5:2 Diet… Part Two – THE RESULTS

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 words by Francesca Londono-Brasington

A year on and 5:2 is still the diet and life plan of the moment. There are numerous books, websites and apps dedicated for recipes and inspiration. Everyone I know has either tried it or knows at least one other person doing it. It has become one of the most talked about and hotly debated subjects and definitely a topic of conversation in the kitchen at work.

After my initial enthusiasm for the 5:2 plan (read about it here) and the compelling science behind it, I decided I would attempt this plan for a period of 4 months, long enough for a proper trial. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do any medical testing during this time so everything I have based this on is purely down to my personal experience and how I’ve felt.

Firstly, let me get this out there straight away, no I didn’t lose any weight! And yes that was the most frequently asked question along with ‘why are you on a diet, you don’t need to lose weight?’. But that was never really the point for me, I wanted to try the plan from a health perspective and to see what effects it had on my daily life. Just to reiterate, I’ve never formally ‘dieted’ before however I was intrigued to see if weight loss would be a consequence of the 5:2 plan but interestingly it wasn’t.

For someone who eats a lot, I did find the 5:2 a challenge; I had to re-train my body and fight the urge to snack every couple of hours, which wasn’t an easy feat! However, the hardest part was factoring my fasting days into a busy schedule especially if I wanted the weekends ‘off’. Realistically that meant fast days needed to fall Mon-Thurs (who really wants to fast on a Friday?!) and having a sociable job with a lot of client entertaining involving regularly eating out meant some weeks were a real struggle. That inevitably meant fasting at the weekend meaning my social life would take the hit. On top of this, I do a lot of exercise and the fasting made me feel lethargic and devoid of energy. I could get away with something like pilates but trying to swim 4km after a day of 500 calories was tough and I felt my body needed more fuel to get through my training sessions. Some people don’t find exercising when fasting an issue but I imagine this depends on your training schedule and hard training does require more fuel in terms of calories.

I also found the day following a fast I’d be absolutely ravenous especially if I’d been exercising and I wanted to eat everything in sight.  Some weeks I felt as though I’d developed an eating disorder and was trapped in a constant cycle of yo-yoing between fasting and binging! But I couldn’t seem to stop myself despite the book telling me things would improve and I’d stop wanting to eat so much on my days off.  Each week I thought maybe I’d turn a corner and things would be different but it never changed. No wonder I didn’t lose any weight! I began feeling less healthy than I normally do and I didn’t feel the plan was doing my body any favours. I hated obsessing over calories and checking every single thing I ate. Plus, I don’t believe all calories are equal especially in terms of their benefits. Personally I feel healthier eating fresh, natural produce at 1,500 + calories a day rather than restricting my calorie intake and then wanting fat laden, high calorie food the next day. I watched so many other people on their fast days drinking diet coke and eating a chocolate kitkat finger as part of their 500 calories and I really felt this was missing the point. It’s supposed to be about health so it should be important to feed your body the most nutritious food within the calorie limit; diet coke and chocolate really don’t cut it.

However, despite all this negativity, I did find the 5:2 experience a fascinating one and it really made me assess my eating habits. I have learnt that constant snacking or grazing isn’t necessarily good for me and it’s something I do a lot less frequently. And also the discovery that my body isn’t going to starve after missing one meal! But I also realised that I probably naturally adhere to a bit of indulgence along with a bit of holding back and that’s how I’ve maintained roughly the same weight all my adult life. And Mosley believes that the 5:2 plan is what most thin people naturally do anyway.

Perhaps if I’d been able to see some of the internal benefits I may have been persuaded to continue but physically and mentally it wasn’t for me. Ultimately everyone is different and will therefore experience varying degrees of success. Although how you measure success really depends on what you were looking to gain in the first place. I know a lot of people who have lost weight and feel it is a plan they can stick to and easily maintain. I would recommend that if you’re intrigued by the plan then try it and see whether it works for you. And then let us know your thoughts!

 

A Hip & Healthy Mocktail at BVI Pop Up Bar…

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A Hip & Healthy Mocktail at

BVI Pop Up Bar…

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Fancy immersing yourself in the chilled atmosphere of the Caribbean right here in London? Don’t mind if we do. Travel experts Black Tomato bring you Be the VI; a new collaboration with none than the beautiful British Virgin Islands aimed to deliver a slice of island life to London’s streets through video, a pop up bar and a brand new app.

