Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 158 i WellBeing

Everything has a use-by date. Yes, I’m not qualifying that ... everything. Even the sun, that supposedly constant orb in our sky, will die in around 5 billion years, but in around 2.8 billion years, as it brightens, it will snuff out life on Earth. Impermanence is permanent and it doesn’t have to be on time scales like that of the sun. In every person’s lifetime, change is a constant, but we often live as if it isn’t. I had change thrust in my face recently and, as usual, it was my darling daughters who thrust it there. A fight had broken out, not over anything major as far as I could tell, but a fierce dispute. As an engaged gliderparent (a helicopter-parent but more environmentally sustainable), I attempted to…

We’d love to hear your tips for living well. Email us at wbletters@universalmagazines. com.au, comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @WellBeing_Mag. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. WE ASKED: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HERBAL TEA COMBO? Lemongrass and ginger. Chelle Hungerford Home-made chai is awesome. Simone Wilson Fresh ginger and organic honey. A to Z Apothecary Chai spices and roasted dandelion! Tara Appleton Fresh mint with lemon and honey is divine. Georgia Pierce WIN The writer of this issue’s star letter wins an anti-ageing gift pack worth AU$219.75 from zk’in. The pack contains one each of the Softening Cream Cleanser, Hydrating Mist, Line Smoothing Serum, Rejuvenating Moisturiser and Brightening & Hydrating Masque. Every product is dermatologically tested and non-irritant and contains performancebased actives proven to deliver…

GREEN THINKING Green roofs are roofs where plants and grass have been planted instead of just having a roof. Aside from their obvious aesthetic qualities, green roofs offer many benefits. A new study involved subjects carrying out a boring mental task in a city office block. The task involved watching a computer screen as a series of numbers flashed up and, for each number, subjects had to press the corresponding key on the keyboard unless it was the number three. In the middle, the subjects were given a 40-second microbreak where they could look at a nearby rooftop. In some instances, the rooftop was an ordinary concrete rooftop, while others were able to view a green rooftop. People who looked at the green roof made significantly fewer mistakes and showed…

The Solar Springs experience begins with the scenic drive to Bundanoon, a lovely Southern Highlands village roughly equidistant from Canberra and Sydney. Our 90-minute run took us south down the F5 Freeway, turning off at Mittagong and passing through the pleasant towns and villages of Bowral, Moss Vale, Sutton Forest and Exeter, then on to Bundanoon. As we crawled through Bowral’s township, my friend and I were tempted to stop at some of the many interestinglooking clothing and homewares stores or refuel at one of the inviting cafes. Remembering Solar Springs’ standard invitation to arrive in time for lunch, despite a 2.30pm check-in, we pushed on. The first thing to impress on arrival is the stunning gardens with their combination of cottagey profusion and elegant, clipped formality. Mind you, these…

Taryn Brumfitt is living proof that you can’t judge a person’s health and happiness by the way they look. Not too long ago, Brumfitt loathed her body and was seriously considering plastic surgery to “fix” her postchildbirth body. On the surface, she looked like she had it all: she was happily married, the proud mother of three young children and running a successful photography business. Behind the scenes, however, she was desperately unhappy with how she looked and suffering from crippling body issues. The visit to the plastic surgeon was the catalyst that got Brumfitt thinking differently about her appearance — although not in the way that you might expect. Brumfitt didn’t go through with the surgery. She had begun to question the message she would be sending her young…

Have you ever had a near car accident or almost tripped down the stairs and then felt so shaky and hyped up that you have to steady your nerves? Blame it on the fight-or-flight response — a hangover from our cavemen days when we needed to be ready to wrestle a sabre-toothed tiger at any moment. Yet, with our modern lifestyle and substantially changed stressors, we no longer have the opportunity to burn off stress hormones through fight or flight, so they keep circulating in our bodies like an anxiety-provoking chemical soup. As a perceived threat triggers a powerful “danger” signal, this activates the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary axis), a feedback loop between your brain and other organs such as the kidneys that causes a cascade of stress hormones, including adrenalin and…

