What To Eat for Healthy Hair and Nails

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Diet, stress, environmental factors can all wreak havoc on our hair and nails, which is why it is so important to ensure we are feeding our hair and nails with enough nutrients and vitamins. To guarantee a nourished, strong and healthy mane of hair and set of nails eat our top five foods.

Bananas
We all know bananas are packed full of potassium and great for our energy levels but did you know they are also brilliant for hair health? Bananas are loaded with mineral silica which is thought to improve hair thickness and zinc which will strengthen hair. This fruit also contains B6 a well know vitamin which supports healthy nails and hair. It is also though that regular application of a freshly made banana mask to the hair by mashing 2-3 will help control dandruff and moisturize!

Noni Juice
Noni juice has recently becoming more widely known for its health benefits, one of them is that it is thought it can assist with stronger and faster growing hair and nails. Noni juice comes from the fruit of a noni plant originating from the Pacific Islands of Tahiti and Polynesia. The juice is a great source of protein and rich source of vitamin C. Miranda Kerr has been drinking this potent juice for years and her hair is rather fabulous!

Sweet Potatoes
I bet you didn’t think sweet potatoes would be a top food to feed your nails and hair did you? These little wonders are packed full of the antioxidant beta carotene which is turned in to vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for sell growth which supports the health of the hair follicle root and bulb. A lack of this vitamin can cause dry and brittle nails also.

Dates
These sweet little treats are packed full of iron! A deficiency in iron can cause nail weakness and slow hair growth. Dates are a rich source of protein and the essential vitamin for hair strength B5. Circulation of the blood is key for good nail and hair health and this healthy snack is pack full of it. Throw some dates in to the next smoothie you make to sweeten it up and reap the health rewards!

Tomatoes
Eating tomatoes is key to strong and glossy hair! They are packed with the antioxidant lycopene which helps destroy free radicals that could damage your hair. They are also full of vitamin A and have an even more vitamin C than oranges! Eat tomatoes raw if you can as cooking them can destroy the vitamin C. Not only will tomatoes ensure you have strong hair and nails but an added bonus is they are great for skin health too!

words by Stephanie Matysiak

NAIL IT: FORGET THE LASHES & LIPSTICK, THIS SEASON IT’S ALL ABOUT NAILS

Uber-Hip Workout Wear That You’ll Want Right Now

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Stylish Sportswear

Francesca Londoño-Brasington compiles the Hip & Healthy guide to our favourite sportswear brands from around the globe featuring what’s hot right now

female swing shot

HPE CLOTHING
Already a firm celebrity favourite featured in all the major glossies, HPE Clothing has just launched their new collection in Harrods and we’re thrilled! We love the salmon pink and charcoal grey combo taking us all the way through from Summer until Autumn. It’s not only gorgeous but highly practical too. Continuing to lead the way with fabric innovation, they’ve launched two new fabrics within the collection including: XT-AIR TM Range –  a super light fabric with 4% silver static to actively lower body temperature ensuring you can keep working hard when the temperature outside is soaring.  It also incorporates HPE Clothing’s signature FRESHFIT with antibacterial silver technology to ensure maximum breathability. Plus their UV-Stretch TM Range – this is an Ultra Violet resistant fabric making it the fabric to wear whilst training outside delivering 40+UVF protection.

 Lija

LIJA
New to the UK market in Spring this year, LIJA is already making waves in the sportswear industry with their brilliant fusion of fashion with function. We particularly love their metallic Zip Jacket, it adds style to pre and post workouts. A real must have!

TFT3504

SOLOW
Embodying the all American cool, casual but totally on trend look, we love Solow’s simple style.  These yoga pants are perfectly understated but elegant making them a wardrobe staple.

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SPLITS 59
Achingly cool, Splits 59 mix vibrant colours with funky yet practical designs. We love this Singlette Atomic Tank for the Summer months.  Perfect for layering over a sports bra for all activities. Powerful and bright; expect to dazzle!

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LORNA JANE
A definite must have in the Hip & Healthy wardrobe are Lorna Jane’s Amy tights. One of their hero products, the Amy tights are a flattering full length legging, the seams are just in the right places to shape those bottoms and thighs and ensure an amazing fit.  Practical for all activities from running to yoga, we love these!

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BODY LANGUAGE SPORTSWEAR
Embodying sexy and stylish, this US brand has a huge celeb fan base and makes for the perfect work out wardrobe. Check out this uber-cool, reversible versa vest. Perfect for throwing on during those early morning training sessions.

