dairy free nutrition

How to get Dairy Without the Cow

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People are automatically programmed to assume we need milk and cheese in our diet to get our daily calcium. This is an idea that has been engrained in our brains since childhood with our mothers telling us to “drink our milk if we want to grow big and strong”. There has been a widespread switch from dairy, and not just for those who are lactose-intolerant or perhaps choosing a vegan lifestyle. Some are choosing an almond milk latte instead of their usual cap, with the wish to reduce their exposure to additives and hormones found in milk. Another reason, studies show that dairy products can be highly acidic and the body prefers to remain within an alkaline pH, therefore the body will pull calcium from your bones to neutralise the acidity and regulate the pH levels. Population research has shown that countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis and hip fractures also have the largest consumption of dairy products. Adults should aim to consume 1000mg of calcium per day and as for vitamin D, going outside daily for 20-30 minutes (keep your skin tone in mind) and you’ll be getting adequate amounts or, can always supplement a little extra. Although that may seem like a lofty goal to reach, these unexpected sources of calcium will change your view and show how easy it is to add a little extra with every meal!

Mylk
There are the various milk substitutes ranging from rice and soy to widespread types of nut/seed milks such as almond, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, Brazil, hemp, and sunflower to name a few. These are all excellent alternatives to cow’s milk and all have a variety of nutritional benefits.

Kale
You might be sick of hearing of this super-food but there’s a reason it’s such a hit. It has 188mg of calcium in two cups (raw/chopped).It is the ideal base for all your summer salads!

Arugula or Rocket
Arugula or Rocket is another leafy powerhouse with 60mg per two cups. This peppery green has very few calories and heaps of flavour so it’s great to help in maintaining a healthy weight without sacrificing great taste. Bonus: it has natural cooling properties on the body, perfect for warm weather picnics.

Broccoli
Broccoli has 80mg per two cups and is great when tossed on the bbq or pack it in your lunch for raw veggies and dip.

Sesame Seeds
A source that might surprise you is sesame seeds. Just tablespoon has 90mg of calcium so sprinkle those little babies on everything! Sautéed spinach and salads are the perfect vessel or try incorporating them into your baking by topping your muffins with them!

Oranges
What’s better than a sweet, bright orange for a snack? This citrus has a 60mg serving of calcium in a medium sized orange and we can’t forget 67% of the recommended daily of vitamin C.

Soy
Soy is a versatile product that is a great addition to your diet. From edamame with 98mg of calcium per cup to soy milk with 300mg per cup and it always contains more protein than regular milk. And we can’t forget tofu: a whopping 861mg of calcium in 1/2cup! While some people are terrified of tofu, it’s a great way to add protein without adding fat to any meal.

Peas
A fibre rich addition that’ll pump up any meal are black-eyed peas (No Fergie included). In a 1/2 cup serving there is 185mg of calcium. There are chock full of potassium and protein,as well as being low in fat, making them a welcome addition to soups and stews.

Now that you have an idea of what items are great additions to your diet, remember to try and minimize your consumption of calcium depleting substances such as caffeine, alcohol, salt, soft drinks, and animal protein.

kombucha melbourne

The Kombucha Craze

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New trends are always infiltrating the mainstream market and being pulled from other cultures, traditions, and countries. What you’ve likely seen around town lately, is the addition of Kombucha in the cooler section of cafes and shops. Maybe you’ve even tried it, but you do know what it is and why you should consider adding it to your diet?

Let’s break it down.

Kombucha, or Mushroom Tea (namesake derived from the mass that resembles a mushroom cap, formed during the brewing process) is a fermented tea beverage with a light effervescence. It is made by adding bacterial cultures and yeast to a solution of tea, sugar, and possibly flavourings or fruit juice. It’s a traditional beverage originating from Asia and popular with the alternative health types.

What types of tea can you use?

It requires real tea for fermention, or Camellia Sinensis. Herbal teas such as Earl Grey contain aromatic oils like Bergamot oil, which can kill or harm the culture. Varying types of tea can result in different tastes, ranging from light & floral to a more strong, cider-like taste. The teas commonly used as Black tea, Green tea, White Tea, or Oolong.

tea_fermentation

What’s so great about it, anyway?

