PRODUCT REVIEW: POPCORN

If you haven’t tried our popcorn, best get involved asap. Popcorn is a highly underrated snack in our opinion but a great one – with lots of nutritional benefits to boot. We have two varieties in store, a sweet and a savoury, and these are popped exclusively for us by the Hong Kong born and bred team at Sote. Google them. They are doing great things!

But back to the popcorn! Popcorn boasts several health benefits when cooked as our varieties are. Don’t get duped at the cinema. Those varieties laden with butter and salt are not doing you any favours – however our Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Non-GMO whole-grain kernels will see you kicking goals!

Digestion: Popcorn, or specifically corn, is a whole grain! Digestive systems rejoice! Popcorn contains high levels of fibre which as we all know, helps in the downstairs department. And as we constantly say – happy gut = happy body! The high fibre will also help keep your cholesterol levels down. Whole grains contain the type of fibre which can strip off excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and arteries, thereby reducing your overall cholesterol levels, and lowering your chances of dangerous cardiovascular conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

Blood Sugar: The mighty nutrient that is fibre also impacts on your blood sugar levels. When you have significant levels of fibre in your diet, your body can easily regulate the release and management of blood sugar and insulin levels. This will help reduce blood sugar fluctuations – great for those of you suffering from diabetes!

Antioxidants: Antioxidants are those agents that help scavenge and eliminate free radicals, those by-products of cellular metabolism that are associated with a variety of diseases in the body, particularly cancer. Popcorn as a whole grain is loaded with antioxidants, helping to seriously lower the aforementioned risks.

Weight loss: A cup of popped popcorn contains around 30 calories and due to the high level of fibre, you are going to feel fuller for longer! Satisfaction will be at an all time high so binge eating is avoided!

Our popcorn is also popped with virgin coconut oil, and as you regular readers will know, we are crazy for coconuts. Coconut oil is abundant with nutrients that will help see your skin glow, your hair shine, reduce the risk of heart disease and help fight off infections!

 So next time you are in need of healthy, satisfying snack, look no further than our popcorn! Available in store and online.

 

GENIE OPENS DOORS IN TAIWAN!

We have finally jumped ship and opened our doors in buzzing Taiwan! We are beyond excited to to spread the juice love and continue the health education that we pride ourselves on!

Genie Juicery Taiwan’s Neihu Flagship Store is located in Neihu Technology Park.
The Neihu Technology Park, known as the “Silicon Valley of Taiwan”  and it is headquarters to many high tech, telecommunication and media firms.
Fine dining, vegan and healthy restaurants are fast becoming all the rage in this area as the demand for healthy eating options increases due to busy and hectic lifestyles – much like Hong Kong!
Genie Juicery Taiwan will be the first major cold pressed juicery to open in Taiwan, and it will be serving the brands original cold pressed juices, superfood smoothie, nut mylk and cold brew coffee that we have come to love in our city.
The store will operate from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 12pm to 6pm on weekends & holidays. The Taiwan website will launch on August 17th (Geniejuicery.com.tw), where  cleanses will be available online, deliveries commencing Aug. 28th. Doors to the retail store will open mid September 2015. So if you are in the neighbourhood, our have friends in the area, be sure to let them know!

MELANIE: “HOW I WENT RAW”

*As featured on www.TheHealthSeedConcept.com

As co-founder of one of Hong Kong’s leading health brands, I’d like to say I have an exciting transformation story that depicts a rousing and inspiring transition from unhealthy eating into raw food eating, but unfortunately that is just not the case! Growing up in Australia, healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle isn’t a thing – it’s a part of our culture. I grew up going to the beach every weekend and eating fruits picked from trees in our backyard. A variety of vegetables were always included on our dinner plates so that break through moment or transition from unhealthy to healthy was no such thing. However I will say that moving to Hong Kong made me realise how good we had it at home. So many options and such great access to different foods. This probably stems from Australia being such a multicultural country – in any given neighbourhood you would have your Indian, Thai and Chinese restaurants as well as your local grocer and butcher. And our supermarkets are second to none. They really are a one-stop shop. No going to 3 different supermarkets to get ingredients for one dinner! Everything is under one roof and the ranges are phenomenal.

 

That’s was probably the most obvious change I noticed moving to Hong Kong. That and the change to my lifestyle; I ate out a lot more, didn’t prepare my own meals, I drank a lot more alcohol – the typical Hong Kong expat experience! Healthy eating in Hong Kong was limited. Things of course are different here today, with great cafes and restaurants popping up all over the city with wholesome options. However 7 years ago, this was not the case. At the time I was also working in Kowloon where options for healthy lunches were few and far between. It was during this time that I went on a trip to the US that I was introduced to the concept of cold pressed juicing, and so began my journey towards Genie Juicery!

