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Why Kale is the super food of 2013

Why Kale is the super food of 2013

Thanks to praise from Gwyneth Paltrow and Heidi Klum, everyone knows Kale is the ‘it’ super food, but this humble green is more than just a gimmick – it’s here to stay!

From healthy bones to immune boosting qualities, Kale is certainly the leafy green you should stock up on and here’s why:

Natural digestive

One cup of kale has just 36 calories, 5 grams of fibre and 0 grams of fat. Thanks to its high fibre content, Kale is a great natural form of aiding digestion.

Kale is the new beef

Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef. It is the key ingredient to getting enough iron for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. With iron deficiencies in non-vegetarians on the rise, kale is a great option to get your daily dose of iron.

Bone friendly

Kale has a higher concentration of calcium than milk and holds the key to maintaining healthy bones. Apart from having a high concentration of calcium , it’s also better absorbed by the body than dairy foods.

Detox winner

Being full of fibre and sulphur, Kale is the perfect detox food. It’s a great choice if you are undergoing a detox or trying to keep your liver healthy.

Bright sight

Kale can put a stop to macular degeneration as it is extremely rich in an antioxidant called lutein. Having a lutein-rich diet lessens the chance of having future eye sight difficulties.

Cancer protector

Kale is high in vitamin K, the vitamin that protects against various cancers. Vitamin K also aids a number of other daily functions, assists with healthy bones, prevents blood clotting and Alzheimer ’s disease.

Pregnancy booster

Kale has more folic acid than broccoli, making it the perfect supplement for women trying to conceive or to consume within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A folic acid-rich diet, which is rich in vitamin B, also helps protects against birth defects.

Immunity boost

Kale is packed with antioxidants. So much so, that an 80g portion of Kale contains 56 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A and 70 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Both are the key ingredients to keeping infectious bugs at bay, with vitamin C assisting with metabolism and hydration health. Kale is also packed with many nutrients, vitamins, folate and magnesium.

Try: Woman’s Day’s Chicken, kale and cherry salad or Chicken and kale tray bake.

Kale is also the perfect green ingredient to add to a smoothie of vegie juice.

Kale chips are another easy and healthy option. Simply spread chopped pieces of kale on a baking tray, sprinkle with oil and cook on low (around 150 C) until crispy.

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How I transformed my life and lost 8 kilos!

How I transformed my life and lost 8 kilos!

Being the mother of twins and a full-time carer, Josie Gagliano found it hard to make time for herself. But the busy mum has turned it all around with a new outlook on life and new found love for herself.

As the mother of six-year-old twins, a daughter and a son, who has mild autism, and the carer for her mother who has a rare blood disorder, Josie hardly had a minute to herself.

At a difficult time in her life when things where getting all too much, Josie underwent a major life change – she shifted focus and started looking after herself.

“It’s a cliché but you must love yourself first, before you love others,” says the Sydney-based mum.

“When you care for others, it is easy to say you are not worth it. Adding some time in your day just for you, whether it’s fitting in some exercise or preparing a healthy meal, is in line with feeling worthy and loving yourself.

“Soon enough, that mindset becomes part of your life because it makes you feel happy, and you don’t want to change that for anyone, especially not that ‘old’, sabotaging inner voice.”

Josie, who is a freelance journalist and writer, found a new way of viewing herself worth and her life when she signed up for the 90 Day Project – a 90 day personal challenge combining a “quickie” 30 minute workout and a metabolic jumpstart diet.

The program not only helped Josie lose an impressive eight kilos, but also gave her a new lease on life.

“Project 90 from Fit n Fast has given my life a new purpose and direction. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true,” she says.

“I accepted the challenge when my life needed a shake up, I needed to lose some weight, and I wanted to feel more positive and confident.

“It turned it to be even bigger than that, providing me with a refuge and time out from the hardships and turmoil surrounding my life including being a carer and the difficulty of a death in the family.”

Before accepting the challenge, Josie said her life was full of excuses and she would just give up when “life got too busy and emotionally exhausting”. But she happily says that’s now all changed.

“I have the same amount of time I did before, but now I insist on carving out some of that time for me, and making no excuses for it, especially to myself,” she says.

Josie, who has exceeded her goal weight, is continuing the program because she loves the change to her life.

“I’ve lost 8kilos and didn’t think it was possible, but I know that was just my usual self-doubt talking,” she says.

“I want to keep going, and I am. I have lost a further half kilo since the program officially stopped, but I am still enjoying eating right and visiting Fit n Fast for my workout sessions.”

