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Simple tips for a healthier, happier life!

1. Switch up refined carbohydrates for whole grains. Refined carbohydrates are not good for your system so changing them up will help you to feel healthier, fitter and reduce bloating.
   
   
2. Eat fibre. Fibre is an essential aspect of your diet and is vital for a healthy digestive system. Make sure you consume fruits, vegetables and whole grains to make sure you are getting enough fibre into your diet.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Ditch the dairy. There has been numerous research done which concludes that the majority of humans aren’t able to process dairy accurately which leads to inflammation, fatigue, skin problems and most common allergies. Yes, I know we have been brought up to believe that milk is a ‘very important part of development’and contains calcium and protein but it’s so easy to get calcium and protein in other ways ;without the side effects of dairy! Try using alternatives such as unsweetened almond milk/brown rice milk and see how much better you feel after just a few weeks!
   
   
4. Drink at 3 litres of water per day. Water is so essential for your body to function and helps to clear out toxins from our system and is so important for clear, vibrant skin.
   
   
   
   
5. Stay active. It’s important to stay active as much as possible. I understand it may be hard when you work in an office sat at a desk all day but even parking your car further so you have a longer walk to the office is such an easy but great way to incorporate a little movement into your day. I would recommend being active for at least 30 mins per day to keep your body moving! 
   
   

Love Holly

Sunshine Girl

After learning so much about diet and lifestyle while transitioning to a plant based diet, I have also become equally interested in learning about natural cosmetics and the best ways to look after your skin.

I steer well clear of any parabens which are chemical preservatives found in the majority of cosmetic products as well as other toxic chemicals which have been linked to cancer development. However, as the sun has finally started making appearances and holidays are being booked I have been wondering what sun cream I could use that is natural and will also give me good sun protection.

Before I went to Turkey in June I came across a brand called ‘Green People’on my favourite Paraben Free cosmetic site ‘Myon Pure’and decided to give the SPF 15 Sun Lotion with Natural Tan Accelerator a try as it was my first natural sun cream I have ever used.

I wasn't quite sure how well it would protect my skin from the sun but I was so impressed!

The lotion goes on really nicely and isn't too thick and overpowering for your skin. It worked to protect my skin so well and I definitely felt that the natural tan accelerator worked too and I turned a really nice golden brown by the time my few days away was over.

I would definitely recommend this brand of suncream as a natural paraben free alternative to commercial sun creams. They do a higher SPF cream too if you feel that you need a higher protection for your skin.

There is also some really informative blog posts regarding Parabens and how dangerous they are here http://www.myonpure.co.uk/blog/ which I would recommend reading to understand the dangers of using commercial skincare products.

Scrub It

To follow on from our skincare post (see below if you missed it!) we asked our talented and beautiful blogger Holly about her regime and fav tips...

 "I absolutely LOVE this home made exfoliator and I use it every day. It leaves my skin so silky smoothe and also smells delicious! It’s so easy to make and is all natural so contains no nasties. I definitely recommend giving it a try! 

All you need is a tub of 100% pure coconut oil and some demerara sugar. I make a big batch to last for the week and put it in a sealed glass jar in the bathroom cabinet.




You just need to use a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and enough sugar for it to be of an exfoliation consistency and so there is roughly an even amount of both the sugar and the oil. When you mix it together it should be gritty.

Just take a handful of the mixture and rub all over your body (but not your face) in the shower and your skin will be left so beautifully smooth after.

 This is great to do before a holiday and will get you feeling bikini confident!"

Love Holly

Holly & Jean

Date Night

As I have been so busy and on the go these last few weeks, I made a big batch of one of my favourite healthy snacks to grab and pack with my lunches. These date truffles are so delicious I thought I would share them with you too! They are super easy to make and keep in a sealed container the freezer/fridge for around a week so are great to make on sunday afternoons in preparation for the week ahead. The dates and pecans mix together to make a truffle-like texture and they taste divine!

Ingredients- makes roughly 12 truffles

3 cups pitted medjool dates; these are the squidgier ones and tend to work the best

1 Tbsp warm water

1 cup pecans

1/2 small cup unsweetened desiccated coconut (optional)

Confession time...these aren't mine!  Unfortunately I had eaten them all before I wrote this post.

However I promise they looked very similar to these with the coconut on top so this is how yours should come out too! Oops!

Method:
First break the pecans into small pieces so they blend easier with the dates.

Next, place the dates and warm water into a food processor or you can blend them together with a hand blender and blend them until smooth. I find that a hand blender works best but either works.

Add the broken pecans and blend until they form a smooth paste-like substance.  If it hasn’t all blended together quite as well as it should then add another tbsp of warm water and re blend.

Scoop the paste into a bowl; it should be a sticky consistency.

Use your hands to shape the paste into 3/4cm balls or however large/small you would like them, and set out on a baking tray. You can also roll them into your desiccated coconut so they are covered in coconut all the way round before placing them on the baking tray. This is optional and I tend to do half with and half without coconut.

