Spring is in the air....

Ok so as of tomorrow, there will a new post every day. Its a 30 day challenge. 30 new things to do, to do something different, improve your health, move your body. So come back every day and join us to help create a healthier, stronger, fitter , happier ...YOU. We look forward to going on this journey with you.

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Fashion Week-Eco Style

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2009 - Eco Live Fashion Expose
Wednesday 2 September 2009

What: ELFE in partnership with 5th Avenue Events and Alumbra is an official Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2009 event. It will display an eclectic selection of the very best in eco-luxe brands, with designer market stalls, catwalk parades and live entertainment.
When: Wednesday 2nd September, 7pm til 12 midnight.
Where: Alumbra, Shed 9 Central Pier, 161 Harbour
Esplanade, Docklands, Melbourne

**** BUY A TICKET TO GET A TREE PLANTED BY LANDCARE AUSTRALIA!! ****Online Tickets: $15 plus booking feehttp://elfeevents.blogspot.comDoor Sales: $20 unless sold out.

**** TIX ON SALE NOW ****
COST$15 pre-sale tickets(plus booking fee)$20 general admission tickets (on the door)
http://elfeevents.blogspot.com/http://www.msfw.com.au/

Eco Luxe Designers:* Vintage Soul* Lady Petrova* Made In Donald* Rachael Cassar (Syd)* Eva Q Design* Obikinomi* Boche Collection* Kiss Chacey* Etiko* Vivien Westwood's Melissa
Celebrity Ambassadors:* Andi Lew (TV Presenter)* Brodie Young (TV Presenter)* Glen Moriarty (Postcards, Channel 9)* Klara Lisy (Talk To The Animals, Channel 9)* Melissa Hetherington (Coxy's Big Break, Channel 7)* Dr Melissa Meehan (Talk To The Animals, Channel 9)* Lara Shannon (TV Presenter, Environmental Campaigner)

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'NOURISH YOUR MIND LIKE YOU WOULD YOUR BODY. THE MIND CANNOT SURVIVE ON JUNK FOOD' Jim Rohn

Naturally pregnant

Falling pregnant is not always easy…
Having a baby is a precious gift and conceiving should be an easy, natural process. Sadly for many couples it is an extremely distressing experience as they struggle to conceive and/or maintain a pregnancy. The causes of infertility are many and varied, and affect both females and males. Sometimes the man's sperm count is too low; sometimes there is a hormonal imbalance in one or both partners; sometimes lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol or smoking are at fault; and sometimes there may be no obvious reason at all.

From a holistic, natural perspective, difficulty conceiving can be due to issues such as stress, toxicity, nutritional deficiencies and/or hormonal imbalances.

Are you too stressed to conceive?
Is stress making it difficult for you to conceive? Have you ever noticed that it is often when a couple stops trying to conceive, and they start to relax, that they fall pregnant? The impact of stress on infertility cannot be underestimated, both as a cause and as a consequence of not conceiving, in both partners. Stress impacts the reproductive system on all levels. In fact, stress actually inhibits the reproductive system; so if you are stressed, this may affect your ability to have a baby.

A detox can help!
Toxicity may also affect your ability to conceive. When your body is too toxic, it can be very difficult to conceive and maintain a pregnancy. A comprehensive integrated detoxification program involving both digestive repair and liver regeneration is an important step in both addressing infertility issues and pre-conception care. At our practice, we specialise in detoxification programs that improve liver clearance of hormones and toxins that may impair fertility.

Excess fat affects fertility
Being overweight impairs fertility and is a common cause of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, toxaemia, low birth weight and premature birth. If you are overweight and struggling to conceive, we can help with dietary advice to assist you in losing weight, making better dietary choices and increasing nutrients critical for fertility and a healthy pregnancy.

Healthy parents make healthy babies
Nutritional deficiencies can also be a contributing factor in infertility. In order for you to give your little baby the best start in life, it is important that both the mother and father are in optimal health. Ensuring you both have optimal body stores of vitamins and minerals will support energy production, healthy metabolism, healthy foetal development and reduce stress. We can recommend nutritional supplements to support both male and female fertility and nutritional status.

