Tales From My Clients

One of my very first clients was a young man who we will call Finn. Finn was a professional athlete and among other things came in for something we can all relate to - burn out.

Finn's burn out was boarding chronic fatigue. His stringent training, low calorie intake to maintain a low weight and numerous injuries had all combined to push his body past breaking point. He had a very detailed clinical history, as he had been through a lot very young as somewhat of an elite athlete. He had tried a combination of herbs, supplements and body work over the years, but always treating himself without, seeking guidance from a trained professional.

I started him on a herbal mix full of adrenal support and nourishing nervous system support and immune tonics. At this point, he was feeling depressed about his body letting him down. It was easy to guess his eyes would tell me he was a person who was incredible hard on himself, a perfectionist, a workaholic and when he was out of balance, sugar and caffeine were his crux and would replace food in many cases to keep his weight below a normal range.

Within a few weeks on herbs, Finn was feeling better, he had finally shaken the never ending cold-like symptoms and his body had started to gain a sense of strength back. He started to add in some more training. Over the next year, we adjusted his herbs as needed, adding stamina and endurance into his mix but always keeping adrenal support.

It took a few months but we managed to come to an agreement on his eating habits and put together various eating plans depending on his goals. Convincing him he would need to eat more food to drop his weight and support his training schedule was one of the biggest challenges, bringing up fears around food that even surprised him. More food allowed him to increase his training, preventing injuries, exhaustion, bolstering his immune system and making it easier to drop weight when he needed.

His mental health changed dramatically in this time and his motivation and positivity returned. His brain was no longer starving.  Whenever he is in Australia, Finn grabs a herbal mix, has a check up and we have a big hug. Providing the tools for long term sustainable lifestyle change, long term clients, mutual love and appreciation, these are the biggest rewards and why I am so blessed to be able to share my passion.

Another client came in with very similar symptoms to Finn. He thought his feelings were acute but as we went through his history we both realised that the last 6 years had been a challenge.

He loves to ride road bikes and would do hundreds of kilometres over a weekend. He also had an extremely high pressure job. His angry outbursts were out of character and it was affecting his marriage and his work.

His fatigue was his biggest complaint. Half way through a ride he would literally feel like he had hit a wall and would have to call his wife to pick him up as he couldn’t imagine getting home. He would then sleep for hours and have to take the next day off work. They were about to have their second baby and he is still to this day my biggest critical thinker.

Hyperactive and hyper functioning, his whole life he questions every herb I give him every supplement and every piece of advice. After three consults and still now I learned to have some piece of research/evidence or basis for what I was prescribing. I like it as it keeps me on my toes.

On this third consult, I also suggested it was time to get some blood-work as herbs were helping slightly but not enough and I wanted to know why. Luck, intuition, I’m honestly not sure but I gave him a referral to get his iron checked to start with. A process of elimination I thought would see us through numerous blood tests.

His iron was the lowest I have ever come across. A few months on now he came to a talk I gave the other day and I overheard him speaking to one of the other guests afterward. He warmed my heart with his sincerity in recommending she come and see me. He is vibrant again, colour in his face and excitedly told me about his most recent ride. He was tired, but not wiped out and he was ecstatic. Something so simple had affected his lifestyle, his relationships and his work for so long. 

Not everyone’s story is life changing. Sinus infections, allergies, depression, even chronic fatigue are reoccurring manifestations. As soon as we are stressed, have large life events or are out of balance our body will go to that place that is inherently our weak spot. What we can do with herbs is support natural balance and prevent sickness before it flares.

You Need A Break.

Sometimes you just need to get away! Have a break. Take some time out.

This is what Sam and I did for ourselves a few months ago, with a simple two day trip to Mudgee. That’s all you need (obviously more if you can). Recharge and refuel, and then come back and to a more productive, happier, less stressed you.

It’s interesting how sometimes we need to stop and step away to really take stock of what is happening around us. You would think that being in the thick of it each and every day would keep you alert and up to date. That you would know what is going on and how you feel about it all. But this isn’t the case for most of us.