And while she has seen results, Josie says it has taken a lot of hard work and determination to get there.

“I learned very quickly a rule of thumb that works every time: if it’s not in the house, I won’t crave it,” she says.

“Also, stocking the pantry and fridge with the right foods eliminated my bad food choices at meal and snack time. If I was hungry, the right food was always within reach, which meant unhealthy meals were far less likely. I soon realised it was all a lesson in probability, really.”

How the program works

The 30 minute workout is designed for those who can’t’ find time to exercise. With a personal trainer guiding you through the workout is tailored to individual needs. This exercise is teamed with leading Australian dietician, Matt O’Neill’s Jumpstart diet, the program offers a structured program to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle change.

To find out more about Project 90 visit www.fitnfast.com.au. Fit n Fast memberships start from $9.95 per week.

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5 financial game changers to look out for in 2014

5 financial game changers to look out for in 2014

The New Year could mean good things for your wallet, especially if you plan ahead!

Spending expert Ali Cassim from financial comparison site RateCity.com.au shares five major financial developments to look out for and work to your advantage in 2014.

More mulah for expecting mums

Australian women are set to receive more paid maternity leave under the government’s proposed $22 billon Paid Parental Leave Scheme. Under the scheme, mothers earning up to $150,000 a year would be paid their full wage, including superannuation, for 26 weeks.

Under the existing scheme, paid parental leave is set at the national minimum wage of $622 a week, or around $11,000 over 18 weeks for the primary carer.

Good news for bad credit

From next year, there will be a change in the way your credit information can be shared by lenders for the purpose of assessing credit. The changes are being introduced in March, and data will be backdated to December 2012, so it’s important to be on your best repayment behaviour from now onwards!

This is great news for people with a tainted credit history, but is making changes for the better. If you have had a black mark against your name in the past, you can now work hard to rectify your credit situation and prove to the banks that you’re a good candidate for credit in the future. Effectively, you’ll be able to add ‘green ticks’ to your file, whereas in the past you may be left with an unmoving black mark and no opportunity to redeem yourself.

Oh baby, are you covered?

Aside from the obvious peace of mind that health insurance offers – protection against the unexpected such as hospital bills from illness or accidents – health insurance can actually save you money.

You can avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge by joining any hospital cover and maintaining it for the full financial year. And if you get private health insurance before you’re 31, you can avoid Lifetime Health Cover loading on top of your premiums. If you’re considering starting a family in the next few years, it’s important to let your health insurance provider know in advance so you’re adequately covered for pregnancy-related features, such as obstetrics.

Most providers have a 12 month wait period before you can claim against pregnancy-related features in a policy.

More options to boost your super

With Australians living longer (retired men to 86 and women to 90) some people are running the risk of outliving their superannuation.

Women are the worst effected, with research showing we must work 25 years longer than men to retire with the same amount of super. The good news is there are a few ways for women to get a head start in 2014:

  • Take an interest in your super and watch it grow – look into the benefits of your current fund and investigate the alternative options if your fund is not likely to deliver the best results for you into retirement

  • Roll it into one account – the first point of call to find all your funds would be the ATO’s SuperSeeker or seek advice

  • Don’t ignore tax benefits – one of the most attractive features of super is the money you can make on it through your tax!

  • Make extra contributions – Superannuation Guarantee Contributions are currently 9.25% and increasing to 12% by 2015. You can boost your return by making additional contributions – there are advantages such as the contribution tax concessions mentioned, plus the power of compound interest can save you a lot of money over time.

Rates on the rise

With interest rates at all-time lows, it’s inevitable that rates will start to rise and while it’s too early to call when this will happen, it’s not inconceivable that this could happen next year. Australia’s major lenders have started to raise their fixed rates for home loans and we know that fixed rates typically move ahead of variable – so is this a sign of what’s to come?

If you’ve got credit – a home loan, personal loan or a credit card, then rising rates could mean you pay more interest from next year, so now is the time to do your homework and shop around for a great deal. Independent financial comparison sites like RateCity are built to protect you as consumer, by offering you completely transparent information about the varying rates available. Take advantage of these online tools to weigh up your options.

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Happy 50th Birthday Brad!

The world’s sexiest man alive is reaching a milestone this week – Brad Pitt is turning 50.

While there are plenty of young men, like Chris Hemsworth and Channing Tatum, giving the American actor a run for his money in the sexy stakes, Brad still holds his own, on screen and off.

