Spice Up Your Life, Vitamin Vibes & Healthy Herbals

When we are feeling under the weather we quickly head to the first aid cupboard and begin popping over the counter pills & ringing the doctors. 

Why add further toxins to our bodies that are already fighting thousands of toxins when we can simply heal our bodies in a more nature and healthy way. Often this way of healing doesn't just solve your current illness but also can enhance your health. 

Let's start with spices that you can simply add to foods and drinks to really help improve your condition.

#Turmeric - is an amazing spice! 

What can it help with?

- it helps reduces inflammation within the body

- it has antibiotic properties

- it works well as an antiseptic

-it purifies the blood

-heals stomach ulcers

-improves digestion - reducing gas and bloating

-helps coughs, colds and asthma suffer

-prevents cancer

- helps inflamed joints

-improves skin conditions and helps heal wounds

-helps ligements

- lowers cholesterol 

How can I add it to my diet?

- add it to rice along side lemon

-make a turmeric latte ( cinnamon, ginger, almond milk, honey & turmeric )

-roast chicken in turmeric & lemon 

-ginger, carrot and turmeric soup

- roast veg in turmeric

- make a paella and add turmeric 

- tofu scramble

- add to lentils 

- roast potatoes in turmeric 

I don't like the taste, what do I do?

You can head to Holland and Barrett where you can find turmeric tablets ( capsules ). 

#Ginger 

What does it help with?

-helps with tissue damage

-helps with nausea

-helps with indigestion 

-lowers protein loss

-helps fight fevers

-soothes joint pain

-fights insomnia 

-improves circulation 

-decreases muscle fatigue 

-enhances digestion

-regulates blood sugar

-increases energy 

How can I add ginger to my diet ?

-ginger and carrot soup

-sticky ginger glaze to glaze chicken, tofu etc ( soya sauce, ginger, lime juice and sugar )

-ginger tea

-ginger biscuits

-ginger muffins and tray bakes

-roast carrots in honey and ginger

-mango and ginger smoothies

I don't like ginger?

- add small amounts to dishes on top of other flavours

- start small and slowly add it to your diet

There are currently no tablets you can take in replacement to adding ginger to you diet. 

#Cinnamon

What does it help with?

-it helps fight yeast infections

-regulates blood sugar

-eases stomach bugs

-aids digestion

- antibacterial properties 

- ecoli fighter

- helps in cancer prevention 

- helps with gum and teeth health

-virus fighter 

-lowers cholesterol 

How to add cinnamon to you diet?

- top desserts and breakfasts; muffins, pancakes, oats, cereal, cookies. 

-add to teas or purchase cinnamon teas

-bake / roast sweet potatoes in cinnamon

- cinnamon buns

-add to banana breads and baked goods 

#Cayenne Pepper

What does it help with?

- aids digestion

- relieves migraines

-relieves joint and nerve pain

-prevents allergies

- contains vitamin E

-anti-cancer properties

- ant-fungus properties 

How can I add it to my diet? 

- roast veggies in cayenne

-add to sauces to add spices

-roast chicken in cayenne

- add to turmeric lattes

- roast sweet potatoes in cayenne

- coat your nut in cayenne

- make chocolate and cayenne cookies, cakes and muffins

Don't like spicy foods?

Holland and Barett have cayenne tablets you can order online or in store. 

Be clued up on your vitamins, treat your targeted areas naturally. 

We are all guilty of lacking in nurtients due to the diets we have today. Whether we eat a high protein diet, a hight carb, a high fat etc we will always be missing something . Years of foods becoming more and more processed means we no longer eat natural foods loaded with vitamins and nutrients they have all been modified and had the nutrients deteriorate or are removed.  

So here a some of the vitamins you may be lacking and need to supplement to your diet. 

#Vitamin D:

Vitamin D comes from sunlight and as my professor educated me, humans used to be able to produce vitamin D but due to our 'junkie' lifestyles our bodies have stopped producing this vital vitamin. Now almost all of the population are vitamin D deficient.  

How does vitamin D help?

-naturally boosts the immune system

-destroys bacteria and viruses

-improves DNA repair

-aids calcium absorption 

-may reduce cancers ( especially prostate and bladder)

-boosts mood ( that why we all love the sun) 

-helps muscle strength and heart health

-reduces the risk of developing autoimmune diseases

-relieves depression 

-decreases blood sugar levels

How do I know I am deficient?

-muscles weakness

-depression

-dark skin

-fatigue 

-aching bones

What foods contain vitamin D?

-mushrooms

-cod liver

-cereal 

-milk

-tofu

-shell fish

Holland and Barrett have a great range of vitamin D supplements - capsules & chewable forms. 

#Magnesium 

Magnesium aids in digestive health as well as sleep health. 

Magnesium rich food;

-Swiss chard

-almonds

-brown rice

-dark chocolate 

-yoghurt

-spinach 

How do I know if I am deficient?

- chocolate cravings

- muscle cramps

-headaches 

-high blood pressure

-acid reflex 

Holland and Barrett have a huge range of Magnesium supplements- oils, sprays and tablets.

#Co-enzyme Q10 

This is a new product I have recently come across and even states it helps Lyme disease. As it supports the nerves, kidney, liver, heart, pancreas and joints. All the organs that Lyme attacks. 

