Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 186 i WellBeing

Recently, I embarked on my first @emptyesky road trip for the year. The @emptyesky campaign encourages people to visit bushfire-affected towns with, you guessed it, empty eskies. The idea is to fill up with local produce and inject some much-needed money, love and support into the town. For me, the destination was Tumbarumba, in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. I was visiting the tiny town, which has a population of 1862 people, for my friend Tiff’s wedding. Tiff’s hometown, which she lovingly calls “Tumba”, had been hit hard by the devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia during the summer. Tiff and her fiancé Sean had invited 120 guests to their “Wedding in the Woods”, planning to hold the event in the stunning Sugar Pine Forest. However,…

Sweet little lies We all tell lies occasionally, but researchers wanted to find out exactly how we do it. The study found firstly that most people don’t lie on a daily basis, but the most common types of lies are “white lies”, exaggerations, hiding information, burying lies in truth and making things up. Expert liars tend to weave their lives with strands of truth while poor liars resort to being vague. Prolific liars also rely on being good with words and concealing their lies within simple, clear stories that are difficult to doubt. Interestingly, men were more than twice as likely to consider themselves expert liars who get away with their deceptions. People also tend to lie most to family and friends and prefer face-to-face lies rather than lying over…

Coconut oil is extracted from the meat or milk of coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Correct harvesting is important for oil production. Coconuts are picked between the ages of two and 20 months, but immature nuts produce an inferior oil product with lower yields. The coconut oil can be extracted by dry or wet processing. With dry processing the meat of the coconut is extracted from the shell and dried (copra) which is then pressed traditionally or dissolved with solvents producing coconut oil and “mash”. Wet processing uses coconut milk extracted from the raw coconut, and this is treated with a variety of methods such as heat, cold, acids, enzymes, centrifuging, distillation etc to extract the oil. Wet processing is less economically viable, producing a 10–15 per…

Paul English E: paulenglish@gmail.com W: paulenglish.com.au I: instagram.com/paulenglishartist Drawing is a meditative process for me. Sitting down with pencil and paper allows me to step away from the outside world, similar to reading a good book: starting the drawing slowly at the beginning, then racing towards the end to see the finished result. Time disappears while I’m drawing. Most of the time my fascination and inspiration are technical. How do I create that texture, or that lighting effect? How can I make the composition pull the viewer in? I like to explore different textures and lighting effects by using a variety of pencil types and adding layer upon layer of controlled marks on different thicknesses and textures of drawing mediums. I draw with a very sharp pencil and try not…

Why we love it There’s much to fall in love with at Kangaroo Island. It’s the land of (sheep’s) milk and honey, farmed since the early 19th century, and a place of rugged beauty home to a teeming indigenous wildlife population so diverse it’s often called “Australia’s Galapagos Islands”. This year’s fires devastated Kangaroo Island, ripping through almost two thirds of the island. The stories are particularly gut-wrenching: sanctuary owners forced to shoot maimed wildlife; days without power; residents digging trenches to bury thousands of deceased cattle and sheep. Decades of careful conservation work have been undone, but the locals are resolute that they will build again. Still, much remains to be enjoyed. The island is blessed with a natural beauty that ranges from wetlands to soaring cliffs from which…

Shea a large plum, butter is the plant fat derived from shea nuts, which are the seeds of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). The fruits of the tree look like and inside them is the nut. Even though it’s called a butter, shea is, in fact, a fatty oil that is solid at room temperature. Its use as a beauty product dates back thousands of years. Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra, was said to use shea butter to keep her skin soft and youthful. The shea tree resembles an oak, and there are over 500 million shea trees worldwide. In Africa, where they grow wild in the arid landscape, it’s rubbed onto stretch marks and used as a moisturising agent. Shea is also applied to umbilical cords to stop infection,…

