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
The Five Foods for Beating Depression
Fish oils:Contain omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that depressed people often lack a fatty acid known as EPA. Participants in a 2002 study featured in the Archives of General Psychiatry took just a gram of fish oil each day and noticed a 50-percent decrease in symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, unexplained feelings of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and decreased sex drive. Omega-3 fatty acids can also lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. Get omega-3s through walnuts, flaxseed and oily fish like salmon or tuna. Brown Rice:Contains vitamins B1 and B3, and folic acid. Brown rice is also a low-Glycemic food, which means it releases glucose into the bloodstream gradually, preventing sugar lows and mood swings. Brown rice also provides many of the trace minerals we need to function properly, as well as being a high-fibre food that can keep the digestive system healthy and lower cholesterol. Instant varieties of rice do not offer these benefits. Any time you see “instant” on a food label, avoid it. Brewer’s Yeast:Contains vitamins B1, B2 and B3. Brewer’s yeast should be avoided if you do not tolerate yeast well, but if you do, mix a thimbleful into any smoothie for your daily dose. This super food packs a wide assortment of vitamins and minerals in a small package, including 16 amino acids and 14 minerals. Amino acids are vital for the nervous system, which makes brewer’s yeast a no-brainer for treating depression. Whole-grain oats: Contain folic acid, pantothenic acid and vitamins B6 and B1. Oats help lower cholesterol, are soothing to the digestive tract and help avoid the blood sugar crash-and-burn that can lead to crabbiness and mood swings. Other whole grains such as kamut, spelt and quinoa […]
PCOS – Diet&Exercise More Effective that Drugs!
A study has just been released that proves changing your diet and exercising more is your best bet for inducing ovulation and improving your chance of pregnancy. This study divided 348 overweight women with PCOS and infertility into four groups. One group received dietary and exercise advice. The other 3 groups received Clomid, metformin, or a combination of the two drugs.Clomid is used to stimulate ovulation. Metformin is used to reduce insulin resistance.The women in the Clomid group had a 12.2% pregnancy rate. The metformin group had a 14.4% rate. The group taking both Clomid and metformin had a pregnancy rate of 14.8%. The group not taking any drugs but only making dietary and exercise improvements had a 20% pregnancy rate. The study authors concluded: “…lifestyle modification may be used as the first line of ovulation induction in PCOS patients.”I cannot emphasise enough the importance of keeping to a therapeutic diet and exercising 3-4 times a week. I counsel all my PCOS patients on what foods they need to be eating and what foods they need to avoid. Trust me – it does make a difference and this study confirms my advice! An assessment of lifestyle modification versus medical treatment with clomiphene citrate, metformin, and clomiphene citrate-metformin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.Karimzadeh MA, Javedani M.Research and Clinical Centre for Infertility, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of clomiphene citrate, metformin, and lifestyle modification on treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Prospective randomized double-blind study. SETTING: University-based infertility clinic and research centre. PATIENT(S): Three hundred forty-three overweight infertile women with PCOS. INTERVENTION(S): The participating women were assigned to four groups: clomiphene (n […]
PCOS – Diet & Exercise More Effective that Drugs!
A study has just been released that proves changing your diet and exercising more is your best bet for inducing ovulation and improving your chance of pregnancy. This study divided 348 overweight women with PCOS and infertility into four groups. One group received dietary and exercise advice. The other 3 groups received Clomid, metformin, or a combination of the two drugs.
Clomid is used to stimulate ovulation. Metformin is used to reduce insulin resistance.
The women in the Clomid group had a 12.2% pregnancy rate. The metformin group had a 14.4% rate. The group taking both Clomid and metformin had a pregnancy rate of 14.8%. The group not taking any drugs but only making dietary and exercise improvements had a 20% pregnancy rate. The study authors concluded: “…lifestyle modification may be used as the first line of ovulation induction in PCOS patients.”
