Healing Candida & IBS with Fruit?!

For the majority of my lifetime I have struggled with my digestion. Constipation, bloating, irregular bowel movements, gas, discomfort, diarrhea & pain were just a daily occurrence for me and I honestly didn’t know any different.

During my younger years, I pretty much ate everything and anything packaged and processed and didn’t look for fruit to snack on or veggies. The only time I really ate vegetables or fruit would be when my Mum made me lunch or dinner.

I saw a gastroenterologist and he basically told me that I had IBS and needed to eat more fibre, which I mean… eating more fibre would definitely be a factor as I was eating horribly.

I started incorporating fibre supplements (because that’s so much easier that actually eating it, right? Haha) and having “Vita Brits” which is a shredded wheat cereal.

Many years later, I started to care more about my health. I joined the gym and started cleaning up my diet. I started eating more fruits and veggies, cutting out dairy and meat and eventually (fours years later) I turned vegan! I originally went plant based for health and then I watched Earthlings and jumped on the vegan wagon for ethics as well.

During the time my digestion got worse. The bloating was really bad and I literally wasn’t digesting anything well, fruit would go straight through me! I tried everything in the books (and by books, I mean what I researched online!) I tried out a FODMAP diet which involves cutting out an extremely large amount of foods (see the list here) and slowly reintroducing them to find the “trigger” foods causing the upsets. I basically lived off oatmeal with one banana and then just sweet potato and that was basically it! I ate this way for quite a few months and hated the whole thing because I just felt constantly stressed about food, tummy upsets and what I could eat.

Further to me not being able to digest fruit, I got tested to see if I was fructose intollerant, and that came back negative.

Lost for answers, I was beyond desperate and decided to finally see a naturopath. My friends who also struggled with digestive issues had been telling me to see one for ages but because I know they can be a bit costly, I was avoiding it. I was recommended by some other friends to see Stuart Main, a vegan naturopath. Having a good, vegan naturopath was really important to me because I wanted someone who’s values aligned with mine and didn’t want to wast time with anyone who didn’t see eye-to-eye with me or would think veganism was the fault for my issues. I speak more about my appointment here.

In brief, he told me that I had a bad bacteria imbalance and candida and instructed me to eat more fruit to flush out the bad stuff as well as take probiotics and some other things to help heal my issues.

I’ve been eating a rawtill4 styled diet where I eat fruit until the mid-late afternoon.Yes, that’s right… fruit for a meal! Generally large smoothies or fruit mono-meals (where you eat a large quantity of fruit in one sitting) are my go-to’s!

Fruit is often frowned upon when someone has candida, but it’s 8 months on since eating a mostly fruit diet and I’m definitely seeing some results! I’m not 100% healed but I am digesting food so much better then I was and am able to eat a (very) much larger variety of food in general! No more cutting out garlic and onion, no more stressing about food and so much less bloating and more regular bowel movements!

This may not sound like your cup of tea and that it’s a boring way to eat, but honestly, your taste buds change and you learn to love the simplicity of foods straight from nature and in their whole form! Just pick fruits that you enjoy and eat them until you are full! People who say “fruit doesn’t fill me up” simply  just need to eat more. It can not satisfy you for long though, because you can fill up quickly with the higher water content so you may need to eat more frequently and have some snacks. You don’t have to do mono-meals either, but they certainly digest better.

If your symptoms are bad or have been happening as long as mine have been, then you’ll literally try anything! If you won’t try what sounds hard or scary, then you’re not feeling crap enough 😛 and that’s speaking from experience, haha.

 

I show what I eat on my Instagram and YouTube channel as well.

 

 

 

 

Caramel Slice – Vegan, Healthy, Refined Sugar Free & Gluten Free

A different, healthy take on the classic caramel slice that doesn’t take away any of deliciousness  but only the animal products and adds a kick of health!

Base Layer:

1 cup Oats (used GF oats for Gluten Free)
1 cup Dates (soaked prior)
1 cup almonds

Blend, adding splashes of water when necessary till the mixture holds well.

Press mixture well into a cling wrap lined baking tin and pop in the fridge while preparing your caramel layer.

Caramel Layer:

1 cup dates (soaked prior)
4-5 tbsp tahini
crack of salt

Blend well, add splashes of water when necessary to combine mixture.

Add to the baking tin and spread evenly onto the prepared slice base and pop it back into the fridge.

Chocolate Layer:

Melted chocolate. I used a chocolate making kit from Meraki & Co. but you could also melt down your favourite vegan chocolate and use that!