NikeZoomTerraWildhorse_W_top

NIKE
One of the biggest brands in sportswear, we couldn’t possibly not include Nike in our favourite global brands.  Using pioneering technology and a top team of experts, Nike never fail to impress with their innovative design and ever growing range of products.  Now launching their first ever trail shoe for women – the Nike Zoom Wildhorse.  The Wildhorse is ultra light with a rounded anatomical heel (to roll with the ground) including the Nike Zoom unit providing low-profile cushioning; this shoe fits like a track spike but performs like a trail shoe.  Designed to combat any terrain, there are lugs under the toes angled front to back specifically for running uphill whilst these are also tapered from back to front for efficient downhill running.  Wow.  Our love for Nike has grown even more!

Chocoholics – This One is For You: Raw Brownie with a Chocolate Ganache

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recipe by Saskia Gregson-Williams

Chocoholics – this one is for you! There are lots of brownie recipes out there, but for me, these win every time. I love the combination of the pecans and walnuts together with the sweet, gooey caramel flavour of medjool dates, pure heaven! Every bite of fudgy, rich chocolate goodness is giving your body tons of great energising nutrients, fibre and proteins. Raw cacao is considered a superfood and is praised in the health world for its abundant antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients have been linked to all kinds of wonderful health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving digestion and enhancing physical and mental wellbeing. Medjool dates, natures candy, are the sweetest, most delicious, dates and are incredibly energising and loaded with  dietary fibre making them great for digestion. Walnuts and pecans are a wonderful source of nutty protein and omega-3s to help get your skin glowing and hair shining!

This recipe only takes 5 minutes, it’s no fuss, and is a great crowd pleaser; my friends can never believe they’re sugar- and dairy-free. I love to eat them loads of different ways; with my chocolate ganache, with a creamy chocolate-avocado frosting, with a dollop of coconut yoghurt and smashed raspberries or plain and simple how they come! Tell us what how you like to have them… Happy blending! #hipandhealthy

Ingredients:
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pecans
1 cup medjool dates
1/3 cup cacao

Ganache
4 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup cacao
4 tbsp agave
1 /4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp water

Method: 
For the brownies, pit the dates and add all ingredients to blender. Blend for 2-3 minutes, until a smooth, gooey consistency (you may have to stop to scrape down the blade). Press the mixture into a deep baking tray, and place to one side while you make the ganache.

For the ganache, melt the coconut oil and add all ingredients to a bowl and mix. Coat the brownies with the ganache sauce and place in the fridge to set. Remove and cut into whatever size brownie takes your fancy and serve with smashed raspberries.
For other ways to take this raw brownie and making it even more raw-mazing look below!

Pimp My Brownie: 
– Add 1/2 avocado to the ganache and make it creamy!
– Freeze the ganache until hard and grate chocolate shavings or cut into chocolate chips!
– Go without the sauce and add a large dollop of coconut yoghurt and smashed raspberries

raw brownie

Purifyne – The Weight Loss Cleanse

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Purifyne – The Weight Loss Cleanse

Company – Purifyne

Cleanse – Bespoke Weight Loss Cleanse

How many days? – 3 day cleanse

Tester – Harriet Chubb, Features Editor

What were you hoping to gain from the cleanse?

Having never attempted a cleanse before and having over indulged on my mum’s incredible home cooked food while living at home for a few months I specifically choose a cleanse for weight loss results, but I also wanted something that would give my diet a kick-start, shake up my bad habits and current routine and enable me to start afresh after the three days.

What information did they give/take?

I was incredibly impressed with the amount of information taken from me before the cleanse was created. As these are bespoke plans, they need to know every detail of your medical history and your current diet, lifestyle etc. It was slightly daunting writing down all my ailments but of course it is key to getting the correct ingredients and recipes. I also received a ‘pre-cleanse’ email giving me details of how to prepare a few days before, both physically and mentally! This included eating raw foods where possible and doing some dry brushing – essentially exfoliating with a mitt in circular movements towards your heart to increase blood flow.

How easy were the instructions to follow?

All three days worth of juice arrived at my desk before even I did which I was thrilled with and it was incredibly easy to follow the instructions. Four juices a day for three days and I could choose which juices I had, except for the morning juice which remained consistent – carrot, ginger, beetroot and apple. They did recommend that I choose a celery based one for ‘dinner’ but otherwise you were allowed flexibility which I enjoyed. They also kindly sent an email every day with hints and tips as to how to make it through the next 16 hours!