Consuming fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, or kombucha does wonders for the health of your gut. Naturally fermenting probiotics help to maintain healthy gut flora, which in turn, improves digestion, fights candida overgrowth, improves mental clarity and stabilizes moods. Kombucha is known as an adaptogen. This means it balances your body and allows it to heal itself, rather than targeting a specific organ or ailment. Being rich in enzymes and bacterial acids, it’s effective in helping to detoxify your body and ease some burden on your liver. Kombucha is high in glucaric acid, which have been found to help in the prevention of cancer. Since it is tea based, you get the benefits of drinking a cup of tea which is teeming with antioxidants. Antioxidants have been found to slow the aging process (fight those wrinkles and grey hairs, increase energy levels, boost immunity and fight environmental toxins known as free radicals. Another benefit? Kombucha contains glucosamines, a known treatment in the prevention of arthritis.

No wonder it’s been touted as an “Immortal Health Elixir” by the ancient Chinese.

Try this MYO Kombucha: http://melbournestreetorganics.com.au/kombucha-starter-culture/

health salad melbourne

The Benefits of Eating one Salad a Day

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Fresh fruits and vegetables are an essential part of your diet and should be taking up the majority of space on your plate. Sometimes we get busy and find it hard to incorporate all our daily nutrients and fall for that quick fat-laden fix of takeaway. One easy way to amp up your intake is by switching one meal a day for a nutrient dense salad… and I don’t mean boring, rabbit food. Don’t think of this as diet food. This is a nutritional powerhouse! Here are some of the benefits:

Hydration: Your skin will thank you since vegetables are composed of mostly water. We all know how much water we should be consuming on a daily basis, but can you honestly say you hit that goal every day? Eating moisture rich foods is a great way to add to your daily intake and provides your skin with nutrients. Hydrated skin looks more youthful, less prone to sensitivity and/or flaking, and reduces fine lines.

Fibre: Your new favourite F word. Fibre cleans out your intestines and allows for your body to function more efficiently. A clean digestive system can absorb more nutrients and vitamins than a slow, clogged one. When your body works better, you feel better. Salad additions like carrots, capsicum, celery, tomatoes, beets, corn, beans, chickpeas and peas can really bulk up your fibre intake and also make your salads more interesting.

Omega 3s: Not all fat is bad fat. Polyunsaturated fatty acids known more commonly as omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory benefits as well as heaps of flavour. By adding avocado, nuts, seeds or olive oil to your salad, you increase your absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as beta-carotene and vitamin K. These ingredients have seen positive results for skin tone, texture and for acne prone skin.

Antioxidants: Your body’s super heroes. Powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C, K, and E, folic acid, lycopene, alpha-and beta-carotene to name a few, prohibit the oxidation of other molecules within the body. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. Sequentially, these free radicals will start chain reactions within cells. When this occurs, it can cause damage or even death to a cell. By incorporating various antioxidants in your diet, these harmful chain reactions are terminated and inhibit other oxidation reactions. They also lower risk of heart disease, neurological disorders and some cancers, as well as aid in weight loss, offer natural sun protection effects, improve under eye dark circles, and make skin glow.

The best news? Feedmee has everything you could want in a salad, under one roof. Pop in and take the guess work out of your meals.

mothers day run charity

Mother’s Day Classic

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It was that time of year again – where mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, friends, and co-workers united to take part in the annual Mother’s Day Classic run to raise funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

This year, individuals from the Feedmee team took to the Tan track to run the eight kilometres for breast cancer research. It was an early start for the gang and the 43,000 other participants, arriving at six-thirty a.m, looking cold, tired, but smiley.

The event, held each year on Mother’s Day in all major towns and cities around Australia, not only focuses on the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle, but encourages participants to spend the day with loved ones. The Melbourne event involved a 4km and 8km run and walk, with participants donning fairy costumes, jumpsuits, and outrageous amounts of pink.

The great thing about the Mother’s Day Classic is that anyone of any age or fitness level can take part, and even though the event is non-competitive, it was still motivating to witness mothers and fathers charging up the Anderson Street hill with prams and children in tow. At points around the track, there were cheer squads motivating the runners in case they began to lose momentum. With signs like ‘tight butts drive us nuts’, who could stop running or smiling?

