Feb 27, 2014
5 BASIC PANTRY NEEDS FOR A HEALTHIER YOU
Sep 3, 2013
Are You Stuck in a Food Rut? Here's my tips to get out
It happens to the best of us. We start out with great intentions. We are food lovers at heart after all. We crave the healthier food more often, and are happy to give in the some choccie here and there. We get creative in the kitchen, Instagram incredible looking dishes, that taste even better.
What happens when that food spark dulls a little?
Aug 13, 2013
Need health advice? Ask Yourself... No-one knows your body better than you
This has been a looooong lesson learned for me. That I know best. Those are big words right? It implies that we trust ourselves. That whatever decision we make will be perfect. That regardless of what everyone else says will work, if we feel so strongly that it's not for us, being brave enough to roll with that feeling, contrary to every body else.
The biggest part of why I have struggled with trusting myself for so long was because of a disconnection to myself. I could say it all begun with my parents divorce when I sat there very upset but telling myself "don't cry, don't cry, don't cry" for whatever reason I seemed to think was good enough at the young age of seven, but for all I know, it could have been even earlier. I was sad and felt to cry but made myself not. Incongruence at it's best. And from then on I taught myself how to master the art of hiding my feelings and disconnecting from my emotions.
This unfortunately also laid the path for what was to become a very strong dis-connect from myself. Eating disorders, depression, binge drinking... these all appeared and stuck around for a good few years because I was incredibly 'not-attached' to myself. I know this may sound ridunculously stupid, by being 'not-attached' to myself I simply mean that my thoughts and my body were never on the same page.
I felt hungry, but didn't eat. Or I was full but kept eating. I felt unhappy but tried to mask it. These still, to this day, cause me minor hiccups every now and then as I often look at the clock to see how long it has been since I last ate, as hunger and fullness signals get muddled up from years of ignoring them all.
But over the years I have gotten better at re-connecting with myself and allowing myself to feel everything I never used too; hunger, fullness, pain, saddness, happiness and more. And in the process of doing so I have begun to hear and feel the little nudges and whispers I get in direct relation to my health; my own journey, what is great for me and what is not, and everything that encompasses.
+ Like feeling that turkish bread will bloat me - but eating it anyway, and of course, getting bloated.
+ Being told my daily coffee enema would aggravate my colon more than help my liver (which needed support) - I stopped them and have felt nauseous most days since.
+ Wanting to join a female bootcamp to meet friends on arriving to Cairns last year, but knowing it was not the best as I was trying to heal adrenal fatigue - well I got worse, almost pulled out (didn't coz of stubborness and not enough self love though) and ended up putting on weight.
+ Knowing somewhere within me that nothing would heal my acne except learning to love and accept myself - not that this made it any easier; it's still a work in progress (having said that, plenty of things have made great improvements in my skin, but even through science-based studies, and knowing the physical and physiological reasons for acne and how to treat it, I simply know they are not my answers)
At the same time, it can be a bloody tough slog realising that we are our best teachers. Hopefully it's only initially and will get easier (I'm still new to this too remember). Sometimes we want to heal and correct something right now and so go about trying, ingesting, and changing everything we can. Even if we know deep down there's a lesson here and it won't go away instantly, we continue trying everything we can.
Think of the overweight woman who has tried every diet, every personal trainer at her gym, every supplement known to shred, every tea to help boost her metabolism, every tapping technique, hypnosis technique, portion sizes, even meal times. All the time having no luck, and in fact knowing that her issue has nothing to do with the food but everything to do with the whispers she is getting about the need to love herself just as she is (and then the weight will magically fall off - no joke).
Additionally, and I know this one too well, when we really want help with something but fail to find anyone who can really help us. As if that isn't a sure enough sign that you've gotta work it out for yourself! We either don't believe what we are feeling intuitively or are too scared to follow it. But I've heard and read time and time again about people who after years of seeking help, end up trusting their gut and healing themselves of cancer, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, you name it, simply because they could never find someone who could help them with their condition.
Does your gut tell you that the best exercise right now is to do nothing, yet you're too attached to your routine that you don't listen, only to get an injury next week or go further downhill with fatigue?
It's not miraculously easy to just begin trusting your gut and knowing that you are your best healer - or we would all be doing it right? But we can at least practice day by day. Ask yourself "what would I like for lunch?" and see if you get anything back. Next time you're at the markets hold an apple in one hand and a banana in the other. Which one feels lighter (and no, I don't mean by weight)?
These little questions and experiences get us in touch with our body and it's innate wisdom so that when we are presented with bigger things, we will still feel, see, hear the sensations so we can trust our gut.
If you (think you) don't know why you're always bloated, sit with it, as I'm sure you'll get some sense of an idea (you might just not want to accept that you have to ditch your beloved dairy).
If you still have no clue why you've had eczema for 10 years, and no doctor has helped you, feel into this one. Something is sure to come up, if it hasn't already but you've chosen to ignore it.
As an almost-qualifed-Nutritionist, of course I can help you with many things as I have learnt so much through my studies and truckloads more through my own experiences. But only YOU will already know more about YOUR body than I ever will. So trust that girl. Sure an apple is super healthy... but if you feel sick eating it, and only you will feel this sickness, then stop eating it, no matter how many people tell you it's good for you.
Capishe?
Christie xx
Fancy a weekly round up of my blog posts, plus extra goodies only found in my newsletter? Then sign up here and you'll be seeing me every Friday in your inbox :)
Jul 16, 2013
REVIEW: My Health and Where to From Here
Its been a while since I posted about how my health has been, as last year I took you all through my journey of getting off raw foods, healing adrenal fatigue, exhaustion, and all the way continuing to heal my skin. Well in amongst all that I also always had gut issues, but have to say, the majority of my time on raw food I had none. It was only towards the end of my 100% raw days (after which my body had sufficiently detoxed and cleansed and was over due for rebuilding, and thus going down hill - fast - in my opinion; in hindsight) that my gut started playing up again. I say again, because it all began in primary school when I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Since I lasted posted about my fatigue and how I was feeling, I have had 2 months off to rest in Thailand, and continue trying new things to get my body back to where it functions optimally. I've just begun seeing a new Naturopath that I work with here in Cairns and now have a new plan to follow; hopefully healing my gut issues once and for all, beginning the cascade effect to heal the rest.
We're beginning with the gut as that's where all my issues stem from. Beginning with a few diet changes and supplements, we're going to heal the gut lining. Then we can reintroduce the good bacteria. Then do a parasite cleanse, a candida cleanse, and with other supplements continue to seal and heal, restoring my gut to its former glory. You might see it strange as this is in part what I have always been doing which is true. But I've been missing small pieces to my puzzle and in forever learning more and trying more, not everything that sounds miraculous is miraculous. And as I've learnt, some wonder changes for some are useless (or worse) for others.
Once I've healed my gut (which could take who knows how long), my liver will next on the list - poor guy isn't working optimally so detoxification and hormone issues are getting muddled up or not getting done. Both my gut and liver issues will also impact my adrenals and thyroid; both of which have been under functioning quite severely. Once we've done that, my skin, nervous system and adrenals are to follow.
My Diet Changes -
+ Vegetables are my staple; mainly cooked ones as these seem to settle in my tummy better, but a salad each day is still a vibrant, alive mix of colour and life, and they are also becoming easier to digest.
+ Loving organic ghee! Oof it costs a bomb in comparison to organic butter but the taste is out of this world! And it's been used in Ayruvedic medicine for both gut and skin issues forever. Purely Twins (who were one of my Sisters interviews here) also enjoy ghee to heal their gut and skin issues. I always use this to cook with, and love a spoonful ontop of hot veggies as well.
+ Eating red meat, chicken, and seafood, as well as getting back on my bone broth. This may surprise a few of you as I haven't mentioned this on my blog before. From my Hair Mineral Analysis, my body needed protein. And more zinc, less copper (which means animal foods). Specifically animal protein. But my stomach acid wasn't ready for it so we had to look at that at the same time (see Supplements below). Fish is my preferred animal protein food and I eat tuna or salmon most days. Chicken and red meat might be seen on my plate once a week; twice tops, sometimes never. Partly due to my body not needing it every day, and partly due to me not knowing how to cook it (vego here for 15 years). I feel great drinking bone broth and this is easier for my tummy than meat anyway. But when I do eat chicken or red meat, I seem to have no digestive upsets (bloating, cramps, wind, etc) and I feel better the following day. Yes the whole meat thing was initially hard to look at, but as I felt my body was becoming more open to trying meat again, it seemed less and less daunting, almost easy. There were still tears, and me having to look at the reasons I was choosing to do this, but so far I'm doing ok.
