We’ve gone COCO-LOCO for coconut oil!

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Everyone has gone coconut crazy recently. There are so many coconut products out there, from coconut water, milk, rice, yogurt, ice-cream, flakes, oil and a heap more!

With so many products available, we thought we would focus on one of the more diverse products to come from this craze, coconut oil.

 

What exactly is it??

When you buy coconut oil from us it will be white and solid because it is at room temperature but will melt into clear oil.  Using coconut oil can be a little funny at first because unlike other oils it changes form, but not to worry it is fine to reheat the oil after it solidifies again between uses.

You might have heard some negative things about coconut oil of late, but current research has confirmed that it does indeed have many diverse health advantages! Whether you are looking to lose weight, get added nutritional value in your diet or use on your body- this is one fantastic oil.

 

Weight loss, de-bloating & healthy fats 

Coconut oil is made from the meat of coconut, which contains MCFA’s (medium chain fatty acids). These fats behave differently to other fats and the good news? It helps with weight loss. The body metabolises the coconut oil fats in the liver where they can be quickly used for energy or turned into ketone bodies…therefore less likely to be stored as fat! Woohoo! If that wasn’t good enough- these fats also aid the digestion process, which make you feel less bloated and protect the body from insulin resistance. 

 

Reduce cholesterol 

If you suffer from high cholesterol levels then coconut oil may be a good oil supplement for you!

Lauric acid is a type of fatty acid found in coconut oil. It has been shown to increase the good HDL cholesterol in the blood, which helps improve the cholesterol levels in the body.

What’s more, coconut oil helps the thyroid to be restored to its optimal level of functioning, which is great because when your thyroid is not functioning optimally it can lead to higher levels of bad cholesterol.

 

Softens fine lines

Coconut oil can be used on your skin too!  Because of its hydrating nature, coconut oil helps the connective tissues in the skin remain strong, which softens the appearance of fine lines and gives your skin a healthy glow.

Additionally, coconut oil can be used as a natural skin cleanser because it does not contain petroleum byproducts.

 

Hair moisturizer

A natural hair mask! Coconut oil protects hair follicles, because of its high amount of vitamin E.  Apply a small dollop (slightly melted)  into your hand and quickly work through your hair. Pin/tie you hair up, pop on a shower-cap, sleep overnight and wash your hair in the morning.  The result? Your hair will have more shine and less frizz. Happy days!

 

It’s pretty clear we have gone coco-loco for coconut oil! If you want to go a little loco too, head down to Peaches today and grab a jar for yourself!

Introducing our guest blogger… Soa “The Hulk” Palelei!

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We’ve been a huge fan of Soa “The Hulk” Palelei, UFC fighter and heavy weight champion, for quite some time and we were thrilled to find out that he was a fan of us too! Soa has visited us at Peaches a few times to pick up organic, healthy foods and wanted to share his experiences with health with you here:

 

You can boost your mood with food easily by using super foods that enhance brain chemistry. Having said that eating well has been made to seem so complicated. Everyday there is a new magic diet and people get confused and not know what to eat and more importantly where to get it from!

As an athlete I have refined what my diet consists of but it is different with each individual. I say you need to listen to your body no one can really tell you what to eat. We are all highly unique individuals and there is no “one size fits all” diet like most fads would have you believe. Your body communicates with you when you are eating appropriately or not. You just need to listen.

I don’t believe there is one right diet that fits for all people. We are all unique individuals with unique needs. Everybody’s body is different. A diet that may work for someone else may not work for you. I believe it’s important to develop a way of eating over time that is maintainable for the long-term, not just to lose a few pounds and then return to our old habits. With myself being a heavy weight I knew I needed to find and stick with something that was going to sustain me.

When I joined Crossfit I was introduced to Paleo and since then I have stuck by it, Paleo is essentially the caveman diet – you can eat anything a caveman would! That’s a lot of meat, grains and vegetables that help me stay healthy and I’m not restricted to portions – which is great because I’m a big guy and I like to eat but I eat healthy.

Certain things where hard to come across but I was able to get it all at Peaches Fresh Food Market. Peaches Fresh Food Market is a one stop shop for all you’re after, whether you’re looking for organic produce, intensely flavoured fruit and vegetables or something a bit different, Peaches has what you’re after.

Many people complain to me that they can’t buy fresh, organic food because it’s too expensive. Which isn’t the case everywhere some places feel the need to hike up the price as soon as the label ‘gluten free’ or ‘organic’ is used but Peaches don’t do that! They have well priced items and item that are imported and you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere.

-Soa “The Hulk” Palelei

 

Want to hear more from Soa? Follow him on Twitter, Like him on Facebook or visit www.soathehulk.com!

Hear me RAW!

