Let’s talk about vegetables.

To be frank, many of us are simply not getting enough of them. 

As a whole, our society is in need of a total food choice revamp. While I'm not saying that we all need to run around being 'vegan hippies' and changing our name to Lola Granola, I do think it's fair to say that there are many people who don't have enough vegetables in their diets, eat way too many refined, processed foods and some that consume copious amounts of animal protein and fat.

If this resonates with you, then I'd love to share a few of my favourite veg based recipes.  

Including more vegetables in your diet doesn't need to be a scary thing. In fact, it can be fun and easy; it's sure to ease up your digestive system, make your skin glow and leave you feeling lighter and cleaner. You can always combine it with my vegan Love Your Gut powder to help the process along. 

Going more plant-based means you increase your intake of micronutrients that help the body thrive, not just survive. Vegetables and fruit are high in dietary fibre, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and more that have proven to help boost immunity, fight infection and help to protect against disease.

If we examine diets of those living in the Blue Zones, populations who have the most number of centurions (people living over the age of 100), such as the Okinawan’s, they consume a largely plant-based diet.

The proof is in the pudding (if that pudding was vegan and made of avocado and cacao obviously...).

These people live high-quality lives with minimal medicine, relying on their food as medicine. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

If you want to get in on all the vegetable action, I’ve put together my Top Ten Favourite Veg Recipes to help you Live Life on the Veg.

Are you ready?

Vegetable Marrakech Casserole

There’s nothing better than a hearty vegetable casserole. Inspired by the spices of Marrakesh, this delicious casserole filled with hearty vegetables, chickpeas and delicious spices makes vegan eating exciting! When you eat this casserole, be sure to eat it mindfully and slowly. Enjoy it, take in all the flavours and give your gut some real love. Check out the mind-blowing recipe here.

Smashed Avo on Golden Gut Loaf

Nothing says breakfast to me more than my Smashed Avo on Golden Gut Loaf. Before you roll your eyes because you can barely look at the words smashed avo with amazement anymore, let me tell you, this recipe is seriously next level. It's smashed avo like you've never seen before! Avocado is rich in heart-health. monounsaturated fats, boosting skin health, reducing LDL cholesterol in the blood and lowering risk of heart disease. It’s high in Vitamin K which is great for bone health and also, assists our absorption of calcium. Combining avocado with my favourite Golden Gut Pumpkin and Nut Loaf is one veg breakfast you don’t want to miss. Get the recipe here.

Supercharged Dahl

If I had to say one of my favourite meals ever, it would definitely be Dahl. I love Dahl – it’s dahl-icious. If you’ve never heard of Dahl, it’s a curried dish of lentils and includes a whole heap of spices including anti-inflammatory turmeric, digestive-improving cumin and nausea-relieving ginger. It’s warming, grounding and super simple. If you’re following a veg diet, you’ll know just how crucial little lentils are. Lentils are a low-calorie, nutrient-packed legume with a nutty flavour. They contain a great source of prebiotic fibre as well as protein and iron. These lentils pack a serious punch and so, are the stars of our favourite Indian dish. Check out the recipe now.

My Bestest Ever Vegetable Stock

Vegetable stock is a must-have in any kitchen but did you know you could make your very own stock at home? Homemade vegetable broths made mindfully at home are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to use up leftover veggies, making it a fabulous environmentally-friendly household staple. You can use this stock as a base for sauces, stocks, soups and stews. While you can make your own amazing veggie stocks by simply throwing veggie scraps like celery, carrots, garlic, herbs and other garden favourites into a pot, this is by far my favourite recipe for it. Get ready to knock your socks off with this awesome stock here.  

Anti-Inflammatory Spring Pea Soup

Pass the peas, please! Peas contain dietary fibre and a load of antioxidants to help reduce inflammation within the body and encourage healthy gut bacteria. They’re low in calories but high in protein, antioxidants and micronutrients. This anti-inflammatory soup is full of delicious spices and veggies to help ground the body and reduce inflammation . It's a green, lean, gut-healing machine! Get the recipe here. 

