Restaurant review: Lu-Ma Cafe

I am constantly searching for healthy, different and yummy restaurants in London. A few months ago I decided to cut any processed sugars and processed foods from my diet. I have been changing my food habits for more than a 2 years now and it has been a very interesting and fun process.

During this personal search to become healthier and more conscious of what I eat and where things come from, I started to discover plenty of alternatives to substitute many of the foods I used to like and crave. Once you understand what it really means to be healthy, then it all becomes easier and you don’t struggle to find satisfying and healthy foods that make you happy.

When we moved to London I wanted a good and fun macrobiotic restaurant that had nice food, cool ambience and mouth watering desserts. It took me more than a year to find it, but a few weeks a go I went to Lu-Ma Cafe and it did not disappoint. 

Lu-Ma is located in Wimbledon, hidden in one of its streets. Its a small, cozy place that has fresh food, all kinds of beverages, a small and very thought out menu and most important of all: amazing desserts! Their chef Angela Agrati Prange is a macrobiotic expert, and has crafted the whole menu so that it is as healthy and appetising as possible. 

Entrance to restaurant

A birthday party was about to take place!

I went to Lu-Ma with my husband, which I must say has really been an ally during this process. He has been my partner when it comes to experimenting with food, ways of eating and he has gone to every different restaurant I have set my eye on. That night we decided to order everything from the menu, there were 2 options for every course. This are a few of the photos I managed to take before devouring the whole menu! The textures and flavours were great, and the flaxseed crackers were perfectly crunchy.

Luma Cafe’s menu changes constantly

Marinated raw zucchini with cashew cheese

Beetroot carpaccio

Stuffed red pepper

Then we moved over to desserts, definitely my favourite part of the evening! I love desserts, but I am very picky on what I have for sweet treats. I avoid processed sugars and processed foods so this was a perfect place for me to indulge.  Of course, we tried both desserts, and since I LOVE chocolate, my preferred one without a doubt was the Chocolate and Hazelnut cheesecake. The texture was creamy and the taste yum! I still dream of it!!

“Snickers” bar and tahini brownie

Counter goodies!

Chocolate and hazelnut cheesecake

 

After we finished the whole meal, we decided to take some sweet treats home for the following day. But I must admit that I ate most of it that same night… We took the tahini brownie and the “snickers” bar, and wow! They were just spot on. I really want to come back just to taste the rest of the desserts. They have quite a few to try and they all look incredible.

So, if you want to experience something different, or if you are macrobiotic or vegan, do visit Lu-Ma Cafe. I definitely recommend it. And make sure to have some space for dessert!! This is the best part of the whole evening!!

NOTE: If you want to know more about macrobiotic food, I wrote a post a few weeks back. Even though I am not macrobiotic, I have adapted a few of their ideals into my life and has really helped with my overall well being.

Featured image courtesy of Tessa Rios @healthy.living.tess

Macrobiotic food promotes a healthy lifestyle

According to the International Macrobiotic Conference held in 2017, the term macrobiotic comes from the ancient greek: Macro meaning large or long and Bios life or way of living. It is a way of life that guides one’s choices in nutrition, activity and lifestyle. It is also a system of principles and practices of harmony to benefit the body, mind, and planet. 

A macrobiotic diet promotes a healthy lifestyle that is mainly made up of whole foods: vegetables, grains, sea vegetables and fermented foods. It discourages the intake of simple carbohydrates, processed sugars and fast food.

