ANZAC Biscuits

Tomorrow is ANZAC Day, 25th April which celebrates the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. It is a time to honor those who have fought for our freedom today but also an opportunity to remember the Australian tradition of mateship.

Mateship is a distinct Australian quality which brings our community together. Enjoy these healthy Anzac biscuits to share with your family and friends on your ANZAC Day.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups rolled oats 
• ½ cup desiccated coconut 
• ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts
• 2 ½ tablespoons coconut oil 
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 tablespoon water

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 160C 
• Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon or blend in a food processor briefly.
• Roll out and flatten biscuits and place onto a baking tray lined with baking paper
• Bake for 20 -30 minutes until golden brown

Taking the Heat Out of Menopause

The mid-life changes of women are seen as synonymous with ageing. However, I like to view these transitional years as marking the beginning of the second half of a woman’s life, often a time of self-empowerment and certainly a natural process that can be a rewarding experience and a positive event in a woman’s life.

Hot flushes & sweating

These are due to the oestrogen decline, to Lutenizing hormone surges in response to the decline, and indirectly to exhausted adrenal glands that cannot adequately take over the role of hormone production from the ovaries.

Sage is a wonderful herb specifically for hot flushes. A popular home remedy is to chop 6 fresh sage leaves, soak them overnight in lemon juice, strain and drink the juice for 7 - 10 days. Two other beneficial herbs are Astragalus and Zizyphus which support the adrenal glands as well as vitamins C, B5 & B6 which nourish these glands.

Vaginal, skin and eye dryness

Black Cohosh is the herb that works best, and there have been a number of open and double-blind trials in Germany to verify its traditional use for alleviating these symptoms. Vitamin E is the most important vitamin for menopause and older women in general. Simply opening a vitamin E capsule and applying it locally to the vagina softens and lubricates the tissue.

Fluid retention

Both celery and parsley freshly squeezed in a daily vegetable juice work well. Or try dandelion leaf tea which is available at most health food stores. Although you are accumulating water, it is not getting into the cells so you need to drink more water to flush it through.

Depression & anxiety

St John’s wort (Hypericum) is widely used in Europe. It is prescribed by doctors in Germany and has been the subject of many scientific studies. It helps restore the integrity of the nervous system, calm anxiety, and is anti-depressant. However, it cannot be taken with heart medication, other anti-depressant drugs (SSRIs) or HIV medication.

Additionally, oats is specific for depression and anxiety as it nourishes the nervous system. Even having rolled oat porridge or muesli for breakfast will make a difference. Try a drop of lavender essential oil neat on your wrist for a calming and uplifting natural perfume.

Poor Memory/concentration

Gingko and rosemary both increase circulation to the brain and our extremities and are therefore great for memory as well as low libido. Pick a sprig of rosemary bush and place in hot water for an energising tea.

Lifestyle Recommendations

– Wear layers of light, loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibres that can be easily removed;
– Avoid overheating the body by extremely hot baths or saunas, hot chillis & spices, alcohol & coffee;
– Balance your weight so that you are neither underweight nor overweight;
– Try relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, massage, guided relaxation CD, aromatherapy;
– Moderate weight-bearing exercise maintains bone density (unfortunately this does not include swimming),  strengthens the heart and improves mood: aim for 1 hour 3 times a week, e.g. walking with hand weights, yoga, gym.

Vital questions to ask yourself during this perimenopausal time:

What is out of balance in my life to cause these symptoms?  How do I feel about going through menopause? Do I fear ageing or growing old? Do I feel I have no purpose or do I still have a career that I enjoy? Maybe my children have grown up and left. Or is it a time to revalue and reassess my life and see it as the beginning of a new stage filled with opportunities?

Certainly, it is a time that the body is producing new-found energy, perhaps only needing to be channelled into a new hobby or pursuit, rather than have it work against you. Often it is a time to put your needs and desires first. Maybe it is time to fulfil a dream or ambition that you haven’t previously had an opportunity to do, taking advantage of your years of life experiences and wisdom.

Rack of Lamb with Cauliflower and White Bean Puree

As the evening temperature drops, this delicious lamb recipe will make you look like a Master Chef, thanks to Pete Field who cooked this lovely meal for us last Sunday.

Ingredients:

• Rack of lamb 
• Whole cauliflower
• 1 tin of white beans
• 1 Lemon 
• Half bunch of Italian parsley 
• 1 sprig of rosemary bush
• 1 clove of garlic
• Coconut oil for cooking
• Salt and pepper

Method:

• Brown racks of lamb in frying pan for 30 seconds each side using coconut oil
• Score meat with a sharp knife and sprinkle with fresh rosemary
• Bake in oven for 30 minutes until tender at 180 degress celcius
• Cut lemon into quarters and add to the baking dish in the oven in the last 10 minutes
• Steam cauliflower for 10 minutes
• Blend steamed cauliflower, tin of white beans, a little of the water from the steamer, 1 clove of garlic and half a bunch of parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Remove lamb from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before cutting into cutlets
• Place cutlets on top of the cauliflower puree and serve with baked lemon
• Best eaten with a squeeze of baked lemon and a fresh salad of diced cucumber, red and green capsicum and feta 

Bon Appetit!

Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns

These Hot Cross Buns are a gluten free and nutritious alternative. Good for those on a Paleo diet too. Drizzle dark chocolate crosses on top if you like.

Ingredients:
2 organic eggs
3 cups almond meal
80g raisins/sultanas
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons raw honey
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean powder/essence
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Zest from 1 orange

Pinch of sea salt
Coconut oil (to grease baking tray)

Method:
Preheat oven to 180 C
Combine dry ingredients (almonds, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon and salt) and mix well
Blend wet ingredients (oil, honey, orange, eggs) in food processor
Add wet ingredient to dry ingredients and mix well
Pat spoonfuls of mixture onto a greased baking tray
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden

Serve with organic butter & raw honey or homemade jam. Also delicious on their own!

Fitness First Star

A couple of weeks ago I had the exciting opportunity to shoot 10 segments for Fitness First TV based upon my article, 10 Foods For An Einstein Brain. My article also features in the March edition of the Fitness First magazine. If you're a member of the Fitness First gyms, keep an eye out throughout March and April for my TV segments which will be screened nationally. For a preview of my brainy tips, take a look at my Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/ClaudetteWadsworth Thanks to Active Media Group and all the crew.

Fertility Hot Spot

Easter is about new beginnings and new life. Conceiving a child is a very special, though often unconscious, event. For others, it may be problematic. Fertility is a complex issue that involves both prospective parents. I have been consulting women and couples for the last 12 years which I am very passionate about because there is so much potential for improvement as well as opportunity for parents to educate themselves. Taking control of one’s own fertility, and having an active role in treatment, can be an important and empowering factor for many prospective parents.

