Well, silly me had a cup of freshly grated ginger tea at 6.30 and then went to the gym. The humidity felt up around 75% and then the ginger kicked in and it felt 100%. I can’t believe I would do that – I was just dripping with sweat and usually I am not the sweaty type. So perhaps it is a great detox tip – why don’t you try and then let me know how you found it. BTW – my time this morning on the rowing machine was 11minutes and 32 seconds so not my best performance!I made an antioxidant packed smoothie for everyone this morning which included double the usual amount of berries, oat milk for a change, flaxseed oil and sheep’s yoghurt. Alana, who is 14 months, just couldn’t get enough as it was quite sweet with all the berries.I went off to clinic and snacked on apples and detox tea then had my frozen lunch back up of red cabbage, cannellini beans and vegetables. Despite the heat, my appetite certainly doesn’t suffer so I need to ensure I have food available all the time. My favourite right now is Tamari almonds – I tend to eat so many that I can’t face them for a few weeks and then I repeat the process.For dinner I was inspired by produce. Often when I am looking for ideas of what to make I simply go to the organic shop, look at what jumps out at me and screams “eat me!” and off I go. There was white asparagus, baby endives, mini water cress and a whole heap of beautiful things.So I settled for grape tomatoes, snow peas, fresh peas, goat’s fetta […]
Day 11 of Detox
Another very hot day – I am going to try taking a smoothie to work in my SIGG mug. SIGG bottles are stainless steel and are the only bottles that are proven to not leach phthalates, Bisphenyl A, lead, Bisphenol B and other harmful chemicals.It was flat out all day today and I stopped for a Pitango soup at 2 (this is my back up option i.e. plan Z!) and raced across the road to my favourite fishmonger. Nikos, the Greek, is fantastic and he causes me to miss Ithaca terribly. We speak in Greek, mine albeit very rusty, and he at 1,000 words per minute accompanied with heroic arm gestures! I’ll never forget the first time I went to Athens at the age of 16 – I thought everyone was about to brawl as they all looked like they were screaming angrily at each other. In fact, it is their version of passion and they are simply commenting on the weather. Niko knows exactly what my criteria are for fish.a) No deep sea large fish ( due to heavy metal contamination, specifically methyl mercury)b) Australianc) Sustainably farmed or wild line caughtd) Not over fishedI agree that I am fortunate enough to have such wonderful produce available but get a copy of the Sustainable Seafood Guide and become a more aware consumer. We all know that we need to eat more fish for the beautiful omega 3 essential fatty acids but make sure you are informed about the quality of the fish you are eating.So, I ended up buying some local red snapper fillets and they were stunning on the BBQ with a little of the finger lime salsa from last night. I had […]
Day 10 of Detox
Wow, today is so hot that I barely feel like eating anything but salad. I adore hot weather but not when I am working! There is nothing like the feel of those long summer nights, it reminds me of being a kid and eating sorbet. I had a “coffee” date with a girlfriend this morning but she forgot – I happily sipped my peppermint tea and read the paper. My brother and adored niece popped in so I managed to grab some express cuddles before I began my working day. Breakfast was some stone fruit and then I made a smoothie (same as yesterday).I took an apple and some salad to snack on as I usually have lunch late. Again I went to IKU for lunch and had a cannellini bean pie with salad and their delicious tahini based dressing. A patient called me and told me she is pregnant – our treatment plan had her aiming for later in the year but her health