Intro, Self esteem!

It can be difficult to spend money on clothes and make-up, when we struggle to put food on the table, eat healthy, or take care of our health.
Good food and supplements can be expensive, so things like clothes, shoes and make-up become more of a luxury than a necessity. Spending so many days at home or bedridden, why would you need to anyway? We may feel depressed and helpless...
When illness struck the first thing that goes out the window is your apperance. Yet we live in a world driven by image. It can be so difficult to keep up with trends and fashion, and conform to what society expects of us. It can feel so alien and superficial. We can feel left out, as if life is passing us by! I think who we are is not manifested by what we look like, but how we feel about ourselves...

I love fashion, i am a woman and i have been a model in my teens, so image has always played an important part of my personnality. When suddenly you struggle with putting a foot in front of the other, having a shower or remembering your name, everything changes. Everything is put into a new perspective. Suddenly you stop living, and you start trying to survive the best you can.When i go to hospital they always tell me to "manage" my illness. That's the toughest and most devastating words i have ever heard. I know they mean well, but healing, that's the miracle word!
Yet, for most of us it is not yet a reality, but hold on...
When it comes to appearance, i find that there's very little information about how it makes you feel. How it cripples you emotionnaly to be chronically ill.
When you don't look your best, you don't feel you best. And it's bound to affect your self esteem, and your moods.
As human being, what we look like is such a huge part of our persona and who we are. But we have to tell ourselves that we have the right to live and be happy and not just survive. We deserve to have beauty in our lives, and rebuild our self esteem. All can seem superflous and unimportant. But we need to keep ouselves motivated and strong. What you see in the mirror everyday is a reflection of your health, and not a reflection of you. All there is left is the illness, and it's like you've disappeared...
I don't want that for myself. And i want to show you how you can manage money to have a little of something beautiful for yourself. Wearing something new is good for the heart and soul! It keeps us motivated! We must nurture our souls to avoid falling into depression and despair, and lift our spirits.
Try to eat something sweet, see something that makes you smile, or read something that lifts you up. Buy clothes that makes you feel fabulous... Anything that makes you feel good!

But don't give up, that's the one thing you must never do.. Wherever life leads you, keep yourself on the path to recovery and health will follow...I am on this journey with you!

Review of Twisted Sista by Urban therapy...

Twisted Sista is a UK brand that is targeted at frizzy, curly and dry hair. What is great about their products is that they are completely free from Sulfates, Phthalates, Parabens and mineral oil.
Incorporating chemical free products in your hair routine is essential if you want beautiful healthy hair, but i have to admit, it can be costly. This range is so affordable at £2.00 per item, amazing value for money.
I have tried a few of their products and this is my honest opinion.
The 4 products i am reviewing are:
De- frizz shampoo
De- frizz Conditioner
30 seconds curl spray
Relaxing straightening creme

First the shampoo, that won the hair awards 2012. It is suppose to cleanse thirsty hair, and smoothe away frizz. I was very excited about trying a new sulfate-free shampoo and this one smells of melon.
It lathers well, but i found immediately that it lacked the moisturising power for my hair type. I have loose curls, and this did nothing for my dry hair. On the plus side, i found it very cleansing and left the hair soft. Good if you have product build up.
It wasn't terrible but didn't waouh me. I would use it once a month as a clarifying shampoo.

The conditioner has the same gorgeous melon scent, but once again after leaving it in my hair for 5 minutes, it didn't seem to lock in the moisture i needed, and i found it a bit drying, so didn't work for me. I would recommend if you have normal to oily hair.

The clear winner was the 30 second spray. I used it as a detangler. It comes out as a liquid rather than a mist, which i liked. It really worked well at managing the curls and added shine and definition . It contains Argan oil and Green tea so it's super nourishing long term as well.
I absolutely love this product and that's a definite repurchase for me.

