3 Things that Age you Faster than Anything Else

Sun

Smoking

Alcohol

Did you think I’d hold back and try and lead you in to some big sell on a great new product?? Wrong! I’ve been in this business for over 25 years and it is just not my style. What I have noticed over the years how things have gone from selling hope in a bottle to well, pushing hope in a bottle by any means possible, down people’s necks...And, I still say, it’s not my style. You can also decide, as most people do, how you decide to perceive this information, but the facts are facts so, here’s is the honest to goodness low down on the three things that will age you quicker than anything else.

Sunshine

Yes, I know, that you enjoy sipping a margarita by the pool with friend is great fun, but it will age you after 20 minutes, unless you have pretty sallow or dark skin (these guys get all the luck when it comes to sun bathing without damaging skin). I don’t want to be a party pooper and I know lying on the lylo is the most important part of a holiday for most Brits and Irish, but seriously……think of the skin damage people! Thing is, after your skin has turned a slightly pink shade and you’ve absorbed all the Vitamin D that you need and it is more beneficial start covering up that face, hair and body if you want to glow well into your twilight years. Now, please do not think that I am any different to anyone else on the planet. When I go on holiday, I am certainly not getting out of the sun after 20 minutes. It's just a reminder to keep the sun cream on. So, it's too much that is not good for your ok?

Protect Your Eyes

This is as easy as popping a pair of sunglasses on. There’s no doubt you will look a lot more sophisticated and you definitely do not want those eyes to become swollen and puffy from too much sun.  It’s not a good look people!

 

Protect Your Kissable Lips

You definitely want to put some some sort of chap stick on. When purchasing one, look for a natural brand that also offers some sunscreen protection. For the record, you are better off putting olive oil on (even though it has no sunscreen) than using Vaseline, which is a petroleum based product and not one you want on your lips. Even though it feels good, there's a downside to using these products laden with chemicals that you definitely don't want near your mouth.

Protect your Hair

The hair is another area that you most definitely want to keep under wraps when in the sun. Particularly for those with bleached hair colours. If possible, keep your tresses firmly fixed under a stylish beach hat. If the idea of a hat on the beach drives your mad then definitely consider a leave in conditioner. Paying attention to the small things will definitely save your lots of time and costly trips to the salon afterwards to  put right the damage that the sun can do.


Protect that Beauty Face and God Given Bod

Protect Your Face and Body by applying a natural, good quality, high factor sun screen every few hours. If you’ve decided to go for dip in the pool or sea, then pop on another layer. You’d be amazed how a quickly those rays burn it off.

Smoking

This one seems obvious doesn't it! Many smokers couldn't give a hoot about the ageing aspects of this bad habit. Like most things, when you are in the firm grip of an addiction, how you look is really the last thing you are thinking about. However, when it does matter, as you are getting older and you are keen to grasp at anything to wipe away the years, then it is too late.  The damaging effects of the myriad of chemicals will most definitely have done the damage at this stage. If you are interested in looking your best well into your 40's, 50's and 60's then look to giving this non nourishing habit the boot. There are so may helpful sites on the Internet, including many reputable programmes run  by government agencies that are there to help you kick the habit. If you are serious about letting go of the need to light up, then look around for those people who want to help you. They're not cool, it's not pretty and they definitely do not serve you in any way that is health enhancing. Let go and grow!

Alcohol

Ah, this is a tricky one. Being Irish and currently living in Ireland, it is definitely a toughie. When everything is based around alcohol, from christenings to funerals, it is definitely completely accepted as normal nowadays. This may seem like a harmless way to celebrate, but I can tell you one thing, there is nothing beautifying about it. I can hear all the arguments now and yes, the French do drink wine, but not normally in the volumes that some other societies do and they don't usually save up their weekly quota and get blitzed all in one go. It takes the liver about 1 to 2 hours to deal with and detoxify one standard drink measure. So, 3, 4 and even more on a regular basis, is a pretty tall ask. Alcohol will seriously dehydrate the body and while I am not becoming a total party pooper and saying "Don't Enjoy a Drink", I am saying to hydrate in between rounds. The French drink one glass of wine with many glasses of water, to rehydrate. This is one of the secrets to minimising it's effect.  The best way to view alcohol is as a sponge that mops up all the moisture from your body so, if you can get to view it this way, when you are next ordering your favourite tipple, order a larger glass of water to go with what you're having yourself!

Well, that's it from this podium. If you know anyone who would benefit from reading this post, the share the love!

Enjoy taking care of yourself.

Ruth.

Healthy Pancakes

Pancakes are great, aren't they? I like both the savoury and sweet varieties. I remember my mum making the pancakes on Pancake Tuesday. My heart would literally skip a beat when she would toss the pan up towards the ceiling (keeping a hold of it of course) while the now solid pancake batter rose up out of it and did a flip in the air, only to land, seconds later on the reverse side back where it had started...Phew! I seem to have some other vague recollection of one in particularly rising up just a little too far and ending up sticking to the ceiling....Or, is that a scene from some movie I've seen?? Hmmn, that one certainly is food for thought. Even today when I make pancakes, which is quite regularly, my heart still skips a beat right before I toss them in the air in order to turn them onto the other side. Even though I could quite easily use any of a number of kitchen utensils to simply turn it, that just far to boring for me. Being the dramatic type, I love the thrill I get from the flip and manage to get it right almost every time. It really is great fun though altogether, you really should try it..oh, but make sure to have some friends around to add to the thrill....Fabulous!

