Monthly Archives: March 2024

Sourdough Hot Cross Buns Recipe

As Easter approaches, the season ushers in a plethora of indulgent treats, but who says you can’t enjoy the festivities while nourishing your body at the same time? At elénzia, we believe in celebrating traditions without compromising on health. This Easter, we’re excited to share a recipe that combines the time-honoured tradition of hot cross buns with the nutritional benefits of sourdough and wholesome ingredients.

Why Sourdough?

Sourdough isn’t just a delicious bread; it’s a nutritional powerhouse backed by science. The fermentation process involved in making sourdough not only enhances its flavour but also brings about numerous health benefits. During fermentation, beneficial bacteria and yeast work their magic, breaking down gluten and phytic acid, making nutrients more bioavailable and easier to digest. This means that even individuals with gluten sensitivities may find sourdough more tolerable than conventional bread.

Nutrient-Rich Ingredients

🌾 Whole Wheat Flour: Rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals, whole wheat flour supports digestive health, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and provides sustained energy throughout the day.

🐝 Natural Sweeteners: We’ve opted for honey or maple syrup instead of refined sugars. These natural sweeteners not only add sweetness but also offer antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that refined sugars lack.

🧈 Healthy Fats: Coconut oil or butter provides essential fatty acids necessary for brain function, hormone production, and nutrient absorption.

🧂 Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice not only enhance the flavour profile of the buns but also boast antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting overall health and well-being.

🥜 Fruits & Nuts: Raisins, currants, orange zest, and nuts contribute vitamins, minerals, and fibre, promoting heart health, immune function, and satiety.

🍫 Dark Chocolate (optional): Dark chocolate, if added, brings its own set of benefits, including flavonoids that support heart health, cognitive function, and mood regulation.

Full Recipe

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Brain Age: How to Turn Back the Cognitive Clock

Have you ever wondered if your brain has its own clock, ticking away the years? It’s not about the wrinkles or the grey hairs; it’s about the concept of brain age. Let’s dive into what it means for us and discover how we can keep our minds vibrant and full of life, regardless of the numbers on our birthdays.

What is Brain Age?

Imagine if your brain had a birth certificate of its own, indicating how well it’s holding up against the passage of time. That’s essentially the idea behind the concept of brain age. It’s a measure of how efficiently your brain is functioning compared to an average brain at a specific age. In other words, it reflects the health and performance of your brain, providing insights into cognitive abilities, memory, and overall mental agility.

How is Brain Age Calculated?

Various factors contribute to determining your brain age, including lifestyle habits, genetics, and overall health. Cognitive assessments, often involving memory tests, problem-solving challenges, and reaction time evaluations, are used to gauge cognitive performance. Advanced imaging techniques, like MRI scans, may also play a role in assessing brain structure and function.

Tips to Improve Your Brain Age:

Now that we understand the concept, let’s explore ways to defy the aging process and optimise our brain age:

Stay Physically Active: Regular exercise isn’t just beneficial for your body; it’s a powerful ally for your brain. Physical activity improves blood flow, encourages the growth of new neurons, and supports overall cognitive function. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to keep your brain in top shape.

Feed Your Brain Well: Embrace a brain-boosting diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals. Foods like fatty fish, berries, leafy greens, and nuts have been linked to improved cognitive function. Consider incorporating elénzia ENHANCE™ into your routine, our brain health supplement containing a unique combination of nutrients vital for cognitive function and clinically proven to improve working memory by 60%, increase brain energy by 13.6%, improve concentration in 40 minutes and reduce theoretical brain age by 10 years.

Challenge Your Mind: Engage in activities that stimulate your brain, such as puzzles, games, and learning new skills. These mental challenges help create new neural connections and keep your brain sharp. Whether it’s solving crosswords, playing chess, reading, or picking up a musical instrument, find activities that make your brain work a little harder.

Prioritise Quality Sleep: Adequate and restful sleep is crucial for cognitive function. During sleep, your brain consolidates memories, clears toxins, and rejuvenates itself. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to support optimal brain health.

Manage Stress: Chronic stress can take a toll on your brain. Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga. These activities not only promote relaxation but also positively impact cognitive function.

Your brain age is not set in stone; it’s a dynamic aspect of your health that you can influence. By adopting a brain-friendly lifestyle, you have the power to improve cognitive function, enhance memory, and maintain mental agility. Embrace these habits, and watch as your brain age becomes a testament to the vitality and resilience of your most important organ.

Try out the Brain Age Test by The Telegraph to find out how old your brain is.

elénzia RESTORE™ – The Data

Collagen Type II (Porcine Collagen)

Joint Health & Mobility

Joint pain is a prevalent issue, particularly among older adults, leading to discomfort and hindrance in movement. Cartilage damage, a common culprit, occurs due to the natural wear and tear of the tough, shock-absorbent tissues that cushion bones within the joint. Consequently, when this protective layer is compromised, inflammation and pain ensue. Age-related conditions like osteoarthritis affect many individuals over 45, resulting in pain during walking and stiffness following movement. Similarly, rheumatoid arthritis manifests as pain and stiffness that exacerbate with activity.

Type 2 collagen, a significant protein found in human connective tissues, cartilage, and bones, plays a crucial role in enhancing cartilage strength and elasticity through the formation of amino acid chains. However, as we age, collagen production diminishes, contributing to increased joint stiffness. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, is a key component found in elénzia RESTORE™, specifically, Collagen Type II (Porcine Collagen), which provides strength and elasticity to our joints. Research indicates that Collagen Type II (Porcine Collagen) can effectively reduce joint pain and improve mobility, particularly in individuals suffering from osteoarthritis.

