Hi fellow foodies,I had the beautiful experience of finding these enoki mushrooms at my local organic farmers market ( Orange Grove in Leichhardt). I always get so excited to see the freshly picked mushrooms the farmer has on offer. From Swiss brown to Portobello to Enoki and so many other varieties that I never see anywhere else.To give you a bit of background – I have always disliked mushrooms. Bland, insipid, slimey was my description. Dad used to take me mushroom picking as a child and we would enter the cows paddocks and, to my disgust, dad would head straight for the cow dung and then start picking mushrooms. Of course, I was humiliated, terrified someone I knew would see me and would scarper into the nearest bush!Now, many years later I appreciate the humble mushroom for so many reasons. First of all, I now love the different textures involved in mushrooms – crunchy, seductive, rich and silky. I have just had an amazing dinner of white miso poached organic chicken thighs with enoki mushrooms, chilli, garlic and lots of ginger. Add to this some fair trade quinoa, organic greens and I am literally in heaven!So, for all of you that may not have fallen in love with mushrooms yet – be open to the possibility that one day soon a mushroom will sneak up and suprise you with its dexterity, versatility and nutritional power.Emma xxxx
Swine Flu Update
The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in America state that almost two-thirds of swine-flu victims so far are between the ages of five and 24, whereas only 1% of those over 65 have been affected. This is the opposite of what is normally expected; usually it is the elderly who die in their thousands each year from the effects of seasonal influenza. The unexpected resilience of the elderly this year may be from a past exposure to a similar flu virus that has left them with some degree of immunity – but the reason why they have been largely unaffected is still not clear. The other high risk group for A(H1N1) infection appears to be those who are pregnant.Are the overweight at greater risk?Researchers report: “Doctors tracking the pandemic say they see a pattern in hospital reports from Glasgow to Melbourne and from Santiago to New York. People infected with the bug who have a body mass index greater than 40, deemed morbidly obese, suffer respiratory complications that are harder to treat and can be fatal.”If you are concerned that you may fall into this high risk category then the news is not good – make a determined effort to lose weight before the next flu season – your life could depend on it.What do the symptoms of swine flu look like?Swine flu symptoms are similar to those of previous flus. They include:* Weakness,* Muscle and joint pain,* High fever,* Loss of appetite,* Runny nose,* Cough,* Headache.Some sufferers have also had symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.For how long is a person contagious?Adults are infectious during the flu’s incubation period and for 7 days following the onset of symptoms; children may be infectious for […]
Enzyme Activity Could Be Exacerbating Your PCOS
An elevated level of male hormones in your body can lead to infertility, excessive facial or body hair, hair thinning, acne and other problems associated with PCOS. The male hormone we mostly hear about is testosterone. However, the real culprit is dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is the biologically active form of testosterone. DHT is formed when testosterone interacts with an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase.A recent study at the University of Birmingham in the UK showed that both overweight and normal-weight women with PCOS had higher 5-alpha-reductase activity than women who did not have PCOS.In other words, if you have polycystic ovary syndrome, it appears you also have a tendency for higher 5-alpha-reducase activity, when in turn makes it easier for you to convert testosterone into the undesirable DHT. The excessive levels of DHT in turn create some of the distressing symptoms of PCOS such as hair loss or facial and body hair growth.You can suppress 5-alpha-reductase activity with supplements or pharmaceuticals.One example of a supplement is saw palmetto extract, which inhibits 5-alpha-reductase. It is extracted from the berry of a small palm tree. The fruit of this palm have been part of the diet of natives of the south-eastern U.S. for hundreds of years. Saw palmetto extract does not have the side effects that pharmaceuticals may have.Pharmaceuticals commonly used to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase include spironolactone (Aldactone), and finasteride (Propecia, Proscar).Increased 5{alpha}-reductase activity and adrenocortical drive in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Vassiliadi DA, Barber TM, Hughes BA, McCarthy MI, Wass JA, Franks S, Nightingale P, Tomlinson JW, Arlt W, Stewart PM.Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of BirminghamContext: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulation and susceptibility to the metabolic syndrome. Altered peripheral cortisol […]
Emma’s Favorite Cough Remedies
I would love to share with you some of my favourite herbs that I am using at the moment for this awful flu season. I am seeing many of my patients relapsing with acute infections not just once but up to three times!
I would encourage you to have a bottle of my flu tonic on hand and start dosing acutely as soon as you feel a sore throat or headache coming on.I have noticed clinically that there are 3 viral strains circulating at the moment and this is the summary of how the symptoms;
Gastro pre sensation with resolution within 48 hours
Sore throat, aching upper arms, seems to persist for a quite a while
Headache, dry cough with vomiting at the end of a coughing fit
Also, don’t forget about the relevance of having optimal vitamin D levels during the flu season – ask your GP to check your levels ASAP and supplement if necessary!
