Our health AND beauty must-have...

This week, we're sharing with you our latest health AND beauty crush. We know it has been popular for a little while now but we like to wait for the hype to die down before we dish up our verdict.

Please welcome Coconut Oil to the list of UR favourites. Here's why...

Beauty Wonder

Coconut Oil is the a beauty multi-tasker like no other.

We like to use it as a:

• Hair mask

Tip: apply between first and second shampoo (to avoid greasy hair), cover hair with a warm towel, leave on for 20 minutes.

• Shaving oil

• Face wash (think Eve Lom on a budget) - so nourishing you don't even need a moisturiser afterwards!

• Make up remover - even safe for eyes

Tip: to remove eye make-up, massage coconut oil onto eyes gently, wet two cotton wool pads with warm water, gently wipe off... repeat until squeaky clean.

• Heel balm

• Cuticle balm

• Massage oil

• Body moisturiser

Super Food

Coconut Oil contains EFAs (that's essential fatty acids - great for hair, eyes, skin and cardiovascular health), it's also a fat that helps to burn fat, and it has the added bonus of combatting dysbiosis (overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut) and candida, thus reducing bloating. Brilliant!

You can use it in food as a:

• Cooking oil - coconut oil can be heated to a high temperature!

• Baking oil

• Butter substitute - just spread and enjoy

• Smoothie supplement

So there you have it folks. Coconut Oil, a must in everyone's kitchen or bathroom cupboard.

Healing Avocado Smoothie

We love this little beautie. So simple but so divinely nutritious (and yummy).

Ingredients

• Avocado (half, ripe)
• Banana (half, ripe)*
• English spinach (small handful)
• Coconut oil (1 tsp, extra virgin)
• Chia seeds (1 tbsp, black or white)
• Raw vanilla powder (sprinkle)
• Water (300ml)

Low carb/fructose option*: leave out the banana!

Preparation

• Pop all ingredients in blender
• Blend
• Serve
• Drink
• Yum

And there you go, a smoothie that will tantalise your tastebuds and leave you feeling energised and satisfied. It's the perfect morning smoothie, pre or post-workout snack, or guilt-free dessert. It's packed full of good (fat-burning) fats, vitamins and antioxidants – with iron-rich spinach and a nice dose of bad-bacteria-busting coconut oil.

Enjoy!

A super yummy recipe for healthy pad thai!

This week, a super tasty recipe from the very lovely Claire Obeid – Sydney-based yoga teacher, holistic health coach, and creator of the Saha Space. Just quietly, we’ve managed to steal her for two days a week at Urban Remedy… so welcome Claire!

This recipe is so delicious and has such an unbelievable sauce that it almost feels naughty. But it's NOT. It's a dream for veggies and surprisingly meat eaters think this is the bee’s knees as well. You can enjoy this as a really healthy and satisfying dinner or even for lunch the next day at work!

So let’s get going…

Ingredients:
• 3 tbsp natural peanut butter (found in health food shops)
• 1 block tempeh or organic tofu
• 1 bunch kale
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1 packet soba noodles
• 1 tsp dried chilli
• ¼ cup shoyu or /tamari, rice wine and mirin
• ¼  cup water
• 1 thumb sized portion fresh ginger root, grated
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 lemon


Preparation:
1. Place tempeh/tofu between paper towels with a chopping board resting above to squeeze out excess water
2. Prepare soba noodles as per instructions
3. In blender/food processor combine peanut butter, shoyu/tamari, ginger, rice wine, mirin, chilli, water (to thin out mixture)
4. Dice vegetables
5. Heat coconut oil and fry tempeh/tofu, add in veggies and noodles – toss to coat
6. Pour peanut marinade
7. Serve with lemon

Variations:
• For the meat-eaters who just can’t do tempeh/tofu, go for organic, free-range chicken
• For another veggie variation, add in bean sprouts and egg

Bon appétit!