Are your hormones out of balance?
Hormonal imbalances can be a significant factor in infertility. Basically, without the right balance of hormones, it is extremely difficult to conceive. Fortunately, there are some great combinations of herbs and nutrients that can balance your hormones and improve fertility.
For men: There are herbs that assist in the increased production of testosterone and other male hormones. Herbs can increase virility, fertility and sperm production. They work together to rejuvenate the reproductive system and increase libido. Combined with nutrients, they can provide powerful, effective natural support for the male reproductive system.
For women: Particular herbs can support ovarian function, healthy fertility and libido. Herbs can improve hormonal balance, regulate the menstrual cycle and nourish the reproductive system as a whole. A combination of herbs with key nutrients may help to boost your fertility.

The subject of infertility is often stressful and can be overwhelming for couples who are struggling to have a baby. If you are experiencing difficulties with fertility, please come in and see us today for information on pre-conception care and natural support of your reproductive health.

MELBOURNE NATUROPATHIC WELLNESS

Marisa Camilleri - Naturopath

Melbourne Suite 15 / 12 Collins St 9663 5940

Williamstown 95 Douglas Parade 93977885

marisa@naturopathicwellness.com.au www.naturopathicwellness.com.au

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DISCOVERING ORGANICS - A JOURNEY TOWARDSHEALTH AND INNER HEALING

Lucy Patten, from Eternal Harmony, shares her journed towards health

AS A WIFE AND MOTHER

I want my family to live healthy and happy lives. I am concerned about the many toxic chemicals that seem to bombard us everywhere we go and in most of the products that we use.

Have you ever wondered why so much money is spent on cancer research yet cancer rates just keep increasing? Why our planet is getting sicker and why so many people these days seem to be unwell and unhappy?

LOOKING BACK AT MY LIFE

About 15 years ago, things were very different. My fridge and pantry were full of processed, fatty and unhealthy foods. I drank soft drink by the litre. A fruit bowl was a nice way to decorate the table , vegetables were a token part of a meal and water was used for showering and growing the garden, not for drinking. Back then I was sick and tired. Most evenings I spent curled up on the couch, too tired to move, and would watch TV until I fell asleep. I was unhealthy and unhappy - my body and mind were overloaded with toxins.

THEN ONE DAY

Something happened that changed everything and started me on the path of health and wellbeing. A friend had invited me to a spirituality/health expo and we came across a beautician who had a competition to win a fat loss treatment and I went into the draw. Amazingly I won and I then spent 10 painful sessions lying on a table with electrode pads zapping me every few seconds. Not the quick and easy weight loss treatment I had hoped for. But what she did do for me was to introduce me to some natural skin and health care products as well as taking me along to some talks about health and wellbeing. That sparked something inside of me and got my curiosity going.

I DECIDED TO START CHANGING MY WAYS

I became vegetarian and even tried being a vegan for a while. I started exercising regularly and lost weight and started feeling much healthier and better about myself. I was using lots of natural products and buying some organic food. I did some studies and research into health and natural remedies and I thought I had all the answers. Unfortunately not everyone thought the same as me. It probably had something to do with my preaching that I had found the light and the way to health and that I was right and everyone else just needed to listen to me if they wanted to get healthy. This resulted in many debates and hurt feelings, both mine and others. I realised a valuable lesson. What was right for me was not necessary going to be right for everyone else and pushing my opinions was not going to make me any friends! I wanted to help others get healthy and I knew I had some valuable information to share, but I did not know to get my message across!

THEN AN OPPORTUNITY CAME MY WAY

A friend told me about a company selling a range of certified organic skin care, personal care and health care products. This was different to anything I had seen before and I quickly saw the potential benefits of using this amazing range of products. I immediately changed over all my skin care and personal care products to this new brand. With this company also came the opportunity to educate others about organics through selling the products.

I HAD THOUGHT THAT

If a product was sold in a shop then it would have to be safe. Surely the government wouldn't allow companies to sell products containing ingredients that could make us sick? I discovered that 'natural' and 'organic' products can still contain potentially toxic, cancer causing chemicals. This is because there is no regulation of the skin and personal care industry. It is up to the companies who make the products to ensure they are safe, however most seem to be more interested in profit than doing the right thing by us.

