Conscious Eating. It's more than choosing 'Organic' or saving the animals!

When you go to buy your food for the week, what is it that makes you choose to shop there? 

Convenience? Possibly. 

Affordability? Yes, for some. 

What about freshness, whether it is in season, Organic, unblemished, locally sourced?

I think it's great that there is a big shift in what people want, and therefore, where they choose to buy it, but there is certainly a long way to go when it comes to the small business farmers selling at the local markets competing with huge companies such as Wesfarmers (AKA Coles, Liquorland & Bunnings) and Woolworths. 

To put it in perspective, Wesfarmers had a net profit of $57,685 MILLION dollars for 2012 alone. I need not talk about how much they have managed to monopolize the grocery sector, and therefore made the potential for farmers to sell their produce at a profitable and fair price seem out of reach for some.

What does this mean? 'We don't have a choice but to shop there', some people would say. 

Actually, you do. It might mean getting out of bed early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, but you can find almost everything you need at a local farmer's market. There is nearly one in every suburb here on the coast. When you buy from the local farmers, they have often picked their produce the day before you have it in your basket, ready to eat. 

This is of stark contrast to some of the produce you'll find in a major supermarket that may have been gas ripened, or freshly come out of hibernation after being in cold storage for months on end.

Foods that have been artificially ripened (supermarket bananas) have a different taste, texture and lack nutrients compared the organic version you might buy some where else. 
Tomatoes are grown/bred a certain way for supermarkets, so they're about as hard as an apple (no risk of blemishes), and are nearly tasteless. 
Have you ever grown your own tomatoes or tried an organic one? They should be soft, red, smell and taste as sweet as lollies. It is normal to have a few blemishes on your food too. 

Snow white was poisoned when she ate an apple that was ruby red, blemish free and shiny. Pretty sure it was a supermarket apple, with it's fertilisers, sprays, pesticides and waxes to make it look irresistible. 

Ok, a little far-fetched, however, chemical residues are very difficult for our body to excrete. They are often stored in fat cells, as the body knows they are toxic, but does not know what to do with them. Chemicals are toxic for every organ and cell in your body. They can wreak havoc on your immune system, hormones, and brain. Just to name a few. If you're a person who finds it impossible to lose weight, you might find you have a lot of these chemicals stored in the various fat cells in your body.

What is the result of eating a lifetime of chemicals and pesticides? Morbidity. Slowly. Declining. Health. So yes, it's not likely that one bite of an apple that has been treated with pesticides will mean instant death, but it means that by the time you're past your parents age, you won't be feeling so healthy or 'quite right' anymore. People blame it on their genetic make-up, or 'old age', but there are so many small changes you can make now, so you can still be a healthy you in the future. Being older in age, does not mean you have to accept being crippled with pain, or have horrible menopause. It's merely a number if you ask me.

For those who are vegetarian or vegan, the need to eat organic is super important too, as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes are what make up your daily diet. You may be on a constant detox diet, but that doesn't mean your body can deal with chemicals hidden in and on our food.

At a risk of sounding contradictory, I need to stress the importance of freshness and vitality of fruit and vegetables. It is better to eat fruit and veggies that are fresh and non-organic than old, rotten, wilted organic ones. The main point I am trying to make here, is if you can find fresh, organic produce, then perfect. Second choice is to keep eating fruit and vegetables (non-organic), but make sure they are super fresh. Give them a good rinse with filtered water and apple cider vinegar when you get home, to try and neutralise some of the residue on the skin before you eat it.

My beliefs on meat...

Whether it is a health choice, or a 'save the animals' choice, I really don't mind if you eat meat or not. I eat meat because I need the protein for energy. Without it, I feel deficient. I have found what works for my constitution (with years of trial and error) so I urge you to do the same. 

What I also urge you to do is to find a local butcher who sells only free-range, pasture fed animals in their store. 

