Innehållsförteckning för Issue 192 från WellBeing

I wish I could say it was my idea, but my five-year-old daughter started volunteering making peanut butter sandwiches for our local homeless population. She knows that many people are struggling right now, and it’s been really inspiring to see her come up with the idea and then make it happen. @ashleygish_np In 2020, I cooked an extra meal for anyone every day for three months during COVID isolation and lockdown. I placed a sign in front of my home to let my neighbourhood know that there was an extra plate of food if anyone needed it. It was my way of transferring love and healing energy from me to whoever was going to consume the meal. @princessrlakshman We opened up our gallery to be used as a donation drop-off…

Catnip as insect repellent Cats love catnip because it contains ingredients that interact with components of the reward system in the cat brain. Cats are alone in this, as in so many things, because the insect world hates catnip, being as repellent as the synthetic compound DEET to buzzing bugs. Now we may know why this is so. Researchers have found that insects and many other animal species, including humans, have something called the “wasabi receptor”, TRPA1, a protein that senses environmental irritants like pain and itch. Unlike wasabi or garlic that activates these receptors in humans, catnip contains a compound, nepetalactone, that selectively activates the receptor in insects. Hence, humans are indifferent to catnip while insects will fly metres to avoid it. Synthetic repellents damage collateral insect species into…

You want to be happy, don’t you? We all want to be happy, so that is the easy question. The more difficult question is: are you prepared to do what it takes to be happy? It becomes a bit harder at that point because you need to acknowledge that happiness does not simply happen. Left to its own resources, the human mind latches on to negativity: it is called “negativity bias” and it is a survival strategy. So to achieve happiness you need to transcend that innate bias and train yourself into a flourishing mindset. Just as physical training needs to be something you do on a regular basis, so does mental training. It is a matter of creating habits that nourish your happiness and doing so deliberately. You do…

Orloff has developed a 20-question self-assessment quiz for empaths, which is available on her site and The Empaths Survival Guide. Those who agree with 15 or more of the following are considered full-blown empaths, while answering yes to at least five suggests you’re a partial empath. Being labelled as “overly sensitive,” shy, or introverted. Frequently feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Arguments or yelling makes you ill. You feel you don’t fit in. Drained by crowds and needing alone time to revive yourself. Over-stimulated by noise, odours or non-stop talkers. Chemical sensitivities or can’t tolerate scratchy clothes. You prefer taking your own car places so you can leave early if you need to. Overeating to cope with stress. Fear of becoming suffocated by intimate relationships. Startle easily. Strong reactions to caffeine or…

The French philosopher René Descartes coined the famous saying, “I think, therefore I am” to provide a discourse on existence. Nowadays, we could say, “I think, I worry, I text, I post, I react, and, in fact, I never stop and therefore I am exhausted.” Life has sped up and the time for reflection has given way to the age of activity. Activewear, digital activity, interactive, overactive and it has come at a great cost to the human experience. Nowadays very little self-actuality occurs in our lives as it would mean we would have to press pause for even just a moment. So what if we just stopped doing to just be? After all, we are human beings. Being is a doing word It is highly likely that you’ve been…

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~ Thomas Jefferson If you are interested in yoga and bringing more peace into your life, you will need an intimate relationship with the Sanskrit word sat or truth. More potently, sat is often defined as “true essence” or “that which is unchangeable”. Sat is the kind of reality you can’t find on TV, Google or Siri. It’s the reality of who and what you are, beyond your body and mind, and it can only be experienced through yogic practice. It requires you to pay attention, and to be patient and present. Sadhakas are those following sadhana or conscious spiritual practice. It is said that sadhakas have a goal-oriented practice. For the student of yoga, the goal of practice is…