DID YOU KNOW THAT

One-third of all products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens? Also, nearly 70% of all products contain ingredients that can be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer and other health problems, and many of these impurities penetrate human skin. To make matters worse, 89% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety. Even with those that have been tested, they have not been tested for safety being combined with a range of other potentially toxic chemicals in a cocktail of ingredients which are found in most products.

I LEARNT

With certified organic products, you are guaranteed that they are truly natural, synthetic free and safe for us and the environment. The plants used are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fertilisers or GMO's. Healthy soil grows healthy plants which when used/consumed by us leads to healthy people. Organic plants have been shown in a number of studies to contain more vitamins, nutrients and cancer fighting antioxidants than non-organic food. Organic systems work in harmony with nature, keeping harmful chemicals out of our land, water and air, creating a healthy environment rich in wildlife, woodlands and nutrients.

AND MOST IMPORTANT ARE OUR CHILDREN

Infants and children are more vulnerable to the toxins from pesticide residues and environmental chemicals. This is because of their larger intake of food per kilo of body weight. Also, as their bodies and critical organs are still in developmental stages, they are more susceptible to pesticide toxicity. The risk is further increased due to the main food groups that make up a toddlers diet: fruit and vegetables, with some of these having high levels of pesticide residues.

Having used this range of certified organic products since becoming pregnant with my son, I felt confident that he would grow up in a household free from many of the toxic chemicals in many homes these days, giving him a better chance of a healthy life. Also, I nourish his body with healthy, organic food, probiotics and anti-oxidants which has resulted in him being very healthy and avoiding recurrent childhood illnesses such as ear infections.

If we can reduce the amount of toxic chemicals we use on and in our bodies and our homes, we and our children will be happier and healthier and future generations will thank us for stopping this vicious cycle which is destroying our bodies and our planet.

If you would like to know more about these products and the Australian company that makes them, have a look at this website http://www.eternalharmony.com/ or call Lucy on 0407 740 732.

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Doctrine of FOOD

Whole Food Signatures
A stupendous insight of civilizations past has now been confirmed by today's investigative, nutritional sciences. They have shown that what was once called "The Doctrine of Signatures" was astoundingly correct. Referred to in the classical period of Rome as the "Law of Similarities" it is now called by scientists, "Teleological Nutritional Targeting."
It now contends that every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater.
For example:
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye.
The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red.
The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart.
Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebelums.
Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuro- transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones.
These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Egg Plant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.
Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervicle cancers. And how profound is this? .... it takes exactly 9 months to grow an Avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 phytolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow.
Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mamary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like body cells.
Todays research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial lasyers of the eyes.
Bananas, Cucumber, Zuchini and more target the size and strengh of the male sexual organ. It's true!
Peanuts have a profound effect on the testicles and sexual libido.
Peanuts were banned as a food for males by the church during the middle ages. Most people don't realize that arginine, the main component of Viagra, comes from peanuts.

I am not against progression

Its just that i truly believe that somethings have been perfected over time, things that we trying to hamper with, to improve, to change. I suppose mainly I am talking about our food, but then this progression transcends everywhere. In an attempt to understand everything, we see an opportunity to change it, to put our own stamp on it, patent it.

My gripe is with food, nature has created truly amazing ways to nourish our bodies, everything that we need is obtained from the foods that we eat. Although the mechanisms are quite astonishing to understand, its quite simple in theory. All the nourishment we need we can get from the food that we eat providing that we have high quality organic foods, ample water, exercise, we don't need to fill our bodies with tablets full of vitamin c, or a or d......you see when we give our bodies what they need, they work how they are meant to.

And there is also a theory, a well studied one, that says if we poison our foods, we poison ourselves. Mass producing food is great in theory and it has served its purpose through time, but through education we know that there is a better way. Its allowing mother nature to grow as she has done for millions of years, its not implanting a capsicum with fish genes so that it will make it more resistant to pesticides. I think that instead of putting our focus onto how can we poison our environment and ourselves more, we should focus on how can we nourish ourselves and foster a sustainable environment.


