Innehållsförteckning för Issue 159 från WellBeing

Life is full of polarity: dark and light, good and evil, yin and yang, young and old, black and white, and so the list goes on. We could wish away darkness, but could light exist without its polar opposite? That’s a debate for another day. Yet, what got me thinking about polarity was the idea of gratitude. I’ve always encouraged my daughters to acknowledge what life gives them and try to do the same myself, but gratitude has been thrust forcefully in my face lately. My father has been very unwell and, being around him and others going through extremely challenging life events, I have been struck by how often I hear people say something like, “Ah well, it could be worse. There are others a lot worse off than…

We’d love to hear your tips for living well. Email us at wbletters@universalmagazines. com.au, comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @WellBeing_Mag. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. WE ASKED: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT SPRING? ■ The warmth with cooler nights and everything starting to grow again. And optimism. Jenny Fischer ■ The mornings start to get brighter and warmer — such a relief when I wake up early for yoga! Angela Peters ■ Spring produce fresh from my local farmers’ market. Tania Fairhall ■ I love driving into the country and seeing the lambs playing. It’s such a small thing but it reminds me of my childhood. Sasha Timms CONVERSATION POINTS ■ Just completed a 5.64km run — bit of grounding at Mooloolabah Beach. @emmylee86…

TREE CLIMBING FOR YOUR BRAIN For a new study, researchers gathered subjects aged 18–59 and tested their working memories. The adults then undertook activities that engaged proprioception (your awareness of your body’s position and orientation in space), such as climbing trees and walking or crawling on a beam 8cm thick. After two hours, the subjects were tested again and the results showed their working memories had improved by a massive 50 per cent. These results were compared to two other groups: one group who sat through a lecture and the other who did an indoor yoga class. Neither of these groups showed working memory benefits. The theory goes that dynamic proprioceptive training puts greater demands on working memory because as your environment changes you recruit working memory to update information…

It’s cold, it’s dark and I’m late; but, finally, after a harried post-work drive with a confused GPS, I arrive at Awaba Retreat, a purpose-built hilltop retreat centre near Palmdale on the NSW Central Coast. Out bustles yoga and meditation teacher Em Cruickshank to welcome me warmly to the Nourish Me weekend retreat and to usher me, bag in tow, through the wide-open door and into my twin-share room. A dozen or so other guests are gathered in the living room in front of a fire listening to wholefood chef and wellness coach Joanna Rushton. I accept a pre-dinner macadamia protein ball and listen as Jo talks about her transformation from conventional chef and personal trainer to a holistic health coach and nutrition expert via personal experience of chronic fatigue,…

If you’re a fan of the TV series River Cottage Australia, you’ll know that its charismatic presenter Paul West is a practical man, one right at home in the country. So it may surprise you that the story of his relationship with food and the land is quite the poetic affair. It did start in paradise, after all — and will doubtless end there, too, if he has his way. He was 21, without a trade and three months into a mission to hitchhike around Australia; living rough in northern Tassie, sleeping in a swag, depending on the kindness of strangers. He was bemoaning not having eaten a home-cooked meal in months when someone told him about WWOOF: Willing Workers on Organic Farms, an international organisation pairing voluntary workers with…

Despite purporting to lift the health of your skin and give it a vibrant lustre, many commercial moisturisers and skincare products contain harmful chemicals that often negatively affect the functioning of your skin, cause it long term-harm and ultimately promote both poor skin and compromised wellbeing. Fortunately, nature has provided us with many beautiful, natural moisturisers that keep the skin soft, supple and well hydrated while also keeping it resilient and protected. Indeed, using products made from 100 per cent natural ingredients also gives you peace of mind that your overall health is not being sacrificed for only superficial or temporary ends. HARMFUL CHEMICALS TO AVOID Moisturisers and other skincare products commonly contain toxic chemicals and medical research shows that significant amounts of such ingredients, including carcinogenic substances, penetrate the…

You can reprogram your immune response to be less reactive with therapeutic herbs and healing practices. Some lucky people seem Teflon coated. They can roll in the hay, eat anything, inhale fumes and load on lotions with no adverse affects. Others eat a speck of peanut and have to be rushed to hospital. Allergic responses are atopic when from birth or acquired through life. The list of allergens is endless, as are the reactions triggered by a hypersensitive immune system. Common irritants are plants, animal hair, foods, insects, medicine, mould and more. If you have a predisposition to allergy, your body identifies these innocuous invaders as dangerous and deploys immunoglobulins, mast cells and basophils for protection. Defence forces try to flush, constrict and swell the substance from your system, waging…