Pour on top of the caramel layer in the tin, making sure it covers well.

Store in the fridge until the top layer has hardened.

To serve, use a hot knife to cut the slices otherwise you’ll end up with a beautiful mess like I did… not that that’s a bad thing 😛

Recipe inspired by laurasmess.me

 

 

Royal Samaja Villas, Seminyak – Review

Mel & I checked into the Royal Samaja Villas on the 9th of April 2016. It is located down a street from one of the main roads in Seminyak meaning it’s close to many shops, spas and restaurants and you can easily acquire a taxi to venture out and go elsewhere if you wish.

We were greeted with a fresh juice uponn arrival and we met some of the lovely staff who were kind & welcoming. They showed us to our villa and assisted us with our bags.

Our room was a one bedroom villa and we had our own private pool and sun beds for us to relax at our leisure and in privacy which we utilized in the sunny moments of the days.

Bottled water, fruit, coffee, tea & wifi was included with our stay and the rooms were serviced daily to ensure we had fresh towels and bottled water. In the evenings they would also set up our bed so we were able to hop right in and get some rest (eg. removing decorative pillows ect.)

The décor is bright & new which gives off a refreshing tropical/summer vibe. I loved the colour schemes, especially of this couch:

I also loved the bathroom. It was large & gave an outdoors feel and one of the walls was predominantly made from glass. It included a bath and the shower which had a “rainfall” showerhead that made showering extra indulgent after a hot day out exploring what Seminyak had to offer.

I loved the location of the Royal Samaja as it was in walking distance from many restaurants and shops which is handy and can save you some coin and also get you out and about. They also offered a shuttle bus which left the villas twice a day.

We didn’t get a chance to eat at the restaurant but I was very pleased to see a tempeh burger on the menu and wish we were in Seminyak a little longer to have the time to try it out.

The staff also called us the night before we checked out to remind us of our 12pm checkout time and they also held our bags for us on the day that we checked out as we had a very late flight that night which was very much appreciated.

They were very friendly and helpful and extremely polite. There wasn’t anything to fault about our experience at Royal Samaja, we definitely enjoyed our stay.

Check out their website here.

 

Maya Resorts, Ubud – Review

On the 7th of April 2016, Mel & I checked into the Maya Resorts in Ubud, Bali. As soon as we drove through the gates we were breath taken… Everything was such a lush green. Perfectly manicured surrounds, it looked like something out of a movie.

We were greeted by the very friendly and courteous staff who helped us with our bags before heading to reception where we received a mango & soursop juice (which was incredible!) On the journey to our room we were just gob smacked at the beauty of Maya and felt like it was too good to be true. Stepping out onto our personal balcony we were surprised and pleased to find out that there was a rainforest right to the left of us which we were able to go for a trail walk through if we desired.

Our room was the superior suite with a kingsize bed. Tea, coffee, bottled water & wifi were complimentary with our stay.

The rooms were serviced daily and they give you the option to re-use your towels to be more environmentally conscious about using water wisely which I thought was a nice touch. A pillow menu is also available for you to choose which type of pillow you’d prefer to make sure your stay and sleep is as comfortable as possible.

Superior Suite

 

Maya Resort is quite large and they offer a lot of activities, some which are included with your booking. They offer yoga classes, access to the gym, the walking trail and a daily activity which changes every day which are all free to be involved in. They also have a tennis court where if you wish to request a partner to play with, you can hire one. They also have a few restaurants, a bar which has “happy hour” and a spa where you can treat yourself.

We went to the yoga class one morning and it was a great start to our day. Beginning at 7am, we began our yoga class which was focused on meditation, with a small group of others before heading off to breakfast. The yoga instructor was very helpful & Mel and I both learnt more about yoga and enjoyed ourselves.

Gym & yoga facility

 

Morning Yoga

 

Spa

 

 

There are also two swimming pools on site, both offering stunning views.

Breakfast was included in our booking which means we had full access to their large buffet breakfast. We helped ourselves to the refreshing tropical fruits they had available as well as some bread & fruit jam. This is where I got to try my first rambutan!

Freshly cut papaya and watermelon, guava & rambutan.

 

Fresh bread & strawberry jam.

 

We visited one of the restaurants one evening as they had some vegan not-so-indulgent desserts available, which we were quite excited about!  Mel ordered the vegan chocolate mousse that was made with avocado and I ordered the vegan apple & guava crumble with a healthy oat & quinoa crumble topping.

Healthy Vegan Apple and Guava Crumble

 

A shuttle bus is also available to take you too the main street of Ubud as that is about a 5 – 10 minute drive.

