June 17, 2019
How do antioxidants help your skin?
Read the label on most skincare products and you’ll see “antioxidants” on the label. But why are antioxidants important for the health of your skin?
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December 3, 2018
Cacao vs. cocoa
Whether as a creamy drink, a crunchy bar or drizzled on a treat, everyone knows that chocolate is delicious. The root of its delectable taste comes from its core ingredient, either cacao or cocoa. While these super ingredients look similar, they have very different health properties, benefits, flavours, nutritional values and costs. So, which should you choose for your sweet treats? Here are the differences and nutritional benefits of cacao and cocoa to help you decide. Cacao Loved by health enthusiasts; cacao is a raw chocolate base that comes from cacao fruit tree beans. Also known as the Theobroma Cacao,…
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October 22, 2018
Home remedies for an upset stomach
Was it something you ate, or do you have a tummy bug? You can’t eat or move comfortably without feeling a jolt of pain, so you stay home, curled up in a ball. There’s nothing like an upset stomach to ruin your day, but before you reach for another painkiller, try these remedies to ease those cramps. Ginger This spicy root vegetable adds a kick to hot drinks and meals, but did you know it can ease cramps too? Ginger contains chemicals (called gingerols and shogaols) that can help speed up digestion. It does this by making your stomach contract…
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July 16, 2018
Why is nitric oxide important?
Nitric oxide is a molecule that your body produces to help cells communicate with each other. It does this by sending messages to different parts of the body. For many athletes, it’s commonly known as a performance-boosting supplement; just one of its many uses. This powerful molecule helps reduce recovery time after exercising and injury, increase endurance, and improve the ability to perform and learn. It also helps: Your immune system fight off bacteria and prevent tumours. Regulate blood pressure by dilating your arteries. Reduce inflammation. Improve sleep quality. Improve bone and joint health. Increase your sensory abilities (i.e. smell).…
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July 11, 2018
Supercharge your diet by pairing these foods
Wine and chocolate, burgers and fries…we’re all familiar with pairing food for taste (whether healthy or not). Now here’s something you probably haven’t tried: pairing food for their nutritional value. Combining certain foods may be more helpful than eating them separately as some nutrients work better side by side. Food synergy Food synergy means combining two nutrient-rich foods in one dish to maximise the dietary impact. Certain components in foods and drinks (like minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals, fibre, and fats) interact with each other to boost health benefits. Sometimes, those benefits may include weight loss! Research from The American Journal…
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October 27, 2017
How your body’s healing process can turn against you
Think about the last time you injured yourself and your wound started to swell rapidly. That was inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting itself from harmful irritants, including damaged cells. The body defends itself from bacteria and viruses and repairs any damaged tissues, which means that without an inflammation response, wounds and infections don’t heal. However, too much inflammation can become problematic and play a significant role in some chronic conditions. Inflammatory disease There are several chronic conditions, where out-of-control-inflammation plays a central part. Treating these conditions, include treating the inflammation. They include: Asthma Chronic peptic ulcer Tuberculosis…
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September 28, 2017
Why is matcha better than green tea?
Enjoying that warm cup of tea? We have the ancient Zen monk, Myouan Eisai from Japan to thank for this. He has been credited as the first person to grind tea leaves into powdered forms. And now, all these years later, we have teas in every flavour for our drinking pleasure. One of these is matcha tea. So, why has this ancient tea shot to the top of the wellness charts recently? Matcha goodness Although green tea has been used in China over a millennium ago, the matcha tea was “invented” by the Japanese. Green tea is arguably the best…
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May 28, 2014
Are you wasting your money on supplements?
In the UK, it’s a £175 million a year industry, and South Africa isn’t far behind. We’re talking about antioxidant supplements – from daily doses of vitamin A and C, to super-foods such as blueberries and almonds. (more…)
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November 28, 2013
Top 3 most effective ‘brakes’ you can put on ageing
Anti-ageing is a billion-dollar worldwide industry, and it's hard not to be tempted by lotions and potions that promise to 'wash away the years.' But are we missing the most important point? As it turns out, what we feed our body (not just what we put on the outside), as well as a number of other key factors are actually what contribute the most towards us staying youthful as we get older. The good news is, there are quite a few things you can do to help slow down the ageing process, and best of all; they’re simple lifestyle changes…
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