Berry protein smoothie

Here’s a favourite protein smoothie packed full of protein, fresh berries and abundant superfoods. Based on my clinical experience in Chinese medicine, weight gain for the fit and healthy person is predominantly due to fluid retention, dampness, cold and bloating in the gut. It’s amazing what a few days of warming foods – such as a lightly spiced pumpkin soup or curry – can do, yes even on a hot day. Therefore try to avoid raw food and cold salads especially those straight from the fridge.

I add a pinch of cayenne pepper to most drinks – great with chai – when I am rebuilding my digestive system. The substance in chillies (and cayenne) that makes them hot is called capsicum. Capsicum promotes thermogenesis and thermogenesis is your best friend when it comes to fat burning as it is the process by which the body generates heat, or energy, by increasing the metabolic rate above normal. This rise in metabolic rate is referred to as the thermogenic effect – and that’s just what you need if you have a slow, sluggish metabolism.