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Menu at my house this week 23/2/21

23/2/2021

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Hello, I hope you are all well and happy.  

This week brought a light on a distant horizon in terms of lifting restrictions here in the UK.  
Interestingly, the summer solstice has been chosen as the tentative date for us all getting back to normal.  
We always celebrate the solstices here, so this year should be a great celebration if so.

Anyhow... here`s the meals we are eating in our house this week, although life got in the way a little last week, or more accurately - pancake day - the very rare chance for my family to gorge themselves on sugar!  I attempted gluten and dairy free pancakes for myself, which were basically rather rubbery but at least I felt part of the celebrations.

I have a meal left over from last week because of the sugar fest that I haven`t cooked yet, and all the ingredients to do so, so I will be rolling that over to this week - making this weeks options a little shorter than usual.

So... let`s get started
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15 minute chana masala

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Who doesn`t love a quick and easy dinner!
I`m going to add a lot more veggies to this to beef it up a bit.  Some peppers, onions and maybe some chickpeas.  I cook our brown rice from scratch.  I`m not a fan at all of the packets you heat up.   
​1 - I don`t own a microwave and 2 - heating plastics with food???!!!! that is a definite NO in terms of transferring chemicals onto your plates.


​Chicken Fajitas

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Fajitas are so good and fun for the family.  Kiddos love eating things in wraps so these are always appreciated by all.
I abstain from the wrap option - I haven`t found a decent gluten free wrap alternative yet so I`d rather have it without.  I most probably will boil a little brown rice or chop a couple of potatoes to make wedges with to have along with this.

Everything I plate up ALWAYS comes with a huge salad and plenty of toppings - spring onions, radishes, chillies.  I`ll be making some delicious guacamole with this and some pico de gallo to add to the wraps.

Easy Vegan Burrito Bowl

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Staying with the mexican theme, this burrito bowl is a great alternative to a traditional buddha bowl.  We aren`t great fans of the cashew cream so will probably ommit that bit and will make extra guacamole instead. I will most probably add some aduki beans in with the black beans and sweetcorn for extra protein yumminess.  
I`ll be using brown rice as like I`ve mentioned before, the refining of the rice removes all the B vitamins and goodness from the rice.  It is sooooo much better for you to eat brown rice, and I think it`s way tastier too.


Wood fired homemade pizzas
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.My partner in crime doesn`t very often make requests for his dinners - he usually just leaves it up to me.  However, he has been going on and on about pizza for a few weeks now and so I have given in.  I use this Jamie Oliver recipe for our pizza dough.  It always turns out nice and his tomato base is tasty too.  Don`t worry if you haven`t got the semolina that he puts in his recipe.  I never add that in and just use the whole quantity of strong bread flour.
I add in courgettes to the base and whizz it up and no one is the wiser! 

We have a wood fired stove in the garden that we use for these in the summer months but I doubt we`ll crank that up this weekend, unless it is a very mild evening.  These work just as well in a hot oven.  
One thing... life is so much easier if you have a pizza shovel though.

I`ll be sitting out of the pizza fest and will get the chance to make myself something that I enjoy that no one else does.. something probably involving mushrooms as Mark really isn`t keen on them.

Anyhow, like I said... a shorter menu this week as I still have the shrimp sizzler from last week to whip up and as always, Sunday will be a roast dinner.

I wish you all a happy and healthy week,

Eve 
​x 

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This weeks menu at our house 17/2/21

15/2/2021

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Here`s another addition of - what are my family eating at home this week?
Finally, the freezing weather seems to have lifted and there is a hint of spring in the air. Hurray!  
Meals are still pretty hearty though as it is still February after all.

You can click on the pictures to take you to the recipes and shopping lists.  Thank you again dear recipe creators!

