Category Archives: Health

Top 6 matcha lattes in London

17 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by in Food, Health, Wellbeing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IMG_0815
This guilt-free beverage has been painting Instagram green over the past few years. Those who know me will have noticed I’m partial to obsessed with matcha tea. When I quit coffee 3 years ago, I needed something to fill the void. That’s when this delicious green nectar came along.

If you’re new to matcha or want to know more, read my post 8 ways matcha makes your life better.

Now that’s all cleared up, here are the top 6 places to get your matcha fix. There’s also a handy matcha map of London at the bottom, so you can plot your next latte.

1. The Arty One
Timber Yard: Seven Dials
£3.40

Just look at that frothy masterpiece. TimberYard’s sumptuous specimen has the perfect ratio of matcha to milk and can be quaffed with soya or almond if you prefer. Curl up on a sofa chair of your choice and they’ll bring you your matcha latte on a wooden slab, with a bottle of tap water. The only negative is this cafe is a hotspot for freelancers, so be prepared to sit elbow to elbow at its busiest times.

2. The One of Many Colours
Farm Girl: Portobello and Chelsea
£3.70 (£4.10 for hibiscus or butterfly lattes)

Matcha and butterfly lattes
Hibiscus latte

Before I get distracted by all the pretty colours, Farm Girl’s matcha latte is made with organic Japanese matcha powder and tastes perfectly creamy with almond milk. Although not technically matcha, why not try their blue ‘butterfly latte’, made from the dried flowers of a butterfly pea plant? Or their pink ‘hibiscus latte’? The downside of the Portobello cafe is there’s usually a queue (they don’t take reservations), but it’s definitely worth the wait.

3. The Trendy One
Palm Vaults: Hackney Central
£3.50

Matcha latte to go
Palm Vaults interior

Palm Vaults do take reservations, and they’re essential. The first time I rocked up to a full house and had to ‘make do’ with a matcha to go – a very respectable latte served in a seriously trendy cup. Palm Vaults is definitely the most Instagrammable on this list, with their retro theme and pink and green colour scheme. The next best thing to their matcha is their Thai butterfly tea named ‘blue moon’. Or if you’re caffeine fiend, try one of their colourful coffees like their ‘red velvet latte’ or ‘violet latte’.

4. The Authentic One
Lagu: Clapham
£2.70

Matcha ice cream

Imagine a Japanese restaurant, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It has a minimalist vibe with an air of calm. The owner of this gem, Atsuko Inoue, was inspired by her father and grandfather who ran a hotel in Tokyo. So of course an authentic establishment such as this would make a mean matcha – and very reasonably priced. Be sure to try some of their matcha ice cream while you’re here.

5. The Specialist One
Tsujiri: Chinatown and Soho
£4 (£4.80 for O-matcha)

Matcha latte
O-matcha and mochi

If you’re matcha mad like me, Tsujiri is a must. From sundaes to shaved ice, it’s the only place I’ve come across selling exclusively matcha products (and a bit of mochi). Their latte is mouth-wateringly good, as you’d expect, but for a taste of the tea houses of Japan, sample their more traditional option. The ‘O-matcha’ – I can only assume the ‘O’ means ‘original’ – is prepared with ceremonial grade matcha from Uji, Kyoto (the good stuff). There’s no milk in it, so only attempt if you appreciate its bitterness.

6. The One
Tombo: South Kensington, Fitzrovia and Soho
£3.85

Tombo is Japanese for dragonfly
From their Hello Kitty pop-up

This is my absolute favourite. An utterly divine matcha. And you get quite a lot of latte for your money. Tombo’s extensive list of matcha treats rivals Tsujiri’s, but also brings cake to the table. The matcha gateau is something else. You can also enjoy a Japanese take on afternoon tea, with an tantalising selection of sushi and matcha desserts. To top it off, it has a warm, friendly vibe and exquisite Japanese food.


Why are you still here? Go get yourself some matcha…

Namaste!

Yoga Panther x

8 ways matcha makes your life better

14 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Food, Health, Wellbeing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you’ve never tried it before, I know what you’re thinking…

‘What exactly is this green goo?’

You know green tea? Well matcha is its wholesome, powdered companion. Instead of chopping up and infusing with hot water, the green tea leaves are ground into a delicate powder. When mixed with water, you get the same goodness as you would drinking 10 cups of regular green tea. That’s because you’re ingesting the entire leaf, not just the watery dregs.