Herbal extracts can be highly effective for treating an acute cough and other common symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections such as a runny nose, sore throat and headache. They also have an excellent safety profile. It’s ironic that many pharmacy cough mixtures contain active principles that were originally of botanical origin, obvious examples being codeine (opium poppy), guaifenesin (the guaiacum plant) and pseudoephedrine (from ephedra).
And whilst the isolation and synthesis of these active principles has given us some very powerful medicines, it has also created a new set of problems: powerful effects matched by equally powerful and negative side effects. When high quality botanical extracts are used there is less likelihood of these problems occurring.
In the treatment of coughs and colds, herbal extracts do exert anti-tussive, expectorant and […]
Why You Should Try Almond Milk
I have many patients who are intolerant or allergic to cow’s milk and for them life can be difficult at times. So what are the alternatives – you can either have soy, rice, oat or almond and my favourite is definitely almond. It is actually the creamiest tasting of all the alternatives and has the best nutritional profile as well. Best of all, you can make it at home in as little as 15 minutes!
Why not try some almond milk instead of your usual milk and let me know how you find it. If anyone has a good recipe for almond pulp, feel free to send it i!
Health Benefits of Almond Milk
Almond milk is rich in Vitamin E, a known antioxidant, and thus, is believed to good for those undergoing detoxification programs.
Almond milk contains high levels of unsaturated fat and has been associated with lower risk of heart attack.
Almond milk has been found to contain little to no saturated fat and no cholesterol, making it extremely good for those suffering from high cholesterol problem.
Almond milk does not contain lactose. This makes it easily digestible and the perfect alternative for those suffering from lactose-intolerance.
Owing to the absence of saturated fats and presence of unsaturated fats, almond milk is great for those trying to lose weight.
Nutritional Facts about Almond Milk
Almond milk is rich in protein and omega fatty acids
Almonds milk does not contain cholesterol and saturated fats
Almonds milk has high levels of vitamin E and unsaturated fats
Almond milk contains minerals such as zinc, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.237ml of almond milk contains 70 calories, 2gm protein, 10gm carbohydrates and 2.5 gm fat: 2.5g
Almond milk has zero fibre.
Method to make Almond Milk
Place 1 cup almonds in a […]
Vitamin D Linked to C-Section Births
Caesarean section rates are at an all time high in Australia (28.8%) and the United States (30.2%). As vitamin D is crucial for proper muscle function, the researchers examined the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and caesarean section rates. Between 2005 and 2007, 253 women who gave birth in a Massachusetts hospital were found to be nearly four times more likely to have a caesarean section if their serum vitamin D levels were below 37.5nmol/L than those levels at 37.5nmol/L or greater. The authors concluded that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of caesarean section.Vitamin D has been receiving so much research over the last few years and this study demonstrates the broader functions of vitamin D. Absolutely insist that your vitamin D levels are monitored throughout pregnancy and supplement if necessary – remember that you need to use the D3 form!Association between vitamin D deficiency and primary caesarean section.Merewood A, Mehta SD, Chen TC, Bauchner H, Holick MF.Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, and Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Medical Centre, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.BACKGROUND: At the turn of the 20th century, women commonly died in childbirth due to rachitic pelvis. Although rickets virtually disappeared with the discovery of the hormone vitamin D, recent reports suggest vitamin D deficiency is widespread in industrialized nations. Poor muscular performance is an established symptom of vitamin D deficiency. The current U.S. caesarean birth rate is at an all-time high of 30.2%. We analysed the relationship between maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status, and prevalence of primary caesarean section. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2007, we measured maternal and infant serum 25(OH) D at birth and […]
New Infertility Treatments In the Near Future?
So, what do you think about the latest development in fertility research? Feel free to share with me your opinions – is this a positive breakthrough or is this going too far?Infertility treatments based on artificial sperm and eggs could be available within a decade as British research indicates it is possible to grow them from human embryonic stem (ES) cells.British scientists claimed to have created human sperm from embryonic stem cells for the first time, an accomplishment they say may someday help infertile men father children.The technique could in 10 years allow researchers to use the basic knowledge of how sperm develop to design treatments to enable infertile men the chance to have biological children, said lead researcher Karim Nayernia, of Newcastle University, whose team earlier produced baby mice from sperm derived in a similar way.The research, published in the journal Stem Cells and Development, was conducted by scientists at Newcastle and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute.Stem cells can become any cell in the body, and scientists have previously turned them into a variety of new entities, including cells from the brain, pancreas, heart and blood vessels.Some experts challenged the research, saying they weren’t convinced Nayernia and his colleagues had actually produced sperm cells. Several critics also said the sperm cells they created were clearly abnormal.“I am unconvinced from the data presented in this paper that the cells produced by Professor Nayernia’s group from embryonic stem cells can be accurately called ’spermatazoa,” said Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield.Pacey said in a statement that the sperm created by Nayernia did not have the specific shape, movement and function of real sperm.Azim Surani, a professor of physiology […]
Does the Amount of $ In Your Bank Account Affect Ovulation?