How does dancing make you feel? Dance allows you to express, connect, release, remember and rejoice. Dance is a silent, universal language transcending age, era and culture. A baby bobs to “baa baa black sheep”, a Sufi spins in surrender, Indigenous Australians commune through corroboree — all dancing to the same eternal rhythm. Are you moved by dance? Who could forget the choreography highs of Ginger and Fred, Singing in the Rain, Flashdance, Fame, Footloose, Dirty Dancing, Saturday Night Fever, West Side Story and La La Land’s opening sequence? Dance moves you because you’re made to move. According to quantum physics, everything is in perpetual motion. Electrons in your body whirl around in an atomic dance, creating the appearance of solid matter, though you’re actually 99.9 per cent space. Nature’s dance…

In the months since my interview with award-winning actor-turned-filmmaker Damon Gameau, our Land Down Under has transitioned froma sunburnt country to a burnt country. Our most recent bushfire season, known as Australia’s “black summer”, left our country devastated. While writing this feature at the turn of the new decade, approximately 11.3 million hectares had been destroyed, dozens of people had lost their lives and almost 500 million animals had been killed. According to Gameau, in light of the aggressive effects of climate change, we need to water seeds of hope just as much as we need to take tangible action to help prevent any further loss of lives, biological diversity and natural habitats. But what do saving the planet and this Aussie film-maker have in common? It all starts with…

Less is more is the adage of our times. Driven by busy lifestyles and record stress, the way we view our possessions has shifted, with social research revealing what we already know too well: a cluttered home can hamper our life. Tapping into this darker side of the home, advertisers hold up images of minimalistic interiors for us to aspire to, while an army of decluttering gurus have built empires out of teaching us how to purge, fold, store and otherwise deal with the glut of our belongings. Adding to the issue, while we have more stuff than in the past, the average size of our homes has been shrinking in recent years. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show many of us are living in declining space thanks to rising…

Traditionally, heretical ideas tended to occur in the religious arena. For centuries, Catholicism fended off notionsthat challenged its tightly held dogmas, and these included its arch-nemesis, Gnosticism. However, heresies do not just occur in the field of religion. In science too, consensus has a tendency to harden into dogma that is hard to challenge, despite the fact that science is a work in progress, and some previous assumptions continue to be overturned. In the field of microbiology, it is widely accepted under the principle of “monomorphism” that microorganisms are stable and do not change shape, except in rare instances. This contrasts strongly with another “pleomorphic” school that holds the opposite view, namely that microorganisms frequently undergo dramatic changes, with far-reaching ramifications. During the glory days of pleomorphism in the early…

Self-improvement is at the core of human activity. You want to live a happier and fuller life, have better relationships and achieveyour professional best. You want to do better and be better than you were last year, last week or last session. You want to evolve to be who you were meant to be and be able look back with a sense of pride and accomplishment when you’ve achieved a goal. You want a sense of purpose, something to strive for and something to keep you from treading water for too long. To reach your goals — becoming a great cook, improving your skills to get a better job or mastering a musical instrument or game like chess — you often rely on practice to get you there. Yet the…

There are many things to discuss at the end of a long hike over northeastern Tasmania, but our group of 10 urban trekkers is seated in a circle of reflective silence. Clyde Mansell, one of the Aboriginal visionaries behind the wukalina walk, is telling a story. It’s the story of his people — the traditional custodians of the land over which we have roamed for four days — and the decades-long campaign to create the first Tasmanian tourism venture initiated by the Aboriginal community. “The creation story has been handed down for thousands of years, but anybody who knows Tasmanian history knows that our ancestors were removed from country,” Mansell says. “It took about 27 years for a cultural structure that had existed on country for at least 60,000 years…

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy JENNY ODELL, BLACK INC. Is there anything harder to do than nothing at all? In her self-help manual meets political manifesto, artist, writer and Stanford professor Jenny Odell delivers a rallying cry for taking time out of your day to “do” nothing. Odell argues that in a capitalist, internet-dominant world where value is determined by your so-called productivity, doing nothing (by which she means nothing of traditionally productive value) is a powerful act, and one that can ultimately change your mindset, and then the world, for the better. By questioning “what we currently perceive as productive”, Odell unpacks how much of yourself you lose when you are absorbed in social media and the rat race. When you “do” nothing, Odell suggests in…