• Fresh vegetables are highly recommended as part of the macrobiotic diet because they contribute with fiber, macronutrients, micronutrients and vitamins.
• Nightshades such as aubergine, tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes are discouraged because they contain alkaloids which are waste products of plants’ metabolic processes. This type of compound has been associated with inflammation in the body. They tend to have antinutrients which reduce the absorption of nutrients in the body. Cooking may reduce the toxins in these vegetables and help the body to assimilate them better.
• Whole cereal grains are a staple because they are high in protein, fibre and nutrients. Cereals such as buckwheat, millet, barley, oats and brown rice are used for breakfast, lunch and dinner and can be used in many ways and adapted to tons of recipes. Variety will not be a problem.
• Beans are one of the protein sources vegans mostly rely on. Adzuki beans, lentils and chickpeas are the widely used and recommended. Remember, to decrease anti-nutrients, increase bioavailability and boost its nutrient content they must always be soaked in water for at least a few hours. 
• Fermented foods such as tempeh, natto, sauerkraut and kimchi are a great addition to this diet because they provide probiotics that improve gut health and boost the immune system.
• Sea vegetables such as nori, wakame, dulse and hijiki are used to increase the mineral and vitamin content in the diet. Furthermore, seaweed usually contains Vitmain B12, which is usually low in a vegan diet. Make an effort to eat organic seaweed, since the sea is now widely contaminated with heavy metals. It is a smart choice to try to get the best and cleanest sources available.

In all, the macrobiotic lifestyle promotes a healthy and balanced diet that may help to avoid disease, promote healthy habits and improve overall health.

And remember, to be healthy you don’t need to become macrobiotic, paleo or vegan. You just need to have healthy habits, decrease the intake of processed foods and be more mindful of what you eat. Take what you like from each type of healthy diet and apply it to your life. Make it work for you, adapt it to your lifestyle and enjoy it!

What’s for lunch today?

What’s for lunch today? That’s an everyday question that, wether we want to or not, we have to answer. That is why I am always looking for fun and easy ways to satisfy my hunger and my cravings. I want to be honest and just say: I am alway hungry and I eat a lot!

This week the sun has been shining, the temperatures have begun to rise and springtime is definitely starting to show itself completely. That is why I have been eating more salads, raw vegetables, sprouts and in general lighter food. I’m not that into hot and heavy foods as I was a month ago when it was rainy, gloomy and cold. 

Keeping this in mind, today I spent all morning thinking what I wanted for lunch while I was working (Food is a priority!). Before leaving home I steamed some vegetables and left them to cool down, I just thought the inspiration for lunch would come later. When I came back home for lunchtime, I just gathered a few things I had in the fridge and made an awesome, healthy and filling salad! I made it creamy, chewy and so satisfying.

Recipe:

Ingredients: Fermented tofu, mixed leaves, natural flavour nush yogurt, “seaweed pesto”, steamed vegetables of your choice, sprouted mungo beans & broccoli and biona coconut nectar.

Steamed vegetables, fermented tofu and push yogurt.

Homemade sprouts: Mungo beans and broccoli.

1. Steam the vegetables. I use a bamboo steamer which makes everything easy and fast. On this occasion I cooked brussel sprouts, aparragus and mange tout beans. But I generally use what I have at hand, so be creative! I did this before hand, so the vegetables are at room temperature for when I am ready to make the salad.
2. Take the nush yogurt (Or any kind of unsweetened yogurt: greek yogurt, coconut yogurt…) and mix it with 1 spoonful of seaweed pesto. To give it more flavour I added 2 teaspoons of biona coconut nectar, but you can use any sweetener you want and have at hand.
3. Add 1 cup of mixed leaves, 1 cup of sprouted mungo beans and 1 cup of sprouted broccoli. You can also add the fermented tofu, I usually use half a block for myself. You must know by now that I do have a large appetite! 
4. Toss everything together and you have a nourishing meal filled with protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. 
5. To give it even more flavour, I used my seaweed gomasio. It really is very tasty. 🙂

Dieting after easter?

Are you still stuck in Easter mode? Is that box of chocolate eggs still hanging around waiting for you to eat it?

After a major holiday such as easter we tend to overeat and getting back on track can be quite a challenge. Most of us want to do some dieting after easter, but going into a strict and depriving diet is not necessary (or healthy!). We just need to eat healthier foods and be mindful of how our body feels.

Why is it so difficult to just go back to eating healthy foods?