So in changing our foods, through GM crops, of 'natural breeding', we change the natural make-up of these foods, and although the repercussion's wont be instantaneous, believe me they will be apparent in time. Did you know that the bees are dying in the US from the pesticides and exposure to GM crops, did you know that they are importing Australian bees to remedy this.... without the bees, there are no crops. I could seriously talk about this till the cows come home, but it seems we are poisoning them to, so maybe they won't.

There are things that we can all do, firstly know the power of your pocket, we vote with our money, we tell the companies what we want according to how we spend our money. So get conscious, is what you are purchasing sustainable? is it grown organically? has it been engineered in a lab?

Get vocal, get educated, think about it, talk about it... get feedback, make up your own mind, but get educated about it. Look at what is happening with Monsanto worldwide. Look what is happening in your own backyard? Did you know that some states in Australia(Victoria being one of them) have allowed for GM crops to be grown in our beautiful country....

I dont talk of this to scare you, but to empower you to make the best decisons for your body, your family and our planet.....


Consult your local council, check out the True food network, www.truefood.org.au
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Love your business

If you have your own business, a great resource to know about us a fantastic company called 'Love your business'. Inspiring, these guys help you take control of where you are at, and where you want to be. It's a fantastic ethical business, that aims to assist business owners get financially free. Check them out here http://www.loveyourbusiness.com/ , and while you are there sign up for the 30 day love your business challenge.

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DID YOU KNOW….

That the average food basket full of foods purchased in Victoria, travels twice the earth's circumference before it gets to you (40, 072kms). GO ORGANIC….GO LOCAL….

Gaballa s. and A Abraham food miles in Australia: A preliminary study in Melbourne. Victoria 2007 CERES

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Paw Paw

Referred to as the fruit of the angels by Christopher Colombus. The paw paw has been grown tropically for as long as history as recorded. These interesting plants are grown from seed and produce fruit within the first year.

Housing several unique protien digesting enzymes, papain and chymopapain. These amazing enzymes aid in digestion, help reduce inflammation and help provide relief and increase the healing time of burns. It can also be used to ail ecezma and dry skin.

These enzymes can also be used to tenderise meats. The seeds of the paw paw, can be eaten and have a peppery taste.

Paw paw is best eaten raw, high in Vitamin A, C and E. High in folic acid, potassium, carotenes, flavanoids, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and silicon.

To be real, I used to be scared of paw paw becuase it seemed to have an interesting smell about it, now I love it. Try some today....

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TAHINI CHOC CHIP COOKIES

Due to popular demand, here is the delicious recipe for the Tahini Choc Chip cookies, ENJOY.

TAHINI CHOC CHIP BISCUITS

2 cups ORGANIC rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1/2 cup ORGANIC light wholemeal flour
1/2 cup wholemeal flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup tahini
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2/3 cup ORGANIC raw sugar
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large ORGANIC FREE RANGEegg
1 large ORGANIC FREE RANGE egg white
1 tablespoon ORGANIC vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet or bittersweet ORGANIC chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped ORGANIC walnuts

1. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 180 c. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.

2. Whisk oats, flours, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat tahini and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until blended into a paste. Add sugar and brown sugar; continue beating until well combined—the mixture will still be a little grainy. Beat in egg, then egg white, then vanilla. Stir in the oat mixture with a wooden spoon until just moistened. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

3. With damp hands, roll 1 tablespoon of the batter into a ball, place it on a prepared baking sheet and flatten it until squat, but don't let the sides crack. Continue with the remaining batter, spacing the flattened balls 2 inches apart.

4. Bake the cookies until golden brown, about 16 minutes, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through. Cool on the pans for 2 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Let the pans cool for a few minutes before baking another batch.

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CHALLENGE YOURSELF

Its time to re-evaluate where you are and where it is that you want to go. Do you want to get healthy, fitter, stronger, smarter. Whatever it is that you desire can only come to life once you are aware and conscious. So armed with a pen and paper make some goals for the new year that will stretch your capabilities. If you are serious in achieving your goals, you must put in 100% commitment and decide that you will do whatever it takes to achieve them. Many do not have the commitment and hence they are not doing anything after they have set their goals. You know it very well that if you are not doing anything, you will never achieve anything. Goal setting will give you a map, a direction at least in which to head. Then the rest is about ACTION. Taking action in the direction of your dreams.