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One of the most exciting current fresh food trends is the push towards organic, raw food. When we say ‘raw food’, we mean organic food that is unprocessed or uncooked, so it retains much more nutritional value and natural enzymes that are typically destroyed during the cooking process. Feeling tired? A raw food diet will give you the energy you need, keep your mind clear, and encourage general well being.

The best part about all of this is that there are plenty of delicious raw food recipes, some of which may surprise you! We really like this easy recipe for spicy kale chips by the Raw Food Kitchen!
Spicy Kale Chips
Ingredients:

1 bunch Kale

2 Tablespoons Red Thai Curry Paste (make sure its free from additives and preservatives)

1/2 cup of Tahini

4 tablespoons of Tamari

Juice of whole lemon

Water to thin the mix

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Sea Salt

3 squirts Stevia

1 teaspoon Sesame Oil

 

Method:

Combine all the ingredients except the Kale into a bowl and stir to combine. If mixture is too thick, add water to thin. De-stem the kale and shred or tear the leaves off into large bite sized pieces, and place into bowl with sauce ingredients.

Massage the ingredients into the kale until coated nicely. Spread kale out onto baking paper lined dehydrator sheets and dehydrate for 6 – 8 hours at 105°F.

Healthy Winter Warmers

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If you’re anything like our team at Peaches Fresh, you’ll know it can be a struggle to avoid unhealthy meals in the winter. As soon as the temperature drops we crave the winter warmers: hearty stews and steamy one-pot wonders. The good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice health for taste, there are so many fresh alternatives to traditional winter warmers.

One of our favourite healthy meal options is grilled Salmon with creamy cauliflower puree. Cauliflower is a low fat alternative to mashed potato, which is close to the top of our guilty pleasures list in the cooler months! Salmon is rich in omega 3 and amino acid, and has been associated with a wide variety of health benefits including decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. If that doesn’t do it for you, not only is this meal a low calorie winter warmer, it’s also super delicious and suitable for the whole family! Try the recipe for yourself:

Grilled Salmon with Creamy Cauliflower Puree

C80013_LemonMapleRoastSalm-copy_xlImage by Weight Watchers {http://www.weightwatchers.com.au/}

What you’ll need:

–        Large pot with lid

–        4 portions of fresh salmon (approximately 200gms each)

–        canola oil cooking spray or similar

–        1/2 tsp. garlic salt and/or other fish seasonings

–        1 chopped brown onion

–        1 clove of peeled garlic

–        1 head of cauliflower, stem removed

–        4 to 6 cups low-sodium canned vegetable or chicken broth

–        1/2 tsp. salt

–        1/4 tsp. black pepper

Method:

Spray base of a medium to large pot with canola oil. Sauté one chopped onion for two to four minutes, then cover with lid and allow onion to “sweat” on low heat for five to seven minutes; add garlic. Break cauliflower into large pieces and add to pot. Add broth, salt and pepper; cover and cook on low heat for 30 minutes. While cauliflower is cooking, spray the salmon with canola spray and season with your favourite herbs and spices. Place seasoned salmon fillet on a piece of aluminium foil. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until salmon is a light pink in the centre and firm to touch. Remove cauliflower from pot, strain and mash with a large fork or blend in a blender or food processor.

Add your favourite steamed veggies to create the perfect winter warmer meal, without the winter weight gain. Let us know if you try our salmon recipe, we’d love to see your healthy creations!

Garlic is nothing to sneeze at!

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It’s that time of year again, when everyone around you starts sniffling and complaining about a scratchy throat… yes, it’s cold season!

With the average adult catching 2-4 colds each year, you need to do everything you can to avoid picking up the nasty virus. We’ve all heard the saying, “you are what you eat” and when it comes to preventing colds, there’s nothing more true!

When we’re sick, we don’t search for a pill bottle to help us recover, we go looking for our favourite herb, garlic! Garlic contains a whole list of vitamins that all promote healthy immunity. Garlic has high levels of vitamin C, although it may not be as much as citrus fruit, just 3 cloves of garlic will provide you with 5% of your daily intake. Vitamin C is important in maintaining cell walls as well as acting as an antioxidant to flush out toxins in the body.

The real cold fighting compound in this super food is allicin. But what is allicin? It’s what gives garlic it’s ‘hot’ flavour for one, but it’s also what makes garlic an antibacterial and an antifungal which is what helps kill colds!

The best way to get the most allicin out of your garlic is to chop, crush or chew up a clove as it is! We love garlic as much as the next person, especially roasted in a delicious pasta sauce, but the thought of chewing on raw cloves of garlic isn’t the most appealing idea.

That’s why we love Healthy Green Kitchen’s favourite sore throat remedy, garlic honey! When garlic has been infused with honey, you can barely tell that it’s garlic! All you need to do is get yourself some fresh garlic (we love fresh Tasmanian garlic) and some raw honey, Elixir Honey is a store favourite.

