I go to the organic markets each Saturday and buy fresh 3 day old broccoli sprouts I love adding them to my salads and their taste is absolutely delicious. I am always hearing about the latest “super food” that cures everything from insomnia to cancer. The vast amount of research that I have read on broccoli sprouts is very compelling – I am convinced that the high levels of sulphoraphane are incredibly beneficial. So, go ahead and start adding this incredibly therapeutic food to your diet. This is the epitome of “food as medicine!” A new study suggests an easy way to reduce the risk of a bacteria associated with stomach cancer: eat broccoli sprouts. In a study conducted among 48 men and women from Japan, Johns Hopkins investigators found those who ate 70 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts a day significantly reduced the H. pylori in their stomachs.All of the participants tested positive for the bacteria. The researchers then randomized them to either 70 grams of broccoli sprouts per day or a similar amount of alfalfa sprouts. The subjects were retested for H. pylori at four and eight weeks. By the final follow up, the broccoli sprouts had done the trick. People who ate the alfalfa sprouts showed no change in the degree of infection.This study supports the emerging evidence that broccoli sprouts may be able to prevent cancer in humans, not just in lab animals, study author Jed Fahey, Sc.D., was quoted as saying. Broccoli sprouts are rich in Sulforaphane, a naturally occurring phytochemical that enhances the cancer-protective capacity of animal cells. According to studies by Dr. Paul Talalay and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, sulforaphane […]
Emma’s Fast Food Dinner
Tonight I came home after a 12 hour day and then a 2 hour drive home (dont ask!) to flop on the couch and wonder what was for dinner. I really couldn’t be bothered cooking and I hadn’t organised anything in advance – a cup of tea was looking like a great option. Then I remembered my version of “Fast Food” and started to get hungry. So, I dragged my tired butt into the kitchen and made my trusty emergency dish.It is fast (10 minutes), cheap and very nutritious. So keep this one handy for when you are tired, uninspired and don’t want to eat the processed options.Ok, all you need is the following ingredients and don’t forget to use your improvisation skills!1 teaspoon of White miso paste2 tablespoons ArameFresh GingerOld vegetables in the bottom of the fridgeFrozen yellow fin tuna or salmon fillet – cut into small cubes, be careful not to cut your fingersFirst of all, put the kettle on and pour boiling water over the Arame – soak for 2 minutes. Add the miso paste to 2 cups of boiling water in a saucepan. Add ginger, the strained Arame and the firmer vegetables such as corn, carrots, potato, pumpkin or parsnip etc. Cook for 2 minutes. Add all other vegetables and the fish. Cook for 3 minutes.Serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs if you have them. Voila, a highly nutritious dinner served in 10 minutes. All you need to do is ensure that you have miso paste and Arame in the pantry and some frozen fish in the freezer! You can try variants such as adding garlic, chilli, Dulse flakes, tofu or edamame beans.So, post […]
Skin Doona – Amazing Skincare line!
I have been sampling the Skin Doona range over the last week and have fallen in love with their creams. This skin care range is handmade, completely natural, full of love and extrememly high in active ingredients. The brains behind the brand, are gorgeous Jess Allen and Julie Christie. I met Jess 3 years ago in Tasmania when we both completed a manufacturing course at Pindari herb farm. Jess is a Herbalist and she showed alchemic abilities in Tasmania. I am so happy to see that her talents have hit the mainstream with the launch of Skin Doona.All my skincare is natural and organic – our skin easily absorbs chemicals and if you haven’t yet heard of sodium lauryl sulphate and its link to cancer you must have been hiding behind a rock! So, wherever possible, reduce your toxic load and keep your cosmetics and toiletries as natural as possible. Check out Cosmetics Database for all the inside information on your products.And, put your order in for beautiful Skin Doona products at their website. Let me know your favorite one – mine is the Silk Night Cream! Once again, I am passionate about supporting local, natural and sustainable products so let me know what you think of these.Emmaxxx
The True Food Guide 2010 is Out Now!
I am an absolute fan of the True Food Network and wait for their guide with baited breath. They save us all the work of trying to determine what foods are GE(genetically enginered)free. So, with my trusty little guide in my hot little hand, I have been able to negotiate my shopping with ease!Australia currently has limited labelling laws for GE foods. That’s where the Truefood Guide comes in handy. The Guide rates food brands and products as Green (GE-free) and Red (may contain GE ingredients).You can browse or search for brands on the right-hand side. The Guide is also available for download or you can order a convenient wallet-sized hard copy.Buy Green – Companies and supermarkets listed as green have implemented policies and procedures throughout their supply chain to actively avoid ingredients derived from GE crops.Avoid Red – The companies and supermarkets listed in the red section of the guide may have products that contain ingredients derived form GE cropsRemember, the only way to safely avoid GE foods is to eat organic. We have yet to see any long term research on the effects of GE foods so until I am convinced that GE foods are safe, then I will be choosing to eat organic food. With love and awareness, Emma xxxPS This video is absolutely fabulous – you will actually LOL!
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 […]
Calling All Current Patients!
I am about to launch my new website and I would love if you could be part of it. I am filming video testimonials at Darling Street Health Centre on Saturday 18th July from 1-3pm and it would be great if you could take 10 minutes to drop by and say a few words. Kate Boorer from Employerbility will be filming and she will put you at ease with the process if you feel a little funny about being on camera. To show my appreciation for your time I would like to give you a 50% discount on your next consultation and a pot of my beautiful organic tea. Can you email Kate directly at kboorer@employerbility.com.au to let her know if you will be coming?Thanks in advance for your help,Emm
How Stressed Are You Really?
Using comprehensive testing methods to determine how stress is affecting you is imperative to your health. When we feel stressed, our adrenal glands become activated and they secrete the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. We all know how it feels to burn the candle at both ends, trying to balance work and family demands as well as keep up with daily chores. We become tired, irritable and run on adrenaline which depletes our adrenal gland and results in “adrenal fatigue”. This common problem can be very easily addressed with naturopathic medicine and have you feeling balanced, energetic and happy again.I recommend having your stress levels assessed with the Adrenal Hormone Profile so that I can tailor an adrenal health program to meet your requirements. This is a non-invasive saliva test which monitors the levels of the stress hormones Cortisol and DHEA-S, over the course of a day. This is an important test to determine adrenal function if you are suffering symptoms such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, headaches, low energy, stress, hormonal imbalance and poor immune function. Book in today to begin your path to optimal adrenal health!
