• Both Pea and Hemp have an excellent amino acid profile. Hemp is a complete protein as it contains all the 9 essential amino acids that are bodies must acquire from food every day.
• This makes Pea and Hemp ideal sources of protein for vegans and vegetarians.
• They are great for those suffering from allergies as they are dairy and gluten free.
• They are rich in insoluble fibre which makes them very easy to digest.
• They can help with weight loss as their high nutrient and protein content can help to curb hunger pangs. The fibre they contain can also help to regulate blood glucose levels.
• They are naturally low in fat.
• They can help to boost the immune system with their high nutrient content.
• Their high iron content can help with energy levels.
• They are rich in branched- chain amino acids (BCAA). These are leucine, isoleucine and valine and they are used as fuel by the muscles for energy.

 Pea Protein facts

Choosing Plant Based Protein Powder

Look out for high quality clean powders free from synthetic chemicals, artificial sweeteners, flavourings, colours and GMO’s .

Recipes

Chocolate and Banana Hemp Smoothie (dairy-free)
1 banana (ideally frozen)
2 cups chocolate almond milk
1 scoop Hemp Protein Complex powder

Whizz all ingredients together in a NutriBullet or blender.

Hemp Protein Omega-3 Breakfast Shake  (dairy-free)
1 cup frozen berries
4 tbsp oats (gluten-free if necessary)
1 scoop Hemp Protein Complex powder
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
2 cups chocolate almond milk

Whizz all the ingredients together in a blender or NutriBullet.

References :- http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=55

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Have you tried juicing yet? If not this might be a great time to start. A juicing plan can help you on your way to a radiant and energetic life and truly optimal health.

Try adding one juice/smoothie a day to your regular diet and notice how you feel. Just one juice a day will give you a huge nutrient boost – (it’s a lot easier to receive the nutrition that 6 carrots and 4 apples will give you in a juice rather than eating them!) . This will help to fill you up and also help considerably towards your daily fruit and vegetable intake.

Juicing or Blending?

Firstly, let’s describe the difference between juicers and blenders. A juicer will literally extract the juice only from the fruit or vegetables and leave the pulp behind. The advantage of this is that the nutrients from the juice go straight into your bloodstream and are absorbed immediately giving  you an instant boost. Juicing also gives your digestive system a break so it can help with healing. The disadvantage is that all the fibre is left behind in the pulp and wasted.

A blender, however, will blend the whole fruit or vegetable including all the beneficial fibre contained in it. This means that, although you won’t feel the benefits straight away, you will feel fuller for longer and you will get the benefit of all the fibre which is important with fruit particularly as the fibre in the fruit balances out the fructose so it will stop you getting blood-sugar spikes.

For juicing, you should be ideally looking at juicing a higher ratio of vegetables to fruit (80:20 ideally)  so as not to overly increase your daily sugar consumption. This particularly applies if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance or high cholesterol.

The exception to the fruit rule is lemons and limes as they have virtually no sugar to worry about. They can also help to eliminate any bitterness from the vegetables.

Which are the best fruits/ vegetables to juice?

Buy organic vegetables where ever possible and maybe think about joining a local box scheme where they will very often do a juicing box full of local organic seasonal vegetables.  Some veggies which are great for juicing are :-

• Cucumbers – great for cleansing.
• Celery- anti-inflammatory. Can help to lower blood pressure.  Great for digestive issues.
• Carrots, rich in beta-carotene, beneficial for eyesight, and also a great liver/gall bladder cleanser.
• Kale, exceptionally high in nutrients, high in iron and very alkalising.
• Fennel, excellent for digestion, reduces bloating.
• Apples – great as a base for most juices –  helps to sweeten and also helps with detoxification.

Smoothies

We use and recommend the NUTRIBULLET blender. It is more of a nutrition extraction device and it can break down the pulp, skin, seeds and stems of the fruit and vegetables. You can also add nuts and other seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin to further boost your levels of vitamins and minerals. Herbs are great too – consider adding Parsley for a vitamin C boost and for general digestion and detoxification, Coriander for boosting iron levels, detoxifying heavy metals and for lowering blood sugar,  Basil for it’s anti-inflammatory benefits and Mint for  immunity boosting and digestive support .