Established in 1998, the Mother’s Day Classic has grown from a modest-sized event into a major, national community event, with now more than 125,000 Australians participating each year. Since the beginning, the event has managed to raise $14.8 million – much due to the hard work and commitment of volunteers and individuals willing to take part.

And the fun didn’t end upon completion of the run, in fact, it only got better.  Runners received free bananas, medals, and congratulatory sashes, and were greeted with friendly cheers from a crowd of supporters. The finishing festival was definitely a highlight of the morning, with free slides, photos booths, and congo-lines, everybody was smiling.

Overall, the event had a beautiful atmosphere. Being there was a truly incredible experience for the Feedmee team, who were stoked to see so many healthy, happy families and individuals amongst the crowd. Everyone has been touched by cancer at some stage, and the Mother’s Day Classic is a small reminder of our country’s undying love and support for those in need.

yoga chapel

Sweating it out: The Low-down on Bikram Yoga

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Think about this: Yoga, in a room heated to a temperature of forty degrees, 40% humidity, for ninety minutes, sweat dripping from pores you didn’t even realise held the ability to sweat – like knee caps, and shins, and behind your ears.

If you’ve ever experienced the joys of practising Bikram’s Hot Yoga, you’ll be able to empathise. The dizzy spells, lying resigned on your mat, the intense hatred you have for your yoga teacher for not opening the door, fantasising about leaping up and running out before that same teacher spear-tackles you to the floor. But you stay. And that decision turns out to be one of the best decisions you’ve made lately. You leave class exhausted but happy. The hopelessness you felt inside the room has disappeared, the air enters your lungs a little easier, and the feeling you have is indescribable.

Many of us have decided to take up hot yoga because of the stir it’s causing. Everyone and their mother is raving about its benefits, and the raving is well-deserved. Bikram’s sweaty rooms and personalised series of twenty-six postures have helped improve a multitude of health issues – from thyroid problems to weight loss, stress, insomnia, aching joints, depression, blood pressure, arthritis, back pain, skin problems, and respiratory issues.

Although it is definitely physically and mentally challenging, one ninety-minute lesson can burn as much as 2,500 kilojoules. Bikram’s twenty-six postures are designed to work every part of the body – the internal organs, the respiratory system, and for toning and stretching a range of ligaments and muscles.

Why the heat? The temperature of the room increases one’s metabolic rate, creeping into each and every limb and corner of your body, allowing you to stretch more.

What has come up as an issue among most is the extreme temperature. At a typical class, you will be encouraged to stay in the room and “embrace” the heat, but are able to sit down or leave at any time if you’re feeling uncomfortable. The first three sessions are usually the most difficult for newcomers, but after that, you and your body will acclimatise to the heat.

Warnings: The best thing about Bikram yoga is that it encourages you to eat healthier. Don’t expect to go on an alcochol-fueled evening the night before, or eat a burger or chocolate or lollies before the class – you will feel it in the room and you will regret it.

The motto of the Bikram yoga studios is to not push yourself too hard. While it’s great to challenge yourself, pushing yourself too hard can lead to injury, vomiting, or even blacking out. Familiarise yourself with the postures and the heat, and know your limits.

Verdict? Definitely try it out if you’re already a fan of regular yoga. Anyone of any size, shape, or fitness level can enjoy Bikram Yoga and its benefits. Even the strongest, fastest, healthiest exercise-nuts will find Bikram yoga to be enjoyable and challenging.

paleo pyramid

Breaking Down the Paleo Diet

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The Paleo Diet (also known as the caveman diet) is a nutritional plan based around wholesome, contemporary foods from any food groups our caveman-era ancestors would have consumed.  Think fish, grass-fed (not grain-fed) pasture-raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, nuts, and healthy oils such as olive, coconut, avocado, macadamia, walnut, and flaxseed – anything you can find or kill out in the wild is all part of the Paleo Diet. The diet also encourages you to eat as many fresh vegetables as you can get your hands on.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But there are many restrictions attached to the diet, which excludes all types of grain, legumes, dairy products, refined salt and sugar, processed oils, and even potatoes and cereal.

Although the Paleo Diet is restrictive in comparison to the standard diet, it does have its advantages. The diet has been said to counteract obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and acne among other things, and individuals suffering from gastrointestinal problems, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, and any autoimmune diseases are catered for.