The pop up in Box Park, Shoreditch, running from the 7th-11th October will house a master mixologist called Ninja (yes, that is his real name) flown over from the islands, offering a sneak peak of the relaxed atmosphere and beach bar ambience that is unique to the BVIs. And what’s more, they have totally catered for the hip & healthies amongst us as well by offering a delicious, healthy mocktail called The Hip & Healthy (how fitting) with a Caribbean twist. Now what can be better than that! Recipe below:

The Hip & Healthy Mocktail:

4 parts pineapple juice

1 part coconut cream

1 part orange juice

Method: Shake well and serve over the rocks with a generous amount of fresh nutmeg.

TRY IT FOR YOURSELF… 

Pop Up Bar Details:

7-11th October

Upstairs at the BoxPark

Units 48-49,

2-4 Bethnal Green Road,

London E1 6GY

Watch the master classes, check out the app and find out more about our pop up bar: www.blacktomato.com/be-the-vis

 

Health Speak: We chat to the founder of one of London’s hottest health havens, Grace Belgravia, Kate Percival

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We chat to founder of Grace Belgravia, Kate Percival about food habits, running a business and Pierce Brosnan…

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Sadly, I check my emails, jump in the shower, then make a cup of hot water and lemon.

What do you eat for breakfast?

Goats milk yoghurt with raspberries or avocado and tomatoes on sour dough.

What is your work place like?

Probably the most beautiful space you could imagine – filled with light and very zen like!

What do you eat for lunch?

The chefs at Grace look after me every day with the most delicious food. Lunch could be a Tom Yum soup, or a wild seabass wrapped in paper with fresh vegetables, or fresh ceviche… I could go on!

Do you snack?

On hazlenuts and cranberries. And when I am having a sugar low – I tuck into some flourless chocolate cake – or the latest from the kitchen, chocolate and beetroot cake!

What do you have for supper?

More of the same… butternut squash pearl barley and spelt risotto, and if I am not eating at Grace, I take the supper home with me – Grace to Go!

What made you start Grace Belgravia?

Because I realised that women are too hard on themselves – that they need a very special place to be safe, to be nurtured and empowered, and to help them be the very best they can be at whatever it is they want to be. We have created a haven with everything from medical services to spa treatments, healthy eating to the best in fitness – all under one roof.

How does it feel owning your own business?

Normal… have done so for the past 22 years.

What do you enjoy about Grace Belgravia the most?

Meeting the most incredible people. Everyday I learn something from someone… a member, one of my colleagues, or just from somebody that I might meet that day.

What is the most important lesson in business you have learnt?

Attention to detail is crucial and always going the extra mile.

How do you keep fit?

Matt Roberts is unimpressed by my personal fitness regime but I have recently taken up Pilates. I practice early in the morning before the members come in, which is hard, but thanks to Paola (my Pilates instructor) I have kept it up so far!  We will see what happens when the winter weather sets in…

What keeps you young?

Grace, my two amazing daughters, my grandson and my very supportive husband!

Which three celebrities (dead or alive) would you invite to dinner?

Pierce Brosnan, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

What is your biggest luxury in life?

Silly, but having a great wardrobe so that I don’t have to think about what I am going to wear. I have collected clothes over the years that are enduring, beautifully made and make me feel good. The luxury is being able to afford being well dressed none of the stress of not knowing what to put on every day.

What three things can’t you live without?

Cashmere, a really beautiful, fully functioning bathroom, and my Kindle – I have to have a book on the go at all times.

What gets you up in the morning?

Grace!

And what do you go to bed thinking about?

Grace…

What motto do you live by?

Achieve something positive every day.

 

Google Glass: The Future or Fashion Faux Pas?

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Hip & Healthy Promotion

Google Glass Gets a Makeover

Google Glass has certainly had its share of the headlines since the prototypes were released back in April. They’ve been described as the technology that will propel us into the future and the initial designs certainly looked futuristic. In fact they looked like they had been whipped straight out of a science fiction movie. That’s great for those who enjoy walking down the street looking like they’re dressed up for Comic-Con, but what about the rest of us? What about the fashion conscious?

