Monday, 26 September 2011

San Choy Bow

Ingredients
·         160 g of minced chicken or turkey
·         1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts, drained
·         1/2 tablespoon sliced ginger
·         1/2 tablespoon chilli sauce
·         1/2 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
·         Iceberg lettuce leaves cut carefully into cups

Method
·         Sauté ginger lightly before browning chicken/turkey mince.
·         Add sherry and sauces with water chestnuts and simmer for five minutes.
·         Thin with a little water.
·         Spoon mix into lettuce cups for serving.
·         Accompany with mixed steamed Chinese vegetables.

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

This is what chicken nuggets really look like!!!

Following on from a previous blog post on what is actually in chicken nuggets I thought i would share these images of what chicken nuggets really look. What do you think? I would to hear your thought and feelings.

http://www.vegsource.com/news/2010/10/this-is-what-chicken-mcnuggets-looks-like----seriously.html

Health and Happiness,

Courtney XXX

Vitalia Natural Health 

Monday, 12 September 2011

Macadamia Nuts!!!

Macadamias are considered the world's finest nut and are the only native Australian plant to become an international food.

One of the many benefits of the Australian Macadamia nut is that they taste so good while being good for you. Their delicate flavor, versatility and texture make them a delight to consume. Research tells us that Macadamias are a healthy snack choice. They contain a high percentage of good monounsaturated fats, which are also found in olive oil, avocados and almonds. The percentage of the good monounsaturated fats in Macadamias is nearly double that of almonds. Macadamias are a high energy food and contain no cholesterol.

Macadamias contain significant levels of protein which are an essential component of our diet and in our bodies form muscle and connective tissues, hair and nails, are part of our blood and act positively on many aspects of our health. The protein in macadamias comprise essential and non essential amino acids. Macadamias contain all the essential amino acids, with most present at optimum levels.

Macadamias contain a large range of minerals. They are rich in Iron Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium. Potassium is associated with fluid balance and volume.Magnesium is important in nervous activity and muscle contraction. Calcium is the major component in bone, bone formation and teeth. It plays an important part in many other body processes.

If you would like to include more macadamia nuts in your diet try our delicious macadamia nut and herb crusted chicken below!

Health and Happiness,

Courtney XX

Macadamia and Herb Crusted Chicken

This recipe makes a delicious crispy crust on the chicken. You can also use it on a sturdy fish like salmon, barramundi, or halibut, or slices of tofu.I have also used slices of zucchini and eggplant with this recipe before as a great veggie option.

This recipe is a bit long, but really is not very difficult and well worth the effort. There are just a few steps to follow before you cook it and you can prepare them before hand and then cook them right before you are ready to serve.

Always use certified organic ingredients whenever possible.
·          4 Pieces of chicken breast (about 4 to 6 ounces each)
·          2 to 3 tablespoons macadamia nut, olive, or coconut oil for cooking
For the batter:
·          1/2 Cup *macadamia nut butter
·          3/4 Cups milk (you can use dairy, rice, nut, oat, or coconut milk)
·          1/2 Tablespoon *macadamia nut oil (you can use olive oil or coconut oil too)
·          1/2 Teaspoon *honey (optional)
·          ½ Teaspoon sea salt
·          Fresh ground pepper (to taste)

Combine all the ingredients in a medium size bowl and mix well. (You can also blend this in a blender until well combined.)You may need a little more milk to get the mixture to the right consistency…not too thin and not too thick. The batter needs to coat the chicken so the macadamia crust will stick to it. Set the batter aside until ready to use and make the nut crust. The batter is for dipping the chicken, fish, or tofu in before you coat it with the nut crust. I like to use the left over batter to make a sauce to put over the chicken before serving or over steamed broccoli as a side dish.

For the crust:
·          1 to 1½ Cups* macadamia nuts (coarsely ground and some finer)
·          1 Cup fresh spinach leaves
·          ½ Cup fresh herbs (you can use a mixture of parsley, cilantro, and mint or just one kind)
·          ½ Teaspoon sea salt
·          Fresh ground pepper (to taste)
·          Red pepper flakes (to taste optional)
·          A few fresh herb leaves and macadamia nut pieces to sprinkle over the chicken for serving.

This crust is best made in a food processor, but I have made it in a strong blender too, but the nuts don’t grind as well. If you use a blender you need to make the crust in at least 3 batches. Place all the crust ingredients in the food processor and blend until the spinach and herbs are blended in well and the nuts are ground. Place the nut mixture in a shallow baking dish or bowl.