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of keeping to a therapeutic diet and exercising 3-4 times a week. I counsel all my PCOS patients on what foods they need to be eating and what foods they need to avoid. Trust me – it does make a difference and this study confirms my advice!
An assessment of lifestyle modification versus medical treatment with clomiphene citrate, metformin, and clomiphene citrate-metformin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Karimzadeh MA, Javedani M.
Research and Clinical Centre for Infertility, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of clomiphene citrate, metformin, and lifestyle modification on treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Prospective randomized double-blind study. SETTING: University-based infertility clinic and research centre. PATIENT(S): Three hundred forty-three overweight infertile women with PCOS. INTERVENTION(S): The participating women were assigned to four groups: clomiphene (n […]
GM Foods – Are You Aware of Why You Should Avoid Them?
The Academy of Environmental Medicine has released the following statement: Natural breeding processes have been safely utilized for the past several thousand years. In contrast, “GE crop technology abrogates natural reproductive processes, selection occurs at the single cell level, the procedure is highly mutagenic and routinely breeches genera barriers, and the technique has only been used commercially for 10 years.” Despite these differences, safety assessment of GM foods has been based on the idea of “substantial equivalence” such that “if a new food is found to be substantially equivalent in composition and nutritional characteristics to an existing food, it can be regarded as safe as the conventional food.” However, several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food consumption including infertility, immune dysregulation, accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signalling, and protein formation, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and gastrointestinal system. Read more at http://www.aaemonline.org/gmopost.html Genetic engineering (GE) is a radical technology that manipulates the genes and DNA of living things. Unlike traditional breeding processes, GE takes genes from one life form and forces them into another. Using GE, genes from bacteria, viruses, plants and animals have been inserted into soybeans, canola, corn and cotton to grow commercial crops. These GE crops (also called genetically modified organisms or GMOs) are processed into foods and sold in our stores. Most processed GE foods are unlabelled. Right now, millions of Australians are eating GE food without realising it. I am strongly opposed to GM foods – we already have evidence that they cause health problems but I think there will be so much more information coming out over the next 5 years. So far, there […]
Launching My Beautiful Rejuvenation Tea
Thank you to all the beautiful people that came to my tea launch today – we had the most exquisite muffins and cakes and all in the name of Cancer Research. We raised a very generous amount of money and had a fantastic time chatting over a cup of Rejuvenation Tea. My tea is now available to purchase from Balmain Sports Physiotherapy so pop in and pick up your gorgeous pot.Rejuvenation TeaI have been drinking Rejuvenation Tea for five years now and I still love the way it makes me feel relaxed and serene. Rejuvenation Tea began as something that I blended for myself and drank during consultations with my patients. Curiosity meant that many people would ask me for a taste and then, without fail, they would ask me where they could buy it. So, I began to craft this wonderful blend to enable people to enjoy its many benefits. I always pop an Inspiration Card in each tisane and it has become a signature of mine that people love.Now, I want to share with you this wonderfully therapeutic tisane – it is blended from exquisite organic herbs that are grown in the mountains of Tasmania. I have travelled to this farm, Highland Herbs, and felt a very spiritual presence while I toiled the fields. The energetic value of these herbs is phenomenal and will soothe your soul while your body unwinds. Rejuvenation Tea is suitable for everyone – whether you are pregnant, undergoing IVF, suffer from high blood pressure or simply need to unwind and destress.Enjoy a relaxing cup in winter as you arrive home from your long day or sip on iced Rejuvenation Tea in summer. When you brew your tisane, […]
Infant formula: How to choose it&use it
Infants need breast milk or formulaInformation about contaminants in formula and water can be scary, but remember that infants less than 1 year old should not be fed straight cow milk, and other drinks might not meet their complex nutritional needs. Breast milk and appropriate formula are the best foods for infants.Choose powderedA toxic chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) can leach from the lining of metal cans and lids. Liquid formulas have higher levels, so powdered is a better bet. Use soy formula only if medically necessaryThe American Association of Pediatricians recommends that soy formula use be limited to infants who need it for medical reasons. There are longstanding concerns that natural plant estrogens in soy formula may affect the developing baby’s body. There is not enough research to make a solid conclusion, but in the meantime I recommend you limit soy formula use Use filtered waterBoth bottled and tap water can contain contaminants that are toxic for babies whose sole or main source of food is formula. Examples are fluoride and lead. If you have fluoride or lead in your water, use a reverse osmosis filter. Avoid bottled water including ‘infant’ water – because contaminants are not known. Choose glass or BPA-free plastic bottles. Plastic bottles can leach a toxic chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into formula. Most companies sell non-BPA plastic. Look for details on packaging or from the manufacturer.Always avoidUnfiltered water when reconstituting formula.Ready-to-eat liquid formulas in metal cans.Old or used plastic baby bottles; they are more likely to contain and leach BPRemember that the World Health Organisation recommends breast feeding until 12 months as this is ultimately the best food for your baby.