Super-simple chicken curry traybake

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Courtesy of Jamie Oliver, who never fails to tickle our tastebuds.  Try to have this with wholegrain rice if you can.  Refined rice takes all the goodness and B vitamins out of the grain.  
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Grilled Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter glaze

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One the kids will love because the fish is on sticks!   
I`m going to do a buddha bowl with plenty of veggies to go alongside this dish.

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Sausage and bean Casserole

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Whilst my partner in crime will be eating this as per the recipe, My little girl and myself will be having a veggie option style sausage.  Aduki beans can be pretty tricky to source sometimes.  If that`s the case, just substitute with your favourite type of bean.

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Prawn sizzler with tandori masala

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I`ll be doing this dish fajita style for the wheat eaters in the house, and just plain for myself with some rice on the side.  You can either use soft tortillas or large naan breads to wrap these tasty little prawns up in. Plenty of salad and veggies on the side.

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Killer Vegan Chilli

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It`s good to have a meat free night for those that eat meat.  There`s plenty of protein in this dish  and it really is a great chilli recipe.  If I feel creative enough on the night, I might make the wheat eaters some homemade nachos to go with this.

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Sunday Roast

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And the usual Sunday roast.  There`s always looks of horror and disbelief if I don`t do a sunday roast!
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Weekly menu at my house - 10/2/21

9/2/2021

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Click on the picture for this weeks meals
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Evening meals at my house 1/2/2020

1/2/2021

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I thought it might be helpful to those of you that don`t know where to start with meal planning for me to show you my weekly menu of evening meals.  I sometimes mix them up a bit... add a little shredded chicken here and there to salads or a few prawns, but you'll get the general idea.  You might see something that wets your appetite.  I`ll put the links to the recipes beneath the pictures.

Enjoy!

Love and health,

​Eve x
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 Beetroot and avocado salad  I`ll be omitting the feta in our house as we don`t eat dairy.  I might try and source a non-dairy stle feta as I do happen to love the flavour of feta
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Roasted vegetable salad  I`ll be adding some organic chicken thighs to this meal and again, substituting the feta.  I`m the only one in our house that loves aubergine so it`s always a challenge trying to disguise it! I usually end up getting complained at, but never mind.
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Honey, Soy chicken I`ll be having this one with brown rice.  We are really enjoying Ocados Italian brown rice at the moment.  
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Blackened Salmon Tacos with coriander sauce and cabbage slaw  There`s always an oily fish meal in our weekly menu to help get our dietary Omega 3s.  We do substitute with omega 3 supplements at home as it is so important, but it`s great to get it direct from food where you can as it is more of a bioavailable form. 
I`m gluten free, but my family enjoy tacos.  They will have these as in the picture.  I will either sauce a gluten free option or just have them with some rice.  The recipe calls for berbere - this is something you can put together yourself.   It is a traditional Ethiopian spice blend made up of chillies, garlic, fenugreek and a handful of warm spices such as cinnamon or all spice.
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Thai red curry noodle soup  I made this last week and my family absolutely loved it.  Definitely one of the most popular dishes I have done in a while.  I will be adding king prawns to this dish to get some extra zinc from our diets, plus they are delicious! I use rice noodles to avoid gluten.    The last two meals will be a treat night on Friday night, which means I don`t have to do much cooking and usually revolves around a Charlie Bighams curry. 
​On a Sunday, I always cook a roast dinner with Yorkshire puds, although sadly, I have not perfected gluten free ones.  My family will enjoy them whilst I look longingly on!  Only joking, it`s ok... I`m over it.


Anyway, let me know if you try any of the links I`ve shared and what you thought.




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January Detox?

2/1/2021

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It`s that time of year again, where our social media screens are overrun with posts urging us all to detox and get fit.

I`m here to tell you that whilst taking up some gentle exercise is a good thing, detoxing is something that you need to consider carefully before jumping on board with a dubious product that is being heavily advertised. What I mean by that is that at this time of year, we are bombarded with everything from aloe vera juice to activated charcoal products, shakes instead of meals and everything else in-between.
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This post is all about why you should avoid these gimmicks and think about your body as a highly functioning machine that you can gently finely tune in a much more intuitive and less harmful way.

