Why it's ok to indulge in Chocolate, Wine, Bread, Coffee and other guilty pleasures!

Whether you love sleep-ins, chocolate, or bread, guess what? It's OK! Indulging in guilty pleasures can actually be good for you. Here's a little guide to help you release the guilt and enjoy your favourite things, in moderation of course ;)

Sleep Ins

 Why it’s OKIn ancient cultures, sleep was used as one of the main forms of treatment for many ailments, both physical and psychological. The first world society we live in now has us pushing ourselves to the limit, often missing out on the proper amount of sleep required to stay alert and fresh. The amount of sleep you need is individual, but we know it generally needs to be at least six hours, and consistently getting less than this can have a negative effect on your health over time. When to indulgeLearning to listen to your body is the answer, and that means making sleep a priority. No matter how busy you are, what deadlines you have, or how many emails you have to answer, sometimes the most beneficial thing you can do is go to sleep, even if it’s just for a cheeky 20-minute power nap! Don’t feel guilty about getting the sleep your body needs, as a good night’s rest will often mean the time you spend awake becomes more productive, pleasurable and effective.  

Gossiping

 Why it’s OKGossiping can bring people together and strengthen friendships, acting like a social glue. Who hasn’t had a bonding experience with someone they know by talking about others?! According to research, most gossip is about friends and family, and actually tends to be more positive (or neutral) than negative. Gossip can promote more virtuous individual behaviour, increase harmony within communities, reduces stress and even boost self-esteem. When to indulgeBefore you gossip, consider why and what you are gossiping about. If it doesn’t benefit anyone and may in fact cause harm, it’s best to keep judgmental words to yourself. Let your conscience be your guide and choose your words carefully. There’s positive gossip, like “Did you hear? Sally is pregnant! She’s so happy!”, and then there’s gossip like, “I heard Sarah has herpes because she cheated on her boyfriend”. Hmm… see the difference? Make sure you consider the difference between gossiping and badmouthing before you start talking.  

Chocolate

Why it’s OKWhat is it about chocolate that makes us think about it at least 1254 times a day?! This is a seriously controversial topic. Chocolate does have some great health benefits, if you get the good quality, low sugar version and eat it in small doses. Stick to dark or raw chocolate and your mood and body will be grateful. When to indulgeThe key is making sure you’re not just eating chocolate flavoured sugar, or inhaling a whole lot of thickeners, additives, soy and dairy solids, sweeteners and chemicals along with the good stuff. Cacao is the unprocessed and much healthier cousin of cocoa. Look for sugar-free, dairy-free chocolate options with minimal ingredients and made with raw cacao and other yummy organic things. Or get adventurous and make your own – just Google “Homemade Chocolate” online, it’s simpler than you might think!Some of our favourite store-bought chocolates are Green & Black’s 85% Organic Dark Chocolate, Lindt 90% Dark Chocolate, Conscious Organic 85% Raw Chocolate. 

Bread

Why it’s OKWho doesn’t like bread? I know plenty of people who don’t like how it makes them feel, or who avoid it for health reasons, but when it comes to the actual taste and texture of the stuff, bread gets the thumbs up from just about everybody. If we are forbidden to eat our favourite foods, we often end up bingeing on them, so… it’s all about moderation and being selective in what breads you do choose.When to indulge?Good old bread is one of those basic, satisfying foods that makes for a great base for just about anything, from poached eggs to pizza and everything in between.That certainly doesn’t mean you should use it as a base for everything though, as bread is a very energy dense product with few micronutrients and plenty of gluten, which add up to make one pretty inflammatory food.With this in mind, it’s a good idea to put bread in the “sometimes food” basket, or have a break from it by using alternatives every now and then. A chunky, roasted slice of sweet potato, or pumpkin usually fills the void, or you could make your own, homemade cauliflower, spinach, egg, or quinoa bread. But, when you’re cooking up a lazy weekend brunch and nothing but a crispy slice of real toast will do, make sure you choose the best kind possible. Try these:

• Real, artisan sourdough bread
• Sprouted Grain Bread
• Dark Rye (just make sure it doesn't have 'wheat flour' as a major ingredient!)
• Good quality gluten-free bread - ditch the supermarket varieties and hunt down a seeded version from your local bakery!

Wine

 Why it’s OKYou don’t have to bin the booze to embrace a healthier lifestyle – simply swapping white wine for red can really help. Red wine contains a higher level of polyphenols – antioxidants found in the skins of grapes – than white wine. These antioxidants have properties that help prevent heart disease and cancer. Having a drink doesn’t necessarily spell killed brain cells and in fact, if drunk in moderation red wine can actually improve cognitive function.When to indulgeDrinking plays a big part of social culture in Australia, but finding a balance between health, weight control and socialising may be as simple as limiting drinking to the weekends, as nightly drinking quickly becomes a habit and one that can be very challenging to break. Save your glass or two of delicious wine for a special treat, not as a bandaid after a long, tough day in the office. Over a nice meal with your partner or girlfriends is the perfect moment to indulge. Try turning half a glass of wine into a spritzer with sparkling water for extra points! 

Coffee

 Why it’s OKEvery week it seems there's new research into the effects of coffee on our bodies. What should you believe? For a lot of people, a steaming cup of coffee is an essential part of their morning. Coffee is high in antioxidants and has been shown to reduce inflammation in your body. It can also have a protective effect on the liver, and is good for the brain. Want to boost your workout? Coffee can actually help you work harder and get better results!When to indulgeWe know caffeine boosts cortisol, the stress hormone, which is designed to quickly increase energy in times of stress by helping your body convert protein to glucose so it can get up and go. This can be a good thing if you’re about to workout (about 20-30 minutes prior) as you will burn all that energy off, but if you’re headed straight to your desk, your body will likely store it as fat instead.If you’re not using your daily coffee as a workout boost, enjoy it before midday, ideally around mid to late morning when you experience your first natural drop in cortisol levels. If you really need an afternoon caffeine, reach for green tea instead. And every now and then, it’s a good idea to give yourself a few days’ break from your favourite brew, just to put you back in touch with your own natural energy levels.