Well pictures released of Google employee, Amanda Rosenberg, suggest that the company has given the fashion implications some serious consideration. The images show Amanda modelling the Google Glass device fitted to some fashion-friendly tortoiseshell frames.

So are they good enough to get the fashionista seal of approval? Would they translate to your average wearer?

Well this design does look great on Amanda, but there’s a danger that on most people these oversized tortoiseshell frames could look less geek-chic and more Deirdre Barlow circa 1985.

Then again, these images could simply be showing that the technology has gone mobile, allowing it to be fitted to the wearer’s current glasses or new frames of their choosing.

What about the other concerns they raise?

Privacy is a thorny issue when it comes to this product. A recent study conducted by Goldsmiths University showed that one in five UK adults want to see Google Glass banned because of fears that the technology, which includes intelligent cameras, will invade their privacy.

Google say the device is designed to make it obvious when it is in use, for instance a person needs to speak a command to activate the camera. However, hackers have already shown how they are able to make modifications to the device that get around these inbuilt privacy protections, leaving Google in a vulnerable position.

It has to be said that the product has some very cool features though, like the ability to post the things you see to social networks almost instantly. This hands-free access to real time information has a number of practical applications too. These include: interactive map overlays to help you navigate as you walk, or giving healthcare professionals the ability to access the latest medical information during procedures and consultations. This makeover may mark the start of a beautiful future for the Google Glass.

Fighting Spirit: We Trial BoxingYoga

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Samantha Whitaker trials a new, powerful combo: boxing and yoga

When it comes to the sport and fitness spectrum, boxing and yoga couldn’t be further apart. However, the world is beginning to realise that, actually, practising yoga can be hugely beneficial to literally everyone – from ultramarathon runners and beefy rugby players to the many millions of us who sit in front of a computer all day.

Taking this idea a step further, BoxingYoga, a brand new super-effective and totally unique workout, combines dynamic Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga with boxing technique and hardcore body conditioning exercises. Conceived by Matt Garcia, founder of Total Boxer, and developed by ex-professional dancer Kajza Ekberg in collaboration with boxers, boxing coaches, martial artists, yogis and physiotherapists, the practice demonstrates that boxing and yoga actually have much more in common than you might think. Both demand flexibility, balance, core strength and physical control, as well as extreme focus and concentration.

‘A key element in BoxingYoga is opening up the chest,’ explains Kajza. Boxers tend to hunch over in self-defence, so this is an important counter-stretch for them, but also for anyone who is hunched over a desk most of the day. What’s more, by increasing your mind-body awareness, and improving your posture and co-ordination, BoxingYoga can aid injury prevention and recovery for any sport. ‘Some of the rugby players we trained at Saracens Rugby Club Academy have got beautiful six packs, but they can’t do some of these moves because they’re not used to engaging their core,’ says Kajza.

I certainly engaged my core when I tried BoxingYoga at Total Boxer’s boutique gym in North London. There are nine ‘rounds’ in a one-hour session, with dynamic sequences that flow between lunges, controlled punches, trikonasanas, backbends and fists-on-the-floor planks. Clenched fists made some of the well-known yoga asanas feel more powerful, and it wasn’t long before I’d worked up a sweat. It’s challenging, pushing your endurance levels to build stamina as well as lean muscle, and forcing you to focus on the task in hand. Whether you box or not, BoxingYoga is a fresh perspective on yoga that will take your practice to a whole new level.

To try a 30-minute BoxingYoga virtual workout video, visit www.boxingyoga.com. Total Boxer offers a range of boxing training options that are accessible to everyone. Read more here or visit www.totalboxer.com.

 

Quinoa Risotto with Avocado Cream

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Recipe by Saskia Gregson-Williams

It’s getting to that time of year (let’s face it) when all we’re craving in the evening is cosy, warming comfort food! When I say comfort food, I’m not talking about loosing yourself in a pizza box or a bowl of carbonara- no, no, I’m talking about a hearty bowl of grain-loving goodness.