Many cultures have traditional beauty rituals, some of which have been revered for thousands of years. In modern times, a number of these rituals can be found in combination or stand-alone as beauty secrets held by women and men all around the world. Backed by contemporary research, beauty benefits long recognised and shared by indigenous cultures can be derived from Kakadu plum, açaí berries, matcha, cacao, argan oil and turmeric. These six powerful plants should be staples in your pantry or beauty bag because, after all, radiant beauty begins on the inside. Kakadu plum Kakadu plum, which is also known as gubinge or by its botanical name Terminalia ferdinandiana, is one of northern Australia’s most valued native bush foods. Kakadu plum has exceptional nutritional and medicinal properties and has been…

Autumn is a time of sheer abundance: a vibrant season bursting with colour and flavour. It’s no surprise that many chefs claim autumn is their favourite season of the year, as they reap the rewards of their sumptuous harvest, which ripens and develops in the warmth of summer. The peak of the summer heat gives way to cooler, crisper days and the days gradually shorten to make room for longer nights. This is the season to say goodbye to summer stone fruits and berries and say hello to an abundance of apples, pears, figs and nuts that are bursting forth right under your nose. When it comes to cooking, it’s important to eat with the seasons. Not only is it better for the environment, but it also supports local communities…

It’s been a decade of perpetual arrival for podcasts, but they’ve well and truly established themselves among the ranks of mainstream media. What began as “audio-blogging” in 2004 has gone global, with over 1.75 million podcasts and 43 million episodes available to stream across a variety of platforms as of January 2021. But let’s go back to the mid-2000s for a minute. Chances are you may remember scrolling through an early-gen iPod, seeing the “Podcasts” tab and scrolling right past on your way to shuffle your latest (probably pirated) music downloads without giving it a second thought. Now podcasts are hailed as one of the most innovative and effective communication platforms. Companies are launching internal podcasts to engage with their employees and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rise in…

Honeybee CRAIG SILVEY, ALLEN & UNWIN Unlikely life-altering friendships, gender dysphoria, drugs, homelessness and drag queens — author Craig Silvey is back with a book that encapsulates a struggle across generations. Honeybee charts an intense and emotionally driven path filled with the highs and lows of finding your identity and embracing it — and not just among friends and family but within yourself. Honeybee is a heartbreakingly powerful story of resilience, hope and struggle. Reminding us of the power of acceptance, representation and love, the book is a gripping must-read of its time. Honeybee, in our eyes, is a new Australian classic that will undoubtedly bring a deeper understanding of what it is to be a trans youth trying to find your place in a heteronormative world. CB Home Body…

1 Commit to attending regular classes Find a class with a teacher you like and ensure the location and timing fits with your schedule so it’s easy for you to go at least once a week. 2 Establish your own home practice, Invest in your own yoga mat and establish a routine. Start to get up a little earlier and begin your day with a yoga flow. If you need an online resource, Byron Yoga Centre has a Level 1 sequence on our Shop page. 3 Start to explore yoga beyond just asana By now you would have noticed that yoga is more than a physical practice. The Sutras of Patanjali lists the eight limbs of yoga — do you know what these are? Learning the foundations will enrich your…

Sweet peas are traditionally planted on St Patrick’s Day, which is a convenient way to get gardeners to remember that the seeds need to go into the soil in autumn, even though they won’t flower till spring. Sweet peas are one of the most glorious blooms to pick, to gift to friends or even to the barista who makes your coffee. They are too delicate to appear often in florist’s, and the combination of pastel colours and complexity of fragrance is unrivalled. But you do need to know when to plant them, how to grow them and when to pick them. Unlike an Iceberg rose, you can’t just bung sweet peas in and wait for blooms. Sweet peas are planted in autumn, so they have a long growing season to…

With the challenges we have had, mental health has become an everincreasing issue for many people, young and old alike. According to the latest statistics the diagnosis of depression is three times higher than what is perceived as normal. Typifying this worldwide phenomenon, a young woman in her late 20s who was having difficulties coping with all the issues above came to see me. She was working from home, some of her family were overseas, some interstate and she had no close family contacts locally. Despite regularly contacting them on Zoom, she was missing them and their close support dreadfully. The lack of physical contact was a huge issue, as it is with many people today. She was miserable. Her best friend had (almost) forced her to come and see…