Does how much money you make and how educated you are have anything to do with polycystic ovary syndrome and lack of ovulation?That’s an interesting question that was investigated by a team at the University of Palermo in Italy, in a study of 244 women with PCOS.Surprisingly, 43% of the high income women appeared to be ovulating while only 21% of the low to medium income group were able to do so. Lower family income was also associated with higher body weight, waist circumference, insulin, and insulin resistance.The amount of education was even more startling. In those PCOS women with low education, only 12% were ovulatory PCOS compared with 47% of the individuals with high education status.So, working on insulin resistance and getting your weight in a healthy range is absolutely vital for supporting ovulation. I believe the reason that women who are on a lower income and not as highly educated have a lower ovulation rate is because they suffer from higher stress levels. There is plenty of research out there that shows the negative effect of stress on fertility. I want you to work really hard at reducing stress – why not try walking after dinner, talking to friends to express your troubles, have a relaxing cup of my Rejuvenation Tea or get a DVD of yoga and practice at home. These are all economical ways of reducing the negative effects of stress on your fertility.Influence of sociocultural factors on the ovulatory status of polycystic ovary syndrome.Di Fede G, Mansueto P, Longo RA, Rini G, Carmina E.Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of social and cultural differences inside the same ethnic group on the ovulatory […]
Yoga Is Proven To Facilitate Pregnancy & Birth!
Most of my preconception and pregnant women really love their yoga and it was wonderful to come across this study that proves the benefits! The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a yoga program on pregnant women’s comfort, labour pain and birth outcomes. First time mums were recruited and then half of them went into the active group. They received six 1 hour yoga sessions that involved postures, chanting, breathing, relaxation and meditation.
The results showed that the active group experienced significantly higher maternal comfort than the control group both during labour and 2 hours post delivery. The active group also experienced a significantly shorter first stage of labour and less pain than the control group. The researchers concluded:
“We suggest that 30 minutes of yoga practice at least 3 times per week for 10 weeks is an effective complementary means for facilitating maternal comfort, decreasing pain during labour and 2 hours post delivery and shortening the length of labour”
Can I just add that those mums that combine yoga with HypnoBirthing have an even better result in my experience! SO, if you are considering a baby then get to your local yoga studio and begin your practice. For those of you that are pregnant, then join in my next HypnoBirthing course and do some yoga sessions and you will be greatly rewarded.
Yoga during pregnancy: effects on maternal comfort, labour pain and birth outcomes.
Chuntharapat S, Petpichetchian W, Hatthakit U.
Department of Obstetric Gynecological Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. songporn.c@psu.ac.th
This study examined the effects of a yoga program during pregnancy, on maternal comfort, labour pain, and birth outcomes. A randomized trial was conducted using 74-primigravid […]
Yoga Is Proven To Facilitate Pregnancy&Birth!
Most of my preconception and pregnant women really love their yoga and it was wonderful to come across this study that proves the benefits! The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a yoga program on pregnant women’s comfort, labour pain and birth outcomes. First time mums were recruited and then half of them went into the active group. They received six 1 hour yoga sessions that involved postures, chanting, breathing, relaxation and meditation.The results showed that the active group experienced significantly higher maternal comfort than the control group both during labour and 2 hours post delivery. The active group also experienced a significantly shorter first stage of labour and less pain than the control group. The researchers concluded:“We suggest that 30 minutes of yoga practice at least 3 times per week for 10 weeks is an effective complementary means for facilitating maternal comfort, decreasing pain during labour and 2 hours post delivery and shortening the length of labour”Can I just add that those mums that combine yoga with HypnoBirthing have an even better result in my experience! SO, if you are considering a baby then get to your local yoga studio and begin your practice. For those of you that are pregnant, then join in my next HypnoBirthing course and do some yoga sessions and you will be greatly rewarded.Yoga during pregnancy: effects on maternal comfort, labour pain and birth outcomes.Chuntharapat S, Petpichetchian W, Hatthakit U.Department of Obstetric Gynecological Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. songporn.c@psu.ac.thThis study examined the effects of a yoga program during pregnancy, on maternal comfort, labour pain, and birth outcomes. A randomized trial was conducted using 74-primigravid […]