Recently I attended a 3 day conference at The Hilton Hotel Sydney to update on the latest scientific research of natural methods, medical testing and assisted reproductive technology such as IVF. Whether you are trying to conceive naturally or using IVF, there are many changes that you can make to profoundly improve your chances of a healthy, successful conception, pregnancy, birth and baby. IVF doctors say increasing numbers of prospective parents unrealistically see IVF as the "silver bullet" after eating, drinking and smoking themselves into poor fertility health.

Poor nutrition, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, environmental pollution, lack of exercise, stress, oral contraceptives, genito-urinary infections, and other infections eg Candida, allergies, child bearing at an older age and stress are all important factors which deplete the quality of sperm, eggs, health of the male and female reproductive organs and in turn, impair fertility. A recent study in the UK showed IVF success rates more than doubled when preceded by a period of preconception health care. I consult many couples who are undergoing IVF treatment where nutritional support and stress management are vital. No supplement that has a hormonal effect is given to interfere with the drug regime.

IVF specialists also say it is not enough for just the woman to get into health - the male partner's weight, diet, cigarette and alcohol consumption significantly impact fertility and sperm quality. The combined effort by both parents ensures better health of the new baby as fertility issues may come from either the female or the male with 50% DNA from each. If only one partner is involved, it is still worth doing but will not necessarily be as effective.

Many couples say they already have a healthy diet but unfortunately nowadays this may be inadequate as the nutrient content of food is affected by farming methods, modern processing and refinement of foods, lifestyle issues, tobacco, alcohol, being on the oral contraceptive pill and other drugs that rob the body of vital nutrients. This was demonstrated by a CSIRO study that found 67% of Australian women received less than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of zinc in their diets. Stress increases the demand of a variety of nutrients. Older couples may require an increase in nutrients compared to a younger couple because their nutrient stores may be depleted as they have been exposed to lifestyle and environmental factors for a longer period of time. Nutritional needs are also increased by 15-20% in pregnancy. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in January 2007 found that eating trans fats, eg. margarine, deep fried oils, processed foods, increased the risk of fertility problems by 70% or more.

Getting healthy before trying to conceive is not a new idea. Many traditional societies practiced preconception health care, such as the Ancient Greeks and Romans whose conceiving couples abstained from alcohol prior to and during pregnancy due to its damaging effects on the foetus. Veterinarians, stock breeders and farmers all feed special diets to their animals prior to breeding as well.

This Easter begin a new chapter in your life, starting with your health.

How Do We Raise Girls For A Kinder World?

How do we raise girls for a kinder world? Steve Biddulph, the world's best-selling author of Raising Boys (sold over 1 million copies) shares the story in his groundbreaking new book that helps our daughters grow up wise, soulful and strong. Unfortunately his talk at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney next Tuesday is sold out but is sure to be insightful and enriching. Recently Steve said, "I simply want your daughters to grow up liking themselves and believing in things that are more important than how you look and what you wear."

One of the important factors that Steve touches on in his book is "dropping the anxiety levels in our homes". I know from personal experience at different times in my life that anxiety can be detrimental so I make a conscious effort to keep my stress levels down. Some practical ways to keep anxiety at bay:

1. Talk it over with someone. “Getting it off your chest” actually has therapeutic value and you realize you are not alone! Talk to someone you respect and trust or ask about a counselor, mentor or therapist.  

2. Exercise relieves stress and lifts your mood. Living in a world that is so mind-orientated, it's important to move your body and get you out of your head. Do an exercise that you enjoy so then you will be more motivated to do it and have fun with it e.g swimming, walking in nature, yoga, dance, running, surfing, gym, tennis.

3. Set a limit to how long you spend online. While technology is beneficial in so many ways, investing too much time online can cause you to be unproductive or too caught up in other people's thoughts and activities. It's important not to ignore your real life and your own creative abilities. 

4. Shift your focus. When we're involved in a project, something we are passionate about or helping others it helps to take the focus off ourselves and our own problems. It's so important to break the habit of negative thoughts because whatever we think about is what we put our energy into creating in our lives. Practice positive thinking and let go of the inner critic.How do you share your love with the world? Love, old fashioned, never goes out of style - and it feels fabulous!

BBQ Fish With Fresh Summer Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 vine-ripened tomatoes
• chopped avocado
• 8 pitted kalamata olives
• 1 handful of flat leaf parsley leaves chopped
• thinly sliced fennel
• 80ml extra virgin olive oil
• juice of 1 lemon
• freshly ground black pepper
• 4x180g Australian Barramundi or Blue Eye Cod fish fillets
• 2 Tbs olive oil, for cooking

Tip: Where possible try to source locally fished seafood e.g. Australian Barramundi rather than imported Vietnamese. Your fishmonger should be able to recommend alternatives too.

Method: 

Salsa:

• Cut the tomatoes into quarters and discard the seeds
• Finely dice the tomato flesh and fennel and place in a bowl
• Add the olives, parsley and chopped avocado, then add the extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice and season with freshly ground black pepper

Fish:

• Preheat the barbecue hotplate to high or heat a large frying pan over high heat
• Brush the fish with olive oil and cook for a few minutes each side, depending on the thickness
• Serve with the salsa

Children's Book Launch by Annabelle Wadsworth

The first two books in the Mrs Twinkle Series (for ages 3 to 7 year olds) have just been launched by my mother, Annabelle Wadsworth. “Mrs Twinkle” bridges the gap between picture books and young adult fiction. The imaginative stories follow a star and a boy as they travel throughout the world discovering animals, habitat, our heritage and relationships. Both author and illustrator, Annabelle has also subtly addressed possible solutions for low self esteem through positive reinforcement. Zoom through the air with Mrs Twinkle! www.mrstwinkle.com.au

Monday 25th February at 10.30am come join Annabelle for a reading at Woollahra Library

E-book available from:  
https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/mrs-twinkle-meets-simon-for/id585438988

Books available from:
www.littlesteps.com.au

Igniting The Creative Fire

Whether you are celebrating Valentine's Day this Thursday or trying to ignore it, it is really a reminder to celebrate the greatest love of all - loving yourself. When we give ourselves time each week to do something that we love or we're passionate about, it is a way of giving back to ourselves as well as letting go of the daily stressors and putting the zest and passion back into our lives. Even if it's only for an hour on a weekend, it allows you to let go of your tension and the mundane and gives us a sense of empowerment, bringing the joy and fun back in. Last week I started dancing classes again which I haven't done for 6 years. Of course I was rather clunky and uncoordinated at first but by the end of the class I had the biggest smile on my face and was dancing on air.

The one thing scientifically proven to make 2013 your best year yet? Boost your creativity. As quoted by Red Day Coaching www.reddaycoaching.com researchers sent 56 subjects out on a four day wilderness hiking trip without access to electronic devices or mobile phones. Upon their return, the hikers took tests to measure their creativity. The control group that hadn't been in the bush, scored 4.14 out of 10. The hiking group scored 6.08, a staggering 50% more creativity! The researchers said that this creativity boost was probably due to being in nature as well as taking a break from the stressors of work and technology. Next time you get stuck on a problem or can't concentrate, turn your mobile off and take a walk in nature or get lost in your own creative juices - leaving all technology behind!