Last but not least, spices can add a great bit of flavour and they have amazing medicinal properties.

Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and can also help with nausea, colds and flu, pain, blood circulation and respiratory problems.

Cinammon  is one of the most powerful spices around and can help with weight loss due to its amazing ability speed up the metabolism, control insulin levels, suppress appetite  and decrease blood sugar.

Cayenne is helpful for weight loss and for reducing acidity. It fights irritation so is great for helping upset stomachs and ulcers. It also helps to fight colds and flu as it is good at breaking down mucous. It’s active ingredient capsaicin can help to prevent migraines and even act as a possible anti-cancer agent.

Turmeric root is also a great spice to add to juice drinks -many studies are now showing how curcumin – ( the active compound found in turmeric) also known as the ‘king of spices’ can be help with many conditions such as depression, inflammation and RA, chronic pain, diabetes,  cancer, ageing, brain health and memory.

Cardamom is also known as the ‘queen of spices’ and can really help with digestive issues such as bloating and IBS. It can also be helpful for high blood sugar, diabetes and high blood pressure. It helps the body to detoxify by eliminating waste through the kidneys. It’s also acts as a natural antidepressant and has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Click here for smoothie remedy recipes.

For more information on how juicing could help you heal, have a look at ‘The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health : Unleashing the Healing Power of Whole Fruits and Vegetables” by Cherie Calbom. Read a sample here.

The post Juicing for Health appeared first on Natural Bodyguard.

All proteins are made up of a different combination of 20 compounds called amino acids.  There are 2 types of these :- essential amino acids and non essential amino acids. Our bodies can make the non essential amino acids  but the 9 essential amino acids need to come from our diet every day.

Good sources of protein include those from animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy but a sometimes overlooked protein source is the one derived from plants. This can be ideal for vegans, vegetarians, those with dairy allergies or anyone who wants to feel healthier due to the alkalising effects of plants on the body.

Plant-based proteins are also high in fibre, vitamins and minerals. They also contain phyto nutrients with help with disease prevention.

The post Plant Protein Power appeared first on Natural Bodyguard.

These 4 green foods are some of the world’s most nutritional foods and can help you by considerably boosting your nutrient intake.

What is Spirulina?

No other food on earth can match the health benefits of Spirulina.  It’s a deep blue green algae plant with a high ph (very alkaline).

It has been used as a food source for centuries and has recently been given the go ahead by NASA to be used a complete food supplement in space. Studies have found that 1kg of Spirulina has the same nutrients as 1,000kgs of vegetables!  So just by having a teaspoon a day, you are helping towards your daily recommended 4 to 9 servings of vegetables whilst protecting yourself from the stress, pollutants, toxins and chemicals that are part of today’s world.

Spirulina is a complete protein ( between 60-69%) and contains all the essential 9 amino acids. It also contains essential fatty acids including GLA ( which can reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease), vitamins B and E, chlorophyll, phytonutrients and wide range of minerals including potassium, zinc, chromium,  copper, selenium and iron. Here are some of the ways in which Spirulina can help :-

1) Helps to Detoxify  – Spirulina can help with you to detox your body naturally – this is due to the high level of chlorophyll which has been shown in studies to bind to heavy metals such as mercury ( which can leach from dental fillings) and cadmium and help to excrete them from the body.

2) Helps Digestion – Spirulina promotes healthy bacteria in the gut and helps with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food as well as surpressing the bad bacteria such as e-coli and candida.

3) Helps boost the Immune System – Spirulina is a very powerful food for the immune system. It works by increasing T-cell counts ( the cells that help direct the immune system’s response to infection or malignancy).

The Russian government was granted the use of Spirulina in 1994 to help to reduce allergic reactions from radiation in children who were exposed to radioactive material after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. The children who received 5g of Spirulina for forty-five days were successfully able to fight the effects of radiation poisoning .

4) Boosts Endurance Levels

Spirulina is a great superfood and is of great benefit when taken before a high intensity workout. It helps with energy levels and boosts stamina whilst helping to repair muscles in the body. It also helps with general fatigue.

5) Helps support healthy brain function

The essential amino acids in Spirulina have been found to balance brain chemistry as they contain all the elements which are necessary for neurotransmitter functioning.

6) Protects against allergic reactions.

Studies have shown that Spirulina can stop the release of histamines which are the main cause of allergic reactions such as sneezing, itching etc.

Chlorella

An equally amazing superfood is Chlorella , the cousin of Spirulina. It is a green algae plant which  derives its name from the Greek ‘chloros’ meaning green and ‘ella’ meaning small.

Similar to Spirulina, it is a nutrient dense superfood containing around 60% protein and all the essential amino acids. It also contains high levels of chlorophyll and beta-carotene, vitamins A ,C, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, E and K and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorous.

As it’s name suggests, it contains high levels of chlorophyll which makes it even more suitable than Spirulina as a detoxifier. It also contains more iron than Spirulina and contains a special growth factor which can help repair damage to nerve tissue.

In the 1950’s,  the Carniege Institute in Washington confirmed that chlorella could be grown on a large commercial scale to help solve the world’s hunger problem. Chlorella  has been widely used in Japan for decades due to its impressive health benefits which include improving the immune system and digestion, helping reduce inflammation and cleansing the body of heavy metals and carcinogens. It is a very helpful supplement to use during a cleanse. Similar to Spirulina, it has been shown to increase the good bacteria in the gut which can help to treat ulcers, colitis, diverticulosis and Crohn’s disease. Chlorella has also been used to treat cancer and help protect the body from the effect of cancer radiation treatment.

Wheatgrass and Barley Grass

Word is spreading about these grasses as healthy super foods. The reason is that they contain high concentrations of valuable minerals, enzymes, vitamins and chlorophyll.

They are also highly alkaline which can help to balance the ph levels in the body. Highly processed diets and stress can result in the body becoming too acidic which can lead to illness and fatigue so foods like wheatgrass can be a great help.

Wheatgrass Benefits

Wheatgrass is one of the world’s most powerful foods, Dr Ann Wigmore was one of the first pioneers of Wheatgrass when she used it as part of her living foods program designed to overcome chronic illness.

Wheatgrass is grown from the germinated seed of wheat grains. When 2-3 ins high, the wheatgrass is ready to be harvested. This means that is it gluten free because it is cut before the grain forms. It must be processed either as juice, powder concentrate or in capsule form before it can be consumed. It is made up of 70% chlorophyll and it has such a high nutrient-to-calorie ratio that it is considered to be a complete food in itself or a superfood. One pound of fresh wheatgrass has the same nutritional value as 23 pounds of garden vegetables! Here are some of the main ways in which Wheatgrass helps:-

1) Blood purifier

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in  then chloroplasts of algae and plants. It is formed in the presence of sunlight by the process of photosynthesis. It is thought to be beneficial to human health because it closely resembles the chemical make-up of ‘haem’ – part of the haemoglobin of human blood. The Japanese food scientist, Dr Yoshide Hagiwara, has suggested that chlorophyll can be absorbed directly into the blood because it is fat-soluble which means that the fat particles pass directly into the blood via the lymphatic system.

2) High Vitamin and Mineral Content

Wheatgrass contains vitamins A, C, E, K and the full spectrum of B vitamins. It contains many minerals including iron, phosphate, boron, copper, selenium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, chromium, manganese, phosphorous, silicon and zinc.

3) High Protein content

Wheatgrass contains all the essential amino acids which means it’s protein profile is similar to that of animal products. As it is a plant-based protein, it is also lean and doesn’t contain the high levels of saturated fat found in animal and dairy sources.

4) Dietary fibre in wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is rich in insoluble fibre which is the type of fibre that  passes through the digestive tract undigested and largely unchanged effectively sweeping the intestines clean.

This high level of fibre is a big support to digestive health, the circulatory system, healthy blood sugar levels and even healthy weight loss as the levels of fibre will help you feel fuller for longer.

5) Enzymes in wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is a good source of exogenous enzymes (i.e those not produced by the human digestive system) which makes wheatgrass an important digestive aid.

Barley Grass Benefits

Barley Grass and Wheatgrass are very similar to each other and therefore offer similar nutritional benefits but Barley Grass also acts as a free-radical collector. Free-radicals in the body are often responsible for the growth of cancerous cells.

Barley Grass is regarded as a near-perfect food. It is high in fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and lysine ( an essential amino acid).

For superfood snack recipes click here

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