The resort was nice and quiet in regards to other holiday go-ers which was nice and added to the relaxing and fresh atmosphere. Breakfast was usually when it was a bit more busy, but still not overly populated.

The staff were extremely welcoming and kind, always greeting us with smiles and offering to help where they can. It was definitely appreciated and taken note of.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Maya and really didn’t want to leave. I would never get sick of those beautiful views and I’m certainly going to miss them. I think it’s a perfect location for a honey moon or romantic getaway or even for older couples where you have the option and ability to roam around the resort as there are many things to do and options for places to dine out as well as drink.

You can check out Maya Resorts website here. Their facebook page here & follow them on Instagram at @mayaubud.

My holiday was a collaboration with The Asia Collective who organized my amazing accommodation for me and I couldn’t be more grateful to experience this amazing place!
Check out their website here.

 

Are Tea-Toxes, Skinny Teas, Flat Tummy Teas & Weightloss Diet Shakes a Waste of Money?

There are so many tea toxes and skinny teas available at the moment, it’s ridiculous! Being a blogger and someone with a social media presence, I have received many emails asking if I wish to promote their weightloss or detox teas. The answer is always no.

They will not make you skinny or lose weight in a healthy way. Some contain caffeine which reduces your appetite and gives you false energy and some even go as far as to contain laxatives to make you go to the toilet more frequently and have the food you’re eating go straight through you, which isn’t healthy! This can mean your body isn’t affectively absorbing the nutrients from the food you’re eating and it can also be very bad for your digestive system.

And then of course you have got your meal replacement diet shakes. These have been around for years! “Simply replace 1-3 meals with our “blah blah” shake and you’ll see the weight fall off!” Give me a break, seriously.

Have you noticed that they always say “in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise” The tea  honestly does nothing. It may help with bloating, depending on the tea and it’s ingredients, but it will not help you achieve longterm, healthy weightloss (if you need it). And the shakes are not a long term solution, you cannot purchase and drink diet shakes for the rest of eternity, you’ll go insane!

Just eat a healthy, plant based diet. That means a lot of CARBS, yes carbs! Carbohydrates are the bodies #1 preffered source of energy. Not proteins, not fat! And NO they will not make you fat!! If you base your diet around fruits, vegetables, starches, legumes and grains and eat at least  2100 calories per day for the average female, more if you are active, you will get the required amount of protein required by the human body. It’s also important to include some healthy fats like avocado, nut & seed butter, nuts ect, just consume mostly carbohydrates.

Don’t listen to “skinny teas” or diet shakes and their lies. Just eat whole, plant foods in abundance and you will achieve long term health & a slim figure!

If you have any questions on this topic or about going vegan, please don’t be afraid to email me at everydaysimplehealth@outlook.com

I also have an e-book coming out soon which is basically a How-To book on going vegan. For food ideas, more recipes and vlogs check out my YouTube Channel – just search “everydaysimplehealth”!

Cherry Darlings All-Vegan Bakehouse, Adelaide – Review

Vegan junk food heaven – Cherry Darlings in a nutshell!

Just a small bakery located on 5 Aloha Terrace in Forrestville across from the train station. There is some seating inside or you can get takeaway. What’s on offer is a variety of baked goods like cakes, donuts and brownies as well as “milk”shakes and savory pies. All cruelty free & 100% vegan!

Donuts are my weakness. They’re probably my favourite baked good ever since childhood. So when my boyfriend & visited late last year (2015), of course we had to get donuts! We ordered one each, an oreo one and from memory, the other was choc-caramel or something. We shared flavours, and they were both deeelicious! The amazing thing about vegan donuts is that they taste EXACTLY like non vegan donuts, 100%. My boyfriend also ordered a banana “milk”shake. He isn’t vegan, but it was so funny because I asked for a sip and he was like “Laiken, it’s a milk shake? It has milk in it” I had to explain to him it was soy milk and that the cafe was 100% vegan, haha. But the milkshake was great too. There is nothing better than drinking a milk shake and not feeling incredibly nauseas and disgusting afterwards! Vegan food is amazing and if you are into junk food and think vegans just eat lettuce, then you need to go to Cherry Darlings!

On my next visit I will definitely have to get a vegan pie!! They have such a large variety of  flavours and they look delicious!

I have only had one Cherry Darlings experience, but I WILL be back! I just don’t wish to over-indulge on junkier foods too often, so it is probably a good thing that I live about 40-50 minutes away from their location so I don’t over do it, haha. But it is hard to stay away!