Often in our busy, modern world it is easy to forget to incorporate the creative juice into our lives as we are tuned 24/7 into our emails and Facebook, crippling our free time which we need to explore our imagination and let our spirits fly. We've forgotten what it is to ponder and daydream, imagine and create new possibilities but we need to remember that without creativity, there is no life. Fertility is the ultimate act of creativity and whether we are using it for this or not, it is still vital that we express our creative energy in other ways. There are many ways to express creativity such as art, singing, dancing, cooking, writing, woodwork, gardening, photography, graphic art, poetry, sex and sensuality. The other benefit is that it allows you to let go of all your worries and be present with what you love. You can't think about the past or the future while you are in the midst of your creative act.

For women, our creative expression is reflected in our hormones as the function of our hormones is to create life. According to Christiane Northrup reknowned gynaecologist in USA who wrote the book, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, hormonal imbalances are often reflected in whether a woman is honouring her own emotional needs and creative expression. So if your creative energy is stifled or you are having period problems, then there may be an area of your life which also feels blocked. Look at where you're not expressing and using your creative energy and power in your life.

Ask yourself the following questions:
- How am I expressing my creativity in my life? What does creativity mean to me?
- What brings me alive? What am I passionate about?
- As a child, what did I love doing that I may have now forgotten?
- What are my emotional needs and do I express these?
- Do I believe that I have the power to change the conditions of my life?
- What am I most grateful for in my life right now?

Creativity is about putting the fun and play back into life. It doesn't have to take loads of time or money to have fun. So let your creative fire ignite by celebrating what you love in your life.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Breakfast Mini Kale Frittatas

Great for a quick breakfast when you're on the go or as a healthy snack at work. Make a batch of these on the weekend to stock you up for the week ahead. Try different varieties by adding your favourite herbs, pumpkin or sweet potato. Otherwise at least you know you have managed to squeeze a leafy green into your breakfast.

Makes 6 frittatas Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 brown onion, chopped
6 organic eggs
3 Tb milk (or almond/goat milk if allergy)
6 vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 large kale leaves, roughly chopped
1 Tb olive oil for frying
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees celsius. Fry onion lightly in olive oil. Blend eggs and milk in a blender until light and fluffy (or whisk by hand if you don't have a blender). Stir in other ingredients, season with salt and pepper and pour mixture into a six-cup muffin pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from muffin pan and cool

Chocolate Cheesecake For The Family To Go Nuts Over

We all need a sweet treat or a party dessert so here is the perfect solution to keep your health at its prime. It is free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and low in sugar and yet, still tastes amazing! Courtesy of Terri Hanlon of Bodywize gym.

Prep-time: about 10 minutes
Makes: 12 mini cheesecakes or one 8 inch cake

Almond Crust:
- 1 cup almond meal
- 3-4 medjool dates
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Place all of the above ingredients into a food processor and pulse till combined. The crust should have a slight sticky consistency. Press the almond crust into the oiled or lined cheesecake pan with your fingers. Set aside as you make your filling.

Chocolate Filling:
- 2 cups cashew nuts
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa powder)

Directions:
Soak cashew for about 10-15 minutes (optional) then rinse well. Place cashews into blender with maple syrup, vanilla, and water. Blend until creamy. Next add in your cacao powder and coconut oil. Keep blending till creamy. You may have to scrape down the sides a few times. Continue blending till it is smooth. Pour the filling into the cheesecake pan and set in the freezer for a few hours. You can top it with crushed pecans or cashews, slivered almonds and fresh raspberries.

Yummy!

New Bondi Junction Clinic 9389 3689

New Year, New Beginnings!

As of January 2013 I will be partnering with Better Health Clinic at 40 Grosvenor St Bondi Junction. This means a new number, better services and a fresh new look. You will enjoy the same excellent Naturopathic services at the same convenient location but simply next door. Better Health is a newly renovated clinic with full time reception services so it will make appointment bookings, ordering of products and supplement collection faster and easier. Better Health is a passionate group of health practitioners who offer osteopathic and massage services as well.  

Tuesday 8am - 6pn

Thursday 10am - 8pm

02 9389 3689

Over the past 12 years I've had the privilege of being involved in the key milestones of my clients and their family's lives. I wish 2013 to be a wonderful year of fulfillment and health for you and your family.

Birth of a NEW .... world, era, way, year

Today is supposedly the end of the world as we know it, according to the Mayan calendar. However as many people view it, it is simply letting go of outdated ways of living and the start of a new perspective of our own lives and the world around us. This is a time to walk your talk and positively contribute to the world you wish to live in. If you want peace, love and harmony in your life and in the world then it's about making it a reality in your own relationships now. It's about seeing every challenge as an opportunity and a time for you to step up and allow your passion and truth to be seen. None of us are living on an island, we are all interconnected globally so whatever you think, say or post will affect many people right around the globe. The way you live your life affects all of us - this is the magic of living.

This is the time to decide that you CAN live the life you dream of. You deserve to feel empowered, healthy, strong and inspired. Trust your gut feelings, embrace all that serves you and let go of anything that no longer does. The best way to create what you want is through joy, laughter, play and instinct. Whatever inspires you and gives you that zest for living is your most valuable source of motivation. Use this wave of inspiration to set new intentions and priorities, look to the future, decide to meet your full potential and then discover the best ways of living that out.

This can be achieved with simple goal setting techniques. We often create goals for our career and work but we forget or think it is unimportant to create goals for our personal lives as well. Setting goals gives you a clear focus for the year ahead. It also sets the intention in your mind and subconscious to find ways of creating this. On a bigger energetic level, it also sends a message to the Universe of what opportunities we want brought to us. Whatever we focus on, we create in life as we direct our energy towards it whether intentionally or not. Let’s use this universal power for manifesting the best in our lives.

Start to look at your goals in all areas of your life:

       1. Personal
       2. Family
       3. Hobbies/sport
       4. Financial
       5. Career
       6. Spiritual

Next is to actually write them down which helps you clarify and crystallize them as a real possibility in your life. Then write a specific time frame next to them that you would like to achieve these in the coming year. It may be easiest to break them up into categories of 3 months, 6 months, 12 months or end of 2013.

Allow your imagination to run wild - you are worthy of it all so have fun with it but be careful that you do indeed want what might well come your way!

Finally keep your list next to your bed and look over it briefly every morning or night, visualize these things coming into your life and what it will be/feel like. Keep the energy and picture alive—don’t just stuff it in a drawer never to be seen again. Make this year rewarding and fruitful for you!

Shine your light into the world!