The other product i loved, was the straightening creme. It comes out as a balm and i used it on wet hair before blow drying. I am really impressed with this product as well. I found that it smoothes, defrizzes and  leaves the hair amazingly silky. It gives you a really lovely shine without stickiness, and the hair feels light. The melon scent of the whole range is not too strong or sickly sweet, which i adore. Fantastic products!! 9/10
All available @ Superdrug, Boots, Sainsbury's. For more info visit www.twistedsista.com

Food diary update!

I haven't posted at all this week, my food diary was pretty much the same everyday. Cornflakes and almond milk in the morning with bananas or Goji berries, or a cup of tea with a Nakd bar.
I also really love the Trek bars. They are wheat, dairy and gluten free. My favourite is morning berry.
Available £1.39 @ Holland and barett and Sainsbury's. They also have chocolate and coconut flavour.

For lunch, i didn't stray from my usual Rye bread with red pepper hummus and cherry tomatoes, with a sprinkle of cayenne and sea salt. On certain days, i added a slice of Quorn bacon to add interest. It has a lovely smokey flavor, and it's perfect for sandwiches.

For dinner, I either had red rice with vegetables, chopped tomatoes, red onions, baby sweetcorn, red peppers and Quorn and a salad of red cabbage, with hummus.

Or Spanish potatoes with Paprika, and Quorn, and a large salad of red leaves, tomatoes, red peppers, red cabbage with chili mayonnaise. I also added baby beetroots and fresh chili peppers.

For afternoon snacks and treats, i had my usual red grapes and black olives combo.

 I had some radishes with sea salt and cayenne .

I also discovered Mrs Crimble's gluten free range. Two from the range stood out, the bakewell slices and the large chocolate macaroon.
The bakewell slices comes in a pack of four and tastes of real almond, they are fairly sweet, but lovely with a sponge on top and a biscuit base .They are gluten free and vegetarian but not suitable for vegans as they contain eggs. I would say to eat them in moderation, because they are quite high in sugar, but OK for a treat, once in a while. Available £1.15 @www.ocado.com  and Sainsbury's.

The macaroons taste even sweeter, they contain coconut and chocolate. I found that half would have been enough for me, and i really needed a cup of unsweetened tea to go with it.
They are gluten and wheat free, suitable for vegetarians.  I would recommend them only as an occasional treat, but they taste delicious! £0.69 @ Sainsbury's and Holland and Barett.

I also drank 4 to 5 cups of my usual winter tea. Redbush, coconut milk and mixed spices.

M&S make a nice Detox tea, and i am trying it out! It contains Nettle, Dandelion, peppermint, Burdock root, Aniseed, and milk thistle that detox the liver and hepls to flush out toxins. £1.29.

Food diary day 7!

It is Sunday today and i am having a quiet day. For breakfast i only had a cup of tea with spices.
So for lunch i had a nakd bar with Soya crunchies and a banana. Which is high in Potassium and a good source of carbohydrates.

For dinner i had a baked potatoes with stir fry vegetables, red peppers, baby corn, Quorn, olives, red onions and chopped tomatoes. I also added a red cabbage salad with hummus.

I also drank several herbal teas, and lots of water.  One of my favorite brand is Twinings, because they only use good quality ingredients. I also love Clipper organics, and Teapigs.
I often don't need as much food around the house at the end of the week, because i want to make sure i am drinking a lot more liquids. I also drink tomato juice with a little cayenne.

I usually shop on Sunday on the website and get delivered once a week, on Thursday. If you have M.E using the Internet or home delivery is a good option. Asda.com and Ocado are great companies, but there's also TESCO, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose, and a few others...
The delivery charges is around £3. www.asda.com or www.ocado.com

Food diary, day 6!

For breakfast i had my usual cornflakes with almond milk and coconut sugar. It gives a slight caramel taste, and it livens up an unexciting dish. You can add slices bananas and strawberries, as well.

