Hydrate naturally

Water is the most essential nutrient for sustaining life. Your body requires 8 to 12 cups of water daily. I love drinking water, but some people find it boring... Healthy alternatives to water can hydrate your body while offering more appealing flavors and textures.

Coconut water is very healthy, 100% natural and one of the best drinks to hydrate your body. Coconut water is low in carbs, low in sugars and 99% fat free. Coconut water also contains more potassium than most sports or energy drinks. I love Vita Coco (different flavors), especially after a work-out!

I also like to spice up my water with some lemon, lime or mint. Refreshingly delicious.

xoxo


A trip to Whole Foods

Yesterday I went to Whole Foods in London, also known as food heaven :) Seriously, when I'm at Whole Foods I feel like a kid in a toy shop! Organic, gluten-free, raw, vegan,... you name it, Whole Foods has it!

I bought a few healthy superfoods that are difficult to find in Belgium:

  • Nutritional yeast (= packed with nutrition, particularly B-vitamins, folic acid, selenium, zinc, and protein. It’s low in fat, gluten-free and contains no added sugars or preservatives. Because vitamin B12 is absent from plant foods, nutritional yeast that contains B12 is a great addition to a vegan diet)
  • Organic kale (= green leafy vegetable packed with nutrition, a wonderful superfood)
  • Gluten-free instant oats bags (= I love my oatmeal in the morning, these little bags are perfect to take with me on holiday or when in a hurry)
  • Green superfood bars (= a sugar-free, gluten-free, superfood snack)
  • Gluten-free vegetable and chicken stock (= a great soup asks for great stock)
  • Instant organic miso soup (= healthy snack @ work)
  • Gluten-free rolled oats (= of course!)
  • Superfood crackers & kale spirulina crackers (= this girl needs her snacks, superfood snacks)
  • A big bag of raw nuts (= looooove)
  • ...
xoxo


Alkaline vs Acid

An alkaline way of life is the perfect start to restore your overall healthBy transforming your nutrition into an alkalizing pH diet, which can be by eating vegetables all day long, or taking green food nutritional supplements, the body’s pH level will gradually be balanced. When the nutrients of alkaline foods get into your bloodstream, every cell in your body will be recreated and regenerated. An alkaline diet thus helps to boost your energy levels, improve skin, reduce allergies and enhance mental clarity. The following lists go over the acid or alkaline values of the foods we eat. The acurate way to measure the alkalinity of food is how the food changes the pH value of the tissues of the body. Once food is digested, an "ash" is formed. The pH of this ash is different than the pH value of the actual food itself. Lemons for example are very acidic by themselves however when digested they have an alkalizing effect in the body!