Supermarket/commercial meat is almost all grain-fed. Animals are not able to live normal lives i.e. walk on grass, eat grass, socialize with the herd etc. They are confined to feed lots/cages and fed unnatural foods such as soy and grains to fatten them up. They become fat for similar reasons that humans become fat. They can't digest grains effectively, the soy messes with their hormones, they over eat & store the extra toxins in their fat cells. Not only is the meat of poor eating quality, but it is of poor nutritional quality. 

A story comes to mind here that my future father-in-law told me. He is a worm farmer. When he was beginning to source some manure for his worms to feed on, he went to a local cattle farm thinking it would be an easy choice.

The cattle farmer informed him, if he were to feed his worms the manure from their farm, the worms would almost certainly die. He was puzzled as to why! The farmer said for the cattle to digest the grain, they are soaked in acid-based chemicals before they feed it to the cattle. The manure was therefore too toxic & acidic to feed to the worms. And what about the poor cows?? Apparently it makes the meat more tender. No wonder! The cattle are rotting from the inside out before they make it to the abattoir. 

Ultimately, the health of the food and the health of the animal has a direct effect upon you and your health. Unhealthy meat = unhealthy you.

Ask questions at your butcher before you buy it and feed it to your family.
Eat Organic, free range where & whenever you can.
When choosing where to shop, think fresh, local, in season.

The choice is yours. You can make a difference. Start making conscious choices today.

Yoga time. Balance, flow, breath.

I discovered yoga when I was 19, working in a bar, and had chronic back pain. I had an expectation about what it was all about- stretching and relaxing right? As it turned out, it was that and so much more. Yoga ignited a new passion inside of me. I wondered how I had actually lived 19 years of my life without it.

From the moment I performed my first sun salute, I was hooked. I discovered yoga wasn't just a physical stretch, I learnt to breathe! I learnt to expand and push the limits of my mind and body. Boy, was that first class a struggle! Actually, I was sore and shaky after every class for about 3 months. Then, all of a sudden, I could move through a class in a fluent fashion, and it'd leave me wanting more. I'd use it as a moving meditation and close my eyes, feeling every movement and breath.

I began to practise at home, every morning, nearly being late for work or uni because I wanted to do just one more pose (again, and again!).
 
And so my yoga journey ebbed and flowed with my life. Sometimes I'd go to one class a  week, other times, particularly while I was stressed, I would practise everyday. 
What can I say? Life is easier when I practise yoga. It makes me feel balanced and grounded more than anything else I've tried.

Even now, when I am running around after a toddler for most of my days, I manage to fit in a few yoga poses here and there. I'm probably not as mindful as when I do yoga solo, but I say 'better to do one or two poses a day than no poses'. It is important to be flexible with life, especially in regards to busy kiddos. It nearly brought a tear to my eye when Max did his first downward dog a little while ago. He laughed as he looked at me upside down through his legs. Such an unforgettable moment!

I have the want/need/desire to be a prenatal yoga teacher, working with women as they nurture new life from within. Pregnancy is such a journey and it is so lovely to be able to expand your body to encourage it to do what it innately knows what to do. 

Yoga also helps us face our fears. You need only see one segment on mainstream television of a pregnant woman in labour on her back in a hospital bed to feel fearful of birth. 

Going into a deep back bend can cause fears of any type to arise. I feel it is important to allow certain feelings to come up, feel them, and let them go with the next breath. It allows you be calm, in control and it also frees up space for new energy to flow.

Yoga has a list of health benefits longer than my arm. If you have never tried it, I strongly urge you to give it a go. Especially if you're someone who finds it hard to wind down after a big day, or thinks that exercise means pounding the punching bag or running as fast as you can. 

True healing occurs when your body is in a relaxed state. So if you have had a stressful day, and you're heading to the gym, try the yoga class instead of the weights or treadmill.

Yoga teaches our body to be flexible, our mind to be calm, and our ego to be patient.

Check out your local yoga studio this week and give your first downward dog a try. You might enjoy it as much as Max does!

Namaste.

Attachment Parenting AKA Instinctive & Natural Parenting

Ever been asked what your parenting style is?
I haven't directly, but I am pleased to say we have parented from our hearts since before Max was born. It's what felt right, natural, and has worked for us since the moment he was born.

