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Before we get into picking Jessica’s brain for her top tips for a healthy glow, we better tell you a little bit about why you should take her advice & run with it. Jessica Cox is an accredited practicing nutritional practitioner with a Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition) and over a decade of clinical experience. Jess is the founder and business owner of the successful JCN Clinic based in Brisbane, Australia. The JCN Clinic treats all facets of health conditions, though specialises with ongoing digestive issues and food intolerances. Jess is well respected within the public space of health and wellness for her no fad approach and utilisation of evidence based nutrition.

Professionally, Jessica has an immense passion for food therapy and therapeutic nutrition. Over her years of practice she has developed extensive knowledge in dietary planning, nutritional supplementation and the utilisation of food as a medicinal tool. Jessica’s passion for treating digestive conditions and related health issues has become her area of speciality and true niche in the industry. As a result the JCN Clinic has proudly built its name as an exceptional leader in the area of digestive health and wellness.

As a nutritionist, what is your top 3 tips for clear skin?

1. A balanced diet filled with lots of plant based foods with macronutrient balance of quality fat, protein and carbohydrates is essential. Consume quality fats such as essential fatty acids found in oily seafood, nuts, seeds and certain plant oils such as flax and hemp,rich source of omega 3, along with monounsaturated fats and polyphenols found in extra virgin olive oil. These types of fats down regulate inflammation and keep our cell membranes nice and fluid, therefore preventing dryness and flaking. Protein is also essential when it comes to maintaining health skin. Protein makes up the structure of our cells like biochemical building blocks. Quite often our diets can be lacking in quality protein resulting in poor skin vitality.

2.  Healthy skin starts with a healthy gut! Sorting out any underlying gut issues is paramount. From there, aim for a diet rich in nutrients that support the detoxification process of the liver and gut. This includes cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale and cabbage for the liver along side a variety of fibre rich vegetables, fruits and grains for the gut.  Combined these foods ensure toxins are excreted, broken down and eliminated without burdening our skin. 

3. Consume foods rich in zinc and vitamin C. Zinc is well known and researched for its skin healing abilities. Research shows deficiencies of zinc results in poor wound healing and are also associated with acne. Foods rich in zinc include pumpkin seeds, sardines, quality red meat and oysters.Vitamin C is essential for the collagen health. Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant within the skin and is used in various enzyme reactions to protect the skin from free radical damage. Fruit and vegetables are very high in vitamin C, with stand outs being lemons, strawberries, capsicum and kiwifruit.

What is your favourite skincare right now? 

I keep it really simple. Your skin is a reflection of the inside so if I am eating well an staying hydrated then my skin will reflect it. I generally cleanse twice a day with either a cream cleanser by Aosop or Tailor Skin Care and use a sunscreen moisturiser during the day and a richer moisturiser at night with added vitamin C by Tailor. I exfoliate 1 -2 twice a week (if a remember!) too. 

Jess is also the creator of the Jessica Cox website and blog, which is an expression of everything she loves rolled into one, including her passion for creating recipes that catering for food intolerances. Jessica and her team are available for consultations at her clinic based in Brisbane, along with Skype and phone consultations for national and international clients. Contact Jess with any queries or questions at here or email reception@jessicacox.com.au. Source great food ideas and more by following Jess on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

Here at Coco Bliss, we love adding in different superfoods to our smoothies, bowls and treats and packing in a nutritional punch as much as we possibly can. Hemp only became legal as a food consumption item in Australia in November 2017 and of course we were super excited to be able to add it to our menu knowing the nutritional benefits this little powerhouse packs.  We are obsessed with Hemp seeds right now and want to share with you WHY

Our team has spoken with our fabulous Hemp Seed supplier Tom from The Hemp Factory to collate all the information we know about Hemp Seeds for you

WHAT IS HEMP

Hemp (Industrial Cannabis) is a plant cultivated for nutritional food purposes such as hemp seeds, oil and protein. It is also an ancient medicine used for thousands of years. It’s a fabulously sustainable agri-crop that has minimal impact on nature as the plants grows naturally without the use of pesticides or agri-chemicals

HEMP VS MARIJUANA

The key differences between these two strains of cannabis besides the visual aspects, is a psychoactive compound called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This is the compound responsible for getting you “high” or intoxicated when you ingest it. Marijuana is generally grown with THC levels of between 5 and 25%. This compound is the reason behind marijuana being scheduled as a dangerous drug in Australia, and other regions around the world