Time for a detox.

With spring nearly upon its a great time to spring clean the house and and the body. Marissa from MELBOURNE NATUROPATHIC WELLNESS, talks about detoxing.

The benefits of a detox program
Will You Benefit From a Detox?
Do you lead an incredibly busy life? Would you like to feel more healthy and alive? Would you like to look and feel younger? Would you like to have clearer skin? Would you like to have less body odour, bloating or flatulence? Do you want improved concentration and focus?

If you answered “Yes” to more than two of these questions then a detox program will benefit you. You won’t believe how great you can feel!

Why Do People Need a Detox?
Everyday 700,000 tonnes of chemicals and toxins are released into our environment. These chemicals and toxins can then be ingested through the food and drinks you consume, you may absorb them through your skin, and you may breathe them in. Lifestyle choices have a big impact on your body’s toxicity, with alcohol, smoking, fast food, artificial sweeteners and sweets particularly taking their toll. Yet even when living in the cleanest environment, your body produces its own toxins daily through normal processes. Your digestive system and liver need to neutralize and eliminate these toxins in order to keep you healthy and feeling your best. If your ability to process toxins is compromised, they can build up in your body, leaving you feeling tired, with headaches, aches and pains, prone to infections, body odour, digestive symptoms or experiencing many other effects. Reducing the toxins in your body can resolve many of these issues, leaving you healthier and happier.

What Does Detox Mean?
When you do a detox, you simply support your digestive system and liver in their ability to process toxins, allowing them to do the best possible job to keep you healthy. Unfortunately many of the detox packages that are available for purchase only do half the job – they support the liver, but do nothing for your digestive system. To get the greatest benefits, you need to follow a detox program that has been specifically designed to address your needs.

The Right Program for You
There is no one detox plan that suits everyone. Your detox program should be designed to suit your needs. You may need specific support for your stomach or intestinal digestion to help settle bloating and ensure you are absorbing the nutrients you are given. If you are on certain medications I will tailor your detox such that these are not adversely affected. A urine sample allows an accurate assessment of your digestive toxicity and to monitor your progress throughout the program. This way you’ll actually be able to see the detox difference as well as feeling better.

Delicious Detox Dining
Doing a detox does not mean eating dull, flavourless food. Recipes are available in a booklet as part of your detox package.
1800 606 256 to arrange a time to discuss how a detox will benefit you and to get started on your individualised program.

MELBOURNE NATUROPATHIC WELLNESSMarisa Camilleri - NaturopathMelbourne Suite 15 / 12 Collins St 9663 5940Williamstown 95 Douglas Parade 9397 7885marisa@naturopathicwellness.com.auhttp://www.naturopathicwellness.com.au/

* Specialist in Fat Loss, Wellness & Preventative care * Naturopathy * Herbal Medicine * Homeopathy * Nutritional & dietary advice * Ear candling * Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA),

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Global Clean up Project

Global Clean-up Project

The most profound changes start by our every day choices…




Date: Sunday, 23 Aug 09
Location 1:
Montrose Reserve
Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Melway Ref: Map 52 C-8

Co-ordinator: Rose Italiano
Contact: 0425-796-382
Date: 30 Aug 09

Location 2:
East Malvern Station
Sylvester Cr
Melway Ref: Map 69 B-1

Co-ordinator: Laurence Poncin
Contact: 0420-802-044

To attend please choose one of the locations listed.

Bring your gloves, a hat, drinking water, sunscreen, and please wear protective shoes.

Please bring your mobile phone with you and have it switched on.

· If you are unable to join us, you can take individual action collecting rubbish. Bags of trash you collect can be added to our global tally.


Many blessings and thank you for your participation.

Kind regards,
Rose Italiano
Global Clean-up Co-ordinator

“Leave every space more beautiful than you found it”
- Louix Dor Dempriey

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Beet packs a punch

Researchers at the University of Exter have found that drinking Beetroot juice increases oxygen supply to the muscles.