Quinoa is one of my favourite grains, I love its nutty flavour and it makes the base of many of my meals. Quinoa is a superfood, and is particularly special as it contains all nine amino acids, making it a complete protein. Because of its wealth of protein, it’s an incredible addition to those with a primarily plant based diet. It is also a great source of fibre, essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system, and regulating blood sugar levels. As quinoa is a low GI carbohydrate, it releases slower into the bloodstream, preventing sugar spikes, which keeps you energised and fuller for longer.

This risotto is full of sweet vegetables like roasted tomatoes, leeks and sweet potato which combines perfectly with the saltiness from the stock – creating a truly delicious texture and flavour combination. The avocado cream further boosts the vegan party in your mouth, and gives the dish a subtle lemon flavour.

I hope that you love this meal as much as I do. Let us know how you get on by hashtagging #hipandhealthy with all your awesome recreations on Instagram & twitters!

Quinoa Risotto with Sweet Potato, Courgette, Peas, Green Beans, Roasted Tomatoes and Avocado Cream 

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups boiling water
1 cube vegetable stock
2 courgettes
handful of green beans
1 cup cherry tomatoes
2 leeks
2 sweet potato
1/2 cup green peas

Avocado cream:
1 avocado
1/4 cup coconut milk (optional)
juice of 2 lemons

Method:
Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Place in a saucepan. Dissolve the vegetable stock into the boiling water, and pour over the quinoa. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, cover and cook for another 15 minutes. Peel and cube the sweet potato and place on a baking tray with the tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and roast at 200 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes (or until soft).
Meanwhile prepare all other vegetables. Then make the avocado cream by blending all ingredients until smooth, refrigerate until you need it. Sauté the leeks, green beans and peas. When soft add the cooked quinoa and the roasted vegetables. Mix well, seasoning to taste.

Serve with the avocado cream and a big green salad.

Note: you may replace the stock cube with the juice of 1-2 lemons, if you are intolerant, or prefer to do so.

If you only do one thing this week… Overhaul Your Diet for Glowing Skin

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In a recent survey 95% of us said that our skin affects how they feel. Hormones and stress wreak play havoc with our complexions, and sun exposure certainly plays its part too, but recent research now shows that diet is one of the overriding factors when it comes to our skin health. Here, we give you a few food rules that will get you glowing from head to toe and because we know that with many of these things it is easier said than done, we also give you a few top tips as to how to actually put these food suggestions into practice…

The Power of Antioxidants

We hear so much about antioxidants these days, but there is good reason why. Certain antioxidants target specific free-radicals, so it is best to eat a broad spectrum of foods containing these powerful little molecules. A study conducted at the University of Illinois revealed that the addition of antioxidants such as vitamins E or C into the diet can help prevent skin cancer and keep skin firm and young looking. When it comes to giving our skin an antioxidant-rich diet a clue to what’s good for you is in the colour. Try to pimp your plate out with as many colours as you can and you’ll be getting a broad range of different vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy glow. We love carrots (vitamin E), red bell peppers (full of vitamins A,C and E), lycopene watermelon and tomatoes, vitamin K packed Kale, kiwis for their vitamin C content, blueberries and nuts like almonds, walnuts and brazil nuts and even raw cacao.

Top Tip: We like our antioxidants served raw as the cooking process tends to make them less nutritionally rich. Why not make a delicious superfood salad.

Eat Now: Om Bar, chocolate enlightenment in a delicious snack size, http://www.ombar.co.uk. The ultimate good mood food!

If it’s White, it’s Probably Not Right

We have heard it many times before, but we will say it again. White carbohydrates are terrible agers and when it comes to our skin, plus they are also linked with causing spots. This is largely down to the amount of sugars that are in white carbs such as bread, pasta, rice, muffins etc. Volunteers who ate a high-carb diet for one week experienced a 20% increase in their levels of adrogens (a “male” hormone that stimulates oil glands and cause acne) where as a group of volunteers who had a diet high in protein had balanced blood sugar levels and lower levels of androgens. White Carbs are also broken down into glucose which stimulates enzymes that break own collagen and elastic tissue resulting in… you guessed it… wrinkles!

Top Tip: Try cutting out all processed carbohydrates for just one week and just see how great you will feel.

Eat now: If you like your carbs then swap pasta and potatoes for butternut squash or sweet potatoes as they are much lower in GI and so are broken down much slower.

Loose the Booze

Similar to the white carb story, booze also contains a lot of sugar, which when broken down eats away at all your lovely collagen which is what keeps the skin youthful. Alcohol is also incredibly dehydrating, which effects every part of you including your skin. And what’s more, alcohol puts a huge strain on your liver, the body’s cleansing organ.

Top Tip: Join the #SoberOctoer movement where you give up booze for a whole month. It’s not to late to start now!

Eat Now: Craving alcohol? This could mean that you are lacking in protein so perhaps introduce nuts as a snack and have more fish in your mealtimes.

Eat Your Water

Models often claim that drinking lots of water is what keeps their skin looking fresh, clear and glowy. And drinking lots of water is certainly one good way to keep your skin looking hydrated. However, Dr. Howard Murad claims that an even better way to improve your skin is to eat your water. In his book, The Water Secret, Dr Murad demonstrates that the key to youthful looking skin lies in maintaing strong cells that retain water the way that the younger cells do. The best way to do this? Eating your water not drinking it. That is, eating delicious nutritionally-packed foods that also contain lots of water. He also claims that the majority of your cells regenerate themselves within ten weeks – so it wo’t take long for you to notice the change.

Top Tip: Eat raw. Boiling vegetables actually leads to water loss because the heat breaks down the cell membranes and allows some of the water to leak out from the plant cells.

Eat Now: Cucumber, zucchini, melons, strawberries – they all are over 95% water.

 

 

Image taken from Pinterest

 

 

This Chef Shares His Healthy Dinner Tips

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Healthy Dinner Tips

Healthy cooking can be tricky but with the right know how it is very easy to have delicious food that is really healthy. Its getting the right balance that makes all the difference. Here, cookbook author and founder of  www.eattravellive.com, John Gregory-Smith, shares his top tips to keep your dinner wonderfully healthy.

Go Lean
If you are cooking with meat chose a really lean cut. Chicken breasts, pork loin or fillet steak. This will ensure you have a really healthy base for you meal.

Watch the oil 
Go easy with the oil to keep the calories down. Using a good olive oil to cook with is far better than butter, but keeping the content at a minimal will ensure your food is really healthy. The best oil for a super healthy diet is good old Rapeseed oil, loads of omega 3 and it is low in saturated fats.

Spice it Up 
Spices are a great alternative to fat and also salt. A pinch of chilli powder, a sprinkle of ground cumin or a tsp. of garam masla will add such a big flavour and contains zero fat. What could be better?

Get Grilling
Grilling is a fab way to keep your dinner mega healthy. Make sure the grill is really hot to start with and rub a small amount of oil over what you want to grill. Season with salt and pepper and hopefully some fresh herbs and spices. and get grilling. You get an awesome flavour, use less oil and retain all the juices – this works for vegetables, meat and fish.

Keep it colourful 
Try and make sure that each one of your 5 a day is a different colour to maximise the amount of vitamins and healthy nutrients you get. Green is good, but mix it up with beetroot, red peppers, carrots and cauliflower.

John Gregory-Smith is author of Mighty Spice Express available to buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-Spice-Express-Cookbook-Gregory-Smith/dp/1848991088/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377280260&sr=8-1&keywords=mighty+spice+express

A Health Retreat Like No Other: Grayshott Spa

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Health Haven

Sometimes it takes more than a few massages and a couple of colonics to sort out your health problems. Caroline Wilks discovers just that at the uber luxe Grayshott Spa

The first thing you should know about the Grayshott Spa health regime is that the primary goal to work towards is not about weight loss. This is something that appealed to me greatly, as I am not a person that needs to lose weight – in fact if anything I have often been told to gain weight by my GP. This may sound like an enviable position to be in for a lot of people, but the truth is that I have always known I had a greater problem, and one that felt previously unfixable. A ‘leaky gut’ is not something anyone wants to be diagnosed with and when a homeopath I recently saw was convinced that this was the root of all my problems I did feel a little despairing. But also relieved, at least I had possibly, finally found out what the cause of my tiredness, sluggishness and zero energy could be. However, after much research I couldn’t find anywhere in the UK (the clinics and programmes available were all abroad) that could potentially help me tackle and kick-start a much-needed entirely new diet regime. So it was with great delight that I heard about Grayshott’s newly launched seven day Health Regime – all based around the effectiveness of the gut and applying the mantra that ‘true health’ can only be achieved once the digestive system is finely tuned.

