Iron Rich Foods

For all the vegan/vegetarians, take note! 

If you are frequently feeling tired (even if you are getting enough sleep) there could be a chance that you are low in iron. It is quite likely the case if you are vegan or vegetarian as iron is high in meat. However, you can get iron from plant based foods, you just have to make sure you eat a varied diet that includes a balance of grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables. 

Awesome Apps

If you would like to get any of these apps just type the name into the app store and they should all come up


1. Green Kitchen

2. Healthy Desserts - by Green Kitchen

3. Pilates Core

4. Nike Training- this is very cool, literally your own personal trainer

5. Home Remedy

6. Spirit Junkie (this is my favourite!)

Kindness Cards

Kindness Cards is a concept similar to that of the film 'Pay It Forward' for those of you that have seen the film. For those that haven't, it is based on the principle that you do something nice for someone else i.e tell the waitress that you will pay for the guy's coffee behind you and ask her to give him the kindness card in hope that he will do a similar action for another person. I think it also works best when it is anonymous. You can order them online from the link below for free (spreading the kindness), watch the video too :)

I can't wait to use these babies!

http://www.wakeupsydney.com.au/Free-Gifts.aspx

What Do Your Food Cravings Mean?

This is an excellent short article giving you insight into what your food cravings could mean and how to deal with them. 

Did someone say cheesecake?... I mean broccoli.

Why is it that on occasion, we find ourselves with an intense craving for specific foods? It might be caused by any number of things – hormones, stress, boredom…or simply a desire for something a little bit naughty. In this post we will be talking all about cravings. What do your cravings mean and how to keep them under control for good!

What are our bodies telling us?

The foods we eat can have an extraordinary effect on our bodies. Food cravings can be linked to low serotonin levels, the body’s happy hormone. When you consume foods like chocolate and other sugary snacks, the body releases its ‘happy hormones’. That sensation you get devouring a chocolate bar is your body producing endorphins and feel-good hormones triggered by the glucose rush – easy to see how you can become addicted to the sweet taste of lollies, chocolate and fizzy drinks.

This is just skimming the surface – cravings can be triggered simply watching TV! Don’t worry; you are not the only one who can’t watch Jamie Oliver’s incredible 15 minute creations without getting an urge to recreate it! And it’s not just that, the aroma of foods can set off our olfactory system into overdrive and trigger cravings.

Now I find this bit really interesting…cravings can even be triggered by common vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  It’s hard to imagine that with the myriad of food options on offer we still have trouble getting everything we need.

Cravings mostly consist of sugary, fatty immediate neurotransmitter satisfaction foods – not likely to be broccoli, beetroot or spinach, right?

The father of holistic health Bernard Jensen (PhD), with 70 years of experience in natural therapies and nutrition, released his research on food cravings in his book ‘Chemistry of Man’ in 2007. He discusses the following…(refer to the image above)

Some more tips to help cravings...

Keep healthy snacks like granola power bars, fruit or nuts on you at work or home so when and if cravings do arise, you have your weapon of choice sitting in your hand bag or pantry.

The last tip for staying on top of cravings is to foster a deep relationship with your body and naturally listen to what it is intuitively telling you. This can take a while to truly understand the whispers in which our body uses to communicate, but trust your body, it has always been there for you beating your heart and filling your lungs with air.

Getting to know your body is the first step in discovering how to stay healthy – after all, who knows their body better than you?

You can view the original article here:

 http://www.movenourishbelieve.com/nourish/what-do-your-cravings-mean/

'I Am' Documentary by Tom Shadyac

I watched a documentary titled 'I Am' the other day and I was truly blown away by it. Director Tom Shadyac speaks with intellectual and spiritual leaders about what's wrong with our world and how we can improve both it and the way we live in it. 

It talks a lot about human's natural state and the relationships between one another. It's great because the film shows perspectives from both the scientific and spiritual realms. Its on demand now so check it out if you can! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKmlIXE2Xs

Chlorophyll

I put chlorophyll in my water daily. Besides the great health benefits, I love the minty taste and find it very refreshing. You can buy chlorophyll from health food stores. 

Gratitude

Wow! What a reality check. I believe gratitude to be the most important component in finding happiness. Whenever you are having a bad day, just think about a few things that you can be grateful for, this really helps me feel better. 

Additionally, every morning when you wake up make a little gratitude list, write it down or say it in your head. You can be grateful for the smallest things such as your pillow, the birds chirping outside or the fact that you are able to open your eyes and see the world. Making this list will set a great mindset for the rest of your day, definitely give it a try!