Hello there,
Firstly I wanted to thank you so much for completing my recent survey. It has been so insightful for me to read through the responses and to really understand what you want and need so I can serve you better.
I have personally read each and every one of your responses and I’m so grateful and inspired by your honesty and your feedback. What it brings to light is that many of us share similar challenges and desires. My hope is that collectively we can work through the things that are holding us back and create a life that truly lights us up.
Nourishing Recipe
My all-time favourite Spicy Lentil Salad with Maple Walnuts
I have rolled this salad out so many times over the past few months I think I’ve lost count! We had a very social summer with lots of guests visiting our new home and many of them asked for this recipe. With this in mind I thought that it was time that I shared it with you.
I love lentils and they are wonderfully nutritious – you can read more about the benefits in my previous post where I shared my French Lentil Stew. For this salad recipe, I mix and match a few different combinations, which you can experiment with according to what is in your cupboards.
Nourishing your body
What Fish Oil Can Do For Your Skin
When we think about the ways we can get healthy radiant skin we often default to finding the best creams, oils, and lotions that we can find. However, so much of our skin health comes down to what we put into rather than onto our bodies.
Fish oil can play a key role in healthy skin function and appearance. Taking fish oil can help to hydrate the skin from the inside out, and it is also anti-inflammatory. Fish oil contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which help to build the structural barrier for skin and also helps to hold in moisture.
A deficiency of EPA and DHA (which are found in fish oils) in the diet contributes to skin conditions such as dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as age spots and sunspots. One study from the University of Maryland showed that taking fish oil (EPA) significantly reduced the symptoms of eczema after 12 weeks.
Be sure to choose a high-quality fish oil, as concentrations and quality vary greatly between brands. I personally use Nordic Naturals fish oil as they are of excellent quality and recommended by many naturopaths. Importantly they also adhere to sustainable fishing practices. I use their Ultimate Omega capsules.
Nourishing your mind
Simple Stress-Busting Technique
This week I ran a workshop on fear. The group looked at why we feel fear, how we work through that fear, and how fear can hold us back. If you feel fear or anxiety in your life the following practice can help you to move through it. It’s called 7/11 breathing exercises.
When we feel fear or experience stress or anxiety our breath naturally becomes shallower and we start to breathe at a more rapid rate. Deep diaphragmatic breathing helps the body go from the fight-or-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system to the relaxed response of the parasympathetic nervous system. A long slow breath tells our brain that we are safe and everything is OK.
Try the 7/11 breathing practice
When you feel fear (perhaps before a presentation, a meeting or an important call), stop and connect with your breath. Inhale for 7 seconds (counting quickly in your mind) and then slowly exhale (counting to 11 in your mind). Practice this for about a minute and you will notice how much calmer you feel.
If you feel like you need some help working through your fears of limiting beliefs, drop me an email and we can work together to find a different path.
Have a beautiful weekend!
Simone
