Hi, I’m Lee and I’m a tea-aholic.

Yes, yes, I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m addicted to tea. I drink several cups of tea a day and have found that there’s tea for every occasion and mood. 

There’s a tea for waking up in the morning, soothing a sore throat that arises mid-day, cooling down in the afternoon, easing digestion after a big meal and even one for helping you tuck into bed at night. While there are plenty of tea brands out there that have a range of flavours and offer several health benefits, I have to say, no one makes tea quite like Pukka does. 

Not only does Pukka create deliciously tasting tea, they also follow fair and sustainable practices for people, plants and the planet. 

Pukka herbs harness the indescribable power of nature through their award-winning organic and ethically sourced organic herbal wellbeing creations. Their herbal blends are based upon Ayurvedic principles as they cultivate healing teas based on ancient wisdom, herbal expertise and of course, the best taste and flavours.

If a cup of their tea doesn’t warm you up enough, the fact that they’re involved in several social mission initiatives will. Their aim is to make the world a better place by donating 1% of their earnings towards environmental causes. 

I love the fact that their tea bags are biodegradable, and only organic cotton strings and compostable tags are used, so perfect for the garden. Even their packaging involves recyclable paper with vegetable ink; it fulfils every one of my inner-hippie dreams!  To me, this makes each cup of tea taste even better and more fulfilling. Who doesn’t love drinking your favourite cup of tea and saving the planet at the same time? I’ll wait.

Pukka is a leader when it comes to the herbal wellbeing and sustainable business revolution and that’s a train I’m definitely not missing. If you’re wanting to jump on the tea train but don’t know where to hop on, below is my very intensive tea schedule to help inspire your tea journey (I told you I’m seriously addicted!). 

My first tea of choice is, of course, an Elegant English breakfast tea. I’m not sure if it’s because of my English roots or my love of all things comfort, but I have a serious obsession with the classic English breakfast tea. I usually have this tea with a drop of oat milk (my new favourite!) upon rising. Drinking this tea mindfully and slowly in the morning with a couple of deep breaths is the best way to enjoy it. Don’t even think about drinking this tea on the go as it doesn’t have the same effect (trust me, I’ve tried!). 

Whenever I need a good freshen up, Pukka’s Three Mint tea has got me covered! This classic herbal favourite combines peppermint, spearmint and field mint to cool and calm you down. While we all know mint is a great breath refresher, it’s also beneficial for relieving indigestion and improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Unlike many mint teas on the market, this tea doesn’t become bitter after a long brew; it’s a real winner. 

After I’ve had lunch, my first tea of the afternoon is the Three Fennel. I love having it after lunch as it soothes digestion and offers a delicious blend of flavours for the taste palate too. It includes sweet Turkish fennel seeds, soothing wild fennel and feathery fennel leaf which is why it’s my after-lunch special. Drink up! 

Liquorice and Cinnamon has to be one of my favourite tea flavour combinations of all time. Not only does it include the sweetness of liquorice and fragrance of cinnamon, it also provides a whole host of health benefits. Liquorice is often used in herbal medicine to soothe digestive complaints and even ease a sore throat, while it’s dynamic partner, cinnamon, can help reduce blood sugar levels. It’s perfectly warming, nourishing and sweet; cinnamon and liquorice are truly a power couple.

Having a cup of tea at night has always been a special ritual to me. It’s one of the most comforting cups of tea that I have throughout the day and lets my body know it’s time to tuck into bed and get my z’s on. Pukka’s Night Time Tea has been blended by a Master Herbsmith to create the ultimate sleepy tea. Combining a dreamy blend of oat flower, soothing lavender and silky-sweet lime-flower with the magical powers of valerian, this tea acts as a saviour for everyone, from those who can fall asleep at the drop of a hat to even those who are sleep-deprived. It’s a seriously special blend to calm the spirit, quieten the mind and put the body at rest. 

So, that’s all for my tea schedule – I told you it was intensive! If you're keen to find out more about this tasty and feel good 100% organic tea brand head to Pukka’s site here. 