Visit her blog here to check out how to make this tasty remedy. Head to our Facebook page and let us know your home made cold remedies!

Make your mum breakfast in bed the healthy way!

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How do you show your mum you love her on Mother’s Day? For us, I’m sure you guessed, we show her through food! Every special occasion (and lets face it, most not so special occasions) mum slaves away in the kitchen, creating the most monumental feasts, making sure to include everybody’s favourite dish. It’s only fair that on Mother’s Day, you make something from the heart for her and what mum doesn’t like a surprise breakfast in bed!

Why not make your mum her very own not-so-average breakfast in bed with some amazing buckwheat pancakes! Buckwheat is an amazing super food, with about a million reasons why you should eat it. Try this scrumptious recipe for Gluten Free Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes from Gluten-Free-Vegan-Girl:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups almond milk (or other dairy-free milk)
  • 1 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1 cup dates, pitted
  • 2 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • juice from 1/2 lemon, optional but recommended

Blueberry sauce:

  • 2 cups frozen blueberries (preferably organic)
  • 1/2 cup dates
  • 1/3 cup water (more if needed)

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients. Place the dates, almond milk, lemon juice and vanilla essence in a high-speed blender/food processor and blend until you have a smooth paste. Stir this mixture in with the dry ingredients until you have a relatively thick batter.

2. Heat up a non-stick pan on medium heat before pouring in about 1/4 cup batter per pancake. When the pancakes has started to firm up on the upward-facing side, flip around and cook on the other side until they are a deep
golden color. It is very important that you do not have a too high heat, as this will result in burnt and/or uncooked pancakes. Place the pancakes on a plate and place a towel on top to retain the heat. Repeat until all of the batter has been used.

3. While that is cooking we are going to make the blueberry sauce. Simply add all of the ingredients listed into a medium-sized pot and bring to a simmer. When the blueberries are no longer frozen (and the dates are soft enough to be blended) grab a hand-blender or transfer sauce to a regular blender, and pulse until properly combined. Pour this into a jar and set aside.

Now simply drizzle the sauce on to the pancakes, garnish with a handful of additional blueberries and enjoy!

The Organic Food Revolution is here!

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Organic food is not a passing foodie fad, it is here to stay! The organic food trend has been on the rise for years now, with the growing concern for what’s good for you.

The list of benefits of organic food continues to grow, with number one being the delicious, intense flavour that makes all non organic foods pale in comparison. The soil quality produces stronger, healthier plants. Our organic heirloom tomatoes, like many.

Before we get in to the long, long list of why we love organic so much, let’s clear up what ‘organic’ actually means. Organic foods are grown without the use of any synthetic chemicals, pesticides, artificial fertilisers and not genetically modified.

So what does that actually mean? It means organic produce is better for your health! Organic food is free of toxins that are found in pesticides and other chemicals. Which also means that harmful chemicals are not running off into the soil or water supply so they are helping to preserve the environment. The side effects of genetically modified food still aren’t known. Be safe than sorry when it comes to genetically modified food and avoid it all together.

Studies have shown that organic foods actually have a higher nutritional content than non organic foods! Typically organically grown produce is higher in iron, vitamin C, magnesium and phosphorus.  This is because the soil used in organic crops is managed with sustainable practices.

At Peaches, we source the best of the best organic foods. Whether you want organic fruits and vegetables, meats or cosmetics, Peaches has it! Check out our huge range of organic foods here or come in store and have a chat about them to any of our friendly staff!

Spaghetti Squash and Kale

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Ingredients

1 whole Spaghetti Squash

Olive Oil

Salt And Pepper

2 bunches Kale, Stalks Removed And Torn Into Pieces

1/2 whole Onion, Diced

1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

 

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180˚c.

2. With a sharp knife cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and pulp in the center and discard. Place the squash, cut side up, on a large baking sheet. Rub a little olive oil over the cut surface, then place the pan in the oven for 1 hour or until a fork is easily inserted into the squash.

3. While the squash is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until starting to turn color. Throw in the kale, sprinkle in some salt and pepper, and stir to saute until the onions are golden and the kale is partly cooked, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

4. When the squash is cooked, use a fork to scrape the stringy squash out of the shell. Mix together 1 tablespoon olive oil with the balsamic vinegar. Drizzle it over the squash, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add the chili powder. Toss to combine and top with kale to serve.

Royal Gala Apples

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Royal Gala Apples are deliciously crunchy and crisp with a sweet flavour. Our new season organic Royal Gala Apples are grown in Manjimup, WA.

Pears

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Pears are sweet and juicy and go great in both sweet and savoury dishes! Looking for a different way to serve pears? Why not try poaching them in sugar syrup or adding them to a salad!