Were any supplements included?

The supplements – at first looked a little intimidating – but they thoroughly explained what every benefit of each one was.  There were essential fatty acids, spirulina, a super foods mix to be diluted with water and something called Colosan powder; a powder that assists with digestion and detoxing the colon.

On a scale of 1/10 how tasty and varied were the juices?

I would give this factor a 6/10, although they were all extremely tasty, I felt there could have been a little more variety, but this could be down to the fact that I was choosing a specific weight loss cleanse, maybe meaning some ingredients were off limits.

How much weight did you lose?

I lost 4 pounds in 3 days which I was very pleased with!

How did you feel after three days?

It wasn’t actually the weight loss in the end that I found the most pleasing aspect, it was the clean, pure, detoxed feeling that I adored. I felt light and un-bloated and the next day I even steered myself naturally towards raw foods, salad, nuts, seeds and the like. I felt strangely drawn to these foods that previously you would find me forcing down, it was a wakeup call for my diet – exactly what I had been looking for.

Would you use this cleanse again?

Yes definitely, I do not know how long these magic effects will last, but the cleanse certainly did its job – the rest, like everything else in life, is now up to me!

www.purifyne.com

 

Roasted squash, sweet red pepper and zucchini ribbon salad with a sweet tahini dressing

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recipe by Saskia Gregson-Williams

Salads use to have a bit of a bad rep: think a pile of green leaves, cherry tomatoes,  some cucumber and, of course, a good dollop of mayonnaise so that you can hide all that bland, dry lettuce. But this is no longer the case. I love my salads packed with colourful, vibrant, fresh vegetables and delicious, thick dressings. This salad perfectly combines all of that: sautéed zucchini ribbons, chunky squash cubes, and naturally sweet red pepper and a tasty tahini dressing. It’s wonderfully filling whilst leaving you feeling light and satisfied. As good as all the veggies are, the sweet tahini dressing really steals the show. Tahini is a little like marmite, you either love it or you don’t, on its own I’m not a fan… but, boy, do I love this dressing!

So (real) salad-virgins, you are in for a treat. Get ready to be amazed!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 medium sized butternut squash, cubed

5  zucchinis shredded into ribbons

1 red pepper, chopped

4 cups green salad leaves

For the tahini dressing:

1/3 cup light tahini

juice 1 lemon

juice 1 orange

2 tbsp manuka honey (use agave if vegan)

salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Prepare the vegetables and preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius. Place the butternut squash and red pepper on a tray drizzle with olive oil and roast for 20-30 minutes. For the zucchini ribbons, in batches sauté in a frying pan until browning, flip and do the other side. Transfer to a plate while you repeat with the rest. In a salad bowl, start by putting in your garden greens, zuchinni ribbons and topping with roasted peppers and squash, For the dressing mix all ingredients together well and toss when serving.

writer, Samantha Organ, swaps her latte for a green juice, to see what all the fuss is about

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juice genie

writer, Samantha Organ, swaps her latte for a green juice, to see what all the fuss is about

THE CRAZE
From wheatgrass shots to kale smoothies, the concept of ‘juice detoxes’ has taken the world by storm. With the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Millie Mackintosh promoting the detox concept through their enviable bikini bodies, it’s become a quick and popular solution to kick start a healthy lifestyle and rid the body of built up toxins. We decided to see what all the fuss was about.

The stigma surrounding juice detoxes is both positive and negative, and in all honestly, I found the prospect of drinking nothing but juices for three days somewhat daunting. Would I have enough energy to focus at work? Would I suffer the dreaded ‘detox symptoms’ which include headaches, weakness, dry mouth, nausea, cramps, constipation and worst of all, gas? For me, these were enough reasons not to try the juice detox, however, I was adamant that I would give the 3-day programme a go and form my own opinion about this seemingly drastic quest for cleanse.

My detox company of choice? The most reputable juice cleansing company in Hong Kong, The Genie Concept. Founded by two fashion models, Cara Grogan and Melanie White, both women knew first hand that a healthy diet was the key to high energy levels, glowing skin and a fresh mind, all of which are vital to make it big in the modelling world. The Genie Concept is designed for the everyday working girl, keen to eliminate toxins, make those healthy lifestyle changes and kick healthy eating habits.

