut Blend
• 2 tbsp nut butter
• ¼ cup chilled coconut milk
• 2 tbsp rice malt syrup or 6 drops liquid stevia

Directions:

• Place the frozen banana in a high-speed blender. Add the golden gut blend, coconut milk and your choice of sweetener. Whiz until smooth.
• Serve immediately, topped with fresh banana and an extra sprinkling of golden gut blend.

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

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.

So, you’ve healed your gut… now what?

It's time to supercharge it!

If you’re looking to further your insight into all things gut health, you’ve come to the right place. Supercharge Your Gut, the follow-up to my best-selling book Heal Your Gut is here, and it’s going to change your life forever. If you're ready for some gut-loving magic, you can pre-order your very own copy right here right now!

The research is in and the facts are undeniable – the connection between the gut and stress is now well established; as is the myriad of ways gut health impacts our overall health and wellbeing. Yet many of us race through life ignoring this incredible ecosystem, until something wakes us up.

Maybe you're reading this because you want to learn more about your gut and the way it influences your health or perhaps you're suffering from an autoimmune condition or digestive disorder, food allergy or intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease or inflammatory bowel syndrome, Coeliac disease, thyroid issue, diabetes, obesity, arthritis or fibromyalgia. Whatever has brought you to this page, you're here for a reason, correct?

The moment that you started reading this is the exact moment that your internal healing can begin. I invite you to dive into Supercharge Your Gut with open arms as I gently guide you through a new and improved way of eating that’ll make you feel energised and supported for life. 

Did you know that you have the power to change your gut microbiome and upgrade your health?. Supercharge Your Gut will teach you how to enhance your ability to listen to your body, increase your energy, decrease your brain fog and give you a whole new sense of vitality.

Get ready to sink your teeth into over 100 gut-loving recipes including nourishing breakfasts, gut grazers, belly broths, super bowls, bakes & mashes, soup, crocks, clay pots & casseroles, fermented vegetables and dessert with benefits. Think Turmeric Scrambled Eggs for breakfast, a Warm Green Bowl for lunch, Apple Cider Gummy Bears for afternoon tea, a Virgin Mojito for tea, a Thai Fish Curry for Dinner and Turmeric Fudge for dessert. These nutritious and delicious recipes offer a fresh approach to supercharging your gut in a way that’ll make your inner-ecosystem flourish and heal. 

I've made gut loving easy by providing you with a two-day gut maintenance plan that makes the whole process simple, easy and delicious. Whether you're a full-time student, worker, parent or anything in between - Supercharge Your Gut is the tool-kit you need to glow from your insides and achieve life-long gut health.

How else do we talk about gut health than with a broth recipe? Oh, and turmeric of course... can't forget the turmeric.

Bone broths are amazing for your gut health as they heal and seal the digestive tract.  This mineral-rich Gut Healing Turmeric Chicken Broth is just what the doctor ordered. It's charged with the anti-inflammatory powers of turmeric, fresh ginger and a whole chicken. Yummo.

Gut Healing Turmeric Chicken Broth

Makes 1 litre (35 FL OZ/4 cups)

Ingredients:

• 1 whole organic chicken
• 2 chicken feet, for extra gelatine (optional)
• 2 litres (68 fl oz/8 cups) filtered water
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  1 large onion, chopped
  3 celery stalks, chopped 
• 5 cm (1 inch) knob of fresh ginger, grated
• 1􏰙/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, or grated fresh turmeric
• a good pinch of Celtic sea salt
• 1 bunch of flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, about 100 g (31􏰙2 oz) 
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed 

Method:

• Put the chicken in a large stainless-steel stockpot, along with the chicken feet, if using. Pour in the water, vinegar and lemon juice. Add the onion, celery, ginger, turmeric and salt, and season generously with freshly ground black pepper.
• Bring to the boil over medium heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the top. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, then cover and simmer for 2 hours.
• Remove from the heat, remove the chicken from the pot and leave until cool enough to handle. Take the meat off the bones, reserving the bones and setting the meat aside for another use.
• Return the bones to the pot and simmer over very low heat for 4–6 hours, checking now and then and adding a little more filtered water if needed.
• Add the parsley and garlic and simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Remove the bones with a slotted spoon, then strain the broth into airtight containers and refrigerate until the fat congeals on top.
• The broth will keep in the fridge for 4–5 days, covered with a good layer of its natural fat. (Don’t discard the fat — it’s healthy, tasty and great for cooking with!) Alternatively, you can freeze the broth for up to 3 months.