Art For Wellness

My colleague Sami Ziyeh is running art workshops in 2013 for adults as well as parents and their children to enhance wellbeing, rekindle their creativity and strengthen their relationship. Workshops are facilitated by highly experienced Art Therapist and Cultural Facilitator, Samiramis Ziyeh, who offers a supportive environment to enhance wellbeing with emphasis on the process rather than the end product. Classes start early February at E J Ward Community Centre 189 Underwood St Paddington 2021.


For more information and bookings contact:
Sami 0499 888 024
shami.ramzi@hotmail.com

Sensational Summer Smoothie

A banana smoothie with a difference! For a fast track breakfast or a healthy snack my sensational smoothie is packed full of energising nutrients to keep you firing well into the New Year. Bananas provide energy and magnesium which prevents muscle cramps. Healthy Omega 3 oils are found in the avocado, almonds, chia seeds and flaxmeal. Fibre in the almonds, chia seeds and flaxmeal will keep your bowels regular. Cinnamon controls your sugar cravings and increases circulation which keeps your brain alert. Antioxidants to prevent disease and ageing are packed full in the superfood chia seeds and the green leafy spinach. Believe it or not, this actually tastes delicious!

Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 medium-sized avocado
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of almonds
- 1 tsp of chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 large leaf of spinach or silverbeet
- 1 Tb of flaxmeal or ground flaxseeds
- If you want more protein, add 1 scoop of a good quality whey protein or 1 cup of milk if you can tolerate dairy.

Pure Beauty: Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine, Dec 2012

Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine is in the know about natural beauty. Check out stands for the December issue of Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine that interviews me for my advice on chemical-free beauty and skincare products in both pregnancy and for babies.

Season Changes - Christmas Clinic Move

15 January Bondi Junction Move

02 9389 3689

I wish you and your families a joyous Christmas season, a happy and healthy New Year and a wonderful summer. Thank you for all your support throughout the year in rekindling my business into the thriving and vital life it is today. In January 2013 I will be moving my Bondi Junction clinic next door to Better Health Clinic which have better facilities so I can provide improved service to all of my clients. There will be full time reception making it easier to book appointments, collect herbal medicines and supplements, make postal orders and Hicaps health fund rebates.  I will be practicing from Better Health on Tuesdays 8am - 6pm and Thursdays 10am - 8pm. I will still be practicing in  the city at The Jocelyn Centre on Wednesdays 2pm - 7.30pm. Better Health Clinic is located next door at 40 Grosvenor St Bondi Junction on 02 9389 3689. I hope you all have a relaxing and joyous holiday season and I look forward to seeing you in 2013.

Pomegranate, Walnut & Chicken Salad

This nutritious summer salad is light, fresh and ideal for entertaining. Simple to throw together and full of health benefits including antioxidant pomegranates, omega 3 walnuts and avocado, high protein lean chicken and dark greens rich in folate. 

Ingredients:

2 Tb Extra virgin olive oil

2 Tb Lemon juice

2 Chicken breasts

1 Avocado

1 Pomegranate 

10 Walnuts 

4 cups Baby spinach

Method:

• Grill or barbecue chicken breasts for 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through 
• Slice chicken into strips  
• Mix baby spinach, sliced avocado, walnuts and pomegranate seeds with olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl 
• Arrange chicken strips over salad to serve 
• You can always substitute pomegranates or your favourite summer fruit e.g. mango

Bon Appetit! 

Summer Party Health Tips

Summer has arrived and with it the festive season. Here are some tips to still enjoy the summer parties while keeping those Christmas kilos at bay.

• Hydrate: Make sure you are well hydrated by drinking a bottle of water before you go out. The more water you drink, the less fluid retention you will hold. 
• Booze: Tis the party season but that doesn’t give us a licence to go overboard with alcohol! Try and eat before you drink and have a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage. Try lower alcohol drinks such as Pimms and fruit punches for hot afternoons or for a more refreshing thirst quencher try vodka and cranberry juice. Avoid cocktails which are high in sugar and calories. Have a night off the alcohol and be the designated driver.
• St Mary's Thistle: This is the best herb to take during the party season to protect your liver and help it detoxify. 
• Detox Herbal Teas: Green tea and roasted dandelion coffee help the liver detoxify, while lemongrass and spearmint teas have a refreshing zing for summer. 
• Summer Iced Teas: Make some iced herbal tea by adding ice cubes, slices of fresh fruit e.g strawberries, apple, orange and a sprig of fresh herbs. Herbal teas can even be frozen into ice blocks for your children with added honey.
• Energizing Juices: Freshly squeezed juices flush your system with antioxidants and aid detoxification. Carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger are particularly effective, while pineapple and mint give a little summer zing.
• Summer Salads: Surrounded by the abundance of tropical summer fruits, it’s easy to forget your greens but these cannot be replaced so make the most of the bountiful salad season with lots of rocket, baby spinach, or try some of the many varied coloured and curled lettuces.
• Unclog: Keep your bowel regular so the toxins can be removed from the body. Try prunes, psyllium husks, lemon in warm water on rising, consider colonic irrigation.
• Metabolism Booster: Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system which encourages toxins to move out of the body. It also pumps more oxygen to the cells and the brain as well as speeds up your metabolism so you burn your fat faster. Try and exercise at least every second day after which your metabolism begins to slow again.
• Electrolytes: If you are exercising heavily, choose a good quality electrolyte drink with added magnesium to help you reabsorb your fluids, preferably without artificial sweeteners.
• Dinner Parties: When preparing dinner, use fresh vegetables steamed or in a delicious salad, complemented by lightly grilled or barbequed fish, seafood or chicken.Wholegrain sourdough bread on the table is much better than white, and with a lower GI too. Avoid too many dairy foods which clog up your digestive system such as cheese, cream, ice-cream and chocolate.
• Plan Ahead: Eat a small meal before going to a party. The misconception that "if I skip dinner I can eat everything in sight" can lead to too many calories consumed. Often these party snacks produce bloating and lack nutritional value.
• Socialising: When arranging to meet friends, organise activities that don’t revolve around alcohol, such as a picnic in the park followed by a game of boules or cricket, or a swim or surf at the beach.
• Recharge: Get a good night’s sleep. Too many late nights take their toll on the body, resulting in post party overeating. Try to alternate a late night with an early one to maintain energy levels.

And remember...It’s not what happens between Christmas and New Year that’s important as what happens between New Year and Christmas!!

Quinoa Summer Salad

This fresh summer salad is nutritious and quick to throw together for lunch or to complement your BBQ.
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup quinoa
• 1.5 cups of water
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 2 cups of rocket
• 1 cup of thinly sliced celery
• 1 cup of grated beetroot
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 1 tsp mined fresh garlic
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of ground pepper
• 1 sliced avocado
• 1 can of organic chickpeas or 1.5 cups of soaked and cooked chickpeas

Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for another 4 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork. Set aside to cool completely.

Combine the rocket, beetroot, celery and onion in a large bowel. Whisk the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper together in a small bowel. Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Rinse the chickpeas well until they stop foaming, then add the quinoa, chickpeas and avocado to the salad and mix until evenly combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to three days.

