Due to their appearance the avocado is often called the ‘alligator pear’ but the more health conscious refer to it as the superfood.
Throughout the years the word ‘superfood’ has been thrown around a lot in the dieting community and some other foods with this status include; blueberries, garlic, goji berries, beetroot and broccoli. Although according to the Dr Axe research it is the avocado that is the supposed king of the superfoods.
Since the UK first started importing them over 40 years ago, avocados have become a common staple in British diets. Dr Axe suggests that the people of Britain consume more than 35 million avocado fruits each year. However it is not just the taste of avocados that makes them so unique, the health benefits are phenomenal.
Avocados contain several of the following nutrients and benefits that unquestionably explain their superfood status:
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Staple trace minerals – You would have to eat two bananas to consume the same amount of potassium and magnesium as one avocado. That makes them an excellent attribute in regards to preventing low potassium.
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Protein – They are one of the best fruits for protein content that helps the body burn fat and build up muscle.
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Low sugar – Avocados contain less sugar than most fruits.
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Monounsaturated fats – Avocados have been proven to regulate blood sugar levels and their oils are one of the richest sources of monounsaturated fats known in the world.
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Fibre – There is more soluble fibre than most foods. Soluble fibre helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and also helps towards regulating the bowels and maintaining control of your weight.
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Folate – They have a high supply of folate that is proven to help prevent birth defects such as spinal bifida.
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Monounsaturated fatty acids – Avocados are made up of 71% monounsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids prevent the development of arteriosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries) and help reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol.
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Prevent cancer – The phytochemicals in avocados are currently being studied by Ohio State University and it has been suggested that they are so powerful they could potentially be used in chemotherapy.
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Weight loss promotion – Avocados are known for being incredibly filling and increase satiety hormones. This encourages you to stop snacking and helps you feel fuller for much longer.
As well as the incredible health benefits, avocados also have an endless amount of uses. Here are a couple interesting ones:
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Can be used as a natural moisturiser for your skin.
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When mashed or whipped can be consumed by babies as a transition food.
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Effective as a replacement for oils and butter in baking as it is an unsaturated fat.
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Can be added into countless recipes for mousses, smoothies, cakes and lots more.
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Perfect for soup toppings and gives your salad an extra health boost.
It is evident why the avocado is now claiming superfood status, as all of the health benefits are incredible. Therefore it is not surprising that more and more people are adding the avocado into their diets. It is very simple to do. Just simply chopping an avocado and adding them into your salads or eating them with a low sodium soy sauce is enough. It is also evident in most detox smoothie recipes. Detox smoothies are very easy to add into your diet therefore they are a great way to boost your avocado intake.
Here is a detox recipe of my own that is very simple to recreate:
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(Pineapple, Kale, Avocado, Mango, Hazelnut milk, Chia seeds – You can also add organic inulin and honey to sweeten the smoothie.)
-Kaisey Elder
Avocado- King of The Superfoods
My Vegetarian Experiment: The Week I Swapped Meat For Vegetables
According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey conducted by Public Health England, “two percent of both adults and children” are reported to be vegetarians, with “19-64 year-olds” 1 taking that figure up to 3%. Considering the size of the UK population as a whole these percentages may not seem very large, however, with experts increasingly encouraging people to change their diets, vegetarianism is on the rise.
Now as a meat eater, I never thought I would ever be a vegetarian or even try to follow a vegetarian diet. However, after reading a recent study I had a change of heart. According to Dr. Marco Springmann of Oxford university: “imbalanced diets, such as diets low in fruits and vegetables, and high in red and processed meat, are responsible for the greatest health burden globally and in most regions”. The study goes on to add that “vegetarianism could save 7.3 million people by 2050, whilst following the minimum global dietary guidelines could save 5.1 million people”.
In order to measure whether having a diet rich in meat, like mine was bad for my health, and whether removing meat from my diet completely was actually more beneficial than just following a balanced diet, last week I carried out my very own vegetarian experiment. For five days I followed a strict vegetarian diet, eating various foods that I had never tried before including Quorn bacon, falafel, and hummus.
For several years there have been numerous debates surrounding the health risks associated with eating too much meat. A study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association in 2016 concludes that “increased intake of red meat, especially processed red meat is associated with increased all-cause mortality” with an increase in “cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality in Western cohorts”.
Keeping this in mind, throughout the week I had a series of vegetarian dinners including pasta, vegetable lasagne with peppers and courgettes, a stir-fry with several different vegetables, pizza and a plate of vegetarian antipasti. Although this experiment was extremely difficult for me a huge positive that I found was my increased intake of fruits and vegetables which I don’t usually eat in the large quantities that I have this week.
