Raw Carrot and Coconut Cake

Raw Carrot and Coconut Cake

(Raw-ish ..... see note by honey)

 

Cake  

·       2.5 cups of finely grated carrots (about 3-4 large carrots) (I used my Breville Juicer so that some moisture was retained in the pulp. I then used the pulp and a little of the carrot juice)
·       1 cup walnuts (pre-soaked and drained)
·       1 cup pitted dates (pre-soaked and drained BUT KEEP soak water – may need for cake / topping)
·       0.5 cup of unsweetened shredded dried coconut  
·       1.5 teasp cinnamon  
·       0.5 tsp nutmeg (Don’t want more than this as it overpowers the flavour)
·       Pinch of Himalayan salt
·       Juice of 1 orange (to be used to soak the raisins) 
·       0.5 cup of raisins (pre-soaked in the orange juice. The raisins plump up and absorb most of it)

 Cashew Cream Topping      (If you want a creamer cake make 1.5 – 2 times this quantity)

·       1 cup cashews (pre-soaked and drained)
·       1/4 cup water (use the date soak water above if any left)
·       Good dessertspoon honey (melted if solid) (for those you want a 100% raw cake - use raw honey)   
·       Good dessertspoon of coconut oil (enough solid to sit on a dessertspoon!!), melted 
·       Zest of 1 lemon + a little juice (approx 1 dessertspoon) - to taste
·       Pinch of Himalayan salt
·       1 - 2 teasp vanilla essence    

·       Walnuts and extra cinnamon for finish

Method

Cake
·       Grate carrots and place in large bowl. (If juicing, use the pulp and most of the juice).
·       In a food processor / blender, blend together walnuts and dates until smooth. If needed add a little of the date soak water.
·       Add this mix + coconut, spices and salt to the carrots, and mix well together.
·       Finally stir in raisins (do not blend as want these whole).
·       Note – if wanted, could reserve an odd walnut and date and chop finely, then stir in too.
·       Pack into a flan dish (approx. 7 - 8 inch square). The cake should stand about 1 inch tall.

Topping 

·       Drain and rinse soaked cashews in clean water.
·       Melt the oil and honey in a glass dish over a pan of boiling water.
·       In a food processor / blender combine all the ingredients and blend until VERY smooth. Adjust lemon juice to taste.    
·       Spread onto cake.

Finally

·       Put in fridge for a AT LEAST few hours before serving. I prefer to leave it overnight to allow the flavours to meld J
·       Top with some extra walnut pieces and a light sifting of cinnamon if desired.
·       Cut cake with warm knife.
·       ENJOY!!! JJ

What have you and your pet guinea pig got in common?

What have you and your pet guinea pig got in common? JJ

Answer: humans, guinea pigs, apes and some fruit bats are the only mammals that do not make their own Vitamin C, so we have to eat lots of the right foods to enjoy its benefits. 

 Let’s face it, though, Vitamin C seems a bit “old hat” nowadays. Open any health magazine and there is likely to be some superstar nutrient boasting umpteen times greater antioxidant power than our faithful friend. (Antioxidants = “good guys” which fight the “bad guy” cell-damaging free radicals.)  It is therefore easy to get seduced into thinking that perhaps Vitamin C is a little redundant, but nothing could be further from the truth ……………..

A bit of History

Vitamin C deficiency was big in our ancestors’ days, and scurvy was commonplace especially on long sea voyages, when many a ship lost a large proportion of its crew to the disease. In 1747 a Scottish Naval Surgeon, James Lind experimented with fresh fruit and veg to keep scurvy at bay, with good results. Despite this, however, it took the British Navy until 1804 to make it mandatory for each sailor to be allotted limes – hence the name “limies” given to British sailors.

Roll on to the 1930s when the Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Gyorgi isolated and identified Vitamin C and named it Ascorbic Acid, which literally means “no scurvy” (“scorbutus” is the Latin name for scurvy). For this he received the Nobel Prize in 1937.    

Why is it good for you? 

First of all we don’t want scurvy, but what exactly is this? Well, Vitamin C is vital for making collagen, the “glue” which holds a lot of our tissues together, including the artery walls. Without this, thousands of tiny lesions can break out and cause havoc. Scurvy is best known for bleeding gums and as a result teeth falling out, but a lime-deficient sailor of the 18^th century would have suffered internal bleeding too as his blood vessels literally liquidised. Not a happy way to die. Today we vilify cholesterol as a major cause of heart disease, but truth be told, it’s the equivalent of blaming an ambulance for the accident at which it is helping. Cholesterol is simply Nature’s Band-Aid and is used to patch up weakened artery walls caused by Vitamin C (and other) deficiency. So bottom line is – if you want a healthy heart – get yourself a load of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is a potent Antioxidant (as said above), it aids in the healing of wounds and plays a big part in maintaining a healthy immune system.                