So what is Attachment Parenting all about?  

To me, it is about being close and connected to your baby. It's about establishing strong connections with your child even whilst they're still in the womb, and continuing this relationship throughout your (and their) life. It's getting to know each other on a deeper level, and knowing you have someone who you love and trust.

It includes, but certainly isn't limited to:

• Co-sleeping - we bed-share with Max, but having your child in a sleeping space either on a mattress next to your bed or in a cot in your bedroom is still considered co-sleeping. There are many people who will tell you it is dangerous to co-sleep. The only time there has been recorded deaths is when people are co-sleeping outside of the safe sleeping guidelines (e.g. on soft couches where babies have slipped down the edge of the armrest & the seat, 3 people squished together in a small single bed, or sleeping with babies whilst on sleeping medication (drugs), intoxicated (alcohol) or smoking).  

While I was pregnant, I read some interesting studies by Professor James McKenna about mother & baby interactions whilst co-sleeping. Read more here.
 

• Extended Breastfeeding on demand & Baby-Led Weaning - This one was a no-brainer for me. It is nature's way of boosting love hormones (oxytocin and prolactin) and ensuring secure attachment from the moment your baby is born. It provides nutrition, love and comfort any time of the day. It is sterile, convenient, and portable. The baby's saliva contributes to formation and maturation of immune cells made for them by their mother. Nothing amazes me more than the beauty and ease of breastfeeding. 

'On demand' means you follow your baby's cues, not the clock/schedule when the baby needs a breastfeed. This ensures you have a steady production of milk and baby is satisfied- Food AND comfort wise.
Baby-Led approach allows you to learn your baby's subtle, yet articulate language. It is often frowned upon by child health nurses, as they say things like "your baby doesn't need to feed at night after 6 months, don't let them manipulate you". This is complete bollocks. Let your baby decide when they want to night wean. FYI- prolactin is highest at night, meaning, if you struggle with milk supply, you're best to offer more feeds at night, to produce milk more efficiently. The more feeds your baby has, the more milk you produce. The amount of milk your baby needs will change almost daily, so when it feels like they are feeding every hour for a couple of days, they might be trying to boost your supply, ready for a growth spurt, or, if they go off the breastfeeding for a few days, they might not need as much milk at that stage. Just trust your instincts. If you feel there is a real supply issue, you might consider visiting a lactation consultant, or join the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and gain support from other mums about breastfeeding.

There is no defined age to wean your child from breastfeeding. In fact, the average age, worldwide is 4.2 years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends for children to be breastfed until 2 years of age and beyond. Unfortunately, in Australia, our breastfeeding rates are a dismal 14% by 6 months of age. I believe if breastfeeding women were supported to continue breastfeeding through longer paid maternity leave, and formula (artificial milk) was prescription only, our rates would be much higher, lasting through the toddler years.

About solid foods- If your baby won't eat solids at 6 months of age (recommended age), no big deal! Just keep offering healthy bits off your plate, and they'll eventually start eating when they are ready. A great resource for beginning solids is baby led weaning.
 

• Baby wearing- one of my favourite parts of the day is popping Max into the Manduca (see pics below) and going for a walk. It's so practical to wind through the people in the shopping centre. It's so comfy and warm to have him snuggled in during winter, and he can discreetly breastfeed whenever he wants to. Oh and did I mention he weighs over 10kg now? It's great exercise!! 

Studies have linked baby wearing with less colic, fussiness and digestive issues, less infant crying and increased state of relaxed alertness where babies actually take in and learn about their environment from a very young age. Dr. Sears explains more here
 

• Gentle Guidance- as opposed to discipline, uses open communication and connection. It teaches children (and parents) to use words calmly and effectively to express their emotions. Of course it is a work in progress for all involved, as we all need help to express how we feel at times. I like this approach, because it shows your child you are a human who shows human emotions (empathy, love, happiness, sadness, anger, frustration) and encourages, as opposed to shaming children to express themselves as best as they can, knowing they have a loving adult as support. I've found aha parenting a fantastic resource for information on gentle guidance.