From rosemary to thyme to parsley, and so many other varieties in between, herbs grow abundantly in the garden and even in containers if you’re pushed for space. After more than 25 years spent experimenting with herbs in the kitchen, I know these botanical beauties are key to infusing the dishes you cook every day with great taste and depth of flavour. Known as the part of the plant used for its aromatic purposes, herbs are the bushy leaves and shrubbery that can be used fresh or dried. All other parts of the plant, including the buds, bark, root, seeds, berries or fruit, are referred to as spices. Just like spices, not only can herbs elevate your culinary creations to delectably delicious, but I really dig them because, as the…

A good habit to get into as you begin your yoga session is to take a moment to consider an intention to shape your practice. This is called a sankalpa, or yogic resolution. A sankalpa would usually take inspiration from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali — the foundational text of Ashtanga, or Raja, yoga. Intentions, particularly those involving physical activity, are often achievement-oriented and, as with all good intentions, you want to do your best. For yogis, in particular, the combination of setting an intention and overcoming obstacles seems a logical step on your path to selfrealisation. And yet, in my experience, many people setting intentions for their practice seem to benefit most when that intention has to do with being more easeful and less achieving in their nature. Why?…

Would you like your home to be environmentally healthy but don’t know where to start? Do you like the idea of having reduced bills in a comfortable, non-toxic home while reducing your impact on the Earth, but need the knowhow? Whether you want to implement small changes immediately or are seeking solid information for retrofit or rebuild, passive design, permaculture, solar power and sustainable technologies, get inspired, get out of your house and get into someone else’s at the annual Sustainable House Day, held each September throughout Australia. WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY? Sustainable House Day (sustainablehouseday.com) is a nationwide event in which impassioned sustainable homeowners open their doors and hearts to the general public, providing educational talks and tours of their own homes for free. First established in 2001,…

Have you ever hugged a tree? Or placed your hands on its trunk and felt its strength, power and life? Trees are the lungs of the Earth. It’s common knowledge now that if trees didn’t exist and breathe, neither would we because of their role in absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. One tree alone can supply almost 260 pounds of oxygen, which provides two people with oxygen for the entire year. Most know this basic process reduces greenhouse emissions, but trees create a multitude of surp rising benefits beyond keeping us alive. For many years, I lived near a national park in Sydney’s northwest. I walked religiously in the forest every day. I would revel in the energy of the soaring gums, enjoy the sunshine glittering on their leaves…

DVDS X+Y DIRECTED BY MORGAN MATTHEWS STARRING ASA BUTTERFIELD, SALLY HAWKINS, RAFE SPALL THE WRECKING CREW DIRECTED BY DENNY TEDESCO STARRING LOU ADLER, GLEN CAMPBELL, CAROL KAYE WOLF HALL DIRECTED BY PETER KOSMINSKY STARRING MARK RYLANCE, DAMIAN LEWIS, CLAIRE FOY As charming as it is funny, X+Y is the story of Nathan, a young maths prodigy bordering on autism who’s good with numbers but mystified by people. When he wins a place on the UK team at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Taipei, Nathan is drawn out of his shell by spirited Chinese rival Zhang Mei (Jo Yang), who dismantles his defences and alerts him to the joys of the wider world. It unfolds with the predictability of a simple algebra problem, yet X+Y equals joy thanks to its excellent…

IMMUNE PLEX Immune Plex is a herbal medicine with ingredients used traditionally to assist the body’s natural ability to resist infection and to improve immune function. For more details on the range of Australian-made herbal medicines available from PPC Herbs, visit the website below. W: ppcherbs.com.au BRAUER BABY & CHILD ECZEMA RANGE Eczema relief that is more than skin deep — naturally*. Brauer believes a holistic approach is best to relieve the symptoms of eczema. Brauer Baby & Child Eczema range works traditionally to relieve the symptoms of eczema when taken internally or applied to the skin. The oral liquid includes homoeopathic Wild Pansy, used traditionally to relieve itching, while the cream combines herbal and homoeopathic ingredients to relieve the dry, red and itchy skin associated with eczema. * Refers…

CARLA OATES is a natural beauty expert and the author of Feeding Your Skin. To assist the liver’s phase-two detoxification pathway, avoid processed, sugarrich foods and eat nutrient-dense wholefoods. The skin is a good barometer of imbalance within the body’s systems. It is often described as the third kidney or the second liver because, if any of these elimination organs are overloaded and under-functioning, the skin will pick up the slack and try to push out more wastes and toxins. This is a common cause underlying many skin conditions. Assisting the body’s natural cleansing processes will help promote skin that has fewer reactions and is calmer and less inflamed. A comprehensive cleanse is best customised to the individual and so best done under the guidance of a naturopath. However, you…