When we are running from today to tomorrow and to the next day there is no time to stop, and take stock and reflect on what we are actually doing in these moments. We are literally on auto-pilot and what happens when we are zooming through life is that we miss the good stuff.

Life is busy and it does fly by, there will be days when you just need to put you head down and get through it, but the next day you should be tired and worn out and happy.

Instead, we put our head down for a year, or two, or more and when we come up for that one day of rest, recovery and reflection we have missed chunks of our life. Or of our children’s life, or family and friends. 

I put my head down prior to our trip away in preparation for some of the final big things that I needed to do before Callie was born and I could not have been more grateful for a weekend away with the most amazing husband I could dream of.

But it also reminded me that I need to stay more mindful and aware each day and that I had lost a little of the things I do to achieve in the busy months that had been.

Spending time on you is not selfish, it is necessary for you to maintain your joy in life and balance for those you love.

It is not even something you need to spend loads of time on. It can be as simple as a bath a few nights a week and 15 minutes with a cup of tea on the other days. Maybe you like to read? Don’t tell me you don’t have time for a single page each night or to tune in to your favourite podcast (The Naked Naturopath?).

I have brought my daily mindful practice back with me from Mudgee and I hope this helps you find yours too!

DETOX For Life

A detox should not be a quick weight loss fix, but a method to prepare the ground (your body) for long term harvest. A comprehensive detoxification program should be a means to achieve your goals, yes.

But, also and most importantly, to set up long term sustainable lifestyle changes to achieve fundamental improvements in your health. Now and in the future. Our body will give us back what we put in.

So, what are you putting in yours? 

Toxicity is unavoidable in today’s modern society. When we walk outside we are exposed via our lungs, skin, and digestive system. We have a residual burden of 2 to 3 thousand new-to-nature chemicals which are invented and released into the environment every year. These are in our air, food, water and soil. 

There are exotoxins (outside factors) which impact on toxicity include alcohol, nicotine, car fumes, industrial waste, pesticides, herbicides, food additives including colourings and flavourings, pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, solvents and heavy metals. There are also endogenous toxins. These are by-products from metabolism and impaired digestion. Toxins from within emphasise the importance of a healthy gut flora as many toxic metabolites and by products are the result of dysbiosis. The imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your gut. When foods are not digested properly they become fuel for harmful or pathogenic bacteria and yeasts. As the bad guys grow and reproduce the good guys get pushed out of the way and die off. The terms dysbiosis and leaky gut have been related to diseases as varied as depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, autism and autoimmunity. 

So where do we start?

The first and easiest thing that we can do is reduce the burden on our body. We do this by reducing as much of our toxic load as possible through healthy diet and lifestyle choices. This is where diet comes in. As well daily choices about what you put in your hair and on your skin, even what you brush your teeth with. Perfumes, makeup, deodorants are often toxic and there are natural alternatives. Women can layer themselves with over 22 different chemicals before leaving the house each morning. 

The second is to enhance the body’s natural detoxification capacity. This can be done by cleaning up gut function and reducing the production of internal toxins. We can also improve the function of the liver and kidney excretory channels with herbal medicine.

It is important to keep in mind that certain medications will slow the detoxphases in the liver such as Advil, asprin and Non steroidal anti-inflammatories. As well certain deficiencies will also have an impact such as selenium and zinc deficiencies as well as glutathionone and a low protein diet, which is why there needs to be ample protein in your diet. 

Specific herbs can support the body’s resistance to toxins by stimulating your body’s natural detoxification abilities. These herbs will lay the stepping stones for maximum toxin processing and elimination. They will assist the cells to protect themselves against toxins and inflammation and function at their peak. St Mary’s Thistle can even assist the liver to regenerate after damage and it is in your herbal tonic along with cleaners for your kidneys, lymphatics and your skin. 

If you have specific health goals, weight loss goals, are wanting to reduce your need for pharmaceutical medications, or prevent chronic illness a detox regime is the perfect place to start. Nothing is more precious or priceless than your body and your health. 

How Is Your Relationship With Food?

And why healing this is perhaps the most important part of your wellness journey...

