Pretty Yum


Super foods are all the craze right now in the health, beauty and fitness world. To sum them up in a sentence, Superfoods are low in calorie content and are high in essential Phytochemical nutrients. They are also ideal  for minimizing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and high cholesterol among other things.You could have the best skin care regime in the world but if you aren't cautious of what you are feeding your body then even the most product savvy women can be making a crucial mistake when it comes to the results she seeks for her skin.


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Apple and Cinnamon Morning Oats
I go through stages with what I eat for breakfast, but lately since the cold weather is setting in I have been eating a lot of quick oats. They are warm in the tummy and very filling, ideal for a nutritious hearty breakfast.  
Oats can be quite bland and boring, so I like to spice them up a bit by adding half a sliced 'Red Gala' apple, a drizzle of honey and sprinkling of cinnamon.
I prefer the 'Uncle Toby's Brown Sugar Quick Oats'.  Some would rather chose an organic rolled oat but these oats take 90 seconds in the microwave, and in the morning who really has the time for a cook off? 
The apple adds a refreshing zing, a dose of Fiber and are good for reducing Cholesterol levels. They contain an antioxidant called Quercetin which is shown to boost your immune system, great for those winter germs. 
Honey is naturally antibacterial from an enzyme added  by the bees when they are busy making it, plus it is sweet and tasty! Cinnamon is proven to regulate blood sugar levels. This is great to start the morning off as our blood sugar levels have generally dropped overnight, Cinnamon will keep our energy levels stable to start out day, not to mention it is also a metabolism booster.

Buy oats here :)




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Mood Foods- What triggers those angry outbursts and how to calm those nerves 
Written by Jaymi Caldwell

Let me pose this scenario to you..
Work has been chaotic and you are late home. You come home to a house that is messy because the husband is home early, dinner hasn't been prepared and the kids haven't been bathed! 
After cooking dinner and putting the kids to bed do you;
A) Reach for a nice crisp apple and gnaw away
OR
B) Open a family size Cadbury bar and finish the whole thing in a record time before Home and Away is over?

I often find myself reaching for the nearest chocolate bar (family size) and bag of chips when I have had a bad day, and I could probably put money on more than half of the population of Australia doing the exact same thing!  It is probably not ideal to eat a whole block of chocolate but lets see how these binges actually effect our moods, be them good or bad.

Chocolate: Eliminate stress!
Swap that block of milk chocolate for a row of rich dark chocolate. Eating a SMALL AMOUNT of dark chocolate can increase those feel good endorphin's released by the brain. While eating a whole block can actually have the reversed reaction, because we make ourselves feel so guilty afterwards for having a binge.




Green Tea- Afternoon Anger Buster. 
Every night I feel the need to have a nice cup of black tea, with milk and sugar before I head off to bed..lately I have been exhanging this for green tea.  It helps me sleep better and I am not having those added calories right before slumber.
Green tea is very low in caffeine, so it is a lot gentler on your mood. It has a calming effect from the benefits of  theanine, increased our levels of Serotonin, to calm and relax the body.




Spinach- As in Popeye
If you have had a shocker of a day and you know you still need to head to the grocery shop after work, be sure to grab a bag of spinach to add to your dinner.  Spinach is high in folate, which helps reduce and lower the hormone homocysteine.  When the levels of homocysteine are high they can interfere with blood vessels and the flow of blood to the brain, making you sluggish and tired. So it only makes sense to pack this green into your diet!

Bananas- With Peanut Butter
Bananas are high in potassium which helps lower blood pressure.   Smearing a small amount of natural peanut butter will make them appeal a bit more for our not so healthy readers.    Natural peanut butter is considered a "good fat", much like good fats in avocados.  It is high in protein, to keep us fuller for longer as the body takes longer to burn it,  and is also high in Vitamin E antioxidant, to assist in premature ageing.

Bad Mood food triggers:
Potato Chips: I too often have polished off a whole bag of chips to myself, it is an easy feat BUT this is what the effects are; Being fried in Omega-6 fatty acids which will block our bodies own feel good Omega-3 fatty acids.  Frying these chips also create the carcinogen acrylamide.  For more information on the research provided on this chemical compound found in some foods click the following link: Food Standards Australia and New Zealand
Christmas Ham: This was quite sad when I researched and came across this fact.  UNLESS your ham has come straight from an organic free range farm it is most likely to have been injected (once killed)  with copious amounts of hormones, salts, sugars and preservatives! All of which will trigger low moods, sluggish behavior, migraines and would you believe the dreaded "Cankles", from the high salt content dehydrating the body.
Soda Drinks: The extremely high levels of sugar in these drinks are really alarming! The send the body into a fast sugar high to an extreme sugar crash, besides the fact that they turn to fat insides our bodies should be enough to deter you from drinking these. 
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Terrific Teas- The Beginners Guide to becoming a Herbal Tea enthusiast 
Written by Jaymi Caldwell

There is something about the aroma of a brewing Herbal Tea that is instantly calming and soothing to the senses and the soul, which is why I love nothing more than coming home to a hot cuppa at the end of a long tiring day! To be quite truthful I am frequently sipping on herbal tea during the day in between my clients in the salon too and this is why..

