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Beeting the Competition

This week I've been testing out Beet It elite sports shots alongside some serious endurance training for the Snowdonia 50 / Eryri 50 and Endurance life series ... and it's working wonders! 

The world's first sport shot, Beet it was specifically designed for the sport nutrition market.



Now used by a number of professional, elite, and sub-elite athletes as well as Premiership Football, International Rugby, Cycling and Olympic Teams it's ingredients are pretty simple, just 90% Beetroot and 10% fresh apple juice (to smooth over the naturally earthy taste of beetroot)

Free from artificial fertilisers and pesticides, it tastes great and I definitely recommend it!

Love & Peace,

Sarah x

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

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

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