WHY DO IT?
Working closely with renowned nutritionist, Joyce Marot, The Genie Concept have created their juices to allow you to receive the required amount of nutrients needed to function properly on a daily basis. As Joyce so aptly put it to me, ‘would you like to travel in a Jalopy or a Ferrari?’ – a question which I now ask myself at least three times a day! Joyce was kind enough to explain the theory behind juice detoxes…

“Fresh fruit and vegetable juices have been shown to possess remarkable health-promoting properties loaded with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Within minutes, the cells are then nourished and hydrated without taxing the digestive system.  When it comes to bioavailability, meaning how quickly the body absorbs nutrients, fresh, raw and unpasteurized juices are the efficient and effective way to get as many nutrients as possible, quickly.” Joyce Marot

THE PROGRAMME
The Genie Concept offers three levels of detoxes: the beginner, intermediate and expert. The expert level contains more concentrated vegetable juices, whereas the beginner level is a more fruit juice based programme. Clients are able to choose from a 1 – 6 day cleanse, again depending on past juicing experience and the end goal of the detox. For me, a 3-day juice cleanse programme was ideal. Having never tried a juice detox before, the beginner level, 3-day programme came highly recommended by the genie girls.

The Genie Concept process couldn’t have been made easier. The night before my detox commenced, the juices were delivered in a sleek black cool bag accompanied with an ice-pack, straw and two packs of seeds (chia and psyllium husk) for early morning and afternoon consumption. The first 2 day juices were delivered, with the third day’s juices delivered on the evening of the second day. The bag itself was light, easy to carry and could be taken inconspicuously into work – perfect!

3 day detox programme:  

9am – Smooth Operator

A deliciously smoothie containing banana, avocado, spinach, chia and vanilla. Supplying the body with potassium, healthy fats and antioxidants.

11am – Garden Gnome

The second juice contained apple, pear, lime and ginger spirulina, delivering a very sweet yet tangy taste.

1pm – Four Leaf Clover

Containing spinach, apple, parsley, celery and pink Himalayan salt, this was the ‘lunch time’ portion and what I considered to be the first of the ‘vegetable juices’. This juice has been specially designed to fill the body with antioxidants and vitamins, whilst fighting against free radicals and cancer.

3pm – Life Blood

Containing beet, carrot, apple and cucumber, this juice strengthens the blood through the nutrients, magnesium and potassium contained within the beetroot, whilst the cucumber and apple act as sources of antioxidants and a natural diuretic.

5pm – Hawaii H20

Containing coconut water, pineapple, spinach, chlorophyll and mint, this juice was a full of antioxidants and was a superfood powerhouse.

7pm – Sweet Dreams

As a dessert type drink containing filtered water, raw cashew, raw cacao, raw agave, cinnamon, coconut flower sugar and pink Himalayan salt – an enjoyable way to finish the day.

THE EXPERIENCE

The programme is designed to allow you to have one juice every two hours. So, despite any preconceived notions, the pang of hunger is not as prevalent as you might think. The programme recommends starting each morning with a hot water and lemon, followed by a glass of water mixed with the full of fibre, Psyllium Husk seeds, so before you’ve even started the juices you’ve already began the detoxing process.

The 9am smooth operator was quite simply delicious. With a thicker consistency compared to the other juices, I felt as though I had consumed a good breakfast which mentally and physically allowed me to start the day on a positive note. The taste of banana and vanilla really came through in the smoothie, whilst the avocado and spinach contributed to the colour, but not so much the taste. In the same respect the 11am juice was also delicious and upon reflection I would say my favourite juice. Taking the form of a proper juice consistency, ‘Garden Gnome’ curbed any sweet cravings I had due to the potent combinations of the lime, ginger and apple. Throughout the three days, I felt great every day.  I was energised, positive and not hungry at all.

The 1pm and 3pm juices however, were much more of a personal challenge for me. In an unfortunate twist of fate, the two vegetables I have a rather strong dislike to, beetroot and celery, were the two vegetable tastes dominating the 1pm and 3pm juices. However, the great thing about a juice detox is that you don’t have a choice, so there is no point in even reminding yourself that you don’t like these superfoods. This is where the straw came in handy. It is known that half the taste is in the smell, so by taking small regular sips of these juices through the straw, the experience wasn’t quite the deadly situation I’d conjured in my imagination. Ironically, by day 3, I actually quite liked them! I found that by thinking of all the goodness in each juice and the health benefits I was constantly reaping, it’s easy to drink something you may not be too keen on. And so I did.