Made uniquely in Japan, this miracle elixir has been part of their culture for hundreds of years. It’s no coincidence that the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world. Now we’ve caught on, it’s becoming the top superfood across the globe.

Premium grade matcha powder I bought in Kyoto (the real deal)

‘What makes it so special?’

The green tea leaves are grown in the shade, so they produce lots of chlorophyll, giving them their characteristic green colour. That means they’re absolutely bursting with nutrients. The luscious young leaves are picked, steamed, air dried, de-stemmed and ground on stone grinding wheels. It’s a tireless process, which the Japanese have been perfecting over the past 1000 years.

‘Why should I drink it?’

People say you should always eat your greens, so why shouldn’t you drink your greens too? Basically: it’s ridiculously good for you.

   1. Boosts energy

It contains caffeine, but not nearly as much as coffee. Combined with its other nutrients, this makes you feel energised and focused throughout the day. So no jitters or afternoon slumps.

   2. Helps you relax

L-Theanine, an amino acid in matcha, produces dopamine and serotonin. This helps to calm your mind without making you feel drowsy. Fun fact: Buddhist monks drink matcha to help with meditation as it keeps them alert yet calm.

   3. Detoxes

The high concentration of chlorophyll helps flush chemicals out of your body.

   4. Stimulates metabolism

Drinking matcha can help your body burn calories four times faster than normal, with no negative side-effects.

   5. Anti-ages

It’s loaded with antioxidants (137 times more than green tea and 17 times more than blueberries). These reduce inflammation, to help you look and feel younger.

   6. Fights cancer

It’s the best source of catechins (a type of antioxidant), specifically EGCg, which is widely known for its cancer-fighting properties.

   7. Strengthens the immune system

It provides plenty of potassium, vitamins A & C, iron, protein, and calcium. The catechins in matcha have also been shown to have antibiotic properties.

   8. It tastes good

Matcha’s distinctive leafy flavour is tasty on its tod, lovely as a latte, and can even be added to desserts for guilt-free gluttony.

‘Where can I get some?!’

We can’t all go galavanting off to Kyoto for ceremonial grade matcha. But you can buy reasonably priced powder from Wholefoods, Holland and Barratt and plenty of online retailers. My favourites are Clearspring and Teapigs:

a4be5051-82b8-4b4f-b452-fed029d2614c

Go traditional and get this 40g pack of powder for £10.99 (whisk sold separately) at Clearspring

Processed with VSCO with hb1 preset

To make a matcha latte, get this kit for £23.20 at Teapigs

Or…you could just go and buy a cup someone else has made. There are plenty of places in London to get you matcha fix – check out Top 6 matcha lattes in London.

Namaste!

Yoga Panther x

8 reasons why yoga is awesome

12 Saturday Nov 2016

Posted by in Fitness, Health, Mind, Wellbeing, Yoga

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Yoga

There’s no doubt that yoga works wonders for both your mind and body – whether it’s a morning sun salutation to energise you for the day ahead, or an evening vinyasa flow to unwind after a hard day’s work.

I’ve been an yogi for about 3 years now and it’s changed my life. Not only am I fitter, I’m less stressed and I’ve learnt to be more mindful.

Here are my top 8 reasons why yoga is awesome:

1)  It makes you bendy

All the stretching involved helps you loosen up your muscles and joints, and this becomes even more important as you get older. I’ve never been the most flexible of folk, but since I’ve started yoga I can do all sorts of cool stuff, like this ‘full wheel’ pose:

10155001_10152431681277321_1445667945298654560_n (1)2)  It gives you strength

Who needs to spend hours weightlifting in the gym when you can use your own body weight to make you strong? It’s so empowering knowing that every session I’m building up stamina and toning muscle so I can do more complex poses like ‘crow’:

10985909_10152825971437321_3248164283873714969_n

3)  It perfects your posture

If you’re a desk slave like me, you probably spend a lot of time hunched up. In yoga, a lot of poses require you to elongate your spine and bring your shoulders down. And when you apply this to your day-to-day life, you’ll be less likely to get back aches and pains.

IMG_4610

4)  You can do it anywhere

The best thing about yoga is you don’t need any fancy equipment. Just a yoga mat. And yourself. Sometimes you don’t even need a mat:

10385396_10152918036172321_3944852304440470627_n (1)

5)  It improves your balance

Lots of yoga poses involve balancing. Practicing this can give you better awareness of your body as you’ll learn how to position your muscles and sense where your body needs to be. This will reduce the risk of falling on your face. And it’s not just the physical side – yoga helps you balance your mind too. It’s all about thinking positively.

img_2172

6)  It’s fun!

