6 Super Foods you can afford
Healthy organic produce has been criticised for being too expensive, but many don’t understand that production costs are significantly higher with the need for more manual labour etc. With these costs being passed onto the consumer, many of us tend to think that eating healthy has to be expensive. That’s where you’re wrong!
Trying to eat healthy on a budget can be difficult for many of us, which the constraints of family life & work taking their toll on our energy levels and purse strings. But you don’t have to spend excessive amounts of your budget to eat healthier.
In addition to a good nights sleep, your nutrition can have a drastic long term effect on how you feel throughout the day. By incorporating just one of these super six, you’re guaranteed to see a dramatic change in how you feel as an individual without having to spend more than your bargained for:
1. Bananas
It’s been said by many that excessive consumption of bananas can be fattening – this myth doesn’t stand strong in the face of truth. Bananas are higher in levels of immediate energy than most other fruits, but the higher calorie contents comes from the level of carbohydrates in the fruit. Relatively cheap for a bunch of them from most supermarkets, be sure to buy green & ripen at home if you want them to last.
2. Tea
Drank my many across the UK, the iconic British cuppa dons a whole host health properties that you probably didn’t know about. In addition the caffeine kick which increases alertness levels, a cup of tea also helps towards your recommend water intake of 6 pints a day. Tea is also one of the cheapest household staples, with 80 tea bags costing approximately £1.
3. Yoghurt
Often credited for the digestive benefits it can provide to the intestine, yoghurt works as a great milk substitute for those who don’t settle well with high levels of lactose. High in calcium & packed with “friendly” bacteria, yoghurt can be purchased cheaply from most supermarkets. Smaller pots make great lunch companions, and can be purchased in handy multi packs.
4. Wholegrain Seedy Bread
Available as a healthy alternative to your standard white bread, wholegrain seedy loaves containing a lot of seeds and nuts naturally have a low GI. Sandwiches made from seedy bread helps to keep your fibre levels high, assisting in the gut towards an efficient digestive process.
5. Olive Oil
Although not the cheapest cooking accompaniment, olive oil is worth the extra expense over other oils. Several studies have demonstrated that mono saturated fat in olive oil is good for the heart, helping to lower bad cholesterol levels and increase the good ones. Although high in calories, a little goes a long way – you don’t need more than a teaspoon when cooking.
6. Broccoli
A staple “green” vegetable that’s widely available at relatively cheap prices, Broccoli is packed with antioxidants including vitamin C, as well as high levels of folic acid. Increasing your intake of folic acid has been shown to drastically reduce your chance of heart disease. Better still, just two florets of the stuff counts as a “vegetable” portion.
Be sure to follow the Healthy Hideout on Twitter: @healthyhideout !
All image rights belong to their respective owners under the Creative Commons license.
Top 10 Spring Health tips
With the Spring season well and truly under way, you’ll find new and exciting ways to reinvigorate yourself and jump back into action. With weather never a certainty, the post-winter blues can still be affecting some of us. Below is a short-list of the top 10 things you can do this season to put the spring back in your step!
1. Seaweed Bathing – A new trend to hit the UK by storm is seaweed bathing. Available to do in the comfort of your own home from as little as £25.00, get the ultimate detoxifying experience by bathing in vitamin enriched seaweed. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it – Home kits start from as little as £25.00 from most spa retailers.
2. Wheat grass - Renowned as the ultimate detox ingredient, wheat grass is the key to many of the commercially available detox regimes. Wheat grass boosts the metabolism and energy levels in the body, whilst releasing high levels of vitamins and minerals. Available from most health food stores.
3. “Perricone” Powder - Derived from a combination of berries including the raspberry, blueberry and acai berry, this organic powder offers a potent dose of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Although relatively new in the health world, celebrities are already incorporating it into their personal healthy regimes.
4. Active Abdominal Cleanse - Typically started with a simple foot massage, followed by an algae body wrap & herb poultice finished with an abdominal massage, this treatment is designed to aid muscle tone and break down fat. What better way to start Summer right?
5. Pro biotic Supplements – This season has demonstrated a significant increase in the sales of pro biotic supplements, designed to be taken daily amongst a balanced diet. Proven to increase energy levels and aid in weight loss, it’s worth trying if you haven’t already.
6. Fire & Ice massage – Utilising a treatment of hot and cold stones, the cold stones are designed to constrict blood vessels and stimulate the nervous system, whilst the hot stones work to expand vessels and draw out toxins. Available from most spa treatment places.
7. Digital Detox- This season will see the introduction of the first UK Digital Detox hotel, a trend that has taken the US by storm. Calming spa treatments are paired up with a hotel that’s completely devoid of all gadgets. One for the IT addicts amongst us.
8. Organic Pharmacy Kit – New blends of super vitamins are now becoming the “go-to” supplement when compared to standard multivitamins and tonics. Everything from Detox capsules designed to help your body cleanse to A&B complex supplements to help balance hormones.
9. Botanical Night Complex – Designed to be applied at night, this season has seen the arrival of a detox treatment that works whilst you sleep. Made from a combination of essential oils including chamomile extract, rosemary and sage you can guarantee to feel like a new person each time you wake up!
