Innehållsförteckning för Issue 160 från WellBeing

Do you know what kids have in abundance that adults don’t? Yes, they have far more dextrous thumbs; yes, they have a fascination with repetition; yes, they have no fear or respect for gravity; and, yes, they make an artform of food-fussiness. These are all qualities that diminish as we wend our way into adulthood, but they aren’t as valuable as the commodity I was thinking of: kids have a natural sense of awe. I see in my daughters that as the world unfolds to them they experience each new revelation with an unabashed sense of wonder and joy. It can be major things like realising the implications of it being nighttime on the other side of the world when it is daytime here. At the other end of the…

PROTEIN FOR YOUR HEART This study used data drawn from 2000 female twins. Each subject was investigated to establish blood pressure and blood vessel thickness and then the results were compared to their diets. The results showed that those women who consumed the highest amounts of amino acids — components of protein — had lower blood pressure and reduced arterial thickness. However, the source of the amino acids and protein was important. The specific amino acids looked at in this study were arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine and tyrosine. Foods like meat, fish, dairy, beans, lentils, legumes in general, broccoli and spinach are all good protein sources. However, the greatest benefit in this study as far as blood pressure goes was found when the protein came from plant-based…

Silicon has multiple uses. In the technological world, it’s a critical element in high-tech devices and semiconductors. As a food additive, it’s used as an anti-caking agent, to control viscosity of liquids, to clarify beverages, as an anti-foaming agent and dough modifier and as an excipient in various drugs and vitamins. There are many forms of silicon, silica being an oxide (silicon dioxide), colourless or white and insoluble in water. When it’s combined with minerals, the family of silicates is formed — many of which are water soluble. In human health, orthosilicic acid is the most bioavailable form absorbed by humans (commonly called silica) and is vital for the health of many tissues, particularly connective tissue. The highest body levels are found in bones, tendons, liver and kidney, the aorta…

Tell us all about Herman Brauer, the founder of Brauer Natural Medicine. Herman Brauer, a young entrepreneurial pharmacist, opened a pharmacy in Tanunda in 1929. His son Warren, also a pharmacist, took over the store from his father but then later sold the pharmacy to help grow Brauer into larger-scale manufacture as the demand for homoeopathic medicines was growing. Warren and his wife Joy developed their own manufacturing and production facility for orthodox and natural medicine. In 1984, they established what is now the production and laboratory facility of Brauer Natural Medicine. Warren and Joy would often travel to Europe to ensure they were keeping up with the latest formulation and manufacturing developments of homoeopathic medicine. Sadly, Warren passed away in 1994 and, while Joy owns the Brauer building, she…

Spirituality and money seem to live at opposite ends of a spectrum. Many people think of money as being “unspiritual” and often associated with greed and ego; however, it’s not money that is the problem — it’s often the way we think about it. Money is simply a representation of energy. It is our greed and fear surrounding money that causes so much suffering and is detrimental to our wellbeing. Being mindful about how you manage your money can have a significant impact on your overall wellbeing and enable you to be more financially creative. Money used wisely — for example, to help the people you care about or to build a savings buffer against unexpected crises — can be empowering and increase your wellbeing and happiness. By cultivating a…

Back pain can come suddenly through injury but for most it creeps up slowly. Niggling whispers get louder until one day they scream as nerves pinch or muscles seize, forcing you to stop and pay attention. Back pain is the second most common reason for a doctor visit and the most prevalent work-related illness, according to the National Health Survey 2004–9. Eighty per cent of Australian adults have backache, as yoga teacher Eileen Hall (yogamoves.com.au) attests: “Over 35 years teaching yoga, back pain is the ailment that bothers most people.” Back pain can destabilise our serenity and security in everything including sleeping, moving, lifting, sitting, relating, working and thinking. Pain phobia can rock your foundation and kidnap your confidence. However, there are ways back from the brink. As Prince Charles’…

Chances are if you are reading this you have your regular health and wellbeing routines at home, be they healthy eating, regular yoga classes, daily meditation, shopping at your local organic market or a well-loved gym membership. Travelling, while being exciting, engaging and fulfilling in its own way, can take a pretty serious toll on physical and mental wellbeing if this routine is broken. How do you keep fit when you don’t have access to your normal gym or yoga class? Is it possible to fit in downtime without missing out on the sights? And what about healthy eating when you aren’t familiar with the local cuisine? THE BASICS Immunise, immunise, immunise There are some pretty nasty infections that follow travellers around, but the good news is you can protect…

