Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

3 key diet changes to become more energetic, grounded, and mindful

In my previous post on mindful habits, I highlighted the changes I made to my daily practice in order to gain clarity, effectiveness, and mindfulness in my day.

What I neglected to mention is that not all change has come from habits alone.

Diet has been an extremely important component to my state of mind, state of health, and wellness of being. In fact, I maintain that it’s the most important part. All life force comes of energy, and (the majority of) ours is obtained through the fluids and foods we consume.

Using this nutritional awareness I obtained a couple of years ago through research and self-experiment, I’ve determined 3 key nutritional components to reduce and (almost) eliminate from my diet that have led to exponential increases in clarity, energy, positivity, and a decrease in depression and anxious tendencies. If you are having problems with focus, stress, anxiety, depression, and energy levels, I encourage you to read further and try my suggestions for yourself.

I’ve found great personal value in reducing the following, I hope you do too.

1. Caffeine from coffee

The world as it stands, revolves around the consumption of coffee.

As I write this post, from the balcony of my hotel in Bali, I watch other guests and the staff all consume coffee. It seems to be a daily ritual for most of the developed world. A way to fight the fatigue of daily life and ‘push through’ mental blocks, increasing productivity.

I’ve found completely the opposite to be true.

Below are two main reasons I advocate ‘kicking coffee’, despite how yummy it is.

Coffee blocks nutritional intake

There is much research that has been published on the topic, and a quick google search will highlight this, so I won’t delve into facts.

I’ve done enough research (and experimented enough) to be of the understanding that caffeine blocks receptors in my intestines and hampers the ability to absorb nutrients during digestion.

During my time of depression and general unhappiness, I was consuming 3 cups of coffee a day. I noted I would regularly be ‘run down’, have mild cases of the flu, and be mentally fatigued very quickly during the morning, even after restful sleep.

I’m confident that my body was starved of nutrient because of the caffeine.

Coffee messed with my head

This I know for sure.

I’m so glad I awoke to the effects of coffee on mental health, as since reducing coffee to once a week, I can feel the effects ever more. For example, I accidentally ordered a large flat white at a cafe, and my brain was a mess for the rest of the day. I couldn’t focus, had trouble with conversation, and was jittery and anxious. It wasn’t a fun feeling.

I’m confident it affects many others in a similar way. You may not realise it however, because you are constantly consuming coffee and have not experienced a ‘cleansed’ state without it in your blood.

When I first cleansed myself of caffeine from coffee, it took 10 days for the completion of the detox. Since then (over 12 months now), I rarely consume moe than 1 coffee a week, and have not looked back. I turn to green teas (high in antioxidants and contain a different strand of caffeine at lower doses) for a pleasant daily drink, and consume plenty of quality filtered water throughout the day. It’s far more refreshing and nutritious for my body.

2. Dairy products

The most widely consumed product in western society – milk (and subsidiary products) – is now beginning to be proven an unhealthy addition to our diets. Research is suggesting that humans are not designed to consume milk products past infancy.

Research aside, when I made the hard decision to remove dairy from my every day diet, I noticed a huge difference in my health.

Yoghurt was my vice. I would consume about 1.5kg of yoghurt per week, and splurge on a milkshake or two for a protein hit after a workout. After the decision to remove it, I noticed that I would no longer feel bloated, my digestion ‘felt’ better, and I was much clearer of mind.

I have not eliminated milk products altogether, as I see important benefits in occasional consumption to ensure I don’t develop an intolerance.

I don’t miss dairy, even the yoghurt (which was my favourite food!). The benefits of going without are definitely worth it.

3. Animal meat

Animal lovers and vegetarian advocates will love me for this one.

It’s true, I feel many time healthier when I don’t eat meat. My diet still contains large amounts of fish, and small portions of meat approximately 2 times a week, but the rest I fill with wholesome, plant based alternatives.

Stomach heaviness, constipation, lethargy, and sleep troubles, are all symptoms I developed when consuming meat daily.