Between 3pm and 5pm, every day of the juice detox, I did start to feel headachy with the occasional hunger pang. This is completely normal. The Genie girls recommend having a glass or water or herbal tea between each juice, a tip I found quite rewarding. Not only does this allow you to have a break from the juices, but it relieved my headache instantly, allowing me to continue as normal. The 5pm juice completely transported me to the tropics with the prominent taste of coconut water and pineapple, acting as a quenching anti-oxidant and was a welcoming refreshing afternoon beverage.  Around 6pm each day, I began to realise just how week I actually was. I knew that my normal evening run/gym workout was off the cards as I would be going straight home from work to rest. Again, this is a common side effect when detoxing.

The genie girls recommend going for a gentle walk or even taking a yoga class, so as not to exert yourself when your body is not fully energised. Each day, I went home, relaxed and waited for the enjoyable 7pm juice. Designed as a more dessert type drink with a more creamy consistency, the ingredients of raw cashew and raw cacao were prominent and delicious! Each night I was in bed by 9.30pm in a bid to get the recommended 8 hours sleep and I have honestly, never slept so well.

THE EFFECTS
I won’t lie. I found the 3-day detox hard, simply because I love trying new dishes and cooking, but as I said before, you don’t have a choice. In terms of ‘juice detox symptoms’, mine were limited, it is though important to remember that every person and body type is different. My biggest concern when starting the detox was the warning of ‘constipation and gas’, something which terrified me greatly as you can imagine! Fortunately, I experienced neither. Of course, when you’re consuming that much juice a day, you are naturally going to urinate more than normal, so my advice would be to plan your juice detox during a quiet work time when you’re not going to be in meetings all day.

THE RESULTS
The results of my 3-day juice experience were not just short-term. As amazing as it was, to have high energy levels, picture perfect skin and a more curbed appetite during and immediately after the cleanse, juice detoxes are not a sustainable way of living. Rather, The Genie Concept is fantastic for kick starting a new healthy lifestyle. It has helped me to look at the foods I am now consuming and understand the importance of nutritional content, anti-oxidants and good carbohydrates. Yes, the detox was hard and was it worth it? Absolutely! Since, I have found myself making green juices of my own and continuously referring back to Joyce’s car analogy. I, as I’m sure most of you would, want to be the Ferrari. Of course, life is all about balance, so I would never deprive myself of an indulgence here or there, but I now understand where the line must be drawn and when to put the chocolate bar down!

For more information visit www.thegenieconcept.com

CLEANSE COMPANIES IN LONDON

For those of you looking to try cleanse companies nearer to home, take a look at these great cleansing companies in London…

Plenish – founded by Kara Rosen, former magazine writer and jetsetter, Plenish delivers three levels of juices, Harmony, Clarity and Purity, each in a 3-day or 5-day programme.

www.plenishcleanse.com

SoupaJuice – offers clients three cleansing options including ‘soupajuice cleanse’, ‘soupagreen cleanse’ and ‘soupaman cleanse’. Founders, Danni and Lisa, have also developed a bespoke option to fit dietary and allergy requirements.

www. Soupajuice.co

Nosh Detox – with multiple programmes to choose from including the ‘red carpet cleanse’ and ‘green cleanse’ Nosh Detox works to help eliminate cellulite, whilst supporting weight-loss, thyroid healing and fertility struggles.

www.noshdetox.com

Raw Fairies – offer a 5-day nutritional cleanse containing raw food, fresh fruit and vegetable juices designed to improve energy levels and aid weight-loss, whilst promoting clearer skin and mental clarity.

www.rawfairies.com

 

The Beauty Cleanse

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It’s not often that my husband notices a change in me. I have had my hair dyed an entirely different colour before and all he has said is “is that a new top?”. But only one day into my Radiance Greens cleanse and Nick said “Gosh, you look good – you look like you’ve had loads of sleep – have you had loads of sleep?”. The next day he remarked that my skin looked amazing – he actually used the word amazing – The only time I have heard Nick  that enthusiastic about what I look like was on our wedding day. I had just completed my first day of the three-day Radiance Greens Cleanse, the first of it’s kind in the UK.

Im not going to lie. The Greens Cleanse was tough. It consisted of three days of nothing but green juices and one cashew milk a day. I never thought cashew milk could taste so good, but when sandwiched between four (marginally) different green juices, it tastes as sweet as a sugar-filled milkshake. I am not good at seeing cleanses through, I have a track record of breaking on the last day when that jar of peanut butter that sits in the cupboard taunting me finally gets too much and it takes me about two seconds to inhale three teaspoonfuls. But not this time. Every time I felt hungry or tired or just wanted to chew on something, I thought of my husband’s comments and it spurred me to finish it this time.