You can freeze the broths in ice-cube trays, to give convenient little portions to pop into other dishes. 

You know that old saying: ‘happy life, happy wife’? If you want my personal opinion, I think it should be changed to ‘happy tummy, happy mummy’.  As many of you know, the gut is the cornerstone to health and linked to many other bodily systems and parts. It can affect your hormones, immune system, your emotions and mental capacity and of course the way that you absorb and digest food. If your gut isn’t happy, there’s a fairly good chance that you won’t be happy either.

Today I’m sharing six of my favourite tips to improve your gut health, so you can get on with life!

Include Fibre

When considering the health of your gut, consider fibre! Getting the right type of fibre into your diet will help you to create a healthy and diverse community of gut bacteria and regulate your digestion. There are two types of fibre. Insoluble fibre this is the one that doesn’t dissolve in water and helps speed up the passage of food and keep you regular, like some grains, nuts, seeds, beans, fruit and vegetables. The other type of fibre, soluble fibre, dissolves in water and helps form a gel in the body. Foods rich in soluble fibre include oatmeal, psyllium husks, berries, lentils, fruit and vegetables. Insoluble fibres are wonderful for flushing out the body but an excess of these fibres can be irritating. Soluble fibres on the other hand, are the ones you can also focus on for improved gut health.

When you eat the soluble fibres from whole plant foods, your gut bacteria ferment these fibres into short chain fatty acids which act as prebiotics to feed the good bacteria in your gut. When you eat adequate levels of soluble fibre, they pass through the stomach and small intestine and land up in the large intestine where they help grow your probiotic bacteria.  This helps maintain the lining of the gut, improves digestion, increases absorption of minerals and can even increase immune system function.  You can read more about probiotics and prebiotics here or learn abut it in my new book Supercharge Your Gut.

Some foods rich in soluble-fibre include sweet potatoes, carrots and root vegetables, green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds, grass fed, organic butter and ghee. Some of these delicious prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods can be found in my Marrakesh Casserole below!

Glowing skin is an inside (and outside) job

The skin is the largest and arguably, one of the most important organs in your body, it’s the barometer to measure and notice what is really going on inside. Dry skin brushing is an easy and calming technique that looks after your skin, stimulates the digestive and lymphatic systems, liver and adrenal glands, and assists these organs in decongesting. It also helps to give the body a gentle internal massage to stimulate circulation. Whenever I suggest dry skin brushing to someone when they’re suffering from gut health issues, they often look at me as if I’m crazy – how does brushing my skin make my stomach work properly? Well, by performing this technique you’ll actually be assisting the gut, by stimulating the digestive system, nutrient absorption and detoxification!

All you need to do is invest in a long-handled bath brush which contains natural bristles. Use long strokes, in a circular motion towards the heart. Before you dive straight in to brushing, ensure both your skin and your brush are dry. Begin with the soles of your feet and continue brushing upwards on both sides of your legs, then move to your back, then around to your abdomen where you can work in a clockwise direction following the direction of your colon and then head up towards your heart being careful with the chest region. Then, have a shower to remove debris and dead skin cells. Turns out you CAN brush your way to good gut health – who knew? 

Keeping stress levels at bay

Coming into one of the most frantic seasons this time of year, stress can be at a high. Long-term stress lingers for weeks and can be incredibly damaging to the gut. Evidence shows that our gut bacteria respond in a damaging way to negative emotions and stress out our bodies! When you’re stressed, your body produces hormones that can contribute to the proliferation of bad bacteria in the gut, sending it off kilter and this can lead to cravings, skin disruptions, fatigue and weight gain. In order to keep our guts happy and humming, keeping stress at bay is key. Obviously, decreasing stress can look a little bit different to everybody, so find out what works best for you. A few good stress-busting techniques include calming yoga, walks, ocean swims, meditation, spending time out in the sun, good talks with friends and connecting with nature. I guess it’s time to get your ‘om’ on!

