Innehållsförteckning för Issue162 från WellBeing

This editorial took a long time to write. When I say “a long time”, I don’t mean an hour — I mean weeks. It’s not that I haven’t had anything to write about; in fact, quite the opposite. In recent times there has been a lot happening for my daughters, my wife and even me. There has been no shortage of events to inspire a philosophical rant in our household, yet every time I came to write about them, the words just would not flow. Usually, these pieces are a stream of consciousness (as you can probably tell, to your pain) as this one is now. So what is so different now from all my previous attempts? The answer is that I waited. In our positivity fuelled, 24/7, “you can…

CONVERSATION POINTS Reflect honestly on what your story is — the story that is true for you, not the story you want others to believe about yourself. @CarlGreer Buying Local = Fresher Food, Supporting Your #Local Economy, Food Security and Building Community @wrobertsfood I’m a huge fan of #switchoffsunday, which is no social media or mobile! @KateDavies_UK If you feel joy, if you are kind and if you spread a little light each day, people will feel that — and be moved by your presence alone. @DanaGlasenapp Pursue material things and life is diminished. Pursue meaning and life becomes expansive in every way. @ruthlimkin The best diet is one suited to the individual, their specific needs, goals and what phase of life they are in. Let’s not follow a fad.…

If you’ve been cooking since day dot and have used many pans in that time, you would know that not all frying pans are created equal. And, if you’ve read media reports on the health risks of cooking with Teflon-coated non-stick pans, you’d be aware that not all pans are healthy: substances in the material your cookware is made of can leach into food and so enter your body. If you’re unfamiliar with the above, however, and need a good pan, this review’s for you. I’ve taken three frying pans for a tour of my gas stovetop in the space of a fortnight to see how they stack up. Please note: this hasn’t been a very scientific test. Each pan is made from different materials and varies slightly in design,…

The Happiness Institute believes that achieving happiness requires nothing more than practising a few simple disciplines every day: C = Clarity (of goals, direction and life purpose). Happy people set clear goals and determine clear and specific plans to ensure these goals become reality. H = Healthy Living (activity and exercise, diet and nutrition, and sleep). Health forms a crucial part of the foundation to happiness. So do whatever you can to be healthy and you’ll also boost your chances of being happy. O = Optimism (positive but realistic thinking). There’s no doubt that happy people think about themselves, others and the world differently. Among other things, they search for more positives. O = Others (the key relationships in your life). Research strongly indicates that happy people have both more…

Tasmanian devils are important Although the Tasmanian devil is primarily associated with The Apple Isle, the fossil record shows they once roamed the Australian mainland until becoming extinct after the introduction of the dingo around 1000 years ago. It was Tasmania’s isolation from dingo populations that allowed the devils to survive on the island. Australia currently has the worst mammalian extinction rate on Earth, with 29 species lost and many more listed as threatened with extinction. Tasmania stands in contrast to this trend with only the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, which was hunted to extinction in 1936, lost. Ecologists believe the decline and potential extinction of the Tasmanian devil population in their home state would be disastrous for the natural environment and local agriculture. Many think the position of the…

Although too little sleep can cause all kinds of health fallout, that doesn’t mean that getting plenty of sleep is much better for you. Here’s the rundown on common sleep levels and how they affect health: Six hours or less. Research at the University of Chicago has found that sleeping less than six hours a night causes a 40 per cent drop in sensitivity to insulin, which increases your risk of developing weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes — all conditions that can shorten your life. Seven to eight hours. Most experts consider this the optimal level of sleep and it should lead you to wake feeling rested and ready for the day ahead. Eight to nine hours or more. People who sleep more than eight…

The New Moon has long been recognised as a potent symbol of beginnings. In fact, astrologer Jan Spiller, whose book New Moon Astrology helped popularise the idea of a New Mooninspired vision board, says, “The New Moon is a time that promotes all forms of growth. I coined the term ‘New Moon Power Days’ to describe the days of the monthly New Moon and their strength for making wishes.” Astrology is a vast and sometimes technical craft, but you can access the power of astrology simply, through the New Moon and the annual cycles of key timing planets like Jupiter and Saturn. One simple act of lunar living involves starting a new project or undertaking on the day of, or the day right after, the New Moon. This helps infuse…