For The Men...Keeping Your Testosterone Pumping

Last week I attended a seminar on Andropause, or male menopause, testosterone deficiency and erectile dysfunction. All three are more common than most men would like to admit, with Andropause now medically recognised as a normal part of ageing, occurring between the ages of 40 to 55 with a significant drop in sex hormone levels. Signs of testosterone deficiency in men include loss of libido and physical agility, poor erection and low ejaculate volume, infertility, shrinkage or enlargement of the prostate, depression, anxiety, fat accumulation around the belly and hips, loss of muscle, high cholesterol and aged appearance. Studies show that this decline in testosterone can actually put one at risk for other health problems like heart disease and osteoporosis.

What Depletes Testosterone Levels?

• Age
• Intense endurance sports or exercise
• Intense emotional stress 
• Foods high in saturated fats e.g hot chips, deep fried oily foods, animal fats
• Adrenal fatigue (chronic stress exhausts the body)
• Medications: e.g Antidepressants (SSRI's)

Pharmaceutical DHEA or Testosterone

A number of recent studies have demonstrated that most of the DHEA or androstenedione gets converted into oestrogens rather than testosterone once in the body. These oestrogens stimulate the mammary tissue causing the common side effect of breast development in men. However, once the hormones are stopped, it is not reversible. 

Naturopathic Treatments

Protein foods increase testosterone production so a diet high in good quality, lean protein is essential. Omega 3 oils found in cold water oily fish such as sardines, salmon, trout, mackerel, flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds are another building block of hormone production and ensure healthy sperm and prostate function. Zinc, magnesium and selenium along with other minerals are also important for testosterone production and to counter stress.

There are a few key herbs that have been shown in studies to increase testosterone and DHEA-S production in the body such as Korean Ginseng, Rhodiola and Withania. It is important to see a qualified herbalist to assess the best combination of herbs and the correct dosage for you. 

Erectile Dysfunction

Only 5-10% of erectile dysfunction is caused by low testosterone. More common causes are heart disease, diabetes, nerve damage, stress, side effects of drugs, exhaustion, circulatory problems. Basically being in good health and being relaxed ensures a strong libido and great performance!

Floral Spring Delights!

I just spent the morning at the Flower Markets with Jane Lampe from Floreat Floral Design. An inspirational way to start the day and put a smile on your face for the whole day! It was definitely worth getting up at 4am, although I'm sure I'll be lagging in energy by 4pm this afternoon when I'll make myself a little herbal concotion and healthy energising snack to power me through the afternoon. 

Such a simple and relatively inexpensive way to lift your soul - a $10 bunch of flowers that will last 2 weeks will brighten your home, pervade every room with its magical perfume and even the hardest nut amongst cannot help but soften with joyous delight. The beauty and uniqueness of every flower is yet unmatched by our modern technology and the energy it creates and brings into your life is priceless. You may think they're a luxury you can't afford but try skipping your daily coffee and once in a while treat yourself - bringing the energy, radiance and exuberance of nature into your home and life again! 

Jane Lampe from Floreat Floral Designs does some amazingly creative and beautiful arrangements for weddings, events and functions at such competitive prices. I highly recommend her. Check out her facebook page http://on.fb.me/SGy9Bq

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

It does sound strange but it tastes sensational and is healthy too! Quick, easy, guilt-free summer treat.

Courtesy of quirkycooking.blogspot.com.au

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe Avocado
• 150gm raw Cashews
• 350gm Ice cubes
• 35gm Cacao (or Cocoa)
• 100gm Dates
• 1 tsp Vanilla bean paste or essence

Blend raw cashews in food processor. Then add ice cubes and blend again. Scrape down sides of bowl and add vanilla, cacao powder and dates and reblend. Finally add the avocado flesh and blend. If it is not thick enough to stay formed into peaks, add another handful of ice cubes. Spoon into glasses and top with fresh raspberries, blueberries or strawberries and serve. Or freeze for later but if it is frozen solid, thaw before using - like heavenly healthy soft-serve ice cream!

• Heart Health Avocados are high in healthy Omega 3 oils which decrease inflammation,  now recognised as the leading cause of heart disease.
• Lower Cholesterol Avocados are also high in beta-sitosterol, a compound shown to lower cholesterol levels with research showing a 17% drop in cholesterol by including 1/2 avocado in your diet daily. Also high in fibre which binds on to the cholesterol to take it out of the body.
• Fertile Ovaries & Pregnancy Half an avocado contains 144mcg of folate which is needed during pregnancy for the developing foetus as well as being rich in good oils and vitamin E to maintain youthful ovaries and eggs.
• Eye Health High in carotenoid, Lutein, which protects against macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Prostate Balance These anti-inflammatory Omega 3 oils help reduce enlargement of the prostate or more commonly known as BPH, Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy.
• Youthful Skin Avocados are a rich source of Vitamin C which protects your skin from oxidative damage. Vitamin C is also needed to build collagen to keep your skin strong and elastic.
• Cacao is the unprocessed form of cocoa which retains its high antioxidant benefits without the sugars. Available from health food stores - preferrable to cocoa. Be aware it contains caffeine so may keep you awake! As a treat, it is very healthy so long as you don't rely on it like other forms of caffeine which then end up pushing your adrenal glands, exhausting the body and upsetting hormonal balance. 

Detox For Summer

Now is the perfect time to detoxify your body just like spring cleaning your house to help you feel refreshed and energised for the coming summer action!

Have you ever noticed that many people treat their CARS better than their bodies? They would never ignore a warning light for an oil change or regular maintenance, but they often ignore the tell-tale signs that their body is in desperate need of a tune up. An unfortunate fact of our modern life is that even the healthiest body struggles with inferior nutrition, pollutants in the air, water and food supply, and A lack of healthy activity. It’s no wonder that most of us don’t feel like the Formula One racing cars that we should!

Some Of The Body’s Warning Signs:

• Do you feel less healthy and energetic than other people your age?
• Do you struggle with your weight or fluid retention?
• Do you have digestive disturbances (wind, bloating, flatulence, constipation, heartburn)?
• Do you have dark circles under your eyes, post-nasal drip or hayfever symptoms?
• Do you have bad breath or body odour?
• Do you have sore, aching muscles or acne?

Detoxing at least once a year will help to keep you feeling and looking great!

