Make time for a summer health check

It’s summertime – a time to enjoy the longer days, the better weather and to look after yourself. Even if you’re not having a long summer break this year, there’s no better time than now to carry out a health and wellbeing check.

We spoke to health food entrepreneur Rimi Thapar at LoveRaw and she gave us some top tips – and a delicious smoothie recipe – to kickstart your August summer health check.

 

1. Gulp more

Now this may seem obvious, but with the temperature regularly soaring above 20c, make sure you are hydrated. Always keep a bottle of water within arms’ reach and it will remind you to take regular gulps. For an extra health kick, infuse it with lemon, this helps with digestion, your skin and it’s a good source of Vitamin C.

2. Feed the body and the brain

Eating unhealthy fast-foods can often leave us feeling sluggish and lethargic. Whereas when we eat nourishing foods we often feel revitalised!
At LoveRaw HQ, one person is nominated each week to make Friday’s lunch, this is a super easy way to throw yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new. Some of our favourite dishes include Turmeric Dhal, Macro bowls and homemade soups.
Did you also know that “hangry” really does exist?
Accredited dietician Jemma O’Hanlon said: “When we’re not feeding our brains enough fuel, our moods changing are a major symptom.”
So listen to your body and mind!

3. Get moving

Go on a walk or run and enjoy this weather. We know it’s not going to last forever, so soak up the rays and enjoy the beauty of nature around you. Maybe visit the closest national park to you. There are beautiful scenes and paths to discover.
We love the app Active10, it keeps a track of how much you walked and how fast. You can even set goals and monitor your progress.

4. Gossip more!

Take the time out to speak to friends and family. Have a natter or a gossip, check-in with people you care about. Sometimes you just want to get things off your chest or to vent, allow yourself to do so.
Connecting with people and strengthening your relationships is important to our mental wellbeing, it can help us in many ways including feeling good, secure, and remind us of a sense of purpose.

5. End the day right

On a daily basis we rush from one task to another, often building up stress along the way. We need to remember to take time out for number one, that’s yourself.
At the end of the day, take 5-10 minutes to reflect on the day, what went well and what didn’t. Don’t dwell on what didn’t, rather focus on the solutions to prevent it happening again or how to deal with it more positively.
Finally asking yourself the question what is it that you are thankful for?
Or try the guided meditation app HeadSpace.
Clearing your mind paves the way for a better sleep.

It may be easy to overlook your own health and wellbeing when you are busy. But we hope all these small changes will contribute to an overall improvement in health and well-being.

Don’t forget, it takes 21 days to form a habit, so at least make it a good one!

Now why not give this sumptuous summer smoothie a try…

Kiwi and mango avocado smoothie bowl

Although I am a huge fan of banana-based smoothies, sometimes it’s nice to mix things up and experiment with different fruits. The combination of avocado, frozen mango and kiwi just works perfectly as the base for this, loaded-with-goodness green smoothie.
For an extra boost I have used Love Raw Easy Greens blend which is a combination of six powerful plant ingredients to help you maintain your overall wellness.

A smoothie bowl wouldn’t be complete without lots of toppings, so feel free to go crazy with them as the more the merrier!

Ingredients:
1 cup of frozen mango
1 kiwi cut into chunks (you can keep the skin on)
1/2 avocado
A handful of destemmed kale (if you are new to green smoothies, maybe start by adding just a small handful and taste testing while you are blending)
1 teaspoon of Love Raw Easy Greens Superfood Blend
A squeeze of lime juice
1/2 cup or more of coconut milk (if you don’t have it on hand you can just usewater, it will just be less creamy)

My favourite toppings:
Sliced banana
Fresh berries
Quinoa puffs
Coconut chips
Extra sliced kiwi
…or whatever you fancy!

Simply place all the ingredients into a blender apart from the coconut milk. Add that gradually until you reach the desired consistency. You might need to use a bit more if your blender is struggling.

Pour the smoothie into a bowl and finish with the topping of your choice. Delicious!

Rimi is the founder of Altrincham-based LoveRaw, suppliers of organic snack bars, food boosters and plant-based drinks. They now supply in 21 countries.
Rimi famously appeared on TV’s Dragons’ Den – and turned down the Dragons!

 

 

 

I WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. AMANDA MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HER ONLY CLIENT AND HOLDS YOUR HAND TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH