Simply Nutrition

Take a trip to a food market!

Read and listen to this week's Monday Minute where you can learn about all the benefits and wonders of visiting a food market or farmers market. There are also some fantastic photos of London's Borough Market to browse through, so visit DailyBread365, and watch the show! 

Pottenger Cat study similarities?

The outcome of a long-term feeding study with generations of mice showed that the family "lines" fed a genetically modified corn (developed by Monsanto) were lighter in body weight, and also produced smaller litters. In other words, they were less fertile. Reading a report of this study, commissioned by the Austrian Agency for Food and Health Safety, immediately reminded me of the famous Pottenger Cat Study, a ground-breaking study back in the 30's/40's, which documented the sad decline in the health of generation after generation of cats fed on cooked food, versus healthy raw food. The 10-year study showed that the animals fed the cooked diets had more health problems such as arthritis, skeletal deformities, and/or infertility. Although the Austrian study cited above has not yet been peer-reviewed, it does make for some interesting reading! You can read the full article here. 

Pinpoint food sensitivities

Have your heard this week's Monday Minute? Learn about an easy method to pinpoint food sensitivities at DailyBread365.

Look beautiful naturally...

In this week's Monday Minute, I provided some easy strategies, and "Top Tips" to avoid the numerous toxic chemicals in our food and the environment. There are over 3000 chemicals used in the food industry alone! We also find traces of industrial pollutants, heavy metals, and medicines in water systems, as well as being exposed to lead and other nasties in lipsticks, body lotions and creams. Whilst we can't escape modern living, we can certainly take steps to protect ourselves and our families. Women are often more vulnerable to chemical toxicity than men, simply because each and every day we apply numerous lotions, potions and beautifying agents, in order to look (and feel) the best we can. These "everyday" exposures are the ones that can be most damaging. Does your lipstick contain lead? Do your moisturisers and face creams contain parabens and sodium laurel sulphate (SLS)? If so, there are more natural alternatives, and it is worth shopping around! Lily Lilo are a range of mineral cosmetics worth considering. I like Higher Nature's Rose and MSM lotions for body and face, which are 'toxic-free', and feel great on the skin. The following article by Natural Beauty Expert Aria Milan explains the world of natural beauty, and also talks about Eco Lips Organic Lip Balms and Burts Bees Lip Shimmers... 

Chestnuts are in season!

One of the best and most delicious ways to eat chestnuts are right off the stand from the London vendors! Now I wouldn't normally roast nuts (or seeds) as you destroy the fragile oils, BUT... I'm not sure I'd want to eat raw chestnuts! Also the tough outer husks of the chesnuts are very protective of the beauties you'll find hidden inside! So for taste and pure "delight" - you simply have to eat roasted chestnuts! They are warming and Soooo sweet! Maybe it's just a "winter xmassy thing" here in the UK?!" Come on - let's all support the chestnut stands and go mad for chestnuts this year. They are FAR healthier than grabbing a muffin or chocolate bar on the run, and actually make a great snack!

Did you know?
Chestnuts are higher in carbohydrates (hence their sweetness) and lower in fat (less oil to destroy!!), and slightly lower in protein than other nuts. They are lower in calories too! Chestnuts are also good sources of fibre, and contain the minerals potassium, iron, zinc and manganese. Does anyone have any nice chestnut foodie ideas?

For buying, storage and preparation tips visit "Eat the Seasons"

Swim Right, Swim Healthy

This article, by top US Triathlon Swim Coach, Kevin Koskella, appears in the new December 08 issue of Triathlete Magazine (P.129). Here's a different version by Kevin, whose great resources "The Essential Triathlon Swimming" DVD, and "The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming" I both highly recommend. You can purchase both these here on my site under "Work Your Body".

Overtraining, Injuries, and Swimming for Triathlon

One of my favorite things about the sport of swimming is that it’s a low-impact sport, meaning, your chances of becoming injured are slim when compared to a heavy-impact sport like running (this does not include getting kicked at the beginning of a triathlon!)

Complimentary plug for Simply Nutrition

I got a FANTASTIC and very complimentary plug on Kevin Gianni's "Renegade Health Show" - check out the video episode "Do I have too much fat in my raw food diet?" and listen carefully!