• Add Veggies to...Everything: Load up your meals with vegetables so there's less room for starchy grains and nutrient poor white flour products. At lunch, you can stuff a wrap with lettuce, rocket, tomato, grated carrot, sprouts, capsicum, avocado and bulk up your dinner meals with extra veggies thrown in. The rise in the incidence of asthma has been linked to diets low in fresh vegetables. We need a serve at every meal!
• Start with Salad or Soup: Starting with a salad or soup can help you eat less over the course of meal, says researchers. It also ensures you get your 5 portions of colourful vegetables per day and is visually satisfying to think you can have 2 plates of food rather than only half a hamburger.
• Juice It! Freshly squeezed juices flush your system with antioxidants and aid detoxification so rather than getting an afternoon coffee to pep you up, head for the juice bar. Carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger are particularly effective, while watermelon, pineapple and mint give a little summer zing.
• Green Smoothies are all the rage! Rather than juicing, buy a blender & simply blend your green veges with water for a quick antioxidant-rich, filling snack in itself: kale leaves, spinach, half a cucumber, half a lemon, 1 green apple or a banana for taste: bon appetit!
• Elixir of Life: Drink at least 2 litres of water every day, carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go, always keep a jug of fresh water on your desk or at home. Contrary to popular belief, the more water you drink, the less fluid retention you will hold. If exercising a lot, add a little salt to your water to replace your electrolytes.
• Going Herbal: Make some iced herbal tea by adding ice cubes, slices of lemon/lime and a sprig of fresh herbs. Herbal teas can even be frozen into ice blocks for your children with added honey.
  Green tea and roasted dandelion coffee help the liver detoxify, while lemongrass and spearmint teas have a refreshing zing for summer.
• Dessert Selection: Half a cup of natural yoghurt has fewer calories and improves digestion rather than half a cup of ice cream. Choose fruit such as pineapple or melon rather than cake or biscuits to fill up on fibre and water. 1 Tim Tam is equivalent to 2 cups of watermelon or 1.5 cups of pineapple! Avoid dried fruit which is high in sugar and sulfur preservatives: 1/4 cup of sultanas contains the same calories as 1 cup of grapes. Add a bag of apples or oranges to your weekly shopping list so you've always got some fruit on hand.
• Glycaemic Index Load: If you eat a bowl of ice cream, your blood sugar level goes through the roof, but if you eat a bowl of white rice or white pasta and measure your blood sugar again, it will be exactly the same! So it's not just about the amount of sugar or fat content but how quickly foods breakdown to sugar and are absorbed. Another example is broccoli has 4% carbohydrate and strawberries have 5% carbohydrate, while white bread has 75% carbohydrate content. As a result, 1kg of strawberries is the equivalent of 1 slice of white bread. Always eat wholegrain breads or crackers, brown or basmati rice, try Quinoa for a nutritious change (cook just like rice but only 10 minutes!) and combine these with lots of vegetables and some protein to slow down your digestion and make you feel full faster so you don't overeat. 
• Snack it! Everyone gets caught out on snacks but rather than be tempted by the quick fix of the biscuit jar or chocolate bar, keep a bag of almonds in your desk drawer, dip vege sticks rather than chips into humus or salsa, eat hard cheddar cheese rather than soft Brie or Camembert, head to the juice bar, keep a few hard boiled eggs in the fridge for emergency snacks or a quick breakfast with a piece of fruit on the way to work, keep some sachets of miso soup in your desk drawer, a fruit smoothie (with yoghurt rather than ice cream) is healthier than a milkshake or Cherry Ripe. By adding 1 commercial muffin to what you normally eat each day, you increase your "bad" trans fats by 2%, but your risk of a heart attack increases by 93%!
• Dressing Up? Topping your salad with a creamy dressing will clog your system so keep it simple with extra virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil combined with apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice. 
• Detox Your Mind: A good detox also includes some decluttering of your mind and your life to make space for the new to unfold. Take some time out for yourself to relax and rebuild your energy stores - there's plenty of summer parties ahead so you won't miss out! Consider what no longer serves you in your life....and let it go. Spend time doing what you love and are passionate about rather than wasting your time worrying about what everyone else is doing. Surround yourself with those people that genuinely care and bring out your best rather than simply boosting your ego.

There are no dress rehearsals and no one can play your life for you. This is your time to SHINE. Breathe in the life and beauty all around you - it's your own reflection shining back at you. Go for it!

Fit Into Your Summer Bikini

Summer is just around the corner but shedding your extra winter weight can be easy with these healthy tips:

• Get Moving! Regular exercise is essential - put it in your diary so it becomes a daily habit. Choose something you enjoy, that is close to home or work and arrange to meet a buddy so you won't talk yourself out of it.
• KIS - Keep it simple with meals based on a protein e.g. fish, chicken, eggs, meat, beans and salad or vegetables e.g. wholegrain sandwich with roast beef, mustard, avocado and rocket.
• Don't skip meals! Eating every 3 hours boosts your metabolism so you burn through calories faster and have higher energy levels.
• Snack it - Keep a jar of nuts e.g. almonds and fresh fruit at your desk or carry with you so you don't get tempted by the biscuit jar or chips.
• Late night dinners - If you arrive home late rather than having a quick fix like instant noodles or a microwaveable dinner, try having boiled eggs on toast or a tin of tuna/salmon with salad.
• Healthy takeaway - When time has got the better of you, some healthy takeaway options are Thai stir fry, sushi, grilled fish from your local fish shop, BBQ chicken with salad.
• Drink it - Drinking 2-3 L helps flush out toxins, keep your bowels moving and decreases hunger cravings. Green tea helps weight loss and to detox your liver - rather than a milky coffee!
• Ordering out - Ask for rice or salad rather than chips or mash 
• Get some shut eye - If you don't get enough sleep, you crave sugars for energy and you make poor decisions regarding your food choices. 7-8 hours sleep every night aids weight loss!
• Hidden sugars - Sugar is highly addictive and it is in so many products nowadays e.g. cereals, muesli bars, flavoured yogurt so it's hard to avoid but eating excess sugars only contributes to weight gain and long term health problems. Throw out anything in your cupboards that has ingredients that your grandmother would not recognise and rather than eating packet products, eat fresh food.

If these tips are not working for you, consider seeing a qualified Naturopath such as myself to investigate other underlying causes e.g. underactive thyroid or insulin resistance.

From Acne To Clear Glowing Skin

Many women and adults develop acne in their teenage years and sometimes it continues into later life. It is important to address so that it does not diminish self-esteem. Acne is not caused by ‘dirty” skin, poor hygiene or oily hair on the face. It is a symptom of an underlying hormonal imbalance of increased androgens (male hormones) together with enlargening of the pores in the skin, sebum overproduction, bacterial infection in the skin and consequent inflammation and oxidative stress. However, some people have hormonal imbalances but do not develop acne, while someone with acne will often have normal androgen levels in their blood tests. It is thought that these people have increased sensitivity to androgens or that the androgens are converted into stronger, more potent hormones in the hair follicle producing a localized effect only which does not show in the blood. These localized increased androgens cause increased sebum production and acne. This is related particularly to acne occurring around the jawline, chest and back as opposed to the T zone of the forehead and cheeks which relates more to internal body toxicity.


