CHRIS JAMES BRILLIANT BIOTIC & GORGEOUS GREENS SUPPLEMENTS

Hi all and welcome to this post which is all about good gut health. Not the usual type of post from me I admit, but I am very interested in finding ways to improve my digestion and gut health as I have been an IBS sufferer all my life.

I met Chris James who is a well respected and sought after teacher of yoga and meditation as well as nutrition and health enthusiast at THE ANTI-AGEING HEALTH & BEAUTY SHOW back in May. Chris is a fantastically glowing person both in personality and appearance. He just oozes health from his very core so I knew this was someone I wanted to know better as he obviously knows his stuff. Chris informed be about lots of his quality ingredient products as well as the 12 Day Cleanse program. I was given the opportunity to try out 2 of Chris' vegan food supplements from his range which I took continuously for 30 days.

BRILLIANT BIOTIC

With premium ingredients for the bowel to optimise gut health and support digestive function. Enhancing nutrition absorption as well as immune function. Beauty that begins in the gut.

GORGEOUS GREENS

Gorgeous greens is a unique blend of chlorophyll rich green foods which can help strengthen the immune system, restore PH balance and and help with bowel regularity. Gorgeous Greens also helps defuse free radicals and support skin to fight ageing. Maintaining a balance of acidity versus alkalinity for the mind and body to function optimally.

Both supplements are free from wheat, yeast, starch, gluten, lactose, soy, added colourings, sweeteners and preservatives. Suitable for vegetarians.

I took one of each capsule a day after breakfast and one of each after dinner for 30 days. 

So I am going to be honest and say that I ate very healthily for the about the first two weeks and then not as healthy, but not all bad for the two weeks after. I was on holiday leave, had some celebrations to enjoy and got really busy. I know making time to be healthy or healthier is your own responsibility so no excuses here, but it was quite interesting to see how the supplements worked when eating and drinking healthy and nutritious foods versus the naughty and devilish.

On day 2 coincidence I think as I had no other days like this I was awoken at about 5am with a stirring in my tummy. A quick panicked leap from my bed led to lets just say an emptied bowel. Sorry if this is TMI, but this post is about bowel health, regularity and digestive function. I felt pretty unwell for about a day with a couple more rushed loo trips and an awful feeling in my tummy. I hadn't eaten anything unhealthy or different in the days prior so I can't blame my diet, but I don't feel I can blame these products either as in a day I was back to normal with no other days like this within the 30 days.

I would say that these supplements did help with normal regularity of my bowel function. I would go every day which can sometimes be unusual for me. I can go anything from not going for a week to 7 times a day while eating and drinking in the same way. There are certain foods that will bind me up such as bread, pasta and rice so I know when I have had too much. During my naughty eating phase I was perhaps just a little less frequent in bowel movement with extra bloating and trapped wind, but it was still better than I usually am without the supplements.

I think these supplements are a great addition to a healthy style of living. Most of us won't stick to purity (myself included) 24/7 when it comes to food and drink, but I think knowing your own body is a big part of knowing what you need and what your limits are. I know that I can't scoff pizza, bread and other such foods every day like my friends and family, but sometimes I let the little devil on my shoulder convince me. 

I have previously tried an elimination diet where I cut out all yeast, wheat, sugar and dairy. I gradually introduced certain foods back into my diet to see how my body liked them. I would say I felt healthier from this type of diet, but I still suffered with IBS symptoms daily. I am by no means as pure and saintly as this now, but I do my best to eat healthily at lunch and breakfast and cook meals from scratch most of the time.

I am glad that I got the opportunity to try out these products as better bowel function was definitely achieved!

Let me know your tips and tricks for better bowel health and digestive function in the comments below. Especially if you desire a better lifestyle free from IBS woes.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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IDEAL HEALTH SLIMATEE & DIGESTEE

Hi there gorgeous people. I have reviews for you today of two teas from Ideal Health at Holland & Barrett.

IDEAL HEALTH DIGESTEE

I tried this tea a couple of weeks ago in the hope that it would aid my digestion. This tea claims to help stimulate the metabolism and digestion of fats. You can take it at any time of day or after a heavy meal. I love trying out different types of tea, especially herbal. Unfortunately I could not even finish half a cup of this. It just tasted fowl. I think it was mainly the liquorice root with perhaps a bit of the ginger that just made it too unbearable for me. Coincidence maybe or not I didn't feel great later that day and into the next. My stomach was not in a good way with cramps, bloating and a general sluggish feeling. I won't buy these again.

IDEAL HEALTH SLIMATEE

First and foremost this tea should not be taken if you are pregnant, under 16 or suffering intestinal problems. One cup should be taken at night for up to 2 weeks in any 2 month period. I guess like other similar teas around at the moment this is a type of detox to clear your system of excess waste etc. This tea did taste nice. Not a distinct flavour for me, but I did drink a whole cup :) Afterwards I did panic a little expecting to be woken in the night with terrible cramps hoping I would make it in time for the loo. I made sure I had nowhere to be the next day when testing this for the first time. Although a bit nervous at the thought of what might occur the next day I was a little disappointed. Let's just say there was no drama and I would have been fine for a day trip out. I am not sure if because you can take it for 2 weeks at a time that perhaps I should have tried the whole 2 weeks, but with work and having to be here and there I didn't want to chance it. If you have tried this product or something similar perhaps you could advise me on this so I know if it is worth trying again.

