Love oh love! 

... the mystery, the giddy excitement, the contentment, the pain, the pleasure.

A special friend sent me this piece on "The Capacity to Love" and I thought it was beautiful enough to share with you all. 

"The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love.  It may look paradoxical to you but it is not. It is an existential truth: only those persons who are capable of being alone are capable of love, of sharing, of going into the deepest core of the other person- without possessing the other, without reducing the other to a thing and without becoming addicted to the other.  They allow the other absolute freedom, because they know that if the other leaves, they will be as happy as they are now.  Their happiness cannot be taken away by the other, because it is not given by the other.

Then why do they want to be together?  It is no longer a need; it is a luxury.  Try to understand it.  Real persons love each other as a luxury: it is not a need.  They enjoy sharing: they have so much joy, they would like to pour
it into somebody.  And they know how to play their life as
a solo instrument.  The solo flute player knows how to enjoy his flute alone.  And if he comes and finds a tabia player, they will enjoy being together and creating a harmony between the flute and the tabia.  Both will enjoy it: they will both pour their richness into each other."

Can the capacity to be alone be the capacity to love, how closely does this tune in to: to love others you must first be able to love yourself?  I invite you to share your thoughts with us...

Dangers of Multi-tasking while you are eating.

Yes, there really are reasons not to multi-task while you are eating, and this week I was alerted to another, almost as a reminder for me to obey this really important guideline.  Keep reading for a bit of a SHOCK!

So one of the really important principles of optimum nutrition is: how you are eating.

Let me explain.  The way you eat, where you eat and the state you are in while you are eating will all affect how your body receives food.
Let's consider for example that you are having a particularly stressful day and then you grab a bite to eat on the run, wolf it down and keep going.  What is happening in your body at that time is going to make it really difficult for you to digest and utilise those nutrients.
When your body is in a stress state, it is in fight or flight mode, lots is happening at this time, but one important thing is blood is circulating away from your digestive tract, to areas where your body thinks it needs it more at that time, i.e. arms and legs for running or fighting! 

So, when you eat, ensure that you are fully present and aware.  Take time out to just enjoy nourishing your body and nurturing yourself.

And here's my confession... one morning last week I got up and made myself a bowl of muesli as part of my usual "get up and ready for the day" routine.  I usually will then sit outside and eat my breakfast, soaking up the morning rays.  On this particular morning, running a little late and having one of those "I have too much to do today" days, I decided to "just quickly check my emails" over breakfast.  You know, multi-tasking!  Super efficiency.

So I am scooping spoonfuls of muesli into my mouth, my delicious home made muesli, eyes firmly affixed to the screen, when all of a sudden my body goes cold.  My mouth has exploded with this pop of something rotten.  The most disgusting putrid taste has spread around my mouth and I can smell it in my nose.  I spit out my mouthful in a flash but it is too late and the gag reflex hits.  I run to the kitchen and rinse my mouth out... trying desperatelly to get rid of the taste and the smell.  Horror, my mind is racing... "what have I eaten, what have I eaten?" and all the instincts that we have signalled an alert through my body.  Fortunately I didn't throw up but instead sat in a dazed confused state for a few minutes... not a pleasant welcome to the day.

So I pluck up the courage to sift through my muesli determined to unearth the intruder... my mind is racing trying to figure out what it could be.  I am looking for a piece of meat, or a fly or something.  And then I see it... a worm shell... I say shell, because it is a flat and empty worm all its insides have oozed out and a trickle of black remains.  There was a worm in my muesli!  Now that is actually probably a good thing.  It means it is certainly organic and probably pretty fresh... so I don't want to put you off your breakfast, BUT because I wasn't watching what I was putting in my mouth, I didn't SEE it before I ate it!  And that was just Nasty!