What is a detox?

Our bodies have the same immune systems and function as our prehistoric ancestors had. Back then, they only had to to deal with bacteria, viruses, parasites and not much else.
Whilst the world has evolved, our immune systems and livers haven`t. We have the same basic model being bombarded with much more harmful and sophisticated toxins. Everywhere in our environment we are bombarded with chemical residue, it`s in our food, the air, products in our homes... it`s inescapable. Did you know that a study examined babies umbilical cords for toxins and found over 200 different chemicals.

Our bodies work so hard to get rid of all these harmful substances every moment of our lives. Our liver is like a gentle bomb disposal squad, deactivating and changing chemicals into less harmful variations that can then be sent to our eliminatory organs for disposal. The problem is, not all toxins can make it out of the body and they can begin to store in our cells. This leads to inflammation - the route cause of all serious disease, energy depletion and mental/ mood challenges.

A detox is something that naturopathic practitioners encourage, but in the right way and at the right time. A true detox is where the individual looks at their lifestyle and identifies where they are consuming or encountering challenging substances to the body. They work carefully with a practitioner to draw out the stored toxins out of their cells so that they can be eliminated safely.

Why are detox products dubious?

You have to remember first and foremost that the people behind the products are wanting to make money. With naturopathic health, we want to teach you how to make long term changes so that you don`t need us anymore. It is part of our ethos to educate you so that you can change your lifestyle approach for you to be sustainably healthier, not requiring a product from us.
Besides this, many products have a laxative nature. This is not advisable and can be dangerous.
Laxatives dehydrate the body at a cellular level. That effects everything, from your energy and mood to your digestion.
On top of this, your electrolyte balance will be negatively impacted. Your body is basically a huge battery where the polarity of each cell is kept in balance by key electrolytes - sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. When these get out of balance, we get problems.
Some of the detox products will actually impair your bowel function. The combination of the imbalance of the beneficial bacteria of the colon and the loss of electrolytes can cause huge upset to your bowel. Your bowel is essential for eliminating toxins, it simply MUST keep moving to eliminate what you are trying to get rid of.
Lastly, some of these products can cause metabolic acidosis, a condition that causes the body`s acid base balance to be altered. This condition can get extremely serious.

When should you detox?

Contrary to popular belief, January is not the ideal time to start a detox program.
Our bodies naturally go through cleansing processes around the equinoxes. There are two equinoxes in the year, the spring equinox and the Autumn equinox.
Very often, people will start to come down with coughs and colds around the Autumn equinox, when the body is trying to cleanse itself. If the individual`s vitality is low, this is when problems arise.

When we detox, even at the best time of the year, our bodies have to cope with the release of all the challenging chemicals that are about to be released into the blood. Our liver and kidneys have to work overtime, along with our other eliminatory organs - the skin, the lungs, the bowel and in women - our wombs.

It is common to encounter something called a herxheimer reaction. This can feel pretty bad, but it is actually a good sign that things are being released and dealt with by the liver. We can feel exhausted, suffer with insomnia, get headaches, feel a little nauseous and our skin can breakout. Whilst it is uncomfortable for a few days, it clears. Like an Autumn foggy morning that turns into a sunny afternoon, you`ll feel all the better for it afterwards.

January, is in the depths of winter.
We are not getting vitamin D from the sun and our vitality is at its lowest. The body doesn`t have as much strength to cope with the release of toxins from its cells. We have been eating and drinking in excess over Christmas , our sleeping patterns are altered and our bodies are tired.

If you push your body during these circumstances to detox, then it will find it very challenging. You may encounter more nasty side effects than you would do in the spring when your vitality is rising, like the sap in the budding trees.

What can I do instead?

Whilst it isn`t advisable to do a full blown detox in January, it is a great idea to work slowly towards your bodies own natural detox in the spring by making a few gently changes.