It’s always a bumpy ride when skin issues surface.  Particularly when it comes to children.  Thinking about acne and eczema literally makes many parents’ skin crawl (myself included).  My daughter Tamsin suffered from eczema throughout school and into university. When any signs of dryness or red bumps appear on your child’s skin and you've tried so many different products to ease the symptoms, but nothing seems to help it can be very frustrating.  

Does your child often feel irritated? Do you both tend to suffer from skin issues? New research has come to light that may be the helping hand that we’ve all been waiting for.

The condition of your skin can say a lot about your health and common skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis can actually be a sign that your gut isn’t functioning properly.

I hear from many parents whose children are suffering from skin problems, two of the most common complaints are eczema and acne. Both can have a negative impact on quality of life both visually and with physical symptoms such as itchiness, pain and lack of sleep.

Fortunately the latest research that scientists are uncovering is the connection between the health of your microbiome and how it can directly affects and impacts your skin. This is welcome relief for many parents who are struggling to find answers that don’t involve hardcore steroid creams or medication.

It’s easy to forget that your skin is actually an organ; in fact, it’s your body’s largest organ. Your skin is part of the integumentary system, which also consists of your hair and nails and its main function is to act as a physical, chemical and antimicrobial barrier.

An important factor in keeping your skin healthy is sebum. Whilst the right amount of sebum protects the skin, too much can result in conditions such acne and too little can result in dry or cracked skin.

Your gut flora have been shown to influence sebum production (an oily secretion that reduces water loss from the skin surface and protects the skin from infection caused by bacteria or fungi) as well as the fatty acid composition of the sebum. Signals sent from your gut flora can communicate with the bacteria on your skin and research is beginning to show these interactions have a major influence on skin conditions such as dryness, collagen production and other skin issues such as atopic dermatitis.

This week I interviewed cell and molecular biologist Dr Peter French, Bioxyne’s Chief Scientist so that I could learn more about this condition that is affecting 10% of the population and find out more about the connections between atopic dermatitis and the gut. Over the years I made my own discoveries too such as the importance of gut health and the prevalence of staph infections in eczema cases. I had always been convinced that this was one of the missing links but it was never confirmed until now.

Even if this post only helps one family it will make my work worthwhile!

What is atopic dermatitis? What are the causes? 

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a common inflammatory skin disease affecting 10% of the population, and posing a significant burden on healthcare resources and on the patients’ quality of life. The first signs of AD usually appear early in life (from 6 months of age) and often precede other allergic diseases such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. The majority of cases (at least 60%) arise within the first year of life.

If you’re trying to hop aboard the plastic-free train, Family Hub Organics is your next stop!

Family Hub Organics is a family-run business from Perth in Western Australia, a place where I grew up and love to visit. They hand-craft a range of products that make sustainable and conscious living easy and affordable. This includes Beeswax and Vegan Food Wraps, organic soaps and body products, organic lip and perfume balms and all-natural laundry cleaners suitable for very sensitive skin. Literally a sensitive person's salvation!

In fact, their slogan is: Simple. Natural. Ethical. If that’s not something you want to get on board with, I don’t know what is. All of the ingredients they use are sourced ethically, as they don’t support environmental devastation, slave or child labour situations or poor working conditions.

Their Vegan Food Wraps, made of all-natural ingredients, are definitely what sold me. Next time you’re wrapping up an avocado, you’ve got to try it - aren't they the cutest? They’re made of vegetable wax, tree gum and jojoba oil and yet, are a fabric-base. These wraps are reusable, washable and even compostable but they last up to 12 months if you give them proper care.

They’re an amazing alternative to single-use glad wrap; something I would love to see phased out of our kitchens.

If you’re keen to save money, and save the environment while you’re at it too, these wraps are your new go-to! They even make for the perfect gift.

Get ready to avoid food waste, reduce your carbon footprint and add some colour to your kitchen. I’ve received the Vegan Food Wraps – Starter Set which includes two pieces that are 1 x 23cm x 23cm wrap, 1 x 30cm x 30cm wrap at only RRP $24.95.