Saba Organics Use Australian eucalyptus essential oil for that real Australiana experience. Have you tried our limited-edition Australian Eucalyptus Hand Sanitiser? Made at the base of the Macedon Ranges, Victoria, it has been proven to kill 99.9 per cent of germs without drying your skin. W: sabaorganics.com ATMS Are you looking for an accredited massage therapist, naturopath, nutritionist or acupuncturist? Visit the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society’s website to Find a Practitioner and search from more than 8000 bodyworkers, ingestive and Chinese Medicine practitioners Australia-wide. Improve your health and wellbeing today! W: atms.com.au/find-practitioner TRI BLEND Select TRI BLEND Select is a delicious vegan nutritional shake. It provides high-quality, naturally sourced, plant-based nutrition and offers a complete protein source. Always read the label; only use as directed. Contact your Herbalife Nutrition independent member…

Why tea lowers blood pressure New research shows that the effect of tea on your blood pressure goes deeper than relaxation. Researchers have found that catechins in green tea and black tea activate a specific type of ion channel protein called KCNQ5. The effect is to allow potassium ions to flow out of cells, thus reducing cell excitability. Since KCNQ5 is found in the lining of blood vessels, when it is activated the blood vessels relax, causing a lowering of blood pressure. One interesting finding was that when black tea with milk was applied directly to cells, the KCNQ5 channel as not activated. However, despair not ye milky tea drinkers; the researchers point out that in your stomach the catechins found in tea are separated from proteins in milk that…

In traditional medicine rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) has many uses and was first described by Dioscorides in De Materia Medica in about 60 AD. In Russia, Scandinavia, Mongolia and China rhodiola has been used for centuries to cope with the bitterly cold climate and stressful lives. It was also used to increase physical endurance and resistance to high altitudes. Its main use was as a brain tonic but was also used to relieve anaemia, fatigue and depression as well as for infections, infertility, impotence and gastrointestinal disorders. While there is some debate about the effectiveness of rhodiola (largely due to lack of clinical research), there is a long history of its effective use in these countries. Active ingredients The roots are used medicinally and contain over 140 compounds including phenols (the…

Home is … Home is wherever my family are. Currently, we reside on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, not far from Naarm (Melbourne) city centre but far enough away we can get lost in the bush along the Maribyrnong River. How I start my day … With my three-year-old climbing on top of me at six am announcing the sun is up and it’s time to wake. I begin with a glass of water and a peek in the laundry to see if we need to do a load of washing. Then I usually have a veggie lentil soup for breakfast and a piece of bread. I’m unsure why but I love a big bowl of soup in the morning. After breakfast I try to get any dinner…

“The energy of compassion is very strong.” ~ Thích Nhât Hanh The human existence is filled with a mix of light and dark, joy and pain, yang and yin. Challenges in life are inevitable, but the degree to which you suffer as a result of these trials and tribulations is up to you. One tool to draw on to move through life with more ease, understanding and acceptance is compassion, which involves acknowledging with kindness that all lives are just as important, sacred and of value as your own. Paul Gilbert, the founder of Compassion-Focused Therapy, defines compassion as “a basic kindness, with a deep awareness of the suffering of oneself and of other living things, coupled with the wish and effort to relieve it.” But this desire to relieve one’s…

It’s always “teatime” according to the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. An afternoon tea party is a wonderful way to unwind and connect with loved ones. Friendships are forged over a warm cuppa as Monty Python proclaimed, “Make tea, not war.” Many find a tea break brings serenity, such as Chinese poet Lu Tong who said, “When I drink tea, I am conscious of peace. The cool breath of heaven rises in my sleeves and blows my cares away.” Tea can console us like a hug in a cup and wash away worries like an internal bath. The English are known for their devotion to tea, including British politician William Ewart Gladstone who said, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too…