Are you pooping?
The most important thing that you can do is make sure your bowels are functioning properly.
The reason being, whatever is circulating in your system, needs to be able to be removed. If you are constipated then your body will reabsorb the released toxins which will become more potent and the process will go round and round. Think of a plug in the bottom of your shower filled up with hair, the water starts to back-up. if you don`t open that outlet then you are going to flood your bathroom one day. It`s the same principle... you need to get your bowels working effectively.

The NHS view constipation as not having a poo at least 3 times in a week. Naturopathic medicine has a totally different opinion. You should be pooping every day, at least once.
Your poop should come out easily, without straining and should be well formed and sausage shaped. If you are passing rabbit droppings or very lumpy, hard poos then you are constipated. If you are passing poop that is in pieces with raggedy edges or watery poop regularly, you have an issue with your GI tract that needs addressing.

If you need to rectify constipation, don`t reach for the laxatives, they will cause you long term issues. Instead, put the work in and increase your soluble fibre, by that I mean veggies and fruit. The darker the green, the better. Reduce the heavy carbohydrate content foods - breads, pastas, pastries, and cut back on all dehydrating contents - sugar, alcohol, caffeine, fizzy pop, cheeses, dairy, cigarettes, vapes, anti inflammatory painkillers, paracetamol and sodium rich food.

Most importantly, you need to drink pure water. Adults should aim to drink 1.5 - 2 litres of pure water per day, whether you are detoxing or not. Children should be calculated by body weight , you can do this here
The water is essential for cellular health, keeping your poop soft and your colon moving nicely. It also will give those hard working kidneys an extra boost.

Eat better
Instead of doing some crazy detox, make a pledge to eat better.
Try only eating earth made foods for a month instead... by that I mean, if the earth didn`t grow it in the form that you buy it in, don`t buy it. An easy way of thinking about this is to think about the layout of a supermarket, only walk around the edge of the supermarket, visit the fruit and veg, the fish counter, the butchers and the dairy section. You can stroll up the aisle to buy rice, but keep away from the pastas and breads or limit them. Don`t buy anything in a packet.
If this is a challenge to you, then how about subscribing to a recipe food box that gets delivered to you with fresh ingredients. We just subscribed a family member as a Christmas present. They are really enjoying cooking delicious and nutritious meals that only take around 20 minutes and require no forward thinking. The other thing you can do is look up paleo recipes. Paleo is a delicious way of eating with only the purest and freshest ingredients.

If you can implement these changes then after two or three weeks, you will really start to notice the difference. The sugar cravings will disappear (providing you don`t cheat) and you will feel more energised as your vitality rises. Your skin may even start to glow. If your aim is to lose weight then you most likely will as a biproduct without having to think about lowering your food intake. inflammatory conditions you have may well start to ease up. Eating better is not about restriction, it`s about eating differently.

