I have been eating hemp seeds for a while now and love their nutritional bang. The members of Community Detox are getting just as addicted as I am!! I add them to smoothies, make milk by soaking them, blending and straining and also put on my fruit for a protein hit.
Hemp seed oil is also a wonderful addition to a salad dressing or add a drizzle over cooked vegetables. Although a little challenging to find, hempseeds and oil are well worth the effort.
Hemp kernels are produced by removing the outer shell of the hemp seed, with no other processing or additives. The kernels are raw and free of chemicals and artificial additives.
Hemp seed contains both Omega 3 and Omega 6 in an ideal ratio of 1:3 along with uniquely high levels of vitamin E, which protects and preserves the delicate oil from oxidation. Further, unlike marine Omega 3, hemp seed is free from dioxins, PCB and other contaminants, making it an ideal choice for pregnant women and children.
Why eat hemp kernels?
Hemp kernels contain a complete range of amino acids and are suitable for those who choose vegetarian or vegan diets. Because they are low in carbohydrate, they are also suitable for diabetics.
Hemp kernels can be eaten straight from the packet, sprinkled over cereals of fruit salad, or added to a variety of sweet or savoury food. It is generally not recommended that kernels be cooked, although they can be added to baked goods, biscuits or breads, to boost the nutritional value of these products.
Store in freezer or fridge to ensure optimal freshness.
Nutritional value of hulled hemp seed per 50g serve – grams or % of required daily intake for an adult male
Essential fatty acids […]
Nutritional Punch of Hemp Seeds
GalleryMoringa – A Traditional Superfood
This is my favorite new Superfood – it is a tree that originates from the foothills of the Himalayas and is known as the “Miracle Tree.” It’s the leaves that are used, as they are so incredibly nutritious and the best quality ones are shade dried. When you buy Moringa it is usually bright green and the good news is that Moringa is naturally pest resistant so it shouldn’t contain any nasty chemicals.
Unusually, Moringa contains all the amino acids needed to make a complete protein, which is unusual for a plant. Recent research has shown that Moringa is effective for cancer and has anti-inflammatory effects.
The nutritional content of Moringa is reputed to be rich in antioxidants, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium and bioflavonoids. Per 100 grams there is 27grams of protein, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 2gr of calcium, 370mg magnesium, 19grams of fibre and a bucket load of chlorophyll.
I am adding it to my green smoothie, popping it in Sophia’s sheep’s milk yoghurt as well as mixing with a little coconut oil for a power shot in the afternoon.
GalleryWhy Dieting Doesn’t Usually Work
In this fascinating TED talk, neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt explains why our brains are simply not hard wired for weight loss. Her case for mindful eating is one I champion – intuitive eaters eat only when hungry while control eaters try and control their eating through willpower. The vast majority of people trying to lose weight are control eaters and research shows that if you do lose weight, in 5 years time you will more than likely have put it all back on, PLUS some more! This is because the WAY you eat hasn’t changed – the mindset is one that relies on willpower alone rather than the intuitive advantage that relies only on hunger signals. Fascinating how much information research is shedding on the weight loss conundrum!
GalleryCompetition Time!!!
Win 6 packs of the best and safest baby wipe on the market thanks to the wonderful people at Water Wipes. Water wipes are a new range of baby wipes that have won the approval of naturopaths and mums for being specifically formulated for a newborn’s delicate skin. The newly launched Water Wipes contain just 0.1% grapefruit seed extract and 99.9% purified water, making them ideal for the most sensitive skin.
WaterWipes follow the same universally recognised formula practiced by midwives for washing a baby’s bottom with just cotton and cooled boiled water. In fact, Water Wipes are so natural that maternity wards and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the UK and Ireland have started using Water Wipes and recommending them to parents.
What you didn’t know about regular wipes is that they contain many nasty chemicals such as:
parabens
alcohol
perfume
lanolin
pthalates
benzoates
triclosan
I am a very organic type of mum and wouldn’t use any of these chemicals on Sophia’s skin. In fact, Water Wipes have launched the Great Bottom Campaign to raise awareness about the chemicals that standard wipes contain. Water Wipes are the safest and most natural wipe on the market so here is how you enter the competition:
1. Tell me about the most precious moment you have experienced with your child – post on my official Facebook page
Competition ends Saturday 18th January, good luck!! If you know any mum’s make sure you tell them about the competition
Valid for Australian residents only
How Many Hours You Sleep Will Affect Your Weight!