If you’re going to do something repeatedly, you’ve got to enjoy it. I find it so satisfying when I’m flowing into each pose, like a graceful yoga ballerina. And it’s even more rewarding when I can master more challenging poses. Each class is a step closer to that.

IMG_9574

7)  You can relax easier

In my evening yoga classes, I often wish I can be transported from the mat to my bed. It’s just so damn calming! A big part of yoga is learning to control your breathing – slowing it down and inhaling and exhaling deeply – which can be very meditative.

10710753_10152419913782321_5414477880440924336_n

8)  It makes you happy

“I feel crap” said no one ever after a yoga class. I always leave the session feeling amazing. That’s because yoga releases the hormone oxytocin, which floods your body with feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Neat huh?

IMG_0995Namaste!

Yoga panther x

What happened when I tried to have a totally healthy week

24 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by in Food, Health, Wellbeing, Yoga

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Dumb bells

Act like a lady, lift like a boss

Anyone who knows me will know I’ve become a bit of a health nerd of late.

Someone who opts for the superfood salad at a restaurant specialising in grilled meat. Someone who makes yoga videos, only drinks herbal tea and spends her spare time perfecting her power balls.

But it’s not all fun and games.

Being healthy can be a mighty blow to the bank balance. I shiver at the thought of how much I spend on yoga classes and avocados.

Also, cutting down on sugar means I’m craving the stuff even more. I won’t tell you about the time I binged on 3 Simpson-style doughnuts, an Oreo ice cream sandwich and a slab of homemade banana bread. In one evening.

And I often struggle to even find time to be healthy. You need to be super organised to plan and prepare meals and schedule in those work outs. A bit tricky when I spend all my time going to gigs, events or exhibitions. Because, London.

So, inspired by meeting health guru Madeleine Shaw the other week, and the fact that it was health and wellbeing week at work, I decided to have a totally wholesome, mindful and active week. While making time for my social commitments. Without spending an arm and a leg.

Here goes…

Monday

I definitely started with a bang. Monday involved healthy eats and hardcore work outs.

I picked up one of the free breakfast pots being given out at work – yoghurt topped with granola, blueberries and raspberries. Yum. I added some seeds and goji berries to mine for added goodness.

Added some seeds and goji berries to the breakfast pot

At lunch I went to Gymbox for the first time for my free trial day. I tried their ashtanga yoga session in this crazy-ass room overlooking the rest of the gym. Pretty fast-paced and I definitely worked up a sweat.

Gymbox trial

At lunch I got creative with some Ryvita, avocados, feta, tomatoes and cucumber.

Avocado, feta, tomato and cucumber Ryvitas for lunchAfter work I returned to Gymbox for their ‘Frame Fitness’ class. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so unfit. Like circuits on steroids, it was a blur of pull-ups, squats, press-ups, burpees, running planks, sit-ups and Russian twists. Whew!

I couldn’t believe it when I made it to the end of the 45-minute session. I got a bit of a runner’s high and somehow stayed at the gym for another hour of cross training, cycling and yoga. I just didn’t get tired.

after-frame-fitness-class

The great thing about working out until 8.30pm is the half price sale at Itsu is on! So naturally I got my favourite – chicken teriyaki salad – at the reduced price of £2.50.

Healthy post workout meal from Itsu

Tuesday

After my insane workout yesterday, I thought it best to take it easy today. I made another tasty lunch with the same ingredients as yesterday, but this time I picked up a multigrain triangle roll from Tesco for 25p.

IMG_6238

Next I had a ‘health MOT’ – another work perk. I was tested by a health specialist from Nuffield Health and found out that my blood pressure and glucose levels are normal, but my cholesterol was only JUST within the normal range. Need to keep off the cakes and biscuits…

Wednesday

I started the day with some Planet Organic grain-free granola featuring nuts, seeds, coconut, dried banana, raisins and spirulina (fancy word for algae). I added some goji berries and blueberries to make it colourful. You don’t want to know how much this costs. I got a cheeky one for free at the Madeleine Shaw event.

IMG_6089

At lunch I decided to chill out and go to a FREE creative meditation session at Inner Space. A little too relaxing maybe, as I kept nodding off. But I managed to unwind as I visualised being on a tropical beach with white sand and turquoise sea.

I was going to do some yoga when I got home, but since it was two days after my hard core work out, I ached like crazy. So instead I made a batch of power bars. You literally chuck goji berries, sultanas, dates, chia seeds, almonds, cacao powder and coconut oil into food processor, mould it…and boom! Great alternative to a chocolate bar.