Industrial hemp is also naturally grown with trace amounts of THC of less than 1%. Hemp Foods that are sold around the world have an allowable level of 0.3% THC which is basically undetectable. These trace amounts are also the reason getting approval for using industrial hemp as a food source proved difficult, despite these levels of THC being undetectable in a drug test, or having no mind altering effects

10 INCREDIBLE HEALTH BENEFITS YOU NEED TO KNOW 

Hemp Seeds are packed with Omega 6, vitamins and high in minerals Magnesium, Zinc and Potassium, providing the following incredible health benefits

1. Weight loss, as industrial Hemp is a natural appetite suppressant
2. Improves digestive health as Hemp seeds are high in insoluble and soluble fibre
3. Strengthen immune system
4. Great plant-based protein source. 2-3 tablespoons provide around 11gms of protein
5. Promotes cellular development which can aid in reducing inflammation, cholesterol and speed up recovery from disease
6. Help to relieve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
7. Improve hair, skin and nail health
8. Relieves insomnia as the magnesium content creates a soothing and relaxed sensation in the body
9. Iron content helps to reduce signs of anaemia such as fatigue and headaches
10. Regulates hormones and menopause symptoms

Below are some other key benefits of adding hemp into your diet

HOW TO USE IT

Add hemp seeds or hemp seed oil to your smoothies, acai bowls, raw treats, salads or dips. Best used raw for maximum nutritional benefits

You can also buy cosmetic products that contain hemp oil which improve skin health

THE HYPE UNCOVERED

So the hype is true, Hemp Seeds are delicious and nutritious!

At Coco Bliss Hemp seeds make a great nutritional addition to any smoothie or bowl. Add them in on your next visit!

Written by Mila King & Hemp Factory Australia

The Buzz

Did you know that a world without Bees is a world that cant exist in?

✶Bees are the one species on the planet that our food supply is dependent on

✶ Bees pollinate fruit, vegetable and nut crops

✶They contribute to 1/3 of ALL food on our plates

✶ “Over 65% of Australian Agriculture depends on bees, both wild, native and domesticated.”

– Jack Stone, Bee One Third

The Sting

✶ Around the world, contributing factors to bee decline are “disease, pests, habitat loss, lack of seasonal forage where there used to be plenty of food year around”

– Jack Stone, Bee One Third

✶ The unethical treatment and process of some practices are also responsible for the bee decline

✶ “On a large commercial scale, managed bees are treated as pure livestock, meaning they are handled in industrial manners to achieve targets and results. This happens through the need for efficiency and minimal manpower on hand.”

– Jack Stone, Bee One Third

✶ If bees were to become extinct, we would lose hundreds of crops pollinated by bees like Apples, Pears, Mangos, Plums, Almonds and Cashew’s

✶ Worldwide food supply would diminish in a few years, as would bird species due to lack of food

We spoke Jack Stone, founder of Bee One Third to find out more:

“We here at Bee One Third, try to treat our bees with the utmost respect. We only manage a few hives in comparison to the industrial honey farmers, meaning we are able to spend more time cautiously servicing the hives. This means less death from crushing bees, and less stress on the hive.

When we remove honey from our beehives, we always leave an acceptable amount in case the bees are hit with a drought in forage and food, keeping our bees happy and healthy is the main priority.

We do not use any chemicals inside our hives, opting for organic and chemical free interventions when needed. Often, these processes are slow acting, meaning our bees take longer to recover from whatever has got them down – but, I’m 100% against any industrial treatments.

All of our honey’s and product we create through the hives, from our honeycomb, bee pollen, local honey and beeswax, are all small batch, seasonal representations of the local flora in flower at that time of the season.”

– Jack Stone

Bee Kind

✶ Plant bee friendly plants in your garden and bee-aware of pesticides

✶ Buy bee products from local bee keepers with practices that are ethical and sustainable

Written by Mila King

Bee One Third

beeonethird.com

Bee One Third Instagram

It looks a little like ginger, until you cut into it and it looks a little like carrot. So what is Turmeric and how does this tiny little orange spice pack so much power?

Turmeric is often called a root vegetable, however its related to Ginger and is in fact a spice. It grows in Southeast Asia & is a staple in Indian & Asian diets and recipes. Its bright orange colour is highly pigmented and is often used as dye. Be careful, it really is powerful and stains quickly and easily!