What is your food relationship?

As with everything else in our lives, we have a relationship with food and this can be positive or negative and can change at any time.

I have spoken before about my negative relationship with food when I was a teen and this is such a common occurrence, with 1 in 3 teens starving themselves. As women, and as mothers we need to be aware that our daughters pick up on everything we do and say and as eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness in young women, we must be responsible for change.

It is so common that my clients have the goal of weight loss and I work on nutrition with most people I see to reach a range of goals. However, something has to shift in our society for a large-scale change to happen.

We have moved so far away from an everyday friendly diet and into the realm of mono-diets and food fear, that I am often coaching people and giving my permission for them to have a piece of fruit each day. I nearly always end up telling people that they need to eat MORE food to lose weight!

So, what the hell is a mono-diet? When you only eat one food. That’s right, be it bananas or potatoes. Or one type of food, for example only vegetables or only meat. 

And what is food fear?

More and more I see people who have come to fear a food or food group. This is what was done to fat in the 50’s and it is being done to an array of foods now, including sugar. But we are not happy to just hate on sugar itself, so it has been split into its halves with fructose being attacked on all sides.

When will we learn?

Whenever we isolate a food from its whole, it changes the way the body sees it. A common misconception is that full cream milk has added sugar. This is not often the case, but taking the fat from the milk (to change it to low fat or skim), turns it from a whole food with a balance of nutrients, into primarily a carbohydrate. This is the sugar macronutrient and therefore the body will see and use it differently to its fatty counterpart or the whole milk left untouched.

If we continue down this path of extreme diets we will be left with no food! So what’s the answer?

It’s always the same song I am singing; Whole foods, real foods, unprocessed and well-balanced. Check your plate; Do you have protein? Do you have fat? Do you have carbs? All of the macronutrients should feature in our everyday lives to allow us to live the healthiest life we can.

I would love to help you navigate your way to a healthy food relationship. You can book your appointment with me here.

Please seek further help from a medical professional if your relationship with food and your body is negatively impacting your life.

You can also contact the Butterfly National Helpline here. For crisis cases, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

My War On Waste Continues!

The War on Waste documentary has really sparked a fire in my soul.

I am obsessed with all things waste reduction and how I can minimise mine and my family's environmental footprint as much as possible.

I have recorded a podcast on it you will have to check out if you are interested in doing this in your house as well.

I am shocked each day by how much more I can do as I investigate my personal "War on Waste".

This has never been a huge topic of interest for me in the past. I have always done what I thought was enough; Recycling, buying degradable or compostable products and what have you, but I realise now that this is nowhere near enough if I want my daughter to enjoy what we have left of our amazing environment.

I also have found it fun and intriguing to find new ways of doing things and being conscious around the house.

It is important here I think to point out that just because we buy compostable and biodegradable products and packaging does not mean that this happens. Unfortunately, when these products are sent to the dump they do not have the necessary sunlight, oxygen and bugs to degrade due to the sheer amount of other rubbish and plastic around it. To truly allow these things to compost and degrade can only be done whilst they are in our own hands, at home.

I have always been a lover of gardening and farming as an herbalist at heart but living in an apartment in the city makes it difficult to enjoy this. I love going out to my parents place to play in the veg garden or compost things but it’s just not enough, and its annoying. By the time I have saved my scraps and get out there once a week it’s a pain in the butt and my house is stinking from a week worth of food rot.

So, I invested in an Urban Composter and am very excited to say this is working well. It is actually much more versatile than conventional composting, even though it is made for apartment living.

I am currently composting everything from food scraps to toilet paper rolls. Every time I put something in I smile at Sam and tell him what I’m composting (the excitement is thrilling for him I am sure!).

Using cane baskets and glass jars has taken me back to my childhood and shopping with my Nan. Wrapping food in tea towels and bees wax wraps carries a certain beauty to it that plastic food wrap has destroyed, and brown paper bags really do have a nostalgic effect on me.

Most of all, I am loving the lack of garbage in my house. Usually into my second big black garbage bag by Thursday I have filled 2 small brown paper bags so far this week and am loving the freedom from waste and plastic in my life.