1. ‘I’ll start eating healthier tomorrow’: This is a typical one that we say to ourselves on monday. The week passes by and we are still eating a lot of processed foods that are not helping to clean our bodies and get healthier. Then the weekend arrives and, yup its the weekend… So nothing to be done until next Monday!
2. Shame eating: “I feel bad about all the food I ate, so I might as well punish myself and keep on eating.” Who hasn’t gone through this one? You remember all the cakes, pastries and chocolates you ate during the bank holiday and feel absolutely mortified. And because you feel mortified, you just keep on eating. First of all, stop beating yourself up and just enjoy the fact that you spent time with your family, had a good rest and enjoyed your mum’s cooking. Now it’s time to reset and feed your body some healthy food.
3. No time: “I don’t have time to shop and cook, so i’ll just order some fast food.” Getting home from a trip can be tiring and does not allow us to prepare for the upcoming week. This all means we might still be eating unhealthy foods that takes us further away from our health goals. A great way to avoid this is to freeze a few vegetables such as cauliflower, peas and broccoli before going on holidays. When you come home just cook them up and make a thick and delicious soup. This can help you out while you organise yourself again, do some shopping and get the cooking going.

Furthermore, after a long weekend of eating unhealthy foods, your body might not be feeling as strong as usual.

1. I crave for sweet foods: Since you have been eating more sweets than usual,\ there is a possibility that your blood sugar levels are out of balance. This means that you feel tired, moody and hungry more often. To balance your blood sugar you must eat healthy fats, good sources of protein and fibre containing foods.
2. I feel tired right after eating: Eating a meal that is filled with simple carbohydrates might leave you feeling hungry and tired. What happens is that your blood sugar levels spike up and then they come down very dramatically. This will drain your energy and make you feel hungry faster. Eating more complex carbohydrates, fibre and healthy fats will help to avoid your sugar levels to plummet and take all that energy away.
3. My stomach is feeling weak and my digestion is off: After eating heavily processed foods, our bodies lose lots of the microorganisms that help our immune and digestive system to work well. Add a few probiotic foods that will help replenish your body of this so needed helpful bacteria.

Get yourself organised and get back on track. Your body needs to be in balance in order for you to function properly, have energy and become healthier. Eat more home cooked meals, include more whole foods and be aware of the food you are eating when you are away from home.

This chart is an easy way to understand the difference between complex carbohydrates (good carbs) and simple carbohydrates (bad carbs). They are partly responsible of helping with your blood sugar levels, weight loss and good digestion.

What are carbohydrates?

What is the GI in food and how does it affect us?

Is Tofu bad for you?

Is tofu bad for you? Should I be having soy? I have been asked this questions lots of times  and my answer is always: It depends.

The first question I would like to answer is ‘What is Tofu?’ Tofu is made from soy;  it is made with condensed soy milk that is pressed into solid white blocks. It originates from China and the process is very similar to how cheese is made. The way in which it remains pressed is because a mineral rich coagulant called nigari (what remains when salt is extracted from seawater) is used to help solidify tofu and keep its form.

Tofu is a great way to get enough protein in a meal if you are a vegetarian, vegan or just want to reduce your animal protein intake. The key is to know that too much soy can have a negative impact on your body.

My favourite choices of soy derived products: Tempeh, tofu, smoked tofu and fermented tofu. 

Reasons to reduce your soy intake:

1.Hormonal disruption: Although soy does have certain health benefits such as lowering cholesterol levels and protecting against some types of cancer, we must be aware that it can disrupt hormonal levels, especially in women. Since soy contains phytoestrogens (compounds that mimic human oestrogen) in high levels it can lead to certain cancers and be detrimental to women’s reproductive health. 

What can I do: Reduce your soy milk and tofu intake to twice a week. Make an effort to look for different sources of protein, which in return will give you a change to get more nutrients and minerals from the diversity of foods you will be having.

