Pick-me-up Peppermint Protein Balls

Refreshingly minty, these nutty balls are a great in the afternoon or evening, when you need a pick-me-up!

Ingredients

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/2 cup raw almonds, brazil or walnuts

2 tablespoons tahini

1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder

1 tablespoon of honey or pure maple syrup

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of mixed seeds e.g chia,flax, hemp, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin

10 – 15 drops of pure therapeutic grade peppermint oil

Extra cacoa powder,  sesame seeds or cocoa nibs for rolling in

Method

1. Place the peanut butter, nuts, tahini, cocoa or carob powder, honey or maple syrup, fresh mint, vanilla extract and essential oil into a food processor. Blend until the mixture has a sticky, nutty, textured consistency. Don’t over-blend, or you will end up with a paste, versus a crunchy textured mixture.
2. Mix in the mixed seeds by hand.
3. Use your hands to shape the mixture into bit-size balls.
4. Roll the balls into the extra cocoa or carob powder, sesame seeds or cocoa nibs and place in a container in the fridge.
5. Serve, eat, enjoy!

Peppermint essential oil relieves nervous states and mental fatigue. It helps the respiratory and digestive systems,  and muscular aches & nerve pain.

Simple ideas to refine your health routines, and get your Spring Zing on!

o    Rise early to be in tune with the cycles of the day. Sunrise marks the beginning of the morning period, which is approximately 6am. Rise early, as when we sleep into the late hours of the morning, we tend to feel more lethargic.

o    Aim to go to bed at the same time each night.  The best time to get into bed, is 9 – 9.30pm, to get settled, relax and be ready for the surrender that sleep offers.

o    Eat well.  Aim for lighter cooked foods, and use fresh herbs and a few warming spices to give food flavour, like the one’s suggested below. Use lighter cooking methods, like steaming or stir-frieding.

o    Digestive spices such as black pepper, cardamon, cayenne, chilli, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, mustard, tumericginger, aid in cleansing and balancing your system.

o    Reduce or eliminate dairy, and heavy and oily foods.

o    Avoid cold drinks.

o    Use raw honey for sweeting, cut our or down processed sugar.

o    Eat less meat. Add legumes and more vegetables.

o    Reap the benefits of oxygen in your system, to support spring cleansing. Get out in nature for walks, to bring a sense of lightness to your body and mind.

o    Reconnect to yourself, with a gentle meditation practice.  Spring is a time to socialise after the hibernation of winter.

o    Have a dry sauna, or try a dry massage with silk gloves, or a dry brush or cloth.

o    Experience something new, embrace play and adventure.

o    Dress in bright primary colours like red, yellow and blue.

o    Feed your soul by read that book you’ve been meaning to, or join a class.

o    Stay warm when you venture outside, as the weather is changeable.

Aromatic Lavender Biscuits are a healthy sugar, gluten and salt-free, crunchy biscuit!

They offer a satiating balance of carbohydrates, protein and fats, are a therapeutic tasty munch in the morning or afternoon with a cup of tea. The burst of lavender oil helps to relax and sooth the soul,  adding an extra therapeutic layer, to these already crunchy, tasty snacks!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chia seeds

3 tablespoons of water

1 1/2 cups almond meal

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 -3 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey

2/3 cup pure organic extra virgin coconut oil

10 – 15 drops of pure therapeutic lavender essential oil

2 teaspoons of vanilla

2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender flowers

Method

1. Pre-heat the over to 165C and line an oven tray with baking paper.
2. Mix chia seed and water to form a paste. Set aside.
3. Crush lavender flowers in a mortar and pestle or put into plastic bag and pound with a glass or jar.
4. Mix almond meal with baking soda and lavender until well combined.
5. Warm coconut oil and add maple syrup or honey, then add vanilla, lavender essential oils and chia seeds last.
6. Use your hands to mix together the wet and dry ingredients.
7. Transfer to the fridge and let it rest for 10 minutes, then remove and roll into small balls.
8. Flatten them a little, and place on baking paper on a baking tray, allowing room between each one to spread.
9. Bake for 15 minutes, or until eduges and tops are turning golden brown.
10. Remove from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes, before removing to a cooling rack.
11. Makes about 24 small biscuits.

Balances, soothes and cleanses the soul. Benefits respiratory, immune, endocrine, digestive systems.

Simple ways to feel well, as you withstand the changeable weather.

Autumn is the time to gather inward, to nurture and support your body and slow down in readiness for the stillness of winter. Allow time for inner reflection to develop awareness, so you understand what is no longer serving you. See what you need to let go off, and strip back as winter arrives, so you can be ready to rebirth in springtime.

Nature’s powerful cycles can destabilize us, especially the cold and potent force of gusty winds. This can have an emotional effect also, and we may feel depressed, nervous or experience self-doubt.