While the list of available teas in the world seem to be growing more and more each year, there medicinal and health benefits are virtually endless! The below Herbal Teas seem to be some of the popular and more commonly found at your local grocer or online.


Chamomile- "PMS FIGHTER"
Known for it's antispasmodic properties which makes this tea extremely suitable for that time of the month. To save your poor partners, it is advised to drink a couple of cups a few days before your period is due and also at least two cups daily during your cycle, to settle those cramps and also calm down those fiery attitudes (I should know, trust me!).


 Green Tea- "DETOXIFYING DEFENDER" 
Drank either hot or cold, the antioxidant benefits of green tea are amazing to say the least.  Also fantastic for it's detox benefits and antiviral properties.  Helps flush out unwanted toxins and help reduce harmful bacteria in the body as well as aiding in weight loss.







Hibiscus Tea- "STRESS LESS"
Having  a crazy day? Have a few cups of this tea and feel those flutters fade away!
Proven to lower blood pressure and calm the nerves. 






 Dandelion Tea-"THE LIVER TONIC"
Fantastic hangover cure to flush that liver out after a harsh night on the booze.  This tea helps to boost liver function and improves the flow of bile.  You may still need a few pain killers to get rid of that nasty head ache though.!




 Peppermint Tea-"THE GLUTTONS TEA"
Eaten too much after a big family feast? Or just feeling a little bloated with indigestion?
Containing high amounts of Menthol, Peppermint tea is great for calming the stomach and also stimulates the flow of bile which encourages the body to naturally digest.  Grossly enough but completely normal,  this also encourages the muscles that allows digestive gas to pass to relax, so passing wind is easier.

Rooibos Tea-"ANTI-INFLAMMATORY"
Pronounced "ROY-BOS" for the newbys. A beautiful plant derived from South Africa.  This tea is known for it's anti-inflammatory benefits, which can help calm an acne prone skin. Rich in Vitamin D and flavonoids which are used to treat many skin conditions such as eczema and acne!


My most favorite tea shop in the Country is 'The Tea Centre" which is located in Pitt Street Mall in Sydney. Click here to visit the tea center and order online.

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Super Quick Lunch Box Quinoa Salad
1/3 Cup Quinoa
1/3 Cup Chicken Breast (cooked, skinned, shredded)
8 Cherry Tomatoes
1/2 Avocado
1/2 small Cucumber
1/2 Spring Onion
Balsamic Vinegar to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

-Cover Quinoa in boiling water in a microwave rice cooker container, cook for 7 minutes then remove from microwave and let sit in container with water for 10 mins.
-Cook chicken breast as desired. (I grill mine under the griller.) The cool.
-Dice cherry tomatoes, avocado, cucumber and spring onion.
-Add all ingredients to a lunch box, and mix with balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
-Chill in fridge then ENJOY!

Quinoa: Gluten free as this is classified as a 'nut' not a grain. It is also a good source of heart-healthy magnesium, folate, and fiber, as well as bone-building phosphorus and copper
Chicken: Great source of protein. Leanest part is the breast (without the skin). As well as a source of Vitamin B6 for cardiovascular health and energy.
Avocado: Powerful age fighting antioxidant, rich in Folate which is important when pregnant for a developing baby,  high in fibre which helps you feel fuller for longer. 



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Choc Banana Power Smoothie
Ingredients: 
2 over ripe bananas:
1 tbl spoon honey
1 Scoop of preferred protein powder
3 tbsp spoon rolled oats
1 tbsp Cacao powder (Yes Cacao not COCOA, I'll explain later)
1 tsp Chia Seeds 
Skim milk to desired consistency 
3 Ice cubes

Blend all ingredients and VOILA!! Drink and enjoy :)

Bananas: High in fibre, low in calories, high in potassium which neutralizes sodium levels thus allowing healthy calcium balance for better bone strength and also helps keep the gut healthy.
Protein Powder: Can aid in weight loss as body burns more energy trying to break protein down.                                              
Rolled oats: Controls glucose and insulin levels to put a halt to sugar peaks throughout the day, prevents heart disease, aids in weight loss.                                          
Cacao Powder: Contains more antioxidants on the market than blueberries, green tea and red wine. It has 3 times more potent antioxidants than green tea in fact!    
Chia Seeds: High in fibre, omega 3, protein and antioxidants.


 You can purchase wholefoods from your local Health Store or click this link to shop online


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