 

• Cloth Nappies- we use Modern Cloth Nappies (MCN's) for Max day and night. There are so many great reasons to use cloth. Great for baby (easy to change, easy to wash, no nasty chemicals/synthetics), great for the environment, AND for the money in your wallet. Disposable nappies inevitably end up as land fill. Think of how many your household uses in a day (for those without kiddos, you might use anywhere between 6-12 per day). Multiply by the huge population worldwide, and that's a whole lot of waste and synthetic materials going into the earth. Sadface. If money is a problem, ask people to give you a few cloth nappies instead of newborn clothes at your baby shower. Start using them from the moment you feel ready (or once bub is big enough) and watch the amount of waste decrease in your house! I thought it'd be good to mention here- wipes are mainly made from synthetic material and harsh chemicals which can lead to some pretty nasty nappy rash. Use an old face washer dipped in water to wipe baby, and smear on a little coconut or olive oil onto baby's bottom to save on more waste, and most importantly, prevent nappy rash. Happy days.

• Child being left with at least one loving parent or loving carer (most of the time) for the first 3 years of life- Humans, by far, take the longest out of all mammals to become independent of their parents. If you're like me, I certainly want to see and experience my baby's milestones and learning as it occurs. Kids need love, guidance and nurturing. We, as parents, need to be their 'safe place' and when our babies grow up, they need to know they can have the freedom to venture out, even if it is just to the other side of the playground, knowing they can return to their 'safe place' whenever they need to.  By being close to your baby for these first, tender years, separation anxiety is lessened, and strong, empathic connections are established. Children trust us as their parents, and learn to create strong connections with other people as they encounter them in life.

 



There are an infinite amount of ways to parent and connect with your child. Attachment parenting works for us and our baby. Just trust your instincts, listen to your baby and enjoy each moment and experience.

Green Cleaning. My Bi Carb Joy.

Green cleaning. It's something I've always had an interest in, and had to learn about while I was pregnant. The smell of just about anything made me feel queasy for the first trimester, so I decided I couldn't keep cleaning with anything that had a smell, especially anything chemical. yuck!

If you google green cleaning, bicarb soda comes up trumps for just about everything. I had always used gumption (thanks Mumsie, which was, as I found out, mostly made of bicarb) for the bathroom, and have never minded having to use a bit of elbow grease to scrub things down.

Then I started looking down the list and realised you can use bicarb in the washing up water to wash dishes, you can pop it into the bath to wash grubby kiddos (and their toys), you can use it as a face scrub, you can put it into smelly shoes to deodorise them, it even helps to remove stains off clothes!

We use it as a deodorant. Simply dab a couple of your fingers in water, (or lick them), and touch them into the bicarb box and rub under your arms. No smells, even after sweating! 

We use it a lot on Max's modern cloth nappies, even the pooey ones. Just like magic, after a sprinkle of bicarb, and a bit of water & scrub, no smell, no poo stain.

You can say goodbye to toothpaste, if you use bicarb paste. Just wet the brush and dip it in the bicarb, and brush away! No chemicals, no nasties, just pearly whites :) 

Make jewellery sparkle by making a paste with bicarb and water and gently rub with a clean soft cloth.

We don't have carpets, but you can sprinkle it onto carpet as a stain treatment and/or deodoriser (vacuum 15 minutes after adding bicarb).

If you make a paste, bicarb acts as anti-itch for a mozzie or ant bite. 

Of course it's helpful in the kitchen as a rising agent in baking too. Use 2 teaspoons of bicarb to every cup of plain flour (or we use spelt).

Ever had indigestion or heartburn? Add a teaspoon of bicarb to half a glass of water, stir and drink immediately. Bicarb is really alkaline, so it helps to decrease stomach acidity. Please only use this remedy after or between meals, as having a good amount of stomach acid is necessary to properly digest your food.

Sometimes you might want your cleaning to leave a nice aroma. There are healthy ways to add fragrance to your cleaning, it is natural, and doesn't cost the earth.