Vegan Caesar Salad

You know your friend who watched one of those vegan documentaries, guilted themselves into going vegan and invited you over for gross faux soy meats and soggy tofu dinners? Don’t be that friend. Ever. With my Vegan Caesar Salad, you can show the world just how delicious vegan food can be! I’ve used tempeh in this salad to add plant-based protein and beneficial bacteria to take this Caesar-inspired salad to the next level. If you want to read about my thoughts on soy and try out this delicious salad for yourself, click the recipe link here.

Bohemian Baked Vegetable Bowl

If you’re a keen foodie, you’ve no doubt already jumped on the Buddha Bowl bandwagon. Buddha bowl's are made to be absolutely beautiful. The vegetables are roasted perfectly and placed in delicate coconut bowls, ready to be forever instagrammable. My Bohemian Baked Vegetable Bowl is nothing like that. It’s totally messy, care-free and fun-loving. It’s not trendy; it’s a recipe you can enjoy forever. My Bohemian Baked Veg Bowl is made of deliciously roasted veg, a creamy tahini dressing and some kale, because well, kale. I’ve also included some sunflower seeds and pepitas for a delicious crunch. Let’s spread the messy veggie love with this recipe here.

Savoury Smashed Root Vegetables

Forget boring mashed potato and say hello to this delicious vegetable smash! Think turnip, parsnip, sweet potato and carrots. It's the perfect side to literally everything. My Savoury Smashed Root Vegetables are full of prebiotic-rich fibre for good gut health and delicious spices for mouth-watering approval. I’ve topped it with nutritional yeast flakes and you can use either Golden Gut Blend or Love Your Gut Powder for the ultimate gut-loving boost. Get smashing those vegetables with the unstoppable recipe here.

Oven Baked Veg and Garlic Soup with Toasted Seeds

This baked veg soup is absolutely fool-proof. It’s sure to warm you up from the inside out. It’s full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory rich cauliflower to help fight off inflammation. Plus, the garlic in this soup can help lower cholesterol and combat heart disease. It’s seriously soupercharged! Think of the toasted seeds atop like the cherry on the cake – seeds are rich in zinc, a crucial but often forgotten mineral that helps with growth, skin health and immunity. Get the recipe here.  

Lentil and Sunflower Seed Moussaka

Last but certainly not least is my Lentil and Sunflower Seed Moussaka from Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian. It’ll turn any carnivore into a #meatlessmonday fanatic. It’s a seriously delicious recipe that’s oh-so-easy. Instead of using traditional dairy in this recipe, I’ve created a creamy and delicious alternative topping made of sunflower seeds. This moussaka’s topping is made with sunflower seeds to satisfy creamy winter cravings and offer you a healthy dose of vitamin E and B vitamins. I know - crazy talk! Try out the recipe below because it seriously needs to be made to be believed.

Lentil and Sunflower Seed Moussaka

Ingredients:

• 100g sliced eggplant
• 100g zucchini, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 Tbs olive oil
• 1  shallot chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 Tbs Apple Cider vinegar
• 2 cans of chopped tomatoes
• 2 cans of lentils, lightly drained
• 2 tsps oregano
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock 

Topping: Sunflower Seed Cheese 

• 1 cup sunflower seeds (soaked in water for 3 hours)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• 3 Tbs nutritional yeast flakes
• pinch sea salt
• 6 Tbs filtered water
• 2 Tbs Nutritional yeast flakes, to garnish (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200C.
2. Sprinkle eggplant and zucchini slices with Celtic Sea Salt let sit in a colander to drain for roughly 30 minutes, then rinse off the salt.
3. Brush eggplant and zucchini with olive oil and  place in 200C oven for 20 mins until browned.
4. Moving on to the sauce, sauté garlic and onions in a pan on your stove top until browned.
5. Add apple cider vinegar, tomatoes, lentils, stock, oregano and cinnamon and cover and simmer on medium to low heat for about 15 minutes.
6. To make the sunflower nut cheese, place pre-soaked seeds in a food processor and mix until a smooth paste. Then place into refrigerator to chill and firm. (Tip: For a creamier cheese add filtered water.)
7. In a casserole dish place a layer of the cooked eggplant and zucchini, and cover layer with sauce. Repeat until casserole dish is full, or you have used all your vegetables and sauce. Ensure the top layer is vegetables.
8. For the final layer, cover the vegetables in the sunflower nut cheese.
9. Sprinkle nutritional yeast flakes on top. (Optional)
10. Bake in oven at 220C for about 15-20 minutes or until the top is crispy.