+ No more fermented foods; I'm not gonna lie. This has upset me. Kombucha is my favourite thing in the world, and B's saurekraut is pretty darn good too. Fermented foods are great for gut health, but in my case, my gut is so wounded and sore that it first needs to be patched up before any happy friends can come and play.
+ Superfoods more; I went through a period where I wasn't really feeling like any of these, and through Thailand I only took a green powder blend. But more recently I'm loving acai in particular, but also maca, lucuma, and spirulina. Acai and spirulina give me the most energy and clarity in my head. Maca seems to calm me and make me feel settled.
My Supplement Changes -
For the past few months I have been taking:
+ 2012 Probiotic
+ Vitamin C liquid
+ Glutathione liquid
+ Digestive enzymes + gentian root + HCl
On seeing my Naturopath up here in Cairns, these have all been put on hold. I've got different enzymes as the ones I was taking were not helping my gut. And the vitamin C and glutathione liquids are probably going in one end and out the other as my gut lining is not doing it's job, so we'll save them for later.
In the meantime I am now taking these guys:
+ Apple cider vinegar; taken before meals to stimulate production of stomach acid (which is pretty much non-existant in me) and get my digestion going - it's working wonders!
+ Digestive enzymes; taken with meals - again; wonderful!
+ Nettle tea; 3 cups every day to nourish from top to toe - I find I crave this
+ Liquid herbal mix; to support my nervous system. This isn't the main focus right now but as my body is running on empty, we needed to start with this as well, but will dive in deeper with my nervous system down the track after Ive healed my gut - horrible as most liquid herbs but I know they are doing me well
Other Changes -
+ Regular lymphatic drainage facials; I've just started doing this again, and I'm only going once a month, maybe twice, for financial reasons. If I could I'd be there every week. It makes a huge difference to my skin.
+ Self love practices; facials, yoga, reading in bed, meditation, body brushing, cafe + book dates, girlfriend catch ups, travel to see family and friends. These all nourish my soul, my body, my mind, my spirit. I feel rested and relaxed when I do these, and more recently I have felt, seen and noticed the difference in my moods, energy levels, and self love when I do or do not do these. Much happier Christie when I do :)
+ Not exercising; this has probably been the hardest to come to terms with and to be honest I only really did last week after reading a blog post by Amanda Daley here. Always an exercise fan (runner, netball, rowing, weights classes, cardio classes, bike riding, yoga, pilates), I've still tried to do something active everyday. At least a walk you know? Well I can now see why sometimes a walk is even too much for me. From my place to the end of our street is about 200 metres, and on some occasions, I'm wrecked after doing that. On other days, I have felt super strong and powerful and decided to go for a run - and felt amazing afterwards (endorphins right?), only to be wiped out for the rest of the week. And then beating myself up and being quite upset that I still don't have enough yet energy to do yoga or go for a walk everyday. I'm coming to terms with it's ok to not exercise. For now. Until whenever feels right. We all do it as we believe we need too for our health. But do we really? I'm not saying yes or no. But I am saying that if a 10 minute slow walk wipes me out, perhaps I shouldn't be doing it.
+ Yoga; I wish I could do a daily practice but my body and it's energy levels are so up and down I struggle with consistency. Some days I'll do 45 minutes, but some days it's none. When I can manage it though, I love it, my body loves it, and I walk off my mat centred, energised, happier and feeling lighter on my toes.
+ Gratitude journalling; I try to do this every evening but let's face it, I don't always. When I do though I am filled with gratitude (obviously) but also joy and happiness looking back at all the wonderful things I am blessed to have in my life and it does light me up.
+ Coaching calls working on my "mean girl" ego, my fears, beliefs and more. I'm still working through them all bit by bit and it's bloody hard at times but it's all worth it. So I've been told ;)
+ No more coffee enemas; potentially; I'm still debating this one. For all things liver it's been going great guns, and I have to say since stopping these last week, there have been more than one occasion I have felt a little nauseous, and I'm putting it down to my liver trying to clean up everything else going on, and perhaps it's not performing at it's best. That's my instinct and it does make logical sense - in my case. I've had my current naturopath tell me that the coffee will be aggravating my bowels. Ok. So I stopped. But the nausea. I spoke to my lecturer (who has been in natural health for over 50years) and she disagrees - in my case. As does my naturopath in Sydney. Please note this is not a blanket statement. There is definitely times/people/cases where coffee enemas WILL aggravate your bowel. This is just another conflicting theory that I've got to sort out myself... unless you know more than me and can shoot me some info, I'm all ears :)
How I am feeling
+ More energy; generally speaking. Today; not. Some days plenty more, other days I feel like I've gone backwards. Two steps forward one step back right? But to rate my average energy out of 10... I'd say a 5.5. Maybe a 6.
+ Clearer skin; I'm so happier that I can actually see clearer skin. However this week one side of my face has been less than pretty. I'm wondering whether this is part of my healing crisis (will speak more on this next week), a monthly stage of elimination, or something else not being so happy. Having said that, on the whole, it's better. I do have very healthy beautiful vibrant skin in, under, and around my acne which I put down to my lifestyle. It's just the acne I have to let go of.
So be it from lymphatic drainage facials, exfoliation, coffee enemas I was doing (not anymore), green juices, vitamins, things starting to work better again, more self love and believing that I can have clear skin... who knows! It's clearer and that's all that matters :)
+ I feel like I'm functioning! Having said that I've had super whacked out week and could've said I'm totally not functioning and I've turned into a crazy person. So maybe again, two steps forward, one step back.
+ Sleeping better; I never set my alarm anymore unless I've got work that day. So if I need extra sleep I get it. Some days I plonk myself in bed late arvo for a half hour snooze if I'm feeling like keeling over and these also make a huge difference. I have also been feeling more well rested on the whole (although not this past week); I always slept well (sometimes 10hrs a night at my worst) but still woke up feeling like I crawl back into bed. Less and less like this which feels awesome!
+ Digesting foods way better; way less bloating, next to no cramping pain, regular bowel movements... This is HUGE for me and I've had this on and off since I was 7yrs old. I cannot explain the joy from eating a meal and not getting bloated. Wow. Wow Wow Wow!
So...
If anything this has all taught me how adrenal fatigue is way more complicated than we all think, can be brought upon by some many different factors (or a whopper combination) and that recovery is slow and steady. Really slow and steady. But if I mess things up now, I'll only go backwards. And no doubt much faster than I initially did. At times, for sure without a doubt it can feel like the hardest thing ever - having no motivation, energy, get-up-and-go, oomf, or burst of joy filled happiness like I used to feel everyday. The restoration process is different for everyone; routine has to go out the window for some, for others they need it. And ever facet of healing is the same.
So next time I'm feeling like superwoman I'm going to high five my angels and thank everyone around me for being so wonderful. And perhaps go get a sh*tload of blogging done instead of believing a run will do me good.
Christie xx
PS. Want more on my healing journey, nutrition know how, food for thought, recipes and first-to-know competitions? Sign up for the newsletter here
Since I lasted posted about my fatigue and how I was feeling, I have had 2 months off to rest in Thailand, and continue trying new things to get my body back to where it functions optimally. I've just begun seeing a new Naturopath that I work with here in Cairns and now have a new plan to follow; hopefully healing my gut issues once and for all, beginning the cascade effect to heal the rest.
We're beginning with the gut as that's where all my issues stem from. Beginning with a few diet changes and supplements, we're going to heal the gut lining. Then we can reintroduce the good bacteria. Then do a parasite cleanse, a candida cleanse, and with other supplements continue to seal and heal, restoring my gut to its former glory. You might see it strange as this is in part what I have always been doing which is true. But I've been missing small pieces to my puzzle and in forever learning more and trying more, not everything that sounds miraculous is miraculous. And as I've learnt, some wonder changes for some are useless (or worse) for others.
Once I've healed my gut (which could take who knows how long), my liver will next on the list - poor guy isn't working optimally so detoxification and hormone issues are getting muddled up or not getting done. Both my gut and liver issues will also impact my adrenals and thyroid; both of which have been under functioning quite severely. Once we've done that, my skin, nervous system and adrenals are to follow.