Getting there By train is the nostalgic way to see Alaska. The Denali Star runs daily to the park entrance from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Breathtaking scenery glides past the large picture windows and three classes of service are available, including a dome gold-star carriage. alaskatravel.com/alaska-railroad Staying there Camp Denali is an all-inclusive experience for either a three-, four- or seven-night stay. Camp Denali’s sister property North Face Lodge is located down the hill. Same philosophy, food, level of service and guides — minus “the” view but plus ensuites. campdenali.com If a backcountry experience doesn’t appeal, the area around the park entrance, often called “Glitter Gulch”, offers a large range of accommodation. Research carefully and book well in advance. Grande Denali Lodge is big but away from the hype, is privately…

You may not see or smell them, but the effects of environmental pollutants in a home can have devastating consequences on the health of the occupants. “Today, I put on my detective’s hat and interview the sick and pale-looking family before conducting a thorough inspection of the site. Beneath the master bedroom is a row of meter panels that service the multistorey apartment building, which may explain the insomnia the couple have experienced since moving there. The daughter’s room has visible mould above the skirting board near the bedside table, which I later confirm to be rising damp from a recent plumbing leak, and her carpets are stained with pet urine thanks to a previous tenant who had five indoor cats. No wonder her asthma is worse! “I pull out…

EVERESCENTS STYLING CREAM The Universal Styling Cream by EverEscents is the perfect organic hairstyling product as it can be used all year round in our Australian climate. The luxurious cream formula can provide smooth, shiny hair when using a hairdryer and can also be used to accentuate beautifully natural, soft curls. W: everescents.com.au NATULIQUE NATULIQUE has signed up as a partner to HUMANE SOCIETY International and supports the Be Cruelty-Free campaign, the largest multinational effort in history to end animal testing for cosmetics. NATULIQUE will continue to promote and engage support for HSI. W: natulique.com.au VITAMIN A & C ACTIVE SERUM Formulated by a naturopath, this Purity Organics serum is an intensive age repairer and wrinkle minimiser with potent natural vitamin actives that revitalise and oxygenate the skin. It contains…

SALLY MATHRICK is a practising naturopath who runs Sparkle Wellness & Detox, delivering detox information, online courses and fasting retreats. For more details, see sparklewell.com.au and soundmedicine.com.au. Fasting uses up the easy accessible energy of the body, and then releases and burns fat instead of glucose. Fasting is challenging. Other diets are easier to market because there is an object to sell. For example, in diets that are “alkaline”, “anti-inflammatory”, “Paleolithic” or for your “blood type”, there is a type of food to focus on and you get to eat it. In fasting, there isn’t any food. Fasting is about dealing with the void. It’s about emptiness and being more present and in the now. There are no diversions. There is nothing to buy. “Eat less.” “Restrict yourself.” “Self-impose a…

TAURUS Lover Venus ensures extra social satisfaction in May, with May 1–9 excellent for collaborative events. Your true new start — Taurus New Moon on May 7 — is made potent by the psychological empowerment of Pluto. This new lunar year, visions will unfold, with ready support. Mercury is retrograde, however, so the promise of early May takes until May 31 to find its rhythm. If plans seem to stall around Jun 10, act from Jun 28 to mid-July. GEMINI When Mercury is “retro”, Apr 29 to May 22, forget new projects. Focus on background design work and detecting flaws in plans or agreements. May 22 is a Full Moon, boosting practicality and adding enthusiasm to partnerships. Since Gemini New Moon Jun 5 is aligned with Venus, love and affection…

Recently, I rediscovered music. It happened unexpectedly, via my brother; music plays in his family home like the soundtrack to a movie — a happy one. Come morning and the radio helps spark the day into motion. After work, it’s mellow acoustic guitar with my talented bro on the pick, and when people come over to visit the playlist matches — and helps set — the mood. The music is unobtrusive but ever present, and it accents their lives so beautifully. Staying at their place recently reminded me of just how powerfully music — sound — can affect your state of being. And it brought home with a melodious thwack just how little I listen to it (particularly since the car radio decided to stop working, but that’s another story…

EXERCISE CHANGES GUT BACTERIA In this study, it was found that young rats that exercised every day developed a more beneficial gut flora than their more sedentary counterparts. These exercising young rats also had a better gut flora than adult rats who exercised. We know that microbes take up residence in the gut shortly after birth and are central to the development of the immune system and various neural functions. These gut bugs can add as many as 5 million genes to your overall genetic profile and have an immense influence on your physiology and even your psychology. According to this research, the gut flora is much more plastic at a young age than it is as an adult and it seems that exercise has beneficial effects. With children increasingly…

