I recently discovered the world of micro financing and I must say that I am a massive fan. The entire premise is that no matter where you are in the world, people have the power to create opportunity to better their lives. Providing capital, as little as $25.00 can make such a life changing difference to a person’s life. I have joined with Kiva which began in 2005 and represents people from 220 countries. I added to the $342 million that has been loaned to date, with a 98.97 repayment rate. The average Kiva user loans over eight times so it seems that once you start, the satisfaction of helping another person is addictive.
My loan was to a Kenyan woman by the name of Linet, 25 who is married with three children. Her business is selling coconuts and she wanted to increase her stock levels to meet local demand. I call Linet an entrepreneur and believe that she should be not only encouraged but also actively supported. The annual income in Kenya is $1445.00 and my loan of $25 can significantly help her. Organisations like Kiva make this possible as they connect me with a woman thousands of miles away in a country that I have never set foot in. Another micro financing organisation is Good Return – join in the revolution!
Kenya, Coconuts & Social Responsibility
What Artificial Sweeteners Should You Avoid?
How much do you know about artificial sweeteners? Many people may think they are doing the right thing by choosing ‘sugar-free’ or ‘diet’ products to reduce their sugar intake, but the reality is, many artificial sweeteners have dangerous side effects. The main artificial sweeteners used today are:
Aspartame
Saccharin
Sucralose
Neotame
Acesulfame potassium
Aspartame regularly hits the headlines because it has been studied for decades. Aspartame is essentially made up of 50% phenylalanine, 40% aspartic acid and 10% methanol. The bi-products of these chemicals are formic acid, formaldehyde and Diketopiperazine (DKP), which is a proven brain tumour agent.
Due to the highly addictive nature and overconsumption of aspartame, many studies suggest that this chemical can cause headaches, migraines, confusion, balance problems and seizures. Research also suggests that diet soft drink consumption was linked to higher incidences of stroke, vascular problems and myocardial infarction.
The best thing to do is get to know your labels…look at the food additive names and numbers and know what they mean. If you do need a sweetener try Stevia, which comes from the species Stevia rebaudiana. Stevia is a great alternative as it is about 300-400 sweeter than sugar and is widely available at all health food stores and some supermarkets. For more information on the Top 10 Food Additives that you should avoid, click here.
Coconut Water – The Facts on the Fad
I have been drinking coconut water for over 2 years and love how I feel! When filming Eat Yourself Sexy, I swore that coconut water kept my skin hydrated on set and my energy levels high. Coconut water is the perfect base for all my smoothies and even just plain as a hydrater. Here are the facts on the coconut craze:
The Facts: Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.• Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg.• Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.• Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg. Data is based on a 100ml drink
Coconut water is the liquid that is taken from unripe coconuts. If coconuts get ripe the liquid that is inside will harden and become a part of the white flesh of the coconut
Coconut Water Hydrates the Body: Coconut water is an isotonic solution which replaces the fluids and minerals that the body loses during physical activities. For this reason, many athletes and persons who work out regularly are encouraged to drink coconut water to replace all the minerals and fluid that they lose while working out. Even the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) attest to the benefits of drinking coconut water when it fought for a patent in 2000 to market coconut water as the next big sports drinks.
Coconut Water Relieves Urinary Problems: If you consume coconut water on a regular basis it can reduce urinary problems. People who suffer from strangury, polyutra and other […]
Asthma – a Continual Australian Epidemic
The prevalence of asthma in Australia is among the highest in the world: between 10% and 15% of children and between 10% and 12% of adults has asthma. That is almost 1 in 6 children and 1 in 10 adults! We spent $606 million on asthma annually, approximately 1.2% of all health expenditure and 411 people died due to asthma in 2009.
Asthma is a condition where the airways become inflamed and irritated. As a result they become narrower and produce extra mucous. This makes it more difficult for air to flow into and out of the lungs and causes the symptoms of asthma.
Recent research has highlighted a very astonishing fact – that up to 68% of asthmatic children are vitamin D deficient1. Compared to healthy children, asthmatic children were far more likely to have either a moderate or severe vitamin D deficiency. Who would have thought that a lack of sunshine could have such a huge impact on a child’s health?
Another natural treatment for asthma is magnesium and research says its role in managing acute asthma is well established2. Magnesium is highly beneficial as it relaxes tight muscles and reduces spasms within the airways.