I certainly won't be doing that again.  Multi-tasking while I am eating!  EEEiiiuuuuuu, what a horrible way to learn that lesson.  But I am pleased to say that I still enjoy my muesli now, I won't be defeated by a meagre worm, I just pay more attention to what I am eating... which only enhances digestion, and the whole nourishment process!

Movember... what's it all about?

Your prostate and how to look after it.

Mention the word prostate and most men find themselves clenching their butt cheeks together, imagining the horrors of the Digital Rectal Examination.  It is probably one the most powerful words for rendering a quiver or a shiver out of a man... prostate!

So what is a prostate and what does it do?

The prostate is a small (weighs about 20-25g and is about 2-4cm in length) walnut shaped gland situated at the base of the bladder, and in front of the rectum.  It produces fluid that makes up part of semen, the nutrient rich white stuff that carries sperm. 

So why all the horror associated with it?

Prostate cancer is relatively common amongst older men.  In fact about 80% of men that live beyond 80 will usually have some form of prostate disesase.  Often though, many of these men have never suffered with symptoms of the disease and prostate cancer itself will not always increase mortality risk. 

Risk of Prostate disease will increase after the age of 50.
Symptoms to look out for would include:

• painful urination or ejaculation,
• frequent urges to urinate,
• low back pain,
• a weak stream of urine,
• small amoutns of blood in your urine,
• when you have finished urinating having the sense that you still need to go, but cant

Testing for prostate disease:

There are two diagnostic tests currently in use: the Digital Rectal Examination (where a physician inserts a finger up the anus to physically examine the prostate gland) or a blood test looking for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). 

Ways to improve prostate health:

There are a number of ways to improve the health of your prostate, here are 5.

1. Increase your intake of Italian tomato sauces.  Lycopene:  the substance that gives tomatoes and watermelon their red colour is powerfully protective for both prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.  Lycopene is best absorbed when immersed in oil rather than water, hence eating it as tomato sauces rather than just eating more raw tomatoes.
2. Eat more broccoli and cauliflower.  Studies show a reduction in risk of prostate cancer in men who ate cruciferous vegetables more than once a week. 
3. Eat more vegetable protein especially soya.  Soya contains isoflavones which have been found to be protective against cancer.
4. Get out in the sunshine for at least 20 minutes mid morning.  Deficiencies in vitamin D have been linked with increased risks of cancer especially prostate cancer in men.
5. Consider Supplementation.  The following supplements have been found to be effective in both prevention and treatment of prostate cancer: saw palmetto, zinc, selenium, B vitamins especially B6 and antioxidants such as vitamin C and E.

Go on, be proactive, take good care of your prostate!

Please feel free to email us any questions you may have!

 

 

 

 

...can we learn something?

I just got back from a wonderful visit to South Africa, and I so enjoyed hanging out with my father (David Alcock) and checking out his latest renewable energy and rural development projects.

Our first stop was the sustainable living organic gardening projects, which he has been involved in for a number of years.  My father builds and installs rampumps in rural areas, so that the villagers don't have to walk for miles to get water (a rampump is a clever little pump that uses gravity and pressure to pump water up hill from a stream or river).   

It was wonderful to see the rampumps in use, the water is pumped into big plastic tanks (rudimentary reservoirs) and this water is then used to irrigate large gardens in which gorgeous fresh organic vegetables are grown.  Enough vegetables are grown to feed surrounding families and often extra is available to sell.  The hard part is getting the extra produce to market though, the areas are quite remote, so transport is a challenging obstacle. 

It is exciting to see the innovation and commitment of all involved and how much has been achieved over the years, small changes that have made a big difference to some.


Another of my fathers projects is Biogas, which I just think is ingenious- using "fart gas" for fuel!  He installs big methane "digesters" which he diverts sewerage pipes to, so that collect faeces which releases methane gas, this methane gas can then be used for fuel.  I have watched how small little rural communities are able to use this fuel to then cook with, a free energy source.  His latest project has now moved into suburban areas.  Here is a picture of him standing proudly on a digester he has installed in someone's backyard.  The way of the future!  Free energy!

