Natures Superfoods by Nutrition Coach Marilina Lewis

I am so happy to introduce my first guest, Nutrition Coach, Marilina Lewis.Make sure to read all about Marilina in her Bio at the end of her post
Hi All......When I think of Spring I see color.... lots of it... the rainbows after the raindrops is how I see it !!! Spring is also a time of 'newness'... tender, green and fresh!  I believe that we connect to the planet and get maximised nutrition and taste, when we consume seasonal foods, so here are a few of this season's super-tasty, super-slimming, super-fruit & vegetables!  
Artichoke -  loaded with fiber and vitamin C, it also contains plentiful amounts of the minerals magnesium and potassium which are good for heart and muscle health.  It's also high in antioxidants which means reduced free radicals and therefore slower aging and less diseases liver cancer and to cure hangovers.  At approximately 25 calories per large artichoke, this one is a 'keeper' !

Asparagus -  An excellent source of nutrients like vitamin K ( which is necessary for bone health), folate, vitamins C, A, B1, B2, niacin, B6, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and selenium.  Its high folate content makes it especially good for pregnanat women who have higher folate needs than most people.  Very 'yummy' eaten raw, steamed, hot or cold !

Avocado - never too rich never too buttery and never too delicious.  That is the way food should be! Excellent for cholesterol health as it lowers the 'bad' one and raises the 'good' one.  The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.  Research has found that certain nutrients are absorbed better when eaten with avocado.
Watercress - A peppery salad leaf and powerful 'diet' food that stimulates the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, kidneys and bladder  it helps to flush out trapped fluids.  Its high iodine content aids thyroid function and improves metabolism and its high levels of antioxidants boost the immune system, purifies the blood and increases energy levels.  It has a therapeutic effect on the skin combating inflammatory problems like eczema and psoriasis.  Raw watercress, even though it looks so delicate, adds a delicious 'bite' to sandwiches and salads.

Plums - Wonderfully delicious and juicy, plums are loaded with soluble fibre, which swells up in the intestines and helps to keep the appetite at bay.  This succulent and fleshy fruit is so very low in calories (46 calories per 100g) and contains no saturated fats but is filled with numerous health promoting compounds, minerals and vitamins.  Yellow plums especially are said to help eye sight.

  Spinach - Did you know that spinach is not only a rich source of vitamins and minerals, but researchers have identified carotenoids and at least 13 different flavonoid phytonutrients in spinach that act as powerful antioxidants?  Antioxidants combat the free radicals that cause oxidative damage to both cells and DNA.  Spinach is so low in calories that people often wish they enjoyed it more so that they would eat it more often.  Well, good news.. Spinach doesn't have to be plain and boring as it blends so excitingly with eggs, chicken, fish, feta and tons of other foods - in fact, if you've never been a fan of spinach because of its strong taste, give baby spinach a try.  Its surprisingly mild and sweet, plus much easier to prepare.
Figs -  One of the 'yummiest' foods on the planet with a long list of health properties - the fig is said to be anti-diabetic, to lower triglycerides, is considered by many to be an effective home remedy for bronchitis and other lung ailments such as asthma, an ulcer remedy, a good source of calcium a well as potassium, and full of fiber too.  The gorgeous fig is said to have been Cleopatra's favorite food... the beautiful, purple hue that wraps up the pink and sweet, sticky centre, full of mouth-watering , popping seeds, makes this fruit so very exciting and sexy!
 Peaches -  A lovable fruit - delightfully warm in color on the outside and so soft and fresh on the inside, delicious and so nutritious! Used as a sweet treat that will give you a lift when the afternoon starts to swing low, it won't make you crave more sugar but will perk you up without adding extra calories.  Combine that fact with being an excellent source of vitamins (containing about 10 different ones) the peach is just so good when it comes to 'waist-watching' .

Hello all .... A little about me....
I am extremely passionate about health and wellness and I believe adults and children need to be encouraged to live an optimum lifestyle.  I also believe that health is about lifestyle change, not about dieting and deprivation.  I like to make it my mission to close the gap between the 'delicious master chefs' and the perception that eating healthy food needs to be boring and punishing & that Nutritionists are ogres! I hold workshops facilitating my programs, which include a 10-Day Clean Start, a 12-Day Body Booster Plan, a Maintenance Plan and also nutrition coaching at corporate companies, so that they will benefit by a staff of happy and healthy people.I also devise unique and personalised eating plans and advise on nutritional supplementation, where health is the focus and weight loss the side-effect!  Teaching people how to keep food healthy AND exciting is why I love including my clean & lean, 'No-Nonsense' recipes with the eating plans and in my weekly newsletters.Well..... that's me..... in a healthy nutshell 


NUTRITION COACH
hotchily@mweb.co.za
083 626 8427