SUPERFOODS

TO HEALTH!

How to stay healthy this holiday season

Staying healthy (not to mention in shape) during the holiday season is hard. There’s the baked scones and bubbly; the picnics and the parties, and then some more. By ensuring that you have some healthy, nutritious food in your fridge (or in your beach bag) and some happy thoughts in your head, you can help yourself and your family to stay healthy.

Being healthy is not just about what you eat. It’s about your thoughts too. And, what better time than this time of year to practice gratitude? It’s true – scientific studies have shown that practicing gratitude improves both physical and mental health. According to The Harvest Table, a business that largely focuses on physical health and wellness, one must be intentional about investing in your health, both physically and mentally. Perhaps pursuing a slower, more sustainable lifestyle is what you might want to embark on this holiday season. Practicing gratitude forms part of slow living, as our mental health plays an important role in our eating patterns. Eating well and making healthy life choices starts with making the decision to pursue it.

Enjoy a cup of The Harvest Table’s Chocolate Buttermilk Latte while writing in your gratitude journal. These daily entries might soon become a museum of special moments and memories you can read through when having a bad day. www.harvesttable.co.za Price: From R275

#WHATSINOURFOOD When it comes to healthy food, the Healthy Living Alliance’s Programme Manager, Nzama Mbalati says: “We need to return to real, well-grown, unprocessed food – fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, seafood, and pasture raised animal products.” She says consumers are being influenced by an industry that is only seeking profits. “Food companies are a major driver for the rising burden of nutrition-related chronic diseases.

Parents and children are the targets of aggressive advertising campaigns which mislead people into believing that products such as fruit juices, yoghurt and breakfast cereals are healthy, when they often contain harmful ingredients. We need to change our perceptions of these products and fight for our right to access healthy food, more easily.”

Fun fact: The #whatsinourfood campaign calls on government to demand that food and beverage companies put clear front-ofpackage (FoPL) labels on food items high in fat, sugar and salt. BAOBAB, MORINGA, HIBISCUS Superfoods for gut health and everyday vitality The top three African superfoods linked to gut health and overall vitality are said to be Baobab, Moringa and Hibiscus. If you enjoy experimenting with food, try these:

Baobab fruit powder This powder is a nutrient-rich superfood that comes with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibre. It’s also one of the richest plant-based sources of calcium known, containing almost four times the amount of calcium in milk. It is therefore perfect for children, vegans, pregnant and post-menopausal women. Baobab powder also contains six times as much potassium as a banana, which helps regulate blood pH, blood pressure and conduct nerve impulse. It has four times more vitamin C than an orange and it’s an excellent source of magnesium. It’s also exceptionally rich in bioavailable iron.

Fun Fact Did you know? It can take a Baobab Tree up to 200 years before it produces its first fruit. A Baobab-Moringa blend BaoActive African Superfood also produces a super blend of Baobab and Moringa powders (R198 for 300g), which is high in vitamins C, E, K, B3 and B6, potassium, calcium, magnesium, protein and soluble dietary fibres. This combination is said to also provide strong immunity-building functions to protect the body from the toxic effects of stress. In addition, it provides an important level of vitamin C as an antioxidant boost against infections.

Add this to smoothies, power shots, lattes and yoghurt, or combine it with other delicious, healthy ingredients like coconut water, almonds and frozen banana for a yummy, creamy boost to your day.

Benefits of a Baobab-Moringa blend: • Combats tiredness and fatigue • Promotes muscle growth and strong bones • Memory enhancement and cognitive health • Keeps you energised, sharp and focused

Scan here for a Green Moringa Smoothie Recipe

Hibiscus for your health Hibiscus powder is also said to be a powerful antioxidant. BaoActive’s 100% PURE Hibiscus Powder (R98 for 80g) brings a deep pink, fuchsia colour and a refreshing, tangy raspberry flavour to water, hot and cold teas, smoothies, yoghurts, icecreams, desserts and various other healthy recipes. It helps to reduce hypertension, lower cholesterol, prevent fat accumulation and lower blood pressure and is available online (www.baoactive.co.za) or from Wellness Warehouse (www.wellnesswarehouse.com). H