What is Sugar? (Free Sugars) This sweet-tasting condiment is a form of carbohydrate that the body converts to glucose. Today we consume way more added sugars than the generations did before us. At times it seems unavoidable as most processed foods contain sugar in one form or another. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, […]
What are Hormones? A hormone is a chemical messenger that is secreted (or released) into our bloodstream by specific organs known as glands – three are found in the brain and seven in the rest of the body. They regulate or control many different processes in our body, including blood glucose levels, metabolism, the water […]
The Emergency Contraceptive The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) is also known as the morning-after pill or Plan B (popularly referred to as P2 in Kenya) and can be found under different brand names. It is used in an ‘emergency’ situation and contains levonorgestrel, a form of progestogen, to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse within […]
Plant-based Milk Alternatives All About Dairy Once weaning is done, we may develop a sensitivity to lactose because our digestive systems develop to digest a wider range of complex foods. The digestive enzyme responsible for breaking down the milk sugar lactose is called lactase and decreases in all mammals including humans, once we stop breastfeeding. […]
What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes sugar (glucose) to accumulate in the blood rather than being used as fuel by the cells. When we eat, food passes through our digestive tract. Carbohydrates and sugars are turned into glucose. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, when blood glucose rises, insulin is […]
What is a Detox? Detoxification means cleansing the blood. This is done by removing impurities from the blood in the liver where toxins are processed for elimination through our skin bladder and gut. When we exercise or perform physical activities that make us sweat, it helps our bodies detox heavy metals, eliminate chemicals and promote […]
The Male Menopause? Have you ever wondered what the male equivalent of menopause (‘manopause’) is? It’s known as andropause. Defined as a syndrome associated with a decrease in sexual satisfaction or a decline in a feeling of general well-being with low levels of testosterone in older men. This decline can start for some from age […]
We are in this Together The fatigue around the Covid-19 pandemic is evident. The reality is that it is still very much tangible and spreading among us, new variants abound. It is increasingly difficult when there is no remedy or cure in sight. There are only treatments for now, but the most effective way is […]
What are the benefits? Sweet like sugarcane. A tropical perennial grass (Saccharum officinarum) of the family Poaceae is commonly processed as sugar. It is also used to make ethanol and biofuel, and cane fibres are fodder for livestock. Most medical and nutritional experts advise keeping sugar intake to a minimum as our bodies can only […]
Getting The Tea Herbal tea is a term applied to natural products steeped like tea but not from the Camellia sinensis plant. They are made from plants, flowers, roots, spices and herbs dried to create a wonderful variety of tastes and different health properties. These include chamomile tea, peppermint tea, rooibos tea, lavender tea, hibiscus […]
Moringa There has been a global demand for this miracle tree known as Moringa oleifera, or horseradish tree or the drumstick tree, and it has made headlines for good reason. This affordable and nutritious plant native to Asia and Africa, grows as a shrub in a lot of semi-arid areas and has been consumed as […]
Getting The Tea Did you know that ‘Chai’ is the word for tea in Hindi? The most heartwarming drink and very common in different cultural traditions, tea spans thousands of years and millennia. It originated in southwest China as a medicinal drink and is now enjoyed in all parts of the world. This magnificent drink […]
We need bees for our survival quite literally. Apart from helping to maintain our vast food sources as excellent pollinators, they produce honey and by-products that have been used for centuries for the following: Boosting immune function Wound healing Fertility and sexual reproductive health Antimicrobial agent Weight and health management Promoting healthy skin and hair […]
Food can be so technical, but once you understand some basic principles, it gets easy to enjoy and meet your nutritional needs. What exactly is gluten? Gluten is a type of protein found primarily in wheat grains including barley and rye made from a combination of gliadin and glutenin. It gives dough it’s stretchy texture […]
The Wonders of Mushrooms Mushrooms, a type of fungus, is considered a wonder food. You might have seen some growing on a wall or in the corner of a damp room, but the edible types are either farmed or foraged in open spaces. An excellent meat alternative, this dynamic flavored food makes part of a […]
Pain is personal, we have all experienced it at one point in our lives. The physical symptoms of pain can be steady, throbbing, stabbing, aching or pinching and most obviously uncomfortable. It can range from mild to debilitating and is a signal by our bodies that there is something amiss. We should not ignore pain. […]
Yes, food is a necessity, it is vital to our existence and maybe that’s why we spend so much of our time around it. How did you develop your relationship with food? Has it changed over time? Do you eat what you like or watch what you eat? Are there feelings of satiety and gratefulness […]
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of cooking oil 1 kg yellow lentils (or red or brown), soaked and boiled 5 carrots, chopped 4 – 6 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped 2 red onions, chopped 2 tablespoons of tomato puree 4 sage leaves 2 stalks of rosemary leaves Ground spices – cinnamon, paprika, ginger, cardamom, coriander (3/4 tsp […]
Vitamins are vital micronutrients found in our foods and in supplements that enable the optimum function of our body’s psychological and physiological states. Nature provides these nutrients found in our abundant food sources. With a varied wholesome and balanced diet, these vital micronutrients can be obtained without the need for supplementing in most cases. As […]
We are surrounded by nature which provides innumerable and diverse solutions and remedies to alleviate all sorts of ailments and for everyday use. Essential oils fall in this category. They are concentrated volatile aromatic liquids obtained from the fruits, flowers, bark, stems, roots and leaves or other parts of the plant. A true essential oil […]