Reducing meat alleviates strain on my body, and I’m doing my bit for the planet too. Animal farming is highly resource intensive, so less consumption means less production, and less burden on our stressed environment.

Am I getting enough nutrients and vitamins? Sure I am. What’s in meat can be found in vegetable products (B12 vitamins, protein, iron) which I ensure are an addition to my diet.

It’s true that there is immense improvement that can be made to your health and wellbeing through the way you think and behave, and I find equal benefit in addressing what you consume as your daily nutritional intake. Since reducing these 3 food types I’ve discussed:

  1. Coffee
  2. Dairy; and
  3. Meat

I’ve noticed significant improvement to the quality of my health, and the purity of my mindset.

If you’re experiencing a ‘slump’, lethargy, anxiety, or a general lack of wellness, I encourage you to try reducing your daily consumption of one (or all) of the above to see if there’s any benefit for you.

It’s all about making choices that work for you. You’ve got nothing to lose, so why not give it a shot!

 

Are there any foods you’ve eliminated from your diet that have had a profound impact on your life? Are there any particular food habits you have that work for you? Let me know via the comments below, I’d be very interested to hear from you!

Disclaimer – I am not a medical professional and do not write this piece on the basis of prescribing medical advice. I simply write about my own experiences, which maybe you can relate. Should you be experiencing strong cases of depression, anxiety, or any other, I recommend you seek professional medical advice from a certified practitioner.

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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8 energising and mindful habits I (try) practicing every morning

The alarm sounds on your smart phone. It’s an unwelcome start to the day, so you make it better by ‘rewarding’ with a Facebook update, email check, and a quick re-tweet or two.

It typically ends like this:

A friend posted photos of their holiday – you wish you were there.

You read about world destruction and animal cruelty – you’re angry and upset.

A good friend has messaged you to relieve themselves of their previous days’ worries – you’re already emotionally drained.

Your day is now interrupted, and even more energy is required to correct its course.

Since becoming aware of my ‘bad’ habits, I have found activities such as this – immediately turning to ‘info tech’ first thing in the morning for example – are a self-destructive interruption to my awakening, and lead to a less than productive day.

The morning is an important time for my mind to awaken to consciousness and start building thoughts, ideas and objectives for the day. I want these thoughts to be as positive and motivating as possible in order to provide me with ‘forward’ momentum for the day, not ‘backward’.

Therefore, I have made some conscious changes to my morning ritual (and daily habits) that have transformed my life – helping to generate clarity, energy, and inner peace. So much so, I wanted to share them with you.

I’m not perfect, and although I have practiced all 8 of the following habits, I have rarely comleted them all in a day, every day. My aim is to do so, and for now I attempt to trial them, adjust as necessary, and adopt them (and my lifestyle) to suit my needs.

It’s all about give and take, and finding what works best for you.

Enjoy!

1. Mindful awakening

A good friend introduced me to this concept not too long ago. It’s been a great addition to my morning, as I find the process of active awareness very helpful to gain clarity and focus in the mind.

It is best described as follows.

Instead of bolting upright and charging into your day upon awakening (either natural or by alarm), take stock and breathe, becoming slowly mindful of your consciousness, your state, your position in bed, whom you are with, and how good it feels just to lie in silence.

Practice for as long as you need. I do this for 3-5 minutes before rising.

NOTE: If you are prone to falling asleep after an alarm sounds, it may be a good idea to use the ‘snooze’ function to be sure you don’t accidentally sleep in!

2. Hydration

This is the most important step for your daily health and wellbeing.

The body consists of almost 80% water, and during your sleep phase is the time your organs choose to repair, re-energize, and refuel your body. In thee process, excreting toxins and waste.

In order to flush these toxins away and rehydrate, it’s important that you consume adequate clean water BEFORE you ingest any further material. I aim to consume at least a litre of water within 30 minutes of rising, and this frequently turns into 1.5 litres. The more the better.