Want to start somewhere? Focus on one thing this week that you can refuse-plastic bag at the shop for example, or reuse and not throw away (eg salsa or pasta sauce jar), and you are on your way.

Every choice we make matters.

Hormones & Sleep – The Forgotten Two

* Check out The Naked Naturopath Episode #28 for more Sleep tips and natural health support *

Hormones and sleep...Why are they so important for weight-loss, fitness training and overall holistic health? 

Spoiler Alert! The answer...VERY IMPORTANT! Hormones and sleep determine your wellbeing in every sense. From fat loss to muscular recovery, sleep is ESSENTIAL. Hormones and sleep can greatly affect your health, fitness training/recovery and weight loss. 

When planning your exercise regime and perhaps considering weight loss programs, a good night’s sleep will generally be an afterthought. If you’re serious about your health and fitness goals though, sleep should be at the top of the priority list. 

It is common knowledge that sleep is good for mental health, but why is it so important for the body? 

Sleep is incredibly important for vital hormone release and vice versa and continuous lack of sleep can be a factor in many lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity and mental health issues. This is due to excessive stressors placed on the body due to hormonal imbalance. Studies show that hormonal imbalance leads to circadian rhythm disruption, which over a period of time can create many lifestyle disease states.   

Eating well and exercising in daylight hours promotes sleep, so to stop adrenal overload, avoiding cortisol inducing activities and foods before bed is essential. A quality night of sleep will optimise hormone release and reinforce your circadian rhythm. 

Working out at moderate to high intensity daily in day light hours promotes hormones such as testosterone and growth hormones when sleeping. This means you will sleep well again, night after night, which will in turn assist in muscular recovery, health and wellness goals. 

Want to know more about your adaptive hormones? 

Leptin and Grehlin: Appetite is controlled by the release of these two hormones.  With appropriate sleep and rest these two hormones can work in harmony. 

Cortisol: The hormone that tells our body HELLO WORLD! Wake up, Get up, Eat, Work & Play. 

Prolactic and Growth Hormone: Two hormones that are integral for training adaptions and recovery 

Melatonin:  Melatonin is a hormone which is secreted by the pineal gland at night time. It assists in healthy sleep patterns.  

Take home message: If your body has a good sleep pattern, your hormones will work effectively and vice versa. So remember work(out) hard and rest hard! 

To take the first step in reaching your health and fitness goals, contact The MG Herbs Crew and book today!

Our Birth Plan

I am no expert in having a baby. Especially since I haven’t had one yet (she’s still cooking!). Usually my job is done once conception occurs. I use all the herbs and supplements up my sleeve to assist these clumps of cells to come together to form little miracles which later enter into this world as a baby. So, when people ask me what I am doing, what I am taking and what to use for labour and birth I feel a little out of my depth. All I know is what I, myself, will do-so I figure I can share this and you can take or leave what suits you. 

After all, that’s how I have learnt and come to create a birth plan a labour pack and my own natural pain relief techniques. By reading and asking other women and trying and deciding that these are some of the things that I may need or do so I want them on hand in case. Who knows, maybe nothing will help and I will just ride the wave that is labour and birth with my support team by my side as we wait for Baby Callie to be ready to meet us.

All I do know is that I want options. As many as you can give me. And I want my team to offer them to me as I will be in no state to think about what I might like to try next. So, as any good Virgo girl would, I wrote a 4-page birth plan and had a lunch with the 4 most important people in my life to talk through it! Though when I look at it I think my birth plan is not really a proper birth plan. It is more or less an explanation of our choices and how we would like to be supported throughout. 

Some things are more important to us than others, for example we are ready to scrap the natural birth plan and head for a C-section it is absolutely necessary, but I will not give up the first hour of her life being on my chest unless she is in danger (and no matter how much my mum wants to hold her! She can wait!). Each and every new Mum will have their most important desires. Yes, we have a birth plan but it is a guide that gives us options more than a strict list. The most important thing at the end of the day is that she comes into this world safe, and everything else can go from there.

