For All The Meat Lovers and Haters...

I can't decide who this article is more suited for, the meat lovers? or the haters? 
Regardless of your view, this article by Sarah Wilson provides insight about the controversial topic: is meat good or bad for your health. 

Sarah is the author of the top selling book 'I Quit Sugar', it contains delicious recipes and a very healthy approach to eating. If you read the article you will understand that Sarah is also on her own personal health journey and is always open to new information, stating "I am not a scientist...I keep reading and learning with eyes wide open". 

Plus if you read this article you are guaranteed some juicy comments from the passionate readers. I find this one comment hilarious "I feel really bad for those who are still working out which foods are best for them and are trying to sort through all the debunkings and debunking of debunkings." It's so true! this is how I feel sometimes when I read about health, but at the end of the day you just have to trust what you feel is best for your body. 

http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2013/04/10-beefy-reads-for-vegans-meat-lovers/

http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2012/12/how-i-eat-my-meat/

Get your herbs on..

What You Need To Know About Yoghurt

The article below is written by Dana James and highlights very important facts and misconceptions about dairy. 

Flip through health magazines and many wellness blogs and you'll be advised to eat yogurt. It's often touted as one of the top food for women. 

Yogurt contains probiotics, calcium and protein, which have been correlated with better gastrointestinal health, improved bone density and even weight loss. 

Yet read vegan blogs, including the magnetic KrisCarr.com, and dairy is the devil, contributing to mucus, bone loss and potentially cancer. 

So what's the truth? Should we be eating yogurt or sending it to Dante's eighth circle of hell?

The Reputed Pros

It's loaded with probiotics. 

Yogurt does contain probiotics, but if the yogurt is homogenized (almost all dairy in the US is), most of the beneficial bacteria are killed off by the heat treatment. Those that survive need to make it past the stomach acid to take up residence in the large intestine. (Even Mr. Jason Bourne is unlikely to survive heat and acid!) 

If your primary reason for eating yogurt is for its probiotic content, take a good quality five-strain probiotic instead. Select one that has been encapsulated to resist stomach acid.

Yogurt has calcium. 

Yogurt does contain calcium, but calcium alone will not improve bone density. Vitamin D and magnesium are both essential for the utilization of calcium by the bone matrix. Yogurt contains scant amounts of both. 

In fact, when Walter Willet, M.D., Ph.D, from Harvard’s School of Public Health, gathered data from nearly 80,000 women, he found no evidence of reduced risk of hip fractures in women who consumed one to three servings of dairy daily.

If you're worried about bone health, eat a kale salad with almonds;  it contains the ideal ratio of calcium to magnesium for optimal bone density.

It's packed with protein. 

A 4-ounce serving of Greek yogurt contains 12 grams of protein. This is equivalent to two eggs and roughly half a 4-ounce serving of fish. Yogurt trumps on the protein front, but it's a bit of a taker; it gives nothing more.

Two eggs provide the same protein content, but also choline for enhanced brain function and conjugated linoleic acid for abdominal fat burning. I prefer the flat abs and smarter brain option.

The Reputed Cons

Yogurt is mucus-forming. 

Yogurt (and dairy) can be mucus-forming, particularly in individuals who have a sensitivity to dairy or are lactose intolerant. Approximately 60% of the people on whom I run food sensitivity tests have a dairy sensitivity, which means they are reacting to a protein molecule in milk. 

Take them off yogurt and milk and their chronic sinusitis and congestion (i.e. mucus) goes away (as does their IBS, headachesand bloating).

It causes bone loss. 

Dairy produces an acidic residue in the body when digested. If the acidity is not buffered with magnesium, calcium, potassium and other bicarbonates, it can strip these nutrients from the bone so that the blood pH remains consistent.

One container of yogurt on a daily basis is unlikely to cause bone loss. However, combine the yogurt with granola, cereal, or jam and you'll magnify its acidic effect. (Sugar and grains are very acid-forming.) 

Forgo your greens and you'll exponentially increase the risk of bone catabolism as your green vegetables supply the buffering nutrient, magnesium.

If you must have yogurt (i.e. you're at the airport and nothing else is available), avoid the parfait with granola and make sure your next meal contains green vegetables.

It's cancer forming. 

Dairy contains a hormone called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I). High levels of IGF-1 have been linked to cancer cell proliferation. Dr. Colin Campbell, Ph.D, in his book The China Study eloquently demonstrates this connection. However, he also says that a small amount of dairy does not show a cancer correlation.

So fear not, dipping your turmeric cauliflower in a yogurt sauce is unlikely to result in cancer promotion.

The Bottom Line about Yogurt 

Eating organic yogurt once per week won't induce adverse health reactions, unless you have a dairy sensitivity or are lactose intolerant. Skip the daily consumption or better still, skip it altogether. There are far superior food choices that provide more nutritional punch. While yogurt is a convenient snack, so too is an apple, and where there's a yogurt for sale, there's an apple.

