I – IBS

More people suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome than you know….the best way to cure the symptons are to find out what is causing them. You might find your body doesn’t agree with dairy products or yeast!

For the immediate relief of IBS here are a few tips:

Eat lots of celery, onions and Jerusalem artichokes as these vegetables contain inulin which is a prebiotic and counteracts the imbalance of bacteria in the gut.

I – Iron

Now we all know where Popeye the Sailor man got his muscles from – SPINACH!! Iron can be found in meat, especially Venison, chickpeas, lentils, bran cereals, green vegetables and of course spinach.

NOTE: Vitamin C helps your body absorb Iron so next time you are reading through that Chinese Menu don’t hesitate to order that ‘‘Duck a l’orange’’….

As Kiwi fruits have seven times the amount of Vitamin C than Oranges – in these cold winter months I would also make sure your fruit bowl is green in colour!

Remember that Iron is an important part of your diet because it transports oxygen from your lungs to the muscles but also maintains high energy levels and keeps your immune system strong.

So wrap up in your cashmere and warm winter coats and make sure you eat lots of Iron and Vitamin C.

I - Insomnia

If I was on to N then the definition would be N for Neglect. I have been distracted from my blog but partly because I was in and out of the office last week recovering from back pains. Unfortunately I fell down some stairs – typical that the only sober person at a party gets injured. That’s just the way of the world I suppose. A recent article actually proved that drinking ginger tea relieves muscles soreness. No wonder I recovered quickly with all my hot ginger teas and Chinese beef with ginger and bean sauce!

But sticking with the order of the alphabet my next letter is I –Insomnia. When I was in hospital over night in A&E while the doctors took x-rays on my back I didn’t feel tired at all and I was so surprised that I didn’t crash and burn until that afternoon. How can people manage to survive on little or no sleep is beyond me?

Apparently eating dried fruit, nuts, wholegrain foods, bran, sweetcorn and mushrooms can help relieve insomnia although they should not be consumed with dairy or calcium rich foods.

Try taking a magnesium supplement an hour before bed. The mineral enhances the effect of tryptophan, an amino acid needed to help produce melatonin, the hormone involved in our sleeping and walking cycles.

If that doesn’t work try counting sheep……..

H - Hangover

I failed….Friday night saw me drinking Tequila shots like they were going out of fashion and on Saturday morning I had a pain in my head to match that in my feet. I blame the high heels and the booze.

So the weekend was a two day session of recovery and yes…Pizza Express Margarita. (Special offer at Sainsbury’s I will have you know). My brother watched in horror as I dunked each slice in Tomato Ketchup – a habit I have to blame on my weekends in Vienna. Somehow it just makes it taste so much better. I think Maryann would agree….

This week I am back to being good! After reading the article in The Daily Mail today about the Dukan Diet I am convinced that one must be allowed a treat every so often, following an 'wicked weekend' with a restricting day to balance out all the bad fats which you have pumped through your body. So ‘Protein Thursday’ is in fact my Monday!

For those of you not familiar with the Dukan Diet, a 'Protein Thursday' means that you eat just meat for the entire day, which gets rid of any cravings and helps you loose that excess weight! So for breakfast I had bacon and eggs, lunch was something Fishy and tonight I think either steak or chicken. (All dependent upon the contents of my fridge and freezer)

To avoid the hangover, I should have drunk my Milk Thistle. Taking a glass of water with drops of Milk Thistle before you start drinking alcohol, and also when you are just about to sleep followed by the morning after is meant to banish any hangover. Drinking will never be punishing again......although perhaps you want to remind youself not to drink so much!

H - Hydration

Don’t get irate in the summer – hydrate!

By consuming raw, whole foods which retain their moisture such as fruit and vegetables, you will feel less thirsty. When food is cooked at high temperatures it loses its moisture and can act as a sponge, hence increasing your thirst.

NOTE: When fluid is drunk during or immediately after eating, this will affect the body’s digestive efficiency and make the system work harder.

So have that glass of water before a meal or wait until afterwards. If you are eating foods in their raw state you won’t even be thirsty. Who knew that you’re five a day could actually relate to the 8 litres of water you are also meant to consume?

Now that’s what I call a two-in-one….

H - Honey

Do you have a sweet tooth? If so you probably have a cupboard filled with Honey, especially during the Hayfever months when this carbohydrate is said to relieve symptoms and make you less allergic to pollen.

Did you know that Honey is made up of 80% sugar? Why not try substituting Honey for Agave nectar which is a healthy alternative. (A – Agave Nectar)

The reason for weight gain and cravings is down to the content of sugar. Fructose is the enemy in supermarkets shopping. Avoid any products which contain those words ending in ‘OSE’. This is what causes weight gain because it ends up in the liver in an unbroken state. Compounds such as Fructose disrupt the mechanisms that instruct the body whether to store or burn fat. Just SAY NO to sugar…..

G - Green Tea

Green Tea – unlimited refills at Wagamama’s and with health benefits, this hot drink is not to be overlooked.

Not only is Green tea a glucose regulator but it also acts as an appetite suppressant. It slows the digestive system so the body absorbs less fat from food consumed. Fancy that, a herbal tea that stops the movement of sugar into fat cells.

Green Tea also contains polyphenols which encourages the body to produce heat that burns off body fat.

Drinking 6 cups a day means you can burn up to an extra 100 calories (700 a week) and will block carb absorption.