My Diet Changes -
+ Vegetables are my staple; mainly cooked ones as these seem to settle in my tummy better, but a salad each day is still a vibrant, alive mix of colour and life, and they are also becoming easier to digest.
+ Loving organic ghee! Oof it costs a bomb in comparison to organic butter but the taste is out of this world! And it's been used in Ayruvedic medicine for both gut and skin issues forever. Purely Twins (who were one of my Sisters interviews here) also enjoy ghee to heal their gut and skin issues. I always use this to cook with, and love a spoonful ontop of hot veggies as well.
+ Eating red meat, chicken, and seafood, as well as getting back on my bone broth. This may surprise a few of you as I haven't mentioned this on my blog before. From my Hair Mineral Analysis, my body needed protein. And more zinc, less copper (which means animal foods). Specifically animal protein. But my stomach acid wasn't ready for it so we had to look at that at the same time (see Supplements below). Fish is my preferred animal protein food and I eat tuna or salmon most days. Chicken and red meat might be seen on my plate once a week; twice tops, sometimes never. Partly due to my body not needing it every day, and partly due to me not knowing how to cook it (vego here for 15 years). I feel great drinking bone broth and this is easier for my tummy than meat anyway. But when I do eat chicken or red meat, I seem to have no digestive upsets (bloating, cramps, wind, etc) and I feel better the following day. Yes the whole meat thing was initially hard to look at, but as I felt my body was becoming more open to trying meat again, it seemed less and less daunting, almost easy. There were still tears, and me having to look at the reasons I was choosing to do this, but so far I'm doing ok.
+ No more fermented foods; I'm not gonna lie. This has upset me. Kombucha is my favourite thing in the world, and B's saurekraut is pretty darn good too. Fermented foods are great for gut health, but in my case, my gut is so wounded and sore that it first needs to be patched up before any happy friends can come and play.
+ Superfoods more; I went through a period where I wasn't really feeling like any of these, and through Thailand I only took a green powder blend. But more recently I'm loving acai in particular, but also maca, lucuma, and spirulina. Acai and spirulina give me the most energy and clarity in my head. Maca seems to calm me and make me feel settled.
My Supplement Changes -
For the past few months I have been taking:
+ 2012 Probiotic
+ Vitamin C liquid
+ Glutathione liquid
+ Digestive enzymes + gentian root + HCl
On seeing my Naturopath up here in Cairns, these have all been put on hold. I've got different enzymes as the ones I was taking were not helping my gut. And the vitamin C and glutathione liquids are probably going in one end and out the other as my gut lining is not doing it's job, so we'll save them for later.
In the meantime I am now taking these guys:
+ Apple cider vinegar; taken before meals to stimulate production of stomach acid (which is pretty much non-existant in me) and get my digestion going - it's working wonders!
+ Digestive enzymes; taken with meals - again; wonderful!
+ Nettle tea; 3 cups every day to nourish from top to toe - I find I crave this
+ Liquid herbal mix; to support my nervous system. This isn't the main focus right now but as my body is running on empty, we needed to start with this as well, but will dive in deeper with my nervous system down the track after Ive healed my gut - horrible as most liquid herbs but I know they are doing me well
Other Changes -
+ Regular lymphatic drainage facials; I've just started doing this again, and I'm only going once a month, maybe twice, for financial reasons. If I could I'd be there every week. It makes a huge difference to my skin.
+ Self love practices; facials, yoga, reading in bed, meditation, body brushing, cafe + book dates, girlfriend catch ups, travel to see family and friends. These all nourish my soul, my body, my mind, my spirit. I feel rested and relaxed when I do these, and more recently I have felt, seen and noticed the difference in my moods, energy levels, and self love when I do or do not do these. Much happier Christie when I do :)
+ Not exercising; this has probably been the hardest to come to terms with and to be honest I only really did last week after reading a blog post by Amanda Daley here. Always an exercise fan (runner, netball, rowing, weights classes, cardio classes, bike riding, yoga, pilates), I've still tried to do something active everyday. At least a walk you know? Well I can now see why sometimes a walk is even too much for me. From my place to the end of our street is about 200 metres, and on some occasions, I'm wrecked after doing that. On other days, I have felt super strong and powerful and decided to go for a run - and felt amazing afterwards (endorphins right?), only to be wiped out for the rest of the week. And then beating myself up and being quite upset that I still don't have enough yet energy to do yoga or go for a walk everyday. I'm coming to terms with it's ok to not exercise. For now. Until whenever feels right. We all do it as we believe we need too for our health. But do we really? I'm not saying yes or no. But I am saying that if a 10 minute slow walk wipes me out, perhaps I shouldn't be doing it.
+ Yoga; I wish I could do a daily practice but my body and it's energy levels are so up and down I struggle with consistency. Some days I'll do 45 minutes, but some days it's none. When I can manage it though, I love it, my body loves it, and I walk off my mat centred, energised, happier and feeling lighter on my toes.
+ Gratitude journalling; I try to do this every evening but let's face it, I don't always. When I do though I am filled with gratitude (obviously) but also joy and happiness looking back at all the wonderful things I am blessed to have in my life and it does light me up.
+ Coaching calls working on my "mean girl" ego, my fears, beliefs and more. I'm still working through them all bit by bit and it's bloody hard at times but it's all worth it. So I've been told ;)
+ No more coffee enemas; potentially; I'm still debating this one. For all things liver it's been going great guns, and I have to say since stopping these last week, there have been more than one occasion I have felt a little nauseous, and I'm putting it down to my liver trying to clean up everything else going on, and perhaps it's not performing at it's best. That's my instinct and it does make logical sense - in my case. I've had my current naturopath tell me that the coffee will be aggravating my bowels. Ok. So I stopped. But the nausea. I spoke to my lecturer (who has been in natural health for over 50years) and she disagrees - in my case. As does my naturopath in Sydney. Please note this is not a blanket statement. There is definitely times/people/cases where coffee enemas WILL aggravate your bowel. This is just another conflicting theory that I've got to sort out myself... unless you know more than me and can shoot me some info, I'm all ears :)
How I am feeling
+ More energy; generally speaking. Today; not. Some days plenty more, other days I feel like I've gone backwards. Two steps forward one step back right? But to rate my average energy out of 10... I'd say a 5.5. Maybe a 6.
+ Clearer skin; I'm so happier that I can actually see clearer skin. However this week one side of my face has been less than pretty. I'm wondering whether this is part of my healing crisis (will speak more on this next week), a monthly stage of elimination, or something else not being so happy. Having said that, on the whole, it's better. I do have very healthy beautiful vibrant skin in, under, and around my acne which I put down to my lifestyle. It's just the acne I have to let go of.
So be it from lymphatic drainage facials, exfoliation, coffee enemas I was doing (not anymore), green juices, vitamins, things starting to work better again, more self love and believing that I can have clear skin... who knows! It's clearer and that's all that matters :)
+ I feel like I'm functioning! Having said that I've had super whacked out week and could've said I'm totally not functioning and I've turned into a crazy person. So maybe again, two steps forward, one step back.
+ Sleeping better; I never set my alarm anymore unless I've got work that day. So if I need extra sleep I get it. Some days I plonk myself in bed late arvo for a half hour snooze if I'm feeling like keeling over and these also make a huge difference. I have also been feeling more well rested on the whole (although not this past week); I always slept well (sometimes 10hrs a night at my worst) but still woke up feeling like I crawl back into bed. Less and less like this which feels awesome!
+ Digesting foods way better; way less bloating, next to no cramping pain, regular bowel movements... This is HUGE for me and I've had this on and off since I was 7yrs old. I cannot explain the joy from eating a meal and not getting bloated. Wow. Wow Wow Wow!
So...
If anything this has all taught me how adrenal fatigue is way more complicated than we all think, can be brought upon by some many different factors (or a whopper combination) and that recovery is slow and steady. Really slow and steady. But if I mess things up now, I'll only go backwards. And no doubt much faster than I initially did. At times, for sure without a doubt it can feel like the hardest thing ever - having no motivation, energy, get-up-and-go, oomf, or burst of joy filled happiness like I used to feel everyday. The restoration process is different for everyone; routine has to go out the window for some, for others they need it. And ever facet of healing is the same.
So next time I'm feeling like superwoman I'm going to high five my angels and thank everyone around me for being so wonderful. And perhaps go get a sh*tload of blogging done instead of believing a run will do me good.