The article can be found here: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6588/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Yogurt.html 

Recently I have had a few instances that made me realise how precious and unpredictable life is. You really never know when everything could be taken from you. I believe that being appreciative and truly present in every moment, enables you to make the most out of your life. 

:)

How To Live To Be 100: The Blue Zones

The current thinking is that lifespan is determined by 10% genetic makeup and 90% lifestyle (with some good luck thrown in). 

The most widely-known research on this topic has been done by Dan Buettner, a reporter and author, and has been published in several editions of a book called The Blue Zones. Working with National Geographic, Buettner researched and then visited communities where people who have lived the longest reside. He highlighted disperse areas (dubbed "The Blue Zones") where people live to be 100 at rates 10 times greater than in the United States. They are: (1) Okinawa, Japan; (2) Loma Linda, California; (3) Sardinia, Italy; (4) Nicoya, Costa Rica; and (5) Ikaria, Greece.  

Common patterns were found among these 5 zones of excess centenarians, even though they are far from one another. These include: 

• An absence of smoking
• Daily physical activity centered on walking
• A plant-heavy diet with very small amounts of animal protein
• Strong family connections, and strong social connections.  
• Processed foods, fast foods, junk foods...? Forget about it! 

Different areas had unique health habits. In Loma Linda, for example, where the Seventh Day Adventist Church is based, it's common to honor the Sabbath as a day of disconnecting from technology and visiting friends and family. Vegetarianism is a celebrated lifestyle, and eating nuts is common. Drinking alcohol is rare.  

In Okinawa, it's taught that you should eat until you are 80% full, and the average daily food intake there is hundreds of calories less than in other parts of Japan. Sardinians are known for their cannonau wine reinforced with as much as three times the polyphenols like resveratrol than other regions growing red wine and consume a high amount of fava beans.  

Costa Ricans consume many oranges and their water is hard and rich in minerals. Ikarians eat a classic Mediterranean diet rich in home grown vegetables. They enjoy herbal teas daily, and fast frequently. Another reason for their longevity and heart health? Recently boiled Greek coffee, which is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols.

Are there lessons we can incorporate into our lives drawn from 5 corners of the world where people age more consistently, more gracefully, and with more vitality? Buettner and others have summarized lessons to adopt including: 

1. Play daily 
2. Walk often
3. Move naturally in work (for example doing yard work manually instead of using mechanical devices). It also means just being generally active as much as possible, as opposed to going to the gym and using heavy machinery to exercise. 
4. Live with a purpose (for helping others) 
5. Find ways to reduce stress through rest, prayer, and/or humor 
6. Eat less 
7. Eat fewer animal products and use legumes as the core of a fiber rich diet 
8. Drink in moderation if it's acceptable to you 
9. Let faith have a role in your life 
10. Emphasize family and loving relationships
11. Have social networks

The resident scholar of longevity in the United States, George Burns, was asked about his formula for living over 100. 

His response? 

“If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.”

Information gathered from this article was written by Dr Joel Kahn. The full article can be found here: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9028/how-to-live-to-be-100-a-cardiologist-explains.html 

Iron Rich Foods

For all the vegan/vegetarians, take note! 

If you are frequently feeling tired (even if you are getting enough sleep) there could be a chance that you are low in iron. It is quite likely the case if you are vegan or vegetarian as iron is high in meat. However, you can get iron from plant based foods, you just have to make sure you eat a varied diet that includes a balance of grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables. 

Awesome Apps

If you would like to get any of these apps just type the name into the app store and they should all come up


1. Green Kitchen

2. Healthy Desserts - by Green Kitchen

3. Pilates Core

4. Nike Training- this is very cool, literally your own personal trainer

5. Home Remedy

6. Spirit Junkie (this is my favourite!)

Kindness Cards

Kindness Cards is a concept similar to that of the film 'Pay It Forward' for those of you that have seen the film. For those that haven't, it is based on the principle that you do something nice for someone else i.e tell the waitress that you will pay for the guy's coffee behind you and ask her to give him the kindness card in hope that he will do a similar action for another person. I think it also works best when it is anonymous. You can order them online from the link below for free (spreading the kindness), watch the video too :)

I can't wait to use these babies!

http://www.wakeupsydney.com.au/Free-Gifts.aspx

What Do Your Food Cravings Mean?

This is an excellent short article giving you insight into what your food cravings could mean and how to deal with them. 

Did someone say cheesecake?... I mean broccoli.

Why is it that on occasion, we find ourselves with an intense craving for specific foods? It might be caused by any number of things – hormones, stress, boredom…or simply a desire for something a little bit naughty. In this post we will be talking all about cravings. What do your cravings mean and how to keep them under control for good!