The best intentions year 2020 is in full swing, and brings with it busy calendars and multiple diary entries. Sometimes we find ourfor change drifting away. Today I’d like to remind you that we all have 24 hours in a day. Presidents have 24 hours, CEOs with four kids have 24 hours and you and I have 24 hours. It’s what we choose for those 24 hours that makes all the difference. Here’s a list of things you can do to benefit your health, life and planet in the three minutes it takes to boil the kettle for a cup of tea. 1 Take 10 deep and steady breaths Half of the reason you can feel “out of control” is because your cortisol is too high and you’re not giving…

The bushfire tragedies across several states this summer have spurred a wide spectrum of reactions from Australians, from donations to charitable causes to looking to renewable energy sources for their own residences, and critically, looking at their superannuation funds and other investment vehicles to see if they are invested in companies that are part of the fossil fuel industry. Many people are concerned that ongoing activities in the fossil fuel industry are incompatible with taking the actions necessary to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. It can be quite difficult to know if your superannuation fund is invested in fossil fuel companies. The Australian Securities and Investment Commission last year deferred a class order that would require superannuation funds to disclose their fund holdings on the fund website…

CHRISTINEBROADBENT is an astrological consultant and teacher who sees astrology as a healing art. To experience Christine’s work first-hand, inperson readings are available in Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland, as well as phone or Skype sessions. Christine is now available for booked sessions at Lotus Health in Neutral Bay, Sydney. To find out more, visit astrologyembodied.com or call 0402 664 101. Gemini For Gemini, May 23 is special; the beginning of a seriously focused New Moon cycle, given extra strength by strong Saturn harmonies. This points the way to a new learning experience and an adventure of the mind promising practical results. Two weeks later, the June 6 Full Moon brings an emotional climax, a lunar eclipse squaring off to Mars and challenging you to clarify just what you are willing to…

April/May our #inspo May/June…

The exponential nature effect Spending time in nature is wonderful thing, but a new study has shown that it has doubly powerful effects. The study was commissioned by Natural England and was carried out by researchers at the universities of Plymouth, Exeter and Derby. The researchers looked at how much time people spent in various forms of nature and correlated that with their attitudes and health outcomes. The results showed that people who visit a natural space once a week have better physical and mental health. No real surprise there, but the results also showed that people who spend at least some time in nature each week are more likely to behave in ways that promote the health of the planet, by recycling and engaging in conservation. It’s a closed,…

On a recent five-day retreat at the Byron Yoga Centre, I was reminded that yoga is so much more than completing physical postures on a yoga mat. Yoga is the amalgamation of the body, breath, mind and spirit. Somewhere towards the end of the year, among the chaos of life and print deadlines, I had let the practices that connect my body to my breath, mind and spirit dissolve. It was time to retreat to the beautiful Byron Yoga Centre. As I check in to my room, impressed by the comfortable king bed and spacious private bathroom, I admire the organic garden flourishing from my front verandah. I can see big bunches of green bananas, strings of beans and herbs of all varieties. Feeling excited, I stroll past a very…

At the height of Australia’s tourism season, stretching from late November well into the new year, the bush blackened and the sky turned flame-red. Fire tore through towns and razed the bush, destroying millions of hectares of land and causing mass evacuations across the country. News headlines were a procession of destruction and devastation; many were left without homes, and even more without the jobs and income usually generated by tourists. With cancellation rates as high as 70 per cent, millions of dollars lost and surplus stock from a deserted tourism season, many fire-affected towns are struggling to rebuild. Day trip, weekend adventure or week-long retreat, the bush needs your support, now and in the future. Months later, as we edge out of the season of holidays and long weekends,…

A number of food movements have drawn attention over the past few years, but plant-based eating continues to rise and shake our thinking about food, nutrition and planetary health. As more people transition from traditional meat-oriented meals to plant-based, the question of what and how to swap meats for plants while still including essential nutrients in the diet and, of course, flavour and sustenance arises. And, while there is a growing number of plant-based “meats” available on supermarket shelves which can support the initial phase of transition, the best option with meat for plant swaps is, as always, with wholefood ingredients. Key nutrients When making the switch from meat to plants a few key nutrients need to be considered, namely iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and protein.…

