Category: Gut Health

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Kombucha mocktails

Kombucha for gut health!

Zena gut healthKombucha for gut health!
The trendy, fizzy, slightly sweet-and-sour drink that’s not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. Let’s dive into why you should consider incorporating homemade kombucha into your daily routine and why ah kombucha for gut health is good.

What is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea, made by adding a culture of bacteria and yeast (often called a SCOBY, which stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) to sweetened tea. Over time, the bacteria and yeast break down the sugars, producing carbon dioxide and organic acids along the way. This process not only gives kombucha its signature tangy flavour but also imbues it with a variety of nutrients and compounds beneficial to health.

Zena's flavoured kombucha bottlesHealth Benefits of Kombucha

  1. Rich in Probiotics
    One of the primary benefits of kombucha is its probiotic content. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that promote a healthy balance of gut flora. A healthy gut is essential for proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and even mental health. By consuming kombucha regularly, you can give your gut the good bacteria it needs to thrive.
  1. Detoxification
    Kombucha contains glucuronic acid, which binds to toxins in the liver, facilitating their excretion from the body. This detoxifying effect means you’re giving your liver a helping hand in removing harmful substances, leaving you feeling more energized and less sluggish.
  1. Enhanced Digestion
    Because of its natural probiotic content, kombucha can help alleviate various digestive issues, including bloating, indigestion, and constipation. The drink promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria, allowing your digestive system to function more smoothly.
  1. Immune Support
    Kombucha is rich in antioxidants, which can help to strengthen your immune system. Antioxidants fight off free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells and contribute to various diseases. By boosting your immune system with these antioxidants, you’re better prepared to fend off illnesses.
  1. Potential Weight Loss Aid
    Drinking kombucha can also potentially help with weight loss. The acetic acid produced during fermentation has been shown to reduce fat accumulation, while the probiotics can help balance your gut flora in a way that prevents weight gain. Of course, it should be part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
  1. Improved Mental Health
    Believe it or not, your gut health is deeply linked to your mental health. Consuming probiotics has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Kombucha’s gut-friendly properties can contribute to better mood regulation and overall mental well-being.
  1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
    Chronic inflammation is linked to a variety of health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. The antioxidants and organic acids in kombucha can help reduce inflammation, potentially lowering the risk of these chronic conditions.

Why Make It at Home?

  1. Customisation 
    When you make kombucha at home, you have complete control over the ingredients and flavors. Whether you prefer fruity, spicy, or herbal notes, you can experiment with different teas and flavorings to create your perfect brew.
  1. Cost-Effective
    Store-bought kombucha can be quite pricey. By making it at home, you can save a significant amount of money. All you need are some basic ingredients and a SCOBY, which can be reused multiple times.
  1. Less Sugar
    Commercial kombucha can contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners. When you brew your own, you can monitor and control the sugar content, making a healthier version according to your taste.

Kombucha mocktails Join my Kombucha making workshop Learn more & register your interest

Daily Consumption Tips
While kombucha is packed with benefits, moderation is key. Drinking around 8 ounces per day is usually enough to enjoy its health benefits without overdoing it. Also, if you’re new to kombucha, start with smaller amounts to see how your body reacts.

Conclusion
Incorporating homemade kombucha into your daily routine can offer numerous health benefits, from improved digestion and detoxification to enhanced mental and immune health. Besides, crafting your own kombucha is cost-effective and allows for creative customization. So why not give it a try? Your body (and taste buds) will thank you!

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Ball Rolling Method


What is the Ball Rolling method?

My Ball Rolling class is a powerful self-treatment method that uses 2 or more grippy and pliable rubber balls, to help eradicate aches and pains to restore your natural movement.

This method helps you identify blind spot areas that are catalyst for pain and injury. These areas are usually underused, overused, misused, abused, exhausted or totally confused and need to be felt, seen and heard by you!

In the 20 years I have been teaching and practising yoga, I have come to understand that we must integrate our painful and achy blind spots into our movement and self-care practice, otherwise we are moving & exercising from an unconscious place and we may struggle to find peace in every day life.

First picture – Ball at the top of spine/base of neck is showing me releasing out my tight shoulders, realigning my posture from sitting at my desk for 60-minutes and soothing an achy back. Always working mindfully, pausing and breathing.

Second picture – Ball over the shoulder-blades I am stretching out the front of my chest/diaphragm for better breathing & oxygenation, releasing tightness in my upper back, stretching out through the armpits and intercostal muscles around the ribcage. One can go as deep as your body will allow you, we listen and stop if there is pain.

Who are Ball Rolling classes for?

Whether you are a busy Mum running after your toddler with a sore shoulder, a top athlete who wants to improve their performance, a surgeon who suffers with back pain or a desk bound office worker who has painful wrists, the treatment is the same. Dysfunction is dysfunction in whatever ways it shows up.

My Ball Rolling method restores optimal performance in your tissue so that you can do what you want to do, better and pain free and at the same time become aware of your bad movement habits!

In this weekly class you will learn tools to take care of your soft tissue, posture and breath that you will have to hand whenever your body needs it, or as a support system for better living and being in your body … It’s a self-care massage for life.