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On arrival at the spa the first thing that struck me was how peaceful the 47 acres of grounds surrounding the stunning building – you can see why Alfred Lord Tennyson had formally made this his home. The journey was a quick hour’s zip down the motorway from London into leafy Surrey; a stress-free trip that was really appreciated and ensured I didn’t arrive stressed and strung out like the beginning of most of my short breaks away. Following the pre-arrival guidelines given to me by the spa, I hadn’t eaten any refined carbohydrates or sugar and had cut out all caffeine and alcohol, I have to admit that I already felt better and we hadn’t even begun. The regime is very structured and full of information, including educational lectures on nutrition that I found particularly insightful and useful. The personalised health consultations (with medical herbalists and nutritional therapists) make sure that you are following the programme correctly for your body, everyone’s needs are different and they very much take this onboard.  They also make sure to incorporate spa therapy in the packages, including treatments such as abdominal massages (aimed to encourage healing of the gut), relaxing hydro-baths and even liver compresses to all aid the healing and regenerating of the body.

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The food, of course, was key to the process and I found it to be quite different to what I would normally prepare for myself. Having rigidly stayed away from fats, and especially animal fats, for many years I was entirely surprised to hear that good oils and fats – for example lard, goose fat, duck fat and real butter are all absolutely essential to heal a leaky gut. This along with the normal ‘healthy’ choice of pulses, beans, superfoods, fruit and vegetables is the basis to most of their dishes, including chia muesli for breakfast, pumpkin soup or beetroot Gravalax for lunch and scallops with Cauliflower for dinner. There is however, within the seven days, compulsory fasting that takes place to allow your gut the maximum opportunity to heal and restore itself. As the portions themselves are very small (portion control is a big factor at Grayshott whether on the Health regime or not) these fasts can be quite difficult and testing, but there is always support around you – whether from the attentive staff or other fellow guests on the programme. In fact most of the clients that Grayshott take for this particular package are individuals so it is possible to make some great friends in the process too, the spa even encourage this, having a communal table in the dining room you can join should you so wish.

CHIA PORRIDGE highres

This is not a detox, cleanse or weight loss regime, it is a gut restoration programme which jointly strengthens the immune system. It is about eating for health, as opposed to striving for health and weight loss through deprivation and abstention – an ethos that I found very refreshing compared to so many ‘weight loss’ retreats and clinics currently swamping the overcrowded market . The experience was worth every penny and actually I think it is a very fair price for a retreat of its calibre, length and what the package includes. I came away with a strong desire to keep up the good work that the programme introduces you to. Although I am yet to feel the energy benefits, I can see that this regime is, for me, what is needed in the long term and hopefully with all the support, education and advice I have been given I will be able to sustain this lifestyle in order to regain the health and balance of my gut and in turn, my life.

Prices start from £1,495 per person for seven nights. This includes consultations, monitoring and support, lectures, meals, herbal tinctures, therapeutic treatments, gentle exercise programme and accommodation)

For more information visit: http://www.grayshottspa.com/grayshott-health/the-grayshott-programme

 

KEEP CALM… And use these beauty products to relax and restore

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De-stress, unwind, calm down, chill out… all things that we long to do at the end of a hard day’s work. But it’s not always as easy as putting your feet up and making a cup of tea. Sometimes we need a little help, which is where these indulgent beauties come in. Made to make your life that little bit more lovely…

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle, www.aromatherapyassociates.com, £34
A bath by candle light at the end of the day. There is nothing better. Create your own home spa with this Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle, which will ensconce you in the calming scent of West Indian bay and myrrh essential oils. Each of their candles are made from the highest quality of soy wax with unbleached cotton wicks so you can rest assured that the delightful fragrance will be doing your body nothing but good!

Nourish Calming Moisturiser, http://shop.nourishskinrange.com, £14.95
Rich in omega oils to soothe the harsh effects the changing weather has on our skin, this nourishing moisturiser is 97% organic and smells divine too. The scent is down to the high content of lavender oil, which, combined with borage and shea butter makes for a powerful anti-inflammatory cream that helps to alleviate the effects of damaging free-radicals. For all those cyclists out there, commuting home in the bitter wind and drizzle – this is for you!

Neom Tranquility Bath Foam, http://www.neomorganics.com, £20
No deliciously sumptuous bath is complete without bubbles! And we could not ask for a more beautiful bath foam than this from the Neom Tranquility range. Designed to completely relax you, this makes for the perfect pre-bedtime indulgence. Packed full of organic essential oils to support and soothe you, the light jasmine, lavender and sweet basil scent will stay with you long after the bubbles have gone. Heaven.

Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream, http://www.paiskincare.com, £13
At this time of year, when the heating is switched on to counter the winter chill outside, our skin is exposed to range of temperatures, which can cause it to do all sorts of things. Super-sensitive skin will love this calming body cream from Pai. Hydrating, soothing and organic, the calendula is a great healer as well as gently nourishing the skin whilst comfrey supports the skin’s natural repair function and protects its moisture barrier. Apply it generously in the evening after your shower or bath.

Jason Calming Body Wash, http://jasonnaturalcare.co.uk, £7.50
For great value for money as well as heaven sent scent, this Calming Body Wash is perfect. Great for softening skin, the natural cleanser is also full of the skin’s best friends vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5. No parabens, no nasties and no fuss. This has become a bit of a staple in our household.

Words by Sadie MacLeod

 

 

Banola Bars: Banana & Almond Butter Granola Bars

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Granola bars make the perfect portable breakfast or snack. Whilst most shop bought granola bars are full of sweeteners, syrups and refined sugar, these banana-almond granola bars, known to you and I as “Banola Bars”, contain absolutely no refined sugar yet remain sweet and tasty. They’re incredible straight out the oven too, like a freshly made chewy banana-bread. These bars, don’t just taste delicious though, they have wonderful health promoting properties too.

Bananas are a great source of potassium, which boosts energy and prevents muscle cramps. They’re also a great source of fibre, which helps promote a healthy digestive system and balances blood sugar levels. The almond butter is also a great source of protein, which is essential for the growth and repair of muscles in the body. So if you are active, this is the snack for you. The goji berries in the bar are full of immune boosting antioxidants, whilst chia seeds and pumpkin seeds are a great source of omega-3 amino acids.

Oats fall on the low end of the glycemic Index, which is a ranking of how carbohydrates effect your blood sugar levels. Because oats have a low GI, your body will digest and absorb them slowly. This keeps you fuller for longer, controls your appetite and delays hunger pangs which is great for sustaining energy levels throughout the day!

A quick and easy recipe to make, I love baking a big batch to prepare me for a busy week ahead. Let us know how you get on and hashtag #hipandhealthy on instagram and twitter to share all your awesome recreations!

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Banola Bar Recipe

Ingredients: 

2 bananas, mashed

1/2 cup almond butter

2 1/2- 3 cups gluten free oats

4 medjool dates

1/4 pumpkin seeds

3 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 cup your choice of pecan, cashews or almonds

1/4 cup goji berries

1/4 cup desiccated coconut pieces

Method:

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius and line a baking tray with parchment paper. In a small pot add the mashed banana and almond butter, stir gently on a low heat until well combined. Set aside.

In a food processor coarsely chop your nuts of choice with your medjool dates. Add to a mixing bowl with the oats, seeds, goji berries, coconut pieces and the almond butter mix. Stir well until completely combined. Press the batter unto the prepared tray. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool and cut into bars.

IMG_0744

recipe by, Food Editor, Saskia Gregson-Williams

Are You In Need of A Digital Detox?

Written by

When is the last time you had a tech-free day? Has it been days, weeks, months… or is your mind drawing a complete blank? Don’t worry, you’re not alone…

From texting and tweeting, emailing to e-readers, today’s digital-savvy generation is almost completely reliant on technology. And it’s only getting worse. With new devices launching all the time, we are being transformed into a nation of digital multi-taskers. Over half of us (53 per cent) are streaming videos, firing off instant messages and updating social media statuses – all whilst watching more TV than before. According to this year’s Ofcom Communications Market Report, this multi-tasking is mostly carried out using smartphones, with over half of adults (51 per cent) now owning one; almost double the amount than two years ago (27 per cent). The average household now owns more than three types of internet enabled devices, with one in five owning six or more. That’s a lot of technology.