Other Lifestyle tips
If you are planning on doing any of the things I mentioned above, it`s a really good idea to implement some of the following tips to help your body eliminate any toxins:
  • Eat as many glutamate rich foods as you can - Spinach, broccoli, cabbage, parsley,tomatoes, lentils and mushrooms. These will help convert to glutathione which will not only give your liver a boost, but also your mood
  • ​Balance your meals - Make sure that all your meals have a good source of protein, a healthy fat and some carbohydrates in terms of vegetables. The more rainbow the veggies = the more antioxidant rich foods your are eating.
  • Try to only eat earth made food, rather than lab made food.
  • Make sure you get a good source of omega 3 at least twice a week - oily fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines are ideal, if you are veggie or vegan then get a good quality supplement.
  • Increase your soluble fibre - veggies and fruits - the darker the green the better. These will not only help your bowel movements but will also act as a prebiotic for your friendly gut bacteria to feed on.
  • Drink 1.5 - 2 litres of pure water per day - filtered if possible. Try half cold,half boiling water with some cut citrus fruit in it. Drinking this first thing in the morning is a real tonic for your liver
  • Commit to a healthier sleep routine. Try to work with the bodies natural circadian rhythms and get to bed by 11pm, aiming for 7 - 8 hours of sleep.
  • Take up gentle excercise - yoga and pilates are ideal. If you are detoxing, DON`T push yourself with excessive excercise. It is dehydrating and will cause your vitality to lower.
  • Use epsom salts in your bath or have a foot bath - do this at least twice a week - (if you have a heart condition you should not do this) Epsom salts allow magnesium to enter your body through your skin, helping your electrolyte balance. They also encourage sweating - releasing toxins. Always have a drink of water with you in the bath whilst doing this.
  • Dry skin brushing - get a soft bristle brush and sweep the limbs upwards in direction, always towards the heart. Do this for around 5 minutes before a shower. This will not only help your lymphatic system move efficiently but will also make your skin feel luscious.
  • Drink linseed tea - recipe coming soon - this is sometimes called a "hug in a mug". It is the most hydrating thing you can drink.
  • Trampolining - whether on a full scale trampoline or a rebounder in the garden. The up and down motion is fantastic for the lymphatic system.
  • Practice deep breathing techniques - look up 4 -7 - 8 breathing
  • Use mindfulness apps like headspace.

What ever changes you are thinking about, start small and don`t put pressure on yourself. Make sure they are achievable and fit in with your routines and lifestyle or you will be doomed to give up.
The most important take home from all of this is to hydrate and get that bowel moving. If you can do that, you are already making a huge impact on your body.

Happy New Year,
Love and Heath,
Eve x







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November 11th, 2020

11/11/2020

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Hair Mineral Analysis Tests

10/11/2020

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If you are suffering from unexplainable symptoms and your doctor doesn`t know what`s going on, then listen up… 

Or, maybe you are fit and well and want to stay that way with preventative lifestyle measures. 

Hair mineral analysis tests offer an amazing insight into what`s going on with your body at a cellular level.

Purchase Hair Mineral test
Everyone knows that to live a healthy life with vitality, we need vitamins. 
Not everyone knows about the importance of minerals though.  
Minerals are the nutrients that come directly from the earth such as magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron.

Certain minerals are absolutely essential for human functioning. 
Magnesium, being one of the most important, is required for the energy cycle of every cell in the body, enzyme synthesis and every chemical function that we have to create.  It is vital for brain and organ health, along with having a huge impact upon our mood.

Potassium transports the nutrients that you eat into each and every cell, whilst Zinc is essential for hormone production, immunity and insulin production.
Certain imbalances can occur that disrupt these processes, such as too much Copper can disrupt the functioning of Zinc levels

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A depletion in vital minerals can cause:
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And more...

The quickest and most reliable way to find out if you are deficient in any key nutrients is through a hair mineral analysis test. 
The test will show the nutrient levels in your body and reveal any evidence of long term or acute exposure to heavy metals that you probably didn't realise that you had been vulnerable to.



Certain minerals are damaging to our bodies and we accumulate them every day.  Mercury and aluminium are extremely toxic to the body and amongst others such as Lead, are known as heavy metals.


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It is hard for the body to eradicate heavy metals.  They accumulated from air pollution, household products, hygiene products (always get aluminium free deodorant) toys, jewelry, crockery, vaccines, certain medications (aluminium in antacids), makeup, dental fillings, contaminated paint or soil, plumbing and certain foods.
A healthy, functioning body can efficiently remove these metals to a certain extent, but if the burden is too great, they will be stored.
A person who has challenges with their immune system, lymphatic system and nutrient intake will find it very difficult to remove these metals and they will store in greater quantities.

Metals have a way of finding their way to the brain and like to accumulate in cells in this area.  They are known to cause degenerative conditions such as dementia and Alzheimers.
Problems that affect the brain and spinal cord can begin to emerge before these conditions such as:


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Children are at a particular risk of toxic exposure as their brain and spines develop so quickly. 
Toxins can cause a greater impact to children than they would to a fully-developed adult. 