When disciplining children, many parents use timeout, choosing it as a “better” alternative to smacking. However, there is evidence that this parenting tool is significantly more complex than parents think and some experts even consider it a harmful practice. A CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY Time-out has been used in behavioural parenting programs since the 1960s. Shockingly, most people wouldn’t know that the technique was actually developed as a method of training laboratory animals and was later used to manage children’s behaviour. Yes, that’s right: it was developed to control animals and today is recommended by some experts as an approach parents can use to control their kids. There are basically two schools of thought on the technique. Some researchers contend that time-out is an effective way to manage children’s behaviour if it…

Disembarking the ferry amid soaring peaks and coconut palms at Moorea, there’s a Robert Louis-Stevenson-like euphoria of arriving at a fantasy island. Towering overhead, Mount Mouaputa — the “pierced mountain” — casts a shadow the size of a giant slumbering dragon, the green so intense it’s like stepping into a 1940s Technicolor movie. Emerald spines pierce the aquamarine of the sky, testament to the volcanic eruptions that created the 132km-square heart-shaped island 2 million years ago. Time and erosion have carved out a dramatic landscape of lagoons and mountains. Rising 1207 metres above sea level, Moorea is an example of a “high” island, an early stage of oceanic island evolution, but it’s known more tantalisingly as the magical island. In the port village of Vaiare, I’m welcomed by sunshine and…

In 2012, there were 47,500 professional coaches worldwide making a combined average income of nearly $2 billion. It takes a special kind of person to walk the path of a coach. If you’re ready to put in what it takes, to create a life on your terms that supports you and your family to do what matters, this could be your journey. Whether you’re ready for a career change, exploring personal development or just looking for a way to give back, studying coaching could be both rewarding and exciting. The Coaching Institute (TCI) works with people from every background: experienced coaches come to the institute for the next level; passionate beginners rely on it for the support and community they need to succeed; and seasoned professionals lean on it for…

Scientists suggest 60 per cent of what is put on the skin is absorbed into the body. Humans have been using makeup for over 6000 years to enhance their beauty. Indigenous peoples use ochres ceremoniously to paint their bodies. The ancient Egyptians used cosmetics made from many benign ingredients, including castor oil, waxes and rose water, but also toxic ones, including lead-based powders and stibnite (antimonite). Japanese geishas’ white powder contained sticky rice, millet and lead or mercury. One source suggested that in pre-industrial times they used bird droppings to remove the toxic makeup. On theatre stages throughout the centuries, makeup has been used to change actors’ faces and dramatise characteristics to tell a story. There’s been a radical increase in understanding about toxins within theatrical cosmetics since ancient Greek…

SCORPIO Now that Saturn’s heavy hand has lifted and Jupiter’s enthusing ideas are here, it’s time to spread your wings. This is especially propitious with the Scorpio solar cycle now upon us! Scorpio New Moon new start on Nov 12 follows after a hectic fortnight. This is the lunar opportunity, supported by a Sun-Moon-Jupiter connection. Act now or regret it. Ideas that have shaped up over the past six months are ready to fly, colleagues are available, unexpected support appears Dec 1–24. SAGITTARIUS Once a warrior for grand truths, detailed research and careful preparation bring you success these days. Such is the way of Jupiter in your vocational sign. Earthy, practical ideas forge ahead Nov 6–14. Yet Nov 26’s Full Moon highlights issues that may prevent progress, making late November…

I’ve just had a wakeup call. The circumstances in which it occurred weren’t particularly earthshattering, or flattering, but the message has stuck with me for its simplicity and truth. An email arrived in February this year, courtesy of one of you wonderful readers. It was lovely and warm and heartfelt — and I didn’t reply until August. I received a polite email back saying, in essence, that it is common courtesy to acknowledge input in a timely manner and that should be one of our goals. Now, you could come out with all manner of things to rebuff this statement. That sometimes emails get read and forgotten, that messages can sink to the bottom of an ever-growing inbox and go unread, that you’ve been busy and time got away from…