JACKIE FRENCH is the author of The Chook Book (Aird Books). Her oldest chook, Gertie, is now 17. Although Gertie’s sisters have all long since fallen off the perch, Gertie still lays extremely large brown eggs most days of the year. So mulch. And mulch and mulch and mulch. We turn anything that has once lived into mulch. What is good soil? There is no simple answer. Ask a market gardener and the answer will be about chocolate-coloured loam, nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements and (if they are good growers) soil structure, levels of organic matter and healthy and prolific soil life from worms, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and beneficial fungi Ask a desert casuarina tree and the answer will be quite different ... To grow the most suitable plants for a…

DR MICHAEL ELSTEIN is a Sydney-based antiageing physician and writer. He is the author of three books, including his latest, The Wellness Guide to Preventing the Diseases of Ageing. He has also designed the app The Diet Guide to Ageing Prevention. At night, melatonin turns down the rheostat on insulin, making this an inopportune time to consume large amounts of food. We all know melatonin as the sleep hormone. But what does this common remedy for jet lag have to do with fighting obesity? In order to understand how this hormone can be harnessed to defeat the enemy, we have to examine what it is that regulates the amount of food we eat. Here the principal hormone is insulin. INSULIN IN ACTION When we consume carbohydrates found in cereals, grains,…

WIN! 1 OF 10 COPIES OF THE PATH OF THE EMPRESS We have 10 copies of The Path of the Empress (Rockpool Publishing, RRP AU$24.99) to give away. Inspired by Wu Zhao, ancient China’s most powerful woman, The Path of the Empress explores the feminine power of transformation and how women can harness their own power and sexuality. It includes exercises and herbal elixirs that open up the mind and soul to new insights and solutions. Visit rockpoolpublishing.com.au to find out more. For your chance to win, simply tell us, in 25 words or less, what do you do to empower yourself? Send your answers on the back of an envelope to: WellBeing Resource Guide Giveaway #158 Reply Paid 75687 North Ryde NSW 1670 Conditions of Entry: 1. Entry into…

For half a year now, I’ve been looking for an apartment to buy — in Sydney, where property prices rate among the most expensive in the world. Call me crazy, but ... no, actually, just call me crazy. It’s been a daunting hunt: one unit I looked at in an unmaintained block in a high-demand suburb sold at auction for $130,000 more than the indicated price. That’s almost enough to buy a whole house in some towns! The search has meant farewelling sleepy Saturday mornings, scrolling daily through listings of properties that seem to go up in price and down in quality by the hour, and traipsing through a succession of open homes with scores of other first-homeowner hopefuls. I’m on a first-name basis with real estate agents (they’re actually…

SHORT WALKS, LONG LIFE A new study was based on data gathered from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Since around 80 per cent of adults fail to get the recommended 2.5 hours per week of moderate activity, the aim was to see how much exercise — and at what level — might counter the problems caused by sitting. In the study, 3243 participants wore accelerometers that objectively measured the intensity of their activities. They found that light-intensity activities such as walking, light gardening and cleaning did show a benefit. In fact, two minutes of light activity each hour was associated with a 33 per cent reduced risk of dying. Assuming 16 waking hours a day, two minutes of strolling each hour will burn 1670 kilojoules in…

Hops (Humulus lupulus) are the flowers (the female flowers, primarily, called strobiles or “cones”) of a species of perennial climbing plants in the Cannabaceae family, a small family of plants (about 170) of which cannabis is one. It prefers moist, temperate climates and grows in similar soils to potatoes — and they are frequently grown together. Male plants are specifically excluded from agricultural areas where hops grows, as only the flowers, not the seeds, are used. There have been two major uses for hops over the centuries: For making beer: as a flavouring and stability agent, providing a tangy, bitter flavour. Traditionally, lower-alcohol beers were used as medicines. As traditional medicines: as infusion, tinctures and topical applications. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS Hops contain up to 20 per cent of bittertasting compounds known…