Infant formula: How to choose it & use it
Infants need breast milk or formula
Information about contaminants in formula and water can be scary, but remember that infants less than 1 year old should not be fed straight cow milk, and other drinks might not meet their complex nutritional needs. Breast milk and appropriate formula are the best foods for infants.
Choose powdered
A toxic chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) can leach from the lining of metal cans and lids. Liquid formulas have higher levels, so powdered is a better bet.
Use soy formula only if medically necessary
The American Association of Pediatricians recommends that soy formula use be limited to infants who need it for medical reasons. There are longstanding concerns that natural plant estrogens in soy formula may affect the developing baby’s body. There is not enough research to make a solid conclusion, but in the meantime I recommend you limit soy formula use
Use filtered water
Both bottled and tap water can contain contaminants that are toxic for babies whose sole or main source of food is formula. Examples are fluoride and lead. If you have fluoride or lead in your water, use a reverse osmosis filter.
Avoid bottled water including ‘infant’ water – because contaminants are not known.
Choose glass or BPA-free plastic bottles.
Plastic bottles can leach a toxic chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into formula. Most companies sell non-BPA plastic. Look for details on packaging or from the manufacturer.
Always avoid
Unfiltered water when reconstituting formula.
Ready-to-eat liquid formulas in metal cans.
Old or used plastic baby bottles; they are more likely to contain and leach BP
Remember that the World Health Organisation recommends breast feeding until 12 months as this is ultimately the best food for your baby.
Healthy Supermarket Tours
Are you completely confident that you understand a nutrition information panel? Do you know what “lite” actually means?How about, “reduced salt”, “cholesterol free” or “no added sugar”?Join Naturopath, Emma Sutherland and Dietitian, Caitlin Reid for a supermarket tour that will unravel all the confusion you face when shopping for healthy products.Tours are held at 6pm on the First Monday evening of every month at About Life, Rozelle.Places are limited to ensure that all questions can be answered and that you learn everything you need to know for your future shopping trips! Please call (02) 8755 1333 to secure your spot today.
Quinoa
A recently rediscovered ancient “grain” native to South America, quinoa was once called “the gold of the Incas,” who recognized its value in increasing the stamina of their warriors. Nutritionally, quinoa might be considered a super grain–although it is not really a grain, but the seed of a leafy plant that’s distantly related to spinach. Not only is quinoa high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids.Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain; an average of 16.2 percent, compared with 7.5 percent for rice, 9.9 percent for millet, and 14 percent for wheat. Some varieties of quinoa are more than 20 percent protein. Quinoa is 35 on the Glycemic Index making it an ideal choice to keep your blood sugar levels stable and prevent the development of insulin resistance. Being gluten free, quinoa is the perfect solution for coeliacs and those who prefer to avoid wheat due to bloating and discomfort.Cooking Method Toast the grain in a dry skillet for five minutes before cooking to give it a delicious roasted flavour. To cook, use two parts liquid to one part quinoa. Combine the liquid and toasted quinoa in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the grains are translucent and the germ has spiralled out from each grain, about 15 minutes.