Skin Health

As we age, our skin undergoes significant changes, including thinning, reduced elasticity, and increased fragility. Decreased production of natural oils can lead to dryness, while wrinkles, age spots, and skin tags become more prevalent. Additionally, collagen degradation outpaces its replenishment in aging skin. Factors such as UV damage, smoking, stress, and poor diet can accelerate this decline in collagen levels, exacerbating the aging process.

Protein, a fundamental component present in every cell, constitutes approximately one-third of our body mass. Collagen, the most abundant protein, plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of our skin, muscles, bones, and joints, distributed throughout various bodily tissues. Collagen Type II (Porcine Collagen), comprising lengthy chains of amino acids, forms a sturdy framework that facilitates the cohesion of skin cells. However, collagen levels naturally decline with age, beginning around 20 years old and diminishing by roughly 1% annually. This decline affects the skin’s elasticity, reducing the likelihood of sagging or loose skin and promoting a smoother, more youthful appearance. Additionally, collagen helps mitigate and prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, while also maintaining skin hydration for a youthful complexion.

Collagen Type II has been shown to improve skin health through double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical studies.

Collagen Type II (Porcine Collagen) emerges as a vital ingredient for joint health and mobility, combating prevalent issues like joint pain and stiffness, particularly in age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis. Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in maintaining skin health, countering the effects of aging such as thinning, reduced elasticity, and dryness. Through its ability to promote skin strength, elasticity, and hydration, Collagen Type II (Porcine Collagen) exemplifies elénzia RESTORE™‘s dedication to holistic well-being, supported by robust clinical evidence.

In Conversation With Elizabeth, Co-Founder

From building a brand alongside her mother, elénzia’s co-founder Elizabeth found her passion in holistic wellness, specifically looking at health from a 360-degree perspective. In admiration of all powerful women, we catch a glimpse inside her life while balancing business, motherhood and health.

Your journey into skincare and wellness started with the loving care from your mother. Can you share a cherished memory or lesson about self-care that your mom passed down to you?

Growing up, and still to this day, my Mum has looked immaculate every single day. I can’t remember a day when I was younger when she didn’t spend the time to look after herself in the morning, even with 4 children! This has been my key lesson from her, to take the time to take care of yourself and do what makes you feel good. She also has amazing skin and spends a good half an hour each night on her skincare routine.

Reflecting on your journey with a melanoma diagnosis at a young age, what has shaped the approach you take towards healthy living?

Being a mum and prioritising what matters to me. You never know what is going to happen in life and finding out I had a cancerous mole at the age of 24, despite never having been on a sunbed in my life, proves that. Therefore, you can’t live your life from the point of view of “what could happen to my health in the future”, but you must determine what is important in life for you and your family, and understand what health and wellness changes you might need to make. For example, for me at this moment, immunity is a top priority. Not only am I pregnant, but I have a two-year-old son, so this winter I made sure to prioritise all my family’s immune health to protect each other and make sure our daily routines aren’t impacted by illness.

As a woman in your 30s, expecting a new addition to your family, has your perspective on nutrition and skincare evolved, and what practices do you find most essential for your wellbeing during this time?

I think it’s evolved to finding what fits in with my daily routine, as opposed to having to change my daily routine to fit around a health or wellness goal. Skincare has remained an important element within my day-to-day and something that I value as part of my overall wellness. However, it can easily be one of the first things to fall by the wayside when you just want to take your make-up off and crawl into bed at the end of a long day. So, I try to keep my skincare routine as minimal but impactful as possible, as that’s what works for me. I combine key ingredients that I know work for my skin concerns and will make a difference – I’m currently using Endor Technologies® Pure Cleansing Milk, P-Biotic Toner, Eye Cream and Anti-Aging Cream, combined with The Ordinary’s Niacinamide and Zinc Serum (and of course an SPF for the day!).

Short and long-term cognitive health is also something that is important. My Granny had Alzheimer’s for quite a while in her later life, therefore I know that it is something that could be genetic, so being aware of my long-term brain health and performance is something I’m conscious of… From a daily perspective, it’s not easy being a working mum – especially when functioning on 3 hours of sleep – that’s why I need to try and be as focused and productive as possible during the working day. The combination of these elements for cognitive health is actually the key reason elénzia ENHANCE™ was born!

How has your experience shaped the values and mission of elénzia, catering to the needs of women with similar challenges?

Being a full-time working mum has definitely shaped the vision of elénzia. Ultimately, it’s about products that work. No one wants to waste their time and money on trying a multitude of different skincare and nutrition products when they have a health need today that needs solving. That’s why we make sure that we spend that time ensuring that clinical trial data for our products and ingredients is truly going to maximise efficacy for our customers.

We make sure that we put the thought, care and time into creating our products so that they are tailored to our customers’ everyday needs and long-term goals. It’s from both my own and my family’s experiences, that we have focused on the importance of health longevity and vitality with our brand and products. Having the multi-generational element to elénzia allows us to empathise with our customers and provide products that we know will make a real impact on their lives.

Juggling motherhood and business can often lead to stress. Have you found a way to navigate stress and ensure that it doesn’t cast a shadow over your work and home life?

It’s probably best to ask my husband this question… unfortunately, there are always going to be ebbs and flows within life that make certain times very difficult and lead to stress. During these periods I try to talk about how I’m feeling with my family and friends so that it doesn’t impact me mentally. In the past, I tended to bottle things up, so taking this approach has helped me during those challenging times.

To fellow women, juggling various roles, what advice can you offer for integrating a holistic approach to health and wellness into their routines?

Understand your health and wellness priorities. Find solutions that you can work into your existing routines so that you can stay on top of them.

This Mother’s Day, what three affirmations can you leave for women who may be seeking that delicate balance between caring for their families, running a business, and nurturing themselves?

1- Have confidence in yourself.

2- Seek help when you need it.

3- Take time to look after yourself.

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