Heavy metal toxicity can be a factor in lower IQ, behavioural problems, ADHD, autism, anxiety and many more conditions linked to neurological functioning.

How does a Hair Mineral Analysis test work?

Hair analysis tests are extremely accurate. 
The laboratories use sophisticated instruments and software programmes that allow for extensive quality control. 

Human hair is around 80% protein and 15% water, with smaller amounts of lipid and inorganic substances.
Normally, around 90% of the hair on the scalp is in the growth phase.  During the growth phase elements from the follicular cells and from the blood supply to the follicle are incorporated into the structure of the hair.  As the follicle emerges through the skin, the process of keratinisation seals the elements inside the protein structures, making the hair a resilient and long -lasting tissue that can be used for analysis.

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Mineral nutrients such as Zinc and magnesium are present in the follicular cells as enzyme co-factors whilst toxins that the body is trying to remove are dumped into the hair as part of the detoxification mechanism.

The scientific process of analysing a hair sample begins with hair being broken down with special acids at a high temperature. The hair is then separated from the elements.  When the actual hair has been completely digested, only mineral salts remain.  The mineral salts are added to a chemical solution and analysed to identify the mineral status and toxic metal accumulation found. 

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Why is this different to a blood or urine test?

A blood test only tells you how much of the nutrient is in your circulation at the time of taking the sample. 
For example, If you have just eaten a banana before your blood test, the sample may indicate a high level of potassium when actually, without the banana it is normal. 
Hair sampling is different because it gives an overall level of potassium.  It shows how much you have been storing over a period of time, not just what you ate that particular week.  A blood test is like a snap shot, whereas a hair mineral test shows you your mineral status over time.

Urine tests will only show the amount of minerals that your body is excreting, not how much you have absorbed.

Preparation

As hair dyes contain metal elements, it is important that hair is not used as a sample until 12 weeks after being dyed, bleached or permed. 
The week before you take your hair sample, use a gentle shampoo, like a baby shampoo or a natural product.
Hair should be cut from the back of the head, or nape of the neck.  It should be cut as close to the scalp as possible.  Your kit will show you how much to take.

How do I order a test?

If you would like to order a hair mineral analysis test then you will find the option in the “packages” tab on my website under the category of functional testing, or you can click here.  

Once you purchase your test, I will call you to explain the process and send the test to you. 
You will post the test directly to the laboratory and they will contact me with your results. 
Results take around a week to ten days, but sometimes a little longer (lockdown has made the process longer).


​Once I have your results, I will call you to arrange an analysis with you, which we can either go through on Zoom or on the phone.


If you have any other questions about hair analysis, then please get in touch.


As always,

Love and health to you all,

Eve

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The Autumn Equinox

22/9/2020

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It is the Autumn Equinox, here in the Northern hemisphere.  
The sun lies briefly over the equator creating a moment of perfect balance where night and day are of equal length.
After today, the North Pole will tilt on its axis slightly forward, away from the sun, favouring the south pole for the better, warmer weather. Autumn will begin.

Today the astrological calendar moves from Virgo to Libra, the weighing scales, also representative of perfect balance.
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If ever there was a period of time that could be represented with the image of Yin and Yang, it would be now. This time of year, also known as Mabon in the pagan calendar is a time of meloncholly and duality.  There is perfect balance between positive and negative... The fields are bare, but the larders are stocked. Harvest festivities are tinged with the sadness of the coming winter.  Animals are stocking up their food stores, ready for their big sleep, and many, like the female honey bee have reached the end of their life cycle and wither away.