Fact: The word ‘Paleolithic’ signifies a period of about 2.5 millions year’s duration that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of modern agriculture.

Foods to Avoid on a Paleo Diet

Dairy

We are the only species on the planet that consumes milk after infancy, and also the only species that consume milk from another species. Butter, milk, yogurt, kefir, cream, ice-cream, powdered milk are all no-no’s on a Paleo diet. Dairy products can cause an inflammatory response in people and can also act as an immune-system stressor.

Grains

Wheat, rice, millet, oats, spelt, kamut, quinoa, buckwheat, wild rice, amaranth, sorghum, rye, barley and corn are also problematic. All grains have a high glycemic index – meaning they carry sugar too rapidly into the bloodstream.

Starches

Vegetables with a high starch content – such as cassava, sweet potatoes/yams, taro, potatoes, and squashes – tend to have a low nutritional value. While they’re not unhealthy, Paleos avoid them.

Legumes

All beans – black, pinto, red, soy, lentils, peas, peanuts, adzuki, garbanzo, navy, mung, lima, and black-eyed peas. Snow peas, sugar snap peas and green beans are acceptable to eat.

Most Vegetable Oils 

Aside from flax, hemp, and olive etc, oils, any oil that comes from a seed, grain, or legume is not allowed.

The Paleo diet comes with a lot of restrictions, but, like all diets, it has its pros and cons. Its important to stay healthy and happy no matter what diet you choose to live by. Do we have any Paleo feedmee food lovers? Feedmee can cater to everybody. At Feedmee, there are lots of Paleo-approved choices, ask our staff next time you’re in.

superfood feedmee

Superfoods – Why We Need Them?

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In this day and age, we are constantly being bombarded with information for so-called healthy foods and ‘quick fixes’. As a result, it can sometimes become confusing or difficult to determine which foods are actually beneficial to us, and which foods contain hidden additives, sugar, and other nasties.

The term ‘Superfood’ was coined together in the early 1900s and refers to certain foods (or food groups) that are higher in nutrients than others. These foods, in general, are whole, natural foods that contain various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and are said to strengthen the immune system and contain disease-fighting properties beneficial to health and well-being.

Superfoods fill you up so you can enjoy plenty of extra servings without the excess calories or guilt, and they are easily added to everyday meals.

Feedmee has compiled a list of the top five Super foods to set you on your path to Super Health!

Broccoli

Broccoli – you either love it or hate it, but what you may not know is that it contains over fifty per-cent of the recommended dietary intake for Vitamin C and Potassium. It has also been proven to reduce the size of tumours in the body. Additionally, broccoli reduces our risk of developing bladder and ovarian cancers.

Try Feedmee’s home-made Broccoli soup, or toss some steamed broccoli into your salad or spud next time you’re in!

Tomatoes

The best thing about tomatoes is that they are in just about everything and taste great with just about anything! Tossed into a salad, or made into a nice soup or pasta sauce, tomatoes contain high levels of beta-carotene – an antioxidant that strengthens and supports the immune system and helps maintain healthy skin and tissue lining.

Tomatoes are packed with antioxidant flavonoids and Vitamin E – both essential for heart health. One medium tomato provides fifty per-cent of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin C, contains on saturated fatty acids, and are low in salt, starch and sugars.

Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced ‘keen-wah’) is packed with amino acids and helps fight diabetes and hypertension. It is a natural appetite suppressant and weapon against ageing. Consuming the seed on a regular basis will also help to lower blood pressure.  Fifteen per-cent of Quinoa is protein and offers many nutritional benefits while introducing very little calories and fat into the diet.

You can enjoy Quinoa with almost every meal – as a Quinoa porridge (or as flakes sprinkled over your oats), in salads, or to accompany main meals. Whatever you choose, Quinoa is easily incorporated into daily meals.

Feedmee has recently introduced Red Quinoa to our Windsor store – toss some into your salad for added nutrients and a nutty-quinoa boost!

Sweet potatoes

If you usually order a baked potato when you visit Feedmee, opt for our sweet potato instead! Sweet potatoes have astounding health-boosting properties and will offer added nutrients and a different, sweeter taste to your usual meal.

