Rhian's Round Up: September
If you’re new to our community, at the end of each month I send my roundup of things I’m loving, from products and recipes to health hacks and inspirational books.
As we transition into autumn, there is a unique shift in energy and in turn, a noticeable way in which our bodies respond to this shift. So, my roundup this month is focused on some of my favourite foods and rituals for a healthy happy fall.
Use this: Ginger
Ginger is one of my favourite functional spices. Cooking with fresh ginger brings its medical properties to life – it stimulates circulation, digestion, reduces bloating, supports the immune system, and is anti-inflammatory. Using its supplemental form heightens these properties and has the added benefit of being one of the strongest natural prokinetics for the gut, meaning, it helps moves things along and promote regularity without the harsh or spasmodic effects of over-the-counter laxatives. In TCM, ginger is used to increase warmth and energy – the perfect combination as we say goodbye to warmer weather. One of my favourite ways to use it is in my ginger tahini dressing, which tastes divine on salads, warm root vegetables, grains, and chicken or fish. Don’t be shy with the ginger – it should be strong. If you’d like to add ginger in a supplemental form, our G.I. Fix has a lofty dose alongside probiotics, prebiotics, and other gut-nourishing botanicals. Here is the recipe for my ginger tahini dressing:
- 3 inches fresh ginger root, peeled
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 1 large medjool date
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tsp white miso paste
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup water
- 1 pinch cayenne
- Salt to taste
Blend everything together in a blender and then adjust to taste – this recipe is very loose. You can change the consistency by adding more tahini or water or flex the acidity and spice as you’d like. This tastes better after it sits for a few hours and keeps in the fridge for 5 days.
Take this: Essential D3/K2
You’ll hear us talking about immunity a lot over the next few months, and October is a great month to start supporting the immune system and building resilience ahead of the winter. Immunity isn’t just linked to getting ill – it can also influence our mood, concentration, and energy – did you know that if our immune system is triggered and inflammation is present it affects mood, anxiety, and depression? Tomorrow our blog will feature more need-to-knows when it comes to immunity, but one of the most important things we can do is start taking Essential D3/K2. The NHS recommends that all adults supplement with Vitamin D3 from autumn through to spring, which is why right now, we’re including a complimentary jar of Essential D3/K2 in every order over £30 to help get you going on your supply.
Change this: Your facial cleanser
Dry skin is common in the colder months, so switching to a more hydrating, nourishing cleansing balm can help bolster hydration and protect the skin’s natural pH. My favourite right now is from a local skin boutique in Primrose Hill called Fern Skin Clinic. Its owners, Lisa + Nicki, give the most divine facials and are passionate about nourishing, natural skincare. They formulated their cleansing balm using organic, sustainable ingredients with powerful botanicals like clary sage, rose, and frankincense.
Do this: Set yourself a challenge (even if it’s small)
One of the ways I kickstart my motivation is to set myself physical challenges. Usually, I do this in the summer months. Last summer I ran 180km in 3 weeks when I went to Spain. The summer before I did something similar. But, giving birth via a C-section at the beginning of the summer has meant that this year I have barely been able to exercise, let alone find the time (or energy!) to do a huge challenge. I must admit, I got caught up in the ‘I’ll wait until (insert excuse – I am fitter, I have more time, I’ve had more sleep....)’ trap because I’m not in the position to do it exactly the way I want to yet, nor am I anywhere near being able to run this much. But, waiting for the perfect time is an incredibly limiting behaviour, so small steps are better than no steps. Starting from October 1st, I’ve created a new, albeit smaller, challenge to help me reclaim my fitness – so I’m doing the 30/30/30 challenge. That means thirty press-ups, thirty burpees, and thirty v-sits every day. It’s small, but it's consistent, and anyone who has ever tried a burpee post pregnancy and C-section knows that it’s harder than it sounds...! What can you do to feel better?