Tracey Holmes’ story begins with the ocean. It’s a connection that has been a steady undercurrent flowing throughout her years, a place of refuge when she needs somewhere calm and quiet. For Holmes, her childhood laid the foundations for what was to come: a love of the ocean, adventure and travel. Her parents were avid surfers and Holmes spent her early years chasing waves before eventually signing up for surf competitions. “It’s where I always go in my mind when I think about being in the perfect place. I feel like the ocean is never far away from me, even when I’m nowhere near it,” she confides. When Holmes was three, her parents heard rumours that the best waves were in South Africa, so that’s where they went. It was…

Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism are the three central pillars of traditional Chinese thought. “Taoism” refers to both a philosophical tradition and an organised religion, which in modern Chinese are identified separately as taojia and taojiao respectively. Philosophical Taoism traces its origins to Lao Tzu who probably lived during the sixth or fifth century BCE. It is debated, however, whether he may have lived much later, in the third century BCE, or whether he lived at all but may only be a legendary figure. In religious Taoism, Lao Tzu is revered as a supreme deity. The name “Lao Tzu” is best translated as “Old Master”, and the ancient philosopher is said to have written a short book, which may originally have been called simply the Lao Tzu. In later centuries when…

The sparking of a tame metabolism is the endless chase for many. The fact is a speedy metabolism depends on several things. Unfortunately, women’s metabolism tends to be a little lacklustre in comparison to men, who cultivate a faster metabolism, even while resting. For most people, metabolism slows steadily after the age of 40. Although you can’t control this as it’s due to age, gender or genetics, all is not lost as there are many ways to spark up your metabolism and boost your body composition. There are several key factors to igniting the metabolism, but the most effective way is by building muscle with an active resistance weights session. When we lift weights, microscopic damage occurs to the myofibrils within the muscle fibre. These micro-tears stimulate the body’s repair…

Rudyard Kipling poignantly declared, “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by [human]kind.” This zealous statement was made during a speech Kipling gave in London in 1923, where he went on to describe how language enters into and influences “the minutest cells of the brain”, a concept he could only deduce through his own observations of people and the world. Almost a century later, this reverence for the supreme influence of words is upheld across diverse modalities, from science, to spirituality, to the arts. The concept of quantum languaging tells us that the way we speak to ourselves and others has the ability to shape our experience of life at a fundamental level. Words come with much more weight than their dictionary definitions. Words are complex, wonderful and…

Circadian rhythms used to be largely governed by the rising and setting of the sun. The human body evolved to be exposed to strong outdoor light in the daytime, and people usually went to sleep soon after it grew dark. In 1879, when the light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison, it heralded profound changes in how society operated. Artificial lighting extended the length of the evening, in turn reducing the average hours of nightly sleep in industrialised countries. Different forms of artificial light vary in colour temperature, measured in units of Kelvin (K), that rates a light source on the lighting spectrum ranging between red and blue. “Warm white” yellowish lighting is often between 2700 and 3000K, and bluer “cool white” lighting is likely to be between 4000 and…

Radio Headspace: Feeling anxious, down, distracted or jittery? Calm your internal chatter and check in with yourself with Radio Headspace. Each episode is less than 10 minutes long, so you can take some time to reflect while drinking your morning cuppa, prepping the kids’ lunches or just before your “snooze” alarm goes off to set you up for a calm, collected day. The Doctor’s Farmacy: Hosted by Mark Hyman, MD, this podcast deals with all your need-to-know health info, from gluten-free diets to environmental toxins to happiness hacks to the COVID vaccines. Hyman is on the pulse of both holistic and traditional medicine, so it’s the perfect pod for wellness gurus and newbies alike. The Minimalists: You may have seen their Netflix documentary, but The Minimalists Josh and Ryan made…

Dive into the blue waters of the Aegean Sea and immerse yourself in the food and lifestyle of this beautiful blue zone in the Greek islands. Ikaria taps into all your senses through its soulful dishes, tales of community and cooking and immersive imagery. The cookbook favours simplicity and the joy of food, featuring bountiful plant-based recipes with a sprinkle of seafood and locally sourced meat (think goat, pork and chicken) and plenty of olive oil and wine to go around — the epitome of the Mediterranean diet. The recipes are made to share and offer the perfect spread for dinner parties and family gatherings. Expect traditional Greek cuisine: hearty veggie and wholegrain stews, easy brunch to dinner dishes and, of course, a selection of sweet treats (the loukoumades are…

