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Samudra is the home of raw food and yoga in WA. I’d visited their awesome Dunsborough café many times before, so when the opportunity came up to experience one of their weekend detox retreats you could say I was pretty darn excited 😀

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DAY 1

Arriving at the café on Friday afternoon, I was greeted by the lovely retreat organiser Erin and filled out a quick questionnaire while sipping away on a fresh green juice. I then met the gorgeous group of 10 other ladies each on their own health and wellbeing journey.

Samudra has won a heap of awards for their vegetarian café (Open 7 days a week) and upon eating there it's easy to see why.

A delicious live food dinner was consumed (the BEST zucchini ‘pasta’ I have ever had!), followed by a 45 minute yoga nidra session (which is equivalent to 2-3 hours of sleep, winning!) before bedtime.

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DAY 2

I practically bounced out of bed I was that excited! 7am was our morning yoga class with the down to earth and witty Lisa. Every morning we practiced in a beautiful yoga space located within the Samudra grounds. Complete with calming music and the BEST smelling sandalwood essence, it was a great environment to practice in. Lisa was like a walking yoga encyclopedia (her knowledge was amazing) and modified the class to suit everyone. We were taught various breathing techniques and some basic Ashtanga yoga sequences.

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After breakfast (Granola and fruit, warm almond milk and beetroot juice, YUM!), we headed back to the yoga room where Erin took an informative workshop on Ayurvedic cleansing and eating. Lunch then followed and was a delightful affair of raw dips, dehydrated crackers and veggie wraps. Even though we were ‘detoxing’, at no point during the retreat did I feel starved or deprived. In fact every meal was so filling that I almost had to force myself to eat the next one (it’s a hard life, I know). The dessert cabinet (yes dessert and coffee are all still available at the cafe) had been calling my name since arriving on Friday, and after lunch I conceded defeat, sharing a raw carrot cake with one of my fellow retreaters. It was deeeeeeeeeelish 😀

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After 2 hours of free time for treatments, beach time, browsing in the eco-store, relaxation and reflection, Erin gave a fun demo on green smoothie making with some interesting flavour combinations! In the evening we practiced yin yoga with Lisa before a nutritious dinner and then bedtime.

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Day 3

After morning yoga, we had a satisfying breakfast of berry buckwheat porridge, fruit, and green juice. The rest of the morning consisted of activities including a kitchen tour (a behind the scenes look at where all the delicious Samudra goodies are made), a sprouting demonstration and a quick demo on how to make nut ‘cheese’ (because all of us were obsessed with the cashew cheese they had been serving us!).

Before lunch we were guided through an hour of mediation practice with Mike. This was absolute bliss and I know I wasn’t the only one who fell asleep to the sound of Mikes calming voice! The afternoon yin yoga session was a great way to end the retreat and was full of fun and laughs. One thing I really loved about the retreat was how personal it all was. Erin and Lisa would join us for every meal, and were always on hand to talk and answer questions. All the staff at Samudra were so welcoming and were always willing to share their expertise and knowledge.

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You can do the retreat by yourself (you'll make friends in about 3 seconds anyway) or with a friend. Accommodation isn’t included in the price but if you’re heading down with a friend or partner sharing the price of a hotel room would save money. Another bonus- if you sign up with a friend you each get $100 off the cost of the retreat!

These retreats aren’t just about detoxing your body. They’re about detoxing your mind, clearing out negative thoughts and beliefs, recognizing what triggers bad habits and learning strategies to deal with them. If you want to do something nice for yourself, be surrounded by beautiful people, eat good food, learn more about yoga, meditation and all round health, I’d definitely recommend you book yourself in for one of these awesome weekends away!

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**Note to future Samudra visitors. You MUST try their AMAZING choco mint ‘ice cream’. It’s dairy free and made from a base of almond milk and cashews. This flavour was truly out of this world! It includes the superfoods spirulina and chlorella, which are great for detoxification. My mini tub actually melted on the way home (which wasn’t so bad) because I ended up drinking it like a smoothie. OHMYGOD YUM!

Have you ever been to a retreat, detox or otherwise? Heard of Samudra before? I'd love to hear from you in the comment section below!

Review by Kavisha, who’s already making plans for a trip back and wishes they’d extend the train line down to Dunsborough…

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Samudra's, all thoughts & opinions are 100% honest and my own!

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“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”

It is phrase we have heard over and over again; from our parents, from cereal companies and from doctors and nutritionists the world over. But why? Breakfast is literally the breaking of our fast from over night, and what we put into our bodies in the morning sets the tone for our blood sugar levels, energy levels and hunger levels during the day.

Unfortunately, there is a LOT of conflicting opinion from the world’s leading nutritionists and medical personalities about the best way to do this. Fruit until midday, smoothies or juices, protein shakes, carb based brekkies, cereals – the choices are endless but why is modern research backing up the benefits of protein based breakfast for sustained energy and long term weight management?