Incorporating this habit also aids in reducing your hunger level, and subsequently the amount of food you consume in the morning – a great tip for those looking to lose weight.

3. Meditation

Meditation is a far-reaching topic in which I am certainly no expert. I have only just begun exploring the true value of this practice in clearing my mind and improving my self-control ability.

I was introduced to the concept of an ‘8-minute meditation‘ by a book recommendation from a friend. Essentially, you begin practicing meditation for an easy-to-digest 8 minute session per day, using a stopwatch to measure. I find a defined duration extremely useful in providing a ‘goal’ for the meditation session in the early days of meditation practice. As time progresses, you can choose to extend it if comfortable.

I find meditation helps to ‘centre’ my thoughts, which is extremely useful to have upon wakening. It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘should do’s’ and the string of positive (and negative) thought patterns of the past, present and future. Meditation is a way to practice the art of recognising these thoughts and controlling them so that they don’t control you.

4. Positive affirmations

The subconscious mind responds to what it is regularly told, so it’s important to start the day telling it good things!

Affirmations can be phrases, quotations or just inspirational sentences that give you a ‘pat on the back’ feeling. They will be unique to our taste and what areas of life you feel the need for a boost, so take the time to make a list of 5 affirmations you can recite 5-10 times each.

A great list of affirmations to get you started can be found here.

Find a comfortable, seated position (I find on the edge of my bed a great spot), put the affirmations where you can easily read them (I have mine posted on the wall beside my bed), and let the good vibes flow.

5. Visualizations

The subconscious mind doesn’t only respond to words.

Images are a useful way to manifest what you are aiming to achieve. I’m sure if you’re actively practicing personal development (like me), you’ll be aware of the ‘vision board’ concept, and using it to visualise future objectives, manifesting them to realisation via the law of attraction. The vision board is a useful prompt for your visualisation time. It’s also a way to repeatedly visualise objectives, which is necessary in order to cement them into your subconscious.

Fill your board with graphical representations of your objectives (material wealth, relationship desires, lifestyle design etc.) and place it in a suitable position (like on the wall next to your bed) where you can easily refer to it every morning. Take about 5 minutes to look at each image, close your eyes, and imagine living the objective it represents as if it were real.

You can find out how to make your own vision board using this helpful resource.

6. Movement

There’s nothing more energizing than blood pumping through your arteries, so start the day with exercise.

It doesn’t need to be heavy. It could be as simple as some yoga or light stretching, or you could choose a run or weight lifting session.

It’s totally up to you what you choose, just get those limbs moving and focus on deep, wholesome breathing to re-energize your blood with oxygen.

7. Nourishment

Your body consists of energy.

We are constantly creating and using energy through chemical processes in our body. As such, we need adequate fuel.

This will be another unique factor that you’ll need to play around with. I’ve experimented with different diets over the years and have decided the following works best for me:

  1. A large glass of Vital Greens, Pea Protein and filtered water within 30 minutes of waking (normally before meditation)
  2. A wholesome, mostly plant-based breakfast with no sugars or grains (avocado, eggs, spinach, beans, mixed vegetables, sweet potato, wholesome oils and seeds)
  3. A cup of green tea (differs depending on mood) and/or warm lemon water to digest.

Filling my morning with alkaline greens and protein gives me fuel, gives my muscles repairing nourishment, and leaves me feeling energised and fuller for longer.

8. Tackle creative tasks first

What’s the number 1 killer of effective work?

Mundane, repetitive, ‘tick and flick’ tasks.

Checking email, tweeting updates, social media surfing, ordering food online for your cat….. you know what I mean.

These are ‘feel good’ tasks. – tasks that make you feel like you’re being productive, when in reality you’re weaving all over the place without addressing the important stuff (like writing wonderful blog posts 🙂 ).

Drop all the little bits and pieces and hit the ‘hard’ stuff – the tasks which see you kicking goals towards your passion – first. You’ll have a greater focus, stronger mental capacity (without the constant stop-start or various tasks), and increased effectiveness of your workload.