Mould? Clove bud oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil (about 5 drops of each) into a spray bottle with water. Spray onto the mould directly, and then scrub with a brush or toothbrush (dipped in bicarb) after 10 minutes. Then rinse with water.

Soap scum? Bicarb, then vinegar spray, then scrub.

Alternative to rinse aid in dishwasher? A handful of bicarb in the bottom of the dishwasher during the rinse cycle, and 5-10 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Bliss!

Don't you just love it? I keep a box of bicarb on the kitchen window sill and another in the laundry. It costs about $3 a month to keep it stocked up, and as you can see from my list of uses, it gets used multiple times per day. Winner!


A warning about the not so nice guy cleaners...

The chlorine vapour from domestic mould cleaners has been linked to a large array of respiratory issues as it causes oxidative damage to the epithelial lining of the mouth, oesophagus and lungs. See this study to find out how toxic cleaners and swimming pools can be!

Remember to put bicarb on the shopping list this week, and throw out the chemicals. You might even feel as healthy and sparkly as your newly polished jewellery :) 

Mainstream Health Myths. Part Two: Low-fat Diets

This is one part of mainstream society that really gets to me. People talk about needing to lose weight, therefore, consider cutting most, if not ALL fat out of their diet. Fat makes you fat right? WRONG!

Firstly, I'd like to say I have tried the low-fat eating fad when I was in my late teens, early 20's. I was mainstream, I believed what I saw on t.v and I was certain that we would be warned of health risks if there were any. 

Then, I became a Naturopath. I researched foods, and learned about what the body requires to function efficiently. Wow, was I blown out of the water to find out that eating eggs in their whole form (no egg-white omelettes for me!) and choosing organic, full-fat dairy was so much healthier than any low-fat product that had been deceivingly marketed as 'healthy'.

About dairy- Yes, it is high in calcium, children need calcium for strong teeth and bones. We've heard this time and time again. But did you know that you require fat and fat soluble vitamins to absorb calcium efficiently? The skimming of the fat from the milk, and the processing (pasturisation and homogenisation) actually make phosphorus more bioavailable, and calcium less bioavailable. Calcium and phosphorus compete for absorption, and phosphorus wins. What are you left with? Brittle bones! Not to mention, the possibility of multiple fat soluble vitamin deficiencies (Vitamin D being the most common).  

Fat naturally brings about feelings of satiety (fullness). Often, milk solids (a by-product of dairy processing) are added to low-fat dairy in order for it to have a certain fake creaminess. Milk solids are a highly processed additive that many people show allergy or intolerance symptoms to. Low-fat dairy also requires synthetic vitamins to be added back into the product whilst being manufactured, as they are lost in the skimming process (it is no longer a whole food).

This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what they don't tell you about the processing of low-fat dairy products. I actually don't understand why they would take something so naturally beneficial and process it so much, it barely resembles the original food (nutritionally).

Saturated fats are necessary in your diet. There you go, I said it. If coupled with an antioxidant rich diet and exercise, they probably won't cause heart disease. 

Saturated fats: 

• Form the necessary building blocks for cholesterol to make healthy hormones (as many of you know, hormones rule our lives!), 
• Keep cells fluid-like so nutrients and wastes can pass easily in and out of the cell. If you lack fat in your diet, you might notice how fatigued you feel. This could be from cells in your body being over burdened with toxins, as they are not freely being excreted.
• Assist in padding around the organs as protection, and also serve as a storage place for excess wastes and hormones. One of the main reasons why it is important to take liver detox and weight loss slowly. (When the fat cells are released, so are the excess toxins, which can cause headaches, sluggishness and fatigue).

What about the 'good fats' you hear about? 

Avocado, Nuts and Seeds, Fish and Coconut, to name a few, are high in essential fatty acids, Omega 3,6 &9, along with antioxidants, fibre and many vitamins and minerals. They are considered health promoting, and assist your body to combat inflammation, digestive upset such as constipation, dry skin or hair & brittle nails. Fats are essential for proper nerve activity, vitamin absorption and immune system function.
If you are on a low-fat diet, these health promoting foods are crossed off the list (except maybe fish). I highly recommend you include these in your daily eating plan. They not only taste great, but they are easy to cook, and are so good for you! 

