Tag: nutrition benefits

my Top 4 Favourite Cortisol Lowering Foods

Published on by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

We are officially almost nine weeks into 2024 and already this year is surprising me in many different ways. I am officially free of a toxic situation that I have been miserably tolerating for the past couple of years, and I was reminded in the most dramatic way that health is wealth and must be prioritized. I studied health coaching and holistic nutrition for a reason, given recent events I am now going back to my roots and I am taking my readers with me!

In life, stress is somewhat inevitable. What is important is how we manage it and support ourselves during both good and trying times. Nutrition is a great way to help support yourself as certain foods can help you to decrease cortisol within your body. Getting your fill of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium (aka the stress lowering mineral) and zinc is important to maintain good health especially during life’s more challenging moments. Here are my top 4 cortisol lowering foods:

Avocados

Filled with heart healthy fats and helpful in balancing blood sugar, avocados are at the top of my list for a reason. Avocados are also source of b vitamins, magnesium and potassium. Including a quarter or half of an avocado into your meals is tasty way to reap the benefits of this delicious food.

Bananas

Admittedly, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with bananas. I love a good banana bread but when it comes to eating a banana on its own, unless it is slightly unripe (aka a little bit green on the edges), I find them a bit too sweet. Bananas are also a source of magnesium and potassium along with soluble fibre which helps to lower inflammation within the body.

Dark Chocolate

My favourite food on this list! Dark chocolate is a source of antioxidants and minerals including magnesium, copper and zinc. Just be sure to watch the sugar content, look for at least 70% dark chocolate to reap the benefits while avoiding spiking your blood sugar.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are often recommended to help heal adrenal fatigue. Rich in magnesium and containing healthy fats and fibre, pumpkin seeds are a great way to support your body nutritionally during challenging times.

As with everything, moderation is key. When including any of the above listed foods in your diet, it is important to exercise portion control in order to maximize the benefits without any potential side effects.

Happy eating and I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Disclaimer: Please note that the above is not intended as medical advice and are to be used at your discretion. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only and it not meant to substitute professional dietary advice or treatment.

Photo credit:

All images used in this post are from http://www.bbcgoodfood.com and http://www.healthifyme.com

3 Reasons To Start Adding Cardamom to Your Diet

Published on by soreiya1 Comment

I use to hate cardamom.  Growing up it was sporadically used in certain dishes, and for some reason I would always end up biting into a cardamom pod while enjoying my food. The bold flavour of this pod always turned such a minor incident into a traumatizing experience and would always ruin the entire meal for me.  While calling this experience with cardamom pods traumatic may be considered an overreaction for some, when you enjoy food as much as I do anything that ruins a meal gains an automatic spot on my hate list.

For many years I avoided cardamom determined to not experience the trauma I had offered suffered while I was younger.  Then a few years ago, I was trying out a new cake recipe that required ground cardamom and I decided to give this exotic spice a second chance.  Thankfully, the cake turned out delicious and the cardamom enhanced both the flavour and the fragrance of the cake.  This led me to start adding ground cardamom to other dishes, my favourites being my golden milk recipe and warm chia pudding.  The spice that I had hated for so long was suddenly a spice rack staple that I couldn’t live without.

IMG_0758For those of you that are not familiar with cardamom, it is a member of the ginger family  and is well known spice from India.  It is often considered a warming spice with a beautiful fragrance making it an ideal spice to use in desserts, tea and coffee.  There are two types of cardamom – green cardamom and brown cardamom.  Green cardamom is the more superior form of cardamom, is available in both pod or powder form and can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes.  Brown cardamom is only used in savoury dishes, it is an essential ingredient in Garam Masala which is a popular Indian spice mix and it is also known for its medicinal properties.  There are many reasons to include cardamom into your diet but I have narrowed it down to my top three:

  1. It is filled with antioxidants.  Many of the vitamins and minerals in cardamom act as antioxidants within the body.  These antioxidants help to clean up any free radicals and helps to prevent cellular aging.
  2. Bad breath – a great and natural way to freshen your breath is to chew on a couple of pods.  The antibacterial properties in cardomom help to fight germs and may also be helpful when dealing with mouth ulcers and infections.
  3. Alleviates digestive issues – many people reach for cardamom to help with any digestive issues that they may be struggling with.  Used in a warm tonic, cardamom can help when you have over eaten, or are dealing with indigestion and flatulence issues.

Try using cardamom in desserts, tea or coffee to add flavour and to reap the benefits of this wonderful spice.  What’s your favourite way to use cardamom? Let me know in the comments below👇🏼

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Please Note: This blog post is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice.  It is not intended to serve as a substitute for a consultation or medical treatment from a qualified physician or healthcare practitioner.  IMG_0754