Kimchi Recipe
Following on from the previous post on the importance of gut health, we have included our very own recipe for making this probiotic rich food at home.
You can really play around and substitute different ingredients and use up what you have in the cupboard- you can even add things like seaweed, fennel, jerusalem artichoke, beetroot!
Ingredients
1 cabbage (you can use any kind, but the typical one is napa or sweetheart)
1 daikon radish
2 carrots
2 onions (you can add spring onions or leeks as well)
3/4 cloves of garlic
3/4 hot red chillies (or you can use the typical korean chilli paste- Gochugaru)
3/4 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
Sea salt
- Make a brine by mixing 4 tablespoons of salt per litre of filtered water- the brine should taste very salty.
- Chop the cabbage, radish and carrots (and any other veg you want to include).
- Soak the chopped veggies in the brine, for a few hours at least, and best overnight. Use a plate to make sure they're all covered keep any veggies from submerging.
-Create a paste with the spices - onion, garlic, chilli, ginger (again adding any extras you may want eg turmeric, coriander or dill seeds). You can either blend this all together or use a pestle and mortar.
- Once the vegetables have soaked, remove from the brine keeping the brine handy as you may need it later on.
- Taste the veggies, they should taste salty but not unpleasantly salty. If they are too salty you can rinse them, or if you can't taste any salt then add a couple of teaspoons and mix well.
-Mix the veggies with the spice paste, making sure they are all coated.
- Stuff everything in a sterilised glass jar making sure to compress the veg so its all submerged. You can put a plate on top to help, or use a bag filled with water.
- Leave to ferment in a warm place for three days or longer- this part is up to your taste buds. Once it is to your taste take out and put in the fridge where it will continue to ferment slowly.
- Enjoy!
You can add a little with your meals everyday and this will really help support that good bacteria in your gut! YUM!
How to love your gut
All about your gut health, its links to mental health and what you can do to nourish your gut bacteria.
Research has now confirmed that our gut microbiome could be the key to our health. The microbiome is a collection of 100 trillion micro organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi which live in our gut. They are so vital to our health that the microbiome is now being considered as another vital organ that can affect digestion, mood, hormone balance, the immune system and cognitive function. The gut supports a healthy immune response, and in turn helps to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses and maintain a healthy and balanced state of health.
There is strong evidence that suggests an indisputable link between our gut health and mental health. The microbiome and central nervous system interact with each other to help regulate stress, anxiety and memory. It is no coincidence that we often feel 'butterflies' in our stomach when we are nervous or excited and use the phrase 'trust your gut'; this is because scientists are now finding that there is in fact, a direct link between the two organs.
Research has found that one bacteria in particular 'bifidio bacterium longum' dampens down the stress response, which decreases anxiety and can help to improve overall mood. This strain can be found in most probiotic supplements as well as in a variety of food. This suggests that by nurturing our gut microbiome we are in fact also helping to improve our general mood, reduce anxiety and live a happier, healthier day to day life.
One of the key factors in supporting the gut bacteria is diversity- this means eating a wide range of foods and increasing fibre intake.
5 ways to support your gut health
Fermented foods: Increase your intake of fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut. You can do all of these at home, as a starter you may need kefir grains or a kombucha scoby. Plenty of people give them away, so do check in your local community.
Check our other post for our recipe on a homemade kimchi- you can experiment with any ingredients you have in your fridge (I have even included seaweed in one of my krauts- it was incredible!).
Fibre: Eat a fibre rich diet, including as many wholegrains as possible, plenty of fruit and lots of nuts and seeds. Foods especially rich in fibre include lentils, chickpeas, artichokes, broccoli, chia seeds and oats amongst others.
Avoid processed foods: Avoiding foods with lots of chemicals and artificial sweeteners- making recipes from scratch at home is a good way to do this. Try to reduce your refined sugar intake as much as possible. If you do have a sweet tooth, you can substitute with a natural sugar lower on the GI (glycemic index) such as coconut palm sugar or agave syrup.
Get dirty: Scientists are recommending farm visits, getting hands dirty in the soil and playing with animals. Introducing our microbiome to varied forms of bacteria helps to strengthen it which in turn strengthens the immune system. As if we needed another excuse to get in the garden!
Probiotic Supplements: Taking a daily probiotic supplement is a great way to ensure your body is getting as much good bacteria as possible.
Winter wellness tips
It's that time of year when we are most inspired to take a look at our health and habits and create new positive resolutions for the year ahead. Whether you've decided to improve your diet, go organic or finally start that class you've had your eye on, we have 5 suggestions that may help you feel great and beat the winter blues!
Boost your immunity: Avoid catching nasty bugs this winter by helping to keep your immune system strong and healthy. You can do this by supplementing daily with vitamin C, zinc, eating a varied diet filled with leafy green vegetables, and exercising regularly even in the cold! It's also important to make sure you're getting enough sleep, doctors advise a solid 8 hours is the ideal for our bodies and brains to fully function.
Green Tea: The perfect caffeine alternative if you are planning to cut down on coffee this month. It actually has a higher level of caffeine than coffee however our body can process it better than our favourite caffeinated drink. It is also full of antioxidants and rich in polyphenols which help with inflammation as well as a great stimulation for the brain!
Try making your own matcha latte with our premium and ceremonial grade matcha powder:
https://www.detoxtrading.co.uk/matcha-green-tea-powder.htm
To make a matcha latte, just mix one teaspoon of matcha with your favourite milk, heat in a pan then whisk for the full frothy effect. Sweeten with honey or agave syrup.
Vitamin D: The sun is in short supply at this time of year, so its important to give your body a steady supply of vitamin D. You can buy vitamin D tablets, or try adding more mushrooms to your diet which are rich in vitamin D. There is a high level of vitamin D in almond milk.
Take up a new hobby: Stimulate and excite your mind by taking up a new hobby, whether its knitting, rock climbing, or learning a new language this will challenge you and give you something to look forward to.
Ashwagandha: A wonderful adaptogen which can help to fight feelings of anxiety, stress or depression. If you feel like you need a little extra lift to see you through to spring, this popular superfood can give you the support you need.