2. Thyroid disruption: Soy contains goitrogenic compounds(thyroid hormone blockers) and can interfere with the production of the thyroid hormone. This can be specially dangerous on children because it can cause hypothyroidism.

What can I do: Avoid giving children soy derived products. Instead, use home made almond milk or use a very good brand that does not have any strange additives. I really like Rude Health, it is straightforward and no nonsense ingredients. You could also give children brown rice milk, coconut milk, goats milk and on occasions cow’s milk.

3. Anti nutrients: Soy contains many anti nutrients such as phytates, lectins and oxalates. What happens is that these compounds stop the body from absorbing important minerals and vitamins from food.

What can I do: Eat the fermented versions of soy. Fermented foods are really good for your gut health, your immune system and they reduce dramatically the anti nutrients in soy. There are many options and the most common are tempeh, fermented tofu, soy sauce and stinky tofu. There is also natto, tamari sauce and miso. 

4. GMO: Much of the soy consumed nowadays is genetically modified. This is a subject that has sparked much debate, and there is so much information (it gets very confusing!) that either supports it or completely rejects it. Some studies have linked GMO’s to many health problems because it supposedly kills good bacteria in your gut and can damage your digestive system.

What can I do: If you prefer to avoid soy, look for foods that are labeled with the Non GMO Project seal. The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers and providing verified non-GMO choices.

Although soy does sometimes get very bad marketing, it is a very good and easy way to get your protein. You just have to be mindful on not relying on it as one of your main sources of protein. There are many vegan and vegetarian protein sources that can help you to get your daily macronutrients such as: Tempeh, beans, quinoa, broccoli, green peas, seitan and many more. 

 

Recipe

I sometimes like to make scrambled tofu for breakfast. It is so easy to make and does really look like eggs once you put it some spices to give it colour.

1. Warm a skillet and add the oil or butter of choice.
2. Put in some diced onion and let it cook until it is translucent and soft.
3. Put in some more vegetables of your choice. I usually use tomatoes and courgettes. Let them cook for two minutes.
4. Take your tofu, ill usually use half the pack for 1 serving, and crumble it with your hands. Place it on the skillet with your vegetables.
5. Add spices: Cumin, paprika and turmeric give it great flavour. I’ll usually add my Seaweed Gomasio, which is made out of sesame seeds, wakame seaweed and salt. 
6. Serve it on a plate and add a piece of sourdough or rye bread if you have a big appetite.

How do I reduce sodium intake?

Did you know that processed and canned foods can have 12 to 15 grams of sodium on a single serving? To stay healthy we only need 3 to 5 grams of sodium a day, this means that we are taking in at least 12 times more sodium than we actually need daily!

Packaged food, pre-prepared meals, snacks and fast food all have lots of added salt in order to preserve it or give it more flavour. We are constantly bombarded with excess sodium everywhere we look at. This in return is causing severe health problems that can be easily avoidable if we are just a little more aware of what we buy and eat every day.

Some of the effects of excess sodium include:

• High blood pressure: Salt makes you retain water, forcing your whole body to work harder to get rid of any excess salt and try to balance itself again. As a consequence excess water raises your blood pressure and makes your kidneys, arteries, heart and brain work a lot harder than usual. 
• Kidney stones: A high sodium diet can increase the amount of calcium in your urine. This is what creates the dreaded kidney stones.
• Increased water retention: When you have a diet that is high in sodium your body will try to compensate the excess by holding on to water. Consuming 400 milligrams of sodium, the amount in a single gram of table salt, causes your body to retain an extra 4 cups of water, which equals roughly 2 pounds. Drinking more water flushes out the extra sodium, returning water levels to normal.

What can I do?