The satiating nature of protein (lean meat, eggs, dairy, beans/legumes, nuts etc) means that energy is slowly released and the food takes longer to digest. This is good news for your body, meaning you stay fuller longer and don’t get the spike in blood sugar from quickly digested food (which is the reason you can be hungry half an hour after eating fruit, as it takes only around 20 minutes to digest) and this reduces your need to snack in order to sustain your energy.

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I decided to test this theory by keeping a food diary over four weeks, noting my hunger and energy levels during the day as well as the food I consumed and how it made me feel, and the results were very interesting. After a purely carbohydrate based breakfast (fruits, smoothie of just greens and fruits) I was hungry again in only two hours, and that hunger lasted the whole day – regardless of what I ate for lunch and what exercise I did – meaning I kept snacking all day.

When I started the day with protein (two eggs and a side of veggies or a protein shake) my hunger lessened all day, particularly after lunch where my usual 3.30pm sugar cravings all but disappeared! These results were repeatedly the same over the month of keeping the journal, supporting the research that protein in the morning is key to stabilising blood sugar and managing your weight and energy levels.

So how can you incorporate protein into your breakfast? Don’t worry, we don’t have to start downing raw eggs à la Rocky Balboa, there are many tasty ways to incorporate savoury, protein rich foods into your morning meal:

♥ Leftovers – don’t be afraid of leftover quinoa/legumes/free range meats (if you eat these!) and vegetables for breakfast. It’s super easy to reheat and requires no preparation – perfect for early morning starts!

♥ Eggs, any style – omelettes, poached eggs, scrambled eggs – any way you have them eggs are wonderfully nutritious, full of protein and a great way to start your day! Add your favourite veggies and herbs to keep flavours interesting and bump up your daily nutrition!

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♥ Protein Smoothie – add a base of your favourite milk, some good quality protein powder (Sunwarrior, NuZest Clean Lean Protein and 180 nutrition are great!) frozen fruits and some nuts/seeds for good fats and added protein and blitz! Bonus points if you add a handful of spinach or your favourite superfoods! I love adding chia seeds, goji berries, acai and maca powder! Cacao makes for a chocolate smoothie – and who can complain about a chocolate milkshake for breakfast?!

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♥ Quinoa Porridge – swap your rolled oats from pre-cooked quinoa! Quinoa is a complete protein and a great, nutritious way to start your day. Have it sweet (with fruits, nuts and oat milk) or savoury (with spinach, sweet potato and toasted pepitas)

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♥ Yoghurt and Nuts – top your favourite yoghurt (must be PLAIN i.e. NO added sugar! Full fat organic Greek yoghurt is the way to go!!) with mixed raw nuts and seeds, coconut flakes and some berries for a portable, quick and filling breakfast.

♥ Baked Beans on Toast – a great winter favourite, top whole grain toast with baked beans for a savoury and protein rich comfort food brekky

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♥ Nut Butters on Whole Grain Toast – nuts are a great source of protein and good fats to kept your feeling great all morning

If you have been starting your morning with a green juice/smoothie but not feeling the best, don’t worry! Green drinks are beautiful, nutritious and full of quality vitamins and minerals, a wonderful way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake! Perhaps you could try having some quinoa porridge with your smoothie? Or what about some almond butter on rye sourdough with a green juice on the side? Or drink your green juice while your eggs are poaching! These are easy ways to make your meal more complete and still have the goodness of your morning greens!

And for the record, my favourite breakfast is two poached eggs with half a sliced avocado and some leftover coconut oil baked sweet potato and spinach/kale sprinkled with turmeric and chilli! Delicious!

What is your favourite protein-rich brekky? Do any of these sound tasty to you? Leave a comment below to let us know!

Article by Lauren Rose Burke: she is a yoga addict, tea junkie and health nut from Sydney Australia, who loves to search for new ways to heal yourself and boost your beauty through exercise, mindfulness and nutrition!

Blog: laurenroseburke.wordpress.com
Twitter: @LaurenRoseBurke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaurenRoseBurke
Instagram: @LaurenRoseBurke
Tumblr: laurenroseburke.tumblr.com

Be well,

xoxo

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With a funky set up, welcoming atmosphere and awesome products, The Little Concept in Freo has definitely taken a step forward in the Perth café scene.

The café offers a variety of coffee, tea and chocolate beverages with a strong emphasis on their red espresso rooibos menu (which consists of items such as red cappuccino, red latte, red smoothie and red frappe). What's with all the 'red' you ask? Well these delicious bevvies are all made with a base of Rooibos tea- an alternative to coffee that can be enjoyed just like it! Rooibos comes from South Africa, is naturally caffeine free and has 5 x more antioxidants than green tea. Whoop!

