The view from the hill

It's now some 18 months since I took early retirement. So, perhaps a good time to take stock of all that's happened.

On reflection I'm a little surprised how hard the readjustment was. Still, I had a 40 year mind set to unravel, so I suppose it was bound to take time if nothing else. To some extent I feel that I've arrived at the hill top now and have the luxury of scanning the view and what a wonderful sight it is.

From a health and happiness perspective if I had to pick out two high points without doubt they would be Laughter Yoga and Juicing.

I've written about  Laughter Yoga before and it's many benefits. I've since done a few taster sessions, a work shop and generally met some great people as a result of this life enhancing activity. More on the way as interest grows and who knows where this wild road will take me! So, watch this space!

If you live in the north east of England and you're anywhere near Newcastle on World Laughter Day (May 3rd) then do drop into a Laughter gathering, which will be  taking place in Exhibition Park (by the band stand) at 11am. Hope to see you there. Let's all just laugh for no reason and feel better for it.

The other aspect of my life which has developed to a new level is juicing. Carrot and fresh  beetroot juices have long been family favourites. However, since acquiring a macerator type juicer, I now make a huge batch of green juice at the start of the week and this lasts for 2-3 days. (Although fresh juice  is really best consumed with 24-48 hours of making.) I love the green juice because I can throw in all the green ingredients (like the outer leaves of lettuce) which I might not have otherwise used.

There's no fixed recipe and it's fun to mix and match ingredients until you hit on the right blend. That said my favourite combination is - Cucumber, lettuce, 2-3 crisp granny smith's apples, fresh root ginger, whole lemon and 2 oranges. The beauty of a macerator type juicer is that the food prep is minimal. Just wash the ingredients and then it's good to go! Lemons can be put in whole, although I peel the oranges as some of the oils in the peel might be an irritant. It's also a whole lot quieter and quick and easy to clean.

Making your own green juice is both fun and good for you. It enables the consumption of large amounts of life enhancing foodstuffs that might otherwise not be as palatable, or possible. If I've got a Yoga class coming up I'll replace a meal with a  green juice. If I feel the need to have something solid to eat I'll pair this up with either an avocado or an apple; so  much better for digestion and performance. If you're a performer and you're looking for ways to maintain good nutrition then  juicing might just be what you need.

I've written before about the issue of food as medicine. So much can be addressed with food. Regular juicing with root ginger is particularly good for the older woman as it can help normalise blood sugar levels, aid digestion and regulate bowel function.

Eating and enjoying real food is what it's about for me.

Live life to the max and enjoy the ride!

Wild Beets Ibiza

Did you manage to get away for a few days this summer? I hope so. As part of my early retirement celebrations we finished the summer off in style with a week in a rural part of Ibiza.  The island has many restaurants. However, if you prefer to go vegetarian and gluten free, and particularly if you are lactose intolerant, dining out can often be a stressful and challenging experience. One of the highlights of Ibiza 2014 for me  was stumbling upon Wild Beets, a stylish vegan restaurant/juice bar.

 Not only a haven for health food aficionados Wild Beets is  also a great place to eat for those looking for a different, yet enjoyable, eating experience. Of course, apart from being vegetarian cuisine, everything is lactose/gluten free. So no worries on that front. The menu is new and exciting with cooked and raw food options served all day alongside a fantastic array of health drinks and wheat grass shots. The chef delivers wonderfully ingenious plates of food; that taste as good as they look. (The vegan cheesecake has to be the best cake I've ever tasted.) Service is friendly and the ambiance is youthful, cosmopolitan and  fashionable.

This newly opened restaurant deserves to become one of Ibiza's top eating destinations. So, if you're lucky enough to be visiting the St Gertrudis part of the  island any time soon, it's well worth including this exciting new restaurant on your to do list.

Micro-herbs: little gifts from nature

So, it's official. When it comes to nutrition it seems that size really does matter. Or at least that's the case when it comes to micro-herbs.These tiny little beauties are packed with nutrition, which far out-strips it's mature plant cousin.  It is thought that this is down to when they are harvested -  just after germination; which ensures the most concentrated nutritional value.  All sorts of health claims have been made for micro-herbs. However, we now have scientific research to back this up. Researchers studied 4 groups of vital nutrients - vitamins K, C, E, lutein and beta carotene - which are all essential for healthy eyes, skin and cancer prevention. The results were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and in some cases it was noted that the nutrient content of the leaves in the micro-herbs were 4-6 times higher than it's mature plant equivalent.

However, it's not just about the nourishment - as important as all of that is. The greater concentration in the smaller leaves makes for improved  flavour and texture. (Something that the chefs discovered years ago.) I'm a bit of a foodie and have seen (and tasted) the  artistry that micro-herbs can bring to a clean white plate. Now you no longer need to seek out a Michelin-starred restaurant to enjoy this type of culinary experience, as these glorious little gifts from nature are now more accessible to the general public.


Micro-herbs are surprisingly easy to grow at home, with minimal start up costs and on going effort. If you want to have a go at growing your own, to my mind,  it couldn't be simpler. All you need in your starter kit are lidded seed trays with a special lining, seeds, a water spray and supplementary lighting. It also helps to have Ph testing strips and a room  thermometer, as the seeds probably do best at an ambient temperature of about 20c. The seed tray can be placed on a sunny window sill. However, the growing process takes longer this way, particularly if you live in a part of the world where daylight and sunshine are restricted.

On the subject of daylight and sunshine I was surprised to learn that micro-herbs will thrive just about anywhere. If you live in the Las Vegas area you probably already know about Urban Hydro Greens; a fantastic warehouse in the desert that grows micro-greens commercially. On the flip side there are growers in some of the most unlikely spots in the UK. I recently discovered Zero Carbon Food who grow sustainably produced micro-greens 33 metres below the streets of London in a disused underground tunnel! Check out their story. Inspirational.

So, tomorrow I'm off to the Hebridean Island of Mull for unrivalled  fresh air and some amazing food. Pea shoots and edible flowers here I come! I'll  keep you posted.

Welcome to Danuta's helping hands

Welcome to Danuta's helping hands. So glad that you found your way here.  Over the next few months I'll be writing articles about issues that I've grapelled with myself  and that I know a lot of people need help with.

Topics will include -

• dealing  with  emotions
• managing health conditions with good nutrition
• choosing fashionable comfort footwear
• surviving redundancy
• improving health & fitness
• getting the best out of retirement 
• finding  your way round complementary therapies
• having a good night's sleep
• loosing weight over 40
• holding back the years
• food of the month
• singing for health
• laughing for health

About me -

I am a registered nurse/midwife with certificates in counselling, life coaching and emotional freedom technique. I’ve used herbs and aromatherapy for years helping out friends and family. I also like working with colour and music and have a passion for cooking.  For various reasons over the years I’ve had to adapt to different dietary restrictions and enjoy finding new ways of maximising nutrition.  Using culinary herbs and seaweeds I experiment with cooking styles and authentic flavours and enjoy visiting different parts of the world through their cuisine, art and music.

Writing and helping others are my other twin passions.  I hope that all of this comes together in the blog and that you find something that’s just for you.