So, I thought I would share our plan as below as I think the more we talk and share the more we learn and if you can take one thing from this list that will change your labour or birth for the better than that is the best thing in the world! I was very emotional whilst writing this and sharing. Having a baby is such a personal and emotional journey and our decisions are important, but they are not set in stone. Be safe, not stubborn. Be determined, not rigid. Most of all laugh and enjoy the ride as much as you can. You will do the best job you can with whatever happens and that is all that matters.

Our Birth Plan - Sam & Mel & bringing baby Callie into the world

You are some of the most important people in our lives. Thank you for being with us and all your support to bring Callie into the world safe and in the best way we can xxx

During early labour

We will spend as long at home as we can before Nancy (our midwife) tells us we need to head to Belmont.  Sam will be in contact with you during this time but it is likely that we will just meet you all out at Belmont unless he needs some support. 

Nancy will come to the house to check me out as things get closer.

I will need to be reminded to drink water and have light snacks throughout to keep my blood sugar levels up. 1 cup of water every hour, ensure I wee every 2 hours.

At Belmont

Slow – quiet – soft – low

I plan to use the bath as my main pain relief method. Other things that may help include the below pain relief techniques. Sam is aware of all of them, please ask him during this time if you are unsure how to best help. Take his lead, all my faith is in him as I know he will know what is best for me and Callie.

One main support person at a time - especially if I seem overwhelmed. Unless it’s an emergency please be passive and look to Sammy for direction. 

Sam will need breaks. Please be clear on who is taking over as my main support when he leaves the room for any reason. I need a clear anchor at all times. 

Birthing suite rules

Limited Q’s for Mel- ask Sam

No phones – aeroplane mode, leave room for all calls and texts please

No random convos

No social media pics

Immediately after birth

Mel and Sam will spend the first hour of Callie’s birth with her, skin to skin.

Skin to skin is really important for Callie to seed her micro-biome and put her trust in us and for her to breastfeed without any issues.

This first hour will determine how she breastfeeds ongoing. We plan to allow her to find the breast herself while my placenta is delivering and we are bonding. This means that she will not be ‘placed’ on my boob but will make her own way. I can show you vids!

Sam will need some skin to skin time during or after this first hour, depending how long she takes to find her booby. It is just as important for him as it is for me. I may need a shower at this point.

She will then be wrapped/covered in the blankets and wraps that we have ‘seeded’ for her. This just means that we have slept with them for a few weeks so that they are covered in our good bugs and scent, as opposed to a horrible, sanitised hospital blankets (possibly seeded with Staph or the like).

Then you can all hold her! But we want minimal handling. PLEASE no perfumes or deodorants on her first day in this world. We realise that she will be exposed to these things in her life but for this first day when our family is hugging and kissing her we would like it to be with minimal toxins. She will not be washed for a few days after birth so it is important that she does not get perfumes on her skin as they will affect how her immune system begins its life.

Please do not wipe or try to clean her. We want her vernix (white mucous stuff she is covered in) intact as much as possible for the first few days. Babies are sent home unwashed these days and it is advised not to wash them for a few days after birth. This isn’t just our weird thing! Especially important-please don’t wipe her hands as she will put these in her mouth often over the next few days and this will create her immune bugs.

I will then need some hot food, which we will have packed and will have put in the kitchen on the birthing floor. Please heat it up for me and make sure I eat it.

We hope to be home in 3-4 hours. Please feel free to go into the house during this time as needed. Once we are home we will likely have a 1-2 day new Larkings family period with no phones or visitors. Don’t be alarmed, this will be the only time we ask for on our own.

You have keys so after this please buzz, call and come and go as you wish. We appreciate all the love, support and help. 