Christie xx
PS. Want more on my healing journey, nutrition know how, food for thought, recipes and first-to-know competitions? Sign up for the newsletter here
Jun 7, 2013
Sisterhood Health + Wellness -- Jessica Nazarali + Chocolate Chai Ice Cream Hearts Recipe
Welcome to the very first Sisterhood Health + Wellness interview! As mentioned here last week, this is going to be a short and sweet series of 7 females in the health and wellness industry, who are going to be giving you their tips, letting you in on how they look after themselves, what foods they eat, who inspires them, AND sharing a recipe of their own. Eek! I'm so excited!
And to hit off this week with a bang is the gorgeous Jessica Nazarali --
Jessica Nazarali ~ Sexy chic currently living in Sydney, Australia ~ Holistic Health Coach ~ 25yrs young
I always make sure I eat well. If I eat poorly I don’t have enough support and energy to get me through the day and I’m then ill-equipped to deal with the challenges life throws my way!
Setting boundaries and being realistic with how much stuff I can actually get done in a day has been a big eye opener for me. Before I used I used to try and do way too much, but I’ve now learnt to be more realistic with my to-do lists and in turn, be easier on myself.
Recipe to share…
Chocolate Chai Ice Cream Hearts
Makes 24
Ingredients
3 heaped tbs raw cacao powder
1 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup sesame seeds
3 tps of Natvia
1/8 cup brewed chai
Brewed Chai Recipe
Black tea
Water
Dash of milk of choice - I like to use almond milk
1 tps masala chai spice mix or cinnamon
Steps
Mix all ingredients in a bowl
Fill your heart shaped ice cube containers to the brim and allow to set in freezer for 2 hours
Dust with raw cacao powder or eat straight out of the freezer!
Jessica Nazarali is a Holistic Health Coach and Health Blogger at www.livehealthysimply.com. She helps professional and entrepreneurial women up their wellness, so they can achieve all their professional and personal dreams.
You can find Jessica at any of of the places below:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Love it? Love Jessica? Let us know what you think of Jess and her delicious looking recipe, and what you're looking forward to in the next weeks in the comments below.
Christie xx
And to hit off this week with a bang is the gorgeous Jessica Nazarali --
Jessica Nazarali ~ Sexy chic currently living in Sydney, Australia ~ Holistic Health Coach ~ 25yrs young
Why do you do what you do? / Why did you start your blog and biz?
I started Live Healthy Simply as a way to share wellness information and recipes and to connect with other likeminded women who have similar goals and interests to me. In “real life” I didn’t have many friends who were interested in health and wellness and I thought through blogging I would be able to virtually meet others who did. (I’m pleased to say this has definitely been the case!)
Overtime I introduced LiveAspire Blog networking events with my friend Ursula from The Aspirer and my new online group health coaching program, Cosmopolitan Wellness. Through this my blog as turned into a business. I have also just launched an online health food store with my husband called Shop Healthy where you can buy a range of super foods, vitamins, teas, snacks and healthy chocolate!
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up, and the last thing you do before bed?
The first thing I do when I wake up is lie in bed with my eyes closed and set a positive intention for the day. Sometimes I try to mediate for 5 minutes but if I’m in a hurry the 1 minute of stillness is enough for me.
I usefully fall asleep listening to a guided meditation.
How do you make sure you’re looking after YOU?
I also make sure I have enough downtime and if I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed I take timeout and have a break instead of pushing through.
Setting boundaries and being realistic with how much stuff I can actually get done in a day has been a big eye opener for me. Before I used I used to try and do way too much, but I’ve now learnt to be more realistic with my to-do lists and in turn, be easier on myself.
Favourite place on earth and why?
I love Sydney! It’s so beautiful; in all my travels I’ve never found a city I would prefer to live in. (Aside from moving to Bali or Thailand for 6 months…I’m trying to convince my husband to go!)
5 things you’re grateful for right now?
+ My husband
+ Incredible friends
+ My almost healed leg (I fell off my bike two weeks ago), after a week of hobbling around it feels wonderful to be able to walk properly again.
+ That I’m a part of such an amazing and supportive community
+ The fact that people actually read my blog, that still blows me away!
What’s your food philosophy?
I’m somewhere in between vegan and vegetarian. I don’t eat any meat, fish, chicken, dairy, products with added sugar, eggs and I avoid wheat wherever possible. I eat organic at home and try to include lots of raw foods in my diet.
I try to look at my food choices as an experiment and don’t beat myself up if I eat something that isn’t really in align with how I want to be eating. I do the best I can each day, sometimes it works out well, sometimes I fall a little short but the positive intention is always there.
You feel most yourself when…
I’m by myself; reflecting and meditating.
Who inspires you most?
I draw inspiration from everywhere! I love Marie Forleo, Gabby Bernstein, Alexandra Franzen and all the inspiring young entrepreneurs in Australia and throughout the world who are mixing things up and challenging the status quo.
Favorite quote?
Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
Recipe to share…
Chocolate Chai Ice Cream Hearts
Makes 24
Ingredients
3 heaped tbs raw cacao powder
1 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup sesame seeds
3 tps of Natvia
1/8 cup brewed chai
Brewed Chai Recipe
Black tea
Water
Dash of milk of choice - I like to use almond milk
1 tps masala chai spice mix or cinnamon
Steps
Mix all ingredients in a bowl
Fill your heart shaped ice cube containers to the brim and allow to set in freezer for 2 hours
Dust with raw cacao powder or eat straight out of the freezer!
Jessica Nazarali is a Holistic Health Coach and Health Blogger at www.livehealthysimply.com. She helps professional and entrepreneurial women up their wellness, so they can achieve all their professional and personal dreams.
You can find Jessica at any of of the places below:
Website
Love it? Love Jessica? Let us know what you think of Jess and her delicious looking recipe, and what you're looking forward to in the next weeks in the comments below.
Christie xx
Mar 11, 2013
Prescription: Listen to Your Inner Guide
Day 29 of my I Quit Sugar, and I have to confess to some balsamic vinegar on my cafe eggs this morning, and to trying a native cherry at the organic shop - other than that I'm still all good and feeling great (you can check out how B is doing with his as well as he does a youtube vid each day on how he's going) !
Well - not quite great with an exclamation mark. But in regards to how I'm going without the sweet stuff, I'm doing well. That aside it's still fatigue and a few other niggly issues that I'm dealing with to get myself back to feeling amazing, but I'm working on it daily and little by little I know I'm getting there.
Sometimes health issues seem like they are with us forever and we wander when things are going to get better. The tricky things is that as we are all so different and unique, so too are our health concerns. If it's weight we want to let go of, what works for Sarah isn't the same as what works for Jane. If we're battling depression, it might be a simple nutrient deficiency for Bobby, but a whole load of deeper childhood issues for Bill; not nutrient issues at all.
Having studied bits and pieces of healing modalities and a lot of nutrition over the years, on top of coming up against quite a hefty load of lessons and issues of my own to deal with, I can tell you that there is always a reason and sometimes these issues can hang around longer than we want because we might not have learnt the lesson yet. Some of my lessons have been so that I can teach others - the powers of nutrition; knowing what works best for healing eating disorders, balancing blood sugars, and losing weight. Or why exercise and nature are just as important. Other lessons are for me - to slow down, look within and connect back to my spiritual practice. Or to learn to love myself looking back at my reflection everyday.
Whatever it is, we all need to stop, close our eyes, breathe, and try to listen to what we really need. Our heads will say one things, but our bodies will say another.
Take my acne for example; I could say (as I've heard it a million times before) that all I need to do is eliminate dairy and wheat, use glycolic acid peels regularly, drink plenty of water, and address any gut issues. Now these alone would cure someone's acne I know it. I've seen it. For some, their only problem is a dairy intolerance causing their skin conditions. For others, it's living in a hot climate. For others again, it may be hormonal or stress related. You try everything anyone mentions.
But only by listening to my inner guidance did I learn that none of that matters so much for me and that my acne is all about self love. No doctor, skin specialist, naturopath, or health store chic would tell you that (unless you ran into me at my shop). Now, don't get me wrong, all the aforementioned things will definitley benefit skin conditions (and other suggestions will benefit other conditions). It may or may not be one sole issue that needs addressing, but regardless, you may as well stack all the odds in your favour and do as much as you can in all areas of your life to help you with whatever it is you may be experiencing, struggling with, distressed by, etc.