BEET JUICE BOOSTS WORKOUTS This study involved healthy volunteers who, for 15 days, drank either normal fresh beetroot juice or a beetroot juice that had the nitrate removed. The subjects all undertook exercise that involved stationary cycling and the researchers took measurements of oxygen utilisation, heart function and blood vessel function as the participants exercised. The results showed that normal beetroot juice, but not beetroot juice with the nitrate removed, led to lower blood pressure and blood vessels that were more dilated both at rest and during exercise. Less oxygen was also consumed during exercise and blood vessels were more responsive and dilated more easily when needed. The researchers concluded that the capacity of the nitrate in beetroot juice to dilate (open) blood vessels in skeletal muscle during exercise will…

It’s thought that chaste tree acquired its common name because it was given to monks to keep them celibate, and to “check violent sexual desires”. As it was given as a food spice, it was also called “monk’s pepper”. The use of vitex dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, when it was a popular remedy to encourage celibacy. Leaves of the tree were worn by the Vestal Virgins as a symbol of chastity. Vitex has traditionally been considered a hormonal regulator, primarily for gynaecological conditions including menstrual irregularities and mastalgia (swollen breasts) and for relieving premenstrual symptoms. It has also been used after childbirth to aid in the expulsion of the placenta, facilitate lactation and promote menstruation after breast feeding. Chaste tree has also been used to promote sleep,…

Your family took over Inglewood Farms 18 months ago. What inspired this? Our family has been in the organic industry for a long time, operating in organic grain, cattle and stock feed. Due to the challenging organic industry and cost pressures, the Inglewood Farm business came up for sale. As we were already operating in the industry and believe in the organic sector, we could see the farm as a great business opportunity. We took over Inglewood Farms and implemented a different approach, which has seen the business grow in strength. Can you tell us about the Inglewood Farms family? Inglewood Farms is a family-owned and -operated business. My parents Andrew and Jennifer, along with my partner Adrian and me, own the farm and my brother Greg manages the sales…

Cellulite occurs in 85–98 per cent of women after puberty and typically develops on the thighs, hips and buttocks. Women spend millions of dollars every year on an array of anti-cellulite treatments, from miracle creams and fat-busting pills to laser therapy and liposuction. Although these treatments may seem enticing, they are usually super-expensive and no real research supports their longterm effectiveness. There are many theories on the causes of cellulite and how it should be treated, but the best way to really prevent and treat cellulite is to take a natural and multi-faceted approach. You need to address all the major factors that contribute to its development, namely reducing fat deposits and boosting metabolism, supporting collagen production and skin tone, dampening inflammation, improving capillary tone and reducing oedema. WHAT IS…

We live in a time of consumerism and debt. We’re seduced into thinking we need material possessions to be successful — a house, a car, a healthy bank balance — but then told the debts we incur to buy these things are bad. So, at the very core, most of us have unhealthy relationships with money. If you’re struggling with money and feel like you never have enough no matter how much income you bring in, it’s time to go beyond the numbers and take a look at your relationship with money. Just like everything else in our lives, money is an energy exchange and, when you start looking at your thoughts, feelings and patterns around money, you soon come to realise that to love your bank balance is all…

Today’s animal rights movement has its roots in early 19th-century Britain, when the then outlandish notion that animals deserved some protection from cruelty was first mooted. Since that time, awareness has steadily risen; society’s values are now increasingly opposed to animal abuse and, on some fronts, things are changing for the better. Animal testing started in the 1920s in a move to determine the toxicity or risks associated with various consumer products. Based on 2005 figures, researchers have estimated that 115 million animals are used in experiments worldwide every year and these numbers have been increasing. A separate guess points to 100 million of these being mice and rats used in US laboratories. Astoundingly, about 51 per cent of all tests are linked to breeding genetically modified animals for research.…

It’s easy to be a vegetarian or vegan and get all the essential amino acids needed for skin health. Everything you eat, or don’t eat, affects your skin. This means that no matter what your skin type or condition, it can be improved by diet. And, on the flip side, no matter how good the skin you are born with is, problems can arise from eating a poor diet. My first tenet for healthy skin is that beauty begins in your belly: balancing gut health is the number-one game-changer for beautiful, healthy skin. Your gut is where you make nutrients, hormones and detoxifying enzymes; basically, every biological process carried out there can have a profound effect on the skin. Balancing gut health involves avoiding processed food, unnecessary medications, pollution and…

Kids need to pick fruit, climb fruit trees, fill baskets to give others fruit and know there is a world of abundance around them. Linda has a house, a very nice house, repainted and decorated inside, with chooks and a vegie garden out the back. Only, the front is still as bare as when she bought it. What can you do with a bare front yard? First of all, create privacy — fruit trees along the front boundary that will stop passers-by gazing into your home. Linda’s trees need to be fruit trees because she has kids, and kids need to pick fruit, climb fruit trees, fill baskets to give others fruit and know there is a world of abundance around them. Which trees? I asked her what fruit she…