If you’re finding there ‘aren’t enough hours in the day’ or ‘I never seem to make any progress’, I recommend you stop, look at your day, and see which of the following 8 mindful habits you can implement in order to find your mojo:

  1. Mindful awakening
  2. Hydration
  3. Meditation
  4. Affirmations
  5. Visualizations
  6. Movement
  7. Nourishment
  8. Starting with creative tasks.

I’ll point out that these habits are provided as a guideline.

I’m sure there are many more useful practices that could be used to give your day a boost (e.g. now in a flourishing relationship, I regularly add intimacy with my partner since we awaken at similar times. This intimate connection with another fills my ‘love tank’ and gives me energy and vitality). Feel free to add, subtract, or modify their order as you please.

You are unique, so what works will be up to you to determine through experiments.

These 8 habits have helped me substantially, and I hope you can work towards a more mindful, effective day for yourself, now that you have an awareness of them too.

 

Are there any habits that you find help kickstart your day in a positive way? What tricks do you use to be effective at your work? I’d love to hear about them. Please leave a comment below!

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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Chia seeds – 3 reasons I add them to my meals

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I’ve been experimenting with a number of different food types in recent years, and I now find myself eating mostly vegetarian. This means I am always looking for interesting, wholesome, cost effective ingredients to add to my meals.

Welcome Chia seeds.

Today I’d like to share with you what Chia seeds are, why I choose to include this superfood into my diet, and also why they are best used in moderation.

What are Chia seeds?

Chia seeds come from a flowering plant of the same family as mint. It’s native to Mexico and Guatemala, and history suggests it was an important crop for the Aztecs.

It’s benefits have only recently come to light, as the title “superfoods” is branded more and more across the health food scene.

Chia is extremely easy to add to your diet. The seeds are tasteless, so they won’t affect the flavour of your food.

How can you use them?

Sprinkle on top of salads or toast, or add them to smoothies and soups etc. to add nutrition and volume.

3 reasons Chia is good to add to meals

1. They’re high in Omega 3 and protein

A 28-gram serve of Chia has approximately 4.4 grams of plant-based protein.

Chia seeds are also packed with omega-3 fatty acids, with nearly five grams in a 28-gram serving. Amongst other things, these fats are important for brain health.

2. Chia seed is packed full of fibre, antioxidants, and essential minerals

Chia seeds are well known for being high in nutritional content. Some of the biggest benefits are:

  • Fibre – 7-grams per 28-gram serve.
  • Antioxidants – Chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don’t deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid.
  • Minerals – Calcium, manganese, and phosphorus are all present in large quantities for a plant-based source. Magnesium, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc are also present in smaller quantities.

3. They’re filling, and can help regulate appetite and blood sugar levels

The amino acid Tryptophan, which helps regulate appetite, sleep and improve mood, is found in Chia seeds.

Going hand in hand with an ability to regulate your hunger cravings, Chia has the ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and fight insulin resistance which can be associated with an increase in belly fat, according to this article by Live Strong.

 

But wait – The fine print

The benefits of consuming Chia seed are plentiful, and there are many health advocates out there claiming so.

Are Chia seeds really a golden superfood?

Yes, I believe so, in moderate quantities.

Since starting work at my local Paleo Cafe, I have been doing research into the Paleo diet and discovered contradictory research on the health benefit of Chia consumption. Unfortunately, like most nuts and seeds, Chia contains phytic acid.

Chia seed is not healthy in large amounts due to it’s high phytic acid content.

Phytic acid is an antinutrient that binds many minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper) making them unavailable for absorption. 

So for all the good stuff, there must be a balance of the bad. In moderate consumption, Chia can be a good nutritional source. Just don’t go overboard!

Well, there you have it. One of the latest superfood crazes going on out there.

Chia seeds.

