Slump buster!

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What to reach for when you are too busy to eat. Contributor Katie Ball ingredient unpacks her fave go-to – WelleCo NOURISHING PLANT PROTEIN.

I am the very definition of a homebody; I adore my kitchen, love baking and cook just about every meal I eat.So, having a job that sees me raking up the air-miles makes keeping my day-to-day nutrition in-check a lot more difficult.I find myself skipping meals, eating at odd times and making poor nutritional choices because they are easy (I know I know!). When reflecting on this recently (while reaching for a pre-made sandwich at the airport) I got to thinking - how does a busy person keep up with everything while still looking after their health and feeling good?

Now I know I’m not the only one with this problem, most of my friends are in the same boat either trying to manage a degree with full-time jobs, or wrangle children and a career. We all know we should eat regularly (in fact we should sleep, exercise and meditate regularly too while we’re at it) but sometimes fitting everything in is hard and feels like a chore!

Thankfully for me, in walked WelleCo NOURISHING PLANT PROTEIN.It fits in with both aspects of my life, as the main event when I have no time and as an ingredient in my culinary adventures. It is a rounded meal that wards off hanger, is convenient, and tastes great!

Let me explain a bit of the science behind it.

Probiotics

I’m going to start with my favourite ingredient! Probiotics are live microbes (bacteria and yeast) that help the body’s internal flora.Sometimes when we have been ill, or have been on antibiotics, the level of the ‘friendly’ bacteria in our gut becomes unbalanced, giving way to unwanted microbes.This can cause bloating, diarrhoea and stomach pains.Taking probiotics can help boost the good bacteria, restoring gut balance and helping with these symptoms.

Curcumin

Curcumin is the golden coloured component in the Indian spice turmeric.It is a nutraceutical that has displayed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Pomegranate

Not just delicious, pomegranate is a great source of dietary fibre, vitamin K, vitamin C and folate. Not bad for such a beautiful ingredient!

Rice bran protein

Rice bran protein has more than one nutritional benefit, let me explain. Protein is one of the 3 macronutrients we all need to lead a healthy life.Its job is to build new body tissue, including muscle.After consumption, it is broken down into amino acids, our body’s building blocks. However, this is not all this ingredient does. Rice bran is a vegan ingredient that is also considered hypoallergenic making it accessible to most people. It is also a soluble fibre, that helps us stay fuller for longer.It’s also keeps us regular, helps to lower our cholesterol and levels out of insulin spikes, thus helping keep our blood sugar stable.

Dandelion Leaf

Otherwise known as Taraxacum, or Lion’s tooth, dandelion leaf is a mineral and vitamin dense ingredient. It has a long history of being used as a traditional medication and as an ingredient in meals, turning up in salads, wine and used as a caffeine free coffee option. It is full of calcium and potassium and vitamins A, C and K.

Rose Hip

With a multitude of uses rose hip is an ingredient that is packed with vitamin C. It is used as an anti-inflammatory and an effective antioxidant.

Psyllium Husk

Last (but surly not least) psyllium husk is a non-soluble fibre that aids digestion. It is often used in products for its mouth-feel and its thickening properties.Psyllium husk is a non-soluble fibre is vital in our diet as it keep us regular. It is also responsible for helping lower cholesterol levels in the body and lowering glucose levels too.Now you understand why I say not least, this is a huge help in our diet!

With all that said, I’m off to the kitchen to play!