However, as you will see in my video diary that I have created of the week, as the week goes on I feel increasingly tired as each day goes on which is possibly down to the lack of vitamins such as protein, iron, and zinc which red meat is full of.
Overall, although I agree with the Chief Executive of the Vegetarian Society who states that “plant-based eating has a lot to offer” and the experiment has encouraged me to eat more fruits and vegetables than I normally would, contrary to Dr. Springmann’s study, I feel it is unnecessary to turn to a vegetarian diet in order to become healthier, when a balanced diet including meat would suffice.
Also, this would not lead to any long-term health problems. If I was feeling tired only undergoing the experiment for one week, unless I kept up with a strict regime of vitamins and vegetables I am more likely to become anaemic which is on of the most common illness among most vegetarians due to iron deficiency.
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-Jade Kidd
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Health
Living in London can a very good experience for someone who hasn't lived there before, there is loads to do and places to visit, but where would you go when you want to stay in shape & in good health?
The Poppy Cross would be an Ideal place to start from, they offer a variety of healthy tips that you could fit into your daily intakes, they are sponsored by Bioglan Uk which is a plus because the company is good at also producing healthy foods.
The Poppy Cross takes pride in being sponsored by Bioglan Uk because they get to learn more about how superfood can improve a person's health so those who do sign up with Poppy Cross will definitely get a good end result through their diet.
What separates Poppy Cross from other Ordinary health groups is the fact their products were scientifically tested to ensure you get the most out of the products that will be in your diet, two of the products that were tested were the Chia & Flax mix, they are both highly nutritious Seeds that we can include our daily intake.
Scientist has discovered that flax seeds contains Cardio protective omega-3’s, Cancer fighting Lignans and a few other healthful things that will ensure good health, Chia and Flax mix has around 100 times more cancer fighting lignans than any other plant in the world.
Women living in London who love to stay active and healthy should consider getting in contact with Poppy Cross, they will get the most out of their selection of heath tips, activities and diet, they will also benefit from Bioglan Uk that sponsored Poppy, all of their products are legit & properly tested to ensure that you'll get the best out of what you are consuming during your diet.
- a Picture of ''The smart guide to travel substance'' by Bioglan, Includes raw bites, nuts, Chia & flax mix & others.
Food and Drink
London is a very good place and because it is a big place it only means that there would be a lot of places people could go to eat, throughout London there is a variety of places that are divided, places that specializes in drinks, places that specializes in Food & places that have both.
The best thing about the food places in London is the fact there is multiple cultures of Food you could choose from, Italian, Caribbean, Chinese, Japanese and many more, whether it's a fast food place, a small shack or restaurant you will find food to match your mood/taste.
A Restaurant worth checking out in Central London is Murakami, its style of food is Japanese it has a good hygiene level & it achieved 4.1/2 out of 5 stars through reviews, The food is affordable the art style of the overall restaurant brings grace of Japan while you eat.
Another place worth checking out in London would be Buoni Amici which is an Italian restaurant, affordable and scored 4.1/2 out of 5 stars through reviews, The restaurant does a brilliant Job with preparing original Italian food with Original flavours, the look of the place makes you feel as if you're in Italy having lunch near the villas.
If you're looking to spice up your taste buds with some hot and exotic food then Jose Pizarro - Broadgate would be the right place to go for lunch, the restaurant serves only Spanish food scoring 4 out of 5 stars, Dishes that are famous from Colombia, Spain, Canary Island you name it, they serve a wide range of Spanish food from different areas.
Those were just a few of the many great places that people could go to eat at while in London, good location, top-notch food and very good atmosphere is what you will get if you decide to go for lunch in the city.
Murakami The Japanese Restaurant.
Buoni Amici The Italian Restaurant.
Jose Pizarro - Broadgate The Spanish Restaurant.
The Face Is The Window To Your Health
Old Chinese medicine depicts that the face is the window to your health.
Skincare Company Dermalogica has dubbed the new technique of ‘Chinese face mapping’ as revolutionary. Chinese face mapping is a fairly new concept to grace the world of health but it is taking it by storm. The theory implies that if there is an issue that is festering in the body, it can now be identified by breakouts in certain areas of the face.
The theory of Chinese face mapping stems from the 3000 year old Taoist ‘Mien Shiang’ practice, which translated means ‘face reading.’ This practice suggests that the face reflects on the present and it can also forecast the future. The Chinese face mapping theory relies heavily on the idea that the organs in your body are all somehow linked. These links are consequently designed to keep your body at the optimum level of health. Therefore if one organ is out of synch it can affect the rest of the body and this organ malfunction is shown through facial acne. Practitioners of Mien Shiang believe that if your skin is unhealthy it is likely that there is an issue elsewhere in your body.