For lunch, i wasn't feeling hungry so i had a small bowl of grapes with olives. This is full of antioxidants, a little protein from the olives, and fibre, vitamins and minerals form the grapes.
Grapes are excellent for your skin, and your digestive system. I prefer mine seeded. Always choose red grapes or black grapes for the best nutrition. Try to avoid white grapes, as they tend to be sweeter. They can really upset your insulin and spike your blood sugar levels sky high, especially non seeded varieties.

For dinner, i had a small salad of chicory, cherry tomatoes, and red cabbage, with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice.
I baked a McCain ready potatoes for 30 minutes, and added cayenne and salt. With all this i had two slices of Quorn bacon stripes, that adds a nice barbecued flavour to the dish.
( Get help with you can't use the oven) I use a JML Haloware oven that super convenient if you find hard to bend down, or use the conventional oven. It bakes, roast, and cook twice faster than a normal oven. It has changed my life!! Available @www,jml.com or www.argos.com £59.99

In the evening i had a soothing cup of tea, with frothy almond milk, helps me to relax. I wish i had some hot chocolate left, i use the Green and Black cocoa powder, that definitely needs to be added to my shopping list for next week!

Food diary, Day 5!

I started the day having a cup of my usual tea* and a chocolate Nakd bar, they come in a pack of 4 for £2.29 Available@www.ocado.com

I had a slice of rye bread for lunch with pepper hummus, cherry tomatoes, and cayenne powder.
Rye bread is a dark grain that is much healthier than wheat, it does contain Gluten, but it is considered an Ancient grain, like Spelt, Kamut or Quinoa. It is a good source of fibre and minerals, Potassium, Iron.and Magnesium .Healthy grains can help with your digestive process if you suffer from IBS, and are a good source of carbohydrates. You can also try wheat free breads, but i find they contain too many processed ingredients so beware. But they are always an option!

For dinner, i made something easy. I had some meat free chilli, with chopped tomatoes, and Quorn mince, you can add red kidney beans, as long as they are not from a can. Available at Tesco 65p from their organic range, in brick.

I added some natural Corn tacos, and i made a salad with chicory leaves, and salsa.
For the salsa, chop tomatoes red onions, red peppers, add olive oil and cayenne and mix together.
(Ask help if you find difficult to use knives, or buy a ceramic or plastic knife, they work well for vegetables.) Spoon the mixture onto the chicory leaves. You can also add slices of avocado if you like.

I ended the evening with my usual cup of herbal brew... Day 5 Complete!

Love heals...

I am having a really hard few days, but i am trying to keep my spirit up. It can be really frustrating when your body is not cooperating with what your mind wants to do. I am comitted to post everyday but i am concerned that i may not be able to do that at some point, no matter how much i want to. So you will have to forgive me if that happens. It has become such an important part of my recovery to do this blog, and it means a lot to me. If you ask every person who has an illness what they want for this new year, it is to be healthy, or to be on the path to recovery. No we musn't feel sorry for ourselves! We need to keep going until the end of the tunnel is in view, that's the goal...
My advice for anyone out there who is suffering whatever pain you may feel, physically or emotionnaly is to look towards the future and never the past. And say to yourself,  i will have health, i will be OK, i deserve it! For myself, i need to manage setbacks better and keep with my diet. I tend to stop feeling hungry when i feel fatigued, and i eat very little, my body just wants to save energy and sleep. That in turns deprives me of vital nutrients and energy, so i have to push myself a bit. I had to use painkillers again, and i made myself a promise i would not do that. But that's life, don't beat yourself about it!
I had a very bad pain in my left arm over two days, and that always freaks me out, that's Fibromyalgia for you...
I feel like i have fallen down the steps, or been runned down by a bus. Every part of my body aches. People wonder what is it like living with M.E? Physically, chronic pain and fatigue. Emotionally It's like an up and down corridor and you cannot see the end. All the hopes that you had at some point they just vanish. It is in those moments that we realise how strong we can be, and discover our ability to forgive, love and laugh. Maybe we ask too little for ourselves...
Are we punishing ourselves, instead of loving ourselves? Did we choose suffering over love? Maybe illness is a story about neglect and not loving ourselves enough, and loving others too much, giving too much.
I understand that before you can heal others, you must love your body and yourself. Maybe there is a reason for everything, and maybe all is just a test, and a lesson. I think we are here to learn, all is a learning process When i visualize myself, i don't just imagine i am well but that i have optimum health. I think we all deserve this. I feel like i understand the mechanism of what makes me ill, is it the body fighting the spirit. The mind versus the heart.
The human self is a symbiosis of those two elements, we are fusing together the soul and the self.