I absolutely love them and can't wait to buy more! 

Have you ever used food wraps? What do you think of them?  Feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

Lee xo 

Do you know what we don’t talk about enough?

Oral hygiene.

We can talk all day about how to supercharge the gut, how to detox the liver,  balance hormones and yet, we seem to forget the passageway to all of those things; the mouth!

If you’ve had enough lip-service and you’re ready for the organic and fluoride-free solution to your oral hygiene, My Magic Mud is the key. The company was founded by Jessica Arman, who started her company at a local farmers market in Central Texas. It’s now become one of the top brands in North America and Australia.

Why, do you ask?

The My Magic Mud Whitening Toothpaste in Peppermint uses activated coconut shell charcoal and bentonite clay; the first of its kind. It’s made with wholesome ingredients that’ll naturally give you those sparkling, shiny pearls you’ve been scrubbing so hard for! It's scientifically verified to safely clean, polish, and whiten your teeth. RRP $19.95 at 113g.

Are you ready to get flossy? My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Infused Dental Floss will help you amp up your dental routine and floss like a boss. This non-GMO, vegan and cruelty-free wax coating is infused with peppermint, meaning it’ll enhance your delicious smelling breath and happy gums! This activated charcoal floss is definitely a key product that’ll make you the MVP of your dentist room the next time you go. RRP: $8.95 at 50m.

About to meet a first date or potential boss but just chowed down on copious amounts of garlic bread (insert face palm)? Welcome My Magic Mist Breath Spray! This spray is sugar-free and free of toxic ingredients. Oh, and the taste? Imagine a cool, crisp burst of peppermint and eucalyptus oil. That's sure to impress a first date! RRP: $14.95 at 29.6ml.

Are you looking for a magical oral rinse? My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Alcohol-Free Oral Rinse, which comes in a classic mint flavour will give you the blast of mint you’ve been searching for. It’s an extremely gentle yet effective rinse that’s necessary for optimising your oral hygiene. While it’s alcohol-free, it's also full of natural anti-inflammatory ingredients to soothe your gums and mouth, such as aloe vera and turmeric. Think vegan, paleo, gluten-free and fluoride free too!  RRP: $14.95 at 420ml.

Have you tried these oral hygiene products?  Let me know in the comments section below.

Do you know what’s absolutely fiiiiine?

Fine cold-pressed, high-quality oils by Proteco; they’re oh so dreamy!

So, what makes Proteco oil’s so fine?

Proteco is the leader of cold-pressed oils in Australia and uses only the greatest, freshest Australian produce.

Proteco have a diverse range of products that can be used in a multitude of ways – it can take you from your morning skincare routine all the way to your stir-fry for dinner; because after all, you are what you eat.

The advanced extraction and filtration technology they use (I know, sounds fancy already!), ensures that every single product is of a high quality and consistency. Proteco practice cold-pressing their products, which means that they press fruits or seeds with a modern steel process so that they’re not refined or stripped of their natural oils, antioxidants, vitamins and flavour. Unlike many pressed oils, Proteco don’t use chemicals or extra solvents, so you can be sure that all of the raw materials, aromas and nutritional values are preserved, just the way we like it!

Who needs a house when you can have the flesh of real avocados pressed into an oil instead? I’m obsessed with Pressed Purity’s Avocado Oil. Avocados are high in healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals. This oil is particularly nutrient-rich and versatile; it’s probably in that natural moisturiser you were applying earlier today! Personally, I love using avocado oil in my salad dressing, but it’s also delicious drizzled into stir fries and soups. If you’re all for avocado on the skin, it’s an amazing moisturiser to calm down itchy skin and replenish dry and chapped skin! Avo look at that! RRP $12.95 for 250ml.

Are you ever frying up fish or marinating your proteins and wanting to take it to the next level? Cue: Macadamia Oil! Macadamia oil is fast becoming a favourite cooking oil because of its nutty flavours and high tolerance to heat. I love it in my baking but it’s also seriously amazing for nourishing dry skin. RRP $7.95 at 250ml.