Diet Tips:

• Eat lots of vegetables, salads and fresh fruit everyday: 5 serves/day – the more colour the better: carrots and pumpkin (high in betacarotene); lots of dark green leafy eg. rocket, baby spinach, broccoli. Fresh vegetable juices eg. carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger are a wonderful way to cleanse and heal the skin.

• Avoid sugars, sweets, chocolate, soft drink, fruit juice, cordial and alcohol which imbalances your blood sugar level causing insulin resistance and bacteria in your skin bread off the sugar.

• Avoid constipation by increasing water intake to 2 litres per day at room temperature (not iced), regular exercise, prunes, psyllium husks: 1Tb in water on rising. Try colonic irrigation.

• Squeeze ½ lemon in glass of warm water upon rising to aid liver detoxification and hydration

• Reduce dairy as it raises Insulin-Like Growth Factor causing acne and clogs your lymphatics around your jawline and face, especially milk, ice cream, cheese. Make sure you have adequate calcium though – tinned fish with the bones, nuts, seaweeds, miso soup.

• Avoid coffee, cigarettes or drugs as they stimulate the stress hormones which raise androgen levels and your blood sugars and insulin as well as providing thousands of toxic chemicals.

• Protein in all your meals: controls your blood sugars by slowing down the absorption of sugars, stimulates your metabolism, decreases hunger and sugar cravings as well as aids liver detoxification of hormones: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.

• Avoid synthetic hormones: only eat organic or hormone-free chicken and eggs, although ideally all food organic.

• Herbal teas: Roasted dandelion root is a coffee alternative & aids detoxification of the liver and bowel. Excellent mix is nettle leaf, red clover, burdock, dandelion root(unroasted) and calendula: 1 tsp of each: 2-3 cups per day. If stressed add chamomile, passionflower or lavender.

•     Herbal medicines that help clear acne include Echinacea, Calendula, Burdock, Dandelion Root and Chaste Tree for women if the acne is hormonal.

•    Nutritional supplements that help heal acne include Zinc, Vitamins A, C and D.

Lifestyle Tips

• Antibacterial face washers containing tea tree oil helps clear an infection. Avoid make up and heavy creams which block the pores and always remove makeup before going to bed. Facials with a qualified beautician help remove the blackheads before they become infected and to release the infection in cystic acne. If infection is severe, use benzoic peroxide 5% cream on the pimples only. Calendula and vitamin E cream or rose hip oil, lemongrass, carrot oils are very healing and reduce scarring once the infection is under control. Try Moo Goo products www.moogoo.com.au

•       Do not squeeze or pick at pimples, as the germs on your hands further infect the area and it is more likely to scar. Use natural makeup and skin care products and wash makeup brushes regularly and dry in the sun.

• Reduce stress. Adopt a lifestyle that balances work and relaxation, allowing some time to have fun, relax and have a good laugh! Consider a massage fortnightly, meditation, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, acupuncture, yoga, relaxing hot epsom salt baths with rose and lavender oils.

• Regular moderate exercise: minimum 4x week 45 mins (ideally daily) combination of aerobic and resistance is essential to control insulin levels and for stress management.

• Balance your weight. If you are underweight, you will need to increase it to boost your oestrogen levels. If you are overweight, your body stores many toxins and chemicals in your fatty tissues so you will need to lose some, even 5% which is usually only 3-5kg.

• Sunlight and salt water are very anti-microbial and healing for the skin.

Spring Salmon Salad

Ingredients:

Salmon
- Salmon fillets
- 1 lemon
- 1 Tb of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup of water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Dried dill or bay leaf

Place salmon fillets in oven dish. Squeeze lemon juice over top and add a couple of lemon slices and olive oil. Sprinkle with herbs, salt and pepper, then add 1/2 cup of water to poach. Cook in preheated oven at 150 degrees for 20-30 minutes, depending on the number of salmon fillets. Check periodically until it flakes easily with knife. Can be served hot or cold.

Salad
- 1/2 Fennel sliced thinly or in a food processor
- Fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 Cucumber sliced thinly or in a food processor
- 3 Radishes sliced thinly or in a food processor
- 2 Tb of fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tb of extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste

Toss altogether and serve with salmon

September is PCOS Awareness Month

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an increasingly common condition in women where cysts develop on the ovaries and ovulation is inhibited. 20-25% of women have PCO which only affects the ovaries, while 5-10% of women of reproductive age have PCOS which involves blood sugar irregularities, insulin resistance, thyroid, adrenal and the pituitary.

PCOS usually begins in puberty and worsens with time, although fortunately it is a benign disorder. PCOS is complex because it is so much affected by a woman’s emotions, thoughts, diet and personal history. Instead of producing eggs in the ovary and releasing them once a month, called ovulation, women with PCO/S produce eggs that do not mature properly but develop into multiple cysts on the ovaries. The woman’s body produces too many male hormones, known as androgens. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the most common hormonal problems for women and a risk factor for Type-2 Diabetes. Many women have PCOS for 20 or 30 years before they develop diabetes, and most don’t realise that their daughters and granddaughters are at high risk too. Between 50% and 70% of women with PCOS have high insulin levels, called Insulin Resistance.


Signs and symptoms include irregular or absence of menstrual periods, which is usually the 1st warning sign, infertility, excess body hair, obesity, underweight or history of eating disorders, acne around the jawline, chest and back, craving sugars and starchy carbohydrates such as white flour products, heightened stress, anxiety or performance pressure.


Diagnosis requires two of the following tests:

• Hormone Blood Tests: The ratio of Lutenizing Hormone (LH) to Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is 2:1 or more. Oestrogen and Testosterone are high, while Progesterone and SHBG are low.
• Internal Ultrasound Examination of the ovaries illustrating 10 or more cysts on the ovary. Ovaries are usually 10ml or more in size.
• Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) with Insulin is elevated. According to Dr Warren Kidson, the leading endocrinologist on PCOS at the Prince of Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospitals, all women diagnosed with PCO/S should be screened for insulin resistance by a 1 + 2 hour oral GTT: Glucose Tolerance Test with Insulin. Measuring only fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin are not sufficient.  This will determine whether it is systemic and whether the woman has already developed Type 2 Diabetes.

Self-Healing

Dietary and lifestyle changes are essential for successful treatment of PCOS and for maintenance of the condition to prevent long term complications.

• Eat 3 main meals with protein daily that stimulate your metabolism. If you skip meals, it slows your metabolism down and your blood sugars drop so that you crave a sugar or stimulant to bring them back up again quickly.

• Reduce sugars, sweets, chocolate, soft drinks, fruit juices, cordials, alcohol, white bread and biscuits. Low glycaemic index foods are best, eg. whole grain bread, rolled oats, Basmati or brown rice, natural muesli, quinoa, fresh fruit.

• Apple cider vinegar aids digestion and has been shown to improve blood sugar control in obesity and diabetes. Drink 1Tb in glass of warm water on rising.