Some of his other projects include grey water recycling and making fertilizer at the sewerage works.  When my father is around, nothing is wasted!!!


It was amazing to see how little people can survive on, and I was really encouraged to see how much is possible with a few resources, imagine how much we could achieve with the resources we have at our disposal!

Help! I don't want to take medication or drugs,
but I do want to do the responsible thing...
What do I need to ask my doctor?

So you have gone to see your doctor for a check up or because you have been experiencing pain or discomfort.  They send you off for some blood tests which come back with bad news for you!  All the "bad" things are too high and all the "good" things are too low! 

Help! What can you do now?  You are panicked, the doc says, unless we act fast and drastically there are going to be devastating consequences... and this implies death!  Some of them may even go as far as discussing the implications of your death, the responsibility you have as a parent: "What will happen to your children or your family if you die?!" 

The reality is they are right, often drastic action is needed.  Something has got to give and something has to change... but what?  Will taking a host of drugs REALLY fix the problem or address the root cause of the illness, disease, discomfort?  Will it make it better or will it make it go away? Or will it just mean that a few months or years down the line something else pops up that will then also need to be addressed... and may even be linked or caused by the initial course of chosen action?

If you have been diagnosed with "High Cholesterol" or "High Blood Pressure" or "Type II diabetes" or "Cancer" or "Depression" or some other common disease or popular label, that will feel pretty scary.  What you need to know is that there are many different ways to treat and "cure" (be devoid of symptoms and living a normal life) these, with varying degrees of success.  Different models will address different aspects of you all are important: some models may focus on your physical body, other "less mainstream" approaches include mental wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, and spiritual wellbeing.  It is my opinion that all four are important and need to be addressed in varying degrees.

The four questions you need to ask your doctor before
agreeing to taking any drugs/medication

So you have been given a disease label.  What can you do next? As your doc discusses your treatment options, i.e. you need to take the following medication, I encourage you to ask four questions: (Remember: BRAN)
What are the Benefits?
What are the Risks?
What are the Alternatives?
What happens if I take Nothing?

I am not suggesting for a second that you should be irresponsible, many of these conditions are very serious, your body is communicating with you, it is saying: "Help, we have a problem!", and absolutely there is a time and place for medication.  What I am suggesting is that there are many solutions, for example there are natural alternatives and many positive lifestyle changes you could also be making that will bring you GREATER results and a HASTENED recovery and health worth celebrating.  Many of the solutions are SIMPLE!  (All that is required is a desire to feel, be, look different coupled with courage, discipline and commitment.)

They include: 

• Eating whole fresh food most closely resembling it's natural form.  Get your copy of 23 Healthy Living Nutrition Tips.
• Getting Regular exercise: Some fun exericise options.
• Allowing yourself to get in touch with and experience your emotions, listen to yourself and what's important to you, taking time out to just be and connecting with God / Spirit.  There are lots of ways to do this including, meditation, contemplative prayer, yoga, pilates, love, belief, gratitude and praise.

We would love to hear your questions and comments and to help support you in any way we can. Ask us about alternatives you might be able to consider! Please post a comment or Contact Us.

Wishing you health worth celebrating!