If it's letting go of weight that no longer serves you - address diet, exercise, thought patterns, lifestyle, energy blocks, stress and relaxation, self love and acceptance, lymphatic drainage, water intake, visualisations...
If it's a skin condition - address diet, hydration, essential fatty acids, topical solutions, working from inside-out, parasites, hormones, energy, feelings and emotions surrounding it, self love issues...
If it's fatigue and exhaustion - you need to look at diet, movement, supplements, oxygen and nature, hormones, affirmations, thought patterns, music, meditation, massage, rest and relaxation...
The list goes on. I've learnt that rarely one things will solve everything. People come into the health store everyday wanting the latest weight loss pill they've seen on Doctor Oz, and to his credit, there have been some that do work - but not on their own. If we really want to heal health and life issues and imbalances then we really need to stand up, say so loud and proud, and commit to doing everything we can in order to do so. I know it can be bloody hard work; I'll be the first to admit, but I'm also willing to hold your hand and see you through because I've been lying on my bedroom floor in tears unable to get out of bed as well. I've been left empty and unable to walk up the home stairs to my bedroom, falling asleep half way. I've hit my rock bottom and know how frustrating it is when you seek help here, there, and everywhere to only be given one piece of your 1000-piece puzzle at every appointment.
I want to give you half the puzzle. At least. I can't give it all to you because you're actually the one with the last piece you just don't know it. We came into this lifetime already writing down what we want to experience and what we want to learn. I find this invaluable to remember when things seem overwhelming. To stop and accept that my eating disorder, my acne, my adrenal fatigue, exhaustion, thyroid issues, blood sugar issues and more are all as a result of me wanting to know what all this really felt like so I could truly put myself in others shoes and help them by understanding exactly what they are going through, because this is my passion. This is my love. This is what I am here to share with the world right here right now.
So I want to connect with you and for you to know that if you're struggling with anything right now, find that place inside of you that knows there's a greater reason for it. And that's it's all part of the master plan for you to grow, deepen, come alive and connect with others in a beautiful and meaningful way. You're not the only one going through what you're going through. You have love and support surrounding you.
Try new things if you haven't already. Don't solely rely on diet or your energetic healer. You need a little from everything as you are a little of everything.
Written in true Christie rambling fashion post an amazing healing session I just got home from, with no planned blog post for today.
xxx
Well - not quite great with an exclamation mark. But in regards to how I'm going without the sweet stuff, I'm doing well. That aside it's still fatigue and a few other niggly issues that I'm dealing with to get myself back to feeling amazing, but I'm working on it daily and little by little I know I'm getting there.
Sometimes health issues seem like they are with us forever and we wander when things are going to get better. The tricky things is that as we are all so different and unique, so too are our health concerns. If it's weight we want to let go of, what works for Sarah isn't the same as what works for Jane. If we're battling depression, it might be a simple nutrient deficiency for Bobby, but a whole load of deeper childhood issues for Bill; not nutrient issues at all.
Having studied bits and pieces of healing modalities and a lot of nutrition over the years, on top of coming up against quite a hefty load of lessons and issues of my own to deal with, I can tell you that there is always a reason and sometimes these issues can hang around longer than we want because we might not have learnt the lesson yet. Some of my lessons have been so that I can teach others - the powers of nutrition; knowing what works best for healing eating disorders, balancing blood sugars, and losing weight. Or why exercise and nature are just as important. Other lessons are for me - to slow down, look within and connect back to my spiritual practice. Or to learn to love myself looking back at my reflection everyday.
Whatever it is, we all need to stop, close our eyes, breathe, and try to listen to what we really need. Our heads will say one things, but our bodies will say another.
Take my acne for example; I could say (as I've heard it a million times before) that all I need to do is eliminate dairy and wheat, use glycolic acid peels regularly, drink plenty of water, and address any gut issues. Now these alone would cure someone's acne I know it. I've seen it. For some, their only problem is a dairy intolerance causing their skin conditions. For others, it's living in a hot climate. For others again, it may be hormonal or stress related. You try everything anyone mentions.
But only by listening to my inner guidance did I learn that none of that matters so much for me and that my acne is all about self love. No doctor, skin specialist, naturopath, or health store chic would tell you that (unless you ran into me at my shop). Now, don't get me wrong, all the aforementioned things will definitley benefit skin conditions (and other suggestions will benefit other conditions). It may or may not be one sole issue that needs addressing, but regardless, you may as well stack all the odds in your favour and do as much as you can in all areas of your life to help you with whatever it is you may be experiencing, struggling with, distressed by, etc.
If it's letting go of weight that no longer serves you - address diet, exercise, thought patterns, lifestyle, energy blocks, stress and relaxation, self love and acceptance, lymphatic drainage, water intake, visualisations...
If it's a skin condition - address diet, hydration, essential fatty acids, topical solutions, working from inside-out, parasites, hormones, energy, feelings and emotions surrounding it, self love issues...
If it's fatigue and exhaustion - you need to look at diet, movement, supplements, oxygen and nature, hormones, affirmations, thought patterns, music, meditation, massage, rest and relaxation...
The list goes on. I've learnt that rarely one things will solve everything. People come into the health store everyday wanting the latest weight loss pill they've seen on Doctor Oz, and to his credit, there have been some that do work - but not on their own. If we really want to heal health and life issues and imbalances then we really need to stand up, say so loud and proud, and commit to doing everything we can in order to do so. I know it can be bloody hard work; I'll be the first to admit, but I'm also willing to hold your hand and see you through because I've been lying on my bedroom floor in tears unable to get out of bed as well. I've been left empty and unable to walk up the home stairs to my bedroom, falling asleep half way. I've hit my rock bottom and know how frustrating it is when you seek help here, there, and everywhere to only be given one piece of your 1000-piece puzzle at every appointment.
I want to give you half the puzzle. At least. I can't give it all to you because you're actually the one with the last piece you just don't know it. We came into this lifetime already writing down what we want to experience and what we want to learn. I find this invaluable to remember when things seem overwhelming. To stop and accept that my eating disorder, my acne, my adrenal fatigue, exhaustion, thyroid issues, blood sugar issues and more are all as a result of me wanting to know what all this really felt like so I could truly put myself in others shoes and help them by understanding exactly what they are going through, because this is my passion. This is my love. This is what I am here to share with the world right here right now.
So I want to connect with you and for you to know that if you're struggling with anything right now, find that place inside of you that knows there's a greater reason for it. And that's it's all part of the master plan for you to grow, deepen, come alive and connect with others in a beautiful and meaningful way. You're not the only one going through what you're going through. You have love and support surrounding you.
Try new things if you haven't already. Don't solely rely on diet or your energetic healer. You need a little from everything as you are a little of everything.
Written in true Christie rambling fashion post an amazing healing session I just got home from, with no planned blog post for today.
xxx
Jan 15, 2011
Health through (not just) Nutrition
I got an email from a long-time family friend this week that got me very excited! Excited just to hear from her but also excited about what she was writing to me about - her health.
The very thing I want to do is EDUCATE, HELP and INSPIRE people towards optimum health, nutrition and a life they LOVE.
So when this friend was outlining some struggles she had experienced and wanted to know any suggestions I had or, anything she could try, I was thrilled!
So it got me thinking - when we are not at our best and feel like we've gone astray for some time how can we successfully come back to our true selves to live harmoniously? To walk, talk and BE HEALTH?
Health. One little word that most probably has a different meaning to everyone on the planet. Is health eating fruit and vegies more? Is it riding your bike instead of driving to work? Is it sleeping 8hrs a night? Is it drinking 2L of water a day? What about healthy relationships? Exercise? Spirituality? Mental health? It goes on and on and on...
I think we all have one "thing" we turn to first when we need to get "back on track". For me, nutrition is "my thing" so I usually (correction - I always) look there first. It's the easiest thing for me to tweak/change/improve to start me in the direction I want to be heading in (again).
I bought a book called "Eating Well For Optimum Health" the other day and so far I LOVE IT. Within the first few pages I read:
"Diet has special significance among lifestyle factors in that people have total control over it, at least potentially. You cannot change your genes, control the quality of air you breathe all the time, or avoid stresses of everyday life, but you can decide what to eat, or what not to eat..."
And that resonates so strongly with me.
For myself, the past month has been kinda tough. I've been experiencing some difficulties in my personal life and this filters out into everything else - including what I'm eating. So once I spot this and decide to make changes and eat the way my body feels best doing so, alot of other things seem to start looking better also.
