Water - The Fountain of Youth

History and literature has many stories about the famed Fountain of Youth. This fountain was said to be the source of the water of life, the magic elixir which cured illnesses, renewed strength & energy and reversed the aging process. Water has been used through the centuries of Natural and Alternative therapies through the detoxification processes in 'Hydrotherapy' and also assisting in Fasting cleansing therapies. Today water is often taken for granted, with many often by-passing its history of healing and power. 

Everyone knows we should drink at least 8 glasses of purified water every day for optimum health. However, really drilling down to the source of this abundant and vital source of life - some of us could very well be doing more harm that good. It is important we really get this one right.

The age old debate still stands with regards to water sanitation. It does seem contradictory that our water supplies are made safe to drink by adding poisonous chemicals to it. The long-term safety of both chlorination & choramination has not been conclusively proven. Although these substances have been used to disinfect water for 70 years there have been few systematic health studies of the effects on humans, and the studies that have been undertaken have raised more questions than they have answered. 

I don't want to freak anyone out, by all means, drinking water from an unfiltered tap is definitely more beneficial than chugging down a can of coca cola. But there are ways to ensure we are getting the premium drop of our H2O. All water filters use a substance to trap, absorb or modify pollutants from the water that flows through them. Some work by trapping the pollutants mechanically with an ultra fine sieve or strainer, while others use a process called adsorption in which the contaminants are retained within the microscopic pores of the medium. 

In deciding on a water filter it is best to consider four factors:

• The quality of the tap water to be treated
• The degree of refinement required - which contaminants do you wish to eliminate?
• How much you are prepared to spend on the equipment - prices vary from $30-$1500, depending on the degree of purification required
• The frequency and ongoing cost of maintenance 

All hail the original fountain of youth!

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Juicy Goodness

Drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juice is so beneficial to health and  is more than a delicious way to start the day. It can increase your energy, give you a glowing complexion, strengthen your immune system and reduce your risk of disease, just to name a few.

Fresh juices supply your body with significant amounts of vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Enzymes support thousands of chemical reactions that occur throughout our bodies. Because they are temperature sensitive, they begin to die at around 48 degrees Celsius, which means all cooked and processed foods are devoid of enzymes. So many think they are getting their 4-5 serves of vegetables a day from a side plate of cooked veggies, but you are actually not getting all the intended benefits. This is where juicing comes into play - juicing allows us to absorb all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes in vegetables that are often loss through preferred cooking methods.

Another positive of juicing is that it removes all the indigestible fibre from fruits and vegetables, and releases many of the nutrients that are trapped in the fibre. Fibre is still important though, so it is still important to keep up the raw fruits and vegetables to keep you regular!

Below are a quick list of juices that are beneficial to health:

• Apple = Liver Cleanser
• Beetroot = Blood cleanser and strengthens liver
• Broccoli = Potent anti-oxidant and reported anti-cancer properties
• Cabbage = Rich in selenium and useful for healthy joints & digestive complaints
• Carrot = Rich in beta carotene and good source for acne & other skin problems. Excellent remedy for heartburn
• Celery = Aids digestion, relieves excess fluid build-up & a good nerve tonic
• Cucumber = Good for the skin and kidneys
• Kale = Rich in bio-available calcium so good fr the bones
• Spinach = Blood cleanser

Tip - Always consume juices on an empty stomach, so first thing in the morning to cleanse the system and provide immediate energy.

Happy Juicing :)

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Curried Lentil, Carrot & Cashew Soup

There is 'technically' only 1 more month left of winter - thank goodness! However, this means 'technically' only 1 more month left of nice warm comfort foods. I personally love a good soup in winter to keep me warm, team this with some curry and you won't even feel the cold! Curried lentil, carrot & cashew soup is one of my favourites. I cooked this one up last night, however I had to make some variations to the recipe, as our blender broke half way through the process. It is meant to be blended, however I actually prefer it this way - with all the crunch from the carrots and cashews, it creates a good texture. It looks a bit more masterchef presentable when blended, however I can assure you it is up to masterchef taste standards. It is also packed full of wholesome goodness, with lots of fibre and vitamins.

What do I need?

1.5 L (6 cups) Vegetable Stock

750g carrots, finely chopped

185g (3/4 cup) red lentils

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

80g (1/2 cup) unsalted raw cashew nuts

1 tablespoon curry paste

2 large handfuls of coriander

4 cloves of garlic

1 cup silken tofu or 1 cup of natural yoghurt (whatever you prefer)

What do I do?

1. Bring stock to the boil in large heavy based saucepan. Add carrots & lentils, bring mix back to boil, then simmer on low heat for 8 minutes, or until the lentils and carrots are soft.

2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in frying pan. Add onion, garlic & cashews over medium heat until the onion is soft & browned. Add curry paste & coriander & cook until fragrant, then add mixture into soup.

3. Whisk the silken tofu until it is a creamy texture & add into the soup (this acts as a yoghurt substitute, but feel free to use natural yoghurt instead). Stir through until combined. Serve with coriander and a few crushed cashews on top as a garnish.

Enjoy.

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