Sweet potatoes are relatively fat-free and low in calories, providing you with carotenoids, Vitamin A and C, Potassium, and fibre.

Barley

Rich in phytochemicals, fibre, and minerals that ward off heart disease and certain cancers, this nutty gem contains an array of health benefits. Barley is high in fibre, which helps with metabolism and promotes a healthy digestive tract. The grain lowers cholesterol levels, protects against cancer, and keeps blood-sugars level. Additionally, Barley is rich in niacin and Vitamin E.

Barley can be added to cereals, soups, salads and stews, and can be used as a rice substitute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjQf_S7HGM

feedmee soup

Soup – The perfect winter meal

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Summer is well and truly over here in Melbourne, and, as the days get shorter, and the mornings colder, it’s easy to reach for a bag of hot chips, or a greasy souvlaki to help you face the cold, dreary weather.

It’s known that cold weather triggers hunger, and since you’re wearing more layers, and exercising less, you’re able to hide those extra winter kilos. But at the end of the season, when it’s time to get the swimming gear out again, your winter body isn’t going to be easily disguised.

So how can you keep your summer body all winter long? With soup, of course!

Weight Management/Health

Forget about unhealthy, unsatisfying comfort foods and fill yourself up with soup instead. Many of us eat soup for that fuzzy, warm, “happy-soul” feeling it gives us, but soup is also appealing because of its convenience, low cost, variety, and the much-needed nutrition it adds to your diet.

Since most soups are packed with vegetables, the protein you’re getting means you will eat less and still satisfy your hunger. It’s recommended that the average adult consume two-three cups of vegetables daily. Vegetables, being low in calories, fat, and cholesterol, are rich in many vitamins and minerals needed for general human health.

Even though soups contain less calories than the average main meal, they aren’t any less nutritious or filling. Soups are great because they restore necessary water balance, which, in turn, keeps blood pressure under control. Incorporating soup into your diet is therefore successful in long-term weight loss.

Chicken soup is especially great in winter, as it has anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate symptoms of respiratory tract infections.

Versatility

You can add just about anything to soup, and as well as being quick and easy to prepare, the ingredients and combinations are endless.

Eating soup is a great way to sneak extra vegetables into your meals. Adding chopped spinach or kale at the end of cooking boosts your soup’s vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content which helps ward off winter colds, and unlike what happens during stewing and frying, vegetables, mushrooms, meat, and poultry cooked  in soups, conserve much more of their natural nutrients and vitamins.

Whole grains, such as brown rice and pearled barley, dried or canned beans, and pasta are just a few ingredient options that will add extra nutrition into your soup.

Making a large batch of your favourite soup is not only healthier and cheaper – you can also freeze the soup and reheat it at a later date, giving you a head-start on next-weeks meals.

If you don’t have time to make your own soup from scratch – drop into Feedmee. We always have three soups on display, with at least one meat, vegetarian and gluten-free option. Our soups will leave you fuller for longer, and are made from scratch by our wonderful, in-house chefs using only the freshest, healthiest, and yummiest ingredients. There’s nothing better than a bowl of steaming soup in the colder months, especially after a long day.

“Our soups are healthy and taste great. They’re not too heavy, but nice and comforting. I like the Broccoli soup, but my favourite is definitely the South Indian Sweet Potato and Chickpea. I love the flavours of coconut and mixed-spice.”

– Faye, chef at Feedmee, Windsor –

vegan nutrition melbourne

Why go Vegan?

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Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re probably familiar with the term ‘veganism’. It’s a common misconception that all vegans are hairy, potato-sack-wearing hippies who survive on only tofu and soy milk, but the lifestyle itself is moving at a rapid pace from marginal to mainstream – and with good reason.

Globally, there are over one-billion overweight adults. Food is cheaper and faster than ever before, and obesity-related illness is on the rise. We are now being forced to question what we are putting into our bodies, where that food is coming from, and, in turn, consider alternatives.

So what, exactly, is vegan nutrition?

Veganism is a form of vegetarianism, but while vegetarians still consume eggs and dairy, vegans avoid all foods/products of animal origin for ethical, health, or environmental reasons. Some commit to the vegan diet for dietary reasons, others for ethical – this means that most vegans won’t wear leather, silk, or wool, and also support companies whose cosmetics/toiletries don’t test or use ingredients that are tested on animals.