The problem with DHEA is that peak production occurs between the ages of 20 and 30, after which its output goes into steady decline. When my impressionable naiveté was first exposed to the wonders of antiageing medicine at a conference in Las Vegas back in 1998, the prevailing doctrine was that ageing could be prevented and even possibly reversed by the Schwarzenegger-like designs of omnipotent hormones and free-radical-nuking antioxidants. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was the hormone that could deliver us into the promised land of eternal youthfulness. In 2015, the song remains the same. So, separating the science from the salesmanship, can DHEA help us retain our youthful mojo? THE IMPORTANCE OF DHEA DHEA is a hormone that’s made mostly by the adrenal glands, which are perched atop the kidneys. It’s also…

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. COMPANY ON THE JOURNEY Almost two years ago, at the age of 60, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery following the failure of a 39-year marriage. I am learning about forgiveness, learning to let go of fear, learning about the importance of self-love, learning to eat healthy and exercise and, among many other lessons, am learning to live life as it comes every day. One of my lessons was accepting a seven-day yoga challenge and I have been hooked ever since.…

SLEEP YOUR BRAIN CLEAN At night, metabolic waste is removed from your brain via the glymphatic pathway. In this study, researchers wanted to see whether sleeping position impacts the efficiency of the glymphatic system. So they anaesthetised rats and had them lie in one of three positions: lateral (on the side), prone (on the stomach) and supine (on the back). The researchers used MRI to image the glymphatic pathway and found that it was most efficient when the rats lay on their side. Lying on the side also increased the removal of amyloid from the brain, so theoretically would reduce Alzheimer’s risk. Since sleeping on the side is naturally the most popular position for sleeping in both humans and animals, the researchers think this may be because this is the…

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is synonymous with Mediterranean cuisine. The word comes from the Greek meaning “king” (the herb of kings) and it has a fascinating history. Basil is intimately associated with the Feast of the Cross, originating from the mother of the emperor Constantine. Nicholas Culpeper, the famous English herbalist, noted that it was “an herb of Mars and under the Scorpion, therefore called ‘basilicon’”. One of the many members of the mint family, basil is thought to be native to India as it has been grown there for at least 5000 years — certainly long enough to become acclimatised. There are over 200 species of basil: Italian basil is called sweet basil, plus there is Thai basil, lemon basil (O. citriodorum) and holy basil or tulsi (O. sanctum).…

D’ARNE GREENWAY W: redbubble.com/people/dartisan21 E: dartisan21@gmail.com Art defies definition for me. My Bachelor of Visual Arts encouraged the development of an identifiable style, but my mind streams creative ideas in many forms. I paint, sculpt, draw and make jewellery, and I use fabric, yarn, bush wood, leadlight and computer technology to make my art. I created Heart’s Garden to illustrate a short story/parable that flowed from deep inside during a restless bout of 3am insomnia. I manipulated my previously painted acrylic and charcoal scene digitally to express the nurturing landscape of a relationship. You can read the complete story at redbubble.com/people/dartisan21, where I have started to display some of my creations. DArtisan21 is the label I created to unify the diverse variety of my work. My biggest struggle as an…

“ I felt I was falling apart,” says Sarah (not her real name), a 28-year-old pre-school teacher. “For months I would wake up at about 1 or 2am with a terrible burning sensation in my vulva and once it came on it would take hours to settle down. I went to the doctor a few weeks after it started but she said she couldn’t see anything wrong and swabs did not show I had any kind of infection.” As Sarah’s vulval pain became a daily problem, it wore her down, impacting on her mood. “I would wake with this terrible stinging that nothing soothed and feel anxious and upset,” she recalls. “Sometimes it was there as a dull sensation, at other times it was intense and almost unbearable for hours…

Could your prosperity do with a boost? Does it feel as though money is slipping out through that crack in your front door, blowing away like the breeze in the southwest or covering too much ground like the climbing reeds in your garden? If so, vastu shastra, the ancient Indian architectural science of directions, can provide remedies to help bring financial abundance into your home as well as your life. Considered the grandfather of feng shui, this Vedic spiritual practice offers peace and serenity for your desires of wealth creation. ARTHA & PURITY The Vedas recognise prosperity as one of only four aims of life. In Vedic wisdom, increasing artha — your wealth and abundance — is important to the extent that it is in line with the other three…