At the moment Holland & Barrett have an offer of buy 1 get 1 half price mix and match if you are interested in trying these teas or others such as PURITEE & LAKSETEE both of which I have not tried.

I would also say that for any of you ladies taking the contraceptive pill please be careful when taking these products or something similar as if you do have diarrhoea this may effect your pill.

Please leave in the comments below any thoughts or recommendations of teas for those suffering IBS symptoms or wanting to detox their digestive system.

Many thanks,

Vicky xx

Cheap & Low Calorie Meal

Hey there you gorgeous bunch. Happy Friday to you all. Today I want to show you these noodles that I picked up from 99p Stores. I eat them at work for lunch as an alternative to sandwiches.

99P Stores Golden Sunrise Instant Noodles

Left: Beef & Tomato, 70g Serving: 3.43g fat, 78.4 calories, 0g sugars and 1.58g salt

Centre: Roast Chicken, 70g Serving: 3.43g fat, 78.4 calories, 0g sugars and 1.63g salt

Right: Spicy Curry, 70g Serving: 3.5g fat, 77 calories, 0g sugars and 1.58g salt

These all contain gluten for those who want to know.

I would love to able to have a delicious sandwich every day, but I get way too bloated with my IBS. Plus the fillings I would have would probably be more bad than good so I always try look for alternatives for lunches, especially something easy to take to work.

I think these noodles are absolutely brilliant as they are so low in calories and filling enough so that I am not left hungry and I am not bloated. They taste really good. Inside each pot are the noodles and the flavouring so there are no pieces of meat, vegetables etc. None of them are too strong in taste, but they are likewise not plain at all. They say to add hot water to the polystyrene pot they come in for 3 minutes and eat with the plastic fork provided. I prefer to break up the noodles in the sealed pack that's inside the pot and empty the noodles into my own bowl, pour over some boiled water to just cover the noodles and add the sachet flavouring. I then stir with the fork provided and place in the microwave for 2 minutes. I stir again and microwave for a further 2 minutes and ta da, fantastic tasting noodles. I will warn you though that the fork does bend with the heat so I use my own metal fork to eat the noodles. For approx 50p per meal as they come as 2 for 99p I think these are great value.

What ideas do you have for lunches? Do you have IBS and have any great meal or snack ideas? If so, please leave your suggestions below.

Love to you all

Tea For Health & IBS Relief

Hey Everyone. Happy Sunday to you all. Today I have a wee post for you that is about a tea I drink I thought some of you might like.

I have been drinking plain peppermint tea for absolutely ages because I have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I don't digest food very well and so I always made sure I drank a peppermint tea every morning after my coffee to help with my IBS.

For those who don't know peppermint tea is said to help relieve the symptoms of IBS. There is less evidence, but it is said to also ease other problems including nausea, vomiting, dhiorrea and headaches which can be IBS symptoms. Its minty flavour can take the edge off bad breadth. It is also said to control mild asthma, manage stress and ward off the common cold.

I do enjoy the naughty food and drink in life too, but I like to try and be healthy as well. I have tried green tea many times, even the flavoured ones, but I am not too keen on it's taste.

Green tea may help with lowering the risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer. Green tea extract containing polyphenols and caffeine has been shown to induce thermogenesis and stimulate fat oxidation, boosting the metabolic rate 4% without increasing the heart rate.

Anyway now on to the tea I have found to combine the benefits of both products. While perusing the tea section in Morrisons I noticed this Green Tea & Mint. Each box contains 20 tea bags which are foil wrapped (not individually) for freshness. There are not other ingredients in each bag. They are 55% green tea and 45% peppermint. They must be stored in a cool, dry place. The tea is simple to make. You just boil some water, add a bag to a cup or mug and brew between 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Personally I usually leave the bag in while I drink it as I feel like I get a better brew and hopefully more of the benefits, but it's really just up to you.

This is an acquired taste and when I first tried herbal teas of any kind I would squirm a bit and think damn I need a good strong coffee or tea, but now I am used to it and find this tea quite refreshing. If I am having a bad day with my stomach and digestion I always reach for this. I have one every morning and sometimes more often.

IBS is such a pain literally sometimes and I pretty much feel bad with it in some way on a daily basis. For those that don't know it can cause the symptoms mentioned earlier in this post as well as constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, cramping, flatulence and sometimes passing mucus from the bottom. I have put up with all of these symptoms other than passing mucus at some time or another which is embarrassing to admit, but true and true for so many others.

So my point is that although I don't believe my IBS is ever going to disappear I can try to at the very least drink one cup of this a day to hopefully alleviate or prevent the symptoms. I do also drink it of course for the other health benefits mentioned it's just my IBS has been a struggle for me since I can ever remember.

If you would like me to discuss further about things I have found that have helped my with my IBS symptoms then please let me know in the comments below. Also any suggestions that you have for a good tea or coping with IBS then please leave those in the comments too.

Love to you all