Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Amazing Choc Chip Biscuits,

3 large, organic ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
1/4 cup organic coconut oil, barely warm - so it isn't solid (or alternately, olive oil)
2 cups organic rolled oats
2/3 cup organic almond meal
1/3 cup organic coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
1/2 teaspoon organic cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
125g organic chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, racks in the top third.
In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla extract, and coconut oil.
Set aside. In another bowl whisk together the oats, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips.The dough is a bit looser than a standard cookie dough, don't worry about it. Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto baking paper lined baking tray. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes. I baked these as long as possible without burning the bottoms and they were perfect - just shy of 15 minutes seems to be about right in my oven.
Makes about 3 dozen bite-sized cookies.

Amazingness cookies, no flour, no wheat, no butter,

Home Wellness Products A Healthy Sweet and Natural Alternative to Sugar


Most people suffer with cravings for sweets. Do you notice that when you have some sugar, you crave more?Did you know that even tobacco leaves are soaked in sugar? There you have a double addiction. Also, what is in most alcoholic beverages? Sugar!

I've known people who were able to give up alcohol, but became even more addicted to smoking, or coffee (with lots of sugar), or lots of sweets - donuts, candies, etc. The problem with sugar is that too much sugar (or any simple carbohydrate), creates insulin rushes that overwork the insulin receptors in the body. As time goes by the body cannot handle all the sugars (and even some grain carbohydrates). The body begins to weaken. White bread is a simple sugar. White rice is a simple sugar. White sugar is a simple sugar. Soft drinks are simple sugars. Even fruit juices are simple sugars. Each of these spikes your blood sugar high, and then drops it down low. This is very hard on the body, on the adrenal glands, and the pancreas. Artificial sweeteners can have even more devastating effects than white sugar.There is a solution, which in fact has been around for hundreds of years. The wonderful solution is the herb Stevia Rebaudiana.There are nearly 300 species of the Stevia family scattered all over the world. Of these, only one…Stevia Rebaudiana…contains the secret of steviosides, which make it the sweetest herb in the world."SunnyDew® and Sunectar® are two of my favorite products. The primary ingredient in both these dietary supplements is stevia. The natural extract from stevia leaves contains no calories and is 250-300 times sweeter than processed sugar. Stevia has been used by South Americans and Asians for centuries as a sweetener and as a dietary supplement. Stevia helps maintain normal blood sugar levels* and enhances food and beverages to help maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.Many companies are now marketing stevia products, but ours is very different. We use a special extraction and concentration process to enhance its benefits. You can also taste the difference—our SunnyDew® and Sunectar® have a unique, delicious flavor with no aftertaste." - Dr. Tei-Fu Chen, Founder and Owner of Sunrider InternationalStevia Rebaudiana is a small shrub native to China and to portions of Paraguay and Brazil. It is now being cultivated in many countries. The best grade Stevia is that from Paraguay.The Stevia herb in its natural form is approximately 20 to 30 times sweeter than common table sugar. Extracts of Stevia in the form of Steviosides can range anywhere from 100 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. And best of all, Stevia gives you a feeling of even energy, rather than the ups and downs created with white sugar.Stevia has historically been used as a safe sweetener, a medicine (as it has antibacterial agents), a cosmetic ingredient, and as a dentifrice (in toothpastes) as it inhibits the development of plaque and cavities. In Brazil it is advertised as an anti-diabetic agent.The Japanese tested stevia extract and found it without health risk. They incorporate it in numerous food products, including candies, ice cream, pickles, and soft drinks. In 1988, refined stevia extract was used in 41% of Japan’s multi-million-dollar market for high-intensity sweeteners.The FDA in the United States has approved the usage of Stevia, not as a sweetener, but as a dietary supplement that helps balance blood sugar and blood pressure! There are virtually no calories in Stevia. You can bake with Stevia since the extracts are heat stable. Here are just 2 of the benefits I have experienced with Stevia:1. Greatly reduced cravings for sugar2. Wonderful even energy all day longThere are many forms and extracts of Stevia. One must be careful to buy the best quality to ensure it has enough active ingredients.Avoid Stevia formulas that are made as follows:1. Liquid formulas with alcohol in them2. White powder (just looking at it, you know it has been processed, just like white sugar).3. Stevia formulas that are liquid but are just the white powder in liquid formIs Sugar a Drug?White sugar is so altered from its original plant form that it is actually a drug.Sugar and sweets can be as addictive as cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol. Sugar can be as difficult to give up as these health-damaging addictions.Physiologically, sugar and sweets excite the same circuits in your brain that are stimulated by pleasure-inducing drugs, giving you a mild and short-lived high.The immune system is immobilized and the body pulls nutrients to digest sugar, placing a heavy burden on the pancreas, liver, and entire body. It creates physical, mental and emotional problems. The average North American consumes 153 pounds of sugar per year.One can of soda pop contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar.Six teaspoons of sugar lowers the immune system 25% for 12 hours.Fifteen teaspoons of sugar lowers the immune system 95% for 12 hoursSugar causes the pancreas to malfunction, leading to hypoglycemia, diabetes, and mood swings.Artificial sweeteners are as dangerous as sugar.How do I know all this? Because I have lived it!Your body will thank you when you decrease or eliminate Sugar.