I have just got back from a month in the UK, it would have been remiss of me not to explore the food scene while there and report back some of the highlights! English Summer time! My girlfriends and I spent a day at the UK’s biggest pick your own farm… it is summer there now, so we feasted on glorious berries of all varieties fresh from the vines… so delicious! We filled punnets with fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries (that left our fingers stained purple), sugar snap peas, beans and more. We picked bright yellow sunflowers to brighten up the house and remind us of sunny days (necessary in the London! ☺). This day was not only fun-filled it was the essence of a healthy day out… titillating for the senses, and so nourishing for body, mind and spirit. Being out in nature, gathering food from the vine like our ancestors, talking with friends, absorbing vitamin D from the sun, taking in the fresh air, getting some exercise as you walk the fields. It reminded me of my childhood days hanging out on the farm. Did you know that eating tree or vine ripened fruit is the best way to enjoy fruit, it is the only time you can ensure maximum freshness and nutritive value, the fruit is bursting with enzymes that are still alive, nutrients that are mature and the body can receive it easily. A great family day out and a great day out with the mates: pack some supplies and enjoy a picnic feast of all your pickings… Where are “pick your own’s” in Australia? You can pick your own strawberries, at Strawberry Lane in Eumundi! Or check out: www.pickyourown.org/australia.htm Good food in London: Other highlights included visiting Jamie Oliver’s Recipease shop in Clapham… lots of gorgeous food, and a wonderful demonstration kitchen running daily cooking workshops. Wow, my mother treated me to a rather sinful and totally decadent Almond Croissant. I wish I could say it tasted awful, quite the opposite! It was gorgeous. But probably my favourite find was a small little restaurant in Walthamstow, called Eat 17, which featured a Quinoa salad! Quinoa, goat’s cheese and grilled mushroom. Absolutely scrumptious! Quinoa is an ancient South American grain that is jam packed with nutrition, it contains a full essential amino acid profile, it is a complex carbohydrate (so that means it is low GL) and it is wonderfully versatile. I eat it as porridge, for lunch in salads and at dinner as an accompaniment to stir-fry and stew. (You can find out how to make it into yummy meals in our cooking parties). Edinburgh: I earned my degree in Edinburgh, so headed there for a trip down memory lane. A few surprises awaited! I stumbled upon a little café called “Oink”, the window display featured a whole golden brown pig… cooked, perky little tail up and head still on! They served hot roast pork butties. Certainly a hit for the carnivores out there! In contrast the shop next door looked like a little chemistry lab with big glass bottles lining the shelves. Beside the bottles where little hand written signs detailing the contents… The potions ranged from Home brewed Elderberry Gin to Extra Virgin Olive oil. I delighted my tastebuds sampling the different liquids. All in all some wonderful meanderings!                  

How can you tell if you are healthy? Do you know your vital statistics? What if there was a way to get the heads up on disease or impending disaster in your body before it hit? Of course there is, your body communicates with you all the time... but how do you read the signals you are receiving? How many of your vital statistics do you know? And do you know what they say about your body? Do this quick quizz to see how many of your vital statistics you know? What is your waist measurement? What is your waist to hip ratio? What is the healthy range? What is your homocysteine score? What is the ideal score and what are the risks associated with elevated homocysteine levels? What is your cholesterol ratio of HDL to LDL? What is the ideal ratio? Have you ever had your blood sugar levels tested? What was your fasting glucose? How is your blood pressure? If you don't know any of these, don't worry, there is no need to feel overwhelmed, but consider the power and heads up you now have. You can go to your doctor and ask him to investigate some of these for you. When you know what your health score is, you can then work to improve it. Know this: Most disease is preventable, there is no need for you to suffer or be in pain, find out your vital stats this week, and get that piece of mind that comes with being proactive and taking care of yourself. Other signs you can look out for to detect warnings of ill health: Ridges or dents in your nails; slits, lines and coatings on your tongue; cracks in the corner of your mouth; dark circles under your eyes; bad breath; loose unformed stools; stools with blood or mucous in them; congested sinuses; pain in joints; headaches, dizziness; ringing in your ears. If you have any of these symptoms and want to know what they mean or you would like to explore any of your results in detail, please contact us with your queries, we would love to help you to achieve health worth celebrating! Some interesting links: Waist to hip Ratio: what it means for beauty and health How do you measure up? Blood sugar Control: what you need to know about testing