What inspired you to establish your business? I had a bush-tucker jam business in 1988 called Rainforest Foods, which was largely motivated by the ABC TV series Bush Tucker Man. I was inspired by the series’ identification and exposure of potentially useful Australian plants. I was also inspired by Landcare groups and their drive to replant Australian flora. I wondered how many other essential oils were still lying around on the Australian continent yet to be discovered and shared, and so I started out by developing lemon myrtle and distributing the oil for aromatherapy and personal care products. I grew my lemon myrtle business for more than 10 years before selling it and then in 2012 I started Essentially Australia. What was your original vision for Essentially Australia and how…

It’s natural to think of getting healthy and organised and making life improvements when spring rolls around. The fresh air, longer days and warmer temperatures can inspire you to flourish as your spirit awakens after the cool, introspective energy of winter. Astrologically speaking, spring 2015 promises all this and more as a rare planetary combination forms. Lucky Jupiter and confident Mars will join forces in Virgo, offering powerful celestial motivation for all kinds of dreams and projects. A call to authenticity and a push from the cosmos may help you take bold action in pursuit of your dreams. Jupiter symbolises growth and abundance. In Virgo, Jupiter will first highlight the value of decluttering and organising as an essential starting point, especially if you want to create meaningful progress. As you…

Before Dr Michael Mosley devised the 5:2 diet, he was part of an epidemic problem. Suffering dangerous markers for diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a high-fat BMI spurred him to seek solutions. By restricting his diet to 600 calories for two non-consecutive days weekly, Dr Mosley improved enormously: in just three months he lost 9kg of fat, including 10cm around his waist, balanced his BMI and improved indicators for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. His 2012 documentary Eat, Fast, Live Longer and book The Fast Diet have since inspired thousands to follow the 5:2 formula. The success of the 5:2 diet lies in its simplicity. You can eat anything for five days of the week, though it’s advised to stick to the recommended daily calories of 2000 for women and…

Menopause is defined as the cessation of menstruation (in women) and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Twelve to 18 months without a menstrual period is a commonly accepted timing. Before menopause is the perimenopausal phase when many of the symptoms begin to occur — continuing for up to three years before a woman is considered postmenopausal. During the perimenopausal phase, women ovulate irregularly (there can be months of increasing anovulation) (no ovum released), due either to reduced secretion of oestrogen or to the resistance of the remaining follicles to ovulatory stimulus. About one-third of women experience severe symptoms, one-third exhibit moderate symptoms and the other third have very few symptoms at all. Correcting the hormonal imbalance associated with premenstrual syndrome before menopause can make a big…

At Halloween, when children dressed as witches, ghouls or ghosts knock on people’s doors and ask for a trick or treat, they are re-enacting an old pagan belief. Halloween is known as Samhain in the pagan Celtic calendar, the night when the veil between the living and the dead was thought to be at its thinnest and when it was believed that the ancestral spirits would come knocking on families’ doors and ask to be welcomed in. Most people in the Western world have lost the tradition of honouring their ancestors and see no benefit in it, but ancestors are very significant in traditional cultures. Connecting to your departed family members can help you tap into their deep wisdom as well as heal any invisible fault lines that run through…

I’ve been interested in sustainability and sustainable or environmentally friendly architecture and design for more than 30 years. To me, the concept of conserving resources and using them in a responsible manner just makes sense. During this time, there have been many important developments, creating even more opportunities to choose environmentally friendly products and services. So, while the principles of environmentally sustainable design (ESD) haven’t really changed, the range of products and services certainly has, making it easier for homeowners to choose to “go green”. In Australia and New Zealand we have an enviable quality of life compared to many countries. We have access to many natural resources, which we need to manage responsibly to ensure they last for future generations. Reducing the amount of waste you generate is one…

Lazing on Four Mile Beach, my sarong spread among scattered palm fronds, I scan the turquoise shoreline in search of anyone who might disprove my theory. In this sea of tranquillity, an endless, white-sand beach bordered by bush almond trees and the deep blue, every joyful body splashing in the shallows, every peaceful soul floating beyond the breakers and every blissedout traveller lounging on the sand confirms my hunch that sunshine makes people happy. Science would back me up, but in Port Douglas — Far North Queensland’s most idyllic beach holiday retreat — the evidence is smiling right back at me. With the long wet long gone and the north’s season of sunshine in full swing, I’m on a mini-break from nearby Cairns, eager to join the wintertime crowd of…