Glucomannan is a water-soluble polysaccharide and a component of cell walls in many plants. It has multiple uses, both in industry as well as in human health. In the food industry, it’s used as an emulsifier and a thickener. Research has shown that it can be used as a dietary fibre for constipation. This soluble fibre also helps with weight loss in obesity, blood-sugar regulation in hyperglycaemia (diabetes) and in reducing high cholesterol. SOURCES Sources of the hemicellulose glucomannan are various roots, seeds and woods. Plus, glucomannan is a constituent of bacterial, plant and yeast cell walls. The common commercial source is from the roots (corms) of the konjac plant but it is also obtained from the roots of certain orchids such as the Voodoo orchid. The seeds of the…

You’ve lived an interesting life. Please share your story. I grew up in rural WA in the 50s with my family. We lived a simple, self-sustainable life surrounded by chooks, bees, goats and a fruit and vegie garden. I had an unstructured, free-range childhood, exploring the endless bush, river and creeks from dawn till dusk and pursuing whatever adventure unfolded. This sowed the seeds for my love of the environment and organic, sustainable living. I had an informal education at our local bush school and become a teacher in the Pilbara region, in a time where life was very free and easy. I relished the natural beauty and open spaces around me, stepping almost daily into the pristine waters off Exmouth’s Ningaloo Reef and slipping into an incredible underwater world.…

Do you believe that multitasking is the key to success and productivity? Do you pride yourself on your ability to “do it all”? You might think you’re saving time multitasking, but are you really? With ever-increasing distractions day and night with social media, email, phone calls, text messages and 24-hour news coverage, the opportunity to be busy and engaged all hours of the day is a real temptation. With all this engagement and pressure to be “across it all”, what is the real cost of constant stimulation and multitasking on your brain? Does multitasking enhance or hinder your productivity, health and happiness? LESS IS MORE You may be surprised to learn that neuroscience is now revealing that, by multitasking, not only are you being inefficient but you’re severely exhausting your…

Imagine that the label on your moisturiser read: “As you apply this cream, appreciate your body for all the things it does for you.” What if the instructions on your facial cleanser were: “Apply to the grime in your mind’s eye that seeks out your flaws rather than celebrates your individuality.” How much would these reminders enhance your beauty? A lot, it seems. For a growing body of research is proving that changing your mind, rather than changing your body, can truly give your self-image a makeover. It’s a beauty therapy many would benefit from, especially women. BODY IMAGE Decades of body image research tells us that most females don’t like their bodies — for some reason, at some stage. Sixty eight per cent of adult women within the healthy…

My heart is going pitterpatter. I can hardly contain my elation. An hour out of Bangkok, we’re cruising at 36,000 feet — on our way to heaven. Mount Everest is coming up on our left. HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck of Bhutan is sitting right in front of me. He turns. His soft brown eyes sparkle when he recognises me. “We met four years ago in Washington DC,” I remind him. “I am just returning from there,” he says. “It is my first time out of the country since we met.” “Uh oh,” I chuckle. This is not a coincidence, I think. “Ahh, there is a reason we are meeting again.” He shoots me a mischievous grin as if he’s read my mind. On our way to celebrate his father’s…

Buy organic. By supporting farming that is free from pesticides, you’re supporting healthy bees free of the effects of neonics (as well as saving yourself from ingesting insecticides). Get bee-wise. Watch docos such as More than Honey (2012), Queen of the Sun (2010) and The Vanishing of the Bees (2009) and TED talks such as No Bees, No Food by John Miller (2014) and Why Bees are Disappearing by Marla Spivak (2013). Read books like The Bee Book by Ann Cliff, published by Manna Press. Make your garden bee-friendly. Let parts of your garden go wild and mow less often, especially if you have clover. Be aware that even some natural pesticides, such as pyrethrum, are as harmful to bees as they are to unwanted insects. If using those less…