Many of us will experience an adverse reaction to a particular food or substance at some point in our lives. Allergies and food sensitivities appear to be on the increase. Is there really an increase in incidence or is there merely an increased awareness? With modern diets what they are, it is quite probable there is an increase, many people are taking in substances that are foreign to the body, e.g. artificial additives, preservatives, colorants, moulds and fungi, these chemical toxins and poisins wreak havoc in the body and can compromise the body's immunity, in addition to this many people do not eat a balanced diet which means they are missing key essential nutrients (eg. amino acids, vitamins) so may not be able to synthesize the necessary enzymes for digesting particular foods. Both of these factors can contribute to allergies and food sensitivities or intolerances. How serious are they? Food allergies tend to be very serious and can be life threatening, food intolerances can lead to malnutrition and dramatically affect the quality of life of the individual. Here is a short article that looks at the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance... Allergies and Food intolerances Where can you get help? Booking an appointment with a nutritionist, dietitian or even a naturapath can be a great place to start. They can advise you on what tests you need to have done, if any, and some of them will even perform their own tests. They will help you to isolate possible suspect foods or substances and can also help you to manage your allergies and food sensitivites and still maintain a balanced diet, once you know what they are. You can go directly to your GP and request allergy or food intolerance tests first, they will write a referral for you to have tests at a local lab (These are covered by medicare). Once you have your results you could book in with a nutritionist or dietitain who can then offer further guidance and support. Whatever you do, don't ignore allergies or food intolerances, the symptoms and destruction on the body only tend to get worse. It is best to seek professional help so that you are supported as you explore whether the foods you are eating are making you ill. This is what people who have eliminated their trigger foods have said: "I do not know myself now, I feel great, I have lost weight, I have more energy, and it was just a matter of creating some new habits. At the time it felt like hard work, but I would never go back now, it was worth the effort and I just love feeling this great, I didn't know what I was missing." How can you find out more? For more help or guidance on allergies or food sensitivities Contact Us

 Well, it's that time of year again, when colds, flu, the sniffles and "getting sick" becomes the trend.  And now that swine flu is on everyone's lips there is additional concern. The great news is that there is no need for you to sing that song!  There are lots of things you can be doing to keep your immune system strong and your body in tip top health all through winter (and in fact all year long).  Here are 5 things you can do to keep your immune system strong this winter:

1. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day. This may sound too simple and obvious, but it is the easiest way to get a cocktail of key vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes and phytonutrients that work as little immunity soldiers defending your territory against invaders.  Enjoy seasonal fruits: so some examplesof winter options are oranges (and citrus fruits), avocados, pumpkin and butternut.   [caption id="attachment_469" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Eat plenty fresh fruit and vegetables"][/caption]  
2. Spend a little time in the sun everyday if you can.  Vitamin D is vital for your immune system... and for feeling good through the sometimes gloomy winter.  To be most beneficial, you need to expose at least your face, hands and arms (at least 3/4 of your arm, so beyond your elbows) and you want to be in the morning or afternoon sun... between 10 and 11am or between 2 and 3pm, for about 20 minutes, without sunblock!  (And no, this is not irresponsible exposure.)  So enjoy your morning or afternoon teabreak outside, or make an excuse to go for a quick walk at that time.
3. Keep your home and office well ventilated.  It can be tempting to keep doors and windows shut to try and keep out the cold out and the warmth in... but the problem is you also create a wonderful breeding ground for bacteria, moulds and keep a lot of the "undesirables" in. 
4. Supplement 1000mg of Vitamin C everyday (take it in the Ester C or non-acidic form). You can increase this dose safely anytime you feel stressed or a tickle or sniffle.  (1000mg every hour or two, 2000mg to 8000mg over the day or until bowel tolerance-  you get a runny tummy). 
5. Manage your stress levels, take time out and get enough sleep!  Stress wreaks havoc with your immune system, it not only weakens your immune system, but also delays your ability to heal. 

Here is a yummy pumpkin soup recipe for you.

Nutrition Tools: Understanding Carbohydrates