Fact: vegetable proteins also don’t contain any saturated fats or cholesterol and are easier to digest than animal-based proteins. 

A balanced vegan diet should include a variety of vegetables (leafy greens in particular), fruits, whole-grains, beans, lentils, pasta, bread, nuts, and seeds. At first glance, it may seem like a highly restrictive diet, but surprisingly, vegans eat everything non-vegans eat – minus the meat, dairy and other animal products. There are a variety of vegan milks (almond, rice, soy to name a few), cheeses, creams, and margarines that can be used in vegan cooking and baking.

While the diet may cut out a lot of junk food such as cakes, chocolate, biscuits, ice-cream and certain lollies, it is still possible to be an unhealthy vegan (pop-tarts, Oreo’s, sorbets, and most potato crisps are all vegan).

 What are the benefits?  

  • Assists with weight loss/ prevents obesity
  • Lowers cholesterol levels
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Helps prevent cancer
  • Prevents heart disease
  • Reduce the risk of food poisoning
  • Can assist with relieving menopause symptoms
  • Can give you more energy
  • Reduce constipation and hemorrhoids
  • Helps prevent kidney stones and gallstones
  • Assists with the prevention of diabetes, arthritis and gum disease
  • Live longer
  • Additionally, you will be making a positive difference to the lives of millions of animals, the lives of those in poverty-stricken countries, and the environment.

But where do vegans get their protein/calcium/iron?  

Many people don’t realise that animal-based protein isn’t the only source of protein available. You’d be surprised to know that kale (per 100g) contains the same amount of iron as a 100g of steak! Nuts, seeds, grains, hemp, beans, legumes and leafy greens all contain calcium, protein and iron. Lack of vitamin B12 can also be an issue on a vegan diet. Many cereals and soy milks are now fortified with B12, as well as a variety of supplements.

Ultimately, the vegan diet is not a difficult one. Every day, new restaurants and are opening; and there is always at least one vegan option on the menu wherever you go. Have you tried the Great Bowl of China and Greek Goddess at Feedmee? Both are vegan options and both are delicious! Vegans are always looked after at Feedmee – with at least one vegetarian soup on display, and the option to make your own salad or spud. Ask our friendly staff about our vegan options next time you come in – you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

In the end, you still have to make healthy food choices – whatever diet you decide to pursue.

broccoli clean salad

5 veggies to slow down the ageing process

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Aging begins in the late teens but the accumulated damage doesn’t show until our 30’s or 40’s. And while there’s no magic cure to stop it, it is in our control to slow down the visible effects and health complications. Here are some facts you might be surprised at:

15-20% of aging is genetically predetermined so that means 80-85% is within our control!
70% of cancers are diet and lifestyle related
50% of heart disease is diet related

Of course there’s lots of other things that contribute to helping stem premature signs of aging like – staying sun safe, drinking enough water, avoiding stress, avoiding substance abuse and getting enough sleep. But diet really is one of the biggies and often getting that part right can help motivate us to look at the other areas as well.

Here are our 5 favourite anti aging vegetables to help you turn back the clock:

1. Spinach
The flavonoids in Spinach are antioxidants – great for the skin! The Vitamin C gets rid of those wrinkles and its other vitamins help prevent a whole range of cancers. Remember to keep it raw. Cooked spinach loses a lot of its health benefits.

2. Carrots
With vitamin C and beta-carotene to give you dazzling skin, carrots can even protect your DNA and fight cataracts.

3. Broccoli
This guy is a total winner. It has everyone from carrot AND spinach combined: Vitamin C, sulphur, amino acids, beta-carotene, and Vitamin E – also helping to fight diabetes, and protect against brain damage.

4. Cauliflower
Again, big in Vitamin C, this says “hell no!” to breast cancer, looks after your heart and helps to prevent strokes.

5. Pumpkin
Great for arthritis (which can show as early as 30’s, particularly from repetitive strain in your day-job) and also high in Vitamin C.

For a bit of fun, Real Age, offers a free test to help you identify just how well you’re fighting the signs of aging. It takes about 30 minutes to complete all the questions so take it when you have a bit of time. If you’ve done it, tell us what YOUR real age is. We took the test and our real age was 19.9. Can’t complain about that one!!