In regards to portion sizes, each and every person is different, however, you could aim for:

Half an avocado a day
1-2 handfuls of soaked nuts per day (Soaking makes them easier to digest)
Deep sea oily fish (mackerel, cod, sardines, halibut) 3-4 times per week (150gm per person)
A teaspoon of coconut oil with each main meal is linked to increased satiety, increased liver metabolism of fats, better energy levels (the liver uses the medium chained fatty acids in coconut oil as a fuel source), and normalised cholesterol levels. Give it a try, it is delish!

No one needs to be on a strict low-fat (or no fat) diet to lose weight. Fats are a natural and necessary part of a healthy eating plan. You might be interested in some of the information written by Weston A Price. Read more HERE.

I read a great little quote one day "Whenever you see the words 'low fat', think 'chemical shit storm". Take a look at the ingredients on the packet. You'll know what I mean.


 

Mainstream health myths. Part One: Cholesterol

I am constantly having to stop reading articles and switch off advertisements that make claims about health. I am not sure who began common health claims in society, but somehow they have become what people automatically think are the truth. I hope after reading this series of posts, at least a few mainstream myths will be different in your eyes!

MYTH 1. CHOLESTEROL
'You must not eat any food containing cholesterol if you have high cholesterol' Heard this before?.
Let me inform you about cholesterol.

The liver naturally makes it in our bodies (about 90% of it in fact). It is a necessary building block for hormones and serves as an indicator of levels of inflammation in your body. If you have high cholesterol, your liver has been running on over drive producing lots of cholesterol to serve as a protector of your arteries. 

It has been shown in autopsies of people who have died from heart disease, that their arteries were clogged with cholesterol. Not surprising. They had huge levels of inflammation in their bodies. It is not the cholesterol that caused the heart disease, it is the oxidation and degradation of the fats in their arteries, caused by lifestyle factors (smoking, excessive alcohol, trans fat intake, no exercise) and a lack of antioxidants in their diet that damaged the cholesterol and the arteries, leading to heart disease.

C-reactive Protein (CrP) is a much more accurate finding from a blood test that measures the risk of heart attack.

People claim they have no control, high cholesterol runs in their family, and take statin drugs as recommended by their Doctor. Statins are scientifically known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. They bascially inhibit the enzyme necessary to produce cholesterol in the liver. Do they decrease cholesterol? Yes. Do they have side effects? YES.

Unfortunately, statins also block the production of CoQ10. One of our body's most powerful antioxidants. Ironically, low levels of CoQ10 have been linked to heart disease. All muscles in the body (including the heart) require CoQ10 for energy production. It essentially delivers oxygen to working muscles. Without CoQ10, you may feel particularly tired and achy on a physical level, and on a molecular level, your antioxidant status is decreasing over time. As I outlined above, oxidation leads to inflammation, & poor health status.

What can you do to normalise your cholesterol naturally?

Exercise.

You've probably heard of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol (HDL vs LDL). Exercise encourages your body to transport the LDL (bad) cholesterol back to the liver to form more HDL (good) cholesterol.

Eat more fibre.
Excess cholesterol tends to accumulate in the bowel and can recirculate into the body, causing an increase in total cholesterol. By eating more fibre, you can reduce cholesterol in two ways. 1) Fibre can bind the cholesterol, rendering it unavailable to recirculate; 2) Fibre regulates the bowels so you move your bowels more frequently, and eliminate the cholesterol. Try eating fibre from a variety of sources such as fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. This way, you also benefit from increasing the nutrient value of your fibre filled meals.

Avoid trans fats.
These are the absolute bad guys when it comes to causing damage to your body. Trans fats are a product of unstable fats that have been heated, and/or hydrogenated to make a solid fat spreadable at room temperature or when refrigerated. There is no 'safe' daily amount of trans fats. The best thing to do is avoid them altogether!
Found in packaged biscuits, chips, pastries, margarine, unstable vegetable oil (canola, soy, sunflower, cottonseed, sesame, peanut), cakes, take-away foods. 