A simple way to begin this alkalizing lifestyle program is to begin by looking over the lists below and start by increasing the amount of alkalizing foods that get onto your plate and reducing the amount of acidic foods that you consume. 
  • Highly Alkalizing Foods
Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocado, baking soda, beet greens, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cabbage lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, celery, celery root, chard, chicory, chives, cilantro,collards, comfrey, cucumbers, dandelion greens, eggplant, endive, fennel, garlic, ginger, wheat grass and its juice, barley grass, kamut grass, green beans, jicama, kohlrabi, leeks, lemon, lettuce, lima beans, lime, lotus root, mustard greens, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, pumpkin, radishes, rhubarb, rutabaga, sea salt, sea vegetables, seaweed, sorrel, soy lecithin, soy beans, soy nuts, spinach, sprouted beans-grains-seeds in all variaties, squash, sweet poatoes, taro root, tomatoes, tomatillos, turnips, wasabi, watercress, zucchini.
  • Moderately Alkalizing Foods
Raw Almonds, Borage oil, brazil nuts, buckwheat groats, burdock root, caraway seeds, chia seeds, cumin seeds, dasheen, fennel seeds flax seed oil, flax seeds, hazelnuts, herbs, millet, nigella seeds, parsnip, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, radishes, sesame seeds, soy flour, stevia, sunflower seeds, tofu.
  • Low Alkalizing Foods
Amaranth, black-eyed peas, Bragg liquid aminos™, apples, apricots, bananas, black currants, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cold pressed oils, currants, dates, evening primrose oil, figs, flax seed oil, gooseberries, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, mandarin oranges, mangos, marine lipids, nectarines, olive oil, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, pmegranates, raspberries, red currants, rosehips, strawberries, tangerines, ugli fruit, watermelon. (Note: High sugar fruits are acidic in an imbalanced body and are best in season and for cleansing purposes in moderation. Fruit juice is not recommended) fava beans, head lettuce, kamut, miso, pecans, quinoa, rice(brown and basmati), spelt, spices, string beans, sunflower oil, teff, vegetable broth, vegetables cooked, walnuts, wax beans, wild rice.
  • Neutral Foods
Fresh coconut meat and water, ghee, xylitol
  • Low Acidic Foods
Agave nectar, brown rice syrup, fresh water fish, dried fruit, honey raw, lentils, olives, rye bread, sprouted-grain bread and meal, whole grain bread and meal.
  • Moderately Acid Foods
Barley, beans, carob, cashews, cranberries, fructose, granola, legumes, pistachios, turbinado sugar, vanilla, wheat, stored potatoes, soy sauce, tamari, tapioca,
  • Highly Acidic Foods
Bacon, Barley malt sweetener, Biscuits, Butter, Bread-white bread, chicken, cheese, eggs, cakes, corn, corn meal, crab, lobster, mushrooms, organic cheese, oatmeal, oats, ocean fish, pasta, pastries, pork, rice, sausages, shrimp, turkey, veal, Alcohol of all kinds, artificial sweeteners, candy, cheese, cocoa, coffee and black tea, cottonseed oil, refined oils, both raw milk and cow's milk that has been homogenized and pasteurized, fried foods of all kinds, game birds, hydrogenated oil, ice cream, jam, jelly, hops, malt, margarine, milk chocolate, msg, processed foods, pudding, refined sugar, white sugar, table salt(NaCl), vinegar of all kinds, yeast, soft drinks, candy, processed foods of all kinds.

You may notice that a more alkalizing diet means moving toward a more vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. 

Source: http://www.alkalizingforlife.com/ 

xoxo


Girls just wanna have chocolate

Who says a healthy diet can't include chocolate? It sure can! Dark chocolate is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, known to prevent inflammation and reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Eating a small amount of dark chocolate is good for you! I always buy organic dark chocolate with a minimum of 80% cacao, the higher the amount of cacao the better! I love Vivani 85% cacao and De Rit Extra Dark 90% cacao. And of course there's also raw cacao, a powerful source of antioxidants and magnesium. I love it, I buy raw cacao powder, raw cacao nibs and sometimes I enjoy a piece of a Lovechock bar.

xoxo


Gluten-free sugar-free pear cake

My sister made these gluten-free & sugar-free pear cakes, don't they look soooo delicious?

xoxo


Vegan Sprouty Salad

Sprouts are vegetable seeds that have just begun growing. They are considered a superfood because of their high nutrient qualities. I made a Vegan Sprouty Salad today with a mix of germinated mung beans, aduki beans, black beans, green lentils, green peas and chickpeas.
  • Rocket salad
  • Mixed sprouts
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Organic falafel balls
  • Walnut oil
  • Oregano
  • Basil
  • Himalayan sea salt
xoxo


Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad

The contrasting flavors of sweet watermelon and creamy goat cheese are magical partners. I made a salad for dinner with lots of fresh organic ingredients:
  • Mixed salad
  • Sprouts
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Cucumber
  • Avocado
  • Organic goat cheese
  • Watermelon
  • Walnuts
  • Dressing (walnut oil, lime juice and honey)
  • Basil, oregano and himalayan salt
xoxo

Speed up your metabolism

The key to a fitter & healthier you lies in your metabolism and how clean your internal body is. Metabolism is a biochemical process that turns calories into energy. You use energy and burn fat when you are doing physical activity and digesting food, but you also continue to burn fat even while you are at rest. The rate at which you burn fat when you are resting is called your basal metabolic rate (BMR). There are actually some things you can do to speed up your metabolism so that you can burn fat faster. Sounds great, right?! :)

EAT MORE OFTEN
By increasing the number of meals (and snacks) to six a day - or having something to eat every 2-3 hours - the higher level of metabolism will keep your own energy levels higher and as a result, you feel better, less hungry, and are more able to stick with your healthy diet. So it's better to eat 5 or 6 smaller meals than 2 or 3 big ones. It's also very important that you eat breakfast to jump start your metabolism, skipping breakfast will not make you lose weight!