Now that all might sound easy in the scheme of things but I know too well that it's not always the case. So baby steps are key. And taking one day at a time. Dont worry yourself with tomorrow, or the weekend. Just focus on today. Or even better, the next meal and the next meal only.
Start with breakfast. When I'm lying in bed about to doze off for the night I think about what I'm going to make for brekkie the next morning. I'm usually up very early, off to the gym or work so if I decide ahead of time it saves me thinking time and space as well as preparation time.
As I lie in bed I think about what's in the fridge, what I'll be doing all morning to know how much energy I'll need, and then begin to get a sense of how GREAT I'll feel from the healthy choice I have made.
Quick and easy smoothies or chia-gel ceral are the 2 top favourites that I usually alternate between. If I've done a weights session I'll also thrown in a raw protein drink immediatley after and eat my brekkie when I get to work.
My lunch break is between 1130am and midday so I know not to have much at morning tea or I wont look forward to my lunch - and for that reason I make sure my packed lunch is something DELICIOUS, colourful and tempting. That always stops me from munching too much mid-morn.
BIG kale salads with tomatoes and a coconut oil, dulse flakes and nutritional yeast dressing is my latest must-have. Having something you really enjoy, know you'll hang out for and that get's you excited just thinking about (whilst being high in nutritional value of course) is key here.
A handful of nuts works well for me with lunch as it staves off any hunger pangs that might crop up before I finish work mid-arvo. Otherwise I'll delight in a little raw ginger bar at work or a few bits of choccie for something sweet (I'm a big believer in making sure you eat those yummy pleasurable foods as well as loads of fruit and veg or you'll never achieve "balance" - which like the word "health", is very controversial in my opinion)
The rest of the day I'll be munching on fresh fruit, chopped up vegies, herbal teas, lots of pure water, and dinner is a big salad again most nights.
There are also a few things that I try to make sure are in my diet each day (or close enough too).
- chia seeds (for me the greatest thing they do is move through my bowels. I eat these for brekkie like a pudding with added bits n pieces for extra yumminess. They are also very high in omega 3 fatty acids - lubricating joints, maintaing brain health, warding off depression - protein, irona an calcium)
- cold pressed oils (aldo high in essential fatty acids, GOOD FATS, I'll make sure to mix it up between olive oil full of vitamin E, flax oil with omega 3, or to excite a meal I'll use sesame oil or another nut oil)
- pure water (the Source, for more fascinating info on water go here)
- herbal teas (I'm a big fan of green tea for many reasons but due to my adrenals at the moment I'm tstaying off it, and bumping up other teas such as peppermint, passionflower, skin teas, licorice tea)
- dark green leafy's (do you want a seperate post of dark green leafy's to tell you why you should try eating more?)
- nuts and seeds (high in proteins, calcium and other vitamins and minerals depeding on the nuts and seed)
- colourful fruits (different colours = differnt nutrients)
- cheat foods (these are vegie juices where the nutrients are going straight into your blood stream withint 15minutes as there is no digestion required, or coconut water where your body is hydrated twice as mcuh as water, your blood is getting an instant beneficial kick, and being supplied with electrolytes and potassium at the same time)
There are a few other things I have recently added to my diet to get me back on my path sooner rather than later. I mentioned here that my iron levels were low last blood test so I've been cranking up the greens and spirulina each day which feels great. I'm also taking a zinc supplement again to help with my immunity, and only this past week have brought some homeopathics into the mix along with some high strength adrenal herbs (in addition to maca and licorice which I already consume - both great for your adrenals).
But it was confirmed to me during a kinesiology session I had this week that I need to do more about my health. Another bit in the book I'm reading mentioned:
"Just as diet is only one factor influencing health, so dietary change is only one therapeutic approach, never recommended in isolation. Exercise, relaxation training, dietary supplements, botanical remedies, as well as referrals to both conventional and alternative practitioners for further diagnostic evaluations and treatments are all recommended..."
So I'm seeing a kinesiologist who is fantastic, and a facialist who specialises in lymphatic drainage for my acne issues. These two are the main people I see at the moment, but in the past I've regulalry seen colon hydrotherapists, naturopaths, counsellors and coaches, as well as personal trainers.
So in addition to my diet, to regain my optimum health that I know I have experienced before and can again, I need to rest and do some relaxation work. A self-confessed stress head that covers it all so well at times, it scared me but didn't shock me to find out that I'm one small step away from getting chronic fatigue syndrome. Where your adrenals have have enough wear and tear over time that they decide they're taking time off. 6 months, 12 months, 2 yrs. Who knows. Something I definatly do not want to experience ever. And I'm not going too. So that's where my adrenal herbs come in (and in high doses mind you), as does rest, relaxation, saying NO to myself more than to anyone else, and trying (my very best) to not do so much.
So far I'm feeling alot better. Day by day. Eating well. Supplementing where I feel I need too. Exercising where I can whilst being very aware to not do too much. Communicating with my partner (a BIG part of my health). Journalling. Resting. Reading and educating myself more. Looking after me. Baby steps.
I'd love to know what you guys do to keep your health in check?
The very thing I want to do is EDUCATE, HELP and INSPIRE people towards optimum health, nutrition and a life they LOVE.
So when this friend was outlining some struggles she had experienced and wanted to know any suggestions I had or, anything she could try, I was thrilled!
So it got me thinking - when we are not at our best and feel like we've gone astray for some time how can we successfully come back to our true selves to live harmoniously? To walk, talk and BE HEALTH?
Health. One little word that most probably has a different meaning to everyone on the planet. Is health eating fruit and vegies more? Is it riding your bike instead of driving to work? Is it sleeping 8hrs a night? Is it drinking 2L of water a day? What about healthy relationships? Exercise? Spirituality? Mental health? It goes on and on and on...
I think we all have one "thing" we turn to first when we need to get "back on track". For me, nutrition is "my thing" so I usually (correction - I always) look there first. It's the easiest thing for me to tweak/change/improve to start me in the direction I want to be heading in (again).
I bought a book called "Eating Well For Optimum Health" the other day and so far I LOVE IT. Within the first few pages I read:
"Diet has special significance among lifestyle factors in that people have total control over it, at least potentially. You cannot change your genes, control the quality of air you breathe all the time, or avoid stresses of everyday life, but you can decide what to eat, or what not to eat..."
And that resonates so strongly with me.
For myself, the past month has been kinda tough. I've been experiencing some difficulties in my personal life and this filters out into everything else - including what I'm eating. So once I spot this and decide to make changes and eat the way my body feels best doing so, alot of other things seem to start looking better also.
Now that all might sound easy in the scheme of things but I know too well that it's not always the case. So baby steps are key. And taking one day at a time. Dont worry yourself with tomorrow, or the weekend. Just focus on today. Or even better, the next meal and the next meal only.
Start with breakfast. When I'm lying in bed about to doze off for the night I think about what I'm going to make for brekkie the next morning. I'm usually up very early, off to the gym or work so if I decide ahead of time it saves me thinking time and space as well as preparation time.As I lie in bed I think about what's in the fridge, what I'll be doing all morning to know how much energy I'll need, and then begin to get a sense of how GREAT I'll feel from the healthy choice I have made.
Quick and easy smoothies or chia-gel ceral are the 2 top favourites that I usually alternate between. If I've done a weights session I'll also thrown in a raw protein drink immediatley after and eat my brekkie when I get to work.
My lunch break is between 1130am and midday so I know not to have much at morning tea or I wont look forward to my lunch - and for that reason I make sure my packed lunch is something DELICIOUS, colourful and tempting. That always stops me from munching too much mid-morn.
BIG kale salads with tomatoes and a coconut oil, dulse flakes and nutritional yeast dressing is my latest must-have. Having something you really enjoy, know you'll hang out for and that get's you excited just thinking about (whilst being high in nutritional value of course) is key here.
A handful of nuts works well for me with lunch as it staves off any hunger pangs that might crop up before I finish work mid-arvo. Otherwise I'll delight in a little raw ginger bar at work or a few bits of choccie for something sweet (I'm a big believer in making sure you eat those yummy pleasurable foods as well as loads of fruit and veg or you'll never achieve "balance" - which like the word "health", is very controversial in my opinion)
The rest of the day I'll be munching on fresh fruit, chopped up vegies, herbal teas, lots of pure water, and dinner is a big salad again most nights.