And finally, let’s talk about hemp, baby! Hemp seed oil has all of the incredible properties that you’ve heard about hemp, but this time, it’s grown with organic farming practices. Hemp makes for the perfect oil as it contains a perfectly balanced ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which is required for optimal nutrition! If you’re looking to boost your immunity, brighten up your skin, boost your hair and strengthen your nails, hemp is where it’s at. RRP $16.95 at 250ml.

Have you tried these oils? Let me know in the comments section below. 

Lee 🙂

All the gassy ladies,

All the gassy ladies,

All the gassy ladies,

Now put your hands up!

Have you ever felt, after eating a big dinner, like you’re carrying a food baby that’s due any minute?

Has a muffin break at your desk had you fall straight into a food-induced coma?

Do mysterious tummy aches and pains bother you after a particular meal?

If you’ve ticked yes and you’re tired of constantly feeling gassy, bloated and like your tummy is on the constant gurgle, I have some news for you.

One of the common signs of poor gut health and digestion is bloating, noticeably after meals. If you experience bloating on a regular basis and feel like it is out of hand, it could be a sign that something else is going on. Being bloated is not the same as carrying an extra tyre around your middle or being overweight.

Being bloated is most often a result of gas and wind trapped in your digestive system, which makes your stomach protrude, your waistband become tighter and your digestion sluggish. This can arise due to inadequate protein digestion, where some foods remain in the gut and start to ferment, or an inability to fully break down sugars and other carbohydrates if you’re lacking in digestive enzymes, or imbalances in gut bacteria.

There are many different reasons why your tummy is playing up — it could be related to a food allergy or intolerance, irregular bowel movements, overconsumption of inflammatory foods or artificial sweeteners, too much alcohol, certain medications, hormonal imbalances, indigestion, leaky gut, microbiome imbalances, or gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

IBS is common; research shows it affects around one-third of us, and despite almost 75 per cent of sufferers saying it severely impacts their work, relationships and sex lives, 60 per cent of those have never sought professional help due to embarrassment.

If you’re keen to get to the bottom of things (pun intended!), taking a clinically-proven probiotic can help improve your gut health, reduce your gas, bloating and tummy rumbling (the troubling threesome).

Bioxyne today has announced the results from its clinical trial into the effects of taking progastrim a daily probiotic supplement containing the bacteria strain Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003, with participants who consumed the probiotic reporting a consistent reduction in gas and bloating compared to those on placebo. Interestingly, women appeared to benefit more from taking the probiotic than men.

Besides classic adolescent mood swings, menstruation and menopause, how much do you actually know about hormones?

Well, as it turns out, there’s a lot more to hormones than meets the eye. Period. (sorry, I promise I won’t make any more hormone jokes). Hormones play a crucial role throughout the body, every single day. 

Hormones control our sleep, our immune system and even our libido! (Hot flush alert!)

Are you ready to control those hormones for good?

If this sounds like you, Michelle Chevalley Hedge from A Healthy View and Jennifer Flemming have released their latest book The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet, and I highly recommend it!

The extremely knowledgeable Michelle Chevalley Hedge is an American nutritionist, health writer, presenter and a close friend of mine. She created The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet to help you uncover what your hormones are actually trying to tell you! 

The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet offers a four-week nutritional plan that encompasses both lifestyle and nutritional changes to help bring your life, and your hormones, back into balance. If you’re looking to start your hormone-healing journey but you’re not even sure where to begin, Michelle shares countless stories to help you understand just how hormone imbalances can manifest throughout your life and how it’s something every single one of us can experience.

For example, if you’re someone who experiences high stress, your cortisol levels could be through the roof, if you have metabolism issues, you may want to check your thyroid and if you suffer from anxiety, it’s time to up that serotonin!

The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet will show you how to find balance in your life through delicious recipes and simple lifestyle tips for lasting changes. I love the little informative tid-bits she includes throughout the book, discussing things like the fat vs. skim debate and the importance of sleep!

Enjoy my interview with Michelle and don't forget to check out her delicious recipe for her Brussel Sprouts Chicken Caesar Salad (um... yum!) below.

- Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started your health journey?

I have always been interested in food - madly interested. My mum is Italian, with 5 sisters, so I grew up in a home where ‘food is love’.  I thought I would go into medicine and health as a career but as life has it, I ended up getting a scholarship to a business school and a fellowship for a Masters in Computers.  This landed me a career in education and marketing for Microsoft here in Australia 26 years ago.  I often tell people  how I came here to speak at a conference, and fell in love with a man and a country - in 24 hours!!!

While I was working at Microsoft, like most time-poor working people, my physical and mental health began to suffer.  My moods, brain clarity, energy, and sleep was unbalanced, not to mention my weight would fluctuate 2-3 kilos a week  due to my stress hormone, cortisol being overloaded.  In retrospect, I am so lucky to have that career, as now as a nutritionist I can say to most super busy time poor people….’I get you! I truly understand wanting to get healthy without an extreme approach!'

- Do you subscribe to a food or wellness philosophy?

I like ‘a healthy view’, not an extreme one.  I educate our clients on how food needs to be tasty, easy and affordable.  If it is not, then it is not in our books, plans or cleanse programs.  I believe in eating as much real food as possible and when we are not that is ok, but make a conscious, mindful choice.  For example, if you are going to have a couple of Friday night champagnes then perhaps that day you don't have sushi rice with your meal because you know you're going to have a fair bit of sugar from your champagne. 

- What are your top 3 cooking staples? 

Oh, that is difficult to limit to three!  Food-wise… it would be flaxseeds, avocado, and eggs.  I could live on those three yummy things to keep me satiated and my bowels moving!  Equipment wise… it would be a NutriBullet, case iron fry pan, tea pot.

- If you could cook a meal for one person, what would you make?

I love eggs, poached, boiled, or scramble for breakfast or lunch with wild flavours added but I will tell you my favourite, easy, peasy dinner.

A piece of fish rubbed with some moroccan season and oil to marinate in the fridge before I leave for work.  Arrive home and chop a sweet potato in small chucks ( smaller chucks means less cooking time) and toss in boiling water for about 15 minutes.  Drain and mash, adding some olive oil, salt and pepper. While the sweet potatoes are cooking, I decide if I'll bake this fish or pop on the BBQ for only 8-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.  I'll use any veggie I have, often broccoli, cauliflower or green beans.  Toss them in oil and a tiny bit of preserved lemon, finely chopped.  Place the veggies alongside the fish either in the oven at 200 degrees or the BBQ for about 8-10 minutes or until cooked.

Lay the sweet potato mash on a white plate.  Place the fish on top and pop the veggies alongside.  Yum!

- How do you know if your hormones are out of whack?

Do you ever wake up tired after 8 hours of sleep? Do you have trouble losing weight or maintaining weight despite eating like a bird?  Do you go to bed exhausted but lie there - tired but wired?  Is your weight going straight to your tummy?  Are you hungry all the time? Are you moody, anxious or depressed and cannot understand why?

These are just a few of the signs that something is hormonally out of balance.  

It could be that you are on cortisol overload from food and life stresses.  It could be a sluggish thyroid hormone hijacking your weight.  Perhaps it is your insulin levels, creating high testosterone levels and cascading into PCOS.  Or oestrogen excess and heavy periods or cystic breasts?  Our humble hormones have a lot to answer for. 

 - What are your top tips for people who are trying to balance their hormones?

Take 4 weeks out of your life and eat clean, real food that is low sugar, no gluten and low dairy.  Make sure you have someone or a book to guide you and provide you with easy recipes that taste delicious.  If your food is tasty and satiating, then it is repeatable and becomes a habit and will most likely continue beyond the 4 weeks because it's easy to follow. 

- I'm in menopause, what foods do you suggest for people like me?

I love talking about menopause, but this book is for men and women of all ages not just with menopause hormone issues.  But since we are on this hot topic let me say that doing our 4-week rebalance that is included in the book will bring back you energy, shine, and perhaps even your libido.   The 4-week program is designed to get your liver clean, tummy flat, digestion working and brain firing.  We do that with recipes that are nutritionally dense, high in fibre, with good fats and quality proteins. 