Implement these dependable tips now!

Clear your surrounding

Keep the air clean in your home in autumn, so you are ready to close doors and windows in the cooler months to come. Open the windows when you can, to catch the last bits of fresh air, before it’s too cold. Create a clean space to spend winter in, and add colour to brighten your surroundings.

Have live plants in your home, as they maintain good oxygen levels and negative ions in the air: many plants, such as cactus also help to offset the effects of EMF’s (electromagnetic fields). These plants are particularly good to place in areas of high EMF’s, such as beside the computer.

Positive ions can contribute to many health issues, such as allergies, anxiety, emotional upsets, fatigue, depression, headaches, irritability, and immune dysfunction. Salt or selenite lamps, are an easy way to neutralize the positive ions in the air in your home.

Essential Oils

In autumn, an increase of illness can occur, due to not slowing down and not getting enough rest and good nutrition. If you are experiencing fatigue or sinus problems, use a steam bath with eucalyptus essential oil added for extra benefit. Stop eating foods that can increase phlegm, such as dairy foods (milk, cheese, cream).

Transitional foods

Introduce modest amounts of pungent foods, which help clear out the mucous in your lungs and intestines. Add garlic, ginger, and coriander, mustard, onions, broccoli, radish, daikon, and seaweeds.

The soundest way to create a shopping list for the autumn-winter transition, is to cross reference the autumn and winter seasonal produce. Choose foods from both seasons and eat more of these foods.  See the Seasonal_Produce_Guide

Be Active, but keep it gentle

Boost your immunity and increase the oxygen levels in your blood with exercise. This helps you feel more positive, energetic and alert, but make sure you don’t go beyond a comfortable limit, or you will deplete your vitality.

Yoga, tai chi, qi gong, a brisk walk, hike or bike will increase lung health and help you feel grounded and balanced in autumn. Breath and stretch often. Avoid heavy aerobic activity, especially outdoors.

Stay rooted in your purpose

As the temperature drops and the plants lose foliage, their energy returns deep into the roots. We, like plants, can thrive during the autumn months if we focus on our purpose.

Step back, and think about what truly brings value to your life. Consider setting some intentions, for what you need. Move deeply into these in winter, dig deep. That way, once spring comes along, you will be ready to blossom.

Natural sleep cycles

As the days shorten and plants shed their leaves, it’s clear that nature is signaling us to nourish ourselves, slow down, and get extra quality sleep. Take care of your sleep hygeine, to improve the quality of your sleep, and also your waking hours.

Going to bed at the same time each night, helps your body prepare for bedtime. Diffusing calming essential oils, like chamomile, lavender, or geranium to prepare your body for deep rest. Aromatherapy can be a powerful tool to support personal healing. Use beneficial bedtime bath salts, or an aromatherapy cream rubbed on your feet before bed.

Enjoy the full beauty of autumn – let go, inspire and feel free –

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup desicated coconut

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup cashew meal

dried rose petal

15 drops of geranium oil

5 drops of rose oil

METHOD

Melt coconut oil, mix all other ingredients with it. Spoon into chocolate mounds, refrigerate for 1 hour. Pop bites out of the mould, and keep in a container in the fridge, as the coconut oil melts at room temperature. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup tahini

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 – 1/3 cup coconut sugar

2 tsp almond milk at room temperature

1/2 tsp baking powder

1.5 tsp almond meal

1 tsp cardamon

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Mix tahini, vanilla extract, coconut sugar, almond milk and combine well. Do not over-mix, or the tahini will over thicken.

Add the other ingredients and mix gently.

Shape into round cookies, flatten with a folk.

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, cool for 2 minutes, then remove from the baking sheet onto a rack to cool completely.

Welcome to AUTUMN, traditionally the season of harvest!

Our bodies begin to harvest and gather energies inward for the colder winter months and move it down, which is a Yin quality.

AUTUMN is the season for clearing any excess heat from the body, and then starting to warm it from the inside to prepare for the colder months. In the Chinese Medicine concept of the Five Elements it correlates to the Metal Element, which allows us to efficiently let go of what is not necessary, and store only what is needed for winter.

This element relates to the lung (which intakes breath) and large intestine meridian (which out flows waste products).  When out of balance this can manifest as bronchitis, shortness of breath, cough, allergies, nasal congestion, emphysema, colds, sore throat, constipation, diarrhea, spastic colon and abdominal pain.

In autumn we need to learn how to reconnect to the natural rhythm of our breathe and with love let go of our pain, discomfort and/or grief, embracing this energy and then letting go of that which no longer serves us. Emotionally we may feel depressed, we are stubborn (inability to ‘let go’), feel isolated and negative instead of tranquil, inspired, spontaneous and fresh!
If we observe and are in harmony with the spirit of the season, we can see that Nature moves into a period of rest, we too must be cautious not to overexert. The time for “putting it all out there” – the Summer – has passed. Now is the time to contain ourselves, acting and speaking only when necessary, exerting our will quietly and calmly.