By Katrina Zaslavsky Katrina is a proud mum, passionate Sunrider Independent Business owner, copywriter for Eagle Vision Design and chief editor of Inspired News which is her creative outlet and culmination of her lifelong love for writing and healthy living. Katrina Zaslavsky from Inspired Wellness : http://www.inspiredwellness.com.au/ . Feel free to contact Katrina at: kat@inspireyourdreams.com .

Monday, July 27, 2009

It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician. ~Meryl Streep


Meryl Streep has an interesting point. A report put out by the Environmental Working Group, titled ' Pesticide's in children's food' concluded that the largest contributing factor to a person's lifetime risk of developing cancer was pesticide residues occuring during childhood. I discuss this not to scare you, but to help you realise the profound affect that feeding your child organic foods has upon them now and in the future.

In the childhood years, the brains are developing, the body systems are forming, the child is in a constant state of growth of vital organs to last a lifetime. Their small bodies consume more foods in relation to their body size than adults do. The amounts of pesticide residues that are deemed 'acceptable' by the government , are calculated on adults, not on children. This all seems a little overwhealming, but the truth is that with education, we have empowerment.

What next??? If going 100% organic is not possible for you now, try avoiding the top 12 containmated food, or better still try purchasing them organically. It is suggested that if you purchase these foods organically you will lower your pesticide exposure by a whopping 90%. ( Environmental orking group, October 2003).

Peaches:
Apples
Red Capsicums
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
Take control of your child's health and you'll find that you will trade trips to the doctor's surgery with deliveries of organics...Great trade off, much preferable.

To your good health

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Clean Up time again




We collected 95 bags of rubbish at our last monthly pick-up, well done!We hope to see you all this Sunday for our next clean up our beautiful Mother Earth Day. Come along and be a part of the Global Clean-up Project in action.

Please send this to everyone you know.

Global Clean-up Project

The most profound changes start by our every day choices…

Date: Sunday, 26 July 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


Location 1:
Lilydale Railway Station
Maroondah Hwy
Melway Ref Map 38 D-4

Co-ordinator: Rose Italiano
Contact: 0425-796-382
Location 2:
Egan St, Carnegie
Melway Ref: Map 68 J-3

Co-ordinator: Laurence Poncin
Contact: 0420-802-044


To attend please choose one of the above locations.

Bring your gloves, a hat, drinking water, sunscreen, and please wear protective shoes.

Please bring your mobile phone with you and have it switched on.

· If you are unable to join us, you can take individual action collecting rubbish. Bags of trash you collect can be added to our global tally.


Many blessings and thank you for your participation.

Kind regards,
Rose Italiano
Global Clean-up Co-ordinator

“Leave every space more beautiful than you found it”
- Louix Dor Dempriey


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Try moving more...




TIP FOR TODAY: No I am not talking about your house, I talking about moving your body. Moving, exercising is imperative, just as important as good food. Exercising builds a strong body, and in conjunction with organic foods, you have a recipe for great health, you will feel good, look good and have more energy.