Goodbye sugar-free sweeteners

Of course, there’s more to gut health than the practices we do – it’s also important to look at what you’re feeding your gut. Unfortunately for some of you, this may mean saying sayonara to sugar-free sweeteners. Sugar-free sweets, snacks and diet soft drinks can aggravate the gut and cause bloating because of all the artificial chemicals they contain. These chemicals, that our DNA doesn’t recognise or can’t digest properly, get completely swept up in the digestive tract and end-up in the colon, which is not what you want to happen when healing the gut! Large amounts of these additives can also cause flatulence; definitely another reason to stay away. There are far better ways to blow someone away.

Hydration

I know what you’re thinking, if I hear another nutritionist talk about hydration being the key to good health, I’ll roll my eyes so far backwards they won’t come back to place! But, the simple technique of staying hydrated helps flush out negative bacteria within the gut and balance out the digestive system. This helps your body undergo all the complicated biochemical mechanisms to keep your gut happy and functioning. So yes, drinking water may be simple, but it does remarkable things for your gut health.  I usually stir a tablespoon of my Love Your Gut powder in the mornings into a cup of warm water.  It helps to clean the debris and keep my insides happy.  If you want to stay hydrated throughout the day, my Golden Gut Blend is a great way to mix it up- just add a tablespoon to warm milk of choice; it makes a gorgeous and tasty golden latte!

Stop gulping!

Eating is not a race. And yet, we all tend to scoff down our food so quickly you’d think we were going for gold at the Olympics! Our modern lack of mindful, slow eating and our forever on-the-go approach has a definite link to our gut heath issues. Gulping down food, guzzling down drinks and moving while eating inhibits your body’s ability to digest nutrients properly. Chewing more thoroughly while sitting down to a meal mindfully helps you tune into your body more and send your body into rest and digest mode. You’ll be less likely to overeat when you know you’re full! Plus, when you chew properly, your food is able to mix with saliva and increase the ease of digestibility before it reaches the stomach. This means it’s less hard work for your gut and less chance of that food-baby feeling. 

Getting hungry? Enjoy this prebiotic-rich Marrakesh Casserole, from my book Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian, slowly and mindfully. If done correctly, it'll nourish your gut, your body and your soul! 

Marrakesh Casserole

Ingredients:

• 60 ml (2 fl oz/1/4 cup) cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, roughly chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cm (3/4 inch) piece of ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
• 2–3 teaspoons dried harissa
• 400 g (14 oz) tin diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon rice malt syrup
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup coriander (cilantro) leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
• 1 small pumpkin (winter squash), peeled and cut into 5 cm (2 inch) pieces
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 5 cm (2 inch) pieces 
• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 5 cm (2 inch) pieces
• 1 zucchini (courgette), cut into 5 cm (2 inch) pieces
• 400 g (14 oz) tin chickpeas
• cooked quinoa, to serve
• coriander (cilantro) sprigs, to serve
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, to serve
• mint leaves, to serve
• 80 g (23/4 oz/1/2 cup) almonds, to serve

Directions:

• Heat the olive oil in a flame-proof tagine pot or casserole dish over medium heat and sauté the onion for 5 minutes, or until translucent.
• Add the garlic, ginger and spices and stir well to combine.
• Add the harissa, tomatoes, rice malt syrup, lemon juice, coriander and mint, bring to the boil and then reduce the heat.
• Add the pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot and zucchini, stir well so they are all well covered in the sauce and simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
• Add the chickpeas and cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Serve on a bed of quinoa topped with the coriander, lemon zest, mint and roasted almonds.

If you’re a keen foodie who's always riding with the food trends, there’s no doubt you’ve already jumped on the Buddha bowl bandwagon.

These flawless bowls are bouncing with all the veggies, perfectly-packed protein and avocado that's diced up a little too neatly (Seriously, HOW do they do it?!). 

Here at Supercharged HQ, we're not into the neat and the pretty - the flat-lays of life. We love the messy, the real and the raw (or baked in this case). That's what life is after all. There's beauty in the irregularity and that's why my Bohemian Baked Veg Bowl, brewed in the hinterland of Byron Bay is a forever recipe.