In Greek mythology, this was the point where Persephone had to go down to the underworld for her three month stint with her husband Hades, much to her mother, Demeter`s dispair.  Demeter was the Goddess of the harvest and crop growing and in her anguish, she refused to use her powers over the winter until Persephone was returned to her.
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The image above shows Persephone and her pomegranate, for they were the food of the underworld.  They are also in season right now and are so good for male health, especially prostate care.  Unsweetened pomegranate juice makes a great tonic for keeping the prostate gland healthy.
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Autumn comes with a noticeable energetic shift.  Not only do we see the shadows changing around us as the sun`s position alters over the forthcoming weeks, but mentally, Autumn can be a challenge as we adjust to the amount of seratonin that we make in response to the altered light levels.
​For this reason it is important to slow down and take care of ourselves.
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It is a time to nourish ourselves not only with hearty soups and foods but mentally prepare and support ourselves with self care rituals that make us feel comforted. 
It is a time to adopt the scandanavian way of life and take great pleasure in all things cosy... candles, blankets, cosy pyjamas, wood burning stoves, favourite jumpers or whatever makes you rub your feet together with contentment.
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Physically, it is so important to start thinking about building and maintaining a healthy immune system.  One of the best and most effective ways of doing this is to supplement with Vitamin D.  
Here in the UK,our national health service recommends that every person supplements with Vitamin D, although this is not widely known.
During the winter, from around the 14th of October, the way that the earth tilts makes it physically impossible for the UVA rays to enter our skin in order to synthesise Vitamin D.  Hence the reason that coughs and colds begin through this time.  This period of lack of vitamin D will last until the spring solstice (roughly) so it is a long stretch.  
Please look into supplementing with vitamin D, especially if you are a person of colour as you are more vulnerable to having lower vitamin D levels.
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Other ways that you can really nourish your immune system are to look into reishi mushsrooms, which are available in capsule and tincture form as well as dried mushrooms.  They are an amazing immunostimulating tonic and are well worth using over the winter months.  Elderberry is also available in many forms and has an affinity for caring for the lungs in particular.  Garlic is a go - to supplement for our family at this time of year and Vitamin C is now more important than ever.
Eating wholesome, home cooked foods and soups will nourish you and your families, as will tasty teas.  I particularly like to use berries, citrus peel, thyme, calendula and ginger in my teas at this time of year.

There`s so much to enjoy during this first part of Autumn, that I call Libra Autumn, before the wet and windy Scorpio Autumn comes and knocks us sideways.  The weather is generally still mild and mother nature really puts on a show in the hedgerows.  Walk as much as you can and notice the small changes around you.  I have a holly tree at the bottom of my garden and I have watched the tiny buds turn to white flowers, to green berries and now they are a lovely orange colour before their deep ruby display over winter.  It is lovely to watch these small changes and really gives you a sense of belonging to the earth in a cyclical way.
Feasting with friends where everyone brings a dish is a great thing to do at this time of year and if you can do it outside before the weather turns, all the better... light a bonfire or a BBQ and enjoy these Libra evenings.
Planting bulbs is best at this time of year.  Maybe you could plant some miniature iris or daffs and have them inside to monitor their progress.  Hopefully they will bless you with a beautiful display over winter.
Eat pomegranates, make hedgerow jam, autumn wreaths and corn dollies.  Drink apple cider, donate food and plant a tree or a bush.
Children can enjoy leaf rubbing, nature crowns and all sorts of autumnal activities.
I`ve just brought our Libra Autumn books down out of the loft for my little girl to enjoy tonight.  Our particular favourites are:
Bramley Hedge - Autumn by Jill Barklem
Foggy Friday by Phyllis root
Harvest by Kris Waldherr
and my absolute favourite .... Wild Child by Lyn Plourde


So, a couple of questions for you to think about or journal over...
Is there anything that you would like to complete by the winter solstice?   
and
How can you practice self care over the darker months?

Stay well and happy,
Eve x
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Iron absorption - are you soaking it up?

13/7/2020

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Are you absorbing your iron?  Without enough iron, you will feel, well... pretty terrible.  Tiredness, fatigue, low mood, low endurance, pale skin, sore mouth, dizzy... the list goes on...