Unfortunately Vitamin C and glucose share the same receptor site on cell membranes (receptor sites are effectively the channels through which something passes into a cell).  This is a problem because the glucose takes priority.  D’oh!! A bit of a design flaw but I’m guessing when the blueprint for receptor sites was finalised, there weren’t too many Mars bars growing on trees. J So next time you are fighting an infection, such as a pesky cold, resist the sugary snacks and dose up on Vitamin C.  Vitamin C will have a fighting chance of actually getting into cells and thus help to boost your immune defences. Better still, keep good levels of Vitamin C in your body at all times.   

Unfortunately Vitamin C is a sensitive creature, so although fruit and vegetables contain a lot, sinking your teeth into an orange doesn’t guarantee you a boost of this lovely nutrient. A lot of produce is picked well before its full nutrient content can be realised; storage and travel time deplete it further; and cooking pretty much destroys what’s left. Fresh, organic and raw is the best way to ensure maximum levels. If you do cook vegetables, then steam for a short time only so that they are hot but still crunchy.

Supplements are a good idea to boost levels. Choose a good quality supplement; one which contains bioflavonoids, so that the body recognises what to do with it. Spreading your intake throughout the day is a good way of maintaining a consistently good level in the body. If you are a stressed bunny, then it’s a good idea to up your Vitamin C, as it’s gobbled up by your body whilst busy making stress hormones.        

If you would like advice on a good Vitamin C supplement to suit you, then please contact me. See my website www.judithreidnaturalhealth.co.uk for details.

There is good reason your guinea pig likes munching on crunchy veg!!! JJ    

Time to Reinvent YOU

 

Time to reinvent you  JJ

No sooner have we become accustomed to the sunshine and wearing summery things (ok not wall-to-wall but it’s given us its best shot this year, don’t you think?), than we find ourselves approaching autumn once more. September for many households is all about “Back to School”, not just for youngsters but for those pursuing adult courses. It’s an opportunity to learn new things, meet new friends and in some cases reinvent ourselves. I know when I ventured on my naturopathic nutrition course – oh so many years ago – it opened doors that I didn’t even know existed. It introduced me to a new way of thinking which turned my world upside down and with it my health – or in my case, transformed my lack of health to more energy and a feeling of wellbeing, which I hadn’t had for a VERY long time.   

 

So let’s take the “Vibrancy quiz”.

My question to you is – on a scale of 0 to 10 (where 0 doesn’t even register, 1 is extremely poor / low, to 10 which is brilliant/ vibrant/ flying high or not applicable) how do you rate on the following? Be honest with yourself!!

* Energy levels

* Physical wellbeing

* Mental and emotional wellbeing

* Weight management

* Coping with Stress

* Coping with a niggling health complaint

* Coping with a serious getting-in-the-way-of-life complaint

* Pain-free, ache-free

* Enjoying a comfortable and smooth-running digestive system

* Coping with life in general!

* Fulfilling your potential

If you scored 7 or less on any of these, it’s time to reinvent yourself, and the good news is YOU CAN.  J  By embracing new ideas and a healthy diet, I literally ate my way back to health, and waved goodbye to M.E. for good. We have far more control over our own health and wellbeing than we are led to believe by so called experts including, sadly, doctors who in the past haven’t had a Scooby-doo what to do with me and have told me “to learn to live with it”.  (D’oh?!)

It’s not easy to take the first steps to a new you on your own, especially when it comes to diet. I took mine with the support of college friends, but realise that not everyone wants to enrol on a 2-year course!

 

Fancy unearthing a “new you”?  I offer 1:1s and group events to help you on your way.  Why not consider   

J My introductory talk “How Happy Are your Cells” is a wonderful starter for ten to get you thinking about the basics. “This is a BRILLIANT talk…. I consider myself as a healthy person so was surprised how much I learnt when I heard this talk, as it is so jam-packed with info…….I guarantee you will leave inspired and much more aware of how to make your cells happy!“   Next = Mon 30 Sep, 8pm   

J My “Nourish to Flourish” weekend workshop is packed with info, tips, tasters, handouts and recipes and gives you a great all-round view of what a healthy diet can do for you. It can literally change you from the inside out. ”Your course stripped everything bare and helped me to look deeper into a way of life of all things natural, in relation to lifestyle, diet, stress etc., essentially the bigger and complete picture.  Your delivery is easy to follow and the handouts are excellent, covering everything which we are now able to read and re-read at home. I felt refreshed just as a result of our weekend, of listening and learning and sharing, and came home well informed and inspired to start to make changes along the natural nutrition journey”    Next = Sat / Sun 14/15 Sep at 10.30 – 16.30 both days.  Lunch included.  