Have you heard of the Bohemian Baked Veg Bowl ever?

Probably not because it's a Supercharged special!  Until someone decides to permanently borrow it of course. (Blogger jokes ;))

The Bohemian Baked Veg Bowl is all about getting real and letting out your true colours. Finding your loosest pair of harem pants, letting down your flowy hair (or at least pretending to) and getting the groovy music going, man. I’m starting a revolution and inviting you to get amongst it, baby!

Viva le bowlolution!

My Bohemian Baked Veg Bowl is also full of nutrients to tell you the truth. It’s truly a melting pot of flavours where everything is welcome and loved, in all it's mess and glory!  

This bowl is aesthetically pleasing (perfect for the keen instagrammer), versatile and well… delicious. Plus, it’s super simple to make and not very time consuming either. Essentially, it’s a bowl with all the good stuff – lots of veggies, greens and seeds. Oh, and let’s not forget a creamy tahini dressing that’s almost too good to be true. *Wipes drool from side of mouth*.

The best part about my bohemian veg bowl is that it’s fool-proof! Yep, almost anyone who knows how to work an oven and shake ingredients in a jar can make this one. Plus, you probably have everything lying in your fridge and store cupboard anyway.

I know you're just as excited as I am by this discovery so let's dive straight to it!

Inflammation.

What does the word even mean?

We’ve all heard the term inflammation before – whether it’s a stiff joint, achy back, fever or stomach issue, many of us at some point in our lives have experienced it too. Mild inflammation is normal and can be good, showing that your body’s natural defences are working properly. 

For example, let's say you're walking or doing some kind of activity and you fall over, hurt your knee and it starts to swell, that's inflammation in action! Basically, what's happening is your body senses the pain, rushes blood to the site and antibodies are produced which causes swelling to occur. Inflammation here is part of the healing process and it's something we require. 

However, when the body starts to overreact to causes of harm, inflammation can be an issue. Inflammation can have a much bigger impact on our bodies than we realise. It has the potential to spread throughout the body, spiral out of control and cause a whole list of health conditions like arthritis, IBS and more!

Houston, we have a problem. 

More often than not, in cases of inflammation, doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory medication which when taken long-term can have unwanted side effects such as gastrointestinal issues, ulceration and liver or kidney problems. In typical Supercharged Food fashion, one way to alleviate inflammation is by looking at what's on your plate. Taking a more natural approach to reducing inflammation through diet can play a HUGE role in reducing inflammation in the body.

Today I'm sharing some of my key ingredients for reducing inflammation;

Let's start with fibre. By eating lots of fibre-rich fruits, like fruit, vegetables and well prepared whole grains; we can help to reduce inflammation. The aim is to eat about 25 grams of fibre per day.

Some of my favourite vegetables high in anti-inflammatory properties include onion, garlic, peas, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. However, these foods can cause bloating and flatulence in some people so test out small amounts before going full steam ahead.

An easy way to enjoy lots of anti-inflammatory veggies is to sneak them into a hearty soup. Try my  Oven-Baked Veg and Garlic Soup or you might like to the gorgeous Anti-inflammatory spring pea soup down below.

Spice it up! There are so many anti-inflammatory herbs and spices you can use in your everyday cooking to reduce inflammation. Turmeric and Ginger are great. Ginger contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial compounds, which block inflammation-producing genes. Whilst the golden hued-spice that’s taken the health world by storm doesn’t need much of an introduction. Turmeric shuts down inflammation in the body and can help prevent liver disease and take care of joint problems.  If you’re in need of these two spices in your life, why not make my Golden Gut Oatmeal Cookies or Turmeric Fudge? Both of these magical spices can be found in a delicious and ready-to-go form in my Golden Gut Blend.

If you're looking at lowering inflammation levels, be sure to cut down on refined sugar, processed foods and trans fat as much as you can. These all increase inflammation in the body. When you’re looking to cut out trans fats, look for their secret code word -  hydrogenated!  Hydrogenated is commercial talk for trans fats. Producers sneak it into vegetable oils, cookies and some margarines, and they can be cleverly disguised. Trans fats can cause toxicity, increase blood pressure and of course, increase inflammation in the body.