Why would you attend my Ball Rolling class?

With regular practice Ball Rolling will:

1. Relieve aches and pains
2. Enhance breathing function
3. Increase mobility & energy
4. Reduce stress on your body & mind
5. Improve your posture & performance

Ball Rolling WORKSHOP timetable

Dates:  TBC

Time: 8:30 – 10:30

Cost: £25 per workshop

Small groups of only 6 students

Email me or call to book

If you have any questions, concerns or not sure if Ball Rolling is for you then please CONTACT ME, I’d love to hear from you.

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The Benefits of drinking Lemon Water first thing in the Morning


Drinking fresh lemon in warm water everyday before breakfast

We have all heard the benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning, so I thought I would look into why it’s good for us from experts and try it myself for 4 weeks to see what the fuss is about.

I did some research to find out the health benefits from a more scientific perspective, and was very impressed with what I found.

My experience with drinking lemon water first thing was enlightening too … the most notable was a daily bowel movement, yes sorry not something that’s talked about. This was a great start to my day, because it made me feel light and healthy.

  • Aids digestion– The warm water helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, and the lemon helps loosen any toxins in the digestive tract.
  • Detoxifies the skin and body– As a natural diuretic, lemons help flush the body of any toxins by increasing the rate of urination. Their high vitamin C content also removes impurities from the blood, leading to clearer, more radiant skin.
  • Boosts immunity– Lemons are high in both vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds, and potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function and controls blood pressure.
  • Helps curb the coffee habit– Lemon water is a healthier replacement to coffee on an empty stomach. Drinking good quality coffee isn’t bad for you, it’s when you drink it and how often is what you need to think about.
  • Helps with weight loss– Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps keep the body fuller, longer. They’re also a mild diuretic and very alkaline; alkaline bodies have been shown to lost weight faster.

Some Guidelines Before You Start

Water Temperature: Your water should be lukewarm to mildly hot. Cold water will shock your body, and boiling water will kill the beneficial enzymes present in the lemon.

Protect Your Teeth: Because of the acidity of the lemon, it’s a good idea to drink your lemon water through a straw to protect your teeth or brush your teeth soon after you’ve had your breakfast to get rid of the acidity.

Fresh vs. Bottled Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon is better than bottled. I just fill up my glass with water, squeeze a lemon wedge over the water, then drop the wedge into the glass, stabbing it a few times to release more of the juice and the fibrous pulp into the water.

My Takeaway: It is definitely worth implementing this daily routine to your morning, the research is clear and I felt the positive affects after a  week. Go for it!

Classes timetable & booking

If you have any questions, concerns please CONTACT ME, I’d love to hear from you.

Follow me on Instagram 

 

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Zena's Kombucha for gut health

Kombucha for gut health workshop

This is a super fun workshop! Learn everything you need to know on how to brew great Kombucha for gut health a super healthy fermented fizzy drink. We discuss ingredients, talk recipes, equipment, fermentation, how to achieve good carbonation, flavours, and storing.

Making your own kombucha not only saves you money but gives you control over the flavour and freshness and means you always have a refreshing live probiotic drink always on tap.

An option to watch and take notes or get hands-on experience by making your own starter brew (extra cost for equipment).

Read my blog post about the full benefits of Kombucha for your health

The best place on-line to purchase all your Kombucha equipment is Happy Kombucha 

NOTE: When you book into our our workshop or day retreat you will  receive 10% off your equipment from Happy Kombucha and the Scoby

Some of my favourite Kombucha flavour pairings - ​I very often mix and match these pairings because it’s all I have in the fridge, it’s seasonal or it’s what I fancy. It is not hard to come up with something yummy when you start with a basis of great ingredients. As you start to experiment with different flavours, you will get an idea of what you like and gain confidence with pairing different ingredients. Have fun playing and add ice for a gorgeously refreshing summer drink!

  • Pomegranate & fresh mint
  • Blood Orange & Blackberry
  • Mint, Thyme, sage & Rosemary
  • Slice apple, pinch cinnamon, fresh ginger, slice lemon and fresh turmeric – winter wonder!
  • Raspberry & Ginger & Lemon
  • Citrus Mint – slice orange, slice lemon & mint

Kombucha for gut health

Duration: 90-120 minutes
£130 per person. Extra cost for equipment
Min 5  / Max 8 people in my home

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Nutritional Talk / Workshop

Options available for talks & workshops to choose from:

  • Weigh Loss & preparing 1/2 healthy snacks
  • Fermentation – what it is? Why we need to know about it? and how to incorporate it in your diet
  • Fasting – how to fast safely, its benefits and ways to incorporate it in your lifestyle
  • Menopause – What it is, when does it happen and how do you know you are in it. Tips and ideas on how you can experience your Menopause in a holistic way.
  • Self-care – the new buzz word! What does this really mean? Lot of tips and ideas on how to live a more holistic healthy life without it costing the earth or taking up too much time. Many great take home ideas here!
  • A subject of your choice – let us know if there is a subject you would like to know about, and we will see if we can organise it.

Course Details

Duration: 2 hours
£135 per person.
Min 5  / Max 9 people

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