The Mother of all Birthdays

 

 

These past two weeks have been filled with joy, love and family birthdays, one of which being my beautiful Mummas birthday. Mum has never failed to make a single one of mine and my siblings birthdays amazingly special and happy and for that I am eternally grateful.
when we asked what she would like for her birthday she simply said "your time" she's so selfless and generous that us kids decided to do something special for her for once!

once I'd woken up and wrestled a furry monster (see the picture of the cat) off of my bed, my sister (Charlotte) and I tidied the whole of the house, I cleaned the kitchen whilst she made a birthday cake that was yummy!
Once we'd done the house we popped in to town on the bus, of course we couldn't resist a bus stop selfie, we just needed to pick up a Sanpellegrino Limonata (the best lemonade around) and a few last minute birthday essentials - after all what is a birthday without a helium balloon and some chocolates?
when we got home charlotte and my brother (jack) put up some cute fairy lights (from Primark) and some cute bunting whilst I relaxed for a bit with a white hot chocolate with marshmallows, it tastes like unicorns <3
when my mum came home she was so pleased with all of her presents and what we'd done to the house, I think my favourite part was when Jack sang the song he'd written for mum for her birthday it was so good!
So I thought I might just write a little lifestyle post and show you my day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thanks

 

Robyn :)

 

 

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The Super Foods

you may of heard the term "super foods" being thrown around a lot lately, all foods (even deep fried, chocolate-coated sugar) have some sort of nutritional value, but there are foods that are so beneficial to your health that they are known as "Super Foods"

Apples:

There are over 7.500 varieties of apples and they are all packed full of antioxidants (to fight against those nasty free radicals) especially vitamin C for healthy skin and gums - one apple provides 1/4 of you guideline daily allowance (GDA) of vitamin C.
They also contain pectin (a soluble form of fibre) that helps lower cholesterol levels and keep the digestive system healthy
Apples are great in juices, salads, deserts or just as a delicious snack!


Broccoli:

Now I know not everyone is partial to a floret or two of broccoli but I just love the stuff! did i mention it does wonders for your health?
just two florets - raw or lightly cooked - count as a veggie portion
not only does broccoli contain antioxidants including vitamin C, it's also particularly a good source of folat (a naturally occurring folic acid). Increasing your intake of folic acid  is thought to play an important role in preventing heart disease!
and if that does convince you to eat these gloriously mini green trees then just know that broccoli also contains a phytochemical called suiphoraphane that has specific anti-cancer properties.


Tea:

The beloved drink of the Brits, including me (although I only link green tea), has a range of useful properties. The caffeine content is helpful for stimulating alertness, mood and motivation (which is much needed if you ask me!)
Tea, whether black or green, is a rich source of catechins (an antioxidant). Studies suggest that catechins protect the artery walls against damage that causes heart disease and prevents formation of blood clots.


Yogurt:

Yogurt is an easily absorbed source of calcium (perfect for those who have trouble digesting large amounts of lactose).
It is said to have a range of different theraputic benefits. The bacteria Lactobacillus GG in yogurt are not digested but instead they reach the large intestine intact where they "top up" the other friendly bacteria.Friendly bacteria fight harmful bacteria.
And it makes the perfect on-the-go breakfast as it's delicious with some fruit and granola and it helps out your insides!

Some other super foods include:

• almonds
• apricots
• apsaragus
• avacados
• bananas
• beans and lentils
• berries
• chia seeds
• dark chocolate
• flax seeds
• grapes
• kale
• oats
• quinoa
• spinach
• sweet potatoes

And many more.....

what are your favourite super foods or recipes including them? let me know in th comments!

Thanks

 

Robyn :)

 

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Healthy skin starts from within.



Image from: wiki fitness



 

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients do wonders to achieve that "healthy glow" that us mere mortals crave so much.

sure you can spend £££'s on the newest serums or creams that all claim to improve the look of your skin OR you could just consume a bunch of yummy food containing skin loving ingredients, that will not only make your skin look better but are also a general all round pick me up for your health!

Vitamin A: if you don't have enough vitamin A then this could cause a dry and flaky complexion this is because vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue (with out it you'll notice a difference) specifically it is Topical Vitamin A that makes a difference to your skin. be careful though too much vitamin A will not make a difference to your skin and will probably make you feel unwell.

Vitamin A in food: paprika, chilli powder, sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, lettuce, butternut squash, dried apricots, cantelope (melon)


Vitamin B: perhaps the most important B vitamin is Biotin as it forms the basis for skin and hair cells, without sufficient levels of Biotin you may experience a dry and itchy scalp or even hair loss! your body is capable of making Biotin but it also has to be consumed from food. vitamin B is important for hydrating cells and improving the overall tone of skin. Niacin is a specific type of Vitamin B that helps to retain moisture to make your complexion look plumper and younger, it also has anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe dry and irritated skin. Niacin also helps produce energy from the food that we eat and to keep the nervous and digestive systems healthy, not only will your skin look great but you'll feel great as well!

Vitamin B in food: bananas, oatmeal, eggs, rice, peas, wholegrain bread, milk, chicken, pork, beef, potatoes, salmon, cod, cheese, broccoli, soya beans, spinach, chickpeas and loads more!


Vitamin C: one of the most important new dermatological discoveries is vitamin C's ability to counter act the effects of sun damage on the skin, it works by reducing the damage caused by free radicals (a harmful by product of sunlight e.g. smoke and pollution, as humans don't have the ability to make their own vitamin C you need to ensure that your diet contains lots of vitamin C enriched food which can replace the loss of the vitamin through the skin. Vitamin C is also essential to help wounds heal.

Vitamin C in food: oranges/orange juice, strawberries, blackcurrants, potatoes, broccoli, brussle sprouts, red, yellow, orange and green peppers.


Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for Strong, teeth, bones and nails and also strengthens the eyes and prevent conditions such as Osteoporosis, as well as this Vitamin D is amazing for treating skin conditions such as Psoriasis. Vitamin D increases skin cell metabolism ( how quickly skin cells are renewed) It is very common to have a vitamin D deficiency (not enough) and this can cause a long list of harmful ailments, one of our main sources of Vitamin D is from the suns UV rays. vitamin D is also required for calcium absorption.

Vitamin D in food: Found in a variety of everyday food such as, eggs, butter and margarine, oily fish, milk, button and shiitake mushrooms ETC...


Vitamin E: Vitamin E is one of the best known Antioxidants (Antioxidants neutralise free radicals that could otherwise harm the skin- free radicals "consume" the collagen and elastin, which are the fibres that support skin structure, this produces wrinkles and other signs of ageing) and is frequently used in skincare as it is used to reduce the appearance of blemishes but it also boast anti-aging effects and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles! Also "Adequate amounts of vitamin E can help protect against heart disease, cancer, and age related eye damage"
Read more at healthaliciousness

Vitamin E in food: Tofu, kiwis, mango, blackberries, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, shellfish, plant oils, tortilla chips, low fat popcorn, broccoli, squash and pumpkin to name but a few.

These are just a few of the vitamins we should be eating but remember like with anything, it is all in moderation!
I hope this post has taught you something new and feel free to leave any comment or questions and share this page!

Thanks
Robyn :)