Getting there The Devil Ark is at Barrington Tops in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Devils in the Wild tours start at Moonan Flat, two hours’ drive from Scone, four hours from Newcastle and six hours from Sydney. Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly to Newcastle from across Australia. You need private transport or a hire car to reach the Devil Ark. Cost Devils in the Wild tours cost AU$150 for adults and AU$100 for children aged 8–15 years. Bookings are essential and can be made at devilark.com.au/tour or by calling 1300 553 565. Tours are 2½ hours long and are fully escorted by a Tasmanian Devil expert. Tours are strictly limited to 12 people at a time. To protect the wellbeing of the devils, access to the Devil Ark is only…

Many lifestyle issues can compromise your sleep, so try fine-tuning your daily habits to see if simple changes can help promote faster sleep onset. SELF-HELP: Reduce caffeine. A strong afternoon latte or long black may still be in your bloodstream at night and stimulate wakefulness, hijacking your zzzzs. Exercise earlier. Avoid hitting the gym any later than around 6–7pm. Late exercise raises body temperature and metabolism when they should be dropping in readiness for slumber. Tipple less. When the sedation wears off, you may experience rebound alertness or thirst. Set a computer curfew. The bright light can delay sleep onset by interfering with production of melatonin, the hormone that lowers body temperature in readiness for sleep. Avoid weekend sleep-ins. This can change your body’s circadian rhythm so your hormones and…

The rainforest presses in: close, wet and loud. I’m in a cabin in the canopy on the slopes of the dormant Mount Quincan volcano and the brush turkeys beneath are making a racket. An animal sprints through the scrub; small birds flit between the trees. Night falls fast and there’s a thud on the balcony. Black, beady eyes shine back at me: a possum. An odd-looking possum, big with a dark face and a long, thick tail. The next day I describe it to the owner of Mt Quincan Crater Retreat. “Did it look like this?” asks Barb, sliding me a photo. “Yes!” I say. It was a Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, she tells me, called mabi by the three clans that make up the Ngadjon-Jii indigenous people of the region. These…

MADURA TEA ESTATES Madura’s vision is simple: craft a clean and pure brew! Fire up that kettle, grab your favourite Madura tea and start sipping your way to some long-term health benefits. Madura has over 20 stunning blends for you to choose from, directly from its eco-sensitive Australian estate. W: maduratea.com.au CHOCOLATE THAT RAISES THE BAR Well Naturally has found a way to create delicious, moreish chocolate that’s healthier. Its secret? Stevia, a plant-based sweetener. The Well Naturally collection allows you the freedom to enjoy your favourite treat ... minus the guilt. W: wellnaturally.com.au HEALTHY ESSENTIALS 65 BILLION PROBIOTIC A high-strength probiotic formula containing 10 naturally occurring and scientifically validated strains plus a fructose-free prebiotic to help stimulate growth. New low d-lactate and histamine-free formula. Supports optimal immune and digestive…

CARLA OATES is a natural beauty expert and the author of Feeding Your Skin. Avoid harsh mechanical exfoliants and AHA products; instead, opt for fresh papaya. Rosacea is a skin condition characterised by small red bumps that typically develop across the cheeks and nose and may also appear on the chin, forehead and neck. It’s more common in people aged over 40. Rosacea usually manifests with intermittent flushing and vasodilation of the blood vessels across the nose and cheeks in response to certain food and environmental triggers. The flushing becomes more frequent over time until the skin is permanently red and irritated. Although there is no exact cause of rosacea, links exist with poor digestion, vitamin B deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and the overgrowth of a pesky mite called Demodex folliculorum.…

JACKIE FRENCH is the author of The Chook Book (Aird Books). Her oldest chook, Gertie, is now 17. Although Gertie’s sisters have all long since fallen off the perch, Gertie still lays extremely large brown eggs most days of the year. Avocados come in far more varieties than you’ll find in the shops, too. Hunt out massive show-off Queens or the smaller, dark-skinned, almost aniseedscented ones. Fruit trees feed us in many ways. They give us tucker and they also feed our souls, with not just beauty but a deep, enduring sense of the generosity of the Earth. Fruit-laden trees are beautiful, with their swelling fruit and sense of plenty. Which are the most generous? It depends on your climate and on the individual seasons. A good garden has fruit…

