The New 5:2 (Mediterranean Diet Combined with Intermittent Fasting!)

a healthy green chicken salad

Hi everyone!

So excited to find out about the new 5:2! It is a Mediterranean diet combined with intermittent fasting by Michael Mosley. If you follow my blog you will know I’m a huge fan of both the 5:2 and Mediterranean diets. In fact they are the only two diet plans that have ever really worked for me. I had been discussing in my previous posts about embarking on the Mediterranean diet as it is the best diet in the world (voted by the top medical health practitioners worldwide year after year). As you may know, I am on the Mediterranean diet at the moment and I’m enjoying the health benefits – especially being allowed to have wine! Definitely a plus point. I don’t buy processed food anymore and I waltz past the sweets section in the supermarket these days without a second glance. It helps that I usually have a toddler and a 3 year old with me in the trolley so I’m steering clear anyway! read more

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Mediterranean Diet Basics and My Weight Loss Journey

mediterranean food on a breakfast tray

Hi lovelies,

I am back in France after a lovely summer in New Zealand but unfortunately the weight I had planned to lose over there is still in place and I didn’t stick to any diet or workout regime over there. I had visions of running every day and becoming a healthier version of myself but I was in constant holiday mode so I never really got around to it haha. Oh well, I am ready for the challenge now and more motivated than ever!

Righto, so here is what happened in New Zealand. After living in France for the last 3 and a half years, I have missed sliced bread. Sounds crazy but you can’t get a decent sliced pan of plain bread here! There are so many and varied breads to choose from and boulangeries on every street corner that the old sliced pan never really took off here. Growing up in Ireland, we ate white sliced bread every day. Toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and toasties whenever we felt like it. So I basically missed that, being my comfort food for so long. Needless to say, once we arrived sliced pans were abundant and we were munching on white sliced bread daily. Our local shop was quite expensive over there so vegetables were really over priced. Unfortunately, being in holiday mode ( ah feck it, I’m on holidays! ) I ended up buying sugar-laden muesli bars every time I went to the shop and became hooked on them. I was probably eating 2 a day, thinking they were better than chocolate bars and a healthier option. At least thats what I told myself! read more

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Manuka Honey – An Incredible Natural Antibiotic for Immunity

manuka honey

Manuka honey is one of the strongest antibiotics available. It has been used since ancient times to treat many and varied conditions. The New Zealand Maori tribe used it to treat their wounds during battle. Manuka honey stimulates the immune system and makes it more effective. This helps our body fight an infection more efficiently.

Manuka is produced by bees who pollinate the New Zealand native bush called Manuka. It protects against damage caused by bacteria and is a natural antibiotic. It stimulates cell regeneration that helps repair tissue. It also produces hydrogen peroxide and other components that provide antibacterial properties. read more

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Hemp Oil for Health and Skincare

hemp seeds for health and skin

Hemp oil is a nutty flavored oil that comes from the raw seeds of the Hemp plant. It is not to be confused with hash oil, although it is derived from the same plant and has loads of benefits. I am going to share the long list of those benefits of using hemp oil for health and skincare.

A couple of things I need to mention firstly, is that hemp oil is not recommended for anyone taking blood thinners or anyone suffering from prostate cancer. You should consult your doctor before taking any supplement so do speak with your healthcare provider about it. read more

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Aloe Vera for Overall Health and Beautiful Skin

Aloe vera health benefits

Aloe Vera is my new go-to desert island must-have product. I had no idea there were so many health benefits until reading up on it recently. I was blown away by the long list of amazing benefits of using Aloe Vera for overall health and beautiful skin.

Here is a little bit of history about Aloe Vera, a wonder product used by many, dating back to over 6000 years ago!

Other names for the plant include Lily of the Desert, Plant of Immortality, Healing plant, Fountain of Youth and Burn plant.

Over 6000 years ago, stone carvings of the plant were displayed in tombs of the dead Pharaohs in Egypt. It was described as a plant of immortality. read more

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