The Best Ways to Boost Your Metabolism - enjoy eating and be the right weight!

So I had an heated discussion about how to lose weight easily - with my partner today  (should I say better half- ? :))

My take is that - life is meant to enjoy yourself-doing what your brain enjoys most but using your will to temper the experience!
With me?
Okay then - you can just about relish everything Mother Nature throws your way to appease your taste buds - and then some more.

Here's how:

1. EAT ENOUGH. You need to cut calories to lose weight. ...
2. REV UP IN THE MORNING. Eating breakfast jump-starts metabolism and keeps energy high all day. ...
3. DRINK COFFEE OR TEA. ... 1 - 2 cups a day works wonders!
4. FIGHT FAT WITH FIBER. ...yeah baby - go for those fruits, nuts and greens
5. BUY THE BIG BOTTLE. ...AND fill up with H2O
6. EAT MORE ORGANIC FOOD. ...better for you and even better for the planet!
7. ALWAYS INCLUDE PROTEIN. ...Plant protein is our preference
8. EAT IRON-RICH FOODS.... nuts, seeds, seafood, sea plants... See...:
9. MOST IMPORTANT ....

And remember - remember - LAUGH OUT LOUD - A LOT!

Do this and you will BUILD bones, prevent chronic diseases, improve your eyesight, and even keep your mind sharp. But did you know new evidence suggests these foods can also help you get—and stay—slim?

Is Turmeric Worthy Of Being Our Current Obsession?

Recently, we’ve spotted turmeric teas and golden lattes at artisanal coffee shops from Brooklyn to Seattle. The best thing about this trend? 

Research shows that turmeric, the vibrant root that gives Indian curry and yellow mustard their colors, is one of the world’s most beneficial herbs. 

Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help alleviate pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic conditions. It even shows promise in combating cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Slash your cholesterol, burn stubborn belly fat, solve your insomnia, and more—naturally!—with Rodale's Eat For Extraordinary Health & Healing [3]!)

Though native to Southeast Asia, turmeric is also the most popular herbal supplement in the United States (turmeric can help treat these 9 ailments [4]). But you don’t need to shop the vitamin aisle to reap its benefits. One of the easier ways to use it is to start including it in your everyday diet. 

“In India, where turmeric is one of the primary flavors, there is a very low incidence of gastrointestinal disease and lower reports of cancer,” says Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council. 

You can cook with fresh or ground turmeric, but some brands of turmeric powder have been dinged for high levels of lead and insect parts, so shop consciously. 

Get Your Fix: - Professionally made in USA with small farm grown, certified organic Turmeric from mountain villages, Extra Virgin Coconut Milk from remote islands in the Pacific and our very own farm cultivated Malabar Black Pepper!

In its fresh form, turmeric is an orange underground stem called a rhizome. 

Here are 5 Tasty Ways To Cook With Turmeric [6]. 

To make fresh turmeric tea: Grate ¼ teaspoon into 1 cup boiling water and simmer 10 minutes. While less potent than fresh, powdered turmeric still packs a punch.

 Nutritionist Sarajean Rudman recommends mixing 1 tablespoon turmeric powder with 4 tablespoons honey and 1 pinch black pepper, and taking 1 teaspoon of the mixture up to 5 times a day at the first sign of a cold. You can add it to soups and smoothies or even use it to make a decadent hot chocolate.

Read More here -
http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/print/food/is-turmeric-worthy-of-being-our-current-obsession

A brief inquiry into why we can't seem to get enough of this spice of life.

by Peg Moline

You ARE what YOU eat.....

Add just 1 small scoop of  COTUPEP and you will be sure to BOOST these benefits !

Coconut - The Amazing Fruit Nut from Mother Nature..

Coconut Milk For Health

Due to its rich array of vitamins and minerals, benefits of coconut milk for health are many and they are given below.

1. Strong Bones:

Although coconut milk does not contain as much calcium as regular milk (38 mg per cup), it is a rich source of phosphorus. It provides around (how much) milligrams of phosphorus per cup which contributes to strong bones.

2. Treatment of Arthritis:

Selenium found in coconut milk is an antioxidant, which relieves arthritis symptoms by controlling free radicals and decreasing the risk of joint inflammation.

3. Lowers Cholesterol:

Though coconut milk contains saturated fat, it can actually reduce cholesterol levels in comparison to butter and dairy based creams. This is because of its lauric acid boosts HDL (good) cholesterol. When choosing among saturated fats, coconut milk is preferable as it is easier for the body to break down and metabolize healthy fats such as omega 6 essential fatty acids.