QUINOA & CHIA PORRIDGE Serves: 4 Cooking time: 2 hours slow cooker, 25 mins stovetop 4 cups unsweetened almond milk 2 granny smith apples, peeled & coarsely grated 3 tbsp dates, finely chopped 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped ¾ cup quinoa flakes 3 tbsp chia seeds 3 tbsp dried cherries, cranberries or chopped dried apricots Rice malt syrup or honey, to serve Raspberries & toasted slivered almonds, to serve If using a slow cooker, put all the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours. If using the stovetop, place almond milk, apples, dates, vanilla bean and seeds in a saucepan over low heat. Cook for 20 mins until the apple starts to break down. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5 mins until…

LEE HOLMES runs Supercharged Food and has just released her new book, Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian. Visit her blog at superchargedfood.com for more cooking inspiration, recipes and tips. Turmeric contains curcumin, which increases the level of immunityboosting proteins in our bodies. Immunity is your body’s natural defence against disease-causing bacteria and viruses. A strong immune system can help fight colds, coughs and chest congestion, as well as protect against more serious diseases and ailments. Here are some key immune-boosting foods. ZINC Zinc is a mineral that is incredibly important in the development and functioning of the body’s infection-fighting white blood cells. A number of studies have revealed that zinc-deficient people are more susceptible to a variety of diseases. How well we absorb zinc depends heavily on the foods it’s…

KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney, Australia. T: +61 2 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au You can also encourage drinking by offering flavoured drinks. My favourites are diluted spring water from cans of tuna, homemade low-salt chicken broth and just boiled water poured over dried liver treats and cooled. Cats and dogs, like people, may end up with problems with their “waterworks”. Urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, toileting in the wrong place or blood in the urine are just some of the problems vets see. What signs might alert you that your dog or cat has a waterworks problem? You may notice your dog making several attempts to pee (not to be confused with normal marking behaviour, which is usually preceded by sniffing…

KARIN CUTTER runs a naturopathic clinic in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. T: +61 2 6582 4435 By the end of three months Colin had — for the first time in his life — sampled a sweet, juicy orange, a baked potato, small tasty tomatoes, puréed sweet potatoes and even a vegetable stirfry. By the time that May had finished describing some examples of her 10-year-old son Colin’s antisocial deeds, she was almost inconsolable. Racked with sobs, face red and swollen, the poor woman was distraught and trembling. Her husband refused to acknowledge the boy’s existence. He came home late from work most evenings, ate his dinner, then chain-smoked his way to bed. Certainly, the information I’d just been given would challenge the adrenals of even the most phlegmatic…

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO Editor-in-chief Terry and editorial assistant Kate have been busy working with experts like wholefood chef Lee Holmes (pictured above left) on segments for our soon-to-be-released WellBeing Lounge segments on YouTube. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, editor Danielle (pictured above right) got thoroughly spoilt at a nourishing retreat with holistic coach and wholefood chef Jo Rushton and yoga teacher Emma Cruickshank on the NSW central coast. WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU August–October, AU The Bloody Long Walk bloodylongwalk.com.au August 1, AU Jeans for Genes Day jeansforgenes.org.au August 7–9, Sydney, AU Good Food & Wine Show goodfoodshow.com.au/index.php/location/Sydney August 14–16, Barossa Valley, AU Barossa Gourmet Weekend barossagourmet.com August 20–30, Melbourne, AU Melbourne Writers Festival mwf.com.au August 23–28, Global World Water Week worldwaterweek.org August 23–29, AU Hearing Awareness Week hearingawareness week.org.au…

Did something resonate with you in this issue of WellBeing? We’d love to hear your feedback. Write to us at WellBeing, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde, NSW 1670, email wbletters@universalmagazines. com.au, comment on our Facebook page or tweet us: @WellBeing_Mag. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. RADIATING LOVE Thank you for all the goodness and love that radiates from your magazine! Even simply touching the pages of WellBeing inspires me and reminds me of all the magic and greatness in the world. Nelly Lenton THANKS A MILLION I just wanted to send a little Sunday love note to say that I absolutely love your magazine. A million thankyous for what you do! NaomiLArnold INTERESTING & INFORMATIVE I have been collecting and enjoying WellBeing since issue #1 (first from…