There are also a few things that I try to make sure are in my diet each day (or close enough too).
- chia seeds (for me the greatest thing they do is move through my bowels. I eat these for brekkie like a pudding with added bits n pieces for extra yumminess. They are also very high in omega 3 fatty acids - lubricating joints, maintaing brain health, warding off depression - protein, irona an calcium)
- cold pressed oils (aldo high in essential fatty acids, GOOD FATS, I'll make sure to mix it up between olive oil full of vitamin E, flax oil with omega 3, or to excite a meal I'll use sesame oil or another nut oil)
- pure water (the Source, for more fascinating info on water go here)
- herbal teas (I'm a big fan of green tea for many reasons but due to my adrenals at the moment I'm tstaying off it, and bumping up other teas such as peppermint, passionflower, skin teas, licorice tea)
- dark green leafy's (do you want a seperate post of dark green leafy's to tell you why you should try eating more?)
- nuts and seeds (high in proteins, calcium and other vitamins and minerals depeding on the nuts and seed)
- colourful fruits (different colours = differnt nutrients)
- cheat foods (these are vegie juices where the nutrients are going straight into your blood stream withint 15minutes as there is no digestion required, or coconut water where your body is hydrated twice as mcuh as water, your blood is getting an instant beneficial kick, and being supplied with electrolytes and potassium at the same time)
There are a few other things I have recently added to my diet to get me back on my path sooner rather than later. I mentioned here that my iron levels were low last blood test so I've been cranking up the greens and spirulina each day which feels great. I'm also taking a zinc supplement again to help with my immunity, and only this past week have brought some homeopathics into the mix along with some high strength adrenal herbs (in addition to maca and licorice which I already consume - both great for your adrenals).
But it was confirmed to me during a kinesiology session I had this week that I need to do more about my health. Another bit in the book I'm reading mentioned:
"Just as diet is only one factor influencing health, so dietary change is only one therapeutic approach, never recommended in isolation. Exercise, relaxation training, dietary supplements, botanical remedies, as well as referrals to both conventional and alternative practitioners for further diagnostic evaluations and treatments are all recommended..."
So I'm seeing a kinesiologist who is fantastic, and a facialist who specialises in lymphatic drainage for my acne issues. These two are the main people I see at the moment, but in the past I've regulalry seen colon hydrotherapists, naturopaths, counsellors and coaches, as well as personal trainers.
So in addition to my diet, to regain my optimum health that I know I have experienced before and can again, I need to rest and do some relaxation work. A self-confessed stress head that covers it all so well at times, it scared me but didn't shock me to find out that I'm one small step away from getting chronic fatigue syndrome. Where your adrenals have have enough wear and tear over time that they decide they're taking time off. 6 months, 12 months, 2 yrs. Who knows. Something I definatly do not want to experience ever. And I'm not going too. So that's where my adrenal herbs come in (and in high doses mind you), as does rest, relaxation, saying NO to myself more than to anyone else, and trying (my very best) to not do so much.
So far I'm feeling alot better. Day by day. Eating well. Supplementing where I feel I need too. Exercising where I can whilst being very aware to not do too much. Communicating with my partner (a BIG part of my health). Journalling. Resting. Reading and educating myself more. Looking after me. Baby steps.
I'd love to know what you guys do to keep your health in check?
Dec 24, 2010
Christmas Cheer is near
Ok so I'm getting reeeeeeally excited now! Not that I wasn't previously, but now... XMAS IS TOMORROW GUYS! And I cannot wait!
But before I dive into all the festivities, fun, unwrapping presents, sharing hugs, and FOOD I wanted to make mention of the latter; FOOD and what it conjurs up around this time of year.
Lately I've seen so so many articles in magazines and in emails floating around about party-proofing your diet, and keeping trim this festive season. Sometimes I shake my head at the things mentioned, but on the whole I think it's a really good thing to have a look at, as research has shown that the few kilos that we sometimes (easily) put on over Xmas time can make huge changes in our systems - slowing down our metabolisms for one - and these things can lead to negative changes for life.
The key to continuing with the "healthy" (which I put in inverted commas is because everyone's definition of the word if usually very different) balanced diet we usually have throughout the year is simple - STICK TO BASICS. The basic things that work for you and make a difference for you, so when there's loads of temptations going round you don't go nutts for it all to only later feel ill (and possibly beating up on yourself a bit - I know I do).
So BASICS. For me it's starting the day with a smoothie (or a brekkie bowl). Filling up on fruits, superfoods, and whatever else I fancy throwing in so I know I can soldier on and feel great from word go.
Here's a sneak preview...
But before I dive into all the festivities, fun, unwrapping presents, sharing hugs, and FOOD I wanted to make mention of the latter; FOOD and what it conjurs up around this time of year.
Lately I've seen so so many articles in magazines and in emails floating around about party-proofing your diet, and keeping trim this festive season. Sometimes I shake my head at the things mentioned, but on the whole I think it's a really good thing to have a look at, as research has shown that the few kilos that we sometimes (easily) put on over Xmas time can make huge changes in our systems - slowing down our metabolisms for one - and these things can lead to negative changes for life.
The key to continuing with the "healthy" (which I put in inverted commas is because everyone's definition of the word if usually very different) balanced diet we usually have throughout the year is simple - STICK TO BASICS. The basic things that work for you and make a difference for you, so when there's loads of temptations going round you don't go nutts for it all to only later feel ill (and possibly beating up on yourself a bit - I know I do).
So BASICS. For me it's starting the day with a smoothie (or a brekkie bowl). Filling up on fruits, superfoods, and whatever else I fancy throwing in so I know I can soldier on and feel great from word go.
Or have it in a bowl like you all know I love to do...
It's making a big green salad for at least one meal incase the other falls to pieces.
It's also having at least one tasty "healthy" food, that you love, that's really good for you, that you will actually be excited about eating, no matter what. Like today - I'm in the kitchen all day surrounded by cacao and nut butters making sweet treats so I said to myself "Christie you're gonna have a whole head of celery today" (easy for me coz I LOVE the stuff). So knowing I've had that makes me feel good about my day so far, and not so ill if I do indulge in taste testings :)
So when tomorrow rolls around (and Boxing Day here too when all the relos come on over), remember to tap into what you know works for you.
I'll be having powered-up smoothies, lots of fresh water, big green salads, and choosing at least one delicious vegie for the day when I feel like snacking.
And then without a doubt I can have my cake and eat it too!! :)
Here's a sneak preview...
These are the pie cases for my raw fruit mince pies that currently look AMAZING!
And these babies are miniature raw fruit cakes.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night xx
Jun 2, 2010
Sweet. Salty. Soft. Crunchy.
Sometimes, I find that emotional upsets can have a big effect on my eating - good, bad or indifferent. Sometimes I want to eat more, sometimes I want to eat nothing at all. Sometimes completely different foods. None of it is BAD, it's just reason to stop and think. Stop and feel. Take a minute out to breathe. Find out what's going on inside.
After a GREAT day at work, I let myself get beaten up by an email of unpleasant news and a quick work-related conversation that didn't end well either.
So this afternoons events impacted on my dinner. I was STARVING prior to dinner having not eaten alot during the day, however I couldn't be bothered eating. I didn't have the strength to think of what to make, what I felt like, and then MAKE IT!
However, I decided to S-L-O-W-L-Y conjur up enough strength to put something together, whether I then ate or not (it could've been tomorrow's lunch) and I was so glad I did.
Scottisk Kale greens thrown in my bowl with thin slices of beetroot and pumpkin, a little avocado I had, some parsley, and a handful of walnuts.
To dress it up... drizzles of olive oil and caramalised balsamic vinegar with a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfect complements and contrasts. Sweet. Salty. Soft. Crunchy. AMAZING! And with a small piece of my raw pizza bread on the side, I was feeling much better afterwards!
Feet up. Home alone. Master Chef on the box. This quick blog and now I'll hit the sack. Nothing like good healthy food (and a small bowl of ice cream), some no-brainer TV and an early night to soothe the soul :)
After a GREAT day at work, I let myself get beaten up by an email of unpleasant news and a quick work-related conversation that didn't end well either.
So this afternoons events impacted on my dinner. I was STARVING prior to dinner having not eaten alot during the day, however I couldn't be bothered eating. I didn't have the strength to think of what to make, what I felt like, and then MAKE IT!
However, I decided to S-L-O-W-L-Y conjur up enough strength to put something together, whether I then ate or not (it could've been tomorrow's lunch) and I was so glad I did.