• Buy frozen vegetables: If you don’t have time to buy and make fresh vegetables, get frozen vegetables. They are usually just blanched and immediately frozen without any added ingredients.
• Choose wisely: Reduce the amount of fast food you eat weekly and go for healthier alternatives. There are many restaurants that offer healthier choices that will help you keep the sodium intake low.
• Plan your meals: Cook at home and take your tupperware to your workplace. This way you can eat healthier and save money! Make a big batch of grains on Sunday and add fresh vegetables everyday to change the taste and the menu.
• Water intake: Drink plenty of water to help your body flush out any excess sodium.
• Include foods with potassium: Foods such as beans, fish and spinach are great sources of potassium, which can help you get rid of any excess water. 

As a recap, this is a great chart from the American Heart Association that explains how excess sodium can disrupt your health: 

Effects of Excess Sodium Infographic from the American Heart Association

Post Photo by Megan Hodges on Unsplash

How do I detoxify my body?

It is very likely that your body is loaded with toxins. Your kidney may be overworking, your skin is breaking out and your digestive system is not being as efficient as it should be.

We are constantly exposed to chemicals through the food we eat, the oxygen we inhale, the beauty products we use, the medicine we take, and much more. The food we eat is usually filled with chemicals, has added sugar and contains nasty ingredients. These are all things that are leading us away from our health goals. Furthermore, the stress we endure daily is a magnet for toxic materials to get stored and accumulated in our organs.

For this reason it is very important to help the body release all the bioaccumulation of toxins that are harming us and slowing down our path to become healthier, stronger and fitter.

The body is very smart on how it eliminates all the toxic material that is absorbed by food, body products and the environment. It uses different pathways such as the lungs, kidneys, skin, mammary glands and mouth. But, in order for the body to make the process efficient it needs our constant help. If we don’t take some measures, the toxic waste may get stored in the our adipose tissue (our body fat), brain, hair, nails and even the bones.

So,  how do I detoxify my body? There are a few things you can start doing to prevent a toxic excess in your body and to begin to detoxify yourself:

1. Deep breathing exercises: Stress can impact the digestive system and all the organs that assist with digestion such as the liver, gall bladder and pancreas. Making a habit out of deep breathing may help to detox the organs and clean our lungs for a better overall performance.
2. Get a good night sleep: The term “sleep hygiene” refers to a series of healthy sleep habits that can improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.  It is also essential to get the rest you need for your body to function properly. Therefore, creating a dark, silent and calm atmosphere is important during nighttime to release the hormone melatonin needed to promote sleep. During sleep some of your organs, especially the liver will keep active to get rid of excess toxins retained by the body.
3. Exercise frequently: Exercise will help to decrease toxic waste because it will reduce stress and encourage deep breathing. Cardiovascular exercises (hiit, rebounding, running, swimming, dancing…) and activities such as yoga and pilates,  will help the body release toxins through breathing, stretching and sweat.
4. Beauty products: Creams, makeup, shampoo, among others, are products we use daily and can really have a negative impact on our bodies. It is always better to choose products that are organic and that do not have so many chemicals that will be absorbed by our skin and stored in our bodies.
5. Household products: The cleaning products we use at home are usually filled with very toxic substances.  Since we are always exposed to these chemicals, a smart way to avoid them would be to to buy organic products that are kind to you and the environment. Also there are products that you can make at home.  For example, mixing vinegar with baking soda can help to disinfect and take away nasty debris. Making this kind of changes will help to save you money and improve your health at the same time.
6. Eat foods that reduce toxic load: There are lots of foods that help you to eliminate waste such as cruciferous vegetables, apples, onion, grapes, blueberries and green tea. There are lots of other foods that help you to eliminate waste, you just have to be a bit creative and challenge yourself to start introducing new foods to fuel your body.

Remember, our bodies are more efficient when we nourish it with good food, exercise ad proper sleep. Make a few changes and you will surely see changes in your energy level, appearance, fitness levels and endurance.

RECIPE: Radish, carrot and lemon salad:

Radish, lemon and carrot are all detoxifying foods. Radish helps to detox the liver, lemon aids digestion and carrot is a great source of antioxidant.