So everyday challenge yourself to move like you have never moved before. Climb the stairs if given an opportunity, play chasey with the kids, walk, run, dance, skip,ride, jump, climb..Not only will this improve your fitness, but will also help you relieve stress.

Monday, July 20, 2009

PURE WATER ON TAP


Water is one of the main components in determining the quality of our lives. Although water covers more than 70% of the Earth, only 1% of the Earth's water is available as a source of drinking. Yet, our society continues to contaminate this precious resource. Water is known as a natural solvent. Before it reaches the consumer's tap, it comes into contact with many different substances, including organic and inorganic matter, chemicals, and other contaminants. Many public water systems treat water with chlorine to destroy disease-producing contaminants that may be present in the water. Although disinfection is an important step in the treatment of potable water, the taste and odor of chlorine is objectionable. And, the disinfectants that are used to prevent disease, can create byproducts which may pose significant health risks. Today, drinking water treatment at the point-of-use is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity! It is important to take matters into your own hands and determine the quality of the water that you and your family will drink by investigating what is good for you. For ages, I purchased Nobles Pureau Water in a cask, which was great and tasted amazing, but then I found reverse osmosis system. I have installed one my home, the water is the best tasting that I have had, and we have a run off tap that I then use in our garden. For me, water is one of the most important things that we put in our body, well, we cant actually survive for too long without it, so its most important for all of us. So its paramount that we ensure that its the best that we can get. For more information on water filters, check out http://purewaterontap.com.au

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

A fantastic Australian Story




Peter Andrews is an amazing man, doing great things for the Australian environment. Australian story on ABC, featured his tale just yesterday. He is an farmer, passionate about restoring our degraded land, and doing it holistically. Check it out here http://www.abc.net.au/austory/

If you want to learn more about what he is doing for our environment, check him out here http://www.naturalsequencefarming.com/, he claims to have the best bio diverse organic farm in the world. Maybe we all have something to learn from him....


ORGANIC EMPIRE, organic home delivery melbourne

Monday, July 13, 2009

Just don't tell them its HEALTHY


The lunchbox is always a bone of contention in our household. Wars are waged daily over it, why didn't you eat that? You need to eat that ?... So in desperation, I have needed to become a little more creative in my lunch box culinary ventures, which is always a bit challenging when you wake up 15 mins before the kids need to go to school. Nutrition is the forefront of my food preparation, so not only does the food need to look good, and taste good, but it has to be good. Eating organic is a great start, but not all organic packaged foods are healthy foods. So for me, its most important that my kids get as many fresh real foods into them.


So everyday, the lunchbox is broken up into 4 sections, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea and snacks.

VEGETABLES: Lunchboxes are a great opportunity to get kids eating vegetables. Cut them as creative as you can. Stars, suns, flowers, swords, call them what you will, just make sure you dont call them vegetables. Kids love to dip, so add some dip, maybe some hommus, some tzatzki, or pesto. Package in small, kid friendly containers. Try carrots (cut up), corn, raw off the cob (its pirates gold in our house), cucumber, cherry tomatoes, celery etc.

FRUITS: Every child has their favourite fruit, so be sure to include at least one of these daily in their lunch box. If you can, chop these up, make it easier for their little hands to enjoy. I swear fruit always tastes better when someone has cut it up. Make a fruit salad, cut the orange into rounds, apples into stars.

PROTEINS: We always pack a small container of nuts, depending on what we have in the house, we usually do a trail kind of mix, we mix almonds, sunflower seeds, dried fruits, apricots, etc.

CARBOHYDRATES: Some sandwich ideas, call them crazy names:

Far far away felafel's
Cut a pitta in half, spread with cream cheese, hummus and baba ghanouj, add thinly sliced cucumbers and tomato and if you can a falafel.

You are nuts
Spread cashew or almond paste on the inside of a pita. Add fresh sliced pear (dip into some lemon water to prevent browning) or use a sugar free jam.

Orange Nut
Raw Nut butter** and grated carrot.



You get the idea, use the ideas below and make up your own names, that you kids would find funny.