Do you like cooking with veg?  Let me know your favourite recipes in the comments section below.

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 🙂

Do you have a belly? Well this post is especially for you.

Today I'm tackling the common issue of bloating. There's absolutely no gloating when it comes to bloating; in fact it's actually quite common and a real pain for many people.  Usually a temporary thing, it can make life extremely uncomfortable and can contribute to plummeting confidence.

If you’re looking for an easy solution, something that’ll help beat that bloat and bring a smile to your face once more, there are a few foods that can help you fit comfortably into your jeans all day long.

Here are my top five flat belly foods and tummy-flattening snacks.

Cucumbers – are wonderful to help your tummy de-bloat and contain an antioxidant called quercetin which helps reduce swelling.  If you’ve tried intermittent fasting before and have looked at calories, you’ll know that cucumbers are absolutely golden. They’re also low on the glycaemic index table but are rich in water and fibre to keep us feeling full.  These lovely vegetables are your most easily digestible garden dweller too. Try my Cucumber Sailing Boats they are a fun finger food or weekend project.

Do you spend half your time at the grocery store looking at the nutritional properties of the food you might buy?

While this is something I do encourage, we often forget that even if we eat a certain amount of food, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we digest all of it. This is particularly true if you’re suffering from digestive issues. While you can be powering down the protein, zapping in the zinc and including all the iron, it doesn’t mean anything if you’re not absorbing it. After all, you are what you digest! 

While chowing down on raw salads sounds like a good idea in theory, those with a compromised gut can find raw foods hard to digest.  For great health, focusing on the digestibility of our food is a good place to start.

In traditional Chinese medicine, raw foods are actually considered too yin or ‘cold’ in nature which places a damper on digestive fire. Consuming foods that are hard-to-digest over long periods can burden and irritate the gut lining; causing more harm than good. They can wear down our epithelial cells and microvilli which are in place to help us consume foods without damaging the gut. If we keep damaging them, we have no hope of healing our precious little guts! 

By eating foods that are easier to digest, you can help create an environment that enables your cells to do the complex job of digestion. This also means you’ll be increasing your absorption and digestion of these foods.

Once I let go of the idea of salads being the be-all-and-end-all to healthy eating, my gut healing truly began. I really began to notice the difference that cooked and what I like to call, pre-digestible, foods were making to my health and energy levels.

If you’re looking for foods to ease your digestibility, I’ve written my go-to’s and no-go’s.

Spring loving, had me a blast.

Spring loving, happened so fast.

I met a girl, crazy for me.

Met a boy, cute as can ah… ahh... ahh… ahchoo!

Spring fever got you down?

While Spring brings with it a sense of lightness, florals and warmth for so many, for others, the only thing that comes to mind when I say spring is suffering with sneezes and sniffles – bless you!

If the very thought of seasonal change makes your nose itch and eyes water, you’re not alone. While you can plough through the anti-histamines, decongestants, tablets and sprays or even wear a mask to protect you from days with a high pollen count, there are easier ways to clear out seasonal allergies. And it all starts in one of my favorite places - the gut.

Today at Supercharged Food HQ, we’re talking about seasonal allergies and how looking after your gut can actually help you reduce your seasonal sniffles!  If you don’t believe me, let it be known that about 70-80% of your immune tissues actually live in the gut. This means that by looking after your gut you’re also caring for your immune system.

On the other hand (or other side of the soggy tissue), if you have problems with your gut, it can trigger immune-related conditions such as seasonal allergies.

So, if your gut health is compromised by, for example, consuming seven chocolate mud cakes and three bottles of wine for several weeks in a row, you can increase the inflammation in your body and worsen your reactions.  

Today I'm sharing my Supercharged Seasonal Food Guide.

Are you looking to become a pro of the biotic?