As I continue to explore nutrition and how it makes me feel, I will play with this wondrous seed further. To date, I have been consuming lots of them daily. Although I have seen no abnormal adverse effects, I am now more aware of the potential downside of this level of consumption.

What can you take away from this post?

The importance of a balanced, healthy, varied diet. One with many vegetables, fruits, and protein sources.

Chia seeds are a great nutritional source, and they are not the only one out there!

Variety is the spice of life. Make sure you put a little zest in your meals too 🙂

I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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Getting sick with the flu? Here’s 3 things you must do to fight back

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It’s dark, and you’re woken by an insistent, loud, vibrating alarm on your bedside table.

Drowsy, you pull yourself upright and go about your morning routine. But wait, something is different.

There’s a cloud in front of you. Hold on, you notice a tingle in the back of your nose. Oh no.

“Damn it, I’m getting the flu!”

It’s the time of year again, winter (well, at least in Australia anyway), where it’s almost expected that we get the flu.

It’s annoying, disruptive, and disgusting.

I know all too well.

As I write this, I myself am fighting back the beginning of the flu, so I thought I’d share my experience and what I am observing, trialling, and learning.

The good news is, I am fighting it off well, and am confident of a fast recovery.

I want a speedy recovery for you too.

In this post, I’ll cover my recent battle with the flu (a.k.a ‘Mr Hanky’) and how I fought back. I’ll share with you the early warning signs (I failed to recognise), how to fight off the symptoms using simple, natural remedies, and, of course, what I’ve learnt and will do better next time.

With this information, you’ll be able to build a strong defence plan when (or if) the time comes, and assist your body in a speedy recovery.

The onset: My early warning signs

Looking back, I can see that I started feeling the effects of an immune system attack around 2 weeks ago.

Why didn’t I act back then?

I didn’t believe I was getting sick.

Sure, I felt a bit ‘off’, but I was still functioning well enough to kick goals.

Had I listened closely, I would have recognised and acted upon the following early warning signs:

  • Increased fatigue – This is the first thing I noticed. I started becoming unusually tired during the day, with decreased energy for exercise and, ahem, extra curricular activity. 
  • Abnormal morning grogginess – Following daily and evening fatigue, I experienced a morning fog that, in some cases, made me a danger to society! Forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, and disorientation started to take place amongst my morning routine. 
  • Poor concentration and mental drive –  With the fog came a reduced concentration on things like conversation, work, and driving (some close calls avoided last minute). I noticed a reduced mental ability and focus too. Those ‘thinking’ tasks became way too much effort. Better to sit and stare………
  • Muscle aches – Exercise became gradually harder to recover from. “Aching back? I don’t remember working those muscles?” Even with low impact exercise, the recovery was notably slower (and more painful).

Fight against flu: 3 ways to strengthen your counter attack

I’ve had some good teachers in recent times (honourable mention to you Mona 🙂 ) whom have increased my awareness of what is good recovery ‘fuel’.

The good news is, it isn’t complicated.

It’s important to recognise that when your body is getting sick, it’s battling with a lack of energy to fight the intruder, to fight the flu.

So how do we get the better of the flu?

The key is to give your body the energy to fight back!

I hope you have your notebook ready.

1. Take it easy

Sounds logical right?

It’s amazing how so many people (including myself in the past) get this wrong.

Our body is struggling with a lack of energy, so why would we continue to deprive it?

If you start feeling a bit low, here’s some good things to avoid:

  • Stressful tasks – Fancy cooking, balancing financial accounts, trip planning, meetings etc. Leave anything that is unnecessary until later. If it compromises your health, it can wait.
  • Odd jobs – cleaning the car, fixing the lawnmower, readying the bike for the next tour. These can turn stressful very easily if not completed or if problems occur.
  • Strenuous exercise – Put the marathon training on hold, drop those weights NOW. Heavy exercise is very draining on the body and will only fuel the progression of the flu.

2. Get good sleep

Sleep. It’s how your body recovers. To get better, you need to be in a space that nurtures recovery.