- What inspired you to write your latest book, The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet?

In our clinical practice, A Healthy View and at our corporate speaking engagements, we were seeing an alarming number of people who were angry with themselves for lack of willpower and self-discipline.  I want people to stop beating themselves up and start looking beneath the surface of weight gain, exhaustion, belly back, fat and muffin tops!  I want people to start exploring if their fat storage hormone, insulin, is out.  I would like people to explore if their stress hormone, cortisol, is keeping weight on their belly or perhaps it’s an undiagnosed, sluggish thyroid hormone.  People who are suffering from PMT, fibroid and fertility issues - could it be that your oestrogen is out of whack? Men who are exhausted and gaining a ‘dad bod’ need to know what is going on with their bodies, brains and hormones and its connection to food.

- Tell us about The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet?

It is a 4-week, step by step recipe and lifestyle program to rebalance your hormones.  It starts off in Part I with real people, sharing their true experiences of PCOS, exhaustion, brain fog, lack of libido, and anxiety.  Those clients then go on to explain how the 4 week hormone rebalance has become part of their life because it is so easy.  It includes delicious recipes in a food combining way. 

 - What’s your favourite recipe from The Australian Healthy Hormone Diet?

Brussel Sprout Caesar Salad. "Lock up your Brussels Sprouts"…as Lee says!  This dish is scrumptious and nutritious.  I love the flavour of the dressing and I am in a race to out caesar my Italian mum in New York.   She is hands down the queen of caesar dressing.  The added benefit of Brussel sprouts being liver cleansing just takes this dish to the next level.

For more information, check it out here. 

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 x 150 g skinless chicken breast fillets
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 500g brussel sprouts, thinly sliced
• chopped flat-leaf parsley, to garnish

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 3 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons tamari
• 2 teaspoons capers, rinsed
• Sea salt to taste
• freshly ground black pepper (optional) 

Method:

• To make the dressing, combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, tamari and capers in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and season if required
• Place the chicken in a glass or ceramic dish, then pour half the dressing evenly over the top. Set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes (though if you can, prepare this in the morning or even the night before so it's had plenty of time to marinate). The dressing will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator
• Preheat the oven to 180°C
• Transfer the chicken breasts to a baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Alternatively, cook them on the barbecue
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add the sprouts and sauté for about 5 minutes or until just tender. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Toss the remaining dressing through the sprouts.
• Slice the chicken and scatter over the top, then garnish with flat-leaf parsley and serve

Upton's Naturals have done it again (read my previous review here). But this time they've made it even simpler and quicker to eat 100% vegan, real, whole ingredients...already made into a real meal!

Without dehydrating or adding loads of chemicals and extra preservatives, Upton’s Naturals have managed to make two beautiful Thai inspired curries with real, fresh and vegan-friendly ingredients.

The benefit of these two healthy meal kits is that they're not only delicious but super simple to get on the table. With a busy schedule or after a long day of work, sometimes it's hard to find the energy and time to create a whole meal from scratch. With Upton’s Naturals kits on hand, lunch or dinner can be ready within minutes!

First new addition to the menu is a massaman curry. While it's based on an authentic Thai recipe, it doesn’t make use of any animal products. Instead, the curry is made with coconut milk, tofu, and vegetables like carrot, green beans and potato served with rich purple rice.

The Thai curry noodle dish is great for a quick and healthy work break lunch that isn’t from the cafeteria. This noodle curry includes winged beans which are rich not only in protein but also in antioxidants like tocopherols that help the body use vitamin A.

Cooking each of these curries on the stove top only takes about 3-5 minutes and leaves an aromatic hint of flavours like lemongrass, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, and star anise drifting through the kitchen!

With meals priced from only $8.95, Upton’s Naturals offer cost-effective convenience without the processed, pre-made junk from a convenience store.

Just simple, real food made into real meals.

Visit Upton's Naturals or follow them on Twitter,  facebook and instagram.

