The Wanderlust & I: fitness&wellbeing

As you may know if you follow me on Instagram, the lovely people over at Linwoods very kindly sent me a pair of tickets to Be:Fit London 2015 last weekend. After getting into fitness and nutrition over the past few months, my fellow health foodie (Lily) and I jumped at the opportunity to go.

Eager for nutrition tips and fitness motivation, we hopped on the train with our porridge pre-prepared in neon tupperware (why follow the crowd when you can flaunt your breakfast in style?) and made our way to Islington. As soon as we got there, we were handed goodie bags and went to browse the stalls. The venue was packed with health food and activewear brands and, much to our delights, everything was discounted!

Among the brands was Wyldsson. As we went on the last day of Be:Fit (Sunday 3rd), they were offering all of their products for £5. This meant MASSIVE reductions compared with their usual prices, so Lil and I decided to split a box with 10 of their trail mixes between us. My only regret is not buying one of their nut butters - mmm they were so good!

Another of my favourite brands is Pulsin and, to my luck, they also had a stand with discounted products. Having done my research prior to the event, I was keen to try out their pea protein powder. If you're interested in taking supplements, pea protein is an amazing, natural way to up your protein intake without consuming the fat and cholesterol in most whey powders (I'll be posting more on this at a later date!).

My favourite part of the day had to be the yoga class in the Reebok Fitness Studio with Leah Kim, Nike's Global Yoga Ambassador. I love my yoga, but I've never done a class as intense as this or pushed myself to hold poses for long lengths of time before. After an hour and a half, I came out of the class feeling inspired to work on my yoga and to dedicate more time to improving my core and flexibility (two things that will probably come in handy for my Grade 8 ballet in a few weeks!).

So, thank you Linwoods - it was so lovely to meet you and I will definitely be buying some more flaxseed soon! I had the most amazing day gaining insight into the health and fitness industry, meeting like minded people and, of course, trying out lots of new foods. Despite having really sore arms from carrying around bags full of goodies all day, a steward insisted we took another bag on the way out as they had to get rid of them all. I'm now stocked up on health-foods for a veeeryy long time - Bring on Be:Fit London 2016!

The term 'superfood powders' was alien to me a few months ago. Now, I just can't get enough of them. Whilst several people suggest that 'superfoods' are merely a marketing term and don't really pack the nutritional punch they claim to, the products below are foods that I genuinely feel have supercharged my diet and leave me feeling more and more energized throughout the day.

I'm a firm believer that counting nutrients and not calories is the healthiest and most efficient way to maintain a nutritious, balanced diet. This is why superfood powders appeal to me so much. They're nutrient dense, energizing and an amazing way to cram in extra nourishment without a number in sight.

SPIRULINA

Okay, so this is a slightly odd one. First and foremost, Spirulina has amazing colour. This richly pigmented blue/green micro-algae is renowned for its abundance of protein, calcium, chlorophyll and a whole host of minerals and B vitamins too. Admittedly, Spirulina does have a rather acquired taste (it is an algae after all). However, when mixed into smoothies or juices, the algae taste isn't noticeable and you've got yourself one nutrient dense beverage.

why eat spirulina?

65% protein and amino acid content (ideal for vegans as an amazing natural source of protein)
Higher calcium content than milk
Anti-inflammatory
Immune boosting
Great source of iron (an ideal supplement for those with anemia too)

USE sparingly IN:

Juices, smoothies and dips

Flaxseed

Flaxseed, otherwise known as Linseed, is a versatile, nutrient packed seed that you can eat with almost anything. Plus, it doesn't have the same wacky taste that Spirulina does.

why eat flaxseed?

Great source of Omega-3, iron, protein, calcium and magnesium
Incorporating flaxseed into your daily diet can decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels by up to 65%.
Rich in soluble fibre meaning that the body can easily digest it.
High in antioxidants
Blood sugar stabiliser (good for lessening the effects of diabetes)

USE (1 tbsp) IN:

Porridge
Smoothies
Nice-cream
Salads
Baking (add 2 tbsp into cake/biscuit mixture)

Cacao

Cacao is chocolate in its rawest form and is thought to be the most antioxidant-rich food in the world. It's also my all-time favourite superfood AND the perfect excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast. Whilst it tastes similar to its more refined self, cacao is more nutrient dense and has no additional artificial components.

why eat cacao?

Contains over 300 important compounds including magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, protein and healthy fats.
As Cacao is comprised of the chemicals phenylethylamine (PEA) and anandamide (an endorphin), it can act as a mood booster and increase focus and concentration.
Blocks oxidation of LDL cholesterol (essentially improving circulation and minimizing risk of heart disease)
The perfect excuse to eat chocolate all day, every day.

USE (1-2 tbsp) IN:

Porridge
Smoothies
Nice-cream
A more nutritious hot chocolate alternative
Ingredient for wholesome, chocolatey treats
Baking

chia seeds

Chia seeds grow from Salvia Hispanica, a plant that forms part of the Mint family. 'Chia', being the ancient Mayan term for 'strength', explains why these seeds are renowned for the sustainable energy they provide.

why eat chia seeds?

Despite being tiny, these seeds are full of nutrients and are a great, natural way to maintain energy levels.
Rich in protein, fibre and antioxidants
Improve metabolic health
High in Omega-3 and calcium

USE (1 tbsp) IN:

Porridge
Chia pudding
Smoothies
Nice-cream
Baking

This is just a small selection of the multitude of superfood powders out there. I'm so ready to try some more - Maca, Chlorella and Acai powder are next on my list! Are there any superfood powders you'd like to try?