Reminisce with us as we look back over Brad’s illustrious career, spanning back from his modelling and TV days, into his movie screen explosion and life as a father.

Check out the Hollywood sweethearts, including an Aussie, who managed to capture this beautiful man’s eye along the way.

Enjoy the memories ladies!

Happy Birthday Brad!

It will come as no surprise that Brad began his career in modelling.

Pitt’s first proper TV role was in Dallas, alongside actress Shalane McCall.

One of his first movies was the hugely popular Thelma and Louise.

Followed by A River Runs Through It.

It was in movies like Legends of the Fall that women began to notice the handsome actor.

Brad had a few leading ladies in his life, including Australian actress Juliette Lewis.

You can probably remember the days when he and Gwyneth Paltrow cozied up together.

But it was his relationship with Friends star Jennifer Aniston that captured the world.

Until vixen Angelina Jolie swooped in and stole the leading man.

But Brad was never far from the support of his ‘Friends.’

Posing with Hollywood’s leading men at the Troy Premiere.

The hit movie Oceans Eleven created lifelong friendships for Brad.

Tom Cruise and Brad catch-up after filming Interview with a Vampire together.

Brad hugs American heavy-weight actress Julia Roberts.

Brad has achieved a lot in the past 50 years.

He has been nominated for four Academy Awards and Five Golden Globes and won one!

And he’s sported some great hairstyles through-out his time.

But his main achievement seems to have come from his unexpected love for Angelina.

…and their growing family of six.

Brad today – just moments away from turning 50 and still looking fabulous!

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Robyn Lawley smoulders in first beauty shoot

Australian supermodel Robyn Lawley has starred in her first beauty campaign and the results are stunning.

Australian supermodel Robyn Lawley has starred in her first beauty campaign and the results are stunning.

The 24-year-old model was thrilled to be chosen to be the face of Barneys New York’s new cosmetics campaign, saying plus-sized girls are rarely chosen to model makeup.

“This is my first proper beauty job ever,” Robyn tweeted. “Often models of my size are overlooked for beauty. I applaud Barneys for using me.”

Click through to see all of Robyn’s beautiful images.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn Lawley for Barneys New York. Photography by Ben Hassett.

Robyn modelling her own swimwear range for Bond-Eye earlier this year.

Robyn Lawley for Bond-Eye.

Robyn Lawley for Bond-Eye.

Robyn Lawley for Bond-Eye.

Robyn is a popular fashion model, seen here shot by Pierre Toussaint for GQ Australia.

Robyn shot by Pierre Toussaint for GQ Australia.

Robyn shot by Pierre Toussaint for GQ Australia.

Robyn shot by Pierre Toussaint for GQ Australia.

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Golden girl Cate Blanchett shimmers on Vogue cover

Cate Blanchett has scored another Vogue cover, this time appearing on the Australian edition's February issue.

Cate Blanchett has scored another Vogue cover, this time appearing on the Australian edition’s February issue.

The covergirl is certainly enjoying a moment, yesterday picking up a Golden Globe for her critically-acclaimed role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine.

Cate looks bronzed and fierce on the cover, modelling a metallic coppery-red Gucci suit, but she is modest in the accompanying interview, saying she doesn’t think she is a remarkable actress.

“I’m always so full of regret when a film has finished … By the end of the shoot I want to start again, I want the chance to make it better,” she says.

Over the years Cate has captivated us with her beauty. Here are a few of our golden girl’s most memorable magazine moments.

Cate’s Australian Vogue cover was shot by Steven Chee and styled by Jillian Davidson.

Inside the February issue Cate looks the picture of elegance in a cream Chanel pullover, J’Aton Couture skirt and Celine shoes.

Cate on the cover of the January 2014 issue of US Vogue.

Cate wore two stunning golden dresses in the shoot. Criag McDean for Vogue magazine.

Criag McDean for Vogue magazine.

Canadian Elle in January 2014.

On the cover of Hungarian Marie Claire in July 2008.

On the cover of Spanish magazine Mujer Hoy in 2010.

Cate with no makeup or airbrushing on the cover of Intelligent Life magazine in March 2012.

Italian Vanity Fair in November 2009.

Glamour in August 2003.

Empire in December 2012.

Vogue US in December 2009.

Gotham in July 2008.

On the cover of InStyle Australia in June 2009.

On the cover of InStyle Australia in July 2011.

On the cover of Vanity Fair in February 2009.

On the cover of Vogue US in December 2004.

On the January 2009 issue of British Vogue.