 

 

Beanfields Snacks Vegan Bean & Rice Chips – Review

Three words. Vegan Nacho Chips. Yep. True story!

I organise monthly vegan picnics in Adelaide and I was contacted by Beanfields snacks saying that they wish to support this by sending me some of their chips to share at the meet ups, as they are a vegan company and love seeing the sense of community that the vegan picnics have.

Thrilled to hear that they were vegan themselves and that they make a healthified, non-gmo, gluten free, low allergen, vegan range of bean & rice chips I jumped at the offer! Being able to share a new vegan snack option that are now available at Coles and Woolworths stores in Australia is something I know my friends and fellow vegans would appreciate!

I received four flavours – sea salt, nacho, salsa & bbq! ALL ARE EPIC FLAVOURS. My boyfriend & I tried them ourselves, I shared them with friends and brought them to the picnics. Every person I shared them with, loved them – vegans AND non-vegans. The flavours are so authentic and not lacking in anything at all!

They contain 5g of protein, 6g of fibre & 4.5g of fat per “serving” (I can eat an entire packet to myself! Haha) making them more nutritious than many chips on the shelves.

Beanfields snacks can be found in the health section of your local Coles or Woolworths supermarket!

 

 

Tropeaka Vegan Superfood & Protein Powders – Review

Recently Tropeaka sent me some of their products to trial. I received some Superfood blends & protein powders. I was delighted to find out that they were a fully vegan company and I was happy to support them as I love supporting people, companies and brands whose views match mine. Creating a world where vegan options are widely available is definitely something I’d love to see spread world-wide. I can already see the vegan message and lifestyle spreading and becoming more popular and it’s amazing to see!

Tropeaka offers, as I mentioned earlier, a bunch of vegan friendly superfood powders and pea protein powders. I do not think these products are essential to a vegans diet or lifestyle as we can get all our nutrients and protein from plant basd sources, but I think they are great to jazz up smoothies and oatmeal and I personally do enjoy them!

My two favorites would be the Immunity blend that I add to my berry oatmeal and the Boost blend that I like to add to my chocolate oatmeal & smoothies.

Some of my favourite super foods are Maca Powder, which I use daily. Cacao Powder, which is superfood chocolate – so what more do I need to say, really? and Acai – a super delicious & nourishing berry powder to add to smoothies.

 

 

 

The Best Vegan Chocolate “Milks”

As a kid I was a huge milk beverage fan! Milk shakes, thick shakes, Milo, store bought carton flavoured milks! They all made me feel incredibly ill, as dairy does and now being vegan I am so happy to have found some amazing, dairy free & mostly healthy chocolate beverages to satisfy my cravings!

ps. These are all available in Australia, not sure about other countries.

#1 Cocobella Choc Almond Smoothie.

It’s main ingredient is coconut water – which makes it relatively low in fat, and yet it so creamy! Approved by vegans & non-vegans alike! You MUST try it out! I’ve only seen this available in Woolworths in the juice section. Super chocolate-y & creamy. You’ll struggle not to finish the entire litre in one sitting!

#2 Natural Raw C Chocolate Protein Coconut Water

Another Coconut water based chocolate beverage that tastes like chocolate milk! This one took me straight back to my days of having “Classic” Chocolate milks, except The Natural RawC one is so, so much healthier and lower in fat! Available at Coles & Woolworths in the water/coconut water section!

#3 Almond Breeze – Chocolate Flavour

This is super light & perfect to add to smoothies or on top of cereal (or to skull out the carton, no judging right!) Super great chocolate taste! I’ve also only seen these available at Woolworths but in the long life milk section. I’m pretty sure they have this brand in the US as well.

 

The Red Lime Shack, Adelaide – Review

The Red Lime Shack is a small, pretty quiet cafe located in Port Adelaide. It’s ALL VEGAN and of course, this makes me incredibly happy.

They have a small menu with a daily special, but I can never go past their burgers! I’ve gone here a few times and every time I cannot pass on the Pecan, Sweet Potato & Maple Burger! My non-vegan boyfriend had this burger as well and said it was better than any burger he has had! It’s not short on flavour, that’s for sure! Also available are smoothies, coffees, cakes and raw treats.

The interior is super cool and a bit randomly thrown together in a funky way with odd tables and chairs. It suits Port Adelaide well! The staff are also friendly. Because it’s pretty quiet, it’s a great place to catch up with friends & grab a bite to eat.

I feel as if this is a hidden gem that needs to be more known because I do genuinely love this place! So if you’re ever in the area – check it out & support a small vegan business!