After wearing my Body Media arm band for the last week I discovered that my sleep is shocking. I always try to get into bed by 11pm and now that Sophia generally sleeps till 6am, I thought that 7 hours would be enough. But apparently I am usually awake from before midnight until 1.30am – and I didn’t even realise!
So the reality is that I sleep well from 1.30 until 6am and that explains why I always feel shattered when Miss S wakes me up with a very loud WAKE UP MUMMA at 6am. After 4 1/2 hours sleep my body is craving a whole lot more down time. And sleep deprivation has an enormous effect on you – both physically and mentally. According to research, sleep deprivation will increase both your BMI and waistline. Here is the study.
Body Mass Index (BMI) varies as a function of habitual sleep duration, according to a research abstract. Results indicate that twins who slept between 7 and 8.9 hours each night had a lower BMI (25.0 kg/m2) compared to those who slept more (25.2 kg/m2) or less (26.4 kg/m2) per night. The relationship between sleep duration and BMI remained after controlling for genetics and shared environment.
According to the lead author of the story, Nathaniel Watson, MD, co-director at the University of Washington Sleep Institute, in Seattle, sleep habits have a significant impact on weight and BMI.
“Findings of the study point towards an environmental cause of the relationship between sleep duration and BMI,” said Watson. “Results were robust enough to be present when the sample was limited to identical twins.”
The study included data from 1,797 twins, including 634 twin pairs (437 monozygotic, 150 dizygotic and 47 indeterminate pairs) and […]
GalleryA High Protein Energy Boost in 3 Easy Steps
I am in love with chia seeds for their amazing nutritional punch as well as how versatile they are. Chia seeds are a gluten free seed that have 20% complete protein. The significant water soluble fibre levels helps to cleanse and soothe the colon as the seeds soak up to 9 times their weight in water! My pregnant clients swear by chia seeds to fix their constipation.
With bucket loads more alpha linolenic acid, the super healthy omega 3, than salmon chia seeds have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can lower pain as well as the risk of chronic disease.
2 tablespoons of Chia = 7 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, 205mgs of calcium, 5 gr omega-3
And it’s not just the tree loving hippies that love chia seeds! I always look at the clinical studies to back up nutritional claims and chia seeds are amazing.
Recent research showed that eating chia can not only reduce your waistline but also lower your glucose and cholesterol levels. This makes chia the perfect superfood for people with PCOS, insulin resistance, diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Studies show that diabetics who eat chia seeds daily for 12 weeks have lower blood pressure and their blood was less likely to clot unnecessarily.
By simply adding chia seeds to your diet, know that your digestion will be happier, glucose levels more stable and waistline smaller!
Chia Seed Protein Boost
Ingredients
1 cup liquid (home made nut milk, coconut water, filtered water)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon organic coconut shavings
Choice of toppings
Natural yoghurt (sheep’s, goats or cows)
Activated buckwheat
Bee pollen
Pureed strawberries
Sunflower seeds
Supergreens – my fav is Shakti’s SSB
Goji berries
Extra virgin coconut oil
Nut butter
Manuka honey
Vanilla powder
Raw cacao
Mesquite
Instructions
Add liquid and chia seeds to blender and blend until evenly mixed. Alternatively add to mason jar […]
GalleryIs Your Kitchen Toxic?
Plastics are everywhere in the average kitchen – from food storage containers to drinking straws, cooking utensils, zip lock bags and the list goes on and on. There are dozens of chemicals that make up plastics with some types of plastics being worse than others but lets focus on plastics that come into contact with food and water. A lot of research has confirmed the negative effects of many environmental chemicals, especially in regard to fertility.
BPA is a synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of primarily polycarbonate plastics which are used for packaging and in the production of epoxy linings from canned foods. BPA is one of the most ubiquitous chemicals with around 93% of people tested in Australia showing measurable levels in the body. BPA is a synthetic estrogen also known as an endocrine-disruptor capable of blocking or mimicking natural hormones in the human body and is linked to weight gain, thyroid imbalances and insulin resistance. Look for #7 on plastics
Phthalates are known as plasticizers and are a class of chemicals often used in making hard plastics soft and flexible. They are also known as endocrine-disruptors so have similar effects as BPA. Prenatal exposure to phthalates has been linked to a cluster of general birth defects in boys though so be careful if you are pregnant. Look for #3 on plastics. Instead of canned food opt for glass jars. Eden organics make canned products using enamel lining instead of BPA. Food storage opt for mason jars or glass such as lock n lock.