In my career as a writer, actor and yoga teacher, I’ve embarked on many new projects. Each time, there is a sense of excitement and terror. I see it as a surge of energy and inspiration. There’s nothing more exhilarating and terrifying than the blank page, full of possibilities. I believe this surge is necessary in order to create anything in life, just like plugging into a power source. We need a great deal of prana to embark on anything new such as a business, relationship, health plan, renovation … it all requires concentrated prana. Prana is our life force. From the yogi’s perspective, it runs through invisible power lines called nadis throughout the energetic body. Similar to the meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine, these little pathways can’t be seen…

The allure of pottery in the Western world has been widely due to its aesthetic appeal. But beyond beautifully designed and produced forms of art lies another layer of intention — objects that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Ceramic art has many sustainable traits. It is produced from natural materials and handmade using traditional artisanal methods requiring time and patience, with the products standing the test of time. But pottery also has a carbon footprint due to the resources it consumes. There are many ways to reduce the impact of pottery on our planet without compromising on skill or creativity through reclaiming, reusing and recycling materials, along with other environmentally friendly practices that potters around the country are embracing. An eco-friendly, multipurpose space Designing a multipurpose space was at…

Rosie Butler was enjoying a restaurant lunch with her two daughters, aged six and eight. When her daughtersfinished off their plates, the waitress commented to Butler that her girls are “good eaters, but you’ll have to watch that when they get older!” Having grown up with a negative body image herself, Butler is determined to raise her children to love and accept who they are. She was shocked and angered by the waitress’s comments, which were directed at her but overheard by her daughters. “We need to lift each other up and accept each other for who we are inside, not what we look like on the outside,” says Butler. “We need to teach our children the importance of kindness and tolerance rather than judgement. We need to focus on…

Do you ever experience déjà vu? Have you ever felt that your life keeps repeating itself? Or worse still that you’re Bill Murray in Groundhog Day smashing your alarm clock every morning in a vain attempt to break the cycle of the same day happening over and over and over? OK, most of you are not living exactly the same day — you have weekends of course. You don’t go to the office on Saturday and Sunday. But seriously, take a moment to reflect on it: is it just the same day as Monday to Friday but in casual clothes? … you delete, distort and generalise the information that comes in according to what you believe… The truth is, everyone is living some sort of Groundhog Day, and most of…

My toes curl with the shock of freezing concrete as I step out of the house with bare feet. It is late in the afternoon and the air has a crisp bite to it, trapping my breath in a mist and sending tingling sensations through the fingertips and up the arms which turn into shivers down the spine. I run briskly across the only road through the small settlementof houses, yelping at the rocks as they stab at my soles before jumping into the warm spring water in relief. There is something very wild and majestic about Iceland, a country that not only lies at the clash of the Atlantic and Arctic waters, it also straddles the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates which continue to move and transform…

Images and text from Venetian Republic by Nino Zoccali. Food photography by Alan Benson, Murdoch Books RRP $49.99. At Zoccali visited21, coming to the end of a 12-month sabbatical in Southern Italy, Sydney chef and restaurateur NinoVenice, and an obsession with the floating city was born. Decades later, in his latest book, Venetian Republic, Zoccali shares 80 recipes from the Republic’s three key regions: Venice and the surrounding Veneto, the Croatian coast and the Greek Islands. Part culinary journey, part cookbook, Zoccali’s book takes his readers on a historical and gastronomic adventure around his favourite parts of the globe, celebrating, as he does, ingredients and techniques that encapsulate the influence and magnificence of the Venetian region. Braised Pag Lamb Shoulder with Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes & Grilled Baby Leeks Serves:…