has improved so much that she fell now!I really feel water logged today – over 4 litres in total! I think I sweated at least half of it out though so I hope my organic deodorant is working hard – we do excrete toxins though sweat so you may be a little smellier during a detox.Dinner was amazing – BBQ wild salmon with blanched flat beans, zucchini and corn.I found the most incredible ingredient today – finger limes. I had eaten them at The Golden Door but have not seen them in shops in Sydney. Anyway, they are about 2 inches long, dark green and very expensive. But cut them in half lengthways and scoop out the hundreds of […]
Day 9 of Detox
I watched Slumdog Millionaire last night – it is rather disturbing, very touching and just incredible. I have been to Mumbai and lived in Juhu when I was doing my post grad homeopathy training. As we passed the slums in our little tuk tuk, I used to have to hold my handkerchief against my nose. Oh, it is absolutely terrible the poverty and despair. But I have never seen people so neatly dressed and smile so much. I would walk the streets at night exploring and never once did I feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It is an enchanting country and I will get back there one day to explore more. The Taj Mahal features in the film and it reminds me how our tour guide won his job after assuring me that we would see 100 visual illusions! He really did show us close to 100, by which time we were over the novelty.Breakfast this morning was a rather sad affair as I am due to shop. It consisted of a kiwi fruit then a smoothie with oat milk, berries, probiotic, flaxseed oil and apple puree. I made the apple puree in winter when apples were abundant and when I stewed them I added cinnamon which is wonderful for stabilising blood glucose levels as well.I have a salad prepared to eat mid morning – rocket, carrot, cucumber, avocado with a dressing of extra virgin olive oil, tahini, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. That should keep me going until lunch – I have found over the last day or two that my appetite has decreased. I feel like eating really light foods and often, say every 2-3 hours i need to ingest something. My mood […]
Fertility Drugs May Increase Your Chance of Cancer
A very interesting video on the effect of fertility drugs on cancer risk – mentioned is the number 1 fertility drug Clomid. I think the main thing to remember is that you need to ensure that you lower all your other risk factors for cancer in order to balance this out – improve your diet, eat organic, exercise, breathe deeply and see a naturopath to treat any existing problems. Click the link below:Fertility Drugs may increase your chance of Cancer
Detox Lunch
This is one of my fav lunches during detox and I just had to share it with you! All the ingredients are organic and sourced from my local markets – I am especially excited to see the finger limes back in season. These beautiful little things will delight you – they are like an explosion of citrus and a burst of freshness!Ingredients1 cucumber1 carrot1 small beetroot½ red cabbage40gr broccoli sprouts½ bunch flat leaf parsley1 large finger lime100gr organic firm tofu, cut into slicesSesame seedsMethodMarinate tofu in tamari and extra virgin olive oil for 4 hours. Grill for 3 minutes on each side. Grate carrot and beetroot into a stainless steel bowl. Slice the cucumber and red cabbage finely (I use a Moulis for this). Add to bowl along with broccoli sprouts and pearls from the finger lime. These are just sublime and pop in your mouth just like caviar! Slice the tofu into small bite sized pieces and add to salad. Finely chop parsley and add. Make your favourite dressing. I use a teaspoon of my home made pesto with some additional extra virgin olive oil. To finish, lightly toast sesame seeds for 30 seconds and sprinkle over the top.