10. The Sushi Diet - Known for being naturally low in calories, sushi is known as the go to meal for those wanting to eat out whilst on a diet. Taking the Japanese staple to an entirely new level, a company in London is now offering door-to-door sushi for those looking to chow-down whilst on the go. Now there’s really no excuse for you not to eat well all the time!
There’s a few ideas for you to sink your teeth into – Are there any treatments that you swear by during the Spring season? Leave your comments below or follow us on Twitter @healthyhideout !
The 3 Main Principles of Losing Weight!
Losing weight has been touched upon by countless articles, blogs, newspapers and magazines detailing how you can do lots of different things in order to shift the excess fat around your midrift. At the Healthy Hideout we believe there is no miracle cure or magic serum that you take one morning, to find yourself waking up a pound lighter the next day.
Losing weight requires serious dedication from you and you only – that’s the only way you’re going to see serious changes. If you change your attitude towards wanting to lose weight, and actually believing that you can, you’ve got a higher chance of seeing some changes. Easier said than done right? It’s probably why a lot of people invest into personal trainers who shout nothing but confidence boosting (or breaking) statements in your general direction for 60 minutes. It doesn’t work for everyone though.
There are many programs that work for people out there, such as the “Burn the Fat” program at http://www.burnthefat.com. These guys have a proven track record with thousands of satisfied customers who’ve seen the program reap huge results for them personally.
But when it comes to losing weight, you can often find solid results come from sticking to the 3 Main Principles of Losing Weight. It doesn’t get much simpler than this:
- Decrease calorie intake – If you’re eating more than 2000 calories a day (2500 calories for men) then you’re eating more than the recommended daily intake or RDA. By eating more than your body needs, your body will look to store the excess energy as fat.
- Increase calorie burn – After maintaining your calorie intake, it’s important to increase your amount of calorie. This is done through exercise, and unfortunately there’s really no other way. Try to commit yourself to at least 30 minutes a day for the best results.
- Cut down on the bad stuff – This is the most obvious of the three, but it’s important to make extra effort to cut out all the bad stuff from your diet. This includes fizzy sugary drinks, confectionery, chocolate, pastries,baked goods, fast food – the list can go out. Cut out the bad stuff and you’ll see some serious results. You’ll feel better too!
Are you currently losing weight or participating in a weight loss program? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or follow us on twitter: @healthyhideout
Spruce up your Spring eating!
With the official first day of Spring now behind us (March 20th for the UK readers), the season of blossom is truly in full swing. With a new season comes new crops, including a whole host of tantalising spring foods that shouldn’t be ignored.
Spring offers some of the most versatile foods packed with vital nutrition that can add huge benefits to any diet. Here are just some of the best spring foods that you shouldn’t miss:
- Asparagus – Not only does it look great on a plate, asparagus carries fantastic nutritional properties that not many other vegetables can offer. Known as a wonder tonic for kidney health, asparagus is a diuretic which helps the body get rid of unwanted toxins making it an ideal companion for dieters. Asparagus is packed with vitamin C & K, fibre, protein, iron, folic acid, manganese and potassium - That’s a whole host of good stuff!
- Peas – Spring offers some of the best green vegatables available in the supermarket, and don’t be fooled by the tiny size of the petit pois! Peas are great when used in soups and because they’re low calorie, rich in fibre and protein, and a good source of antioxidant vitamins, you’d be silly not to add a portion to every other meal.
- Strawberries – Does anyone have memories of picking strawberries with their parents when you were younger? The delicious strawberry has a high water content containing vitamins B, C, E potassium, calcium, zinc and iron – all the good stuff! These antioxidants will help to boost your immune system whilst helping to fight the signs of ageing.
- Mackerel – Packed with vitamin B12 & D along with high levels of phosphorus, magnesium and selenium, this fish isn’t to everyone’s tastes! But eating three portions of oily fish a week can help to maintain the recommended levels of omega 3 in the body, improving bone and skin health. Make the switch from salmon or sardines, as mackerel isn’t considered an endangered species – It’s relatively cheap too.
The Di Vapor Spring Sale 2012
We haven’t updated the Healthy Hideout in a while, but due to restructuring we are experiencing a few major office changes. As soon as things are back as they should be, the Healthy Hideout will be restored to it’s former glory!
In the meantime, our sponsors over at Di Vapor have started their latest their exclusive Spring Sale, with massive savings to be made across the entire range.
Highlights include discounts off the popular Savona corner steam shower cabin made entirely from glass, along with discounts off their Varedo mobility walk in bath. As always, stock is limited so if you’re currently in the process of updating your bathroom, it would be worth taking a look.
Head over today at http://www.divapor.com and see what’s on offer!
January Sale enters Final Week!
For those of your who’ve been keeping one eye on our sponsors’ Di Vapor January Sale but haven’t quite made a final decision, we recommend that you make a choice sooner rather than later. The sale is now entering it’s final week, with many customers taking advantage of the helpful 10% deposit booking system.
Basically, you can place a 10% deposit on any cabin securing it at that price. Di Vapor will then hold the cabin for you (until you require delivery) at no extra cost. A great service that one should take full advantage of!
Di Vapor January Sale
What are you waiting for? Head over today to Di Vapor see the full range!