Wellbeing Tips

With Jacquie Dale

BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY
The cold season is here but that doesn’t mean you have to get sick. Food is your best medicine when it comes to fighting off colds and flu. Increase immune boosting foods such as garlic, onions and sea vegetables. Prepare stews, soups and casseroles with plenty of warming spices to help fight cold and flu infections, which are common over the winter months. Over 5,000 years ago Chinese herbalists used garlic to lower blood pressure and help cure cardiac symptoms. Garlic’s antiseptic properties have been recognised by different cultures all over the world. Garlic contains a compound called allician, which has powerful antiviral properties. Prevention is better than cure, so now is a good time to boost your intake of garlic and start supplementing with extra Vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin D.

TASTY GLUTEN FREE TREAT
These scrummy low GI chocolate bars make the ideal gluten free snack.
If you crave something sweet, treat yourself to a Simple Chocolate (is this a brand name – if not then lowercase s and c) snack bar. No need to worry about your waistline because in total you’ll be consuming less than 190 calories. Healtheries snack bars are endorsed by the Coeliac Society, not only are they delicious they are safe for those with wheat and gluten sensitivities or Coeliac disease. You’ll find them at your local supermarket.

STRESSED OUT? WAIT THREE MINUTES, THEN HAVE A CUPPA
Good news, a cup of green tea gives you a double whammy to help fight stress. Not only is green tea an excellent source of antioxidants, but it contains an amino acid called theanine. Theanine helps to reduce mental and physical stress and supports the immune system. How you brew your tea determines the antioxidant content. Matt Greenwood, Master Tea Taster from the Bell Tea Company says that for best results let your tea bag sit in the water for three minutes. Real tea is better for you too - decaffeinated teas tend to have much lower levels of antioxidants.

VITAMIN K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for normal blood clotting. Vitamin K comes in two forms, K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 is found in green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, broccoli and spinach. Vitamin K2 is found in meat, cheese and fermented soybeans. Vitamin K helps prevent osteoporosis by boosting bone density. Vitamin K deficiency is very rare but can also occur after long-term treatment with antibiotics.

FIND OUT YOUR EATING STYLE
If your diet seems to be a constant struggle, try tracking your eating for a while. There are many benefits in keeping a food journal. Firstly, writing it down will help you control how much you eat because you have to remember every bite. You’ll also be able to notice unhealthy habits or cravings at certain times of the day. It won’t take long to recognise patterns of eating or areas you need to focus on. Are you a meal skipper or a fast food queen? Spend a couple of weeks finding out the truths about your own eating. Then come up with some easy ways to make it healthier.

Visit: www.realnutrition.co.nz