Apple cider vinegar

Each morning, I drink two tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar diluted into a large glass of water. I began this routine about a year and a half ago and it’s made a huge difference for me. My allergies have improved and my skin complexion is much clearer. It’s reduced my rosacea breakouts too! Apple cider vinegar is made from apple cider that has been fermented. It’s an alkaline and the fermentation forms probiotics and enzymes that improve gut health. The healthy bacteria also improves your immunity and supports lymphatic drainage hence I think that’s the reason my allergies have improved. If you search online, the benefits of apple cider vinegar are endless. Lately it’s been heralded as a weight loss ingredient, with claims that it will boost your metabolism and cut your cravings and with research in Japan finding that daily consumption of apple cider vinegar prevents weight gain. One thing I know for sure is that once you drink it you don’t have much of an appetite. It takes time to get used to it but it’s so worth it.

Curcumin

After dinner each evening I take a curcumin (tumeric extract) supplement. It’s known for its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, is a natural blood thinner and improves circulation. Since taking it, I don’t get bloated as often and bruise less easily. It also cleans my liver, has improved my rosacea and other allergies, my skin is smoother, and I have more energy. I now can’t live without this supplement, which I like to take as a golden milk, which is almond milk (you can use any kind of milk) with tumeric powder. Sometimes I add a little dollop of coconut oil – delicious and very good for you.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has become one of my favourite oils in the past few years, and is another item I absolutely can’t live without. I don’t just add it to beverages but I apply it to my skin, and not just my face, my whole body! Some people call it the miracle oil. I began to use coconut oil on my face about four years ago when my rosacea breakouts were at their peak. I was taking all sorts of medication and using all sorts of creams (I tried my best to stay away from steroid-based creams but due to my line of work I had no choice). My dermatologist then suggested that I start a series of laser treatments to heal my rosacea, and so I had nothing to lose by giving coconut oil a try. I rubbed on a thin layer of the oil every night after my toner. After 12 days, the rosacea on my cheeks had completely disappeared! I was amazed and ever since have been a huge fan. Apply after your toner (before serum) on your face at night and also replace your body lotion with this miracle oil. Lauric acid and capric acid (also found in breast milk) are key components in the oil, along with caprylic acid – all anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal, and very high in vitamin E content. When digested, the oil is easily processed by the liver so it’s quickly converted into energy rather than stored as fat. It also has a high heating point which makes it great for cooking. The only downside for me is the smell doesn’t suit most of the meals I cook. So, instead, I put one teaspoon in my tea every morning and every night.

Rooibos tea

I love drinking tea. I think it’s an amazing beverage with all kinds of health benefits. One of my favourite teas is rooibos tea – it doesn’t get enough credit. It’s grown in the mountains in South Africa and it’s theine (caffeine) free, as well as being filled with minerals and vitamins. One long weekend, I ran out of tea apart from rooibos so all I drank for three days was water and this tea, and I began to have smoother bowel movements and smoother skin. Then one day at lunch with my girlfriends, I ordered rooibos tea after my meal, and one of my friends told me that she adds rooibos tea to her daughter’s milk, because she suffered from constipation and the tea helped. So I began to read up on it. Annique Theron wrote a book on the benefits of rooibos and, after this book was published, several studies began supporting the notion that the tea promotes a healthy heart, prevents cancer (by enhancing healthy cell growth), repairs DNA, slows down ageing, prevents diabetes, and prompts healthy digestion, skin and kidneys. The list goes on – it’s high in potassium and quercetin (a type of anti-oxidant), and has other minerals like magnesium and calcium. Overall it’s an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant source.

Goji berries

One super food which I love adding to my fried rice is goji berries (along with preserved turnip, egg, ginger and onion). I also add it to my homemade jellies – it’s delicious and it blends well with so many ingredients, and I love the sweetness it adds to my food. Goji berries are an amazing source of anti-oxidants, as well as being fat free and low in calories. They’re also high in quercetin, a great source of vitamin C and A, and are full of minerals – these berries are 10 times richer in antioxidants than blueberries. They’re also an anti-inflammatory – by now you know I love anything that reduces bloating and calms my allergies along with rosacea. The benefits of goji berries are endless, from preventing diabetes and damage from UV exposure, to keeping your nervous system healthy, and aiding your skin, eyes and heart.

Pineapple

Pineapple is on the top of my list of fruits that prevent bloating. When my mother had surgery, the doctor told her to start eating plenty of pineapple a few days before and after for a speedy recovery, because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Pineapple is also packed with vitamin C and manganese which makes it a high source of anti-oxidants, with manganese helping the body with bone regeneration and growth, improving collagen synthesis and aiding eye health. Pineapple also contains bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes, that breaks down proteins. A particular enzyme called protease breaks proteins into amino acids which the body can use for energy. Once it’s in your blood, it also becomes a blood cleanser, so it makes sense when I see a recipe which uses pineapple as a meat tenderiser. Overall, pineapple boosts immunity, suppresses inflammation, and is low in calories. Freeze any juice to make granita (shaved ice) to put on top of chopped pineapples to make a great healthy palate cleanser or a light dessert at the end your meal. For an even more indulgent dessert, make granita out of Tokaji, a dessert wine from Hungary.

Ginger

One of my best discoveries while working in a three-Michelin-star kitchen was ginger as a hangover cure – drunk as a juice shot mixed with cayenne pepper. Nothing will cure you 100% but this has been the best remedy so far, and also helps women with period pains. Ginger is in the same family as turmeric and has similar qualities – as an anti-inflammatory, a cure for nausea, and a natural remedy for pain – with effects like Ibuprofen. The beauty of ginger stems from the main active ingredients of chromium, magnesium, zinc and potassium. All of these are major players in blood circulation, tissue repair, reproductive health, bone density, and metabolic health. When I’m not feeling well, I love a hot ginger tea with Manuka honey, and I love cooking kale or any kind of vegetables with ginger juice.