The CP Diary

As part of a balanced diet, fruit and vegetables can help us stay healthy. The UK government has been telling us that we need to have five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, which includes 5 portions of fruit and vegetables together.

Five reasons for us to consume our five portions

Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals which include Vitamin C, potassium and folate;
They are an excellent source of dietary fibre, which can prevent constipation, digestion problems and help maintain a healthy gut. Fibre also …

Following on from my last blog I thought I’d explore ways in which we can try to help prevent serious illness. I hope some of these tips help:

Both men and women should consume the right calories to balance their energy consumed with the energy they use. The more active we are the more calories we need. The less active we are, the least calories we should consume. The daily recommended calorie intake for women is 2,000 whilst for men it is 2,500. I believe we’re all capable of eating more calories than we need.

We should all eat at …

It is hard to believe that Popcorn, the cinema snack is now making a comeback as a super-food that is actually good for us! According to research popcorn may not only prevent cancer but it can also help those trying to diet. It is a wholegrain food, which has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, two potentially life threatening illnesses.

The facts

Popcorn contains three times more fibre than sunflower seeds. It also balances blood sugar levels; keeps us fuller for longer and stops us reaching for sweet snacks …

What do we know about Mango and why is it so good for us?

Mango is cultivated throughout tropical climates and originates from India. Mango extract and fruit are known to help with weight loss, which is why it’s so popular with women.

Mango is rich in potassium and is excellent for cardiovascular health. It helps control blood pressure; improves the nervous system and strengthens the muscle surrounding the heart.

It also has other health benefits. It contains phenolic compounds and natural antioxidant properties. These properties help …

Over the years I have tried to be a good role model for myself as well my children, as far as nutrition is concerned. Ever since my children were little I have always insisted that they sit down to a meal.

As children, we’ve all be one… we learn from an early age what we can get away with and what we can’t. I believe lots of bad habits set in and before we know it we have children that won’t sit at the table and when they do, play around with their food on their plates to make it look as if they’ve eaten what was put on their plate …

I know carrot juice isn’t on the top of everyone’s mind or list, but it has so beneficial qualities and I have tried it and like it, so I thought I’d blog about it!

Carrots contain vitamins and nutrients and together with their therapeutic properties they work with other foods and juices very well. The Ancient Greeks used to drink carrot juice for its cleansing effects. It was also considered a good remedy for constipation and exhaustion.

Carrots contain lots of beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A. When converted in the …

We know we get vitamin D from the sun, but we can also get vitamin D from some of the foods we consume. Vitamin D is found in both dairy products and oily fish.

Vitamin D has various roles; it helps control the immune system. It also promotes cell development. It helps absorb, carry and use essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorous. It helps in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth, cartilage and bones in growing children and adults. Vitamin D also  contributes to keeping the nervous system healthy and is known to help with …

The lack of sufficient Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin can be a problem for many people, particularly in the winter months.

Research shows that many people are deficient in vitamin D because the sunlight produced in the winter months is insufficient for the skin to stimulate the production of vitamin D. It is therefore important for us to store as much vitamin D as we can in the summer months, so that we have enough Vitamin D to get us through the winter months!

Deficiencies in Vitamin D have been linked to osteoporosis; (vitamin …

Today I am going to journal about cranberries!

It has long been documented that cranberries are good for bladder infections and maintaining natural health and well-being, but with regular consumption they are also known to lower our chances of developing stomach cancer and gastric ulcers, which is one of the known causes of stomach cancer.

Frozen or fresh cranberries can be used to treat other kinds of ulcers too, including duodenal ulcers and skin ulcers. Cranberry juice contains special chemical elements that inhibit the activities of such …

Today’s journal is about why I have decided to stop eating meat and chicken. It wasn’t something I took lightly but because I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, meat and chicken has been a constant trigger for my IBS and digestion problems. The other reason is far more complex than that.

There has been a lot of media coverage about meat products and how potentially harmful it can be for our health. Meat can contain bacteria and carcinogens that can remain in the body for years and whilst farmers still continue to use antibiotics, dioxins, hormones …