Pain Relief Techniques:

Rest backwards in chair

Massage oil

Meridan flows

Bath (in and out)

Cold washers while in bath - temp control

Sweeping back, neck and squeezing arms

Chunging – use towel

Cat/cow pose

Walking, moving

My labour herbs - as progresses

My homeopathic meds

Slow dancing

Washer on head

Music

Counter pressure on back

Lay on left side w/pillow between knees

Big exercise ball

In Birthing Bag:

Natal pack (herbal meds)

Nappies/wipes

Callie’s suits

Blankets/wraps that have been seeded

Snacks and hot food item

Change of clothes

Sam’s swimmers and change of clothes

Thank you so so so much! I am so excited for the challenge and rewards of giving birth. Please know that we are both fully aware that this may not go the way we hope. But we have been preparing and doing everything in our power to have a smooth, natural birth and we hope this comes to fruition.

Also note that all of this may go out the window and I will likely change my mind on different things. If you can be flexible and understanding, putting your own beliefs aside for us where we differ, we will be eternally grateful. We are so so blessed to have so much support and in the end the most important thing is that you are just there as each of you gives us strength in a unique way and we love you so much. 

A Is For Artificial Sweetener (Aspartame)

What is it?

Aspartame is a very sweet chemical used as an artificial sweetener.

It is made up of three chemicals: Aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. It is the technical name for products such as Equal and Nutrasweet.

Where do they stick it?

According to aspartame.org, aspartame is currently being consumed by over 200 million people in over 6,000 products.

This includes chewing gum, soft drinks, lollies, gelatins, pre mixed ‘box’ cakes and puddings, readymade frozen desserts and pies, yogurts, protein bars and of course sweeteners.

However, it is also in pharmaceuticals and your children’s juice and lunch box fillers to allow ‘sugar free’ to be slapped on the packaging. 

If it’s in everything, what’s so bad about it and why should we avoid it?

Aspartate makes up 40% of aspartame. It acts as neurotransmitters in the brain, by facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron. Too much aspartate in the brain allows an influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals, which kill the cells. 

Reported adverse reactions are varied and many, with over 90 different documented symptoms, including headaches, migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, vision and hearing problems/loss, anxiety, slurred speech, memory loss, joint pain and more.

Researchers have reported that the following chronic illnesses such as brain tumours, MS, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Fibromyalgia and diabetes can be triggered or worsened by ingestion of aspartame.

We know that artificial sweeteners promote weight gain and research also shows that aspartame worsens insulin sensitivity to a greater degree than sugar.

So, I recommend not eating it.

Get yourself some nice natural chewing gum from the health food shop if you feel you need it. Xylitol is a natural sweetener which, as it turn out, is really great for gum health too!

Most of your natural chewies are sweetened with xylitol, so not only are you avoiding aspartame, but you're also having something that is good for you teeth!

Why do we waste so much?

If you caught War on Waste recently on ABC you will have seen that Aussies waste over 30% of the food we bring into our homes. Every time I sit down to a meal now I picture 30% of the food going in the bin and it is devastating!

It’s not just the food that’s being wasted, but also our hard-earned money, plus all of the costs to the environment in growing and transporting that food. Plus, then we have to find somewhere to store all the food we throw out. If you are not composting this food at home it is likely sitting in landfill as long as a plastic bag. Food needs sunlight and soil to compost and most things in our dump never see these two essential components.   

So, if a carrot is still a carrot after years of being at the dump then imagine all of our other food scraps and waste adding to the pile. Especially, when we can eat most of them! We are a wasteful society and have come to see certain bits of food as inferior; The ends, skin, seeds and leaves of vegetables for example! All edible, all nutritious and often thrown away. It makes me want to cry! 

Lets get back to eating ALL of our food and wasting as little as possible. Here’s a few tips: 

• Throw that peeler out! There is no need to peel your vegetables - eat the skin. It often contains a lot of the nutrients. 

• Eat the stems! There is no reason why we need to throw away the end of the broccoli or cauliflower or even our herbs! I use the whole piece of broccoli when cooking and the ends are actually preferred in my house to the trees. They have a different flavour and texture and you can add them to stews and slow cooking and you won’t even notice them.  

• When using herbs use the whole thing. There are different properties and flavour from the leaves vs the stem of herbs. We use parsley stems when frying up onion and garlic for a tomato based sauce or the roots from the very end of coriander for broths and Mexican while saving the leafy tops for freshness on the table.  