 

See my Talks and Workshops page for more details of both events

J 1:1 consultations to meet individual needs and concerns.  

During September / October, I am offering a £10 discount on your first consultation and £5 off all follow ups.  

 

If interested in any of the above - drop me a line or phone me. Contact details at www.judithreidnaturalhealth.co.uk

 

Basil Green Smoothie Recipe

BASIL GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE

Green smoothies are a fabuloso way of starting the day. Hydrating and alkalising, packed with goodness and yumminess, not to mention fibre for a slow release of energy throughout the morning. Why oh why would one eat soggy cornflakes instead?  (mmmmmmm?)

Basil has been a long-standing favourite in my kitchen, but ashamedly I have used it in very little apart from homemade pesto and as an extra leafy thing in a green salad (both delish).

Whilst trying very hard to “ring the changes” on the greens which go in my breakfast green smoothie, I decided to experiment one day with basil (we had lots in our garden at the time) and it was love at first-taste. 

I had tried mint before and was disappointed by its insistence on being star flavour, thus overriding everything with it, so was a little cautious with basil at first. No need. It adds a certain depth and plays its part without screaming “I’m here”. It has become such a favourite ingredient that our plants are stripped bare and I’m going to have to go foraging elsewhere for it (well – OK – buy it at my local food market)

The following serves 2 people ……….

BASE

A mix of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries with water

GREENS

Good helping of Rocket
Good helping of Basil   

EXTRAS

1 avocado
3 Bananas
Good 1 – 2 dessertspoons shelled Hemp seeds

Enjoy!! 

Bach Flower Essence - Wild Rose

Bach Flower Essence - Wild Rose - helping fuel a sense of purpose in life 

 

I’ve had several frustrating moments whilst driving when I’ve seen a beautiful Wild Rose bush by the side of the road, and as much as I’d like to screech to a halt, pop out and take some photos, I’m not sure my fellow motorists would be too amused.

Thankfully, whilst walking around Denbies, Dorking, back in July, I came across some Wild Roses. Yay!!! One happy me.

It’s a very pretty and delicate looking flower with five pale pink or white heart-shaped petals. Its curved thorns resembling a dog’s canine tooth, give it its Latin name “Rosa Canina”.

My excitement at finding it (I’m on a quest to photograph all the Bach Flowers) clearly showed I wasn’t actually in need of the essence that day!! Wild Rose Essence is indicated where there is a general apathy in life. There is almost an emotional numbness; a lack of emotional expression, not just of joy and happiness, but also of those emotions which can arise when things aren’t going too well either - such as frustration or depression. It’s a bit of a flat-liner with no ups or downs. We are simply existing, and not embracing life.

In negative Wild Rose state we tend to be resigned to how life is. We aren’t proactive or reactive!  Uncomplainingly we just go through the motions of life, doing nothing to improve our situation. Maybe we are ill or in an unrewarding job. Maybe life has got a little boring, doing the same old day-in and day–out. Negative Wild Rose does nothing to get better or find a more suitable job, or even seek out life’s simple pleasures. “That’s life” is a good motto for him.  

Wild Rose Essence helps fuel a sense of purpose in life, however young or old we are. We feel a desire to make the most out of life. It’s definitely a “living in the now” essence, helping us to see life almost through a child’s eyes, curious and enthusiastic about the world about us. We don’t have to be doing something wildly exciting to enjoy life, we can just appreciate life’s pleasures, however small……. Like finding Wild Rose bushes on our doorstep!!!        

Nurturing Healthy Habits

Healthy Habits JJ Whilst making a lunchtime juice-smoothie combo the other day, I realised how years ago my staples used to be bread and milk!!! OMG!! The first two things on my mind on return from holidays were always a cup of tea (with milk) and bread (subconsciously I think I was afraid of starvation if I didn't have a loaf in!!) Now my staples are bananas, avocados and greens - the foundation to my favourite breakfast green smoothies, and after a holiday (usually there's a long journey involved) my first thoughts are always for a nice looooooooooong drink of water. Shows how tastes and mind sets change - if we allow them to.

