Nurture & Nourish with Slow Cooking

Digestion is one of the most delicately balanced of all human and perhaps angelic functions.
-Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)
I have often thought of this quote in the past when battling digestive issues. I used to suffer horribly from heartburn and acidic reflux in my late 20’s to early thirties and yes absolutely my food and lifestyle choices at the time where to blame for my dependency on antacids like Tums and Mylanta. Little did I know back then, it was an under production of Hydrochloric acid which was partly responsible for my symptoms along with a parasite infection to boot!

I like many people with digestive disorders used to constantly feel like I was battling to lose the paunch belly look when in fact my abdominal wall was distended as a result of inflammation caused by my lifestyle choices at the time.

Individuals that suffer from digestive disorders will often feel like they plateau very quickly in there exercise program while recovery and sustaining good energy levels are often a challenge, all of which can lead to one giving up or losing motivation.

15 years on and I’m healthier on the inside now than I was then. Yes healing is a process, which requires a holistic approach, patients, and often the courage to embrace less orthodox methods.

Amongst the many protocols that helped me heal my gut was slow cooking.
One of many reasons is the temperature used in slow cooking retains more of the vital nutrients from vitamins, minerals and enzymes that other cooking methods involving high temperatures do not. Secondly, the cuts of meat suitable for slow cooking are more nutrient dense in comparison to lean cuts of meat, which also more expensive, so now your saving on the pennies too. The wisdom for retaining nutrients has been applied by our elders throughout all primitive cultures in ways such as slow braising, fermenting and preserving. Flesh protein when broken down and tenderised over time at a low temperature isn’t just nutritionally better but it’s actually a whole lot easier on the digestive system to digest, requiring less energy than it would to brake down meats that are grilled or barbequed, which means more energy can go to healing the digestive system. Today more than ever we are embracing these cooking methods as a way of restoring our gut health and improving our overall health and wellbeing.

This months cooking class is dedicated to exploring the art of slow cooking, which lends it’s self to create the most mouth watering curries, stews, casseroles and slow roasted joints of meat. There are also particular fruits and vegetables that lend themselves beautifully to the benefits of slow cooking and we will be creating some delicious healthy desserts the whole family will enjoy.

If you’d like to join us for our next “Nurture & Nourish with Slow Cooking” class then you can book here