Ingredients: Radishes, carrots, lemon and salt. (The amount of vegetables used will depend on how much you want to make):

1. Cut the radishes very thinly. A vegetable slicer is ideal to use without wasting any food and getting even pieces.
2. Shred the carrots with a grater.
3. Juice the lemon, or lemons. That depends on the amount of radishes and carrots that you will be using.
4. Mix the radishes and carrots with the lemon juice and add a pinch of salt.
5. Press the mix tightly, cover and leave in the fridge at least 1 hour. Then it will be ready to serve and enjoy.

How to keep in shape (kind of) during Christmas time

Christmas has arrived with it’s joy, gifts, invitations, dinner and food! During December we usually go out with friends, colleagues or family for a few drinks or dinner to celebrate and have a fun time. Most of us have been waiting anxiously for this jolly time, but im sure most of you are thinking: “How am I going to keep in shape with all these binging??”

To mantain a healthy weight during christmas there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Don’t eat simple carbohydrates with an empty stomach: Bread, pastry, alcohol, cakes are all simple carbohydrates. This kind of foods usually contain very little fiber, making our blood sugar levels raise, turning all we eat into fat. A way to avoid a surge on our sugar levels is to eat some protein before having these kinds of foods. By following this advice your blood sugar levels will keep a little more steady and help your body out during Christmas.
2. Eat foods with a Low Glycemic Load: The glycemic index is basically just a way to know how a particular food raises blood sugar level. Fruits such as berries, nuts, seeds and yogurt are all low GL foods that might help you during the holidays.
3. Have a cheat meal only once a day: Just because it’s Christmas it does not mean you have to over indulge all day. Try to eat two balanced meals made up of one quarter proteins, one quarter complex carbohydrates and one half vegetables. Save yourself for that indulgent meal that you will be enjoying with your friends and family.
4. Drink apple cider vinegar in the mornings: 20 minutes before having your breakfast take 1 spoonful of apple cider vinegar diluted in 1/2 a cup of warm water. Taking this as a habit may help you aid with digestion, control blood sugar levels, make you feel full for longer and improve your gut bacteria.
5. Add foods that help stabilise your blood sugar levels: Elevated blood sugar levels can have an impact on your weight and your health, this is why it is important to keep in under control. There are certain foods such as spices (cinnamon), healthy fats (avocado, nuts, seeds), protein (tempeh, poultry, nuts) and high fiber foods (grains, seeds, green vegetables) that should be included in your meals in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

Enjoy your holidays, your family, friends and take a good rest. But do remember to take care of yourself, and most of all, relish every single thing you do and eat!

Organic VS Non organic

The term organic has become more popular by the day. People are now  wondering if there is a difference between organic and non organic food and what the health benefits may be.

The first thing I want to share with you is that even though a product may be organic, it does not mean it is the healthiest you can buy. Eating organic does not mean you can eat a certain food without any restriction. Depending on your health and fitness goals, each type of food may have a positive or negative impact on your journey. Furthermore,  many packaged foods that come from organic ingredients may be filled with sugar, high salt and fat. Just so you know, the term organic refers to how the vegetables, fruits and meat are produced. “Organic produce and meats do not use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds, or prevent disease among livestock. For example, conventional farmers apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth; organic farmers apply natural fertilizers to feed soil and plants, such as manure or compost.” 

Having gotten that confusion out of the way, I want to explain why organic produce can be better than non organic on your health and on the preservation of the environment.

1. Organic farming is designed to improve soil and water quality, reduce pollution and promote self-sustaining cycle resources on a farm. 
2. What do the terms Organic and Grass Fed mean when referring to meat, eggs and poultry? When a meat product is organic, animals cannot be confined for an extended period of time, be overcrowded or kept in unsanitary conditions. Additionally, animals cannot be directly or indirectly exposed to artificial pesticides, fertilisers, antibiotics, hormones, GMO’s or other contaminants. When a product is grass fed, it means animals were allowed to forage and graze for their own fresh food.
3. Growing non organic foods usually means that the soil becomes depleted of a lot of nutrients and minerals because of the heavy use of fertilisers, pesticides and other commercial contaminants. This is why when we eat non organic food we may not be receiving all the nutritional benefits we should from our food.
4. Pesticides and antibiotics from non organic produce and meat may impact our health negatively if our bodies cannot manage to get rid of all the substances that they fill up our body with. Toxins are eliminated through the liver, kidneys, lymph, lung and skin. The more the body receives, the harder it will be it to get rid of all the excess waste. In the long run this may cause hormonal imbalances because the endocrine system has to secrete hormones to stimulate detoxification. Overtime,  glands may become inefficient and alter our natural balance.