As the summer light begins to wane, and you can feel the quality of autumn in the cooler air, it’s time to prepare you body.

The arrival of autumn signals the end of the yang energy of summer, and we move inward with the yin energy in this season. This is a perfect time to detoxify your body, and restore your internal balance while boosting your immunity, before it becomes colder.

Each season gives us an opportunity to prepare our body, mind and spirit for the months ahead.

5 steps to prepare your body for autumn.

1. Release the heat in your body from summer, avoid caffeine,alcohol, refined sugar, salt and hot spices such as chilli, cayenne pepper and paprika.
2. Eat warming foods that are seasonal, as raw cold foods create dampness in the body, so mucus forms, which we don’t want in our bodies during the colder months. Access the seasonal good guide here.
3. Slow down just like nature is beginning to do. Return to simple routines, and introduce structure to help you be purposeful.
4. Add a self-care ritual such as a dry body brushing to stimulate circulation and exfoliate any dry skin from summer. Add a simple self massage routine to hydrate your skin.
5. Spend time in nature to connect to yourself and the season. In autumn the leaves fall from the trees, and the energy of the plant comes back to its roots after the full flowering of summer.

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Autumn is a wonderful season to step up your self care, and embrace all that season has to offer us. There’s truly no better time than now to start harvesting the benefits of self-love and self-care.

As the weather becomes warmer, one of the key areas of the body to support in spring, is the lymphatic system.  If your lymphatic system is flowing smoothly, this is vital to easy weight loss, immune strength, improved feelings of well-being, and more vitality.

The lymphatic or lymph system involves an extensive network of vessels that pass through almost all our tissues to allow the movement of a fluid called lymph. Lymph fluid circulates through the body in a similar way to blood.

There are about 600 lymph nodes in the body. These nodes swell in response to infection, due to a build-up of lymph fluid, bacteria, or other organisms and immune system cells.

The primary lymph organs are the spleen, thymus, tonsils, and adenoids. The lymph nodes throughout the body filter out bacteria and toxic waste, and the lymphocytes (white blood cells) attack the bacteria.

The lymphatic system plays a key role in the immune system, fluid balance, and absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients.

A healthy lymphatic system helps purify the blood through the largest mass of lymph tissue in the body, the spleen. The spleen fights infection and destroys worn-out red blood cells in the body. By cleansing your lymphatic system, your spleen is able to handle these retired red blood cells.

Here is what the lymphatic system look like:

So how do you know if your lymphatic system needs a detox? 

Here are some signs that your lymphatic system is struggling:

• cellulite
• ear infections
• eczema and psoriasis
• fatigue
• fibromyalgia
• fluid retention
• muscle and joint stiffness
• poor immunity
• raised lymph nodes
• repeated sinus infections
• sore throat
• tonsillitis

If you’re suffering from any of the above issues, chances are that you will benefit from a lymphatic cleanse.

Here are 6 ways to kickstart your lymphatic system into action:

1. Exercise

Yoga, or walking in the fresh air, are fantastic for getting the lymph moving. Just 30 minutes of exercise each day can make a huge difference.

Try Natural Harmony Yoga with Danae or Ilana or Andrea for pre-natal Yoga.

2. Massage, Reflexology, Essential Oils

A combination of Massage, Reflexology and Essential Oils has a profound effect on cleansing the lymphatic system.  Key essential oils such as black pepper, cardamon, cypress, grapefruit, fennel, lemon, mandarin, rosemary can help. But each person’s body is unique, so it’s best to see an experienced therapist, who understands how the body works.

You can book a session with me!

3. Dry skin brushing

Use a dry skin brush every morning, to help improve circulation and lymphatic flow. Start at the extremities and brush towards your heart in an anti-clockwise direction for best results.

4. Food

Buy organic fruit and vegetables, to eliminate extra toxins. Eliminate diary, as it produces mucous which increases lymphatic stagnation. Increase berries, citrus fruit, greens, healthy fats such as sunflower, pumpkin, chia and flax seeds.

5. Hydrate

No matter which organs you are detoxifying, water is the key to removing toxins from your body. Try it with a teaspoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, which aids detoxification as it breaks up mucus throughout the body and cleanses the lymph nodes to allow for better lymph circulation. Use herbal teas such as Red Clover, Echinacea, Fennel and Lemongrass. It’s extra important with the lymphatic system, as the lymphatic fluid moves slower when you are dehydrated.

6. Breathe

It may sound simple, but deep breathing exercises are a powerful way to get the circulation and lymph moving. And breathing is fantastic for your mind too, helping to reduce stress and improve mental clarity. Set aside a few minutes every day to relax, and breathe.

Love your lymph!