What are our bodies telling us?

The foods we eat can have an extraordinary effect on our bodies. Food cravings can be linked to low serotonin levels, the body’s happy hormone. When you consume foods like chocolate and other sugary snacks, the body releases its ‘happy hormones’. That sensation you get devouring a chocolate bar is your body producing endorphins and feel-good hormones triggered by the glucose rush – easy to see how you can become addicted to the sweet taste of lollies, chocolate and fizzy drinks.

This is just skimming the surface – cravings can be triggered simply watching TV! Don’t worry; you are not the only one who can’t watch Jamie Oliver’s incredible 15 minute creations without getting an urge to recreate it! And it’s not just that, the aroma of foods can set off our olfactory system into overdrive and trigger cravings.

Now I find this bit really interesting…cravings can even be triggered by common vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  It’s hard to imagine that with the myriad of food options on offer we still have trouble getting everything we need.

Cravings mostly consist of sugary, fatty immediate neurotransmitter satisfaction foods – not likely to be broccoli, beetroot or spinach, right?

The father of holistic health Bernard Jensen (PhD), with 70 years of experience in natural therapies and nutrition, released his research on food cravings in his book ‘Chemistry of Man’ in 2007. He discusses the following…(refer to the image above)

Some more tips to help cravings...

Keep healthy snacks like granola power bars, fruit or nuts on you at work or home so when and if cravings do arise, you have your weapon of choice sitting in your hand bag or pantry.

The last tip for staying on top of cravings is to foster a deep relationship with your body and naturally listen to what it is intuitively telling you. This can take a while to truly understand the whispers in which our body uses to communicate, but trust your body, it has always been there for you beating your heart and filling your lungs with air.

Getting to know your body is the first step in discovering how to stay healthy – after all, who knows their body better than you?

You can view the original article here:

 http://www.movenourishbelieve.com/nourish/what-do-your-cravings-mean/

'I Am' Documentary by Tom Shadyac

I watched a documentary titled 'I Am' the other day and I was truly blown away by it. Director Tom Shadyac speaks with intellectual and spiritual leaders about what's wrong with our world and how we can improve both it and the way we live in it. 

It talks a lot about human's natural state and the relationships between one another. It's great because the film shows perspectives from both the scientific and spiritual realms. Its on demand now so check it out if you can! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKmlIXE2Xs

Chlorophyll

I put chlorophyll in my water daily. Besides the great health benefits, I love the minty taste and find it very refreshing. You can buy chlorophyll from health food stores. 

Gratitude

Wow! What a reality check. I believe gratitude to be the most important component in finding happiness. Whenever you are having a bad day, just think about a few things that you can be grateful for, this really helps me feel better. 

Additionally, every morning when you wake up make a little gratitude list, write it down or say it in your head. You can be grateful for the smallest things such as your pillow, the birds chirping outside or the fact that you are able to open your eyes and see the world. Making this list will set a great mindset for the rest of your day, definitely give it a try! 

Do Microwaves Kill Your Food?

Ok, so I am going to be completely honest with you on this one. I was initially about to post an article that believed microwaves kill most of the vitamins and minerals in your food. However, upon doing some extra research, I came across another article that completely contradicted this view. After many years of reading health related articles and books, I have succumbed to the fact that many health topics are controversial and if someone wants to justify their belief, they will find a way to do so. 

It is so incredibly important to take everything you read with a grain of salt. Everything that people say, and yes I am talking about professionals with many qualifications after their name, is their opinion or interpretation of the subject matter. Even though two nutritionists may have the same qualifications they can both give completely different advice based on their personal beliefs and subjectivity. Thus, I have come to the realisation that the more information you know the better, there is always more to learn! With knowledge you can make informed decisions (in this instance, informed health decisions). Due to the abundance of conflicting information, it is vital that you listen to your body and do what you believe is best for your optimum health.  

Getting back to the purpose of this post, below are two articles, one which opposes microwaves and the other which in some ways promotes it. You'll have to read them to truly understand their perspectives. :)

1.http://www.naturalnews.com/039404_microwave_ovens_vitamins_nutrients.html#ixzz2PNNo38KZ

2. http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/does-microwaving-veggies-kill-nutrients-190700707.html 

Ps. As I said you have to take this information and comprehend it in a way that you feel is most beneficial for you. I personally will side with the belief of opposing microwaves, for even if it may not be detrimental to your health, I don't think it could be good for your health. I often go back to nature when I am unsure of something and I don't recall microwaves growing off trees. I think its safer to avoid microwaves, yet I understand that some foods are better eaten cooked for greater absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Ahh the dilemmas of living a healthy life..

What do you guys think? do you microwave, are you a raw foodie or a bit of both?

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