You need to get quality sleep.

Get rid of the TV, put down that book that you can’t let go of, say no to that dinner date.

This is where you need to exercise diligence, and in many ways the ability to say no.

It’s that simple.

3. Use natural remedies and avoid complex food

Put down that burger and fries, lay off the store bought chocolate, hold back on the daily coffee shop visits, hold off on that trip to the drug store.

During your time of energy deficiency, don’t turn to drugs.

In food lies the answer to treatment.

Drugs act as a band aid, giving you a short term wellness feeling which you can mistake for recovery. You then continue your hectic life as normal – running 10km three times a week, socialising with friends, late nights with loved ones…

Two weeks later, you’re still sick. Why?

The drug acted as a placebo, masking the real problems.

Since you need to eat, why not use this as a natural way to assist in the healing process?

Consume foods that are easy to digest and vitamin rich.

Here are some things I’ve been doing:

  • Liquid echinacea –  I take 10-15 drops of this with water at least twice a day when I feel a flu may be coming on, and always have it handy. It’s my insurance.
  • Green drink – Vital Greens & wheatgrass. This stuff is packed full of vitamins and minerals, and is alkaline in nature. Energising and revitalising, it’s just what your body needs as fuel. You can read more about my previous experience with green drink here.
  • Warm Cacao and Maca drinks – These ancient superfoods are loaded with antioxidant goodness, and when combined with coconut and warm water provide a delicious, energising, vitamin and mineral packed drink to warm you up and make you feel good.
  • Vitamin C – A tried and true favourite. Get as much of this as you can. I take supplements as well as consume foods rich in this wondrous vitamin.
  • Ginger, lime and honey tea – full of vitamin C and many other minerals that aid in your fight against flu.

There you go. I continue to learn more about my body and it’s fighting potential with each flu experience that I have.

A key take away is to trust in nature, and don’t turn to drugs as a quick fix. Instead, be smart and invest in yourself.

Eat right, take a break, and get more sleep.

Getting the flu isn’t all bad. In fact, I see it as an opportunity for you and your body to learn to fight back better and stronger next time.

I know I’m more equipped, and I hope you are too.

I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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I got shredded with tea! Another detox experiment

Shredtea Package

Got a stubborn waistline that even 1,000 crunches hasn’t moved?

Sick of looking down at your stomach, rather than your feet?

Want to burn fat fast? 

I didn’t. In fact, I’m not convinced I lost anything, but I believe there’s nothing stopping you from achieving a body transformation.

I wasn’t chasing fat loss, so that’s not why I’m writing this. 🙂

I came across Shredtea through a friend of mine who tried it and claimed to achieve results.

How I wondered?

I have never tried a product like this before, and since it was Australian, I decided to put it to the test to see what effect it would have on my body.

To be clear, I didn’t aim to achieve weight loss using this product. I didn’t need or want to lose weight. It was simply another interesting journey I experienced.

To give you a ‘try before you buy’ perspective, this post will give you an insight into the Shredtea experience – how their detox plan works, and how you might benefit.

You’ll have all you need to get started “shredding”.

What is Shredtea?

Shredtea is an all natural herbal tea designed to have you shed excess water weight, and fat when combined with an eating plan and moderate exercise daily.

It is advertised as a 14 day (2 week) offering, where the “shredder” a.k.a you, undergoes a #14dayshred body transformation should you follow the guidelines provided with the tea.

There is some great material that you are provided to ensure you get maximum benefit from the detox. The meal guide provides excellent nutritional knowledge to help you loose fat, links to external inspiration and educational sources, and also some great lifestyle tips too.

There;s apparently a workout guide to follow in the near future as well. Stay tuned for that development.

Sounds good.

How much does it cost?

It’s $50 USD for a starter pack, which gives you 2 packets of tea (a morning and an evening blend) and guidelines to follow – everything you need for 14 days of detox.

You can buy supplement packets of the tea individually from $25 USD.