Place them in the freezer to allow them to set for around 30 mins. Then place them in a sealed container and put them in the fridge or back in the freezer. I prefer to keep them in the freezer but there’s no right or wrong way.

Enjoy! 

Love

Holly x

Rock The Bloat

Bloating or inflammation occurs when the body is in an acidic state.

It’s a huge problem for a number of us and leads to us feeling sluggish, uncomfortable and insecure with the way we look with our bloated stomachs- not ideal!

Bloating may also be a sign of digestive issues and is our bodies’ way of telling you that something isn’t quite right.

With summer here, I thought it would be a good idea to do a post on ways to prevent it from occurring and if it is a problem for you, help you reduce it; especially if you have a holiday lined up! 

Refined sugar, saturated fat and gluten are some of the main offenders in causing inflammation and are the ones to avoid in order to beat the bloat and decrease inflammation.


Holly's Happy Tummy 

You should therefore try to incorporate more alkaline foods into your diet. These include:

• Vegetables: All vegetables are amazing for you and will assist you in beating the bloat. Those which contain a high water content are particularly important here as they are easily digested (cucumbers, bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes are some examples.)
• Wholegrains: The high fibre content in wholegrains is essential in order to fight inflammation. Try to incorporate gluten-free grains into your diet such as quinoa, brown rice and millet.
• Fruit: Consuming berries is a great way to reduce inflammation. Try snacking on them, adding them to smoothies or breakfasts; they are a great way of curbing sweet cravings too! 
  
  
  A small strawberry haul! 
  
  
• Nuts: Raw nuts are excellent at fighting inflammation- almonds being one of the best. The source of Omega 3 and essential fatty acids in all raw nuts are great for our stomachs! 
• Tumeric: This spice has been shown to reduce inflammation and therefore reduce bloating. Try mixing a teaspoon with warm water and drinking it or adding it to your meals.
• Water: You need to make sure that you are flushing fluids through your system and by drinking plenty of water this will help. Try starting your day with a cup of warm water with lemon!

And finally: Sodium: Reducing salt intake will prevent your body from holding excess water and get rid of your bloated feeling.

I hope these tips go some way to helping, let me know if you have any top hints or trick!

Love Holly

@hollyzoccolan

Getting Preppy With It

In order to stay healthy on-the-go and at work, you need to get into the routine of food preparation. This will stop you from reaching out for crisps, chocolate, commercial sandwiches and other processed foods- and save you money too!

Every day I always prepare 2/3 huge fresh salad boxes to take to work with me depending on if I'm working for a half day or full day (and because I like to eat a lot!). Although lunch is usually provided on set, it's usually in the form of white bread, processed meat, more bread, cheese, crisps and because I like give my body healthy nutritious food, I find it’s a lot easier to take my own food with me; and also a lot more enjoyable to eat.

You obviously don't have to make salads if that isn't what you enjoy but this is just an example of what I do and it helps to keep me energised and healthy throughout the day. You can make your own fresh wholemeal sandwiches so you know exactly what's in them or sometimes I like to make extra food for dinner and portion some out for lunch the next day which is quicker if you are short of time.

So get your tupperware out and start preparing your own lunches and you will notice a difference in your cravings and it will help keep you energised and healthy throughout the day! It's so easy to do you just need to get into the routine, be dedicated and get preparing!

Love Holly

Pukka Holiday - Holly

This week I'm away with my boyfriend in beautiful Turkey but before coming I popped into Whole Foods to do a big beauty haul, on the hunt for natural suncreams and moisturisers.

Whilst I was browsing the shelves I spotted a variety of Pukka Herbs supplement packets which you add into water and they give you a nutrient and vitamin hit.

I thought they would be brilliant for me to take away as I knew I wouldn't get chance to have my daily green juice or smoothie so these were ideal as a replacement for the week.

I bought a box of Pukka Herbs 4g Clean Greens sachets and have had one every morning alongside breakfast mixed with a glass of water.

I have to admit that the taste is not the most pleasant at first, however you only need to mix it into a small glass of water and it’s gone very quickly! I actually began to quite enjoy the earthy flavour after a few days.

The packet contains 12 chlorophyll-rich green foods that are brilliant for purifying your body. I noticed that it gave me an energy boost in the morning and it’s such an easy way to give your body vital nutrients and minerals.

 I would definitely recommend having a look at Pukka Herbs and seeing what supplement sachets they have on offer as they are great to take away on holiday and to also have in your cupboard to pop into your morning smoothie for some added nutrition!

Love Holly

Meet Holly

Lexie isn't just about the kit you wear (although obviously ours is pretty cool...) but about all things healthy, fun and awesome.
So it's with this in mind that we've carefully chosen some amazing girls to join our blogging team and tell us what's rocking their world!

First up is Holly, a certified Nutritional Health Coach and a professional model. She absolutely loves all things related to health, wellbeing and fitness and her aim is to inspire others to become the best version of themselves. She practices yoga everyday and embraces a happy, positive and healthy lifestyle and loves spreading her wellbeing knowledge to the world.

Holly will be blogging regularly for us with cool tips, events and reviews so keep your eyes peeled!