Vitamin A is essential for vision, reproduction, growth and development, and for maintaining a healthy immune system. Your skin is a window into your general inner health and is often one of the first places to indicate a possible vitamin deficiency, which may present in the form of dry, cracked, inflamed or irritated skin. Vitamins are essential for maintaining the health, appearance and function of your skin; however, many vitamins cannot be synthesised by the body and therefore need to be obtained through the food you eat. Vitamin A is a skin-loving, immune-system-boosting, reproductive-health-promoting and vision-improving vitamin that you do not want to be deficient in. There are two main types of vitamin A: retinol and carotenoids. Retinol is derived from animal sources and is known as the “active” form…

Cats can experience chronic pain for the same reasons dogs do. Degenerative joint disease has been shown to be present in up to 90 per cent of cats over 12. Other causes include dental disease, gut pain, urinary tract pain and neuropathic or spinal pain. However, signs of pain in cats are often subtle. Cats evolved as a solitary species, and are able to conceal weakness even from observant owners. We frequently don’t see cats presenting for pain until it has advanced to a point where they can no longer cope, which means our cats may be living with significant pain much longer than they need to. So how will you know if your cat is feeling pain? Close observation of all your cat’s behaviour can give you clues. Watch…

Cancer When in mid-May Jupiter enters Pisces, your spirit of adventure and opportunity to act peak in interesting ways. Make the most of the next two months and miracles happen. New Moon on May 11 brings helpful impetus from friends and your social networks, with May 13, 17 and 31 to be especially illuminating. Lover Venus is now star of the evening and in Cancer from June 2–27. This means that June 4, 12, 13 and 21 are especially pleasurable, creative and inspiring. June 21’s Solstice is spiritually significant for “the birth of the young light” after our longest night as Sun enters Cancer. Virgo “A season for everything” is a Virgo maxim that works to balance the intense task orientation of your sign. May 12’s New Moon is a…

Organic nut and seed butters are simply organic nuts or seeds blended with a pinch of salt. There’s nothing odd added and nothing removed so that they retain all their natural oils. Highly processed foods are going to have a tonne of other ingredients added such as added oils, sugars and preservatives. High-quality nut and seed butters made without additives will have high nutrient profiles like the nuts and seeds they are made from. On average, two tablespoons of nut and seed butters contain 400kJ of energy and 10 grams of fat (mostly unsaturated fat). Nut and seed butters will provide around four to seven grams of protein, depending on the type. Why go organic? Organic crops must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources and conserving biodiversity, and are…

Did something resonate with you in this issue of WellBeing? Tell us! Write to WellBeing, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde, NSW 1670, email wbletters@umco.com.au, comment on our Facebook or Instagram page: @WellBeing_ Magazine. We reserve the right to edit all letters. I’ve spent the last 10 days on my “babymoon” — a final holiday before my husband Henry and I drastically change our lives and introduce a mini human into the world. Our time away has been spacious, relaxing and filled with freedom. It’s hard to fathom that this life I live now, with its ease and familiarity, is going to change … but I’m told by every parent that it will. I’m preparing as best I can for the physical changes — sleepless nights, a changed body, sore nipples…

Rituals relieve loneliness In the wake of COVID-19 the experience of a sense of loneliness is becoming more widespread. Researchers have noted that people who experience chronic loneliness often feel that their lives lack meaning. However, we also know that rituals create meaning. While ritual commonly occurs in cultural or religious settings to reinforce shared values, it can also be personal and idiosyncratic. For the new research, subjects were surveyed to establish their levels of loneliness. They were then asked either to perform some of their daily tasks in a ritualised way, or just to continue their tasks as normal. Ritualising daily tasks involved dunking your tea bag in a particular way or opening a biscuit to lick the cream before eating the biscuit. People who performed these rituals felt…