Although the theory seems to many as highly implausible, many others believe that there must be some science behind it. Dermatologists and skincare companies are now incorporating the theory into their work and most traditional healers are convinced of its accuracy.
Below are the essential places on a Chinese face map:
1 – Forehead
When the forehead is subjected to the breakout it supposedly the digestive system that is malfunctioning. This may be a sign that your body is trying to tell you that you are eating too many fats and processed foods. Chinese medicine also implies that this area can be triggered by stress. However some theories suggest it represents your gallbladder and bladder. Therefore copious amounts of alcohol and sugar can really affect this area of your face. In order to overcome this breakout there must be more fruit and vegetables consumed. Triggers such as trans-fat foods and alcohol should be avoided.
2 – Between Eyebrows
Blemishes between the eyebrows also are said to represent the digestive system but they are also the main area that is affected by your liver. This is often an indication that alcohol intake should be reduced as an excess use of it may be leading your body down the road to cirrhosis which is the scarring of the liver. Chinese medicine suggests that your body is suffering from an overload of toxins.
3 – Nose
If you are getting blemishes on your nose it is an indicator of poor cardiovascular health and your circulatory system. If breakouts in this are in particular are becoming frequent, dermatologists suggest you should start checking your blood pressure, as it may be too high. Too much coffee and hot foods (such as spices and chili) can also trigger nose issues. The best way to avoid this issue is to increase the consumption of essential fats such as avocados, nuts and coconut oil and cut down on your caffeine.
4 – Cheeks
This is the area most affected by the respiratory system. Dermatologists suggest that it could be allergies that are causing your skin to breakout in this area. Smokers are also more prone to getting breakouts around their cheeks. However, Chinese medicine depicts that overheating, acidic foods and lack of exposure to fresh air are the main culprits of problems in this area. It is advised that you should cut down on any acidic foods in your diet such as soda, fruit juices, processed meats and protein supplements. Furthermore, you should switch your diet to more alkaline foods such as cucumber, peppers and avocado.
5 – Chin and Jaw
Hormonal imbalance is what Chinese medicine depicts is wrong with the body when skin issues appear around your skin and jaw. This problem is often unavoidable, especially in women as problems in this area may just occur because of their menstrual cycle. Simply living a healthy lifestyle can improve the issue. It is advised that you try to eat more
6 – Neck
Acne around the neck is supposedly a telltale sign that your body is fighting off bacteria that wants to make you ill. Chinese medicine depicts that getting blemishes under your jaw is a sign your body may be fighting an infection so in order to avoid getting blemishes in this place, it is advised that you make sure you are hydrated and are getting enough sleep.
If one is suffering from bad skin and clueless about the underlying cause, the section above should be very helpful in regards to self-diagnosing a possible issue in the body. However, it is important to note that this is just a theory and may not be entirely accurate. Therefore it should be considered as a guideline, not a symptom checker.
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For further information about causes of bad skin unrelated to Chinese skin mapping click here (http://stylecaster.com/beauty/terrible-skin-habits )
Further references:
http://www.healtreatcure.org/pimples/acne-face-map-reading-pimples-breakouts-chinese-medicine/ http://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/494267-acne-face-mapping/
-Kaisey Elder
-Clayton Nelson
-Clayton Nelson
"Living in London"
Being from one of the most busiest cities, London is somewhere which is quite popular; for regardless the reason where the people who live there feel at ease and being a so called "Londoner" is something I will dive into more depth.
Finding out about this beautiful city even though the dark sides may not be shown as much, and then living in it, I thought to myself that I must be living the dream.
One of the reasons why London is so highly popular and attractive is due to the amazing sites Central London has to offer. In the 14 years of living here, hard to believe that I have not stepped foot onto the Famous London Eye right?
Now, as you may or may not know London is really well known for the public transport. It might not be the fanciest; spacious of settings but I can assure you that you will arrive at your destination faster than speedy Gonzalez (keeping in mind the fact you have to plan before hand)!
Okay so can you imagine; rain, snow and the bright warm sunshine all in one day? Neither could I until the day I witnessed it. It was at the heart of the year 2016, January. My opinions, it felt like summer and winter met in the middle.
I feel like living in London you need to have a good sense of direction. This being because it is quite jam packed and if you do not "study" it before coming or going to place it is quite easy to get lost. Moving in London is quite harder than some people think...you lost defiantly need some form of patience.
Having well-known sites like the shard Trafalgar Square and famous museums and galleries such as Tate Britain is an area I think London is not rated for enough that amount of history which lies between four walls I find amazing. Visit Tate Britain recently I was quite surprised on how much. History was behind one building. You have things for example artefacts and Scriptures which were not only from London and the United Kingdom but all the way from India and I think that is something that I find so beneficial as we are learning from other countries without having to travel to it so we are learning more about the culture.
-Sharon Araujo