Perhaps the greatest tool i have on my side for this journey, is my heart, and i know it will tell me what to do. The human heart is the most fantastic weapon against darkness, and so is love. Love heals, that's a fantastic thought to hold on to...
When i am in those moments of doubts, this will keep me fighting!

An important film for M.E sufferers, their family or carers...

This film is a very important documentary made by Kim Snyder, an American film maker. She has M.E herself. It shows what life is like for chronic fatigue sufferer and what it is all about... Please feel free to share. Thank you.

ME association for confidential help and support call: 0844 576 5326 for the UK
It is open everyday, 10 am-12/2 pm-4/7-9 pm see the website for more information www.meassociation.org.uk

Food Diary day 4!

For breakfast, i had my usual organic cornflakes, with almond milk and Goji berries.
I also drank a small glass of pomegranate juice. Drinking pomegranate juice is one of the way to introduce pomegranate into your diet. You can also get prepared seeds, that you can sprinkle on salads, or in soya, or coconut yogurts.
Pomegranates contains the highest antioxidants known to man, even before Acai, green tea and blueberries. Is is a super food that contains Folic acid, vit C, vit E and A. It is also a good source of minerals. Iron, potassium, phosphorous, thiamine. It is extremely beneficial for the heart and the skin. The Egyptians were known to consider pomegranate the highest of all food, and i can see why. So much nutrition in those tiny little seeds. Always buy your juice unsweetened, i like the brand Pomegreat.
Available £1.50@www.ocado.com and most supermarkets.

For lunch, i had a slice of organic rye bread, with pepper hummus, and fresh cherry tomatoes; black olives, and red pepper, sprinkle with cayenne powder.
I also had a few radishes, slightly salted. Plus a large glass of tomato juice.
The benefit of tomatoes and tomato juice is well known and documented. This is why people in the Mediterranean live so long. Tomatoes are probably the healthiest food in the world. They contain Lycopene that protect your heart against deterioration, and it keeps your blood healthy by balancing Iron in the blood which is essential for red cells production. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. Tomato are anti ageing and protect your skin from free radicals, and wrinkles. they can prevent heart disease, lower cholesterol, and prevent most type of cancers. I eat them everyday, and they taste fantastic!! There are so many varieties to choose from cherry, plum, rainbow.. My number 1 food!!

For dinner, i had some red rice, a stir fry made of baby corn, red onions, Quorn chicken, and small red peppers. Throw everything in the pan, fry with olive oil or coconut oil, and you're pretty much done, it's really simple. Takes about 10 minutes!
I also had a small salad with chicory leaves, red cabbage, and some hummus on top.
I drank my usual teas, 4 to 5 cups, and herbal teas as usual.

My food diary, day three...

Breakfast:
- Cup of tea*
- Organic cornflakes from Whole Earth with goji berries, almond milk and Linwoods flaxseeds with bio cultures, and vitamin D.
Almond milk is very soothing to the gut, it contains unsaturated fats, and fibre. It also has benefits of several bones building nutrients like Calcium. protein and B vitamins, Vit E for the skin and Iron. Always choose the unsweetened version, you can always add your own sweetener afterwards.