DR MICHAEL ELSTEIN is an anti-ageing physician and writer based in Sydney, Australia. He is the author of three books including his latest, The Wellness Guide to Preventing the Diseases of Ageing. He has also designed the app The Diet Guide To Ageing Prevention. Melatonin and thyroid hormone have a symbiotic relationship in regulating sleepwake cycles and daily metabolism. For a while scientists have known that caloric restriction or eating less can make a whole variety of animal species age less but can it do the same for us? More importantly, would we really like to commit to a long-term strategy of depriving ourselves of what is arguably our greatest daily joy? Research has shown that merely eating slightly over 10 per cent less consistently for a two-year period led…

KAREN BRIDGMAN is a naturopath who has worked as a private practitioner at Pymble Grove Health Centre and Australian Biologics Testing Services for 30 years. She has been an academic and has a Doctor of Philosophy, researching women’s experience in (and with) medicine, along with three Masters degrees in Science (Hons), Higher Education and Applied Science. It is relatively easy to lose weight initially by dietary change, but this is extremely difficult to maintain. A 60-year-old woman came to see me after overseas travel had led her to the realisation that the overconsumption of the West was a problem on many levels, resulting in the increasing incidence of obesity and its related health issues. In truth, the obesity epidemic is a result of a combination of many factors: Excess food…

I had never heard of postnatal anxiety and, because I was living an active life — going to the gym, doing yoga and socialising with friends — I didn’t think I had a mood disorder. I cannot think of events in life that bring up more profound emotions than the death and birth of loved ones, so I should not have underestimated the impact that such events would have in my life when they happened within such immediacy to each other. My dad passed away unexpectedly two days before starting chemotherapy — and two weeks later I was nursing a newborn. Dad passed away in Brazil, my home country, and I could not say goodbye to him. I thought I would still have time to tell him how much he…

WHAT WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO Our multitalented editorial assistant Kate has been cooking some delish dishes to photograph for the latest issue of EatWell, our new wholefood magazine. Meanwhile, managing editor Kerry has been enjoying three recent additions to the family farm, including these two gorgeous foals, plus one other (not pictured). WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU April 22 Earth Day earthday.org April 28–May 8, Canberra, AU Canberra International Music Festival cimf.org.au April 30–1 May, Melbourne, AU 6th International Science of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare Conference nutritionmedicine.org.au May, Global Mindful in May (sign up by May 1 to participate) mindfulinmay.org May 2–8, AU Composting Awareness Week Australia compostweek.com.au/core May 8, AU Mother’s Day Classic Walk or Run mothersdayclassic.com.au May 15, Global International Day of Families May 15–21, AU…

Did something resonate with you in this issue of WellBeing? We’d love to hear your feedback. Write to us at WellBeing, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde, NSW 1670, email wbletters@universalmagazines.com.au, comment on our Facebook page or tweet us: @WellBeing_Mag. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. BRAVO FOR REAL WOMEN Thank you for the beautiful model you used for your article Yoga for Fun (issue #160). Here, we see images of a real woman looking fit, healthy and happy. My teenage daughter has been battling an eating disorder of serious magnitude over the past 12 months. I have been exposed to the pain and isolation that this brings to both patients and parents/carers and, while I maintain a healthy lifestyle myself, I had no real idea about these illnesses…

Onions are one of the most widely cultivated (and consumed) foods worldwide. The common onion or bulb onion is the most popular but there is a variety of types such as red, yellow and bunching onions. The common onion has been cultivated for up to 7000 years — for so long its ancestral wild form is unknown (although they sometimes escape from cultivation and become “wild”). Traces of onions have been found alongside dates and figs from Bronze Age settlements of 5000 BCE. Stories tell of the pyramid builders being fed a diet of radishes and onions — the Egyptians believed its spherical shape and concentric rings symbolised eternal life. In the case of Rameses IV, onion traces were found in the mummy’s eye sockets. The ancient Greeks believed onions…

ROGER READING W: rogerreadingart.com Serenity 51×61cm, acrylic on canvas I am a 65-year-old full-time amateur artist. I paint what I feel, not just what I see. I am not a student of any art college: I am a student of life. I retired from work a few years ago and began to paint, and have loved the challenges of creating new images from my emotions. I paint from my heart, not really knowing why or when or who; just knowing I want to express my emotions to myself. My life used to be all about logic, systems, processes, procedures, numbers and languages. Now, my life is creativity. There are no rules; there are precedents but never being wrong is a new experience for me. Before, I was in a world…