These daily juices became my new found and loved beauty elixir. I had heard that juice cleanses can do this but I was yet to see a noticeable difference in myself as a result of going on one. I did some more research as to why this particular cleanse made such a difference to my appearance, and in just three days!

Firstly, the cleanse is incredibly alkalising, which not only promotes detoxing but also helps get the body to work a lot more efficiently. Dr Robert Young, author of the PH Miracle comments that we should “forget cholesterol count. Forget calories and fat grams. Forget blood pressure, blood sugar, hormone levels, or any of the other markers of office. It turns out the single measurement most important to your health is the pH of your blood and tissues – how acidic or alkaline it is.” One of the best ways to balance your body’s pH is by eating more greens as their chlorophyll content has this incredibly alkalising effect. And, secondly, by juicing these greens your body is much more effective in absorbing all the nutrients as it doesn’t have to go through the hard task of breaking everything down.

Once your body is balanced to a wellness-warrior like status it can then work super efficiently. The liver becomes free of toxins and therefore can cleanse all the other organs allowing for nutrients to be delivered where they are needed. Resulting in, you guessed it, clearer skin, stronger nails, glossy locks and brighter eyes. I was amazed that it only took one day for a noticeable difference, which made me think that I might try and do one day a month where I give my body a break from digestion and order in a day’s worth of green cleansing.

As kermit the frog once said “it’s not easy being green” but what he didn’t tell you is that if you persist with it and see it through, you’ll look and feel much better for it.

Want to get gorgeous now? We speak to Radiance Cleanse founder (and total beauty herself), Clare, on what her beauty tips to implement now are:

Clare-2

1. Schedule a seasonal cleanse. Whether it’s a juice cleanse or your preferred detox diet, giving your digestive system a break, resetting your healthiest eating habits and focusing on your wellbeing, even for a short period of time, is just as important for your skin as a regular facial.

2. Hydration is key to youthful-looking skin. Using a good moisturiser helps, of course, but we need to add moisture from the inside as well. Aside from drinking enough filtered water, we’re huge fans of coconut water (our latest love is Unoco Raw Coconut Water ). However we can eat our water too by consuming lots of water-rich vegetables such as raw cucumber, celery, salads and fruit.

3. Good fats are essential for radiant skin. Eat them in foods such as avocado, nuts, seeds, oily fish and cold pressed olive, hemp, avocado or coconut oil.  You can also top up your intake with a supplement. We like Viridian 100% Organic Ultimate Beauty Oil  and Udo’s Ultimate Oil Blend

4.We are huge believers in natural and organic skincare products that don’t load the body with toxic chemicals. Our favourite place to get advice on the right personalised skincare regime is Content in Marylebone, which has a fantastic online store as well.

5. Getting enough high quality sleep is an often neglected key to good skin, and good health more generally. Treat an early night as you would a gym session – make it a priority and don’t let social commitments or distractions like emails get in the way.

For more information visit: Radiancecleanse.com

words by Sadie Macleod

A Runner’s New Best Friend: The Beurer PM200+ Running companion…

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A Runner’s New Best Friend: The Beurer PM200+ Running companion…

Beurer PM200+ Set

 

What is it?
This little fitness gadget tells you just about everything you would want to know about your run. It goes beyond the usual running app or heart rate monitor kit (which it does also include) and tracks your progress – distance, speed, time, calories, altitude and pace.

How does it work?
After downloading the app, you insert the small square piece of technology  into the headphone socket of your smartphone. It also comes with a heart rate monitor, which feeds the information straight back to your phone where it is recorded and a specially designed arm band holder so that your hands are free to concentrate on your work-out.

What’s it good for?
It’s perfect for the running fanatic who wants to really track their training, or anyone looking to increase their fitness levels. It is the ultimate self-improvement companion in that way. It is also very easy to set up and takes no time at all. I loved the weekly updates on how my training is going and would certainly recommend it to anyone taking on a racing challenge that they are training for.

Where do I get one?
The Beurer PM200+ smartphone runner’s kit is priced at £79.99 and is available from Argos.