I really love Linwoods milled flaxseeds, i will do a review in the near future, on the whole range.
Available@ www.hollandandbarrett.com
Whole earth cornflakes £1.49 a box available @www.ocado.com and ASDA


Lunch:
- Black olives mixed with red seeded grapes.
- Red skin peanuts

I absolutely love the combination of the salted olives and the refreshing grapes, that's one of my favourite lunch or snack anytime during the day.
Red grapes and olives are a fantastic source of antioxidants. Black olives are also a protein and contain important minerals like zinc, potassium, and iron.
Red skin peanuts are high in fibre and vitamin E, also you can substitute for almonds, Pecan or Walnuts. If you have a nut allergy try sunflower, flaxeeds or pumpkins seeds.
Eating nuts and seeds in the winter is essentials to your well being, they can lower cholesterol and keep the heart healthy Vitamin E and omega 3, are anti ageing, and keep your joint supple and flexible, therefore reducing inflammation. Plus, they taste really great.

Snack; My favourite Earl grey tea and a nakd bar, Berry delight!
I always get really sleepy during mid afternoon so i find drinking Earl grey does really lift up my spirit.
I recommend drinking Earl Grey if you have ME, and Redbush tea, or Roiboos, that contains no caffeine, fantastic with almond or coconut milk...
Nakd bars are a healthy substitute if you need a sugar fix like me. It is made with dates, cashews. raisins, and raspberries, pressed together raw and voila. No nasties!!

Dinner:
- Spelt spaghetti with chopped tomatoes, Quorn, chickpeas, red peppers. I added nutritional yeast with B12, as a Fake Parmesan, and olive oil.
- Red cabbage, red salad leaves, with red onions, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. That's my third day complete!!

My easy everyday bodycare routine...

I have switched my routine lately when it comes to my body care, so i thought i would share with you what i am using. I have decided to keep things really simple and get back to basic. I am only using a few things, and i have to admit they are not all 100% natural but well it seems to suit my skin well, at the moment..

I am using:
- Be fine Amber fantasy body lotion
- Melvita eau de toilette with Cinammon and Orange
- Melvita Relaxing leg gel
- Be fine body spray in sensual seduction
- Dove pure and sensitive soap

I have two body lotions from the company Be fine. A body souffle called Amber fantasy, and another called Love romance. This fantastic brand is from the US. They never test on animals. It is Vegan and doesn't contain Parabens, allergens, fragrance and preservative. Amber fantasy is a blend of black cherry, creme anglaise and Sandalwood, and that's my favorite.
If you don't like very strong scented body lotion, you won't like this, it smells really fruity and is super moisturising. It actually between a lotion and a cream so brilliant for dehydrated skin and perfect for winter. The packaging and design is great, and the bottle is easy to use.
The be fine body spray is super sweet and lasts for hours, it is an all over body mist, and has no Parabens, preservatives, additive or synthetic fragrances. Highly scented and luxurious!

Available in the UK @www.fragrancedirect.co.uk £2.50 or @www.befine.com

Melvita has done it again for me, i really enjoy using this Eau de toilette. It lasts well for an all organic product, and smells of spices and oranges. Really comforting on a cold winter's day. £12 on offer. (50% off) Lots of other fragrances available!  If you are sensitive to synthetic fragrances, i really recommend this. 5 stars!
I also use their relaxing leg gel , because i suffer from poor circulation and heavy legs. This works amazing as it contains menthol and an anti fatigue amino acid called Aspaline. It has Arnica, good for healing the venal sysytem, calendula for soothing, green coffee, rosemary for drainage, and passion flower.
Harpagophytum is a plant from the Kalahari desert which is anti-inflammatory and soothing.
This plant complex gel is certified organic, and 98% of the ingredients are from natural origin. available @www.melvita.com

Yes, i have switched to a soap. I found that even natural body washes were drying my skin. I was using Halos and Horns baby wash for a while, but my skin was playing up a bit, and felt dry. I tried the Dove Pure and sensitive just on a whim as it was £1 at Asda. And i have to say i really like it. It contains no Parabens or fragrance, has no SLS, and is hypoallergenic. It is not really natural but it foams well and my skin feels super clean afterwards. the scent is mild and pleasant. On the whole this is a great product and the price is great. available at www.asda.com, and at retailers nationwide.