Never know what oil to buy at the shops? Do you sometimes want to omit it altogether? The truth is, our bodies NEED fat to function properly, so it’s important to choose fats with benefits. Extra virgin olive oil and extra-virgin coconut oil contain anti-inflammatory properties and a good option for everything – from stir fries, baking vegetables or salad dressings, they have multiple uses and add a delicious taste to everything.

My next suggestion is to become acquainted with Omega-3 fatty foods. I'm talking walnuts, chia seeds and fish such as salmon. Chia seeds are more than fancy little superfood seeds that make delicious puddings (although, that’s a pretty good function on it’s own for breakfast on rush hour mornings!). Chia seeds help to reduce spikes in blood sugar which decreases bodily inflammation. Delicious recipe to try is my Chia and Berry Overnight Breakfast Jar.

If you're a fan of fish and looking for a delicious oceanic dinner, salmon is absolutely brimming with Omega-3's! My Smoked Salmon Living Lentil Bowl will have you swearing by omega-3's everyday. 

While inflammation can cause a huge impact on the body, we don’t necessarily need to seek out pharmaceutical remedies all the time, and natural remedies are available in the kitchen. By monitoring the food you eat and adjusting what you eat accordingly, you can be assured that you’ll be helping to reduce inflammation in your body with every mouthful of these key ingredients.

To get you started on your anti-inflammatory way, I’m sharing my Spring Pea Soup. Peas contain dietary fibre and antioxidants so they reduce inflammation AND encourage healthy gut bacteria. They’re also low in calories but high in protein, antioxidants and micronutrients. 

Pass the Peas, Please!

Anti-inflammatory spring pea soup

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil or ghee
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 litre vegetable stock (preferably home-made)
• 700 g peas (fresh or frozen)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• handful of mint, chopped, plus extra leaves to serve
• handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus extra leaves to serve
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons Celtic sea salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• sunflower seeds, toasted in a dry frying pan, to serve

Method:

• Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened.
• Add the stock, increase the heat to medium and bring to the boil.
• Add the peas and cook for 3-5 minutes or until tender (frozen peas need half that cooking time).
• Add the lemon juice, herbs, spices, salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
• Remove from the heat, allow to cool slightly, then purée to your preferred consistency in a blender or food processor.
• Serve sprinkled with sunflower seeds and topped with extra mint and parsley leaves.

Enjoy this beautiful spring soup and let me know if you love it as much as I do in the comments section below.

Blue Rust Images

If you're in Australia, you'll know that winter's finally out of here and we're gearing up for everyone's favourite season - summer!  It's time to start prepping for beach days, clearing away the cobwebs from your bathing suits and readying those blenders up for smoothie sipping.

But, even though winter's out, have you noticed that the tissues and sniffles are here to stay?

With the change of season comes great sniffle-sponsibility. Allergy season has hit us big time this year so, it's time to up your immunity. Don't worry, I'll be right here with you!

I've created three perfect recipes to help you move into the light and sunny days of summer, sniffle-free. These three allergy-friendly blender recipes will boost your immune system and keep the teary eyes at bay.  The best part about these recipes is that you can make them your own. If you don’t like dairy, you can swap it out for an alternative milk like almond or coconut, if you’re not nuts about nuts, you can give seeds a go instead.

Because of our increasing dietary needs and desires, the way we’re cooking and shopping is constantly evolving. I recently held a yoga and smoothie bowl making event at Sprout Market, an online store that gives you the ability to shop for groceries in the comfort of your own home (or the work office… ssssshhhh!). They have a whole list of categories to choose from to make shopping that much easier. Hellooo online shopping!  By the way, you don't need to be a member to shop with these guys as non-members are now able to shop as well. If you're hesitant about committing to a membership or simply looking to place a one-off purchase, simply select the regular price option at the checkout page and pay the recommended retail price. For existing members, you'll continue to pay the wholesale price. 