CARLA OATES is a natural beauty expert and the author of Feeding Your Skin. Last issue, I shared my first three principles for healthy skin. Here are the final four, which are just as important. Combined, these seven tenets will keep your insides healthy and your outsides glowing. 4. BOOST YOUR FIBRE INTAKE A healthy colon is key to healthy skin. According to traditional Chinese medicine principles, if faeces move too slowly through the bowel, toxins can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream and lymphatic system and recirculated around the body. This causes waste to accumulate in the body’s tissues and places a far greater load on the detoxification and elimination organs. This autotoxicity is linked to many skin conditions and is a clinical foundation of naturopathic treatment for almost any…

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. When humans talk of “repellent”, it brings to mind something nasty. But, in the garden, the sweetest perfumes can act as pest repellents — not because the pests necessarily dislike them, but because they disguise the scent of pests’ food supply. Want to keep cabbage white butterflies from your cabbages? Stink bugs from the lime trees? Aphids from the roses? Consider some of the plants below. Use them lavishly. As a rule, you need 10 “repellents” to disguise each plant you are trying to protect, but this can vary.…

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. Anxiety and depression are a windfall for the pharmaceutical companies, whose coffers are only going to swell as a burgeoning ageing population struggles to battle these twin mental dragons. That is, unless you introduce Peter Gøtzsche, a Danish physician, medical researcher and co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, the world’s foremost body in assessing medical evidence, who has helmed a number of research papers that cast a giant shadow over the purported benefits of anti-depressant medications. In a coruscating affront to the hallowed edicts of Western psychiatry,…

How will I cope? Inwardly I shudder a little. It’s early morning and I have been tossing and turning all night worrying about how to get my three grandsons off to school. Two of them are autistic: Jay, 12, and Jimmy, 8. I have volunteered to look after them while their parents are away for two nights on a much-needed break. I aim to care for them often, and do, but it’s always a huge, ever-changing challenge. In preparation, I took up meditation. I practise twice a day for 20 minutes in my own special quiet space at home. It definitely helps me keep cool and calm. My partner and I also spend invaluable time beforehand discussing the best ways to help and care for our grandsons. We both agree…

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. FROM THE EDITOR Do you ever get bored? The other day, nothing much happened. I woke up, did yoga, took the bus to work, worked, came home, cooked dinner and went to bed. The next day, I did the same — except I drove. The day after, it was much the same, save I went for a walk and met the friendliest dog. This continued for a couple of weeks, with some social occasions thrown in, but nothing out of the ordinary.…

While the apricot has been cultivated in Armenia since ancient times, its origins are disputed as apricots have also been grown in China and India and the Himalayas since at least 3000 BCE. Apricot trees were taken to Greece by Alexander the Great (circa 300 BCE). The fruit has been grown in Persia since antiquity and dried apricots were an important trade item for the Persians. Today they are a major (traditional) fruit in Iran. The English settlers took them to the New World in the 17th century and the Spanish cultivated them on the West Coast of America around this time. APRICOT STORIES FROM CHINA The Chinese associated the apricot with education and medicine. Even today the written language contains a term “apricot altar”, which refers to an educational…

Te Waipounamu 700×900mm RA CHURCHIN W: facebook.com/romeo alphagallery, instagram.com/romeoalphagallery E: romeoalphagallery@gmail.com I’m an artist. I paint birds and I’m based on the Gold Coast. The intention behind every one of my unique paintings is to allow the viewer to feel uplifted to live a full, naturally high and positive life. My theme is birds, which I feel resonates with the idea that life is about letting go and allowing the freedom of flight to naturally take its course. Or, in human form, learning to trust that life organically guides us. My artwork is my manifesto that I have watched develop with me as I’ve grown. I’d love for others to see my work as a sensory and affirmation experience that not only reflects my path, but their own journeys within.…

Do your nails split easily? Are they weak, brittle or hard to grow? Did you know that the appearance of your nails is a good indicator of your internal health? Naturopaths often use nail diagnosis as a tool to help identify nutritional imbalances in the body. They might not be absolute windows to your inner health, but they can certainly provide insights into possible underlying health conditions. To improve the health and look of your nails you must first consider what you put in your mouth to ensure that you’re eating a wholesome, wellbalanced diet, rich in nail-nourishing nutrients. The right foods, together with appropriate nutritional supplements — where needed — will give your nails the boost in vitamins, minerals and amino acids they need to grow strong and healthy,…