 

I dove head first into knowing everything I could about the concept. We experimented with not only juice combinations, but also raw food recipes. Even though we grew up eating raw foods, the concept was new to us. We made raw food apart of our original company set up but with the rapid demand for juice and not enough resources to keep up with the demand, we focused our attention on providing the best cold pressed beverages in town. Cara and myself both enrolled in the School of Integrated Nutrition and gained certifications as health coaches. Our lives were consumed in all things green, fresh, raw and delicious. We were determined to become as well versed as we could on the subject. We had a drive to educate Hong Kong and try to build a need for more readily available, wholesome products.

 

I did begin to see some changes personally. I felt different, I felt cleaner. My energy levels soared and I no longer felt sluggish and lethargic. Living in Hong Kong, we are constantly surrounded by pollution, noise and people. Add over processed foods, sugars and alcohol and its no wonder we get sick and run down. Once cold pressed juices and real food was a constant in my diet, I felt a million bucks. Back then we were making it all ourselves – breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as access to these sorts of foods was limited to our own kitchens. But that is not the case today; fresh, real foods are readily available to grab and go. Our goal of promoting a healthier Hong Kong had been achieved.

 

Raw food means foods that have largely been untouched – picked from the ground, plucked form a tree – these are the foods that will give you a new zest for life.

Going raw can enhance your body’s ability to prevent and fight diseases, especially chronic illnesses. Another nice side effect is people often experience weight loss as you naturally eat fewer calories! Raw and living food contains essential food enzymes that are destroyed when the food is heated above 116 Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius). Nature has given each food its unique perfect mix. These vital enzymes allow us to fully digest our foods without having to rely on our own digestive enzymes. The cooking process destroys or alters these enzymes, as well as essential vitamins and minerals.

 

If going raw is something that interests you, my advice would be to do some research of your own; get online and get to know what raw food is and the science behind it. You don’t need any fancy equipment, aps or programs. We are fortunate that Hong Kong now has so many great online platforms, which help aim to promote the latest natural finds around the city. Hit up your local market and get busy in your kitchen! And slowly make some changes to your diet – remove the soda, cut the meat. And instead, eat real food. Visit us at Genie Juicery in ifc – we have a whole range of food, snacks and drink items that are 100% raw. We have been obsessed with this concept since 2011 so you can rest assured that every product on our shelves is not only raw and nutrient rich, but delicious! Our blog is a great resource for healthy facts and we are constantly updating our Instagram with fun titbits on the subject. I hope that my journey has enlightened you somewhat and perhaps even turned you towards a more wholesome, raw lifestyle!

With thanks,

Melanie Barnish, Co-Founder Genie Juicery

BIRTHDAY DISCOUNT!

To celebrate having survived our first year at ifc, we are giving you an exclusive 15% off on any online purchase you make during the month of August!

No need to enter a code. Discount automatically applies to your checkout! Happy shopping friends!

SHOP NOW!

*Discount not applicable to Loyalty Programs & Group Cleanses

GENIE JUICERY GOES ALKALINE

WHY DRINK ALKALINE WATER?

Its important for the body to maintain a pH balance. The pH scale originates from chemistry and is a way to measure the acidity or alkalinity of something. The scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 considered neutral, 0 is very acidic and 14 is very alkaline. The ideal pH for humans is slightly alkaline, at 7.4.

If your body is too acidic, your body is in a weakened state. To compensate, your body has to borrow minerals from your bones, teeth and organs to neutralize the excess acidity. High acid levels, or acidosis, might lead to diarrhoea, osteoporosis, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis and impaired immune function. Acidosis could also interfere with your cells’ ability to heal or produce energy and also allow cancer to flourish.

Alkaline water is also called ionised water, with a pH typically between 7 and 10. A pH of 8.4 or above is best. By drinking water that is alkaline, you will help neutralise acid in the bloodstream, leading to increased oxygen levels as well as increased energy and metabolism.

 BENEFITS

  • Alkaline water is better for hydration because it has fewer molecules and is more easily absorbed.
  • Protect against free radicals that cause cell damage and reduce the effects of aging
  • Potential weight loss
  • Improved mental clarity
  • Increase in bone strength
  • More energy
  • Cleanses the colon
  • Decreases reoccurrence of constipation
  • Less susceptible to viruses, colds etc
  • Keeps skin hydrated
  • Rejuvenates skin cells
  • Breaks down fatty essentials found in food, which can help with weight loss

 

Alkaline Water now available in store at Genie Juicery – Shop 2096B, ifc mall, Hong Kong

ALKALINE WATER – PLAIN FLAVOUR $20HKD, LEMON FLAVOUR $22HKD