Researcher Andy Jones says: 'We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake, because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training..... Stunned by the results, these results indicate some of the benefits of a daily dose of beetroot juice, even surpasses those gained from strict training routines professional sportsmen follow.'

What this means is that a daily dose can help you exercise longer, and can lower your blood pressure...but wait there is more its good for you on so many other levels, high in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus and iron, minerals and photochemicals in beetroot help to resist infection, boost cellular intake of oxygen and treat blood, liver and immune system disorders. Beetroot stimulates the immune system by improving cell respiration and tissue oxygenation, by encouraging the production of new blood cells. This keeps the heart, muscles and nerves in good condition. Beetroot contains a high amount nitrogeneous compound betaine. In the diet, betaine rich foods are pharmacologically active and promote the synthesis of the mood enhancing chemical serotonin, which relaxes the mind. Betaine also helps in the cleansing of the stomach and the intestine.

So get into it...Try a beetroot, carrot, apple and celery juice. Try fresh organic grated beetroot in your salad or sandwhich. Use it where you can...Get healthy.

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Organic Meat.....its not just a treat

Ten good reasons to eat organic meat.
1. Free of antibiotics, added hormones, GMO feed and other drugs; no GMO animals
Animals raised organically are not allowed to be fed antibiotics, the bovine human growth hormone (rbGH), or other artificial drugs. Animals are also not allowed to eat genetically modified foods. Further, animal products certified as organic can not have their genes modified (for example, a scorpion gene cannot be spliced into a cow gene).
How: The animals are raised in a healthier environment, fed organic feed, and often eat a wider range of nutrients than those raised in factory farms (such as would be the case of free-range chickens and ranch cattle). The animals are not from a test tube.
Highlights: Organically raised animals have been shown to be significantly healthier than their factory-raised counterparts.
2. Mad cow safeguard: Animals aren’t forced to be cannibals. The practice of feeding cattle the ground up remains of their same species appears to cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a horrific disease that destroys the central nervous system and brain, can be given to humans who eat the cows. The disease in humans has a very long latency period, and is called Creutzfeld-Jakob disease.
How: Animals are fed 100 percent organic feed without ground up animal parts.
Highlights: By eating 100 percent organic meat you are protected by a label insuring the cow has only been fed 100 percent organic feed.
3. More humane, ethical treatment of animals Factory farms treat animals like commodities, and they are kept in tightly confined pens and often never move more than a few feet their whole lives.
How: Buy meat and eggs raised from chickens raised outdoors free ranging and grazing.
Highlights: Animals are more likely to be raised without cruelty.
4. Animals free-range and graze The words “free-range,” and “ranch raised” are clues that the animals were raised in a more humane way. Their diet tends to be more well-rounded; the animals are not confined and spend time outdoors in the fresh air.
How: Free range chickens eat more grubs and bugs than their industrially-raised counterparts; free range animals graze as they are inclined.
Highlights: Humane and ethical treatment of animals; more nutritious food.
5. Manure Small farms use it, industrial farms pollute with it.
How: On small, diverse farms, manure is used to naturally fertilize soil. Industrial farms produce so much manure, on the other hand, that it is a human health risk. The overspill of manure can contaminate wells with E. coli and other pathogens. In one region of North Carolina, for example, hog farms produce 10 million metric tons of waste annually.
Highlights: Sustainable farms use their manure productively as organic fertilizer. The manure is “pure,” coming from animals fed organic diets.
6. Animals are integral to small farms. Using animal manure is considered recycling of nutrients. No farm can cope with all the animal offspring, so selling some makes economic sense. Sustainable farms tend to provide and sell a range of products, and organic eggs and animal products would be included.
How: Most organic farms have a few cows, chickens, etc.
Highlights: The animals—many of diverse gene pools—serve a purpose besides providing food.
7. Fewer chemicals usedSynthetic pesticides and fertilizers are not used on the food or land. Residues of persistent chemicals such as DDT, PCBs, dioxin, and many pesticides concentrate in animal fat. Eating organic animal fat reduces your exposure to these chemicals.Farmers working on organic farms are exposed to fewer chemicals.
How: Organic agriculture works for a healthy balance of the soil, including using crop rotation and other techniques to improve soil fertility, instead of controlling the environment with chemicals. The animals are not fed food containing pesticides, and so the amount of persistent pesticides in their fat is reduced.
Highlights: Safeguards groundwater, farmers’ health, topsoil, habitats, and neighborhood health.
8. DiversityIndustrial farms rely on just a few species of cattle, chickens, pigs, etc., whereas small sustainable farms tend to raise a wider variety of livestock. Entire species of livestock can die out if they are not raised on farms.
How: Support our food supply by buying food representative of a wide gene pool. Every time you even buy a brown instead of a white egg you are helping to support diversity.
Highlights: Support diversity by supporting diversity on your local farms. Buy their milk, eggs, and meat.
9. Factory farms use huge amounts of resources. The factory farm industry is run with cheap, nonrenewable fossil fuel. Producing, transporting , processing, and marketing the food all depend heavily on it. Without cheap fuel, industrial agriculture would be impossible because it would be too expensive, notes organic farming expert Fred Kirschenmann. The heavy pesticide use on industrial farms contaminates groundwater and soil. Kirschenmann believes industrial farms are responsible for the loss of over half of U.S. topsoil.
How: Organic farms uses less energy with careful ecological management, and using natural ecological balances to solve pest problems. Buying animal products from local farms further reduces energy by reducing the amount of miles the food travels to your table.
Highlights: Organic farms use 70 percent less energy than industrial farms, and since they don’t use pesticides they help preserve ground water. The farming techniques of organic farms builds topsoil and doesn’t contribute to its erosion.
10. Your dollars support the farm you buy fromIf you buy your meat from an organic farmstand at a farmer’s market you support that farm. On the other hand, if you buy non-organic meat that isn’t local, free-range, or ranch-raised from a supermarket chain, you most likely support a multinational food conglomerate.
How: You can contribute to the well-being of your community by supporting small, local, diverse organic farms.
Highlights: Buying organic animal products is better for your health, your local community, and the larger community as a whole.