You know the moments: the ones where you catch yourself with the sudden realisation of, “Wow, I’m happy!” Rather than a passing elation or ecstasy, it’s more a general sense of wellbeing, an overall contentment, the knowledge that, despite the day-to-day challenges, life is rich and abundant and good. The acknowledgment spreads through you like warm honey. Most of us have also experienced the flip side, a moment of stark awakening to the fact that, although there are times of joy and satisfaction, life feels hard. You are, in fact, unhappy. A COLLECTIVE QUEST In any human life, the quest for happiness is what spiritual leaders, philosophers and psychologists regularly attest is the chief guide for much of our behaviour and actions. We all want to live happier, more engaging…

A body-image makeover is no quick-fix cover-up. It’s a rigorous process that involves shining a light on the inner workings of your mind and exposing deeply embedded and self-defeating thinking styles, namely “the dirty dozen”: 1 Beauty or The Beast: thinking about your appearance in extremes, either/or terms 2 The Unreal Ideal: evaluating your body against a standard that is “perfect” (unreal) 3 Unfair to Compare: comparing yourself to people or images you judge as more attractive 4 The Magnifying Glass: focusing on a disliked aspect of your appearance and blowing it out of proportion 5 The Blind Mind: ignoring or minimising your good features 6 Radiant Un-Beauty: your feelings about the unattractiveness of one part of your body expands and spreads to other physical characteristics 7 The Blame Game:…

When would we ever want our food to be fast, cheap and fake? Surely fresh, healthy and nutritious is what we’re looking for when it comes to “fast food”? That said, there’s no denying that the pace of modern life is pretty demanding. And, with most of us needing to put food on the table seven nights a week, I think that now more than ever we’re seeking new ways to nourish ourselves quickly. Food is the most powerful medicine on Earth and with it you can change not only your current health but also your health destiny, so it’s important to keep this in mind every time you eat, even when in a rush. That’s why I was initially drawn to Paleo. This revolutionary way of eating, which is…

Getting good-quality sleep (and getting enough of it) should be as high on your priority list as regular exercise and a healthy diet. There is a wealth of evidence showing that too few zzzzs can have many negative impacts on your health, affecting: Immunity. Issues with sleep can lower your immunity so you are more prone to allergenic responses and viruses like colds. Long term, it can also reduce your disease defences, making you more prone to developing issues like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases. Appetite. In particular, sleep loss increases ghrelin, an appetite hormone that boosts hunger. Research also shows that after a bad night of sleep we are not just more ravenous, but we crave more sugary and fatty foods. Blood vessels. These work less effectively…

Every Bite Takes You Home tells of displacement, escape, resettlement and survival. It also tells of how food can offer comfort through unstable times and help integrate people of different cultures into a new way of life. Authors Gaye Weeden and Hayley Smorgon have beautifully transposed to this book’s pages the powerful, traumatic and inspiring tales of 16 asylum seekers who, after years of seeking refuge from conflict, have come to call Australia home. At the same time, each page draws you into the aromatic kitchens of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan and more, and photographs of traditional recipes such as mantoo and halva are enough to make your mouth water. At the dinner table, these refugees open their hearts and share the recipes dearest to them. And it’s through this…

LEE HOLMES runs Supercharged Food and has just released her new book, Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian. Visit her blog at superchargedfood.com for more cooking inspiration, recipes and tips. Sharing family meals together is another good way to introduce a few new ingredients and healthier choices into your child’s diet. When trying to develop healthy eating habits in kids, balance is the most important thing. I believe in the 80/20 rule: try to give your kids healthy options 80 per cent of the time and save unhealthy or sugar-filled junk food for occasional treats. If you’re aiming to create healthy meals, snacks and lunchboxes for kids, using nutritious foods in a stress-free, practical way, then the trick is to keep things as simple as possible. Once you feel comfortable letting…

KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney. T: +61 2 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au Yeast infections are common in dogs that lick their feet excessively or have allergies. Apple cider vinegar can be effective against the yeast. When thinking about what to write for this issue, it came to me that, as much as I have learned from going to university, or taking courses, or reading from books, I have possibly learned more from the animals and people I meet daily. Here is a short list of just a few of the tips that have come my way. Cold tea spray for skin I have recommended using tea as a topical treatment for hot inflamed skin for many years now. I usually use…