Kimchi Recipe

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!

All About Gut Health

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. 

The benefits of rosehip - stay young, stay active, stay healthy

The health benefits of rosehip are vast and include the ability to reduce symptoms of various conditions, including arthritis, asthma and flu. They can also help you to lower your cholesterol levels, as well as help with diabetes management, the regulation of your digestive system and increase the frequency you urinate. Their ability to boost the immune system, aid your body with the production of stronger bones and improve your circulatory system makes it a well-loved natural remedy in high demand.

Rose hips are the fruit of the rose plants. They bloom after the rosebud falls off, usually in late summer or early autumn.

Rose hips are incredibly popular in a variety of forms, including syrup, oil, powder and capsules. They contain a mixture of various minerals, essential nutrients and organic compounds (such as calcium, magnesium, iron, pectin, lutien and lycopene), giving them a long list of health benefits and the ability to help to relieve a number of different health conditions. The antioxidant components, which include phytochemicals, flavonoids, and carotenoids, also contribute to the health benefits.

So, what are the health benefits?

Prevents numerous health conditions

Rosehip contains carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, all of which are known to act as a powerful antioxidant, with the power to eliminate or neutralise free radicals that are found within the body. These free radicals are the byproducts of cellular metabolism and have the ability to damage healthy cells by causing the mutation into cancerous cells, or simply by just killing the cells entirely. A common variable which is connected to a long list of serious conditions is the lack of antioxidants, or production of free radicals. These conditions can include cancer, heart disease and premature ageing.

Lowers cholesterol

Some of the organic compounds and antioxidants that are found in rosehip can also reduce the cholesterol content in your body, helping to reduce strain on your heart and lowering your overall chances of suffering from a stroke or heart attack.

Immune system

Rosehip has a fairly impressive level of vitamin C, which is one of the best compounds that can be used to help the immune system. Vitamin C is incredibly helpful in the prevention of asthma and is good for the general health of the respiratory system as it stimulates your white blood cells. This lowers the chances of cold or flu viruses.

Diabetes management

Rosehip has been known to regulate the blood sugar level within the body, an incredibly important use for those people suffering from diabetes. Rosehip helps to prevent sudden spikes or plunges in blood sugar levels by keeping the balance of glucose and insulin steady.

Diuretic effects and digestion

Pectin, combined with the various acids present in rosehip, have been known to have a diuretic effect, causing urination as well as assisting with the regularity and consistency and bowel movements while helping to eradicate toxins from the body as well as excess salts, fats and liquids. By stimulating bowel movements, rosehip can help with the prevention of a number of unfortunate and uncomfortable conditions.

Skin care

Everyone wants to have beautiful skin. We want flawless, blemish-free, youthful skin with an even skin tone and a healthy glow. Our quest for vanity is often tackled with an array of different skin products, many include chemicals or synthetic ingredients and some people even turn to fillers that can be injected to tighten and tone the skin. Rosehip is one of the best natural ways to achieve better-looking skin. With an astringent quality, rosehip is able to improve the elasticity of your skin, while helping to maintain a blemish-free appearance.

Bone health

Another great quality of rosehip comes from its vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the production of collagen in the body. Collagen has a number of various parts to play within the human body, but one of its main tasks, when paired with various other important minerals found in the rosehip, is to help maintain the mineral density of bones - helping you to prevent, or even beat, osteoporosis.

How to make kimchi...


If you have not yet been introduced to kimchi then I promise you, and your gut, are going to love it. Hailing from Korea and similar in style to sauerkraut, kimchi is a spicy, tangy, fermented food that is traditionally served as a side dish.

This recipe uses red cabbage as the base, but white cabbage and other vegetables can be used in it's place. And the spicy flavour comes from a whole lot of ginger, chilli and garlic.

Fermented foods like kimchi go through a fermentation process in which the natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the vegetables, converting them in to lactic acid. This process in turn preserves the food but also forms multiple strains of probiotics, as well as B-vitamins and omega 3 fatty-acid.

The probiotics, or 'good' bacteria, formed in the fermentation process have huge benefits for your digestive health when eaten. The bacteria helps with digestion, metabolism and absorption of essential nutrients. Having a healthy gut also contributes to a strong and resilient immune system, helping to keep away acute and chronic disease.

Making your own kimchi is easy, the fermentation process takes a few days and you can play with the recipe to suit your taste. You'll need an airtight container, a glass kilner jar is ideal but a large Tupperware tub would work too.

Ingredients

750g (1 medium size) red cabbage, finely sliced
50g table salt
50g fresh ginger, grated
4 large fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped
8 tbsp filtered water
3 tbsp of chilli flakes
1 tbsp soft brown sugar
1 tsp Himalayan crystal salt
A few grinds of black pepper
Optional - 2 tbsp fish sauce, 4 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 tbsp sambal paste.

Method

Add sliced cabbage to a large mixing bowl and sprinkle over table salt, thoroughly massage the salt in to the cabbage. Let this set for 2 hours to allow the salt to draw out the moisture. After 2 hours rinse salt completely away. Rise the mixing bowl ready for re-use.

Add the ginger, garlic, water, chilli flakes, sugar, salt, black pepper and any of the optional ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix very well until it forms a paste. Add in the cabbage and again mix in thoroughly.

Transfer the mixture in to your jar and pack down, all the cabbage should be submerged in liquid, you may need to add a little extra water to ensure it is submerged. Close the lid (this has to be airtight as you want as little air in the jar as possible) and leave to ferment at room temperature for 3-7 days.

Each day open the jar and press the kimchi mixture back in to the liquid. After 3 days the kimchi is ready to taste, it will be strong and spicy. You can leave it for longer if necessary, for best results leave for the full 7 days but continue to check everyday and it's fine to eat from day 3 or 4 if it's to your taste.

Once ready store in the fridge, it will continue to develop and can last for months.

Enjoy x

6 reasons spirulina is the superfood you need right now 

With its deep forest green colour, spirulina powder is often considered the king of super greens. Its unique colour is down to the fact that spirulina is actually a form of algae. And this amazing superfood is simple to add to your daily routine - all you need to do is stir one heaped teaspoon into a smoothie filled with fresh fruit once a day and you'll start feeling the health benefits. Here are six reasons spirulina is the superfood you need right now:

1. Packed with protein

Gym-going vegans have been drinking spirulina-packed smoothies for years. In fact, spirulina is 64% protein! The fact that there are 57 grams of protein per 100 grams is just mind-blowing. So, if you are looking for a protein uptake without having dairy or meat - look no further.

2. High in chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the stuff that flushes toxins and bad stuff out of your blood. No, this doesn't mean you should continue to eat poorly or drink excessively to balance it out, but it can give you a helping hand.

3. High in iron

If you are on a plant-based diet, finding foods high in iron is a real struggle. Spirulina is packed with iron to help you solve that issue.

4. Packed with nutrients

Spirulina is also packed with the nutrients your body craves for everyday healthy functioning and wellness such as vitamin A, B6, C and D. On top of that, you'll find magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, chromium and selenium.

5. High in antioxidants

High in antioxidants means it's great for a detox and also amazing for your skin.

6. High in calcium

Spirulina is incredibly high in calcium meaning that's good news for your teeth and bones. To all those milk drinkers out there, spirulina actually contains over 26 times the amount of calcium found in moo juice.