IMG_6188Thursday

Everyone’s going on about matcha green tea at the moment. Apparently it’s the equivalent of drinking 10 cups of normal green tea. So I thought I’d see what all the fuss was about by trying a matcha latte at Salad Pride (sweet little cafe in Neal’s Yard). Let’s just say it won’t be my last…

IMG_6263

Friday

For lunch I made a yummy wrap filled with cous cous, spinach, avocado, tomato and cucumber.

IMG_6115Later on I had a free chair massage at work, which eased me up after a stressful morning.

Saturday

The key to a healthy mind is to keep exercising it by learning new things. So I forced myself out of bed to get to an all-day copywriting event at The Rag Factory. It was great to hear from my fellow copywriters and get some tips about freelancing.

On our break for lunch, I strolled down Brick Lane in search of healthy food. I was drawn to Suito, a swanky new place serving up delicious Japanese food. I went for the chicken teriyaki donburi with veg. Seriously good.

IMG_6746

Sunday

My body had finally recovered in time for Be:Fit London – an awesome little fitness festival for women. We started with a ‘Strala Yoga’ class from Tara Stiles. Pretty tough session, but it was so motivating being one of around 100 yogis doing their thang.

IMG_6893

After swiping as many freebies from the stalls as we could, we went to a talk from Dame Kelly Holmes. So inspirational. It made me realise that settling goals to be fit isn’t a means to an end. It’s a journey. And the same goes for anything you want to achieve in life. Just enjoy the ride.

We finished with a mini trampoline class. SUCH FUN.

Just look at my haul (below)! The only things I actually bought were:

  • Vita Coco coconut water and oil: On offer for £5 together.
  • Teapigs matcha kit: A burn at £25, but it will be worth it!
  • Trek bars and Perkier bars: These were both on offer for 3 for like £2. Because you can never have too many bars.

13139206_10153516279612321_7835057596794221158_n

I ended the week in style by dining at Jamie’s Italian with my other half. I had the best superfood salad of my entire life. Just look at that avocado and broccoli perched on top of that bed of kale, chicken, pulses and grains. Even my boyfriend (who went for the steak) had food envy.

IMG_6370

So it is possible to stay fit and eat healthily with a busy lifestyle.

I ate healthily every day and didn’t eat a single sugary food. I did yoga (twice), hardcore circuits and even trampolining. I probably shouldn’t have exercised so much on the Monday though as I was out of action until Sunday. I didn’t stress about it though. I was mindful and I let my body unwind in the meantime with meditation and massage.

I managed to do everything I wanted to do, and still had time to chill out in the evenings. I didn’t spend too much either.

Admittedly I had a bit of help, what with all the freebies. But it’s allowed me to explore what I do and don’t like (matcha YES, hardcore circuits NOPE), so I can spend my money wisely. And I’m more motivated about being healthy than ever.

It’s all about planning, listening to your body and exercising your will power. Not forgetting to mix things up occasionally to keep things interesting!

Now where can I buy a trampoline…

Namaste!

Yoga Panther x

Getting my glow on with Madeleine Shaw

17 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by in Food, Health, Wellbeing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Madeleine Shaw, Ready Steady Glow, eat clean, healthy living, book signing, planet organic

As I took my seat at the back of Planet Organic in Westbourne Grove, I couldn’t help but notice how radiant she looked. Madeleine Shaw really does glow! I’ll have what she’s having…

And now I can.

To celebrate the launch of her second book ‘Ready Steady Glow‘, Madeleine showed us just how simple, healthy and delicious its recipes are, before passing on some of her nutritional wisdom in a Q&A.

IMG_5971

Ready Steady Glow focuses on wholesome food for a busy lifestyle (so pretty much my ideal book). Split into 2 sections, it provides quick, easy recipes for the hectic weekdays and more involved recipes to take your time over at the weekend.

Because who has the time in the week to spend hours crafting an Instagram-ready superfood masterpiece? Just, no. She says we can all make a balanced, healthy meal in under 30 minutes. Faster than ordering a pizza.

Then, on the weekend, she reminds us to slow down and take some time to chill and unwind. Peruse your local market, select your ingredients and put together a nutritious dish at your leisure. Bliss.

Madeleine Shaw, Ready Steady Glow, eat clean, healthy living, book signing, planet organic

She demonstrated 3 recipes from the book – a spiced tomato soup, a mango and avocado salad and a key lime and avocado mousse. We sampled the first and the last. Scrumptious.