The event was so much fun and I enjoyed a morning doing all three of my favourite things… *Insert Julie Andrews frolicking through flowers over a mountain here*

To kick things off I taught a Hatha-style yoga practice, followed by a deeply calming meditation. I love yoga because it’s the ultimate way to connect your mind, body and spirit. Doing yoga can also help decrease stress levels and increase our chances of a better night's sleep, helping us fight off allergies and those downward dogs keep our immunity up up up!

I then demonstrated my latest, and arguably, one of my most delicious smoothie bowl recipes ever. Everyone who joined me at the event will know how good this bowl tasted and now, you can too! I’m sharing the recipe down below so you can pretend you were right there with me, blending up our bowls together.

First, let’s start off with some frozen mixed berries. Berries are high in antioxidants, low in sugar and they taste delicious. They also help to boost energy. Berries are high in vitamin C so they're just like best friends when it comes to immunity! We couldn’t have a nerdy-nutritionist smoothie bowl without sneaking in some greens – so let’s throw in some spinach. Spinach is a vital component of the smoothie bowl, not so much for its taste (you can’t actually taste it!) but for its nutrient value! Spinach is a great source of plant-based iron and can help gut health. If you don’t like spinach, you can swap it out for another one of your green favourites – I’m going crazy for rocket at the moment.

Staring lovingly at breakfast. As you do.

Speaking of all things green, avocado, the delicious fruit (yes, fruit!), adds a perfect creaminess to a good textured smoothie bowl. Avocado provides a healthy source of fats to help absorption of vitamins and nutrients. Speaking of vitamins and minerals, avocados contain nearly all twenty essential nutrients! And last but not least, just remember, nothing gets likes on Instagram more than the mighty avocado 😉

Bowls at the ready!

To top it all off, add some coconut water or coconut milk to the recipe to keep you refreshed and hydrated all day long.

If we’re going to be real, much like icing is the best part about cake, toppings are the best part about smoothie bowls! At the event, we went totally cafeteria style with the toppings – so pick what you want and take what you feel.

I added some fresh blueberries and strawberries to add some colour.  Berries are also high in antioxidants which means they help protect our cells from damage and, prevent those constant allergy sneezes. 

I also made sure to include flaxseeds to this master bowl. Flaxseeds, also known as linseeds, are full of Omega-3 fatty acids that help us avoid brain fog, produce energy and strengthen our immune system. They’re also high in fibre to help regulate our bowel movements (sorry for the TMI) and can even help balance hormones, beautify our skin, promote weight loss and reduce sugar cravings.

An underrated but delicious nut, pistachios make for a great smoothie-bowl topper. Not only do pistachios add a satisfying crunch to our smoothie bowl, they also deliver an extra protein boost.  Strong immunity comes from having a well-balanced diet that contains proper amount of nutrients, especially protein.  Pistachios are full of high-quality protein and B vitamins to give us an extra energy boost in allergy season. 

Another superstar topping is tasty granola. Make sure you’re not buying granola that's just a box full of processed ingredients, artificial sweeteners and sugars. Instead, opt for a home-made granola made with ingredients like grains, nuts, Buckinis and yummy spices.

For a little treat, add some dried mango to your bowl. While this tantalizing treat juicy and sweet, it provides a wonderful source of vitamin A to help regulate metabolism.

Berry and Avocado Smoothie Bowl

Serves 2

Ingredients:

Smoothie:

• 2 cups frozen mixed berries
• 1 cup chopped spinach (can use frozen)
• 1 firm ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 TBS Love Your Gut powder
• 1 ½ cups coconut water or coconut milk
• 6 drops liquid stevia or sweetener of choice (optional)

Topping Suggestions:

• Handful of blueberries
• Handful of raspberries
• 2 tbsp flaxseeds
• 2 tbsp granola
• 3 pieces dried mango 

Method:

Add all smoothie ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy and smooth

Divide into 2 bowls

Top with desired toppings

Golden Gut-time Soft Serve

Say goodbye to boring old vanilla ice cream and get ready for my golden take on the creamy dessert. My Golden Gut-time Soft Serve will have you breezing through summer and spring without a care in the world. Goodbye Kleenex!