 Beurer PM200+ with smartphone

 

 

Simple, Summer, Strawberry Salad

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recipe by Saskia Gregson-Williams

Summer is the perfect time to add in more fresh greens and vegetables to your diet. As the weather gets hotter and the sun shows it face more and more, our bodies start to crave fresher, sweeter tastes. Adding a bit of natural berry sweetness satisfies your post-lunch sweet tooth and you won’t find yourself longing for that habitual cube of chocolate, sounds good no?

Serves 2

Ingredients: 

4 handfuls green salad leaves

1 cup strawberries, sliced

1/2 cucumber, diced

1 avocado, cubed

1/4 cup mint, minced

Dressing:

Juice 1 lemon

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Salt & pepper to taste

Method:
Prepare all ingredients for salad and place in a mixing bowl. Combine all ingredients for the dressing. Toss well and serve!

Summer Cleanse: The pros and cons of going on a detox

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 Juicing cleanse sceptic, Francesca Londoño-Brasington, is converted after discovering the benefits of going on a detox

At long last Summer has arrived taking us by surprise after the coldest Spring in 50 years. Gone are the numerous layers of jumpers, black tights, jeans and scarves – bikini season is well and truly upon us and those limbs are out to be seen! With that in mind, many of us who are looking for a healthy summer regime to kickstart this with a detoxing cleanse. Google the word ‘cleanse’ or ‘detox’ and hundreds of sites pop up offering diet plans/juice plans with promises of losing weight and feelings of happiness and vitality. But why are these cleanses suddenly so popular and do we really need to cleanse and detox our system?

The theory behind cleansing is to eliminate all the toxins that have built up in our systems from our every day lives. So simply put; a detox. Each day we absorb thousands of toxins from environmental pollution, food additives and pesticides to cleaning and cosmetic products. These toxins put our body under stress and often mean we become run down and ill. Different companies offer different types of cleanse but the most commonly known are cleanses that offer a juice plan which are said to rid the body of these toxins and restore it back to normality.

As part of my own research into cleansing, I was offered to trial a cleanse from Raw to Door. I have always been a bit of cleansing sceptic and I wasn’t sure if it would be for me, I like to eat! Plus I’d always wondered whether it was actually worth all the hype. However, after researching Raw to Door I thought I’d give it a go especially because I really liked the philosophy behind the company. Raw to Door is a cleansing company set up by Natasha Davey, a passionate healthy eater and foodie. After being uninspired by the cleanses available on the market, she decided to go alone and subsequently devised juice plans with a nutritionist, whereupon Raw to Door was born.  Along with the juices, Natasha already a keen cook, developed her culinary skills further and reinvented herself as a vegan cook which she has incorporated into the Raw to Door cleanse. Natasha’s main aim was to offer appealing, healthy juices and food that not only looked good but tasted good.  And I can verify, they truly do taste good! Over the years, Raw to Door have developed four different types of cleanse, three of which involve juicing only and a fourth gentler one which I opted for; Raw to Four. This involves juicing throughout the day followed by a vegan supper in the evening. All the food is organic, wheat, gluten and dairy free and may I add, absolutely delicious!

My main reason for being cynical about cleansing is because of the juicing process –  I’d always wondered how the juices remained fresh especially since I’d read that fruits begin to lose their nutrients as soon as they’d been squeezed. However Natasha explained that Raw to Door use a Norwalk Juicer which grinds then hydraulically presses using limited heat meaning the juice oxidation process is slower. The slow oxidisation rate gives the juices a longer shelf life proved by the fact the juices do not change colour. Also Raw to Door ensure the juices are immediately bottled and then kept chilled. This method yields 3-5 times more nutrients and enzymes than other methods and allows them to deliver a three day supply to clients with a four day shelf life.  This is unlike a home juice which you’d have to drink straight away for any benefits. Natasha is also keen to ensure her suppliers only bring her the freshest produce.

Another reason I hadn’t initially been convinced by cleansing, is that eating fruit and vegetables is supposed to be much better than juicing as you get more fibre from the whole fruit. Again, Natasha helped to dispel my concerns by reiterating that juicing provides far more nutrients in one go rather than eating a single piece of fruit. There is no way you can eat enough raw fruit and vegetables to get the same quantity. Plus the juice is quickly absorbed into your blood stream within 10-15minutes penetrating and restoring the cells. And yes, fibre is lost from juicing but the point is to give the body easily digestible food so it can use all energy on repairing the body. This really reassured me and made me feel like I was doing my body a lot of good whilst drinking the juice.