Why is an Australian company selling in USD? Good question. I’m guessing the primary target market is the USA.

All prices include delivery, which is a nice surprise.

Why did I choose to ‘shred’?

I wasn’t trying to lose weight by trialling Shredtea.

I looked at it from a health and well-being perspective, seeing what the detox effect was like in comparison to my recent juice detox.

I wanted to experience how drinking a ‘prescribed’ selection of tea would leave me feeling, and if my body would ‘shred’ – lose water weight and fat (even though I didn’t follow the eating plan and exercise guidelines).

What did I think of Shredtea?

I can summarise shredtea by saying it was a pleasant tasting, bowel-moving, body cleansing herbal infusion.

During the 14 day detox program (#14dayshred), I was left feeling clean, clear minded, energised, and definitely lighter in the bowel soon after waking.

Based on this experience, I think had I have followed a more stringent eating plan and more regular exercise, I would have certainly “shredded” some kilos.

Yep, I believe it works. 

Beside that, I noted the following observations while consuming my daily tea.

Taste

The taste of the tea can only be described as being literally like a fruity glass of grass and leaves.

Trust me, it’s not as bad as it sounds.

There are two tea types:

  • #14dayshred – This tea, taken before bed, is bitter initially but pleasant as you drink. It’s sweetened with a delicious liquorice after taste, sort of like an after dinner mint, served with a side of grass. It’s an interesting mix, and more pleasant as consumption increased.
  • #dailyshred – This tea provided an excellent start to the day. It had a crisp, fresh taste with the blend of ginger, cinnamon, and lemon myrtle, responsible for this. A seriously great, cleansing, mind-clearing start to the day.

Feeling

How did I feel?

Clean, clear minded, energised, and lighter in the bowel after some extreme movement first thing after waking!

Specifically:

  • Lighter and cleaner on the inside
  • Less bloated, and no gas
  • More energy, without the sluggish feeling when you have a bowel full of ‘crap’ (excuse the pun).

Laxative effect

This is where the tea is able to prove its claims most strongly.

No joke, it makes you poo.

Like clockwork, I would rise from bed and experience extreme rumbling. That’s when I knew.

Time to find a bathroom!

Yep, it was certainly a cleansing experience, having the following effect on my body:

  • Regular bowel movements – I found myself rushing to the bathroom shortly after waking, every day. Sometimes twice a day!
  • No pains or cramps – despite the effective laxative effect, I didn’t experience anything noticeably bad

TIP: Make sure you are sleeping somewhere with good access to a bathroom for the duration of the #14dayshred detox. You’ll need it in the morning.

What did Shredtea do for me?

Undertaking a Shredtea #14dayshred detox made me feel great.

Mentally easier to complete than a juice fast detox, taking the tea each day was a simple implementation to my daily routine.

Really, it gave me a good feeling while I was taking it. Here’s why:

  • I had at least 1 to 2 solid bowel movements, one first thing upon rising, and another occasionally in the late afternoon.
  • I experienced a ‘clean’ feeling of a detox
  • I had improved mental alertness
  • Improved quality sleep, feeling more restful upon waking.

Did I notice any physical change?

Hard to say, so I’ll let you make up your mind with the following before and after pics.

 

Body shot before Shredtea

Photo BEFORE the #14dayshred

Body shot after Shredtea

Photo AFTER 14 days on Shredtea

Again, I was happy with my physique before undertaking the trial of Shredtea, so I am not focusing on this as a personal indicator of this products effectiveness.

It made me feel great, and I’m happy with that.

Well, there you have it, my #Shredtea experience.

I enjoyed it, and found myself feeling clean, clear minded, energised at the end of the experience.

If you’re reading this and are having troubles loosing  a few extra kg’s or just want to cleanse yourself, I encourage you to give it a try.

I got something out of it, and I am sure you can too.

I hope this helps you with your body transformation aspirations.

