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Expert Diet Guide
Follow our latest diet guide to help you look and feel fabulous!
Simple steps to cleaning your body for summer!
With the sun shining and summer holidays just around the corner, it’s time to help your body look its bikini best! And that doesn’t mean deprivation (though obviously it helps to cut down on fatty, sugar-laden and highly processed foods). Eating MORE of some healthy foods will actually help you look and feel better.
5 TOP SUMMER FOODS
CARROTS... A star source of beta carotene, which boosts immunity and neutralises damaging free radicals (which can be linked with a variety of degenerative diseases). The beta carotene in carrots may also help to protect the skin against sun-damage.
TOMATOES... Linked with lower rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer. An active component in tomatoes – lycopene – is another skin protector that may help to afford some protection against the sun’s rays, however this should not be relied upon for sun protection alone . Try making your own sunblush tomatoes by popping halved cherry tomatoes sprinkled with Canderel, herbs and olive oil into a hot oven. Switch off immediately and leave over night without opening the door.
ARTICHOKES... Artichokes are recommended in detox diets to help the liver carry out its cleansing mechanisms. They contain the component cynarin, which has been documented to improve the flow of fat-digesting bile. Try them from a jar with sunblush tomatoes (above) and Parma ham for a delicious starter.
SPINACH & KALE...Packed with anti-cancer ingredients, eating these 5-6 times a week will also lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration - the leading cause of age-related blindness. The key ingredients that protect eyesight are lutein and zeaxanthin. Don’t forget to wear sunglasses in summer to protect your eyes too!
BLACKCURRANTS... Even more nutritious than blueberries, seasonal blackcurrants are a powerhouse of vitamin C and anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants that look after your skin, blood vessels and urinary tract). Eat them regularly if you’re prone to urinary infections. Pop them on your morning cereal with a sprinkle of Canderel to sweeten them up a bit!
Summer Slimmers!
Super Salads
Use your imagination and add as many bright and deep coloured leaves and veg as you can (these are generally more nutritious and contain lots of antioxidents. Try watercress, rocket, crunchy raw peppers or softer roasted ones), and add canned beans, chopped apple, and a handful of nuts and seeds for extra texture. Sunflower seeds are packed with vitamin E, which is good for your heart and skin. To make it more filling add some low fat protein – prawns, chicken or quorn for example. Try citrusy dressings or balsamic vinegar. It’s fine to add a little olive oil too, but don’t go mad – there’s around 125 calories per tablespoon!
Lighter Barbecues
Barbecues don’t have to be unhealthy! They can be good for you and filling if you go for lean steak or pork, chicken or prawn kebabs, rather than sausages, burgers and koftas. Fill up your plate with salad to boost your 5-a-day intake, but watch out for the creamy dressings as they can be calorie heavy. Try barbecuing bananas and pineapple for dessert, they taste great with a splash of lime for pud!
Sweet but not naughty
Just because you want to look and feel your summer best doesn’t mean you have to forgo your sweet tooth. A less guilty pleasure would be bowl of seasonal strawberries sprinkled with Canderel instead of sugar. Or you could try out our fabulous Blackberry swirls recipe, perfect for after a BBQ! Canderel is also great for making homemade lemonade– place the peeled rind of 8 lemons in a saucepan with 2 litres of water and 1 cup of Canderel, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool and squeeze in the juice from the lemons. Mix, refrigerate and enjoy when cold!