As it supports many of our major organs it is said to help people suffering from heart disease, Parkinson's, liver disease and CFS ( chronic fatigue syndrome). 

You can purchase co-enzyme Q10 at Holland and Barrett. 

#B12 

B12 comes from the soil and so meat eaters often gain the vitamin passed on to them through the livestock that ate the grass and soil . Vegan's and Veggie's often struggle with their B12 levels and it is advised to supplement B12 if you don't consume meat. As it's one of the seven vital vitamins.

Holland and Barrett have a number of tablet choices as well as sprays.

Lots of Free From products and vegan products have now started actively adding B12 to their products knowing that people leading these diets need this vitamin. 

What contains B12?

-natural yeast ( that gives you a cheese flavouring without the dairy)

- Alpro's yoghurts, creams and milks

-Fruit immune system boosting teas

Benefits;

- energy levels

-aids memory loss 

-boosts mood

-aids digestion

-helps prevent cancer

-aids heart health 

Am I deficient?

-dizziness 

-muscle weakness

-pins and needles

-fatigue

-depression

-headaches 

#Iron 

Supports your red blood cell count and helps fight fatigue. 

None meat eaters often find themselves deficient. Meat eaters need to up their red meat; lamb, beef and liver over chicken and pork if they are deficient. 

How do I know I am deficient?

- low red blood cell count

- fatigue

-brittle nails

-pale skin

-sore muscles 

Add it to your diet?

-spinach 

-red meat

- apples

-grapes

-dried apricots

-strawberries

-raisins

-figs

-olives

You can easily supplement iron. There are many different tablet forms.

Visit Holland and Barrett. 

#Vitamin C

Your immune system's best friend! 

How do you know you are deficient?

-bone pain 

-fatigue

-scurvy 

-infections

-mood changes

-anemia

Why do I need more in my diet?

To fight common colds as well as dangerous viruses. 

Foods high in vitamin C:

-lemons

-oranges

-red peppers

-kiwi

-broccoli

-Brussels sprouts

There are many supplement on the market from chewable sweets, dissolvable tablets and tablet forms. 

Healthy herbs can do your system wonders and make your food taste 100 x's better. What is not to love? Here are some of my favourites?

#Mint

The stomach settler.

-aids digestion 

-soothes stomach cramps and aches

-clears skin

-relieves stress

-relieves nausea

-helps aid headaches

-fights asthma 

How can I add mint to my diet?

-mint teas

-roast & stem veggies with mint

-mint sauces

-pea and mint soup

-add mint leaves to your glass of cold water

-pea and mint risotto

-add to salads 

#Rosemary 

Works great with meat and veggies!

-cancer prevention 

-improved memory

-aids digestive health

-helps hair growth

-aids liver detoxing

-immune booster

-anti-aging

-antibacterial and ant inflammatory 

Add to your dishes;

- roast with chicken, adding lemon

- roast potatoes with rosemary and honey

- add to rice dishes

- roast veggies with rosemary

Honey, lemon and rosemary work very well together. 

#Mustard Seeds

Add a little spice. 

-cancer prevention

-aids migraines

-contains dietary fibre

-helps fight disease 

-regulates blood pressure

-helps joint pain

-aids asthma

-hydrates skin 

Add to your diet;

- top salads

- add to sauces

- roast veggies and meat with them

-add to rice and pasta dishes

- add to curries 

#Garlic 

The best liver detox and scary off those mozzies, insects and vampires! What more do you want?

-fights allergies

-detoxes the liver

-lowers cholesterol 

-boosts the immune system

-helps prevent colon and breast cancer

-aids stomach health

-prevents leukaemia 

-fights parasites 

-prevents diabetes

Add to your diet?

- add to sauces

- roast meat and veggies with grated garlic

- add to salad dressings

- top pizzas with garlic

- add to rice dishes ( paellas, risottos, sushi )

***

Side note; apple cider vinegar is also a huge must!

Apple cider vinegar helps; digestions, flushes out toxins, regulates blood pressure, regulates your PH levels, clears sinuses, fights colds, fights allergies. 

You can add apple cider vinegar to;

-salads

-hot water and lemon

-risottos

-sauces

-take a a shot

-curries

Or you can buy apple cider vinegar tablets. 

I hope the above helps you realise some of you symptoms that are upsetting you and gives you easy, natural ways of healing them. There are MANY more great vitamins, herbs and spices we can use and need in our diet. I have just tried to cover the best, my faves and ones that people will relate with the best. 

***

I want to finally finish this post paying my respects to Princess Diana.

She was such a beautiful soul, who was taken from us far to early.

What sticks with me the most was when she shocked everyone when shaking the hand of a HIV patient. Never thinking of the risks to her own health but putting others first and how her giving & sharing her love would be of huge benefit to the patient and kicking the fear of the disease in the bum!

I know for a fact if she was still around she would jump at the change to be an ambassador for Lyme disease. She would fight our corner against the health system in recognising our illness and getting us further help.

She was one of a kind, she proves to us how kindness fills people with happiness and that love really is the best medicine. 

Rest in peace Princess Di - your legenacy will always live on. 

And to all you beautiful souls, get healing yourselves and come back stronger than ever. Everyone deserves to feel their best, super star selves!

S

Xoxo

#herbs #Spices #Lymedisease #Chronicdisease #Vitamins #Health #Help #Advice #Diet #Supplements