There are about 250 different species of flowering plants in the Rhus family that grow in subtropical and temperate regions, with a long history of use by indigenous peoples for medicinal and other uses. While many of the species have similar medicinal properties, sumac (Rhus coriaria) is what interests us here. With its tangy lemony flavour it is an excellent souring agent in rich foods and is a main component in the popular Middle Eastern spice mix za’atar. The juice, the red seeds (known as drupes) and the leaves are used, with the seeds being ground into a reddish-purple powder widely used in cooking throughout the Middle East, the Levant and Central Asia. Sumac is also used to make a “lemonade” drink and was smoked with tobacco in traditional smoking…

Do you feel deeply affected by the suffering of others or pick up easily on vibes around you? Maybe you avoid negative social media and news because of the way it affects you? What makes one person more sensitive than others? And what problems or potential advantages might we face if we’re one of the more sensitive crowd? Dr Judith Orloff, a US-based psychiatrist and author, has spent decades investigating such questions. It was a search that grew out of her own experience. As a child Orloff felt there was something wrong with her. “I was criticised for being overly sensitive and told to get a thicker skin,” she says. Crowded places, like shopping malls, with their noise and overstimulation, exhausted her. They also caused anxiety, depression, aches and pains.…

Kristin Neff developed the concept of “mindful self-compassion” with clinical psychologist Christopher Germer. Together they founded the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and outline the three components necessary for cultivating mindful self-compassion. Mindfulness. Mindfulness, which involves drawing your attention to the present moment without judgement, is a powerful tool to help you connect with your feelings (some of which may be painful). It’s impossible to cultivate compassion if you cannot first acknowledge that there is pain present. Kindness. In order to be selfcompassionate there must be an innate desire to do something about the pain with kindness. “When we struggle we give ourselves compassion not to feel better but because we feel bad,” explains Neff in The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. Common humanity. Remembering our common humanity reminds us that we are…

Thinking on your feet, cold feet, square feet, two left feet, six feet apart … for all of the time you’ve spent staring at your feet, how well do you really know them? Did you know that it takes a quarter of the bones in the human body to make up the humble human hooves? Feet come with complex customs, loads of different footwear options and an important etiquette guideline. Yet it seems feet are somewhat of a divisive topic in modern society. There is a spectrum of love when it comes to feet. While some of us shudder at the thought of touching, looking at or catching a whiff of feet, others adore them. Fortunately for all of the “podophobes” out there, the foot shake seems to have been…

Pain is a fascinating topic as it covers so many parameters of living. Pain is not just an unpleasant physical sensation. It is intimately influenced by attitudes, beliefs, personality and social factors, and affects physical as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. Although two people may have exactly the same condition, their experience of the pain can be vastly different. Pain can be acute or chronic, and it poses many challenges for the researchers, the practitioners and the patients alike. Acute vs chronic Acute pain lasts for a short time and occurs following some trauma or a specific condition. It has survival value and serves as the body’s warning system for injury or disease. As survival value, pain encourages you to seek medical help and makes you rest in the…

What do you see when you look around your home? Cosy, comfortable spaces filled with items you cherish, inviting you in and putting you at ease? Or do your eyes get drawn to tired carpet, marked walls, saggy furniture and a jumble of clutter? If your response leans towards the latter, there’s a chance you are falling out of love with your home. Like never before, Australians are upholding long-term relationships with their dwellings, keeping properties for 33 per cent longer than was the case a decade ago (reported by property research firm CoreLogic in 2019). During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, the home became the absolute centre of life. Dining tables were converted into classrooms and garages became office hubs. Houses worked very hard for their inhabitants, and people…

Loui’s three-year-old daughter marched up to her, hands on hips and looked her right in the eye. “Mummy, is it true that babies come out of ladies’ belly buttons?” After a harrowing week of deadlines, Loui didn’t have the emotional energy to think of an appropriate response. Instead, she scooped up her child, smothered her with kisses and took her out to the swings to play. There are always going to be confronting or uncomfortable conversations people will need to share, whether it’s to resolve conflict, provide information that might hurt another or discuss a topic that’s personally awkward for you. Ironically, it’s often the conversations we don’t want to have that are the most important ones we need to. Another layer of complexity is added if it’s a difficult…