Avocado, bean sprouts and tomato
Baked beans (drained) and grated low fat cheese
Bananas mashed with ricotta cheese
Chopped egg, lettuce
Hummus, sliced tomato and sprouts
Cream cheese, grated carrot and sultanas
Cheese, pineapple and lettuce
Peanut butter and honey
Peanut butter lightly spread, topped with chopped dried fruit (apricots and sultanas)
Tabouli salad, lettuce and fetta cheese


WATER: Sweet hydration, is so important for every body.


I think its paramount to be creative in all your endeavours with kids, allow them to be involved where you can and give them a passion for good food.

Kids love making their own food, so encourage them where you can, a  burrito or a pita pocket they make themselves can be a fun and healthy lunch option. Prepare shredded vegetables, sauce, and let the kids assemble their own lunch at school. You control what goes in it and they choose what they like!
Kids love surprises, so I try to include something that will surprise them in their lunchbox, so that they look forward to opening it. This might be a note on their paper bag, or a 'treat', like some cranberries with raw cashews (sooo good). If these don't appeal to your child, you will know what does.
Make some muffins, some healthy biscuits

Try to mix things up a bit, use different breads (avoiding white breads, where possible), expose them to different flavours, different packaging and hopefully you'll get different results.

**Place nuts of choice in a blender and grind till a butter like consistency is formed

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

MEN AND THEIR PROSTRATE

Men’s Health - Prostate
Don’t be Hesitant - Help for Prostate Enlargement is Available
One of the most common health problems experienced by men is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is a medical term that means a man’s prostate gland has become bigger than it should be. Because the prostate gland wraps around a part of the urinary tract, when it becomes enlarged, it actually presses on the tube that carries urine, altering the ability to pass urine.

Prostate facts:
• Only males have a prostate, females do not.
• A normal prostate is about the same size and shape as a walnut.
• 2/3 of the prostate is glandular tissue which produces fluid for semen, which carries sperm during a man’s orgasm.
• 1/3 of the prostate is muscle, which contracts during an orgasm to expel the semen into the urethra.
• The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis.
• 50% of men will develop an enlarged prostate by the time they are 50 years old.
• Up to 90% of men aged 70 to 90 years old develop an enlarged prostate.

Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate Include:
• Difficulty starting to urinate;
• Difficulty maintaining urinary flow, or starting and stopping when trying to pass urine;
• Needing to urinate urgently;
• Needing to urinate more frequently, and
• Increase in the occurrence of urinary tract infections, which may cause irritation or burning when passing urine.

These problems occur because the urethra is squashed as the prostate increases in size (BPH is a serious and troubling medical problem that requires proper management). It is important to mention that BPH is not prostate cancer, nor does it make you more likely to develop prostate cancer, however it is possible to have both.

Good News for Men with BPH
If you’re sick and tired of needing to pass urine all the time, getting up in the night to pass urine and dribbling then nature has a gift for you. Particular herbs are very effective at managing BPH and reducing the troublesome symptoms. A combination of these beneficial herbs can be taken to manage BPH and may also be worth considering where there is a strong family history of BPH.

Giving Nature a Helping Hand
Zinc is like the prostate’s best friend! Zinc is an essential nutrient for men’s health, and having low zinc levels can create health problems. For men, it is particularly important to include zinc rich foods (preferably organic) in your diet. These include oysters, milk, baked beans, egg yolks, herring, beef, lamb, cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds (you can snack on these or throw them in a salad).

There is an easy taste test that we can do to check your zinc levels at my practice. It takes only 10 seconds to do and is completely painless. If your zinc level is really low, it is worth taking a liquid zinc supplement. This is the most effective way of boosting your zinc levels when they are really low and improving your health fast! Then you may rely on zinc rich foods to keep your levels up.
Don’t let a manageable condition such as BPH interfere with your life. Call the practice today to organise an appointment for your zinc check-up and to discuss achieving optimal health.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Feel Good Foods



One can not think well, love well, or sleep well if one has not dined well.
- Virginia Woolf, 1929

Everyone is feeling it, its Winter, everyone is a little chilly, a little more stressed. All the major junk food companies are recording record sales increases. In times of financial and life stress, people generally turn to the cheapest food options, these fast packaged foods present comfort and convenience. They also come with a warning, not printed anywhere is the advertising or packaging. 'These foods are not good for you.....', although they appease your needs in the moment, the ramification's of consuming these foods on a regular basis are not seen instantly.