With everything you could possibly need to know available at the touch of a button (what on earth did we do before the internet?) and connecting with friends and like-minded individuals online is now easier than ever before, it’s hard to take a step back from the digital world and remember the joys of the simple life.

However, a new type of break has emerged to combat this ‘addiction’ of sorts. Forget juicing and yoga escapes, and say hello to the digital detox!

What is a digital detox?

A growing trend according to the World Travel Market industry report 2012, the term ‘digital detox’ has even been added to the historic Oxford English Dictionary this year. It defines the activity as “a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.” Just what the doctor ordered if you’re suffering from an information overload.

Do I need one?

What would you do without Google? Or how about your favourite social network? It’s hard to imagine life without the internet. We’re doing more online than ever before, from answering questions to food shopping and entertainment, and it’s not just making us lazy – it’s bad for our brains too. Scientists even believe that our reliance on technology is gradually ‘re-shaping’ our brain’s physical structure, affecting attention spans and mental agility. With constant interaction and interruptions online, our concentration and efficiency is becoming less and daily distractions much more. It’s not great for our personal relationships either. With so much time spent our our digital devices, we are actually becoming more isolated from the real world than connected. It’s something the majority of people recognise and want to amend. With consumer research showing that 77 per cent of people thought they’d be nicer people and have better relationships if they used their technology less, there’s real demand to re-think our digital needs.

Where can I attend one?

Let’s face it, attempting a digital detox in your tech-filled daily life is hard. Really hard. This is why a host of hotels, tour operators and companies are giving modern day busybodies the chance to escape from all that electronic chatter, replacing the stresses of saying goodbye to Twitter and Facebook with a host of fun activities in a multitude of different settings, from exotic beaches to camping escapes.

One of the first retreats launched in 2012 in the idyllic island paradise of St Vincent and The Grenadines. For a cool £2,385 techy travellers can jet off to the exotic digital-free escape (sold through Caribtours and Black Tomato) and completely wean themselves off their beloved technological devices, literally going ‘cold-turkey’ on the beach (we can think of worse places!). It includes a guide to ‘de-teching’ and a session with a life-coach before guests jet off to the idyllic Young Island and Palm Island where there are no televisions in the rooms and technology is banned on the beach. Those who have less self-discipline but deeper pockets can take the life coach with them for daily counselling sessions and to guide and support them through the process.

For a more summer camp-style experience, techies should head to the redwood forests of sunny California to Camp Navarro, dubbed ‘Camp Grounded’. Designed for busy adults, the digital detox camps aim to get you to ‘de-plug, get away, and be kids again’. Computers, smartphones, iPads and work jargon are strictly prohibited and replaced with 1970s-style boy scout fun, from archery to stargazing and even talent shows. And instead of Intagramming your every move, you’re encouraged to just enjoy the moment. What’s not to like?

A little closer to home, The Westin Hotel in Dublin offers a digital detox package for those that want to switch off on a city break in The Emerald Isle’s capital. Holidaymakers can voluntarily surrender their technology on check-in, or lock their smartphones and tablets in their own room safe. The package (which cost £150, based on two sharing) includes overnight accommodation with breakfast in bed in the morning, as well as an in-room massage from wellbeing specialists Melt Temple Spa at The Westin, designed to help iron out the kinks and knots from hunching over a computer keyboard all day. A handy Detox Survival Kit is also included in the package, featuring information on discovering the city of Dublin and a walking map, a newspaper (real, not virtual!), a relaxing white tea candle, a tree planting kit and a traditional board game.

If all of this sounds a little extreme, why not just try it out one weekend, or on your next holiday. Before you post yet another image or status, just think – do your friends at home really need a live commentary? Switch off…you might even enjoy it.

words by Sarah Gibbons

Sarah Gibbons is a journalist and online editor and one half of the lifestyle blog TheTwoScoops.com, which covers travel, food, beauty and London life.

http://thetwoscoops.com/