NATURAL FOODS VS PROCESSED FOODS
By spending a little time each week planning your meals, you are able to include food which actively promotes a higher metabolism. These are natural foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and enable you to reduce the processed foods normally consumed. Processed foods often contain chemicals which will affect your metabolic rate and slow absorption. They also frequently include additional salt, which encourages the retention of water.

xoxo

Coconut oil

Have you ever tried coconut oil? No? Well, now is a good time to start, the health benefits are incredible. I love it. Coconut oil is good for hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, dental care and bone strength.

When you're following a diet with lots of raw food, certain items are essential to ensure you are receiving the necessary vitamins and minerals required for optimum health. Raw organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil is one of these essentials.

One to two tablespoons a day is all you need. Use it as a substitute for butter or other unhealthy fats. 

I use organic extra virgin coconut oil by Amanprana.
xoxo

Barlean's Organic Oils Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16-Ounce Jar

Vega-licious

Today I ate completely vegan. Gluten-free cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast, homemade red bell pepper & carrot soup for lunch and a lovely vegan plate for dinner.
  • Rocket salad (dressing: walnut oil, olive oil & lemon juice)
  • Lentil sprouts (*)
  • Shiitake mushrooms
  • Asparagus tips
  • Falafel balls (by Florentin)
  • Hummus Coriander & Lemon (by Florentin)
(*) Sprouts are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, chlorophyll and protein. They are low calorie and contain little or no fat. Add some sprouts to your diet, you'll love it!

xoxo


Pomegranate seeds

Have you ever eaten delicious organic pomegranate seeds or drink refreshing pomegranate juice? Organic pomegranates are high in water content, antioxidants, carbohydrates and potassium, but low in sodium and calories.

I added some pomegranate seeds to my cinnamon oatmeal this morning, so refreshing.
xoxo

Nori my love

Nori sheets and I, that's true love. I love home made sushi. I don't use rice in my sushi (bad carbs). I use vegetables, fish, healthy oils and spices. I made 2 varieties the other day: 1 with hummus, avocado, smoked salmon, soy sauce and ginger and 1 with smoked salmon and asparagus. May sound a bit funny but it was actually very good. It's ready in a sec, super nutritious and low in calories.

xoxo



Organic gluten-free shopping

People often ask me "What do you eat, everything contains gluten." Well, when I first started eating gluten-free I often made the same things because I didn't know better. I missed bread, pasta, cookies so I bought pre-packed gluten-free bread, pre-packed gluten-free cookies, pre-packed gluten-free cereals. But these products are expensive, packed with sugar, unhealthy and they don't even taste good. So I quit.

Now, I almost never buy pre-packed gluten-free products. I buy fresh organic food, I make my own gluten-free bread and my own treats. Sugar-free, healthy and a lot cheaper.

These are some of the things I buy when I go grocery shopping: lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts, superfoods, herbs, healthy oils, vegetarian meat replacers (e.g. organic gluten-free falafels and hummus), herbal tea etc. Delicious ánd nutritious.

xoxo




Green Salad with Strawberries & Goat Cheese

A salad is a great option if you want to enjoy a light and healthy dinner that is easy to prepare. A salad never gets old, especially this one with strawberries, avocado and organic goat cheese. Summer on a plate.
  • Mixed green salad
  • Watercress (stems removed)
  • Fresh sliced strawberries
  • Crumbled organic goat cheese
  • Avocado
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Dressing (extra virgin olive oil, lime juice and maple syrup)
  • Sea salt
xoxo


Homemade organic gluten-free oat muesli

For the first time in 3 weeks I had no oatmeal porridge for breakfast, I had oat muesli! Homemade organic gluten-free oat muesli! I'm such a big fan of muesli and granola. This gluten-free oat muesli is super easy to make and can easily be stored.
  • Gluten-free rolled oats
  • Raisins
  • Chopped hazelnuts
  • Chopped medjool dates
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Chopped dried apricots
  • Dried currants
  • Chia seeds
  • Coconut flakes
I added some fresh blueberries, fresh fig and organic unsweetened soy milk to my muesli and it was delish! xoxo