With Pancake Tuesday just around the corner,  there will be lots of pancakes for sale in supermarkets and available on restaurant menus. If I could give you one piece of advice, particularly if you are shopping for them, it is to take moment to turn the pretty packaging over to have a look at the ingredients they've been made from before you go ahead and wolf down a few. I don't want to be a party pooper, but honestly, if you can't pronounce what's in there, put them back, but if you do recognise what's in there as real food, go right ahead and enjoy them. However, for the more adventurous of you would rather try making their own, healthier version, then here is a gluten and dairy free version that I rather like.

What you'll need...

Basic Pancake Recipe

100g buckwheat flour 

1/4tsp salt

12 Tbps water/milk (preferably non-dairy such as almond, rice, hazelnut, soya)

2 Tbps oil (I use coconut oil for frying, but you can use olive, sunflower or rapeseed)

How to Make

1. Mix flour, salt and milk together and leave to stand for approximately 10 minutes.

2. Then give the batter a stir, add 3 large spoonfuls or more (on thickness of the pancake that you like) of batter  onto a hot oiled pan.

3. Cook until light brown underneath, then turn and cook the other side.

If you would like a richer pancake you can add in 2 or more eggs. I prefer not to, but this is a choice you can make yourself. You can also use plain flour (which will contain gluten) or spelt (which is actually an older and easier to digest form of wheat) flour if you cannot get your hands on buckwheat flour. However, I really recommend that you do buy buckwheat flour in the you health food store and start using it. It is a brilliant substitute for ordinary plain or self raising flour in most recipes. Actually, come to think of it, I think I may have even bought mine in Tescos last time I needed it, so it's really easy to source nowadays. With over 3% of the Irish population being diagnosed as gluten intolerant, get rid of the Odlums from the kitchen and start looking at the alternatives for your and your family.

For my own pancakes (above), I've used the exact recipe provided here. No frills, no fuss.  For my filling I used lemon juice and a produce called  Xyitol, which is a great tasting, excellent and safe sugar alternative, which once again can be found easily in most health food stores. I may have gone a bit over board on the lemon juice, but you don't have to, I just love the taste. Yes, that is icing sugar you are seeing too. I sprinkled some on top, which although not something I usually use, it does make pancakes and sweet delights look ever so pretty and as far as I'm concerned, is perfectly fine to use now and again. If you are sensitive to sugar, diabetic or have been advised to avoid it for any reason, then I suggest you leave it out and decorate with perhaps some desiccated coconut or perhaps some of the other superfoods like mesquite.

I hope you enjoy this basic recipe. They are really simple to prepare and great to eat so get back into the kitchen!

Please also feel free to share with friends who many not know where to begin when it comes to pancake making.

Thanks for reading and happy Pancake Tuesday everyone!

Best wishes,

Ruth.

Valentine's Raw Chocolate Recipe

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt" Lucy Van Pelt.

This quote speaks loudly to my heart. Perhaps some may consider it indulgent, but I choose to have a small piece of chocolate every day. In fact, I absolutely adore chocolate. It's luxurious, rich taste, and the velvety way it melts in your mouth most definitely leaves me wanting more. In fact, just this very day, I was lucky enough to be asked to judge a chocolate competition taking place in The Happy Pear, Greystones Main Street,  County Wicklow and they couldn't have asked a more willing participant.  If you would like to be in with a chance to win, then get your chocolate entries in, in any way shape of form, on Sunday, 19th Feb before noon. I can't be sure on the prize but I'd hazard a guess, it's something chocolaty!

With Valentine's Day only around the corner, I thought it might be a nice treat to make your own piece of deliciousness at home. I've made sure to give out a simple recipe so that your work in the kitchen will produce a great result in no time. Who wants to spend hours in there with little to show for it! Not me anyway. Even though, I have tried making many different varieties of chocolate, using a range of different sweetners and fillings, and while there are healthier alternatives, I do believe this is one of the nicest and easiest recipes I've come across. If you are going to make it for that someone special for Valentine's or even for yourself to have in the fridge when the nibbles hit, then I suggest you use the best ingredients possible and don't scrimp on luxury. Enough writing for now though, let's get started..... 

Raw Chocolate Recipe 

125g of cacao powder (health food store)

125g of cacao butter (health food store)

1/2 cup of agave (health food store or some supermarkets)

1 pinch of salt

1/2 tsp of powdered vanilla (make this by grinding 1/4 cup of buckwheat groats with 1 whole vanilla bean to a fine powder You can also buy it in most health food stores if you'd prefer.)

The best way to melt your cacao butter is to pop it into a bowl and then put the bowl into a pot with warm water. The cacao butter will eventually melt from the heat of the water, reducing it to a liquid form. Then mix the salt, powdered vanilla and the sifted cacao powder together in a separate bowl. Slowly add this mix to the cacao butter and gently stir together until fully incorporated. Add agave to the cacao butter mix. If you like nuts or goji berries in your chocolate, you would add them in at this stage. I really love adding almonds (with the skin removed), walnuts, hazelnuts, macademia and goji berries to my chocolate..Not all together mind you!

When your mixture is all ready, pour it into moulds of your choice. Don't be put off if you don't have any individual moulds, you can always pop it into any size grease proof lined dish and let it set in the fridge for over one hour. When you are ready to indulge your taste buds, take it out and break it into uneven, broken pieces and serve.

Because this chocolate is really pure, you won't be able to leave it for too long at room temperature before it melts, so leave it in the fridge until you are ready to indulge.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Ruth.xx.

(If you want a truly raw recipe that will retain all nutrients of the cacao, then make sure to keep the chocolate under 42 degrees centigrade. You can do this by using a thermometer)