Non stick cookware is something we all love but unfortunately they are made with chemicals called perfluorinated chemicals. Perfluorinated chemical exposure has been linked to thyroid disorders, hyperactivity, reproductive issues and prenatal exposure has […]
GalleryLove Letters from Community Detox
I wanted to share with you a little love from Community Detox, or as it is affectionally called “CD”. It was an incredible month and the results are pouring in. From my survey, the four most common benefits are weight loss, more energy, glowing skin and fantastic digestive health. All in 30 days of super healthy eating with a group of highly motivated people! If you missed this month then join us all in February for the next Community Detox!
Emma’s CD experience is life changing! Having an online community to keep you inspired and motivated throughout detox is invaluable. The information and support provided by Emma and her team is unsurpassed, you will feel so empowered by the information provided, shopping lists, recipes galore, discount offers on amazing products, that it feels too easy. Before you know it your waist line will be shrinking, skin glowing, energy skyrocketing, and you will wonder why you ever ate any other way. I cannot recommend this experience enough. If you are passionate about your health, and want to feel the best you possibly can, you must try Emma’s community detox!
My 2nd CD and was just as wow’ed by it as my 1st. I still learnt so much and loved checking in with all the fabulous members, team, and guest speakers. Thank you 🙂
CD in one word is AMAZING! It truly has changed my life. I feel more energetic, my digestive health has improved significantly and even my partner has comment on the fact that my skin is glowing, my hair is shining and my eyes are sparkling! I would recommend Emma’s CD to everyone.
This is my third community detox and if I think back from where I […]
Is Your Acne a Sign of Something More Serious?
Do you have embarrassing, even painful spots? Do you wonder why, even after your teenage years have long past and your friends are now worried about impending wrinkles, you still find yourself dealing with pimples?
It is estimated that 60 – 80% of women with moderate to severe acne have a common syndrome, called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In my humble opinion, virtually all women that have acne should be questioned, and where appropriate tested, for this condition.
How do you know if you should investigate this further?
The diagnosis of PCOS is actually quite simple. If you have two or three of the following, you fit the diagnosis:
1) High levels of testosterone (acne is a potential sign of this, as is excessive hair growth)
2) Irregular periods (8 or less per year)
3) Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound
If this is you, head to your health professional and ask for further investigation.
How can you tackle your acne naturally?
Now, back to the troublesome, embarrassing and potentially painful problem of acne. Let’s talk about what you can do to reduce, even eliminate, this condition.
1) Eliminate dairy products
Milk contains a precursor to testosterone, which means it contains one of the important ingredients needed to create this hormone. It also appears to contain ‘ingredients’ that stimulate the production of sebum (oil).
Milk has also been shown to increase ‘plasma IGF-1 levels’. This IGF-1 stimulates the creation of ‘male hormones’ (androgens) in the ovaries. It has another nasty effect as well. It stops the production of sex hormone binding globule (SHBG). SHBG is like a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of a thief. It stops the offender (the excessive ‘male hormones’) from adversely affecting its surroundings (the body). Without these handcuffs, the male hormones are […]
GalleryA Guide to Gluten Free Grains
It’s Community Detox month which means we are all eating gluten free. Embarking on a gluten free diet can be a daunting experience. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, kamut, spelt, barley and oats, which means that many previously staple foods may be banished from the pantry. So which grains are safe to eat?
Rice
Rice is one of the most versatile grains, and it’s neutral taste means that it goes with just about everything. Use brown rice where possible, or go for basmati if you need a white rice. Give the highly processed rice products a miss though, because they can play havoc with your blood glucose levels.
Corn
Whether it’s pasta, cous cous or crackers, corn has you covered. Forget the debate about whether it’s a vegetable or a grain, corn acts like a grain, and is fantastic with savoury dishes. It holds together well and tastes great!
Millet
Millet is sometimes overlooked as a gluten free option, probably because it takes a little longer to cook. But millet has a yummy mild taste, is full of minerals and is fantastic in porridge, bread and baked goods, so it’s worth the extra effort.
Buckwheat
One of the most nutrient dense grains, buckwheat has quite a strong, nutty flavour. It goes well with robust dishes, like mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and dark green leafy veggies. Buckwheat grains can also be sprouted first, making them easier to digest.
Quinoa
Not actually a grain, quinoa is a seed which, when cooked, behaves like a grain. To cook it, follow exactly the same directions as you would for rice. Quinoa goes beautifully with stir fries, casseroles, curries, Mexican food, and cooked quinoa can even be made as a bircher muesli.
Amaranth
Amaranth is similar to quinoa, except the grains […]
