My metabolism boosting breakfast

My current metabolism boosting breakfast. 30g of oats cooked with 100g of egg whites, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and a sprinkle of cinnamon and stevia. Then I mix in 1 teaspoon of Maca Root powder with 1/4 cup almond milk and top with 5g chia seeds and 5g of brazil nuts. Why have I chosen these foods?

Organic rolled oats - help to keep you full and are full of fibre, as well as being metabolism stimulating.

Egg whites - I choose this over protein powder as I believe in eating as many whole foods as possible. It mixes and cooks very nicely with oats.

Extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil - It is high in medium chain triglycerides which are fatty acids that boost metabolism.

Cinnamon - It can help metabolise carbohydrates and may improve blood-glucose levels by increasing insulin sensitivity.

Maca root powder - It is an amazing superfood full of vitamin A and C, and rich in B vitamins and zinc, magnesium, calcium and iron. It contains two unique types of acids named macamides and macaenes, which are believed to play a key role on balancing hormones in men and women.It's also an adaptogen, which is a unique group of plants capable of improving the health of your adrenal system (this system is in charge of managing your body’s hormonal reaction to stress). Therefore, maca naturally reduces your stress levels.

Chia seeds - Benefits include fat burning and increasing exercise endurance. The nutritional profile of chia ranks it high in foods rich in fiber, omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Chia contains essential fatty acids alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid, mucin, strontium, 20% protein, Vitamins A, B, E, and D, and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron, iodine, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, niacin, thiamine, and anti-oxidants.

Brazil nuts - The main reason they rock is due to their high Selenium content, which boosts thyroid function and lowers cancer risk.

Yes I still weigh my food. I do not have a naturally lean body and I love food, so I need to know exactly what's going in each day. I still enjoy my treats - I had some lovely red wine and healthy baking last night!

Have you tried eating different foods at different times, and really take the time to notice how they affect your energy/mood/digestion? I feel awesome on this breakfast!

Calories 276      Carbs 24g      Fat 11g      Protein 19g

© Copyright Anna McConnell 2015. All rights reserved.

The benefits of Nori

I made these nori rolls for lunch today They are made with salmon, avocado, salad and pickled ginger. I served with wasabi and low sodium gluten free soy. Super healthy and super tasty, and took me 10 minutes to make! Recipe below.

Nori is incredibly healthy for us, but the most common way of eating it in the western diet is sushi. While sushi is a great healthier option than most takeaways, it is still a pretty unbalanced meal (very high carbohydrate), and the rice usually contains added sugar, so it's more of a treat than an every day food.

Lately I have been doing some research into metabolism boosting foods, and ways of including more of them in my diet. Seaweed is a true ancient superfood, and has so many other amazing benefits, as well as being great for your metabolism. 

It is very high in iodine, which NZ soil is severely lacking in. Iodine is a crucial mineral for your thyroid health, which affects many other hormones and organs in the body. I don't eat iodised salt, or bread, so this is a fantastic way of boosting my iodine naturally.

Other benefits include:

• It is naturally high in all other minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, iron and iodine (all of which are lacking in NZ soil). These minerals also make it a very good bone builder as it has balanced amounts (unlike dairy!)
• It lowers your risk of cancer - particularly oestrogen related cancers such as ovarian and breast cancers
• It is high in vitamin K, A and C, and rich in B vitamins
• It is high in fibre
• It's a fantastic source of plant protein
• It lowers cholesterol
• It contains Alpha-linoic acid and EPA, as well as potassium, phosphorus and zinc
• It is also high in Polysaccharides which are important in the prevention of degenerative disease such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

All of this gives the benefits of improved memory, increased "feel good" chemicals in the brain, improved liver function, helps healthy hearing, eyesight and skin, improved immune system, lowers blood pressure, prevents allergies and infections and aids in digestion.

Need any more reasons to eat seaweed?! Here's my nori rolls recipe :)

Ingredients: 

1. 2 sheets Nori
2. 105g can pink salmon (or better still - use fresh salmon)
3. 3 cups salad (I used dry coleslaw mix - cheat's salad!)
4. 30g avocado, chopped
5. Pickled or fresh ginger - to taste
6. Wasabi and gluten free soy sauce to serve

Directions: 

Mix up salad, salmon and avocado in a bowl. Place Nori on a dry flat surface. Place half of the mixture on one end each sheet, then place ginger on top. Wet about 1 inch on the other edge of the Nori and roll towards the wet edge. Cut in half and serve with wasabi and soy.

Calories: 242       Carbs: 13g         Fat: 10g       Protein 22g

© Copyright Anna McConnell 2015. All rights reserved.