I’m about to close in on “Slippery Nipple” which, before you get excited, is a tricky little river rapid, not the very delicious drink. In fact, I’m about as far away from a cocktail bar as you are ever likely to be, staring down a tight squeeze of whitewater studded with precariously protruding boulders that snag the Katherine River’s flow. I dig in my paddle, push off into the current and in a spray of white water, bounce my way through the rapid, sliding over slippery river stones into the deep pool below. My tiny triumph has me beaming, despite an audience of just one — seasoned river guide Mick Jerram, who is looking on somewhat relieved that I haven’t wrecked his boat. Downstream I go, dipping my paddle along…

Have you ever suspected you were intolerant to certain foods, such as the usual hard-to-digest suspects gluten, dairy, eggs or soy? Ever wondered what’s involved in taking an allergy or food intolerance test or if it’s worth the money? Sadly, gluten and dairy have never really enjoyed spending time in my gut. My tastebuds, on the other hand, love the flavour, but something goes awry as they make their way south through my digestive tract. After a good 15 years avoiding these foods then bingeing on them, I decided to “test, not guess” and find out what really goes on once these tasty morsels hit my lips. After a consultation with my naturopath and a few hours of researching different intolerance tests available, I decided to go with NutriPATH’s IgG…

As you know, I’m no stranger to talking about the best diets for your gut. This issue, however, I wanted to discuss the best diet for your heart. If you or your family have high cholesterol levels, elevated blood pressure or systemic inflammation, eating a heart-healthy diet is essential for your wellbeing. So, what do I recommend? An anti-inflammatory diet filled with an abundance of plant foods is the best way you can eat for a healthy heart. But it’s not always that simple. If I were to give you a list of dos and don’ts for a healthy heart it would look something like this … Do An overall approach is “fresh is always best”. Eating a wholefoods diet filled with predominantly fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes…

David Sinclair is an alumnus of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people on the planet, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical school, who at 52 with a full head of brown hair and a face that from a distance looks unlined and youthful makes it easier for him to enthusiastically propose that ageing can be aborted and even reversed. Sinclair’s guide to beating ageing has become the mantra of the antiageing community, and I regularly get quizzed by my patients about the credibility of all the supplements and medications recommended by him. Sinclair is streetsmart enough to caution that what he does is not necessarily what we should do, adding that he has no idea if this is the right course of action for him or his father despite…

My partner of nine years, Mark, and I come from opposite sides of the earth: I’m from Australia, he is from the UK. Cheap international flights, freedom of movement (except when there is a worldwide pandemic) and modern technology have shaped our identity as world citizens. It was globalisation that brought us together, then drove us apart and finally offered us a new way to conduct our relationship by giving us the space to question the traditional — and apparently inevitable — heterosexual paradigm of “boy meets girl and they move in together”. Mark and I moved into a small apartment together after three years. We loved and were committed to each other, but the confines of the apartment, combined with the lack of privacy and the end of weekend…

Autumn and winter Fruit Apples (Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Jonathan, Lady Williams, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Sundowner), banana, breadfruit, cumquat, custard apple, fig, grapes (Muscat, Purple Cornichon, Sultana, Waltham Cross), grapefruit, guava, kiwifruit, lemon, lime, mandarin (Imperial), melons (honeydew, rockmelon), nashi, orange (Valencia), papaya, passionfruit, pears (Beurre Bosc, Howell, Josephine, Packham, Red Sensation, Williams), persimmon, pineapple, plum, pomelo, pomegranate, quince, rambutan, raspberry, rhubarb, tamarillo, tangelo. Vegetables Asian greens (buk choy, choy sum, gai laan, wombok), avocado, beans (butter, green, snake), beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chilli, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, field mushroom, okra, olive, onions (brown, red and spring), parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silver beet, spinach, squash, swede, sweet corn, sweet potato, taro, tomato, turnip, witlof,…