BOSSES WHO SERVE These new findings are based on data gathered from surveys of more than 1000 people including managers, employees and customers of a chain of restaurants. The findings show that when employees know the manager will put employee needs above her or his own then there are improvements in customer satisfaction, better job performance by employees and lower staff turnover. When bosses create a culture of caring, co-operation, fairness and empathy, employees in turn give back to the company and its customers; it is a very positive self-perpetuating cycle. The study found that leaders who “served” resulted in six per cent higher job performance among their employees, eight per cent more customer-serviceoriented behaviours and 50 per cent higher staff retention rates. The researchers say that “servant leadership” has…

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant in the same family as turmeric, cardamom and galangal. All these plants are considered herbaceous perennials that annually grow one-metre-high stems, narrow green leaves and flowers. The roots (rhizomes) of these plants are deemed spices. The origin of the name ginger possibly comes from Latin, Greek or Sanskrit, but overall the derivative of the name means “root”. About 50 genera and 1300 species exist worldwide and, because of the beautiful flowers of some varieties, ginger is also used in tropical gardens. As a spice, the rhizome is gathered when the stalk withers and is then scalded and scraped to prevent it sprouting. GINGER AS A FOOD/SPICE Ginger produces a hot fragrant spice. The young rhizomes are juicy and fleshy with a milder taste;…

SIMONETTE VAJA W: lovinglifestrategies.com, youtube.com/simonettevaja, facebook.com/simvaja B: contemplationart.net As a psychologist and creativity mentor and coach, I work with many people: some in my private practice in the Blue Mountains and others through my travels as a Beyond Blue workplace mental health facilitator. I also run retreats that focus on creativity and mindfulness practices. I started painting with pastels — pure pigments on 100/100 cotton paper — as a way to unwind from my work and the everyday stressors of life. I never know what will emerge from this artistic process; I use my fingers on each hand to caress and form the features onto the page, and most of my artwork has come through as portraits expressing peaceful emotions. I am inspired by all the people I meet through…

Most of us know what we need to do for our own wellbeing. Eat well, exercise and stretch, connect with nature, turn our phones off, sit quietly. We read about it, think about it and plan to do it ... one day. Until, quite often, a health scare or life crisis stops us in our tracks and forces us to re-evaluate our self-care. Why is that? Why, as intelligent and knowledgeable human beings, do we avoid that which we know will bring us the most happiness and good health? Because we believe self-care is about huge life-changes — changes that will take up a lot of time we simply don’t have and that deprive us of things we really love. We add it to our to-do lists, make New Year’s…

Eating a good, wholesome, nutrient-rich diet is paramount when it comes to promoting good health and radiant, youthful-looking skin. Unfortunately, not all of us eat well and a lot of people, especially those who follow a typical Western diet, don’t get the recommended daily intake of important nutrients needed to maintain healthy skin and prevent premature ageing. Here are some of the best skinnourishing nutrients around for beautiful, healthy skin. Have fun getting your glow on by including complexionboosting foods in your meals. SKIN-NOURISHING NUTRIENTS Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) CoQ10 offers exceptional protection against oxidation and inflammation, two major causes of skin ageing. CoQ10 is essential for energy production inside cells and is a highly effective antioxidant. CoQ10 is also important as it helps recycle other antioxidants in the body, such…

After footy practice, 13-year-old Bailey jogged 3km home, then hit the home gym after dinner to do some reps. One of his mates, Troy, also 13, goes to the gym most days, pushing himself to the point of soreness, but he says it’s worth it because his “guns” are getting bigger. As part of his fitness regime, Troy’s also started skipping meals because he wants to stay lean. Body image and how it can negatively affect teenage girls has been scrutinised in the public arena for decades. But mention the words “boys” and “body image” in the same sentence and most people just look baffled. It is, however, a big issue. Ask those in the know and they’ll tell you that negative body image does not discriminate across gender. In…

When world-renowned change agent George Monbiot stepped calmly onto the TED stage in Edinburgh in 2013 and began to talk, a ripple spread through the audience. However, rather than the wave of shock that usually accompanies his hard-hitting climate forecasts, it was instead a stirring of inspiration, a warm current of hope, an imaginative wonder at the possibilities that his story offered. In an entirely different kind of environmental report card, Monbiot explained how the simple act of reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park in the US, after an absence of over 70 years, set off a “trophic cascade” of changes that transformed the entire ecosystem to an extent that was unanticipated by even the scientists involved. Deer started avoiding certain parts of the park and immediately those places started…