Increasing dietary sources of the omega 3 essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect3. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition so this is a perfect example of the power of food as medicine. These foods include oily fish, avocado, nuts, seeds and extra virgin olive oil.
What You May Not Know:
A diet including trans fatty acids and saturated fats doubles the risk for asthma so avoid them at all costs
A high sodium intake sensitizes the lungs to histamine and increases bronchial hyperactivity
Dehydration significantly exacerbates asthma due to thickening […]
Save Our Children
Family conflict appears to be causing so much stress to our kids that they are five times more stressed than at the height of the Great Depression says Canadian research professor Stuart Shanker. Adding to the stress pile is television, social media and crowded city living, leaving our kids struggling for some inner calm. And it’s inner calm that is needed for us to “self-regulate” which is our ability to manage our own energy states, emotions, behaviours and attention in ways that are positive.
From a very early age, my daughter would self regulate by looking at me for reassurance. When she couldn’t see me, such as in the car, she couldn’t self regulate and would become very upset. We are hard wired to self regulate to establish balance and if our ability to self regulate is interrupted, such as with stress, things go pear shaped. Little nervous systems become terribly overstimulated!
The amount of time spent on computers and watching TV is rapidly overtaking the time spent on exercise, outdoor play and social interaction. The promotion of narcissism through media and social values leaves young children with very little ability to show empathy and read other peoples body language, which is an invaluable social skill.
Ways to increase Your Child’s Ability to Self Regulate
Sports, music, yoga and non-competitive Tae-Kwon-do all play an incredible role at helping kids regulate themselves
Work out your child’s stressors – what helps them stay calm and what leaves them hyper aroused?
Ensure they are getting as much sleep as possible. This is the time they process information and lay down most of the neurological patterns
Mindfulness – get them to connect in with how they are feeling by using an analogy of a car engine. […]
Let Me Spill the Beans on Fresh vs Frozen Vegetables
Until I was asked the question, I always assumed that fresh is best. After researching for this article I am still convinced of that, but I now look upon frozen vegetables in a whole new way. Lets look at the pros and cons of both fresh and frozen vegetables and see what comes to light.
Fresh vegetables do taste better and have a nicer texture but they tend to lose water soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and B as they get older. According to Tara Diversi, a lecturer in the Human Nutrition Unit of the University of Sydney, spinach kept at room temperature (20°C) for two days loses half of its vitamin C.
Frozen vegetables are usually snap frozen immediately after they are picked with machinery getting the produce to -18°C in minutes. This ensures that their nutrients are kept stable until you cook them. Frozen veggies are uber convenient but tend to go soggy when you cook them.
A question also arises about how to cook vegetables to retain their nutritional value. How you cook your vegies may be more important than whether they are fresh or frozen. Boiling vegies in a large amount of water for a long time leaches the vitamins out of the veg and into the water. To limit nutrient loss use as little water as possible and steam them. The leftover water can then be used for making a stock so you don’t miss out on any vital nutrients. Microwaving certainly does destroy water soluble nutrients so be aware that you are losing nutrition when you go for convenience.
A word of warning, check your packet of frozen veg for added salt or sugar as you may be a little surprised […]
What Causes A Nappy Rash?
Let’s face it, EVERY baby gets nappy rash at some point in their early years! So what exactly is nappy rash and how can we treat it?
As the name suggests, nappy rash is a red rash that appears around the buttocks and genitals of babies and can range from sparse red bumps to an extensive covering. There are a few different reasons why babies develop nappy rash:
1) Teething: I often hear mother’s talk about the correlation between teething and nappy rash…well it’s true. Not every baby going through the teething process will develop nappy rash however some will due to their immune system reacting to the rapid change.
2) Infrequent nappy changes: Bacteria breaks down the contents of a soiled nappy which leads to a skin irritation from ammonia, therefore the longer the contents is in the nappy, the more likely your baby will develop a rash.
3) Reaction to chemicals in creams/laundry powder: Many babies are hypersensitive to chemicals and dyes found in bottom creams and laundry powder so get to know what ingredients are in your babies products and use natural, organic products where possible.