Article by Annie B Bond. Check her out here http://www.anniebbond.com/

ELIKA FOODS: stock many cuts of organic beef and lamb, roasts, as well as their very own homemade Sausages. They make a Organic Lamb,Honey & Rosemary sausage as well as a Beef- Bratwurst styled sausage. They only use natural skins for our sausages and they are also gluten free .
Their Pork comes from Otway and from this they make their own pork sausages.

Just recently they have introduced the following Free Range Small goods:
Bacon, Salami, Ham, Ham Hocks and Bacon Bones.

Go and check them out at Shop 2, 2 Clarendon street , Thornbury. Ph. 9416 - 8360

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Eat a rainbow

It's the colour of food that makes it amazing(along with the taste). Within each color are brightly coloured, disease-fighting phytochemicals called antioxidants. Studies suggest that single plant pigments need other phytochemicals within that plant and from others to provide all their benefits. Supplements do not offer the same protective benefits as foods. So the best way to get your complete vitamin dose is to eat a rainbow, eat as many natural foods as you can on your plate. The more colours, the more amazing antioxidants we provide for our bodies.

On a basic level, it does make more sense than eating a monochrome, all white dinner for example. Each group of antioxidants are represented by different colours, lets take carotenes for example, in our food they range in colour from deep yellow to deep red. Carotene acts as our defense mechanism to resist carcinogens. Carotenoids can offset the effects of exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and cigarette smoke and help the body to protect the body against sun damage.

The Reds, Purples and Blues
Top choices: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, saskatoon berries, cranberries, apples, cherries, pomegranates, red grapes, beets, red cabbage, black rice.

The antioxidants in these are very potent, work as an anti-inflammatory . They rid the body of free radicals and cytokines, which have been linked with neural and cellular breakdown from aging.

Orange reds, tomatoes, papayas, pink grapefruit, watermelon, guava, red peppers

Lycopene and carotene rich foods may substantially reduce your risk of lung cancer, as well as other cancers. (Adding some oil, when serving them will make it easier for your body to absorb lycopene. )

The Greens
Top choices: spinach, cos lettuce avocados, broccoli, asparagus, watercress, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts

Green chlorophyll has disease-fighting, but it's the yellow under-pigment, lutein, in leafy greens that really benefits eye health. Eyes absorb lutein which protects them from light and free radical damage

Dark leafy vegetables, like spinach and broccoli, help build resistance to colon cancer.

