Have you ever noticed that fresh produce just doesn’t have the same flavours we remember from our childhood.  How many times have you bitten in to an apple/plum/strawberry just to be bitterly disappointed by the watery flavour?
 
There is a very real reason for this and it’s not good for you.  The flavour in your fresh produce is linked to the nutrients, less nutrients = less flavour, the same as a piece of meat/poultry/fish tastes different according to the way it was reared and what it ate.
 
Farming techniques have changed a lot since many of us were children.

• Mass production of foods
• Increased use of pesticides
• Artificial growing environments
• Genetically modified foods
• Transportation of foods around the world – picked too early so they can ripen on the journey.

We are then told we need to take supplements to make up the shortfall.  This is also why 5 a day was what we needed 30 years ago but its nearer to 15 a day in 2022.
 
So what can you do?

• Buy organic – it is generally grown locally, with traditional methods, without chemical pesticides.  Just bit into an organic apple and tell me you don’t get a stronger flavour.
• Juice – this will help you get more fresh produce into your diet in one hit
• Grow some of your own – apple trees, carrots, onions, beetroot, swede/turnip, kale, rhubarb etc.

You may have the idea that organic is more expensive but it actually works out cheaper because you need less to get what you need and it reduces the need to buy extra supplement.
 
I always buy from Glasrai farm at the Castlebar market on Fridays or in Westport on Saturdays.  

​Here is a link to find producers in your area in Ireland:  https://www.irishorganicassociation.ie/where-to-buy-organic-produce/
 
If you decide to grow some of your own fruits and vegetables now is a great time to get the soil ready to start planting.
 
You can follow carina at:
www.itsanaturalchoice.com
www.breaking-fads.com
Follow her journey on Facebook & Instagram:
It’s A Natural Choice  
We love breaking fads
Join Facebook group – The Natural Health Tribe
@itsanaturalchoice
@welovebreakingfads
 

​It is over 1 ½ years since I receive my diagnosis of stage 4 Breast cancer.  It’s important for anyone out there dealing with any cancer diagnosis to remember that this is not just physical but extremely emotional.  It’s a total rollercoaster, but remember to look for ways to improve any part of it you can.
 
My latest results are amazing.  My tumours have continued to shrink and my tumour markers were 11 last month, down from 110 initially.  My cancer is  continuing to retreat at the moment, and my mind is set on seeing it continue that way.  I completely feel that mindest is a huge part of any health
 
Cancer does not come alone though, the treatments leave me extremely tired much of the time and cause their own issues.  The tumours/tethered chord syndrome/inflammation is causing a lot of weakness and nerve issues mainly down my right side reducing my mobility.  I am working on how to improve these.
 
I continue to: 

• Juice
• Eat a healthy vegan diet
• Take my beloved herbal medicines, my own herbal blends, turmeric, medicinal mushrooms
• Supplements – vit D, Omega 3
• Take CBG 

 
I do this alongside the 4 treatments the Oncologists have me on, I am blessed to be able to develop a regime myself that helps me to stay as healthy as I am.
 
Watch this space, my next venture is to get out in my campervan to go sea swimming around the coast.  I’ll pop up on my social media when I am going and where so anyone that fancies joining me for a dip come along.
 
 
You can follow carina at:
www.itsanaturalchoice.com
www.breaking-fads.com
Follow her journey on Facebook & Instagram:
It’s A Natural Choice  
We love breaking fads
Join Facebook group – The Natural Health Tribe
@itsanaturalchoice
@welovebreakingfads
 

Who else has noticed that we are snacking more than say 20 years ago, 30 years ago?  Well we have, nutritional therapists have noticed a trend of increased snacking.  So as always, to understand what we are dealing with we ask the all important question WHY?  Without asking why you can never really correct an issue, you can cover it up but not correct it.
 
So why are we snacking more?

• It has become normal
• Snack advertising have become big business and big bucks
• We are not eating enough at our meal times
• What we are eating is not satisfying our bodies needs

 
For anyone trying to loose weight or be healthy, snacking is more often than not that thing that trips them up, sabotages them, sends them into a sugar spiral of self loathing (well feeling unable to succeed at least).
 
What is the one biggest change you can make to help stop your cravings?

• It’s a 2 part solution but so simple:
  • Eat a decent sized healthy meal 
  • Increase your vegetable intake

 
We might be told over and over by companies that we really want that snack they are selling, everyone is having it, it’s the hot new thing, but to crave it your body is lacking something it needs and sugar is a quick fix for energy.  So by eating proper dinners and getting your nutrients in by eating lots of vegetables you have a fantastic shot at killing off the cravings.  Give it a go, you’ll see I’m not wrong.
 
If you are looking for some healthy snacks for the odd time you just fancy something, follow me on social media for recipes and videos.
 
You can follow carina at:
www.itsanaturalchoice.com
www.breaking-fads.com
Follow her journey on Facebook & Instagram:
It’s A Natural Choice  
We love breaking fads
Join Facebook group – The Natural Health Tribe
@itsanaturalchoice
@welovebreakingfads
 

 
Have you ever noticed how kidney beans look like your kidneys or walnuts look like your brain?  What if I told you there is a plethora of produce that looks like the organs they actually help?  Well get comfy because you’re about to learn some fun and useful facts.
 
There are so many foods that when you look at them resemble our body parts, but the most fascinating thing is that they have the natural ingredients those said organs need to function optimally.  It’s almost like mother nature was trying to give us a little hint.
 
Here are my top 10 foods that look like the organs they help:

1. Carrots – Eyes – the cross section of the carrot has a similar structure to your eye and is packed with vitamin A
2. Tomato – Heart – the cross section looks like the chambers of the heart, loaded with lycopene and Vitamin C
3. Grapes – Lungs – a bunch of grapes look uncannily like the alveoli of your lungs, studies show they help in lung cancers and contain proanthocyandin in the seeds that help allergy induced asthma
4. Walnut – Brain – full of omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamins B9 & E.
5. Kidney beans – Kidneys – high in fibre and known as a home remedy to help prevent kidney stones
6. Celery – Bones – High in sodium and vitamin K
7. Avocados – Uterus – full of healthy fats and has a positive effect on female hormones
8. Sweet potatoes – pancreas – high in beta-carotene and better for blood sugar balance than white potato
9. Olives – Ovaries – can lower risk of ovarian cancer when regularly consumed
10. Ginger – stomach – ginger is a great remedy for an upset stomach, or any form of nausea, diarrhoea, gas, IBS and more.

 
Isn’t nature funny!  Next time you are cooking your dinner just look a the ingredients and see if they remind you of anything.
 
 
You can follow carina at:
www.itsanaturalchoice.com
www.breaking-fads.com
Follow her journey on Facebook & Instagram:
It’s A Natural Choice  
We love breaking fads
Join Facebook group – The Natural Health Tribe
@itsanaturalchoice
@welovebreakingfads