Well first up, I'm going to let you in on a little secret, one between us pro's. Not everyone necessarily needs to take a probiotic supplement. Sometimes, just a spoon full of Sauerkraut keeps the good gut microbes satisfied.

If you’re reading this and you’ve never really understood probiotics, I’ll start from the beginning.

Our gut microbiome is made up of a community of bacteria that’s responsible for far more than our digestive health. The health of our gut can impact our immune system, sleep, hormones, energy levels, weight, skin and more.

A healthy microbiome involves a great number of probiotics, known as our friendly bacteria, and a smaller number of pathogenic bacteria. To keep our guts flourishing, probiotics are necessary to help the growth of the good bacteria within your gut.

To replenish your strains of good bacteria, try consuming a small amount of probiotic-rich foods at least a few times each week. Personally, I take a probiotic supplement daily and consume a range of prebiotic and probiotic foods to widen the diversity. 

However, some sensitive tummies can suffer from gas and bloating when consuming probiotic-rich foods initially. It’s best to start slowly with a teaspoon and build up from there.

Below are my top six probiotic-rich foods and their benefits. By including a range of the following ingredients into your daily meal rotation, you'll be helping contribute to a thriving digestive system that will benefit the wellbeing of your entire body!

Sauerkraut is finely cut cabbage that’s been fermented, making it more nutritious than its raw variety. It can help improve digestive health and even contains high levels of iron which is great for boosting energy. Although, be mindful of the salt!

Sauerkraut can be high in sodium, so be wary when choosing store-bought varieties. Look for sauerkraut that's in the fridge at your local deli or health food store, as those kept at room temperature often contain additives and preservatives that can cause more harm than good. I love to top off my salads, such as my Bohemian Baked Vegetable Bowl, with a spoon of sauerkraut. I've included my cultured vegetable recipe below for you to try your hand at too! 

When you were a kid, did you ever enjoy drinkable yoghurt?. Nowadays, a handy drinkable yoghurt to try is kefir, a thick, nutrient-dense and deliciously creamy fermented milk product that can help support immunity, enhance detoxification and of course, reduce digestive issues.

It’s made using kefir grains that help grow live bacteria and yeast cultures. You can find it in a dairy form or, if you avoid milk, there are some vegan varieties available. How to have it? You can drink it straight, add it to smoothies, whip it up like cream cheese or use it as a dressing.

You may have heard of ‘superfood’ green powders that include vegetables from the sea and algae. While that may sound a little bit off-putting, do not be turned off by the sea! Chlorella and spirulina are not just for the lovable grass-chewing hippies. They can act as wonderful probiotics that provide a nutrient-boost with every spoonful. These green powders are made of nutrient-dense organisms found in salt water. Spirulina is comprised of more than 70 per cent protein, as well as vitamin E, chlorophyll and fatty acids. While, chlorella is a green microalgae that’s rich in chlorophyll, protein and carotenoids. Chlorophyll is a probiotic that’s seriously powerful for the gut. You can mix green powders into a glass of water or, add them to your smoothie, like my Berry and Avocado Smoothie Bowl and you won’t even know that they’re there!

Kimchi is traditionally a Korean fermented vegetable that’s made with a mix of veggies including cabbage with seasonings such as chilli, garlic, turmeric and ginger. This antioxidant-rich mix contains bacteria to aid digestive and immune health. Kimchi is rich in digestive enzymes, making it the perfect fix for a sluggish digestive system. You can use it to add a kick to your seasonings or on its own but use it sparingly as you may run the risk of burning your mouth!

Move aside regular pickles, we’re talking about the real dill! Pickles that have been lacto-fermented (i.e. fermented in salty water, not vinegar), are bouncing with probiotics and full of live bacteria. They’re best served organic and locally made, if possible. Feel free to include them in your sandwiches, toss them through your salads, or serve them next to my Turmeric Scrambled Eggs.