• Include some foods that contain phytoestrogens that help buffer against the stronger oestrogens in the body eg. 2 Tb of ground flaxseeds (flaxmeal) on your cereal or in smoothie, ¼  cup of alfalfa or sprouts, use mixed beans and legumes instead of grains, eat sunflower seeds, non-genetically modified soy products such as tofu, tempeh and miso. However, I do not advocate other Western invented soy products such as soy milk, soy sausages, soy protein powders, soy cheeses, etc

• Thyroid: Check your thyroid (TSH<2 .5=".5" and="and" by="by" crushing="crushing" div="div" eat="eat" fry.="fry." iodine="iodine" levels.="levels." nori="nori" on="on" or="or" salad="salad" seaweed="seaweed" some="some" stir="stir" your="your">

• Regular moderate exercise: minimum 4x week 45 minutes combination of aerobic and resistance is essential to control insulin levels and for stress management. 

• Castor oil pack: Apply organic castor oil on lower abdomen with hot water bottle on top, ½ hour three times a week which is anti-inflammatory and helps you relax.

• Adopt a lifestyle that balances work and relaxation, allowing some time to have fun, relax and have a good laugh! Consider a massage fortnightly, meditation, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, acupuncture, yoga, relaxing hot bath with lavender oil

• I specialise in treating women with PCOS and find that most women benefit from herbal medicines to rebalance their hormones and regulate their periods. Naturopathic treatment does not interfere with IVF treatment and increases fertility. 

• Using the work of Christiane Northrup, author of Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom, and the work of Vianna Stibal, ThetaHealing®, the emotional connections to PCOS are discussed to address any underlying emotional issues or creativity blocks so as to create healthy boundaries in all areas of your life. Claudette’s supportive approach makes this journey towards optimum health and balance rewarding and empowering. 

Natural Remedies for Allergy Relief

Spring has arrived and with it misery for about 20% of the Australian population.Whether the culprit be dust mites, pollens, grasses, pollutants or foods, these allergens trigger the production of antibodies known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). These IgE antibodies then attach to specific immune cells known as mast cells and basophils causing them to release copious amounts of histamine and inflammatory chemicals. This results in the annoying symptoms of allergy such as runny itchy nose, watery eyes, irritated throat, skin rash and asthma.

Just as we need to spring clean the house once a year, spring is when the body needs a clean out as well to decrease the toxic load. Natural remedies work well to improve drainage and circulation of sinus/nasal passages, improve immunity, decrease allergic response and membrane inflammation.

• Avoid Dairy, Sugars, soy milk and alcohol which all produce excess mucous and phlegm
• Drink lots of Water! Try 3 days of only water, freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices. Sip on fresh ginger slices in hot water or fenugreek, peppermint or chamomile teas. Squeeze ½ lemon into your water jug/bottle.
• Stop it before it starts! If it starts with an infectious bang, take homeopathic Aconite; for sneezing, take homeopathic Euphrasia; for a runny nose, take homeopathic Allium Cepa. Ask your local homeopath or health food store.
• Eat as much onions, garlic, ginger, chilli, horseradish as you like, or other people can tolerate, as they are a natural antibiotic, will flush out excess mucous and decrease inflammation. A wonderful disguise for children or adults who do not like the taste is to slice an onion and pour a tablespoon of raw honey over the top. Keep it in the fridge in an airtight container and in 24 hours you have a sweet antibiotic syrup. A teaspoon/day of the liquid syrup helps kill any germs!
• Increase your Vitamins. Take Vitamins C, A, Bioflavonoids and Zinc in one tablet or formula together daily. This will boost your immune system as well as decrease inflammation of the sinus/nasal passages. 
• Herbal Magic. My favourite herbal mix for allergies includes Echinacea, Eyebright, Golden Rod, Golden Seal and Albizzia. These herbs decrease the allergy response and speed your recovery. 
• Sinus Drainage Massage: 10 drops of eucalyptus or chamomile essential oils into 10ml rosehip/olive oil and massage around sinuses, inside nostrils, base of nose 3x day for 3 days. 
• Steam Inhalations: add 6 drops of oils above to a bowel of hot water/bath/hot shower or to palms of hands & cup over nose. 
• Salt Water Wash. Mix ½ tsp of sea salt to 1 cup water and use a dropper or neti pot to clear wash out your sinuses.Swimming in the ocean will have the same effect!
• Exercise. Regular exercise that is stimulating and FUN helps unclog sinuses, increases circulation and reminds us to enjoy life! Try skin brushing each morning before showering.

If these handy hints do not provide relief, book in for a comprehensive, individual treatment plan.

Boost Your Baby Potential

7 Foods To Eat and 4 Things To Avoid To Increase Your Fertility

1. Flaxmeal Ground flaxseeds provide phytoestrogens which help balance hormones, are an excellent source of omega-3 oils and provide soluble fibre for your bowels. Buy an electric coffee and spice grinder for $30 from Kmart to freshly grind your flaxseeds every morning adding 1-2 Tb to your cereal or smoothie. If you want to pre-grind, keep in an airtight jar in the freezer to avoid rancidity.

2. Avocados Avocados are the perfect fertility food and even look like your uterus! They are high in vitamin E, which is essential for nourishing the reproductive system and acts as an antioxidant for your eggs, protecting them from damage or ageing. Half an avocado a day when in season is my fertility trick.

3. Oily Fish Sardines, trout, cod and salmon all contain omega-3 oils which are essential to hormone production as well as keeping your eggs supple and hydrated. These omega-3 oils also decrease inflammation, thereby helping implantation of the embryo into the uterus lining and decreases the risk of miscarriage that can be caused by an over active immune system. I tell my clients to include oily fish 3 times a week in your diet.

4. Broccoli Broccoli detoxifies environmental chemicals and pollutants that build up in the body and regulates excessive oestrogen, which is more common in women over 35.

5. Red Meat Iron is essential for energy, circulation and building the placenta in the first trimester. Protein is also the building block of hormones and helps control sugar cravings. I recommend 100g of lean red meat 3 times a week to my clients.

6. Dark Green Leafy Salads Leafy greens are full of folate, or folic acid, which is essential for cell replication throughout pregnancy as well as prior. They are also high in magnesium which is needed for muscle relaxation eg. uterine cramping and for blood sugar control. Eat like Popeye everyday so include plenty of spinach, rocket, baby spinach, mustard greens, endives, kale and bok choy in every meal.

7. Butter For lean or underweight women whose hormones are deficient, eating one teaspoon a day of organic butter provides healthy cholesterol which is the building block of hormones.

Any couple trying to conceive should avoid caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. Caffeine decreases calcium and iron absorption by 39%, is related to hormonal imbalances and increased risk of miscarriage. Alcohol affects the level of oestrogen and progesterone, is associated with menstrual cycle changes and inhibition of ovulation. Studies indicate there is no safe threshold of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Evidence also indicates that smoking reduces the chances of conceiving by 10% to 40% per cycle and causes about 5,000 miscarriages a year.

A healthy body is a fertile body so start making changes today!