After the Q&A and meeting Madeleine afterwards, I learnt that I should:

  • Eat healthy protein in the morning for longer-lasting energy
  • Use the weekends to prep meals for the busy week ahead
  • Try turmeric (maybe in the form of turmeric milk), because it’s loaded with antioxidants
  • Take the time to chew food as it helps you feel fuller for longer and aids digestion
  • Snack on something healthy and easily digestible before working out, like carrot sticks dipped in hummus.

And that I should not:

  • Heat food in tupperware as the chemicals from the plastic can react with the food
  • Reuse water bottles – evil plastic again.

A truly inspirational evening for a budding health nerd like myself. Can’t wait to get stuck into the recipes from ‘Ready Steady Glow’…

Madeleine Shaw, Ready Steady Glow, eat clean, healthy living, book signing, planet organic

Waiting in line to get my copy signed

IMG_5972

❤

IMG_5973

Guilt-free treats from my Planet Organic goodie bag

Namaste!

Yoga Panther x

How to make your own energy balls

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Food, Health, Wellbeing

≈ 1 Comment

image1

It’s 4pm. You’re at work. And you’re craving a sugary snack. Chocolate? Mmm chocolate…But wait! You made a batch of energy balls and there’s one in the fridge with your name on it. YES. That’ll keep you going until dinner.

Not only is it a yummy, satisfying treat – it’s loaded with healthy plant protein and has no added sugar. You feel like you have a cheat to life that no one knows about.

So what’s in these bad boys? 

Energy balls, power balls, energy bites…call them what you will, these are tasty little balls of superfood goodness.

I know what you’re thinking. They look about as appetising as bird food. Until you realise they’re made of cacao powder, medjool dates, coconut oil, chia seeds, linseed, almonds, walnuts and hemp protein powder #EatClean.

And with DECHOX coming up (quitting chocolate for March), these are the perfect healthy substitue to a chocolate bar.

Ella’s delicious balls

I came across these nutritious balls at the Mae Deli – a guilt-free cafe created by healthy food guru Deliciously Ella. At just £1 a ball, I had to try one.

I took my first bite of the textured chocolatey dough. Oh my, that is scrumptious. Only there wasn’t any chocolate in it. Just good, healthy stuff rolled up in a ball.

image1[1]

Check out that power ball pyramid

Inspired by this spherical superfood, I sought out to make my own. Of course I tracked down Ella’s Ultimate Energy Bites recipe first.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll love quick and easy recipies. This is just that. There’s no cooking required. Just ingredients. And a food processor.

The hardest part is getting hold of all the stuff (and it’s not cheap). I raided Holland & Barret and managed to get the bulk of them, but I had to go to the supermarket for the medjool dates. I already had some coconut oil, which you can get on Amazon.

img_4556

The back row of ingredients should last you a while.

Tell me how to make the goddamn balls already

Okay! If you have a diddy food processor like me, follow this recipe to make around 14 balls (as in the top photo). For the larger processor, just double up.

8 ingredients. 8 easy steps. Let’s go…

Ingredients

75g of almonds
75g of walnuts
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
1 tablespoon of linseed
100g of medjool dates
1 heaped teaspoon of hemp protein powder
1 heaped teaspoon of raw cacao powder
1 heaped teaspoon of coconut oil

Method

  1. Chuck the tough ingredients in the food processor first (these are in bold above).
  2. Grind for 30 seconds, or until they’re well and truly pulverised.
  3. De-seed and chop up the dates and whack them in with the rest of the ingredients.
  4. Blend for 30 seconds, or until you’ve made a nice sticky dough.
  5. Carefully remove the blade and scrape out your mixture.
  6. Roll it into ping-pong-sized balls in your hands.
  7. Arrange on a plate (Instagram that shit) and place in the fridge.
  8. Grab one as and when you need a boost, and enjoy!

When can I eat them?

Like I said, they’re ideal for the afternoon munchies. They’re also great if you want a quick morning power up, instead of having your brekkie sloshing around inside you while you’re running or doing yoga.

Or you can munch on one before your evening exercise sesh to curb your hunger and keep you bouncing around until dinner.

I want more balls

Well you can have more balls! There are so many variations on this recipe. I bought the Energy Bites book for £3 on Amazon (I know right?!).

It’s packed with sweet and savoury options from Apple Pie Antioxidant Bites to Carrot and Beetroot Buckwheat Balls.

Energy bites

Ballin’.

Sam 🙂