Scottisk Kale greens thrown in my bowl with thin slices of beetroot and pumpkin, a little avocado I had, some parsley, and a handful of walnuts.
To dress it up... drizzles of olive oil and caramalised balsamic vinegar with a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfect complements and contrasts. Sweet. Salty. Soft. Crunchy. AMAZING! And with a small piece of my raw pizza bread on the side, I was feeling much better afterwards!
Feet up. Home alone. Master Chef on the box. This quick blog and now I'll hit the sack. Nothing like good healthy food (and a small bowl of ice cream), some no-brainer TV and an early night to soothe the soul :)
May 22, 2010
Only one piece of the puzzle
Last week I was praised by a personal trainer I met at the Women’s Health “Are You Game?” weekend. He asked what type of resistance and cardio I do as my muscle mass in relation to my weight was FANTASTIC (happily modest about that), my body’s hydration was GREAT, and my metabolism is the quickest it could ever be – for anyone.
“Keep doing what you’re doing!” he said. And I left rather happy with myself.
But later on as I reached for the tissue box to dry my runny nose, it made me think…
What about the rest of this human body I walk around in??
Physically I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in. But I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a FITNESS JUNKIE and I’m at the gym or training outside everyday. I LOVE it, but I also know that in the past I have put my health second to my fitness.
So as the weather is getting cooler down in the southern hemishere and my first RAW WINTER is approaching I’m starting to see how important it is to look after myself properly. Nutritionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically.
.JPG)
I’m watching what I eat – making sure I get enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals by varying my diet and spicing it up a bit. Loads of TASTY FRUITS, plenty of brightly coloured VEGGIES and leafy GREENS. Lemons, limes, ginger, garlic and chilli, tumeric root. And trying my best to JUICE DAILY; it's like my multi vitamin pill :)
I’m drinking plenty of water (minimum 2L a day), and have at least one warm herbal tea each day. I like to mix it up a bit too; dandelion when my liver is feeling sluggish, peppermint when my tummy is sore, green for a pep up, nettle for flushing toxins, rooibos for digestion…
.JPG)
I make sure I get enough sleep, take my Naturopathic herbs, and on top of that I’m taking Pure Radiance Vitamin C powder. Vitamin C is one of the immune systems most POWERFUL weapons. 1-2 grams per day for cold prevention is good, but as I am already suffering I'm 'SATURATING' my body's tissues ensuring any virus wont survive and taking much more. Fortunatley Vitamin C is one of the least toxic substances known to humans and the only possible side effect is loose bowels!
But I do need to remember to continue with all my good work so I don't get caught up with my fitness-gym-junkie who can innocently sabotage my good health.
So, as the weather down under gets colder, have a look at what you're eating and drinking, how much physical activity you're doing and how much sleep you're getting. Be honest with yourself and see if any changes need to be made in the name of self love and looking after YOU.
“Keep doing what you’re doing!” he said. And I left rather happy with myself.
But later on as I reached for the tissue box to dry my runny nose, it made me think…
What about the rest of this human body I walk around in??
Physically I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in. But I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a FITNESS JUNKIE and I’m at the gym or training outside everyday. I LOVE it, but I also know that in the past I have put my health second to my fitness.
So as the weather is getting cooler down in the southern hemishere and my first RAW WINTER is approaching I’m starting to see how important it is to look after myself properly. Nutritionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically.
.JPG)
I’m watching what I eat – making sure I get enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals by varying my diet and spicing it up a bit. Loads of TASTY FRUITS, plenty of brightly coloured VEGGIES and leafy GREENS. Lemons, limes, ginger, garlic and chilli, tumeric root. And trying my best to JUICE DAILY; it's like my multi vitamin pill :)I’m drinking plenty of water (minimum 2L a day), and have at least one warm herbal tea each day. I like to mix it up a bit too; dandelion when my liver is feeling sluggish, peppermint when my tummy is sore, green for a pep up, nettle for flushing toxins, rooibos for digestion…
.JPG)
I make sure I get enough sleep, take my Naturopathic herbs, and on top of that I’m taking Pure Radiance Vitamin C powder. Vitamin C is one of the immune systems most POWERFUL weapons. 1-2 grams per day for cold prevention is good, but as I am already suffering I'm 'SATURATING' my body's tissues ensuring any virus wont survive and taking much more. Fortunatley Vitamin C is one of the least toxic substances known to humans and the only possible side effect is loose bowels! But I do need to remember to continue with all my good work so I don't get caught up with my fitness-gym-junkie who can innocently sabotage my good health.
So, as the weather down under gets colder, have a look at what you're eating and drinking, how much physical activity you're doing and how much sleep you're getting. Be honest with yourself and see if any changes need to be made in the name of self love and looking after YOU.
May 20, 2010
Market Day Yay!
This morning I was down at Crows Nest Markets again after a 7.15am staff meeting (I know!!) but I've always been a morning person so the half hour walk from Brocks place at 630am was BLISSFUL. I love seeing the world slowly wake up - birds singing, car head lights shining bright, the sky above a little frosty, and everything is pretty quiet... but bit by bit things start to emerge, awaken and SPRING to LIFE! And I LOVE IT!Market Day has always been a highlight of my week. The energy there, everyone interacting, people getting into dancing, mingling, chatting to strangers... I met a woman this morning who has learnt and studied the ancient art of Ayruveda which is something I've been dying to learn more about, and after chatting for a while she offered me her time so I can learn more about it next week :) WOW
I get a BUZZ out of helping the boys out with the feminine touches (note the beautiful black board sign - done by yours truely), then 'loiterring' around I like to say, munching away on THE GREATEST TASTING BANANAS EVER (although I know I'm biased as they are the staple fruit in my diet), having friends stop by, and chatting to all the locals I know from years working in the area at different places!! Still it makes me laugh how alot of locals have no idea what I do. I'm a little here-there-and-everywhere and it's just the way I like it!
Market Massage anyone??But of course I go down to stock up on my ORGANICS for the week - I LUGGED home BANANAS (cant live without them - and hopefully getting more later due to my little arms unable to carry the amount I can eat), navel oranges, apples, 2 big bunches of fennel, a huge bunch of Scottish kale which is FANTASTIC, the biggest custard apple I've ever seen, some sweet red crimson grapes, a couple of baby carrots and 2 ripe avocados. Mmm.
Check out the salad I made when I got home - Scottich kale, avocado, tumeric root, zucchini, celery leaves, pepita seeds, olive oil, lime juice and a touch of sea salt
Next Thursday I'm working though! Guess I'll see you there on my lunch break :D Happy munching
Mar 8, 2010
The Tree Of Life
COCONUT OIL is a staple ingredient in my pantry and one that I still tend to shop around for. These days there are so many differnt types, brands and varieties available it makes for a lengthy shopping trip around Sydney on a sunny Monday :)
I've bought and tried numerous brands before and today I bought another one to try;
Banaban Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
It's 100% raw and extracted from fresh organically grown wild Fiji coconuts with the least amount of processing so that the natural vitamins, antioxidants and fresh coconut "essence" are retained. It cost me about $16 which is pretty good considering prices can vary considerably!
Coconut oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth." Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food.
Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content.
These include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.
There is a more comprehensive list of what coconut oil can help with, at Bruce Fife’s site, The Coconut Research Center.
How do I use it?
As a moisturiser! Everyday. Top to toe, I cant finish my day without it - and I smell like a tropical sunny holiday :)
I use it in raw sweets like my Fruitty Nutty Carob Bark.
Jazz up salads with something different (great with curry powders) or drizzle it over vegies.
How do you use coconut oil?
I've bought and tried numerous brands before and today I bought another one to try;
Banaban Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
It's 100% raw and extracted from fresh organically grown wild Fiji coconuts with the least amount of processing so that the natural vitamins, antioxidants and fresh coconut "essence" are retained. It cost me about $16 which is pretty good considering prices can vary considerably!
Coconut oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth." Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food.
Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content.
These include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.
There is a more comprehensive list of what coconut oil can help with, at Bruce Fife’s site, The Coconut Research Center.
How do I use it?
As a moisturiser! Everyday. Top to toe, I cant finish my day without it - and I smell like a tropical sunny holiday :)
I use it in raw sweets like my Fruitty Nutty Carob Bark.
Jazz up salads with something different (great with curry powders) or drizzle it over vegies.
How do you use coconut oil?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)