After having my worries put to rest, I felt incredibly inspired whilst cleansing as I knew I was feeding my body with vast amounts of vitamins and minerals.  Plus Raw to Door had a wide variety of juices and meals and I neve had the same meal twice, which made it more interesting However I do believe it’s important to research the company before signing up to the cleanse as not every cleanse will offer such fantastic, nutritious products and it’s essential to know what you’re consuming. Based on my experience, I’ve listed a few Pros and Cons which you might like to consider before embarking on your own cleanse:

Pros

With a company like Raw to Door, it’s incredibly easy – there’s no shopping involved, all the juices and supplies are delivered directly to your door.  This also makes it quite exciting as each box is different so you never know what you’re going to get.

You sleep really well. I really noticed I didn’t have that wired feeling before going to sleep – I felt incredibly relaxed and slept deeply each night. I’m sure part of this was the fact that my body wasn’t getting it’s usual caffeine fix and it has since inspired me to cut down my caffeinated green and breakfast tea to herbal teas.

You feel great and virtuous. I remember waking up early on a Sunday morning for a run – I really appreciated making the most of the early sunshine and it was fantastic feeling so good!

It gives you a chance to be a bit inventive when socialising with friends – obviously nothing that involves alcohol or food! As well as exercise classes and running after work with friends, I did some cultural activities including a Shakespeare/Dickens London Walking tour which was brilliant!

Cons

You need to plan carefully and organise a cleanse for a week when you aren’t busy, if your job involves socialising which mine does, this can be very tricky.

You can experience ‘detox’ symptoms such as tiredness and an upset stomach.

You have to have a lot of will-power as it can be repetitive and ultimately can get rather boring.

Verdict

Many doctors are anti-cleansing as they believe the body is capable of detoxing itself. On the one hand, although this may be true, in this day and age, we subject our bodies to much more than they were designed for. We do eat processed food containing additives and e-numbers, drink alcohol amongst other bad habits and none of these things our body was designed to cope with, in-effect we are over-polluting our bodies. I therefore believe that from time to time, it might be a good idea to give your body a rest, a chance for it to heal and regenerate. I believe a gentle cleanse, like the Raw to Four option, is enough and offers the body all the optimum vitamins and nutrients.  A more intense cleanse might be reserved for a special occasion like a holiday or a wedding; something you want to look and feel amazing for.  Cleanses are tough but the upside is that you feel great and sleep well. Don’t go it alone if you can help it, having a cleansing buddy always makes it much easier.

 

If you only do one thing this week… Juice one of these five foods to this Summer

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Our Top Five Foods to Juice this Summer

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Cleansing Celery: A member of the parsley family, celery is fantastic for stimulating the kidneys and flushing out toxins. Three celery sticks makes up just one of the five recommended daily portions of fruit and veg – so be generous with it when juicing. It’s full of B-vitamins which are great for energy, and particularly important for women and you may be surprised to learn that it is also full of vitamin C too. It’s high in water content which makes it a good veggie to juice!

Skin-loving Strawberries: Strawberries are believed to enhance liver and gallbladder functions, and use to be the traditional way in which someone was treated for kidney stones and arthritis. Also packed full of vitamin C, the strawberry is considered a major skin-enhancer as this vital vitamin is essential for the manufacture of collagen – the stuff that makes skin youthful and wrinkle-free. Strawberries also contain ellagic acid, a phytochemical proven to help destroy toxins found in pollution and cigarette smoke, so we urge you city slickers to pile your juicer full of them.

Balancing Lemon: Although many think of lemons as acidic, lemons in fact have a very alkalising effect on the body. Used in Roman times to sweeten breath, lemon’s are still highly regarded as one of the most versatile fruits of all. Lemons contain limonene, a chemical that has been shown to slow the rate of cancer growth. Adding them to juices is a great way to get eat them as their bitter flavour is masked and often, bizarrely, adds a sweet element to green based juices.

Cool Cucumber: Full of water, just like the strawberry, the cucumber is known for it’s skin healing properties. But perhaps what you don’t know is that cucumber is great for you once you have had a tummy bug as it is so rehydrating and contains a bunch of vitamins and minerals too. Fresh cucumber juice is known to help alleviate acid reflux and indegestion and is also useful in the treatment of gum disease.

Cheery Cherries: Cherries get less air time than other fruit but there is no reason why. These sweet little summer treats are potent free-radical fighters due to their flavonoid content. Cherries are also thought to be excellent detoxifiers and are a rich source of quercetin a strong anti-inflammatory, which helps relieve painful joints.

Image by Sam Folan.