EYES, HEALTH AND BEAUTY

I am spoiling you today- not only am I sharing my recipe for Caribbean rice salad but also these Coco choc berry bites to finish.  The rice salad would be a delicious lunch pack up or if you are having a buffet or barbeque today, a great side.  The Coco choc berry bites recipe involves making a jam but you will be amazed how quickly it can be made and I am sure you will be wanting to make it again with other fruits. The weather here is terrific - I hope it is where you are too. Vegan Caribbean rice salad Serves 2 or scale up the quantities for a crowd You will need 1 tbsp organic olive oil 1 small red onion, peeled and chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed ½ red pepper, diced 1 tsp paprika  ½ tsp chilli flakes ½ tsp thyme ½ tsp salt Frozen pineapple defrosted or use canned in juice, around 10-12 chunks 150g organic brown rice 4 tbsp frozen sweetcorn To garnish (optional) Coriander leaves Coconut flakes sliced avocado Rinse the rice and place in a saucepan with the sweetcorn an...

In this week's yoga video we cultivate feelings of connection to all living beings and to the earth we live on.  Blog post and yoga video on my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-connection.html This blog post was included in the online paper 'Yoga Vitality Magazine'. Please see http://paper.li/Yoga_Vitality/1336524135?edition_id=dfc3a0f0-879b-11e7-aeca-0cc47a0d1605#/ Yoga can help maintain youthful skin and hair.  Read how and practice this yoga sequence on my 'sister' blog-  http://40plusandalliswell.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/age-reverse-hair.html If you are enjoying my videos and blog posts please would you consider a small donation? Please note however this is not a condition of enjoying my blogs. Please see- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/p/support-this-blog_44.html

As we age, we may find that our hair is not as thick as it was when we were younger.   Please note however that some medical conditions cause hair loss and you should therefore check with your doctor if you experience excessive hair loss.   There are several natural things you can do to fight hair loss due to aging however, starting by nourishing your hair from the inside.   Exercise boosts circulation and this brings oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicle.   On the yoga blog I have posted a sequence that will bring more oxygen into your body to nourish your hair, wring out any toxins that cause hair to be in poor condition and uses inversions and forward bends to bring nutrients to the hair.   Please see my 'sister' blog -' Youth boost yoga-skin and hair '. Of course, what you eat matters too.   Your hair is composed mainly of keratin which is a protein and so your diet should include enough to replace hair that has fallen out (it is normal to lose arou...

There are many stories as to the origins of Po Boy, which is a sandwich traditionally made with seafood or roast beef. One story is that during a strike in the 1920s, in New Orleans which lasted four months, free sandwiches were given to ‘poor boys’. The sandwiches took on the name.  This vegan variation uses flavoured tofu and is just as tasty.   Vegan Po Boy Serves 2-3 You will need 2 wholemeal submarine rolls 450g pack tofu 3 tbsp tamari 1 ½ -2 tsp cajun seasoning 90g polenta flour Olive oil spray To serve Shredded Romaine lettuce Red onion slices Tomato slices Vegan mayo (optional) Drain the tofu well blotting any remaining brine out with kitchen towel.  Cut into small cubes and place in a bowl with the tamari.  Stir and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least an hour.   Mix the cajun seasoning and polenta flour, tip onto a non-stick baking tray and add the marinated tofu. Mix until all the tofu has a coating of the flavoured polenta.  Spray well w...

In our video this week, we will open up the heart area to bring compassion to those that need our forgiveness or ourselves. We also will be opening the hips where we hold negative emotions in order to let go of those emotions. The meditation focuses on forgiveness. Yoga video and blog post on my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-ability-to.html Yoga can help when it comes to preventing or even reducing hearing loss.  Read more on my 'sister' blog and practice this yoga sequence for healthy ears- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/youth-boost-yoga-hearing-loss.html If you are enjoying my videos and blog posts please would you consider a small donation? Please note however this is not a condition of enjoying my blogs. Please see- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/p/support-this-blog_44.html

Age related hearing loss may be caused by degeneration of the sensory hairs in the ear that relay messages to the brain which are interpreted as sound.  Some conditions contribute to hearing loss too including diabetes and high blood pressure so it is essential that these conditions are managed.   You may think that there is nothing you can do to prevent hearing loss as you age but I believe there is a great deal.  Try to avoid long term exposure to loud noise such as loud music, lawn mowers, hedgecutters etc.  Ear protection is essential if you are exposed to loud noise regularly.  My mum and dad worked in a weaving mill for many years before ear protection became mandatory - needless to say they both were hard of hearing later in life although working in a weaving shed they were good at lip reading.   Good nutrition is also key to preventing age related hearing loss. The three middle ear bones conduct sound vibrations from the eardrum to the fluid filled ...