4. Great Source of Magnesium:

Coconut milk is a rich source of magnesium, providing around 89 milligrams per cup. This mineral helps to calm the nerves and maintain normal blood pressure as well as prevent nerve cells from becoming overactive by virtue being stimulated by calcium. It results in the reduction of muscle contraction, thus making you feel more relaxed.

5. Aids in Weight Loss:

Coconut milk is often considered as a fattening agent due to its saturated fats. But it is also rich in fiber, which makes you feel full for a longer time and if taken in moderation, can help to control weight.

6. Stronger Immune System:

Coconut milk contains lauric acid, antimicrobial lipids and capric acid which possess antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. This lauric acid on entering the human body gets converted into a compound called monolaurin which is believed to fight the viruses and bacteria that cause herpes, influenza and even HIV.

EASTER - English recipe Roasted Veggie quiche for wholesomeness!

Filled with colorful chunky vegetables and large enough to serve a crowd, this would make a decorative addition to an Easter feast. Roasting the vegetables, and including Gruyère with its distinctive flavor, ensures that it is very moreish too.

Ingredients

For the pastry

• 225g/8oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 175g/6oz cold butter, cubed
• 1 free-range egg, beaten

For the filling

• 2 onions, quartered, then halve each quarter lenghtways
• 200g/7oz baby courgettes (zuchini), halved length ways
• 260g/9½oz spinach
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• 300ml/10fl oz double cream
• 4 free-range eggs
• 180g/6½oz gruyère cheese (or vegetarian alternative), grated
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Put the flour and butter in a food processor and pulse until they take on the texture of bread crumbs. (Or place in a mixing bowl and rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips). Add the egg and 1 tablespoon cold water and pulse until combined and a dough forms (or mix by hand).
2. Roll the dough on a lightly floured, cold work surface into a circle large enough to line the tart tin and roughly 3mm thick, leaving a generous edge to allow for shrinking in the oven. Lay the pastry in the tin and push it gently into the corners where the base meets the sides. Prick the base and sides of the pastry with a fork and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
4. Line the chilled pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and paper and put the pastry case back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
5. Increase the oven temperature to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
6. Put the onions and courgettes in a large sandwich bag, drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper and shake the bag to coat. Tip onto a large baking tray. Roast for 30–40 minutes, turning the vegetables over halfway through cooking, until tender and golden-brown. Remove from the oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C/Gas 4.
7. Meanwhile, bring a small amount of water to the boil in a wide lidded pan. Once boiling add the spinach, clamp down the lid and turn off the heat. After 5 minutes, drain the spinach and leave to cool. Gather the spinach into a ball and using a clean tea towel squeeze as much water out as possible. Once the spinach is as dry as you can get place it on a chopping board and roughly chop. Whisk together the cream, eggs and half the cheese and season well with salt and pepper.
8. Once the vegetables are roasted you are ready to assemble the quiche. Sprinkle the remaining cheese onto the base of the pastry case. Pile in the vegetables, spreading them out so that they are evenly distributed, and pour over the cream mixture.
9. Bake the quiche for 25–35 minutes or until the filling is set and golden-brown on top. Take out of the oven and leave to cool slightly before removing from the tin and transferring to a serving plate. Serve warm.

Recipe courtesy

By Mary Berry

From Mary Berry's Easter Feast

12 HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC

• Antioxidant: Curcumin has the ability to quench free radicals that can cause mutation in our DNA.
• Cancer Preventative: The cancer-causing effects of cigarette smoke, barbequing, and smoke of any kind are suppressed by curcumin.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory powers are as effective as many anti-inflammatory drugs, including effective as phenylbutazone and cortisone without the side effects.
• Liver Protective: Curcumin has been shown to have a protective effect on the liver and is incredibly effective at increasing bile release, which helps with fat digestion.
• Wound Healing: Natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties to keep the infection away from cuts and burns.
• Super Brain Function: Curcumin greatly reduces the rate of mental decline. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
• Kills the Bad Guys: Curcumin has anti-microbial properties that fight the nasty guys such as Clostridium, Streptococcus, Entamoeba histolytica, and several pathogenic fungi.
• Natural Pain Killer: Helps reduce sensations of chronic pain. Yay more of this!
• Promote Weightloss: Helps manage weight, and aid in fat metabolism.
• Reduce Depression:  A staple in Chinese medicine for helping lift mood in cases of depression.
• Boost Effectiveness of Cancer Drugs: Studies have shown that turmeric can boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
• Skin Healing: Can help internally and topically with psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.