Health experts warn that during economic downturns people typically, in the quest to save money, turn to cheaper less-healthy eating choices.
Extra weight “recession pounds” results from the increased consumption of cheaper junk and fast foods that also happen to be tasty by virtue of the fact that they are often loaded with salt, fat, and highly processed carbohydrates.


What you save now, you pay for later in doctor's bills, lowered self esteem and poor health. Use this time to gain control of your life and health, instead of filling yourself up with a quick fix. Ironically this is one of the reasons that people reach for junk, is to feel like they have control of their lives.Use this need to empower yourself. Get healthy,eat well and go for a walk.

We are better equipped to life's stresses, when are minds and bodies are fuelled with the right foods, foods that provide us with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Consuming these foods on a regular basis counteracts free radical damage and builds a strong mind and body. First and foremost an increase in all fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet, will make a big difference, below a few foods that can be noted for the stress fighting properties.

TRY ADDING THESE TO YOUR WEEKLY INTAKE


Blueberries: Are bursting with Vitamin C and antioxidants; which undo free radical damage and help protect the body and help it deal with stresses. ( Although they are not in season at the moment you can still get them frozen)


Almonds: They are great at lowering blood pressure and keeping oxygen flowing through the body. They're packed with vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc. B vitamins and magnesium are involved in the production of serotonin, which helps regulate mood and relieve stress. Zinc has also been shown to fight some of the negative effects of stress, while vitamin E is an antioxidant that destroys the free radicals related to stress and heart disease.



Spinach: An amazing superfood, provides a huge amount of magnesium , which is a mineral that helps keep stress levels low in the body. In fact all the green leafy vegetables are great for the mind and body.





Dark Raw Chocolate: Raw Cocoa and dark chocolate contain significant amounts of antioxidant flavanols, which have been shown to improve blood flow in the brain. Not all chocolates are created equal. Raw chocolate is not the same as commercial chocolate and it actually has health properties.



Bananas: This fruit is packed with vitamin B, a super food when it comes to regulating stress. By keeping nerves and brain cells healthy, this nutrient keeps blood pressure and stress hormones in check during high-tension situations that trigger a fight-or-flight response


Avocado: The next time stress has you desperate for a high-fat, creamy treat, skip the ice cream or cream and try some homemade guacamole -- the thick, rich texture can satisfy your craving and reduce those frantic feelings. Plus, the green wonders' of the avocado of monounsaturated fat and potassium can lower blood pressure



To your good health...

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

GET COOKING OR UNCOOKING!!!


You know with our fast paced lifestyles, sometimes we lose touch with the most important things, one of them being food. We forget how to cook, how to look after ourselves, nourish ourselves....or sometimes we just need a new repertoire. If this is happening to you, then make a change seek out someone that can help, there are so many amazing wholefood cooking classes in this wonderful place, Melbourne. We have compiled this short based on recommendations, the best form of advertising.




In Ballarat and Melbourne, there is Thrive Foods, run by Michelle Russell, she believes in A wholesome, sustainable and healthful life can be fun, simple and invigorating. She has come highly recommended. Her website is http://www.thrivefoods.com.au/.




Another cooking class that comes highly recommended is Sandra Dubs, she is the Oz Food Trainer, she specialises in wholesome wholefoods, her website is http://www.ozfoodtrainer.com/




In the Dandenongs, there is an amazing naturopath, Kate O'Dwyer who does seasonal cooking classes, her phone number is 9761 9675.




For a worldly culinary adventure there is Semillas kitchen, check her out at http://www.semillaskitchen.com/ .




If you want to learn to prepare organic raw fresh foods, call us and we can give you some numbers to call and if you can suggest some to mention, please let us know.



ORGANIC EMPIRE, organic home delivery melbourne