Spices and herbs have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for centuries. Spices not only improve the taste and colour of meals but possess abundant health and beautybenefits both inside and out. Research has shown the medicinal properties of spices are due to their bioactive constituents, including sulphur-containing compounds, tannins, alkaloids, phenolic diterpenes and vitamins, specifically flavonoids and polyphenols. You can think of spices like concentrated medicinal powerhouses! Utilise the healing power of food for clear, glowing skin and strong, healthy hair with these six herbs and spices. Skin Cinnamon Cinnamon is known for its antibacterial and blood glucose stabilising actions. Topically Research has shown a topical application of cinnamon bark extract mixed with raw honey can help fight the major acne-promoting bacteria Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. For…

When did you last see a recipe that included the herb “savory”? Thyme, yes — and there is plenty of basil or fresh coriander in modern recipes.But for some reason, while our cooking has embraced herbs from across the world, we seem to have forgotten old-fashioned savory. Which is a pity, because savory is one of the most delicious herbs and one of the easiest to grow. My “secret” lemon sauce is wonderful because I add a branch of savory, coconut milk and lemon juice to the stock as the sauce slowly simmers and thickens. There are two “savories”. Summer savory is an annual; it dies down each year and must be sown again, so the leaves are only available in summer. Winter savory, however, is a perennial and, despite…

At the fourth International Australian Biology of Ageing Conference 2019, world-renowned luminaries reinforced the premise that eating less is the primary way to slow down ageing. We’ve actually known this for quite a while. The buzz phrase is “caloric restriction” and it comes in many guises. You can try alternate day fasting or the much easier gambit of simply eating a mere 10 per cent less at each meal. And then there’s the much-vaunted 5/2 diet whereby you gorge yourself into oblivion for five days and spend the other two hunkered down in a 500-calorie restricted bunker. The problem with any of these diets is sustaining them for an extended length of time. As Stephen Simpson, professor in the aptly titled School of Life and Environmental Science at the University…

“Who knows? Maybe it will make you happy.” My neurologist had no idea how much itwould affect me to hear him say that. And, in retrospect, I had no idea that it would be the launching point for a redirection of my life. We had been discussing my next plan of action for my migraines because my current one clearly wasn’t working. My migraines were steadily worsening and increasing in frequency. My neurologist said it was time for a preventive. He suggested nortriptyline, an anti-depressant. “You’d have to take it daily.” I didn’t want to take more drugs. He could see my hesitation, which was probably why he offered those comforting words: “Maybe it will make you happy.” Minutes later, armed with the prescription, I sat in my car, frustrated…

An egg a day For a while eggs were vilified because they contain cholesterol. Although research has indicated it’s not dietary cholesterol that elevates blood cholesterol, the stigma lingers in some minds. That stigma should be gone in light of a new study which looked at data gathered from a series of studies involving more than 170,000 people across 50 countries, three continents and differing socioeconomic levels. The results showed that there was no association between egg consumption and blood cholesterol. Additionally, moderate egg consumption (one egg per day) did not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or death, even in people with a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Since the data from these studies comes from a range of cultures and socio-economic levels, the results are thought to…

Vitamin B12 exists in several forms and contains the mineral cobalt, so compounds with vitamin B12 activity are called “cobalamins”. There are two of these active in human metabolism: methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. In the bone marrow, vitamin B12 is essential for correct red cell formation and maturation and for haemoglobin synthesis. B12 also functions as a cofactor for methionine synthase, which catalyses the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, a sulphur-based amino acid responsible for over 100 different compounds in the body, including DNA, RNA, hormones, proteins and lipid metabolism. Vitamin B12 in food is released by the action of hydrochloric acid and proteases in the stomach and then combines with intrinsic factor (a glycoprotein released by the stomach’s parietal cells), and this compound is absorbed in the last part of…

What inspired you to start SuperFeast? My journey started pretty simply. I was suffering from my own health issues with candida, brain fog and exhaustion. I decided to take these health problems into my own hands since I wasn’t seeing any solutions emerging from the Western medical model. I quickly fell in love with medicinal mushrooms, especially reishi and chaga, as these were the two mushrooms that helped restore my immune health and remove the excess candida from my system. From there, I fell in love with Taoist tonic herbalism. Very quickly, I realised I needed to share the ancient wisdom of these herbs with everyone who was wishing to access their health benefits. My mum actually really pushed me to start SuperFeast (she named the company) and since 2011…

