WE TALK SUPPLEMENTS WITH KAREN CUMMINGS-PALMER
Inspiring, encouraging and effortlessly elegant, our nutritional expert {Karen Cummings-Palmer} took precious time out of her cuh-raaaazy-busy schedule, to chat to us about supplements, breakfast and (most importantly), working within the context of real life - we're all time-poor (something Karen knows only too well), but as she enthusiastically explained, there are short-cuts and work-arounds to help you stay healthy and beautiful.
"It's all about breakfast" said Karen, who was eager to stress that without the right fuel, your body focuses what little energy it has on keeping organs working. So, not only will you lack the extra get-up-and-go (which is why we feel compelled to turn to short term boosters such as caffeine), but your skin, hair and nails are deprived of the energy that drives cells - so you quickly start to look a little lack-lustre. "Skipping breakfast is the single most ageing thing you can do" - which, as a regular breakfast fore-goer, appalled me much more than my everyday lethargy! Karen recommends eggs - boiled, poached, fried or mixed with vegetables to make an omelette - their protein-richness is the perfect kick-start your body needs; as well as being brilliant for beauty (because we're all a little superficial, sometimes). And for those ladies who say "But who has time to make eggs every day?" Karen has this answer: "Set an egg to boil before you shower. If you spend the average 6 - 7 minutes in there doing what you need to do, the egg will be done by the time you emerge." So now there's simply no excuse...
And for those who have the same thing for breakfast day in, day out, Karen urges you to mix things up a little! "Our stomachs are at their most sensitive - and receptive - in the mornings, so treat your body to the different things it needs when it's most eager to accept them." Which means eggs and asparagus, perhaps some smoked salmon (but only once or twice a week - the smoking process creates carcinogens, which are harmless in small quantities but it's never wise to overdo it), grilled tomatoes and scramblers, or porridge (but in moderation). Karen recommends eating oats on days when you know you'll lunch early (contrary to popular belief, oats don't 'fill you up' for longer) and you get more sustenance from protein rich food groups. That said, porridge is comforting and high in fibre, which helps to cleanse your system - and if you want some added protein, mix with chia seeds (or Boku's {Super Protein}) for extra nutritional oomph.