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I got chatting to the lively and passionate owner Micheal who said he wanted to provide an option for people who couldn't have caffeine but still wanted to enjoy their 'coffee'. However don't stress of you need caffeine to get you through your morning, the café still caters to the masses (meaning yes they still have normal coffee!). Another bonus, these awesome peeps offer the option of soy, rice, almond OR oat milk in any of their beverages to cater for people with certain intolerances (this is what I like to see!). And another big plus, most beverages are sweetened with coconut blossom sugar- a low GI, healthy alternative to white sugar containing protein (12 amino acids), potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc and iron!

The prices are great by Perth standards with most hot coffee beverages around the $3.50 mark. The hot chocolates and chai are a little more expensive (between $5-$6.50). I enjoyed a red smoothie on my visit which consisted of raspberries, banana, honey, cinnamon, almond milk and red rooibos tea- it was deeeeeelicious 😀

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If you're feeling a bit peckish there's also a great range of food available from raw dessert treats and freshly baked goods, to sandwiches and wraps that are made fresh in house. The vegetarian sandwich was screaming “eat meeee!” and will be consumed upon next visit 😉

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After hearing great things about their chai I picked up a bag of the famous Prana Chai to take home with me and try. It's a wet chai, which means no need to steep. Simply pour some hot milk over, add honey and enjoy! The Mork Hot Chocolate also sounded tempting and I couldn't resist picking up a bag of this too. Available from the café as a hot chocolate, iced choc or choc affogato (to name a few), this is definitely one to try. I made mine at home using fresh cashew nut milk. YUM!

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Head into The Little Concept to try some of there awesome beverages or pick up some goodies for home. Check out their instagram @thelittleconcept for more pics of their delightful creations and get down there sooner rather than later!

The Little Concept is located at 7 Wray Ave, Fremantle, WA.

Have you tried this new cafe before? A fan of rooibos? Leave a comment below!

Article by Kavisha, newly found lover of all things rooibos and chai.

Be well,

xoxo

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Simple and delicious. Two things I love in the morning, and these pancakes are just that! They take 10 mins to cook up and are sooooo easy to prepare. Make the base mixture and then add whatever toppings and flavour combinations you like. Refined sugar free and gluten free so you don’t have to feel guilty about eating 3 (or 5….) and high in protein (so they’re perfect post workout!).

Makes about 5 medium sized or 6 small. So serves 1 very hungry person or 2 people willing to share!

BASIC MIXTURE

♥ 1 ripe banana
♥ 2 eggs
♥ 2 teaspoons cinnamon
♥ 1 tablespoon flax meal
♥ 1 tablespoon water
♥ 2 tablespoons quinoa flakes
♥ 1/2 -1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used David Wolfe’s organic brown rice protein)

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METHOD

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth

2. Heat some coconut oil in a pan and cook pancakes on both sides until lightly brown (turning when the top bubbles)

3. Top with anything you want (use your imagination!!!)

Topping ideas:

+ Peanut butter, shredded coconut, blueberries, walnuts (as above)

+ Almond butter, chopped figs, shredded coconut

+ Coconut butter, raspberries, chopped banana

Happy breakfast everyone!!! 😀

Do you like the look of this recipe, leave a comment below if you've tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts & what toppings you used!

Review by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ & pancake lover. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at bebalancedbewell.tumblr.com

Be well,

xoxo

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I’m trying to improve my health through diet and exercise, it's easy enough to find recipes for healthy eating, my biggest problem so far has been snacks and sweet treats…

As part of my journey to healthier living, I recently purchased Janella Purcell’s Eating for the Seasons: Cooking for Health and Happiness with the intention of introducing more wholefood options into my diet.
Janella Purcell is a Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist and Iridologist, she is “passionate about good food and feeling great.”

Bliss Balls are the first recipe from this book that I have made and they have quickly become a family favourite. They satisfy the sweet craving, providing a healthier option. Although I have to admit that they are very more-ish, it’s hard to stop at just one bliss ball.

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Bliss Balls – adapted from Eating for the Seasons: Cooking for Health and Happiness – Makes 24 balls

♥ 1 cup puffed rice
♥ 1/3 cup sesame seeds
♥ 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
♥ ½ cup desiccated coconut
♥ 1 cup mixed nuts; unsalted, chopped (I used almonds, pistachios and cashews)
♥ 1 cup dried fruit
♥ ½ cup tahini
♥ ¾ cup honey
♥ Sesame seeds or coconut to coat

How to

Put the seeds and nuts in the food processor blitz until chunky. Next blitz dried fruit.
Add seeds, nuts, fruit, rice and coconut in a bowl and mix together. Put ingredients in food processor and gradually add tahini and honey. Taste the mix and adjust the sweetness to your taste.

Using wet hands roll a tablespoon of the mixture into a ball. Coat balls in sesame seeds or coconut. Store in an airtight container.

I’m so happy with the results of this recipe, I’m going to try some variations and I can’t wait to try some of the other recipes from the book!

What are your favourite healthy sweet treats or snacks? Have you heard of Janella Purcell before? Leave a comment below! 🙂

Review by Megan – creating a new me with diet & exercise!

Be well,

xoxo