Day 8 of Detox
Wow, stayed up very late watching Lipstick Jungle – it really is so addictive! This morning involved the weekly Bay walk with a friend which I always love. I munch on an apple and tamari almonds while I power walk as I need something light otherwise my energy fades. We fix all our problems, nut out business ideas and check out the eye candy all at the same time – love being a multi tasking female! Then a gym session which is always so much harder after a Bay walk. My legs were shattered and I am sure Jessie, who put my program together, is trying to make my booty resemble hers (she is from Jamaica so you can guess what her booty looks like). So I booked in a review of my measurements for the end of my detox to make sure I am focused and accountable.Breakfast involved a smoothie of mixed berries, bonsoy, probiotic, aloe vera juice and flaxseed oil followed by a shot of herbs, a concoction of gut repair powders & vital greens with all my tablets as a final touch. Must admit, my brain is on fire and I feel really well. Usually I need a solid 8 hours sleep or I am rather irritable the next day. Last night I had 6 and I feel great. Mind you, a patient just called to tell me she was pregnant, we both screamed and laughed and cried. What a fantastic start to the day!Lunch today was a beautiful IKU salad and white miso & cannellini tart. I think of IKU as my fast food on the run and 100% solid back up plan for any time. After a few business […]
Day 7 of Detox
Today I feel the changes of detox beginning – I feel less bloated, more energetic, and definitely calmer. I tend to go at a caffeine induced frenetic pace and detox forces me to slow down, concentrate on self care and really nourish myself on all levels. It allows me to stop and assess everything that has occurred in the last 6 months, whether I am aligned with my goals and if I need to adjust anything. I believe that simply connecting with yourself allows change to happen. Often patients will echo this belief, saying that they noticed many shifts occur during detox. Perhaps it is an ongoing problem that gets resolved, perhaps it is a negative self belief that lifts – everyone is different but everyone feels the shift in some way or another!Today, I tackled the gym first thing. Research shows that if you exercise early morning you actually burn more calories than exercising in the evening – even if you do exactly the same thing! I love morning exercise as it pumps me full of endorphins and I feel good all day long. I know it definitely improves my mood; there is no doubt about that.Breakfast was a smoothie on the run – apple juice, sheep’s milk yoghurt, frozen berries, probiotic and flax seed oil. Lunch was left over miso soup from last night. I strongly encourage you to do this as it makes life so easy. Make a little extra at dinner and voila – instant lunch! I went to the fish markets on the way home and picked up some flathead tails – this fish is perfect for kids as it has a very mild flavour and soft texture. I […]
Day 6 of Detox
Today I went to the organic markets early in the morning which I just love with a passion. I have been eating organic food for years and I never fail to feel inspired by fresh produce. This morning I visited the mushroom man – he grows incredible wild mushrooms in a cave near Moss Vale. I bought some enoki (my favourite) and some Swiss browns.Then I chatted to the Sprout woman – she grows lots of different sprouts and I just love the broccoli sprouts. These are packed full of sulphoraphane which induce phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in the liver. Recent research from John Hopkins University has shown that broccoli sprouts are cancer preventative. I throw them into all my salads for an extra detox hit. You can grow them at home, just plant organic broccoli seeds, wait to them to sprout them eat them when they are 3 days old!I then spotted Johnny, my favourite farmer. His farm is at Peat’s Ridge, 1 ½ hours out of Sydney and he brings down a collective of produce from the local area. He is a wealth of knowledge and as I am setting up my veggie garden I wanted to pick his brains about a few things. As usual, Johnny was full of great advice and I left feeling excited about the prospect of picking my own lettuce in a few weeks.I always buy a bunch of flowers at the market and love coming home and unpacking all my goodies. I usually cook in the same day as I shop as I tend to get into a foodie zone. First of all I cooked split pea soup for emergency lunch/dinners which I put […]
Day 5 of Detox
I had a huge day at work today and thankfully I was well prepared with my food. I had a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs with parsley and zucchini. I use oat milk for this as it has a lovely flavour. I have plenty of dried apricots, tamari almonds and Brazil nuts to snack on so that kept me going between patients. Lunch comprised of some split pea soup that I made on the weekend – love those easy options!I want you to also be doing an environmental detox – assess your home, the products that are used with in it and check exactly what is in the products you are putting on your skin. Your skin is not water proof – it is a soluble surface and chemicals will be absorbed through the pores.I also bought a combined ioniser/oil burner today which I have been wanting for ages. It is firstly an essential oil diffuser but it uses ultrasonic waves at a high frequency to disperse water and oils into the air. This technique means that you don’t have to use much essential oil and the smell lasts a long time. It is, secondly, an ioniser which improves air quality through the release of negative ions in the air (which we also receive from the ocean and rainforests). This is health promoting and helps to reduce airborne toxin exposure. Thirdly it is a humidifier which combats the drying effect of heating and air conditioning. Lastly, I turn it on in the morning when I get up and it goes for 16 hours straight – no changing of candles, adding more essential oils or burning dry.