Eat more 'good' fats.
Coconut products (oil, cream, milk, flesh) are all high in medium chained fatty acids. Your liver tends to prefer these fats and processes them quickly for energy. The liver becomes very efficient at metabolising fats (the opposite to low-fat diets) and studies on coconut oil have shown HDL (good cholesterol) to rise, total cholesterol to decrease, and LDL (bad cholesterol) to decrease. The great benefits of coconuts really do deserve their own post, so I will follow that one up later. 
Avocadoes and deep sea oily fish such as cod, mackerel and sardines provide an array of healthy fats (omegas 3, 6 & 9) that the body requires several times per week.

Eat a variety of antioxidants- daily!
Rainbow coloured food, in it's whole form such as blueberries, acai, maqui, leafy greens, broccoli, spirulina, pineapple, ginger, tomatoes,strawberries, cherries, capsicum, carrots, oranges, sweet potato.
A little bit of each colour is the key. You can't overdose on natural antioxidants. They are nature's treatment to so many different ailments, and help to protect the body from oxidation (cellular ageing and degradation). Fresh is best, but if your favourite berry is out of season, you can keep some high quality supplements in the house to keep you boosted (see acai, maqui and spirulina).


There are many herbs and nutrients that are commonly prescribed by Naturopaths such as Turmeric, Globe Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Fenugreek, Gymnema, Activated Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, & high dose antioxidant supplements. 
Please contact your Naturopath for correct dosage instructions, so you can gain the optimum treatment for your specific condition.


Much of the information posted here on cholesterol is from a book I read many moons ago. Click here to check it out for yourself!

HCG Diet. What's the hype about losing weight?

Weight loss is a hotly followed topic amongst the population worldwide.

Recently, I was speaking to my mum and she asked me about what I thought about the HCG diet. To be honest, I am not interested in calorie counting or encouraging people to starve themselves to be thin. I think most people look great if they are within a natural weight range for their body type and height. 

When I looked into the details of the HCG diet, I was mortified to hear that people were eating 500 calories a day, weren't allowed to exercise, and took drops under their tongue of a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy to suppress their appetite. I'm not sure as to whether the hormone given is a synthetic 'mimic' of human chorionic hormone (HCG), or if they source it from actual placentas, but I cannot believe the lengths people are going to trying to lose weight! Apparently the HCG drops (or injections) induce the morning sickness feeling, less the nausea, so you don't feel hungry. The 500 calories is made up of mainly protein, and is very low carbohydrate. 

So what does your body live off? Your fat stores, in a process called ketosis. A couple of problems could arise here. The brain requires glucose to function efficiently. Although the body can convert glucose to fat quite easily, the reverse conversion is a lot more difficult to perform. So your body might be burning fat, and you might be losing weight, but you can't remember what you did with that thing-a-me-jig. What was I saying again? Yep, you turn into an airhead, because your brain doesn't have enough fuel.

With such high rates of body dis-morphia (people who think they are fatter than they are) and eating disorders around, I spend my time encouraging people to have a better relationship with food. It is here to nourish us, make us healthy and live long, quality lives, not to make us fat. We need to bring the culture of food back to life and celebrate our love and joy for good quality, tasty meals, eaten in the company of good friends and family. 

In our house, we eat local grown organic food (where possible) and cook everything at home from scratch using wholefoods. Wholefoods are those we eat as they are found in nature, with no, or very little processing (E.g. Fruits and vegetables). We eat a moderate amount of fat, complex carbohydrates, and quality sources of protein. We eat seasonally, and in touch with what our bodies need. E.g. Some days I need more protein than Matt. He feels like he's had enough meat for the week, or it might be a hot day, so we opt for a raw salad.

So rather than looking to get skinny, let's look at getting healthy. 
Eat organic wholefoods that are local and in season.
Learn to cook from scratch (it takes a few trial and errors, but you'll get the hang of it)
And learn to accept & love the way you look.
Focus on what you DO like about yourself. 
The better relationship you have with your food and yourself, the better relationship you'll have with life.