Fig & Olive Nutrition

Perspectives. Healing can come in so many different ways... ❤️

Research Shows Nutrition is Much Better at Improving Mental Health Than Prescription Medication

educateinspirechange.org Did you know that poor nutrition is a significant risk factor for the development of mental illness.

Be Mindful

becoming minimalist

Beware Of The Company You Keep, Science Says You Absorb Their Negative Energy

awarenessact.com If you still have trouble believing in energy, then you have been living under a rock. Science has long proven that energy is real, and…

Studies Show What Happens To The Human Body When We Walk Barefoot On Earth

educateinspirechange.org The picture above represents Improved facial circulation (right image) after 20 minutes of grounding, as documented by a Speckle Contrast Laser Imager (dark blue=lowest circulation; dark red=highest circulation). Image Source: Scientific Research Publishing Grounding, or ‘earthing,’ as some peop...

Local Futures / Economics of Happiness

Ingenious!

Back to basics!

New Study: Women Live Longer If They Live Surrounded By Nature

healthyfoodhouse.com Ladies, it is time to pack your bags, and head to the nearest mountain or lake! Apparently, Mother Nature is the elixir of life we’ve been craving for, a recent study has shown that women who live in nature live longer. Namely, the natural environment lowers stress and increase social and physical...

Dr. Josh Axe

Many people turn to fasting for weight loss. But in reality? It is capable of so much more.

Dr. Josh Axe

Even in small amounts, this juice is loaded with impressive benefits.

Dr. Josh Axe

Time to rethink that holiday shrimp cocktail. Here are the 7 most disturbing facts about shrimp.

Dr. Josh Axe

One thing remains clear: There are few issues that it cannot help the body overcome.

Dr. Josh Axe

Even worse? They're hiding in everyday products.

If you realised how powerful your thoughts are, you'd never think a negative thought again.

Sometimes we think that living a healthy lifestyle is a race. The idea dawns on us one day and we wake up, eager and motivated to make the change. But it doesn’t last because we burnt out too quickly. Too many changes made at once, changes that just weren’t sustainable with our current lifestyles.⠀⠀
No matter what kind of person you are, slowly but surely does it. Savour the small changes you make. Allow your body to feel these changes and your mind to register them. If you stumble on your path to a healthier new you, its ok! Embrace it! Don’t be so hard on yourself! Don’t let the very thing that is supposed to be improving your health become a stressor. You have to crawl before you can walk.⠀⠀
So if you think you’ve fallen off track and there’s no point in going back, think again. Life has a reset button. It’s called tomorrow. ⠀⠀
RESET. RE-FOCUS. RE-ALIGN. RE-START. Tomorrow is a new day. Take a deep breath, smile and start again. ⠀⠀

Eid Mubarak!💛💛💛

As Ramadan draws to a close for another year, we find a 1000 excuses as to why we can't continue with the great habits we started to build over the month. But why can't we carry on?
This month was a month of training. We pushed ourselves to do better, eat better, feel better and boost our spiritual connection to the Creator. Don't stop now.
As we celebrate tomorrow, we should not forget all the plans we made, the time and effort we put in to making those things happen and how successful we became at doing them. Don't let yourself fall back to square one.
Stay hopeful of the things that you can achieve, be consistent. Regulatory is indeed above miracle.
You are capable. You are amazing. Keep going. Keep growing.
Eid Mubarak

Bircher muesli- so easy to throw together and so many potential combinations to play around with.
Eaten cold, bircher muesli is more like a pudding but is perfect for suhoor/ breakfast. All the prep is done the night before leaving you to enjoy a stress-free and nutritiously satisfying morning meal 💛

This stunning fruit with its rich ruby colour and gem-like beauty is mentioned in the Quran 3x and is noted as one of the fruits of paradise.
Pomegranates are loaded with fibre, vitamin C, folate, vitamin K and potassium. Many of its health benefits are related to its extremely high anti-oxidant activity. Research has shown that pure pressed pomegranate juice has antioxidant activity 3x higher than red wine and green tea!
Some of these benefits include reducing arthritic and joint pain, lowering BP, improving heart health and memory as well as fighting cancer. Not to mention they are extremely tasty!!