The term “hidden gems” is bandied about a lot in travel to describe little-known sights that are worth putting effort into finding. When it comes to Flinders Island, the island itself is an unknown treasure — a haven of mountains and beaches in Bass Strait, between Victoria and Tasmania, that few Australians have experienced. Within its coastlines are many secrets, too: the gems that should make many bucket lists ... but we’ll get to that. On this occasion, I’m on a quest to uncover the literal hidden gems concealed on Flinders Island as I get stuck into digging for gemstones. Fossicking is an interesting pastime: it’s gritty and dirty with no guarantee of any returns. It’s also a little addictive, because that next dig could produce the best gem you’ve…

Recipes & images from Vegetables, Grains & Other Good Stuff by Simon Bryant, Penguin Books, RRP AU$40 Simon Bryant is a passionate chef, TV personality and creative director of the food and wine festival Tasting Australia. What a guy! You’d think his impressive qualities would stop there, but no — he proudly uses his public profile to highlight ethical food issues, from the importance of using native Australian foods to the kind treatment of animals to offering producers fair prices. Bryant’s second cookbook Vegetables, Grains & Other Good Stuff shares his views, traditional cooking methods and delicious, inventive dishes. Separated into the four seasons, the book begins with an in-depth list of ingredients and their nutritional benefits then expands into sharing delicious vegetarian recipes like mustard leaf saag with yoghurtbaked…

PRODUCTS & SERVICES FROM OUR ADVERTISERS HERBANICA HAND & BODY CREAMS Beautiful, natural products created by a company with a 25-year heritage of making herbal medicines. Based on Australian native plants and with amazing fragrances, these products make the perfect gift. Made in Australia by PPC Herbs. W: herbanica.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 ZK’IN LINE SMOOTHING SERUM zk’in Line Smoothing Serum is an Australianmade certified organic wrinkle-smoothing product. It contains a clinically proven active ingredient to smooth expression lines; 75 per cent of trial volunteers achieved results the day following their first…

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. One of my fondest moments of summer is the abundance of plump, juicy, scarlet-hued berries awaiting transformation into delicious seasonal dishes. Nothing screams summer more than farmers’ market stands bursting with berries. Berries contain a wealth of health benefits. Strawberries are enhanced with high levels of vitamin C: just 100g of strawberries provides twice the daily requirement. They’re also high in antioxidants and are a good source of vitamin K, mood-boosting B vitamins and iodine. Plus, strawbs have been found to act as a protective factor against blood clotting and inflammation by improving the functioning of blood vessels. Blueberries are perhaps…

KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney, Australia. T: +61 2 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au Summer is upon us and our four-legged companions face warm balmy nights, but with summer comes storms and, for many dog owners, the dread of thunder phobia. Afflicted dogs may pace, shake, pant, bark, whine, run and hide. Some dogs will try to escape the noise and will break through a fence or door and run off, sustaining injury in the process. The anxiety symptoms displayed can range from mild to so severe that they interfere with the quality of life of dogs and their owners. The tendency to develop these phobias may be inherited in some dogs. Working breeds, such as cattle dogs and kelpies, may be…

KARIN CUTTER runs a naturopathic clinic in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. T: +61 2 6582 4435 Janelle drooped in for her appointment. There was no other way of describing her dispirited entry. She lost no time in coming to the point of her consultation. “I seem to have no interest in food — nothing tempts me. Constipation is making my life extremely uncomfortable. I try not to take laxatives too often, but all the natural things like slippery elm, chia seeds, flax seeds, aloe vera and herbal compounds have made no difference. I think I must have swallowed every probiotic brand in town, but nothing seems to provide an answer. My husband is complaining that I’m becoming too irritable to be around.” Janelle also mentioned that headaches and…

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 HEALTHY DISH WILL YOU BE MAKING FOR LOVED ONES THIS SUMMER? ▀ Sounds like a great issue. I created a chocolate pumpkin spiced cake on the weekend ... it’s gone already! It was delicious and, if you have children, they won’t even know they’re eating the goodness of pumpkin! Kylie Carmody ▀ I’m going to be making tomato chutney and something cool and crisp ... perhaps a pomegranate salad with goat’s cheese, walnuts, leafy greens, mint and maybe some couscous. Yum! Grace Maloney ▀ Mangoes are my favourite fruit, so I’ll be whipping up a chilled pudding…

