Emanating positive energy starts with eating wholefoods. – Naturally Energised Nutrition by Kylie McCarthy | Nutrition & Weight Loss Gold Coast

Chocolate- or “Cacahuatl” as it was known to the ancient Aztecs, can be used as medicine for the mood- if not the body, as long as you are eating the right type of chocolate. As long as there is a high content cacao in your chocolate- 80% and preferably organic, then your chocolate is considered a super food and will be chock full of antioxidants- in fact raw cacao bean is probably the most chemically complex food in the world.  Chocolate is the highest anti-oxidant food in the world- up to 20x greater in anti-oxidants than green tea, 30x high than red wine 15 x higher than blueberries- so yes, it’s safe to say- dark chocolate helps reduce fatigue.  Did you know the cacao bean contains more Vitamin C than any seed or nut on the planet and is one of the highest sources of Vitamin C of any other foods? Surprisingly high in fibre and packed with Tryptophan which promotes a feeling of wellbeing and elevates mood. Chocolate also helps your blood flow more smoothly- isn’t this fabulous! Chocolate reduces clotting and improves arterial function.  Dark chocolate- get into it!

Water- drinks at least 2 litres of water a day. Filtered is best.
Being dehydrated can make you feel fatigued and often send us to the coffee machine for all the wrong kinds of energy.  We are over 80% water.  Water is also one of the easiest ways to assist in preventing stroke and heart disease, water simply thins out the blood which will in turn make it easier to pump around your body- blood contains oxygen! Oxygen is also required for energy conversion.

Marine Phyto plankton – Jacques Cousteau had a lot to say about marine phyto plankton.  MPP are the producers of the proteins that feed our Whales.   Whales produce the biggest nervous system in the world, but are fuelled by these tiny micro algae’s called marine phyto plankton.   The oils of DHA and EPA that are found in all our fish and the whales come from marine phyto plankton.  Very likely the most nutritious food in the world, MPP contains every known mineral and all the essential fatty acids and amino acids- which makes it a complete protein source. The richest source of chlorophyll there is, marine phyto plankton is unsurpassed by anything.

Kale– move over spinach, Kale is here. Kale is delicious, full of Iron, is alkalizing and contains easily digestible proteins- so it’s great for the bowels too!  Kale is higher in Iron than Spinach and able to be substituted in any recipe where spinach is required. Extremely high in Vitamin A makes Kale great for eye health.  Kale is chock full of Vitamin K- what our blood needs to clot.   There are many varieties of Kale with varying degrees of bitterness and sweetness.  Dinosaur Kale is one of my favourites when sautéing or steaming.  Don’t ever boil your Kale, you lose to much of the Nutrients.

Blueberries-   Be sure they are organic.  Buying frozen makes them affordable.  Super high in a phytochemical known as Anthocyanin- a powerful purple coloured antioxidant that has been proven to lower blood pressure by up to 15%. Anthocyanins have been proven to promote brain health by reducing short term memory loss and Alzheimer’s. With more Vitamin C & K, fibre and antioxidants value than another Anthocyanin containing fruit, makes blueberries a staple in your freezer.

Edamame beans – contains such a high amount of protein that it is comparable to meat.  With healthy fats, a whole lot of Vitamins- especially Vitamin C and fibre, Edamame beans are a great snack alone, or used like regular beans in salads, soups and dips.

Quinoa- closer to spinach than wheat in its origin, this seed contains all 9 essential amino acids that make it a complete protein food, so nutrient rich is quinoa that it was one of the foods NASA sent into space with its astronauts!  Quinoa is a high manganese food

Walnuts– a rich source of heart healthy mono unsaturated fats and a high percentage of Omega 3 fats eating just one hand full daily can reduce your risk of cardio vascular disease by up to 50%. Walnuts contain a large number of anti inflammatory nutrients that are considered anti cancer and particularly beneficial in prevention of breast and prostate cancers.

Sweet Potato A member of the morning glory family puts sweet potato closer to road side bushes than they are to an actual potato’s.  So don’t sweat the carb content, they are full of complex Carbohydrate, making sweet potato an excellent source of fuel for your body. Complex carbs digest more slowly than other carbs- which is great for decreasing risks of diabetes or helping someone to overcome and reverse their insulin resistance.  Extremely rich in Vitamin A, this promotes better eye health and vision- especially at night and high in Beta Carotene.  Studies have shown that diets high in Beta Carotene provide significantly better liver function than those without a diet high in Beta Carotene.  Sweet potato is also high in manganese- which has been shown to reduce symptoms of PMS in women!

 I love slicing my sweet potato into half inch slices, into the toaster, before spreading with nut butter

Coconut water rehydrates your body better than anything else!  It is the closest thing to human blood there is thanks to it electrolyte profile of magnesium potassium phosphorous calcium and sodium. Those electrolytes are great to balance our nervous system and reduce blood pressure. Full of anti viral and anti fungal nutrients, it is also anti bacterial and anti microbial.  There is so much goodness from our mother earth- why would we consider junk food?  The nutrient dense profile of coconut water is a natural energy drink- some people use sports drinks; id rather use the water of a coconut.