There’s only a fine line between youthful and ageing skin…

If you’re looking for an Australian-made product that’s full of superfoods to support healthy ageing, liver and gut health, or to strengthen your hair, skin and nails, you’ve come to the right place.

Vita-Sol, created by leading Australian nutritional experts, is here and it’s extraordinary. Using only the highest quality ingredients from around the globe, these blends are here to help you look and feel amazing from the inside out. Each powder contains a high source of vitamins, minerals and herbs to support healthy living and wellbeing. All the products are vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, so perfect for any dietary requirements. Every product has been tested for toxic heavy metal safety and contains no synthetic ingredients.

Vita-Sol have three different types of Wholefood products.

Infinity Wholefood is full of organic superfoods to support cells for healthy ageing. It protects the skin from damage and is definitely my favourite one because we all know there’s only a fine line between youthful skin and ageing skin.

Purity Wholefood is perfect for supporting liver and gut, including organic alkaline greens and sprout blends to strengthen liver function. The blend is so well-balanced that it nutritionally supports and assists in the getting rid of skin conditions such as acne, eczema and hormonal pigmentation.

Flexibility Wholefood is a multi-action formula and deliciously warming mineral spice blend to support the health of your joints as well as skin, hair and nails. It’s nutritionally-dense and packed with antioxidants to provide the ultimate support for your insides and get your outsides glowing too.

To find out more about these beautiful products, click this link here.

I think we can all agree that different foods and ingredients have different impacts on our bodies. Foods like bananas provide us with carbs, potassium and vitamin B6 that all work towards boosting our energy levels and putting a spring in our step. But, while other ingredients like caffeine seem to offer the same energy benefit, they actually end up causing stress to the body and hormones.

While we may be familiar with which ingredients and foods are best to help our insides function ideally, sometimes it is easy to forget to give the outside of our bodies the same care.

A lot of skin care products available are made up of chemicals, pesticides, synthetic colours, and fragrances that eventually age and damage our skin. If we look after the inside of our bodies by steering clear of processed ingredients, alcohol, sugars and junk food, shouldn’t we do the same for our skin?

We should love AND take care of the skin we're in, so it only makes sense to use natural skincare choices.  ACURE Organics is a family owned company founded on sustainable principles to provide the highest quality natural and certified organic personal care. They only offer products that have pure, simple and effective ingredients in order to help your skin and hair perform at its best.

One of my favourite products is their all-in-one Flower Balm. It is an absolute essential that easily fits into a purse or tote and can be used anytime on any area that needs a little extra moisturising. With organic argan and borage oils, this balm is soothing, calming and protective for the skin. Perfect for these cooler winter days that leave us chapping at the lips and drying out in the wind.

ACURE organic products are 100% vegan and free from parabens, sulfates, silicone, harmful preservatives and nasty chemicals. While they keep out all the bad stuff, what I really love about their beautiful range of products is that they are full of amazing goodness. They're made with pure essential oils and plant-based natural ingredients like aloe vera, argan, rosehip, pomegranate and more. This means they’re high in antioxidants to protect our skin from damage and premature ageing.

Their face mask from the Radically Rejuvenating range is made with a blend of ingredients like moroccan red clay and marshmallow root which are formulated to help your skin become livelier at any age. I know what you’re thinking...there must be a catch though, right? Organic skincare that is based on natural plant science helping your skin to stay youthful...must be some sort of sorcery or at the very least probably way, way out of your price range.

Well, unlike other skin care brands that promise flawless and ageless skin with a wave of a wand and half your life savings, ACURE is actually affordable and super reasonable with their prices. You can get biocellulose face masks from $5.99, fragrance-free body lotion from $8.99 and rejuvenating eye cream from $16.99!

If you’re not already buzzing to buy all their goodies, just wait until you get a whiff of them. From naturally scented coconut towelettes to floral and fruity balms, ACURE’s range will leave you like a bee to a flower...with healthy, wholesome skin and some change left in your pocket!

My hemp...my hemp, my hemp, my hemp...my lovely little hemp,

On my salad or in my smoothie, check it out!