I love celebrating vegetables in my cooking because there is so much variation both in locality and across the seasons. As the magic of nature changes what vegetables are available for me to cook, so too does it spark inspiration to create a real smorgasbord of beautiful, nourishing dishes in the kitchen all year round. As inspiring as they are, the unavoidable fact is that not all vegies are created equal. Some, however, are such nutritional powerhouses that they are really important for us to consume and cook daily. This family of superstars is known as fibrous vegetables because they are high in fibre, contain very little sugar and starch and are of full of antioxidants and phytonutrients, which are basically plant nutrients. Fibrous vegetables are pretty fabulous because they…

HAN’S CHIA PUDDING WITH COCONUT YOGHURT Serves: 4 125g chia seeds 1 young coconut, water removed & flesh chopped 200g mixed frozen berries 150g yoghurt, plus extra Your favourite nuts & seeds, to serve Raw honey or honeycomb, to serve Fresh berries, to serve For this recipe, you will need a 1L glass jar with a lid. Add the chia seeds, coconut water and flesh, and berries to the jar and mix. It will be a grainy and gooey mix to start with, but don’t worry; the chia seeds will draw a lot of moisture out of the berries and it will thicken and become more gelatinous. Put on the lid and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, stir the yoghurt through the mix. If it’s a bit dry or a…

At the start of the day, agni is said to be quite low, and Ayurvedic practitioners recommend an easily digestible meal followed by a shot of jeera vellam. Three of my favourite teas to enjoy for gut health are a soothing herbal blend of chamomile and lavender, a goldenhued anti-inflammatory warming toddy, and a digestive aid featuring a pungent spice with a long history. Chamomile and lavender tea is a natural stress reliever. These two delicate and calming herbs will settle your nervous system and relax your digestive system at the same time. Chamomile is a wonderful herb to use for soothing an upset stomach. When used as a medicinal aid, it relaxes the muscles and lining of the intestines, which can help if you suffer from poor digestion or…

Yeast infection is also responsible for dogs obsessively licking feet, rubbing their faces on the carpet and skating their backsides along the floor; it may be seen in the genital areas, under armpits and around the base of the tail. If your dog smells more “doggy” than usual, it may be because he or she has a yeast infection. Yeast infections in dogs are usually due to Malassezia pachydermatis. This yeast is actually part of the normal population of micro-organisms that are found on your dog’s skin but, in certain conditions, the numbers will increase. So what causes yeast infections in dogs? Anything that alters the microenvironment in the skin and/or ears. These can be allergies to food, inhaled allergens or flea or contact allergies. We may also see them…

I have seen greater potential benefits achieved with only the aid of an ordinary thermometer than with all other thyroid tests combined. Sitting in front of me was Robin, an extremely well-groomed, stylishly dressed, middle-aged woman, but her fingernails were another story: ragged, cracked and drylooking with uneven, split ends. Although Robin’s hair was carefully styled and professionally coloured, I noticed a tendency to thinning when she bent her head. “Have you had any problems with your hair?” I asked. She looked at me, taken aback. “Now you’ve brought it up, my hairdresser has been commenting that I’m losing more than I should.” Robin began to look worried. “I’m not going to go bald, am I?” Further questioning and examination revealed other pertinent facts: she only maintained her weight with…

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO EatWell chefs (from far left) Adam Guthrie, Lisa Guy, Lee Holmes and Danielle Minnebo celebrated the magazine’s launch by cooking up a (healthy wholefood) storm and treating the WellBeing team to their concoctions. Thanks, team! WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU October, Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month nbcf.org.au October 5–30 November, AU Walk to Cure Diabetes jdrf.org.au/walk October 15–25, Adelaide, AU Adelaide Film Festival adelaidefilmfestival.org October 18–24, AU National Water Week awa.asn.au/ nationalwaterweek October 22, AU Australian IBD (Gut Health) Day gutfoundation.com.au October 22–25, Sydney, AU Sydney Blues & Roots Festival sydneybluesfestival. com.au October 22–25, Sydney, AU MindBodySpirit Festival mbsfestival.com.au October 25, Melbourne, AU Evolve Yoga Festival evolveyogafestival. com.au October 26 Pink Ribbon Day pinkribbon.com.au October 27–28, Sydney, AU Mind & Its Potential mindanditspotential.com.au October 31,…