To make the chicken:
Place the batter mixture in a shallow baking dish or bowl. Dip the chicken or whatever you are using in the batter one piece at a time and then dip the battered chicken in the nut crust mixture and roll it around to coat. I then press the nut mixture lightly onto the chicken to make sure it is coated well. Place each piece on a plate until you have them all coated. You can cook them right away or refrigerate until ready to cook. When ready to cook preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Then heat a medium large sauté pan on medium high heat and add the oil for cooking and heat for about 1 minute. Then add the coated chicken pieces and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they are golden brown. Be careful not to burn. Remove from heat and place the chicken in an ovenproof baking dish and place it in the oven for about 10 minutes to finish cooking. Check one piece to make sure it is cooked through. Cooking time will vary a little depending on the thickness of your chicken pieces. If you are serving with the sauce re-heat the sauce while the chicken is in the oven and serve on the side or over veggies. Serve with your favourite grain dish and a green salad. The chicken is also great served the next day cold or re-heated.

Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Study Finds Breastfeeding mums get as much sleep as formula feeders!!

The researchers found that while the breastfed babies did wake more often during the night, their mothers fell asleep again more quickly, slept through breastfeeding and otherwise fully compensated for the differences in their babies' sleep.
Take a look at the article and tell me what you think

http://www.examiner.com/attachment-parenting-in-national/study-finds-breastfeeding-mothers-get-as-much-sleep-as-formula-feeders

Health and Happiness

Courtney XXXX

Monday, 5 September 2011

Does your Menstrual Cycle Rule your Life?

For many women, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a burden that can greatly affect their quality of life, impacting their ability to perform regular daily activities, affecting their workplace performance and often making it difficult for them to cope with the demands of everyday life. Unfortunately PMS is often viewed as an unpleasant, but unavoidable, consequence of being a woman. It does not have to be so! Women do not have to live with the monthly annoyance and inconvenience of PMS. If you, or someone you know, is affected by PMS, the good news is that Natural Medicines can help!
What is PMS?
PMS is the name given to a collection of physical and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. The symptoms of PMS occur in the days or weeks before a period and usually resolve once the period has started. Some women experience mild symptoms for just a day or two before their periods, whereas others can feel physically uncomfortable and emotionally strung out for up to two weeks every month! The most common symptoms of PMS include:
Is all this just part of being a woman, something you have to accept and learn to live with? The answer is no! Ask us today about how to take control of your PMS symptoms.

What Causes PMS?
While the exact cause of PMS is unknown, there are many factors that have been found to contribute to this pattern of dysfunction. Imbalances in the female reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, in the two weeks before a period are the most likely cause, however, other hormones can also play a part. Nutritional deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium and essential fatty acids are also known to increase the severity of PMS symptoms.

Emotional
·         Mood swings
·         Irritability
·         Unexplained anger
·         Depression
·         Anxiety
·         Teariness and weepiness
·         Poor concentration  
·         Low libido
Physical
·         Abdominal bloating
·         Digestive upsets – i.e. constipation, diarrhoea
·         Breast tenderness and swelling
·         Headaches
·         Back pain
·         Fluid retention
·         Acne
·         Clumsiness
·         Food cravings – especially for carbohydrates and sweet foods (e.g. chocolate)

What Can I Take to Help Reduce PMS Symptoms?
Listed below are some of the natural solutions available to restore hormonal balance and correct nutritional deficiencies to reduce the symptoms of PMS:
·         Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) - This herb has been extensively researched for its ability to reduce premenstrual breast pain and swelling, regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce period pain, irritability, mood swings and abdominal bloating. Chaste tree works by helping to rebalance oestrogen and progesterone levels.
·         Dong Quai (Angelica polymorpha) - This herb has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to help to regulate the menstrual cycle and reduce period pain.
·         Vitamin B6 - This important nutrient may assist in the treatment of PMS by reducing anxiety, moodiness, irritability, sugar cravings, breast tenderness and abdominal bloating.
·         Magnesium - This vital mineral is required for stress management, energy production and maintenance of healthy moods. Magnesium deficiency is associated with PMS symptoms, particularly irritability, depression, confusion, headaches and muscle aches.
·         Calcium - Research shows that women with low calcium levels have higher rates of PMS. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and if levels are inadequate, this can cause PMS symptoms of water retention, food cravings, muscle aches and moodiness.
·         Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids - Omega-3 essential fatty acids are the healthy fats that come from food sources such as fish oil. These healthy fats can help manage pain, inflammation and PMS mood symptoms.
Ask us today about which of these Natural Medicines are best for helping you manage your PMS symptoms.

Finally, stress, poor food choices and lack of exercise can also contribute to the emotional and physical symptoms of PMS. By helping to rebalance your hormones, address nutritional deficiencies and address factors such as stress and diet, we can help PMS become a thing of the past!

Contact Us Today
0421125517 or email courtney@vitalianaturalhealth.com.au to find out more and to rid yourself of PMS forever