Why we love it World-class food and wine, breathtaking panoramas and a rich history collide in this largely unsung region of Australia. The High Country enjoys four distinct seasons, coming into a rust-hued bloom around this time of year, but showy autumn leaves are merely the backdrop for the region’s culinary attractions; expect award winning produce, prosecco trails and some of the best restaurants in the country. Your only worry will be pacing the meals. So much to eat, inevitably too little time. Thankfully, there are many walking and hiking tracks to burn off the excess calories, or horseride your way through the mountains. Outdoor enthusiasts will be at home with fly-fishing, hang-gliding, rock climbing and skiing in the Alpine Region. Stay Provenance, Beechworth You get a real sense of…

As menopause approaches, it can bring with it the same sense of the unknown felt at puberty. What’s going to happen to my body? Is what I’m experiencing normal? If you’re feeling unsure about what to expect, you’re not alone. Given half the population journey through this natural biological stage, surprisingly little is known about it, remarks Dr Nicola Gates, clinical neuropsychologist at Brain and Mind Psychology, Sydney and author of The Feel Good Guide to Menopause. “Society’s always been uncomfortable with women’s reproductive sexual health,” Gates says, citing the furore over TV sanitary pad adverts. Menopause also has the double-edged sword of being associated with ageing. The what and when Simply defining menopause is confusing. Technically speaking, it refers to the permanent end of menstruation. Due to the irregularity…

Most people have had to deal with an embarrassing health issue at some stage of their life, and have unfortunately felt too self-conscious to ask for help. These conditions are usually an indication of some underlying health issue and can usually be treated effectively with natural medicines and a change in diet. In this article we delve into five common health complaints we often don’t like to discuss — bad breath, body odour, flatulence, dandruff and thrush — and we show you how to treat them naturally with healing foods, herbs and nutritional supplements. Bad breath Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis or oral malodour, can be a very unpleasant and embarrassing condition. Some people with bad breath are not even aware that they have a problem. Bad breath…

Across the food system, scientists, researchers and policymakers are all acutely aware that the population of the planet is on track to be 9 billion by 2050. If the planet is going to accommodate such a large number of people without losing any of the precious biodiversity that is already under threat due to climate change, we are going to need to eat wisely. Diets, particularly energy-intense Western ones as consumed by many Australians, need to evolve to be healthier and more sustainable for the people’s sake as well as the planet’s … and they need to do it fast. Edible insects are set to play a starring role in this process. Although the idea of eating crickets, ants and mealworms seems novel and niche to modern Western eaters, insects…

Social connection is not an optional extra to living a good life. In an age where the individual is glorified and being part of the collective is scorned as being unexceptional, perhaps we need to rethink our view of the herd as not just being a good thing for our wellbeing but as being essential to our very being. After all, there is safety in numbers. Pack mentality is a good thing In nature we see the effectiveness of the herd or pack working together. Animals of the same species bond, reside and hunt as a collective, and this ensures the survival of all in that community. The saying “the whole is greater than the individual parts” is perfectly apt here. Wolf packs, lion prides and dolphin pods form social…

For intelligence, centuries, Asia’s largest land mammal has been trained to work for humans. Revered for their sheer size, strength andelephants are a cornerstone of Asian history. From the “tanks” of ancient battlefields, to the “trucks” of logging companies, symbols of cultural and religious ceremonies and centrepieces of circuses, they’ve given their all. However, the species is now at crisis point. Statistics from a study carried out in 2017 by World Animal Protection (WAP) estimate that in Thailand alone, numbers of wild elephants have dwindled from 100,000 to between 2500 and 3000 in the last 100 years. There are now more elephants living in captivity in Thailand than wandering free. And with that comes myriad problems. When logging was banned in Thailand in 1989, a period of limbo began where…