So what is it exactly that has us so in awe of this little orange friend? Turmeric is best known for its anti inflammatory properties, and we now know that inflammation in the body is the biggest factor in cancer & disease. Inflammation is caused by things such as bad diet, sugar, gluten, allergens, stress, injuries, illness, pollution & pesticides. Inflammation is a sign of your immune system fighting hard and going into protective action. When symptoms of inflammation such as pain, heat, redness, and swelling dont subside quickly, its a sign of your immune system not working properly and allows inflammation to stick around longer than is healthy.

If you dig a little there are a plethora or reputable medical studies that have proven that turmeric and more specifically the natural wonder drug curcumin found in turmeric, have profound effects on fighting many different types of cancer. Curcumin is an incredible growth inhibitor of tumours and has been shown to inhibit the migration of cancerous cells. Although Turmeric alone isn’t a cancer cure, its proven benefits and positive effects are enough to make us add some to our daily diet and hope for the best.  Not to mention its potent antioxidant level will leave your skin glowing, so dose up.

You can get turmeric in ground spice form, however we love cold press juicing it for optimum benefits.  Our favourite blend can be found in all Coco Bliss stores now in our Immunity Shot: Cold pressed turmeric, ginger, lemon + a little raw honey.  Its small in a 30ml shot but its mighty. Try it and see how sharp your concentration becomes and how great you feel with regular consumption.

Turmeric, our true love x

A few months back we had some of the most beautiful, polite, confident children I’ve ever met come into our Bulimba store for a little chat on how refined sugar affects our bodies and moods, and some easy ways to replace refined processed sugars for kinder natural sugars and sweeteners.

These children were from Dream School, a home school based in Rochedale that believes in teaching kids about innovation and creativity and teaching their children outside the box (literally) to challenge their thinking. They had just finished watching “That Sugar Film” and what better place to come in and have a hands on experience enjoying unrefined foods than Coco Bliss.

Here’s a recipe we taught them and its one of our faves. Have a go yourself, its super easy and you can have some fun decorating them with different toppings and in fancy glasses for a delicious decadent tasting dessert that will impress your dinner party guests.

COCO BLISS RAW CHOC MOUSSE 

• 1 can coconut cream (full fat)
• 1tbl raw cacao powder
• 1tbl organic maple syrup*
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 4 medjool dates (pitted)
• 1tbl psyllium husk

*its important to use Organic Grade Maple from a Health Food store as this is high in minerals and contains no added sugar. Supermarket non organic maple has been heated and processed killing any health benefits

1. Blend all ingredients together except the psyllium husk.

2. Once blended and smooth add the psylium husk and re-blend briefly until mixed through.

3. Pour into serving cups immediately before it sets in the jug. Fill cup just over halfway as it will expand and you need to leave room for toppings.

4. In 2-3 hours it will be ready to garnish & serve. We love serving this vanilla coconut yoghurt and fresh berries

I am: High in fibre ✔

Gluten Free ✔

Vegan ✔

Rich in minerals & antioxidants ✔

Healthy serve of omega fats ✔

The last two weeks we’ve been working on photographing our new summer additions. We’re adding some fresh new additions to match our gorgeous Summer sun and sticky days and we’re giving some OG’s from way back when a little bit of a rest off the menu.
Think refreshing zesty flavours, gorgeous fleshy young coconut meat, luscious fresh juicy mango, icy cold watermelon frappe, and some new creations inspired by our recent trip to Bali.

Continue reading “Summer Menu Preview” →

#toastporn #cocobliss

Our scrumptious winter toast toppers are here! Choose from 4 delicious flavours : 

|  Avocado & Kale Pesto  |

|  Cottage Cheese & Mixed Berry + Goji’s  |

|  Peanut Butter & Banana + Raw Honey & Chia  |

|  Cottage Cheese & Fig + Fresh Blueberries  |

Available on GF & Rye, serving up until the end of August

Join us each Saturday morning throughout May at Bulimba Memorial Park for FREE Yoga from 8am-9am. What a way to kick off your Saturday morning with a stretch sesh and a recovery protein shake or smoothie for just $5 afterwards. All levels welcome, all ages, beginners don’t be shy there are plenty of us there.

Hope to see you there!

xx