Sunday, January 17, 2010

11 WAYS TO GET HEALTHIER THIS SUMMER


  1. Have a healthier dinner, did you know that cooking or chargrilling meats at high temperatures has been linked to the formation of carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Try some fresh fish steamed or perhaps some dare I say tofu…

  2. Try working out outside….instead of heading to the gym, pick up your skipping rope and head to the park or the beach. Use the children's equipment to do your step-ups, get creative everything that you need to get a great workout is there and its free

  3. Drink more water, when you are hydrated your skin looks great, your eyes fresh and your brain can work at its best. Just a drop in hydration levels of 1-2% can reduce your brains ability to perform at its peak.

  4. Make sure you wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Use organic sunscreen, most sunscreens contain a toxic list of chemicals, among them Avobenzone and titanium dioxide, these two active ingredients have been implicated in a host of nasty issues, namely cancer. There are alternative ways to protect your skin and get healthy contact us (tastesbetter@organicempire.com.au) to get some organic sunscreens or get hold of some zinc oxide based sunscreens although a little more expensive, they are good for you.

  5. Get outside and explore this amazing place we live in, discover your local beaches, forests and waterfalls. Researchers found that walking in your local forest can boost your immunity by a whopping 46% percent.

  6. Have a salad everyday. Not only will this increase your vegetable intake, but also your intake of enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

  7. Let the sun shine in, open the curtains as soon as the alarm goes off. Sunlight signals your brain to stop the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, and acts as a natural antidepressant, boosting mood

  8. Make sure you get good nights sleep; researchers have found that people who slept less than 7 hours per night were x 3 likely to catch colds than those who slept 8.

  9. Laugh laugh laugh, not only is it a great abdominal toner, it's a blood-oxygenator, endorphin-releaser, and general body relaxer

  10. Move your body; we were designed to be sedentary most of the time. We were made to move, dance, walk, stretch, expand and engage. So go for a swim, run, walk, talk, garden….keep moving!

  11. GO ORGANIC, get a box of the freshest organic produce delivered to your door. Save your health, save your money and your time. tastesbetter@organicempire.com.au

Stress Head



The kids are not ready, you can't put together an outfit to wear, the keys are hidden somewhere and you should have left thirty minutes ago. Mmmm sound familiar, to assist in this stress the body, has ways of rising to the challenge and preparing yourself to respond, the hypothalamus reacts initially by releasing stress hormones, the memory becomes more acute, your pupils dilate, the mouth dries up, immune system becomes impaired, the heart rate and the strength of contraction increases, your blood pressure rises, the lungs dilate, digestion slows down, sweat secretion increases and your blood glucose increases and often you will need to urinate more frequently. Now your body is prepared and activated for anxiety.


These amazing responses have evolved over time as a mechanism coined 'fight or flight'. These responses are what has kept our human ancestors alive, preparing for battle or escape, by improving their ability to perform under pressure and deal with outrunning a tiger or battling an army. Now days these same responses are used continually in our daily lives for different reasons, meeting the deadline? Being at work on time, and for more serious issues. Stress can be a good motivator sometimes, pushing you outside of your comfort zone, forcing you to deal with issues, but continual activation of these mechanisms can prove to be quite detrimental to the body and human psyche. The consequences can range from feelings of continual hostility, crying, and constant anxiety to over-eating and inability to sleep.


There are ways to deal with stress, that don't involve burning out and one of the most important in my opinion, is an adequate diet that caters for the increased needs of B-Vitamins, the stress vitamins,(good sources are organic bananas, organic broccoli, leafy organic green vegetables, wholegrains, lentils, salmon, nuts, sunflower seeds, free-range organic eggs) which affect the nervous system and calcium (found naturally in sesame seeds, organic dairy foods, leafy organic green vegetables, organic soy and tofu, nuts, and fish) which counteracts the lactic acid that your body produces when your muscles are continually tensed. As well as the vitamins C and A, which are depleted. (Try organic broccoli, organic parsley, organic capsicums, organic strawberries, oranges, carrots)


A well balanced diet does amazing things for our body's ability to deal with anything, and inconjuction with the following should help in keeping stress at bay…..


Try moving your body, go for a walk or a run


Hang out with people that you love, have a laugh with your friends and family


Take some deep breaths


Set yourself realistic goals and deadlines


Try avoiding drinking alcohol, smoking and Coffee.


Watch what you are thinking; be aware of your inner chatter.


Seek help if it all feels like too much.

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Globetrotting Gourmet



Do you love to travel and learn about food? Why not combine the two, have a functional holiday. There are many companies around that do food tours, but I have found one that is committed to sustainable and responsible tourism. I had the pleasure of meeting these guys at a Taste Victoria function last year, the duo, Robert Carmack and Morrison Polkinghorne personally take you on an Asian food tour, specializing in China and Vietnam.




If you are thinking of taking a holiday, take one with a difference and absorb a culture through your tastes buds. You can find out about them at http://www.asianfoodtours.com/ or give them a call on


(02) 9550 5510


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