EYES, HEALTH AND BEAUTY

This sweet potato ‘cheese’ scone round lifts this simple stew into something a little special. A great dish for autumn and a way of using up leftover sweet potato. Mushroom and soy mince stew with sweet potato ‘cheese’ scone round You will need  Serves 2-3 1 tbsp organic olive oil 1 onion, peeled and chopped 1 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 120g dried soy mince 120g chestnut mushrooms, sliced 1 tsp mixed herbs 100g tomato puree  Pinch stevia 1 rib celery, sliced 1 tsp pink salt For the sweet potato ‘cheese’ scone round 250g sweet potato, mashed 1 tbsp organic olive oil 125g rye flour 1 tsp baking powder 3 tbsp nutritional yeast ½ tsp pink salt Olive oil spray Place the dried soy in a bowl and cover with boiling water.  Leave to rehydrate for 10 minutes. Heat the oil and cook the onion for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.   Add the remaining ingredients for the stew and 500ml water.  Bring to the boil and reduce heat to simmer for 15-20 minutes, adding a littl

In this new series we are looking at strength and flexibility starting with the hips.  Blog post, yoga video and meditation on my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/strength-and-flexibility-hips.html Youth boost yoga- youthful digestion. In this blog post and yogasequence the intention is to keep our digestive system young. Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/youth-boost-yoga-youthful-digestion.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 Thank you

Regular readers of 40plusandalliswell will know that looking after your gut flora is good for your health but did you also know that a healthy gut flora will help you stay young?   Let’s look at some of the ways your gut flora contribute to keeping us young A healthy gut flora with a diversity of gut flora reduces inflammation.   I believe inflammation underpins most, if not all disease including degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and even cancer. Incredibly gut flora may play a role in gene expression.   Research is underway to understand more about the way this works. Gut flora can boost immunity. This is because 90% of your body’s serontin, the ‘feel good’ stress reducing hormone, is produced by the gut flora.   Since stress zaps immunity, this helps boost immunity.   This is not just important to prevent colds, flu etc but if when your cells divide a mistake occurs, a healthy immune system will be onto it before the faulty cell divides and cancer resul

Earthy flavours beckon at this time of year as we move into autumn and so these mushroom burgers are just the ticket.  The quinoa is one of the few sources of complete proteins for vegans and provides B vitamins which help ensure our immune system is tip top as we move into autumn.   The surprise salad has borage flowers, also known as starflower.  They are a pretty blue colour and look great on a salad as well as adding essential fatty acids.  They are anti-inflammatory and help balance hormones. They taste a little like cucumber. The other surprise ingredient in the salad is radish which has been grown in a pot - it is still not too late if you want to grow some.  The salad leaves too are home grown. homegrown radish Mushroom quinoa burgers with surprise salad Makes 12 Serves 4 You will need For the burgers 150g quinoa, rinsed in a fine mesh sieve 1 tbsp organic olive oil 1 small onion, peeled and chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 200g button or chestnut mushrooms Chia seed egg - 1 tb

Threats of war, natural disasters - it seems at the moment that there is anything but peace in the world. In our video this week, let us make a collective intention to find peace within ourselves and give that out to all.  Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-inner-peace.html  This blog post was included in the online paper ' Yoga Vitality Magazine '. On my 'sister' blog series, 'Youth boost yoga' this week, the intention is to balance our hormones to keep them young-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/youth-boost-yoga-happy-hormones.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

Your endocrine system consists of several glands that secrete hormones.   These are the pituitary gland, the thyroid, the thymus, the pancreas, the ovaries and testes and adrenals.   Like an orchestra where the various sections contribute to beautiful music, your endocrine glands work in sync to produce wellness.   Any problem with one endocrine gland will affect the others.   This is why stress, affecting the adrenal glands and causing an overproduction of adenalin, cortisol and noradrenaline can cause your monthly periods to stop.   Similarly stress can affect immunity.   Your 40 plus years can be a stressful time as you try to juggle career, children, and look after aging parents.   Relationship break up are common in this age group too and these can be especially stressful.   It is really important to take some time for yourself each day to do something you enjoy and relax.   Trust me, you will be in a better position to help others if you are relaxed and feel well.   On the yoga b

Courgettes are coming to the end of their season right now so I am using some to make some courgettini, a great low carb substitute for pasta.  If you do not have a spiraliser, you can buy courgettini in your local supermarket.  I am also using some basil that we have grown to make a basil pesto - I love the amazing smell of basil. Please see The 40plusandalliswell guide to growing herbs I love Mediterranean roasted veg too - you can either roast your own or use some frozen.   Courgettini with basil pesto and Mediterranean veg Serves 2 You will need 2 medium or large courgette Roasted Mediterranean veg (½ red onion, cut into two, ½ red pepper, cut into two, ½ aubergine, cut into wedges - spray with olive oil spray and roast for around 30 minutes at 200 degrees) - alternatively use defrosted frozen Mediterranean veg. For the basil pesto 25g basil leaves 1 garlic clove crushed ½ tsp salt 1 tbsp lemon juice 50g mixed nuts 3 tbsp nutritional yeast Whiz the ingredients for the pesto togethe