Red pepper hummus

I have been talking about making hummus for weeks, but just couldn't find the time. Yes, I know how lame this sounds, since hummus literally takes about 5 minutes to make. But now that I made it...I can't wait to make it again, since this one is already gone...It lasted less than 24 hours. And honestly, I'm not surprised.

I love hummus, any kind of it. But I think this is now my new favourite. The red pepper makes it taste soo light and fresh, put it on freshly baked bread- yuuumm.

It is so easy to make, so healthy and so delicious that I don't know why it took me so long to make it.

Ingredients.

• 1 can of chickpeas - drained, but hold on to the liquid from the can
• 3-5 tbs of lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbs olive oil- if needed to get the right consistency
• 1/2 red pepper
• 1/2 tsp of chili powder

How to.

1. Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from the can. Combine the remaining ingredients and add about 1/4 cup of the drained liquid. Put in a food processor and blend on low until smooth and thoroughly mixed. 
2. Add the olive oil if you feel the consistency is too thick.

This is very mild, for some people not spicy at all. If you want a spicier version add more chili powder.

The hummus can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

What is hummus and why it's good for you?

Hummus is a popular dish that originated in the Middle East. It is a spread, usually served with pita bread of flat bread. 

• It is loaded with nutrients such as: 

- Omega-3-fatty acids are necessary for out body  function properly. Studies show that they boost heart health and lower triglycerides. They help prevent cardiovascular disease, depression, bipolar disorders, Alzheimer's and dementia...Read more about the 61 health benefits 

- Iron

- Vitamin B6 - is a vitamin needed for proper function of about 60 enzymes in out body. It contributes in the manufacturing of serotonin, which is a naturally occurring chemical in out brain that makes us feel happy and promotes feelings of well-being. Vitamin B6 also plays a major part in the production of hemoglobin and cells within our immune system.

- Copper

- Folic acid - also helps prevent cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and some forms of cancer. 

- Amino acids - tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine are among the AA that can promote good quality sleep and uplift your mood.

• Chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus. They are a favourite among vegetarians and sportsmen, because they are rich in protein. Another amazing thing about chickpeas is, that they don't contain any cholesterol of saturated fats- they can prevent build up of cholesterol in blood vessels and also help maintain blood sugar levels.

Exercise plateau and how to stop it + the benefits of rollerblading

I went roller blading yesterday with my fitness buddy Sasha. We decided to sub our 6km run for a roller blade session and shake up our cardio routine. It was amazing. SO MUCH FUN.

I decided to write a short post about the benefits of rollerblading, since I feel like people don’t really give it enough credit. It is an amazing cardio workout, perfect to break your routine, and mix things up. Like I mentioned in a previous post about jumping rope- boredom is one of the main causes of people not following through with their exercise routines. You need to shake things up every once in a while, to keep them interesting. But changing things up isn’t only good to fight boredom. Its also key to continious progress. If you keep doing the same thing, your body will get used to it. Your muscles will get used to it, and you will reach a plateau. This doesn’t mean that the exercise you are doing isn’t doing your body good. Any type of activty that raises your heart rate is good for your heart and lungs. But once you get in shape, you need to challenge your muscles, you need to make them work harder, faster, stronger if you want to see continuous progress in your strength, speed, endurance.  

Ok, so what to do? This goes for all workouts- weight training, flexibility training or cardio. You need to keep yourself on your toes, you need to keep things interesting and challenging.

This week, we decided to mix things up with one of our cardio sessions- by rollerblading. Fun, fun, fun :D And also very, very, very good for you.

Here are some reasons why you should try to include it in your excercise routine:

1. Muscular endurance - Sources report that rollerblading is one is the most advantageous workouts for muscle development, even more so than running or bicycling. It builds up the upper leg muscles, hips and lower back muscles. You also engage all of the muscles needed to stabilaze the upper body, which include your back and abdominal muscles.

2. Maintain weight - rollerblading is an excellent cardio workout. It burns more calories than running

3. Low impact cardio - If you are looking for a low-impact cardio workout, rollerblading is generally one of the best alternatives. The foot-to-ground impact is kept to a minimum, which means there is less stress placed on your joints and muscles. Exchanging a couple of aerobic workouts every week with rollerblading could improve your knee health and prevent injuries

Infused water

Drink water! Don’t drink juices containing loads of added sugars. A great alternative to plain water is infused water! I made some mint and lemon infused water and it was AWESOMEEEE :) seriously- good hydration is key to feeling AND looking your best! So drink up, my darlings!