Our society is addicted to fossil fuels and needs to go cold turkey. According to a January 2015 study published in Nature, over 80 per cent of the world’s currently identified coal reserves should be left in the ground (90 per cent for major producer countries including Australia), together with 50 per cent of the gas and a third of the oil. This is necessary to have a fair chance of keeping the global temperature rise by 2100 below two degrees Celsius and avoiding a runaway climate disaster. Most of the “easy” fossil fuels have already been extracted. Much of what remains is difficult to get to and increasingly associated with human rights abuses and excessive environmental damage, prompting the new coinage “extreme energy”. In a recent development, oil companies…

The palm fronds are dancing the hula in the gentle Waikiki breeze and it would be oh so tempting to be seduced by this scenario, plonk myself down on the white sands of one of the world’s most photographed beaches and gaze at the horizon for the next eight days. And that’s exactly what I did 22 years ago, as a young backpacker on a stopover from Europe, and it was simply divine. But for the past two decades a niggling feeling, which blossomed into an overwhelming urge, nudged me to return to this Land of Rainbows and impossibly good-looking people to see what else there was to this Pacific paradise. Incurable travellers will confess it’s both a blessing and a curse, this blatant desire to discover what’s “around the…

Holy Fire Reiki was introduced by William Lee Rand in January 2014. It is taught as Usui/Holy Fire Reiki, in which the Holy Fire symbol is used along with the four Usui symbols in Levels I and II and ART/Master. It’s also taught as Holy Fire Karuna Reiki®. It’s powerful and gentle and can provide purification, healing, empowerment and guidance. One of its more wonderful effects is the feeling students experience of being deeply loved. This in turn helps heal the students’ ability to love themselves and others. The use of the word “holy” in the name Holy Fire is not intended to have a religious meaning. The word holy has as its root meaning as being whole and complete, and this is how it is used in Holy Fire…

SALLY MATHRICK is a practising naturopath. She runs Sparkle Detox and Wellness Courses and Retreats. See sparklewell.com.au for more information. Why do we find the ageing process so repugnant that we spend so much time and money on products and practices that are often toxic? Ageing is not valued in our society; antiageing is. In 2013, humans around the world spent US$122.3 billion on anti-ageing creams, hair dyes, injectables and other “youth-enhancing” procedures. That spend is predicted to increase significantly in coming years as baby boomers retire and their children begin to age behind them. The anti-ageing trend includes injecting synthetics, toxins or cellular products into the body, sanding skin with chemical abrasives, covering and colouring skin and hair with chemical cocktails and surgically cutting and lifting faces and bodies.…

CHRISTINE BROADBENT loves her work as a travelling astrologer and sees clients in Sydney and Auckland. She also offers personal consultations by phone and Skype. For information on Christine’s seminars and upcoming events, email christine@astrologyspot.com.au, visit astrologyspot.com.au or call +61 402 664 101. VIRGO Expansive Jupiter now in Virgo suggests good things to come. Yet Virgo New Moon on Sept 13 must be carefully navigated. This solar eclipse begins a fateful time, when you may think the goal of a lifetime can no longer wait. Beware: patience and careful preparation are key; delay big spends until mid-October and refuse to overreact Oct 7 & 11. Energy rises from Oct 17 and Lover Venus, now in Virgo, aligns with Jupiter Oct 26. Fond hopes that seemed distant begin to show great…

Since my early teens, I have struggled with feelings of worthlessness and self-hate. Bouts of lethargy and tearfulness punctuated my life. It was easy to write these experiences off as the normal experience of adolescence but, as I entered my 20s, these feelings didn’t recede. Three years ago, I was finally diagnosed with depression and embarked on a quest to help tame my Black Dog. Last year, I started cultivating a home yoga practice. I had tried and enjoyed yoga many times before this; however, this time it was my intention to begin setting aside time for yoga each day and really concentrating on the practice. I’ve noticed that my moods have been much better since I began doing yoga on a regular basis. I’m better at coping with stressful…