Need a quick, healthy, tasty light meal?  This Summer pitta pizza is just the ticket! It uses pitta breads as a pizza base and you could use whatever summer produce you have in the fridge. The courgette is from a fellow allotment grower and the basil is some we grew - it goes well with the tomato sauce.   Summer pitta pizzas Serves 2  You will need 2 pitta breads 1 tbsp oil Summer vegetable selection - I used 1 medium courgette - diced, ½ red pepper - diced, 1 small red onion - chopped, and 4 cherry tomatoes - halved.   100g tomato puree ½ tsp pink salt Pinch stevia  90g vegan cheese, grated Basil leaves Salad to serve Heat the oil and cook the onion for 2-3 minutes.  Add the remaining vegetables and continue to cook until the vegetables are tender.  Add the tom ato puree, the salt, stevia and a little water (the sauce should be thick). Heat through then divide the mixture between two pitta breads and spread evenly over the pittas.  Sprinkle the g...

In the yoga video this week we are using the asanas to open up our bodies, creating space for abundance to enter into our lives -abundance from which we can give out to others. Yoga video and blog post on my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-generosity.html This week on my 'sister' blog, we practice a sequence to help keep the heart young- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/youth-boost-yoga-young-at-heart.html If you are enjoying my videos and blog posts please would you consider a small donation? Please note however this is not a condition of enjoying my blogs. Please see- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/p/support-this-blog_44.html

Everyone in the UK over the age of 40 is entitled to a health check. This includes an assessment of your cardiac health.  A good indicator of your cardiac health is your cholesterol level.  Normal level is considered to below 5mml/l.  A fasting cholesterol test will also measure the levels of HDL (H for healthy) cholesterol and LDL (L for lethal) cholesterol. The higher the ratio HDL to LDL, the better because HDL cholesterol can remove some of the baddie LDL, returning it to the liver for breaking down and elimination. High cholesterol means there is a risk that arteries supplying the heart may become blocked depriving the heart of vital oxygen and nutrients. Eventually the artery may become so blocked that a heart attack results.  My husband was unaware that he had high cholesterol until at the age of 39 he had a heart attack - he had hypercholesterolemia, an inherited condition which meant that his body just kept on producing cholesterol.  This, thankfully is...

We have been harvesting runner beans so I have included some in this lentil curry to add extra fibre and protein as well as vitamins A, C, K and folic acid.  Cauliflower is also in season and so I have used cauliflower to make a low carb ‘rice’ - this also adds to your daily fruit and veg intake.   Lentil and runner bean curry with coconut cauliflower ‘rice’ Serves 2 You will need: For the lentil and runner bean curry 1 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, peeled and chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 150g brown lentils 100g runner beans, sliced 3 tbsp tomato puree 1 ½ tbsp mild curry powder ½ tsp ground ginger 2 tsp garam masala ½ tsp pink salt 2tbsp coconut milk Fresh coriander to garnish For the cauliflower rice ½ head cauliflower 2tbsp coconut milk Place the lentils and runner beans in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until tender - about 20-25 minutes. Drain. Heat the oil and cook the onion for 3 minutes until transparent.  Add ...

In this week's yogavideo we use visualisations to anchor us to the present moment and create a more positive outlook. We end with a gratitude meditation. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-positivity.htm l In the first of a new series 'Youth boost yoga' we practice a sequence to help keep our spines young and flexible. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/youth-boost-yoga-spinal-flexibility.html If you are enjoying my videos and blog posts please would you consider a small donation? Please note however this is not a condition of enjoying my blogs. Please see- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/p/support-this-blog_44.html

We often think that eye deterioration as we age is inevitable – it isn’t.   Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye, which focuses the image on the retina becomes cloudy resulting in diminished images.   Exercise is key to preventing cataracts because it increases circulation to the eye bringing the nutrients and oxygen to the eye that are required for health. Smoking on the other hand reduces circulation to the eye. Presbyopia is when the lens loses its ability to focus over a range of distances resulting in the eye being only able to see near or far images clearly.   Key here are eye exercises. Please see my video Eye yoga on YouTube. Macular degeneration refers to loss of central retinal function. Good n utrition helps here.   Make sure your diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables including leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds to ensure you are getting antioxidants to neutralise the free radicals that cause eye deterioration. O mega 3s is also essential for...