By de-cluttering our minds from old stuff, such as beliefs (that I’ll starve without a nice slice of granary on hand) and habits (brewing up without thinking), we can allow new energising, health-giving habits a bit of room to move in and set up home in our brain cells. Yay!!

But often it’s a chicken and egg situation. What comes first? If we are happy and healthy and bouncing full of energy we are more likely to feel good about ourselves and therefore more likely too to eat and think more healthily. Similarly, if we drink our water and eat our greens we are more likely to have cells that are buzzing full of energy and flourishing – which can’t but help overflow to global level (i.e. YOU).

Obviously if you aren’t eating as well as you could, and perhaps holding on to negative beliefs, your poor old cells will be feeling the effects and, rather than being happy, will be dragging themselves around feeling sorry for themselves and under-functioning. And that means you will be too. It takes a strong will or a light bulb moment or even both to get you changing your diet and mindset.

My own experience was one of feeling like absolute death and really scared because of my health (or lack of), and had someone suggested I hung upside down from a tall bridge to get better, I would have done so (a BIG deal for me as I’m a “feet firmly on the ground” kinda girl). Thankfully, a less dangerous option was on hand – to change my diet - and two of the things which went out of the window were wheat and dairy. The rest as they say is history.

Often it has to be a leap of faith. Often when you are in the depths of despair, you just have to trust and take that step.

The other week there was a fantastic film called “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” on TV. It followed an Australian man called Joe who after suffering an auto-immune disease for many years (and being on umpteen drugs), decided to juice his way across the USA. Along the way he met a truck driver called Phil, suffering with the same illness. Phil chose to follow Joe’s example and get juicing. Both men made incredible strides in their health, lost lots of weight and were headed for a life without drugs. Both had hit rock bottom, but both too took that very difficult leap of faith. And WOW what results.

Obviously not all of us are so seriously ill.  I try to have a very healthy diet, but even so felt the film had a message for me too. It really brought home just how fundamental food is to our health and well-being, and how I need to get that message across to people. Whether you are a juicing-queen / king, or maybe have an OK diet but suffer with odd headaches, or lacking energy – things which we assume are “normal” (they aren’t; it may be the norm, but it isn’t normal) - I would recommend you make a point of getting your hands on this film and watching it, and see if it doesn’t speak to you at some level. 

The following quote sums it up nicely. J “Our bodies are incredibly smart. We have over 60 trillion cells intricately and automatically coordinating their activities so we can go on with our lives without having to worry about our health. But when we introduce bad foods to our bodies, we start to destroy this finely tuned masterpiece, balance is lost and the preconditions for disease set in. Our bodies scramble to recover and regain balance, but so long as bad food keeps coming in, they will remain out of balance and, over time, disease will set in. Our bodies are extremely forgiving of bad habits - but only up to a point - and when they have had enough, people will get a wake-up call like they’ve never had before”  THE RAVE diet and Lifestyle - Mike Anderson

The first step with any healthy diet / lifestyle is to get savvy !! You don’t need a university degree – just a few basics to put you on the right path. I shall be giving my “How Happy Are Your Cells” talk JJ in Dorking, Surrey on Monday 30 September and I invite you to come along to learn some of those basics.
See my website for more details ............

Cake-centric runners and couch smoothettes!!

Cake-centric runners and couch smoothettes!!

A brand new year gives us all a chance to turn over a new leaf. As a lover of stationery, I like to see life as a journal. At the beginning of January, we can draw a line under our old year, which may have seen an odd bad habit creep in and perhaps a few Christmas excesses, and now we are faced with a blank page on which we can scribble our intentions, hopes, dreams and goals for the year ahead. Central to all this should be our health. Yes, I know I keep repeating myself BUT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Be proactive. Take time now to focus on you – to ensure your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing are the best that they can be. If you don’t take time now, you may well be forced to take considerable time out when it’s not that convenient.  Big diseases don’t just suddenly visit us one evening out of thin air. Often they are brewing for several years, fuelled by our poor diets, lack of exercise, and lack of care for ourselves. Just a little time each day spent on looking after “me” can reap long-term benefits.   A lot of people get a rush of blood to the head in January and sign up for gym membership or resolve to go running every day. That’s great, but not if you are still cramming cakes and eating a poor diet. Your already depleted reserves will be strained even further and injuries are more likely as well as feeling under par. Likewise, there is only so much benefit from being a couch-smoothette – a term I made up to denote a green-smoothie eating couch-potato!! A healthy diet and lifestyle (including regular exercise) go hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive!!  Make nourishing yourself with health-giving foods and exercising your daily habits in 2013. You are sure to see and feel the difference.  Wishing you a healthy 2013