I feel wonderful. Truly rejuvenated and restored, as though I’ve been on a month’s holiday somewhere tropical and remote. Rather, I’ve been in the frosty Blue Mountains with my partner Henry, exploring The Inner Space. The Inner Space is an eco retreat located in Katoomba, just under two hours west of Sydney. Owners Jen Hall and Peter Fry transformed the large shed into a passive-solar-design space two years ago. It’s north-facing and captures the sun’s beautiful heat during the day. This, along with mud brick walls and straw bale insulation, keeps the place warm at night. The rendered walls are slightly curved, which Peter fondly describes: “They feel like hands, as though the space is being held.” After two mornings of yoga and meditation indoors here, I feel the weight…

If I said to you that Christina Stevens’ first memoir, Love: The Saint and the Seeker, published by Hay House, really is all about love then you might be expecting a fluffy, cosy little book. There certainly is warmth and heart in every page but, at the same time, Love is possibly the grittiest spiritual book I have encountered. Christina takes you with frank honesty through the challenges of being a child in a theatrical family and then every difficult step in putting her successful filmmaking career on the line to follow a vision driving her to achieve the almost impossible: filming Mother Teresa of Calcutta. There is no sugar-coating here, yet Christina shares her journey with real optimism and compassion — a compassion that now fuels her as she…

“There is nothing we have to give up other than our need to control things” ~ David Frawley Has your quest for a healthy, spiritual lifestyle become too serious? Are you trying too hard for self-improvement at the expense of your relationships and sense of humour? A playful yogic approach to your spiritual journey brings the fun back into your life, moving you out of heaviness or rigid thinking, enabling healthy choices, laughter, lightness in spirit, love and compassion: the essence of sattvic (pure) yogic living. When you’re having fun you are free of judgement, worry and insecurity. You feel exhilarated, connected and energised. You can’t demand it: fun simply arises. Without fun, life is dull and lacking in lustre. When you’re having fun you are fully present, engaged in…

Angela Rojas is a corporate trainer, beliefs coach and consultant. Over the past three years, she has refined her training to cater for individuals and organisations that are inspired by conscious change and growth. If you are serious about building an emotionally intelligent, resilient, creative and fully engaged personality or workforce, you have two workshops or individual belief-coaching sessions that offer powerful insights and tools for change and goal-setting results. As a trainer and consultant certified by Dr Joe Dispenza, Angela has the certification and capability to deliver Dr Dispenza’s work to your organisation. CHANGE YOUR MIND, CREATE NEW RESULTS Change Your Mind, Create New Results, a workshop formerly known as Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, is an eighthour program that can be delivered in one day, two half-days…

SALLY MATHRICK is a practising naturopath. She runs Sparkle Detox and Wellness Courses and Retreats. See sparklewell.com.au for more information. Our brains are remarkable. They are mostly made from fatty tissue, communicate through protein-like structures and use glucose mainly for fuel. For healthy function they need to be well nourished with water, food, oxygen-rich blood, experiences and interactivity. Our brains are protected from toxins by the “brain-blood barrier”, a network of specialised capillaries that controls what can enter the brain and its immediate environment. Over a lifetime, the integrity of this barrier can be diminished and toxins that shouldn’t can access the brain. Also, because the body stores excess toxins in fats, the brain can become a place where they are stored. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently the…

CHRISTINE BROADBENT loves her work as a travelling astrologer and does in-person readings in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. She also offers personal consultations by phone and Skype. For information on Christine’s schedule and seminars, email christine@astrologyspot. com.au or phone or text +61 402 664 101. CAPRICORN January starts with a burst of potency — Pluto in Capricorn — while good fortune gets a Jupiter boost via your problem-solving skills, Jan 6–15. Capricorn New Moon Jan 10 lights a path with challenges and resolutions. Effective action Jan 10–14 sets up positive outcomes; don’t let Jan 21–22 or Feb 1 complicate matters. Be kind and nurturing, and all is well. In January and February, loved ones figure in adventures, likely with travel; Venus-Mars energies Feb 8–14 help relationships. AQUARIUS Your mind works…