So go and sing a rainbow, better yet, eat a rainbow.

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"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." (Ancient Chinese Proverb)

Try some green tea today; studies have shown that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol and inhibits the abnormal formation of blood clots. If thats not enough of a reason to enjoy a cuppa, Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay...

If you don't like the taste, try brewing with peppermint, lemon myrtle, rooibos or whichever tea you do like the taste of. For the best tasting tea, brew for a maximum of 3 minutes.

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Moods, moods, moods

Are the Blues Getting you Down?
Have you been feeling sad or unhappy? Are you finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? Do you feel like you just can’t face another day? Do you burst into tears at the smallest thing? Have you noticed friends and family are avoiding you or walking on egg shells around you?

Occasional Low Moods are Normal
Whilst it is normal to feel like this occasionally, there are people whose lives can become engulfed by a constant dark cloud of negative feelings and low moods. These people may also find that their mood can affect their appetite, sleeping patterns and general health.

Many People Struggle with Low Moods
The heart breaking news is that there are at least one million people in Australia that have been diagnosed with a mood disorder. The good news is that naturopathic medicine may provide some options for you if you are struggling with low moods.

What Affects our Moods?
It seems the world today is so much busier; many of us are working longer hours and not spending enough time looking after ourselves. Throw in financial problems and relationship issues and it’s easy to see how our emotions can become affected. However, did you know that diet, being overweight, hormonal imbalances and even chronic pain can contribute to the spiral of sadness? These things can upset the delicate chemical balance within our brains, so it is essential to address these factors if you have mood problems. Fortunately, MNW may bring you back into balance with a range of well researched management programs and nutritional and herbal medicines designed to address mood disorders, and may help to resolve any driving factors.

Lifting the Dark Clouds
When it comes to helping people maintain their moods, MNW believes quite strongly that one shoe doesn’t fit all; this is why we manage each person individually. We use well researched natural medicines that may be very effective for helping people with low moods (see below).

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and SAMe
5-HTP is a nutrient derived from the amino acid tryptophan. SAMe is a substance that is naturally made in our bodies. These two nutrients may be useful to support normal functioning of our brain and nervous system. Both 5-HTP and SAMe may help to correct imbalances in your neurotransmitters or ‘brain chemicals’. This may help to improve anxiety, irritability and that overwhelming chocolate or sweet craving that you get when you are sad!

St John’s Wort
Another popular herb has many beneficial actions for maintaining healthy moods. Scientific studies have shown that it can help to regulate many of our ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. In doing so, it may help improve mental health. Did you know that St John’s Wort can interact with some conventional medications? As your Naturopath I can help determine whether St John’s Wort is suitable for your needs.

The Importance of Good Diet and Regular Exercise
As well as Natural Medicines it is important that we look at your diet and lifestyle. Poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle can exacerbate the effect that stress and low moods has on your body. At MNW we have a number of dietary and exercise plans that we can advise you on to help you eat well and feel better, creating a lasting change and true wellness.

Other Important Management Strategies
Other recommendations we could discuss to help you better manage your moods include counseling, relaxation techniques, meditation, support systems (people with strong social support systems experience fewer physical and emotional upsets) and life goals (having a firm purpose in life is associated with the tendency to have less anxiety and a lower incidence of depression).

If you, or somebody you know is feeling down, then it is a good idea to make an appointment. MNW may offer you real solutions to help improve your mood and overall wellbeing.



MELBOURNE NATUROPATHIC WELLNESSMarisa Camilleri - NaturopathMelbourne Suite 15 / 12 Collins St 9663 5940Williamstown 95 Douglas Parade 9397 7885marisa@naturopathicwellness.com.auhttp://www.naturopathicwellness.com.au/

* Specialist in Fat Loss, Wellness & Preventative care * Naturopathy * Herbal Medicine * Homeopathy * Nutritional & dietary advice * Ear candling * Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA)

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