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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What a cauliflower pizza reminded me about sharing (and a yummy recipe to try)

Health & Wellbeing, Personal Development, , , , , , ,

Yep, you read right. Cauliflower pizza!

Well, actually it was a cauliflower pizza base 🙂

I absolutely love this substitute for a simple, healthy, wholesome pizza base. It uses no flour either, which is great for those who are aiming to reduce or avoid gluten in their diets. I consciously make an effort to reduce my gluten intake as much as possible for 6 out of my 7 day weeks, as I follow a cyclic carbohydrate eating plan.

This post isn’t all about pizza though.

The greater act of joining another to create this masterpiece in the kitchen, highlighted something even more important in my life that I was oblivious to.

The act of sharing.

Along with a super yummy pizza base recipe, in this post I would like to share (!) the importance of sharing with others, and ways I add this simple act to my life. Not only will you have a take-home dinner idea to impress, you’ll also become aware of sharing and how it can enhance the quality of relationships in your life.

 

Sharing – How can I indulge?

Sharing, giving, contribution, quality time…..

However you refer to it, sharing is a fundamental experience that we as humans were designed to have. In fact, it isn’t just humans that were designed to share.

It is a fundamental principal of nature.

Take any organism for example. Oxygen is used to create energy which is shared with the cells that require it.

Sharing is everywhere. You just have to look.

What forms of sharing am I talking about, and how can you create a sharing experience for yourself?

Consider the following, my favourite forms of sharing:

  • Knowledge – collaborating books, information, experiences.
  • Resources – exchanging tools, equipment, physical resources required to achieve a common goal
  • Time – devoting attention, a pair of listening ears, a pair of helping hands, a shoulder to cry on.
  • Space – the physical sense of being in the presence of another, whether it be an animal or human.

You can see that in its many forms, sharing helps us grow – emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

There are many ways you can enhance your life experience through sharing. My example is through the teaching of a yummy new recipe.

 

Cooking, food, and the ultimate sharing experience

Now I can provide a link between cauliflower pizza and the act of sharing.

I like to use cooking, preparing, and enjoying fine food as a way for me to indulge in sharing.

After all, food is such an important gift that every living animal on the earth shares as a common need.

To me, it is a way I can satisfy all of my forms of sharing – knowledge, resources, time and space, at once. Not only is it efficient, it is extremely rewarding.

Let me explain.

I invited my girlfriend over for a cooking date, as I wanted to spend quality time with her (away from TV and other distractions) in person alone (space). I decided to teach her a yummy recipe which she had not tried before (transfer of knowledge), using my own hands and ingredients I had supplied for us (my resources).

Needless to say, I got a lot out of the experience, and so did she.

Cooking. I love it, and it’s a great way to share.

 

My yummy cauliflower pizza base recipe

Now for the recipe!

How did I create the chemistry of sharing through food? I added this awesome and fun recipe for healthy pizza 🙂

 

Servings: Makes 1 large family size pizza

Preparation time: 30 min (including pre-cooking)

Ingredients

  • Half a head of a large cauliflower
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup of shredded melting cheese (Colby, Mozzarella etc.)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Wash cauliflower in cool water and separate florets from the head. Leave to drip dry.
  2. Use a food processor to grind cauliflower to a fine consistency, similar to oats or breadcrumbs.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the cauliflower, eggs, and cheese. Combine well.
  4. Spread the mixture evenly over a large oven tray, making it as thick (or thin) as you like. Use baking paper to avoid the base sticking to the tray.
  5. Place in heated oven and cook for 20 min or until browned and slightly crisp to touch.

Once cooked, simply prepare your pizza as normal, adding your favourite toppings as desired.

Simple!

 

Now you can see how I applied cooking as a way to experience my primary forms of sharing, which were through knowledge, resources, time, and space. 

I hope in reading this, it has given you a new awareness to the forms and ways that sharing can potentially enhance your life experience, and your relationships.

Go on. Get out there and share something with a person close to you. I want to hear your experiences!

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

 

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