Restorative yoga is the perfect antidote to a busy day. While vinyasa yoga, flow yoga, hot yoga and power yoga have manybeneficial benefits, attending a class in the evening can often feel like consuming a double espresso. Restorative yoga, on the other hand, is more akin to a soothing turmeric latte with home-made almond milk and cacao sprinkles! Byron Yoga Centre has seen a steady increase in the number of students attending its Restorative Yoga Training over the years. Among them are yoga teachers looking to increase their skill set to cater to the growing trend of more relaxing yoga classes, but also signing up are non-yoga teachers wanting to learn how to create a nourishing home practice. The benefits of restorative yoga Restorative yoga is a wonderful medicine for…

Are you feeling the resistance against starch? With the rise of the ketogenic diet comes the decline of fibres essential for ourdigestive system. In France, I’m sure they’d call it Le starch de résistance. If you’re cutting out carbohydrates to make way for fat loss, I urge you to reconsider. Carbohydrates, particularly fibre, resistant starches and prebiotic-rich foods, are essential for optimising the health of your digestive system. One of the best ways to support a thriving gut microbiome is to feed it. Just like teeny weeny, microscopic babies with wide open mouths, your gut microbes await your feeding and, just like humans, they can be fed junk, or they can be fed with the foods they were created to thrive on: prebiotics. Prebiotics are special carbohydrate molecules non-digestible by…

In veterinary practice, chronic stress is associated with many health problems of domestic pets, as well as of livestock and wildlife. Adaptogens are herbs we can add to other diet and herb strategies to help our pets cope with stress. Stress The physiology of stress is complex and involves a cascade of hormones. The purpose of these hormones is to mediate the fight/flight stress response, required to enhance survival. However, when stress persists, the chronic effects of these hormones affect health. These effects may include immune effects, effects on renal function, blood pressure, cognitive function, insulin resistance, reduced thyroid hormone, inhibition of reproductive hormones and adrenal depletion. Symptoms of adrenal stress in dogs and cats may include lethargy, anxiety, low immunity or tendency to infections. Chronic stress is associated with…

A common problem: a 35-year-old woman came to see me who was having great difficulty managing her energy. She had a good job (stressful but she enjoyed it), two children and a husband who was helpful with managing the family and the home. She felt she really had little to complain about and that she should be happy, but she felt excessively tired at various times during the day. Despite a good night’s sleep, she woke exhausted in the morning and needed a coffee (milk and one sugar) to get her going. Then as she was busy getting the kids to school and getting ready for work, she missed breakfast so she had another coffee. She was having trouble with weight management, and missing breakfast was part of her strategy…

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER STRESS FREE MANAGEMENT p (02) 9609 4881 e info@stressfreemanagement.com.au stressfreemanagement.com.au COUNSELLING & PSYCHOLOGY THE INDIGO PROJECT p +61 2 92125469 e hello@theindigoproject.com.au theindigoproject.com.au EDUCATION SYDNEY INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE 502/25-29 Dixon St, Haymarket NSW e administration@sitcm.edu.au p +61 (2) 9212 1968 sitcm.edu.au AUSTRALIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SOCIETY Suite 12/27 Bank St, Meadowbank NSW 2114 p 1800 456 855 e info@atms.com.au www.atms.com.au HART LIFE COACHING Suite 12/27 Bank St, Meadowbank NSW 2114 p 0414 364 494 e anne@heartlifecoaching.com.au hartlifecoaching.com.au MASSAGE & ORGANIC BEAUTY SAGE BEAUTY 292 Campbell Pde, North Bondi NSW 2026 p 02 9130 7064 e info@sagebeauty.com.au sagebeauty.com.au SKIN HEALTH EXPERT EVA KARPATI 17 Bay Street Double Bay NSW 2018 p 02 9363 2395 e skinclinic@karpati.com.au karpatiskinclinic.com.au DENTAL DR SCOTT MAKIOL BIODENTISTRY p 07 3848 2320 biodentistry.com.au…