While hemp seeds may not be the black eyed peas, they sure do have a lot to sing about. Ok, ok enough of that. I don’t mean to drive you (or the brothers) crazy, but I’m still a little shell-shocked at how such a little seed can carry so many benefits!

Hemp is no doubt a supercharged plant. It has an abundance of uses including food for humans and animals, clothing, skin care, construction material, plastic alternatives and more.

As a food alone, hemp seeds can be used in a variety of ways and offer us a lot of nutritional value. With endless possibilities, they can be eaten with salads, cereal, smoothies, porridge, eggs and more. These versatile super seeds are rich in fatty acids and protein. They include all 10 essential amino acids that our bodies can’t produce naturally and are necessary for robust health.

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods appreciate the power of this amazing plant and aim to sustainably bring the highest quality hemp seeds from the field to your table. From shelled hemp seeds to hemp protein and hemp oil to hemp milk, they offer a huge range of delicious and nutritious edible hemp products.

Their shelled hemp seeds or Hemp Hearts are ready to eat straight out of the packet and have a yummy nutty flavour. Although they are little, they have 10 grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of omega-3 and omega-6 per 30g serving (which is more than an equivalent serving of flax or chia).

It doesn’t matter if you’re a savoury person or have a sweet tooth, Manitoba Harvest offer their Hemp Heart Toppers in a range of flavours. Their coconut and cocoa mix is delicious sprinkled on top of yoghurt for a healthy dessert. While the onion, garlic and rosemary mix works really well on top of eggs for brekky or homemade soup for lunch!

Since these super seeds tasted so great on food, I wanted to see if they worked well in drinks too. I tried the natural Hemp Hearts in a golden gut latte...both me and my tummy were delighted at the outcome! (I’ll post the recipe below so you can try it too.)

Whether it’s after a workout or #meatlessmondays, for those needing that extra protein boost Manitoba Harvest have specifically formulated protein powders that are completely plant-based. There’s no more need for the tummy turning whey and soy protein powders. By simply adding a serving of their Hemp Protein or Hemp Protein Smoothie into water or a drink of your choice, you can get up to 20 grams of protein without causing any trouble to your tummy.

With such a diverse and delicious range of edible hemp products, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods are great at empowering such a little seed to shine so bright and become more accessible in the mainstream food world.

Golden Gut Hemp Latte (Serves 2-3)

• ¾ cup natural Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
• 2 tablespoons Golden Gut Blend
• 3 cups of coconut milk or milk of your choice
• 2 tablespoons raw honey

Method:

• Gently heat milk of your choice in a small saucepan on the stove
• Blend the Hemp Hearts into a fine powder
• Once the liquid is warm, add the powder and Golden Gut blend and honey and bring to a gentle boil
• Simmer for 3-5 minutes and serve in your favourite mug while hot!

Move over vegemite...there’s a new savoury spread taking over the shelf!

Jo & Co Foods is a healthy food company dedicated to producing food that tastes delicious and is also good for you and your gut.

They have a specially created B-Mite savoury spread which is crafted from natural and certified organic ingredients. Made with 7 naturally occurring B vitamins, antioxidants, omega-3, amino acids and peptides, the spread works to help convert our food into fuel, enabling us to stay energized throughout the day.

BMITE is a blend of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega-3, amino acids & peptides providing you with instant energy & mental alertness. These help to provide you with immune system, digestive system, and cardiovascular support.

This dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan-friendly spread is filled with delicious ingredients including organic sesame seeds, organic tamari (soy), nutritional yeast flakes, organic coconut cream, organic maple syrup, garlic, pineapple and ginger spices.

It is absolutely delicious as a spread on toast, in a sandwich, served with crackers and avocado, or to add an umami flavour hit to savoury dishes or sauces.

Since BMITE contains certified organic ingredients, it ensures the quality of nutrition and the protection your gut microbiome remains supported for the health of mind and body.

A healthy alternative to store bought vegemite is now here! With ingredients crafted by nature, you'll love the health benefits in a tasty snack without all the effort!

Find out more about this delicious and healthy spread here and follow them on instagram here.