The amazing benefit of Pau d'arco...

There is a tree from the amazonian jungle called Tabebuia, also called Pau d'arco, it grows 100 feet tall and has beautiful flowers ranging from pink to yellow. What is amazing is that it is not in the flowers that active ingredients are found but within its bark.
The Incas and south american native populations have been using the tea made of this wonder bark, for hundreds of years. It is an all purpose remedie for colds, flu, toothaches, headaches, and as a general tonic for health.
So what's so amazing about this herb? The recent studies done on Pau d'arco have been looking at a compound called Lapacho, or Lapachol, and it showed to be effectice against Malaria, and especially certain type of Cancer, Lupus, Fibromalgia, arthritis, inflammation and parasites. It is also a powerful antioxidants.
Pau d'arco also contains Quercetin, and bioflavanoids.
In the US, it can be sold in tablets, liquid syrup, and in dilution of alcohol, while in the UK, the brand Rio amazon sells it in tea bags, which is very convenient and safer.
I think we should respect this natural herb and drink it as a tea, like the Incas did. It is safe as a tea, but can become toxic in large quantities, as it can thin the blood and stops it from clotting. Any kind of tablet of this herb should not be purchased or consumed. When it comes to the tea alone you can use it on wounds with a cotton pad, ear infection, gargle with it if you suffer from toothache. It has anti viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Used responsibly, it works amazing on the skin, to desinfect and keep germs at bay.
I once perforated my tympanic membrane and it was bleeding badly, and got infected. I was in a lot of pain and discomfort! I made a tea with Pau d'arco and a few drops of tea tree, and washed the inside of my ear for a week with the mixture slighly warmed up. It healed amazing and prevented infection, without the use of anything else. I was pretty amazed!
I have to mention that it is not safe to drink Pau d'arco if you are pregnant, or breatsfeeding, like most herbal remedies, it needs to be used with care.
It has a bitter taste, and like most bitter herb, it stimulates the liver and kidneys and detoxifcation. If you have Lupus, cancer, M.E/ chronic fatigue syndrome, acne, viral illnesses, i recomend trying this herb. Once or twice a day, 4 to 5 times a week and see if you get results. Please let me know in the comment section if you have success with this herb. Thank you!

Food diary, day two...

This morning i didn't feel really hungry so i thought i would start with a cup of my usual tea*, and a super nutritious little snack called goji berries.
Goji berries are grown predominantly in China and Tibet. They have been used in Chinese medicine  for hundreds of years for longevity. They are usually known to boost the immune system. They also can be drunk as a tea to help with digestive problems, and fighting infection.
Goji berries are known as a Superfood, they contain fibre and high levels of antioxidants that protect against cell damage. they also contain Protein, 18 amino acids, vit C, calcium, iron, Potassium, Zinc, Selenium, Vit B2, Beta carotene, and polysaccharides. Lyceum Barbarum, or wolf berries as they are known, are fantastic for the brain. They improve cognition, reflexes and longevity. Lyceum means knowledge in Latin because people believed that goji berries held the key to knowledge. Try not to drink the juice but eat the whole fruit instead, to get the full nutrition. They are safe to eat, especially if you purchase them from supermarkets, like Asda, Tesco, or Ocado.
But remember, they are imported from China where the ecosystem is out of balance,  so they can contain high levels of Mercury, pesticides, and organophosphates. Washing them or soaking them into water, isn't really effective, so try to buy from mainstream retailers, where the berries have been tested for pesticides residues. Anything sold in supermarkets has to be approved by the FSA (food standard agency) in the UK. FDA in the US.
The Tibetan ones are the safest and nicest ones to eat , but they also are the most expensive. Asda sells nice goji berries for £1.69 for 100gr. Tesco do their own ones at £1.75 for 100gr.
Tibetan berries sells from £7 to £26 in health shops.
A handful of berries at breakfast on their own, mixed with cereals, sprinkled into yogurt, or into smoothies is a good way to up your nutrition. They taste pleasant, slightly sweet and not too bitter. If you don't like the taste try adding them to a trail mix, add sultanas, raisins, nuts or seeds, and enjoy!!