How many times in a DAY do you count your blessings? In a week? Or a month? Probably not nearly enough. If we took the time out to appreciate all that we have, we would certainly see abundance.
Often, we tend to focus on the negatives- the undesirable job, the lack of money, having only one child and not three, curly hair and not straight, this car and not that. There is no harm in wanting more but not to the detriment of appreciating what you currently have. Everything has an allotted time.
If we were to instead be mindful and grateful of what we have right now, in this moment, our minds would ease. Those toxic emotions of frustration, envy and impatience would wither away, leaving only peace of mind and contentment.
So take a moment out to put things back in to perspective and write down all the things you are grateful for. Break the cycle of negative thoughts and nurture your own happiness.
So which of the favours of your Lord would you then deny?" (55:13)

So easy to make. Spread on to a baguette or crackers, or fold through pasta. Makes for a quick, nutritious and tasty snack.

healthyeatinginramadan

Olives are mentioned 6x in the Quran. It is another fruit which is seen as a gift to the world, and the importance of the blessed lands in which they grow is also noted in Islamic literature.
“Eat the oil and use it on your hair and skin, for it comes from a blessed tree.” (Tirmidhi).
The nutritional importance of Olives cannot be disputed. Shown to lower ‘bad cholesterol’ whilst maintaining ‘good’ cholesterol, lower inflammation with its rich anti-oxidant properties, improve circulation and reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, the benefits are vast of which these are just a few.
Pressed into oil, eaten whole or cured not to mention being used in skin and hair care, the olive and its oil can be enjoyed in many ways. If olives aren’t already part of your healthcare plan, add them to your life today!

Day 21 of Ramadan- they say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. With two thirds of Ramadan gone, it's a great time to look back and assess what you have gained, no matter how big or small your initial goals were.
Whether your goal was portion control, drinking more water, eating clean this Ramadan rather than lots of fried food, or maybe it was being more patient with others or helping someone with a small task each day, you are well on your way to making these habits stick post-Ramadan. Small daily improvements lead to long term results- so keep going!!
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.” (Ibn Majah)
Even if you haven't been consistent, there is no better time to start then now. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. As we enter the last 10 days of this blessed month, let's renew our intentions with the view to better ourselves in whichever way we can.

There are so many recipes that involve the use of figs (the salads are wow!). Savoury or sweet, the fig really works with both to complement the other ingredients in the recipe. I have picked out a fairly simple recipe here that you can make for suhoor without too much time and effort.

“By the fig and the olive…” (95:1)
The fig is mentioned only once in the Quran, but is done so in the above ‘oath’ form. God takes an oath by these fruits to highlight the importance of the words that follow it. Oaths taken in the Quran are not classed as something to be taken lightly and God does not swear by something insignificant, or by something that is not seen as a gift to the world.
High in potassium, manganese, vitamin K and b6 to name a few, the health benefits of figs actually increase once they are dried, unlike many other fruits.
Health benefits come from its anti bacterial and anti-fungal effects, immune boosting properties, and its powerful anti-oxidant potential linked to the polyphenols contained within them (oxidation has been linked to chronic diseases, ageing and cancer).
The fig tree with its precious fruit and leaves has been shown to be a promising favourite for developing new drugs linked to diabetes and cancer.
A fruit close to my heart, this is truly one of nature’s bounties.

Did you know it takes 20 mins for the brain to register satiety (fullness)?
The lack of awareness of the messages coming from our body causes us to miss signals about hunger and satisfaction. Studies show that taking smaller bites, chewing for longer and focusing on the attributes of food enhances satiation as well as helping to release nutrients from food more efficiently.
In the Islamic context, mindfulness is the virtue of muraqabah, a word which is derived from the root meaning “to watch, observe, regard attentively.”
How do we eat mindfully?
Truly pay attention to the food you are eating. Consider where it came from, how it got on to your plate, how many people were involved in the making of it -from the farmer ploughing the field to the family member that cooked it moments ago. Remember the ultimate Giver of all things.
Bring all your senses to the table. Be aware of the colour, the texture, the aroma. Put away screens and minimise distractions.
Take small bites and chew your food well, really savouring each piece. Eat slowly and allow your body time to register.
Appreciate the moment.

Something a bit different! Watermelon may seem like a strange thing to add to a dish but this recipe provides a savoury yet refreshing take on salad. Try it!