You could be eating platefuls of iron rich food, but not actually absorbing much of it.  Sound familiar? Read on...

Dietary sources of Iron can be categorised as Haem iron and Non- Haem iron.  

Good sources of Haem iron are: Red meat, organ meat, poultry, fish and shellfish
Non - Haem iron foods are plant based - broccoli, pumpkin, beetroot, nuts and seeds, dark green veggies, eggs, whole grains, legumes, dry fruits, tomato, guava, paw paw and citrus.

When haem iron is consumed (the meaty one), its absorption is much better than non-haem iron. Non-haem iron is less easily absorbed and its absorption is often affected by the other food components which are eaten alongside it.

Non- haem iron (plant based) provides the largest amount of dietary iron, but only an estimated 10 - 20% of non-haem iron is actually absorbed, because it is inhibited in its absorption by so much.

Phytates, oxylates and polyphenols all prevent non-haem iron from being absorbed.  Many “healthy” foods such as spinach, kale, beets, wheat bran, rhubarb, strawberries and nuts contain a high amount of oxylates.  

Polyphenols are found in apples, peppermint, herbal teas, spices, walnuts, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries along with cocoa.  Polyphenol rich food can reduce your iron absorption by an estimated 60%.

Phytates are found in walnuts, soy, almonds, sesame, beans, lentils, peas, cereals,  protein and fiber.  Phytates can reduce the absorption of iron by an estimated 50 - 60%.

Along with this, milk is also known to inhibit absorption of iron .
It has also been found that drinking polyphenol rich beverages within an hour of a meal will reduce the iron absorption of that meal by 79 - 94%.  This includes tea, coffee, red wine, cocoa and herbal tea.

This has an obvious impact on the average vegetarian/ vegan diet.  Whilst the raw constituents of a vegetarian or vegan diet looks to contain a huge amount of iron, the effect of the inhibitory components listed above has massive implications on iron absorption.

So what to do? You`re trying to be be healthy, but the healthy foods you are eating are inhibiting your iron absorption!  That`s annoying!

Mmmm... Don`t despair...


There are certain promoters of iron absorption.  Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) helps chelate the iron molecule, transporting it across the intestinal lining.  Squeezing lemon over food, or drinking freshly squeezed orange with a meal can help your iron absorption.  

You definitely want to avoid those dastardly polyphenol drinks and limit beverages with food to water, or freshly squeezed orange.  

Have some iron rich snacks away from other foods each day.  Cooked meats if you are a meat lover, or dried fruits are a good source for veggies.  cook some beetroot up and leave it in the fridge to snack on.  You can literally smell the iron in beetroot, it`s such a good source.

I would advise every vegan or vegetarian to take a mulitvitamin WITH minerals every day.  Look carefully at the nutrient information.  Multi vitamins are often just that ... vitamins.  You want the minerals alongside them.

I don`t advocate iron supplements unless you are under the guidance of a professional GP or nutritionist.  Unless you have had your iron tested, taking iron supplements on their own can be a dangerous thing to do. 
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Fire Cider - how to make it...

1/4/2020

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I thought I would share a really simple and traditional recipe for a great immune-boosting tonic to have to hand.  Although it has to sit for 6 weeks before you strain it, it`s worth doing, whether you have it ready for the school kids returning back to school or just to have to hand in 6 weeks time.  

You need a horseradish root - i just got mine with my online shop.... turmeric roots, ginger, chillies, garlic and an onion.  I add in cinnamon and echinacea root also. You need a really good quality apple cider vinegar and some honey when you are ready to strain it, to mix it into a vinegar/honey solution called an oxymel.  

This tonic is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, circulation stimulating and a great digestive tonic.  It`s great to take daily to keep you and your sinuses in good shape!  Horseradish is the ultimate sinus clearer!!  

So take a look and get chopping!! 
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