In all, it is a healthier choice to eat as much organic produce as you can, but let’s face it, not everybody can afford to buy all organic ingredients. This is why every year a report called The Dirty Dozen is shared to make people aware of which are the fruits and vegetables that are the most and the least contaminated by chemicals. If you cannot buy much organic produce, this is a great way to avoid heavy contaminated foods, and instead go with those that are cleaner and safer to eat.

TIP: To wash your fruits and vegetables, leave them soaking in water mixed with a part of vinegar for 15-20 minutes and then wash. This will partly eliminate all the toxins contained in the produce and allow you to have cleaner food.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

What can happen if we abuse the use of antibiotics?

Antibiotics are fundamental to maintain certain infections under control and to avoid serious illnesses in humans and animals. Before the 1920’s people would die from diseases that nowadays can be controlled and prevented by the use of antibiotics. 

The word antibiotic means “against life’, which means that it will kill any germs that are attacking the body by causing infections. This is done by killing the bacteria or by restraining it from further reproducing in the body.

These all sounds marvellous, the problem is that nowadays there is an existent abuse of antibiotics that has created new problems for people and animals that has not yet been controlled.

For example, the animals we eat are given lots of antibiotics because they are maintained in conditions that are optimal for disease to rapidly spread. Those same animals then go into the food chain and end up in our plates. This translates into the fact that we are eating these antibiotic filled meat (fish, poultry, pork…) and it all adds up to the amount of antibiotics that we are already taking in our daily lives. Fast food companies actually have a very high amount of antibiotics in their food, which is something to be very alarmed about.  If you are eating meat, it is important to buy it from good sources that are certified to be grass fed and the animals are raised and treated in a humanitarian way.

Why am I telling you all this? Abusing antibiotic consumption can be harmful and can create future problems including:

1. Your micro biome becomes weak: Since we are babies, our body is in the constant search of microbes to populate the gut to help us strengthen our immune system, improve our digestive system and even help us with our hormonal system. Our micro biome is made up of an assemblage of microbes that compete and cooperate with each other to create that healthy gut bacteria that we desperately need to keep healthy. When it is destroyed we are more prone to disease and digestive issues.

2. Overuse of antibiotics can create resistance to some strains of bacteria: When we take too many antibiotics our bodies might not respond to treatment as efficiently when we really need to be cured from a serious infection. This happens because our bodies become resistant to some strains of bugs because they have already adapted to the antibiotics our bodies receive constantly. This is why abusing antibiotics on a daily basis, and eating food filled with antibiotics can be very harmful.

3. Antibiotics have been linked to weight gain: Taking too much antibiotics has been linked to weight gain and obesity in animals and humans. This does not mean should never take antibiotics. This means that you should only take antibiotics when you need them to combat an infection. Furthermore, having animal produce that has been raised with fewer or none antibiotics can be a great way to avoid this from happening. In all, antibiotics are not to be taken lightly.

There are many ways in which you can help your body to become healthier and stronger so you can avoid serious infections. For example, fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt and kefir help to strengthen the bacteria in the gut, thus boosting your immune system. Furthermore, including a regular workout will also help you to become stronger and feel more energised to combat any possible diseases that might come your way.

Note: This article does not intend for people to not use antibiotics. Its purpose is to inform about the overuse of antibiotics, and the fact that they should only be taken when necessary.