4) Introduction to new foods: When an infant is exposed to new foods through the nursing mother, a skin reaction like nappy rash can occur. This can be seen in foods that the mother is eating like citrus fruits, onions, garlic, leeks and gluten.
5) Candida: As you all know candida loves moist, warm environments so what better place to take up residency than your babies bottom!
6) Antibiotics: If the mother or baby is taking antibiotics than there is a chance that the baby can develop a nappy rash. This can be due to candida developing or from antibiotic associated diarrhoea.
My […]
How to Eliminate Cradle Cap
As a new parent, we get quite startled when our newborns develop a scale like rash on their scalp….but this rash is called cradle cap and is extremely common. Cradle cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis) is a common condition that appears in the first three months of your child’s life and disappears by six months of age.
So why do babies get cradle cap? Dermatologists believe that during the final weeks of pregnancy, elevated maternal hormones are transmitted to the baby thus causing an overproduction of the sebaceous glands. This causes an overproduction of sebum and an overgrowth of new skin cells therefore an abundance of flakey crusty skin. It has also been reported that cradle cap may be caused by a yeast infection of the genus Malassezi.
How do you treat cradle cap naturally?
The idea is to soften the area so that the flakes can easily be removed (either by falling off or gently brushed off) – although the area will feel greasy, do not pick the crusty flakes off as it may bleed.
Olive oil – This is probably the most economical oil to use because we all have olive oil in the cupboard. Make sure that it’s a high quality olive oil and organic if possible! Massage gently into the scalp when needed and brush through flakes to loosen them (obviously use a soft baby’s hair brush).
Jojoba oil – pronounced ‘hohoba’, this oil reduces sebum production and protects against bacteria. After a bath, gently massage jojoba oil into your baby’s scalp. A benefit of using organic jojoba oil is that it resembles the body’s own natural sebum therefore it’s readily absorbed and decreases the chance of any allergic reaction.
Apple cider vinegar – This is another product […]
Metaflammation = Minimal Mojo!
There is a new type of inflammation which can cause low Mojo. It’s called metaflammation and is a type of metabolically induced low grade inflammation, so low that it’s about 3% of normal inflammation levels. It was first discovered in the 1990’s and was thought to be the cause of obesity. It now appears metaflammation is far more insidious and is related to many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. The main drivers of metaflammation are lifestyle and environmental factors.
Foods that can fight inflammation have been a hot topic for a few years but recent research using blood tests before and after eating particular foods have determined the most accurate answers. In a study completed at Sydney University and published in the British Journal of Nutrition, wagyu beef significantly increased metaflammation while kangaroo did not. The researchers suggest the result is due to an immune reaction to a form of fat in the wagyu to which humans have not yet evolved.
When looking from a historical context, foods that we have eaten for thousands of years such as fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts & seeds often form the basis of a “healthy” diet. While more recently introduced foods like coffee, processed fructose & fast foods tend to produce the inflammatory response linked to metaflammation.
So what is the answer to maximising your Mojo, staying trim and lowering your risk factors for chronic disease? Keep it simple and eat like your forebears did. My 50 Day Digestive Repair Program is excellent for addressing and eliminating inflammation.
Inducers of Metaflammation
Excessive alcohol, fast foods, high GI foods, grain fed meat, fructose, sugar, refined carbohydrates, sweetened drinks
Metaflammation reducers
Garlic, ginger, onions, dark chocolate, olive oil, fruits(esp. apples, berries, grapes, pomegranates), […]
Heavy Metal Detox Pesto Recipe
I love this recipe that came from Dr Junger & the clever people from Hungry for Change, which is my fav video right now. I am off to the organic markets tomorrow morning to gather my ingredients!
3 cloves garlic
1/3 cup Brazil nuts (selenium source) or macadamia nuts
1/3 cup sunflower seeds (cysteine source)
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (zinc, magnesium sources)
1 cup fresh coriander
1 cup parsley
2/3 cup cold pressed olive oil
4 tablespoons lemon juice (Vitamin C source)
Big pinch of sea salt and or dulse flakes to flavour
Soak the seeds and nuts over night to release the enzyme exhibitors. Process the parsley, coriander and olive oil in a blender until chopped. Add the garlic, nuts, and seeds, salt, dulse and lemon juice and mix until the mixture is finely blended into a paste. Store in dark glass jars if possible. It freezes well too!