Lunch: My usual soup of the day. Coven garden Slow roasted tomato and basil soup On offer @Ocado buy one get one free £2.29. www.ocado.com

Tonight for dinner i am having a salad of Chicory, Red onion, Red cabbage with lemon juice, Olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt. One jacket potato from MCain, and a mix of red peppers, chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, and Quorn. It's pretty easy to prepare, i simply warmed the mixture in a pan, for 10 minutes. Always get help if you cannot use the hob.
Try to make a salad that is half of your plate, 1/4 Protein and 1/4 Carbs.  Eating raw vegetables is so good for you, as all the nutrients, vitamins and enzymes are intact. Cooking destroys all enzymes and most vitamins. You get the best out of your diet when you eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
I also drink a large glass of pomegranate juice, from Pomegreat. £1.50 sold at Tesco, Sainsbury's...
It does not contain sugar and is super rich in antioxidants.

I am also drinking a sweet cup of herbal tea from Clipper organic called Snore and peace. It is a wonderful tea with chamomile, lavender flower, fennel seeds and lemon balm. It helps me to unwind in the evening. £1 on offer @Sainsbury's 20 organic teabags.
* Goodnight!!

My five tips to help with chronic fatigue!

It can be very difficult coping with a chronic illness, we are told to manage our symptoms and setbacks, but what other things can help...

1- Eat well, eat a balanced diet, and stay away from meat, dairy and gluten. Your digestive system will really reward you. The digestive process tends to slow down when a person is ill, making it difficult to get the essential nutrients for recovery. It is not what you put in your body that counts but what the body can absorb! So give yourself the best chances. Meat is also expensive, and difficult to cook, if you are unable to use the hob. Make the switch to Quorn, your body will thank you!

2- Drink lots of water. Filtered or bottle water. Also try to incorporate herbal teas, and hot drinks in you routine. This will help flushing toxins out of your kidneys and help with headaches and stiffness in the joints. Try redbush tea, Twinings berry flavoured tea, or Yogi Egyptian spice. www.ocado.com

3- Play some relaxing soothing music, try to breathe deeply, allowing your lungs to absorb more oxygen. It also helps with anxiety and stress. Try using play lists on your tube, there are plenty to choose from, sounds of nature like birds, waves or calming music! www.youtube.com

4- If like me you suffer from light sensitivity, i have found that using fairy lights works really well and always cheers me up!!

5- Use a heated blanket if you have poor circulation. Sit on the edge of your bed and move your legs up and down for a few minutes, taking deep breath.

Also open your window to let some fresh air if  you are not well enough to go out. It is really important to replenish the oxygen in your house, that is true for all illness, but especially for chronic fatigue. We tend to have more white cells, called Lymphocytes, than red cells. The red cells contain high level of iron and transport oxygen through the blood, this is why you may feel faint or have shortness of breath. You are lacking oxygen. Also if you are slim, like me, you could have slight low blood pressure after long period of rest. So moving a little or breathing deep can help. We want to avoid what is called deconditioning. It is what happens when we are not doing enough. Some sufferers come to rely on a wheelchair and cannot walk or do much but be in bed, as a result. We need to do as much as we can, even if it seems very little, like moving your legs, arms, and sitting up.