So, what makes this dessert so nice?  The ingredients!  This soft serve contains only REAL ingredients. It’s rich in a plethora of vitamins and minerals to boost your energy, keep your skin glowing and your tummy happy. It's perfect for any and all dietary requirements too. It doesn’t take hours to churn or require copious amounts of sugar either. I guess you could say it’s soft serve supercharged style.

The best part about making soft serve is that it’s so easy to make - all you need is a blender, a few minutes, some delicious ingredients and you’re good to go!

People who say to not eat food that comes in a package had clearly never seen a banana! Bananas have proven to help maintain blood pressure, stop runny noses and look after our heart health because of their high levels of potassium. They also contain fibre that help speed up our digestion and keep you well-regulated. Bananas are a great pre-workout snack because they help reduce muscle cramps before training. Freezing them makes them the perfect base for our soft serve, providing the perfect amount of creaminess and sweetness.

Of course, the essential component of this recipe – the one that takes it from silver to gold - is my Golden Gut Blend. Golden Gut Blend is a raw whole food blend that does all the hard work for you. It can improve nutrient absorption, regulate metabolism and is full of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to fight off any allergy that comes your way. Just think of it as your magical golden fairy dust. You can read more about it and how to use it in your recipes here.

What's next? Ahhh... maca powder! Maca powder can help balance hormones and increase energy. It's a great mood-lifter and can make you feel more awake and energised. The best part about maca? Its taste. Maca adds a caramel and honeycomb taste so it's the perfect addition to this Golden Gut-time Soft Serve. 

You can't have ice cream without a topping... or five. Activated Buckwheat, also known as buckinis, are your Low GI, gluten-free and dairy-free answer to ice cream toppings. Buckwheat is rich in protein and many minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, manganese and B vitamins and lots of heart-healthy fibre.

Supercharged tip: peel the bananas before you freeze them for ultimate soft serve making ease.

Golden Gut-Time Soft Serve

Serves 1-2

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs Golden Gut Blend
• 2 frozen bananas
• 2 tbs Maple Sunflower Butter
• 1 tsp maca powder
• 1/4 cup chilled coconut milk
• ½ tsp vanilla powder
• Pinch of sea salt 
• Buckini seeds to sprinkle on top 

Method:

Blend until desired consistency adding extra coconut milk if required.

Sprinkle with buckinis

Coconut Vanilla Bean Matcha Chiller

Swipe right and find your greatest matcha yet with my Coconut Vanilla Bean Matcha Chiller.

There's nothing I love more than starting my day by sipping on a nutritious matcha chiller. Matcha is popping up at every health store and café and I sure know why! Not only because of the earthy and wholesome taste but because of all the health benefits it provides.

Matcha teas didn’t start off as the funky health drink that we all know and love today. Matcha originates from Japan where it’s drunk as part of a religious tea ceremony. I don’t know about you, but any ceremony which has tea in it is one I want to be a part of 😉

On a nutritional level, matcha is equal to about ten cups of regular green tea. It’s packed full of antioxidants, making it protective against anything from nasty colds to heart disease. It's even great for ageing gracefully (woo-hoo!). Not to mention, matcha can boost metabolism and even lower blood sugar, preventing insulin spikes. This makes matcha amazing in slowing down the development of type 1 diabetes and can help to regulate glucose levels in diabetics.

The thing I love about my matcha chiller is that it provides the lovely ritual of an iced coffee without the not-so-lovely coffee and sugar side-effects. While matcha provides a great boost of energy because of its caffeine content, it contains a specific amino acid which helps calm the mind and avoid those coffee jitters. Say hello to antioxidant-rich, wrinkle-free smiling faces.

I’ve combined the goodness of matcha with a hint of vanilla powder, for the ultimate concoction. Vanilla powder is also rich in many nutrients and minerals and gives our latte a velvety vanilla taste and total immune-boosting power. 

This chiller is silky smooth and just sweet enough to satisfy all your matcha cravings!

Coconut Vanilla Bean Matcha Chiller

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp vanilla powder
• 1 teaspoon matcha powder 
• 1 cup coconut water water
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 cup coconut milk 
• 8 cubes of ice

Method:

Place all the ingredients in the blender

Blend until frothy

Pour into two coffee cups and enjoy

Let me know what you think of these three easy allergy friendly blender recipes in the comments section below.