Cate on the cover of Vogue US in November 2006.

French Elle in May 2010.

On the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Australia in December 2007.

Marie Claire in February 2007.

British Vogue in January 2005.

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Yummy mummy-to-be: Zara’s maternity style

Zara Phillips is just weeks away from welcoming her first child but that hasn't stopped her from stepping out in some seriously stylish clothes.

Zara Phillips is just weeks away from welcoming her first child but that hasn’t stopped her from stepping out in some seriously stylish clothes.

Zara and her husband Mike Tindall are expecting their little bundle of joy in January and they haven’t let the impending arrival slow them down at all.

Zara rode her beloved horses until her bump became too big recently and has attended a number of events, dressing her new curves in a series of flowing silk gowns.

Check out her maternity style here.

Zara Phillips is due to give birth in the New Year.

Looking polished in canary yellow at the Goodwood Races in August.

Zara in a brightly-printed shift dress in June.

In a beautiful silk gown at the Boodles Boxing Ball in London in September.

Zara looking retro in September.

Zara kept her blossoming bump under wraps at the Cheltenham Races earlier this month.

In monochrome while visiting a maternity ward in September.

Mike and Zara at the Inaugural Celebrity Golf Classic in May.

Rocking a more casual look at the Rundle Cup in July.

Competing at the Festival of British Eventing in August.

Hiding her baby bump in casual clothes at the Gatcombe Horse Trials in September.

Looking sleek and glam in black at the British Olympic Ball.

Zara at the Cheltenham Races in November.

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Watch: Creative Christmas tree designs

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Family bonding in cake form

Caroline Overington's take on Julie Goodwin's meringue Christmas tree.

Caroline Overington's take on Julie Goodwin's meringue Christmas tree.

My cool as a cucumber teenage daughter and her equally hip teenage cousins put this beauty together. And if you’re looking for a way to bring your teenagers to the family table this Christmas, maybe you should make one, too?

It was our job to host one of the early Christmas lunches this year. Fifteen people for seafood, salads, bonbons, and presents.

Click here for Julie Goodwin’s meringue Christmas cake recipe.

But what to make for dessert? I didn’t want to do a pudding. There will be enough of that next week. The recipe for this meringue and cream and strawberry Christmas tree is in the Christmas issue of the Weekly. It’s so perfectly Australian – pavlova! – and so perfectly Christmassy all at once.  And it’s impressive. Everyone says: Oooo!

We made the meringues the night before. Piece of cake, as it were. Then, when the cousins arrived, the kids were put in charge of topping the strawberries, whipping the cream, and compiling the cake. They loved it. We all photographed it. It was a giggle-fest, and a bonding exercise, all at once.

Some tips: don’t do the construction part too early. Our cake started to slump about an hour after being put together. It was the weight of all that cream, and all those berries. By the time we came to serve, it was more Leaning Tower of Christmas than Christmas tree, but that’s okay. Only added to the fun.

Click here for Julie Goodwin’s meringue Christmas cake recipe.

Also: divide before you cut. Take the top layers off, maybe. We didn’t. We carved straight through, and the whole thing collapsed, and it was more Eton mess than anything else by the time it got served up, but wow, was it good.

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William and Kate’s new bulletproof Bentley

When a family welcomes a new baby it often means it’s time for change of wheels.

But rather than going for a more practical family vehicle, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have gone all out and welcomed a $450,000 bulletproof Bentley to the royal fleet.

Kate and William will use the luxury vehicle, which is one of the world’s fastest saloon cars hitting speeds of up to 320kph.

Since welcoming baby Price George in July, the royals have made a lot of changes including moving into their new home in Kensington Palace after a multimillion dollar renovation job, restoring their country home in Sandringham, as well as a number of more practical acquisitions.

The Duke and Duchess have welcomed a luxury bulletproof Bentley into the royal fleet.

Kate and William will take the Bentley out for high profile engagements.

The car is worth more than $450,000.

The car boasts a hand-crafted walnut interior, a champagne cooler and wi-fi internet.

Kensington Palace underwent a $21 million restoration before the family moved in following the arrival of Prince George.

The couple are currently renovating their country home, Anmer Hall, on the Queen’s estate in Sandringham.

The new parents also had to invest in some practical equipment like Prince George’s car seat.

Kate and William reportedly bought a Silver Cross ‘Balmoral’ pram, worth $4000.

Prince George was reportedly given extravagant silver replicas of his hands and feet worth $12,000 from his Aunt Pippa.

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