I couldn’t write about probiotics without including yoghurt. Both Greek yoghurt and most coconut yoghurts contain a probiotic known as Lactobacillus Acidophilus which helps show pure love to your gut. Biodynamic organic yoghurt (dairy or plant-based) is where it's at! Be sure to read the labels and watch out for any high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners and flavours added to it. Also, look for “live and active cultures” – this is what you’re after. The probiotics within yoghurt help quickly build up healthy microbes in the gut lining which helps increase the absorption of food and reduce bad bacteria. You can try your hand at making your own Coconut Frozen Yo-Gut here. 

While you wouldn’t usually think of Apple Cider Vinegar as a probiotic, it actually has probiotic enzymes that help balance gut bacteria, helping improve nutrient assimilation and balancing pH levels. It’s also seriously good for our overall wellbeing – in fact, it’s one of the first things I pop out of my cupboard when I feel a cold or flu coming on.  ACV is one of the star ingredients in my Apple Cider Gummy Bears. Yes, I said gummy bears. However, if you’re not into all things tasty, delicious and chewable (but seriously, who isn’t?), you can also drizzle some over your salads like I’ve done here.

If you want to try out fermenting for yourself, I've included my Fermented Vegetable recipe for you below! Once you get to learn the process, fermenting can be lots of fun. Start by choosing vegetables you’re familiar with, so it doesn’t feel intimidating. Fermented vegetables can be served as a side dish — just start with a small amount, such as a teaspoonful, and work your way up.

Also just a final tip if you’re not absorbing your food well or have a sluggish digestion cleaning it first with Love Your Gut Powder can help! You can find the powder over here www.superchargeyourgut.com

If you've been following me on the gram, you'll know that I've just been working back home in the beautiful UK, one of my favourite places in the world. I was doing in-stores over at Planet Organic and sampling the Love Your Gut powder and Golden Gut Blend.

Whilst I was home, I also managed to squeeze in a short sailing trip to The Isle of Wight, which is a quaint island off the coast of England and home to wonderful wildlife, natural beauty, absolutely delicious food (I had one of the best soups of my life- the one I'm sharing today) and little nooks and crannies to explore.

This cute island is situated just off England’s South coast and is only a few hours away from London. Most people travel to it by ferry, or if you're like me and enjoy sailing and get the chance, you can sail over there too.  

The best part is that it's an island that's protected from the busy mainland, offering more of a calm and peaceful environment.  In true English fashion, the Isle of Wight was home to many famous poets and Queen Victoria (who knew?). She built her summer residence and final home there - and we all know I’m a sucker for a good Royals story!

Not only is the Isle of Wight home to the Queen, it's also home to the most
beautiful, fresh and absolutely delicious produce you can find. Many restaurants and pubs offer delicious menus based on locally grown produce.

If you talk to anyone in town and even mention the g-word (garlic), you won’t hear the end of it! Garlic is practically the national treasure of the Isle of Wight. It’s been successfully grown there for many years and is even exported to France – so be sure to send them a 'thank you' postcard next time you go to France and enjoy a croissant with garlic butter…

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

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.

Are you looking for recipes to supercharge your gut?

Or, are you thinking to yourself: “why on earth do I need to look after this irrelevant part of my body?”

Whether you’re one extreme or the other, help is on the way!

Looking after the gut is your gateway to the health of your overall body. Inside you there are trillions of living microorganisms and the majority of them live very happily in the gut.  It's not just the area where you digest food, it also has important connections to your brain and immune system, as well as influencing the interplay of hormones in your body.  Can you believe that your gut health can even affect the length and quality of your sleep?

When your tum's a little disgruntled and out of whack, it makes your body more susceptible to a multitude of  conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammation, obesity, and anxiety and depression, as well as insulin resistance.

If you’re keen to improve your health and maintain energy levels one way to do it is through nutrition and by eating high-quality, wholesome food, just like this lovely Greened up Shakshuka recipe from my book, Supercharge Your Gut. 

That sounds great and all, but surely, it’s easier said than done. Who has time to slave over a stove every day?!

That’s where you’re wrong!

Much of your gut health is in your own hands. When looking to supercharge your gut, it’s so ok to be simple with it. By taking one easy step at a time, and not stressing about being perfect, you can be on your way to looking after your body’s most influential part for good. If you want to find out more about just how to supercharge your gut, be sure to check out my latest book or my two-day Supercharge Your Gut Program.