• If you have an awesome blender you can pop your avocado seed into a smoothie, or get the grater out and grate it over the top of food. 

If you are unsure, have a Google. There are some leaves we shouldn’t eat like rhubarb but a quick look online will tell you what you can and can’t eat and also what it may taste good with!

The other thing is to check out some indoor composting solutions so we can stop the waste from building up. In an apartment? So are we, and there are some really great options for bench top composting. We then just tip it out on the trees, gardens and grass up the road. 

A huge amount of food that we have come to think of as waste and would normally throw away, we are now thinking twice about!

Take for example beet greens (pictured below), the beautiful bulky stems of your fresh beetroot, they are full of nutrients and great for our liver. After a good rinse (get them from the markets and you will bring home plenty of dirt!), I plan to fry them up with some olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper plus a squeeze of fresh lemon over the top. Yum!

Let's join forces and see if we can make a difference together...

I would love you to share your waste reducing tips below or on Facebook!

Let's start a conversation.

5 Top Tips For Everyday Energy

Chase fatigue out of your day with these natural ways to jump-start your energy!

1. Get eight good quality hours of sleep every night.

2. Wake up to a big glass of water and a protein-rich breakfast (check out my recipe book Simply Balanced for some inspiration).

3. Move everyday! Exercise will raise your happy hormones and keep you feeling positive and energetic. It doesn't have to be a marathon, it just has to be movement of some kind each day, every day.

4. Get some sun. Vitamin D is important for our immune systems and energy. Get 15 minutes of sunglasses, sunscreen and long sleeve free sun each day (outside of peak sun times).

5. Stay hydrated. Get those 2L of water in every day and a little more if you are drinking coffee or exercising.

5 Steps to Stop Sugar Cravings

Sugar addiction is such an huge part of our world that we don't even have a word (like "alcoholic", "chocaholic" or "workaholic") to describe people addicted to sugar. Let's just use "sugarholics", because when you think about it, being addicted to sugar today is like being a smoker in the 50's!

You used to be able to smoke any time, anywhere. You didn't have to stop work and stand alone in the middle of a field. You weren't frowned upon for lighting up a cigarette indoors. Quite the opposite; if you didn't smoke, you were the odd one out. Today, sugarholics are the norm. Most of us are addicted from birth. Not eating the birthday cake in the lunch room marks you out as weird.

Make no mistake: the task you are about to undertake will not be easy, but it is not completely an exercise in willpower.

Despite what everybody tells you, if you are a sugarholic, there is nothing wrong with you. You are not greedy. You are not weak. You are chemically addicted to a substance in the food supply called fructose. And until you treat that addiction as the powerful biochemical force that it is, it will be difficult to overcome.

We have come up with five steps to breaking your addiction, but before undertaking them, you need to have the right attitude!

There are lots of downsides to sugar addiction and the only upside is that you feel normal when you eat it.

Do you really have cause to feel deprived? No, but many diets demand that you feel deprived. They ask you to "go without" and to "give up" a treat. Feeling deprived will simply drive you back into the arms of addiction.

If you want to succeed, you mustn't feel you are being deprived of anything. You need to view any offering of sugar not as a temptation to be overcome, but as an attempt to poison you (perhaps a little extreme, but you get the idea!).

You are not giving up anything. You are simply addressing an addiction that is not benefiting your health. It really is that simple to break an addiction. If you have the right attitude, avoiding sugar becomes a lot easier than you could possibly imagine!

Here are our top five steps to saying bye-bye to sugar:

1. Enjoy a protein rich breakfast.

Eggs with bacon and vegetables, quinoa porridge and chia seed puddings with fresh fruit are great breakkie staples.

Grab your copy of Simply Balanced for more ideas and recipes!

2. Eat well balanced snacks throughout the day.

Nuts, vegetables with hummus dip or yoghurt and fruit with seeds are simple ideas to keep you satiated.

3. Keep hydrated.

This will ensure you can tell the difference between habitual hunger vs real hunger and will keep you from overeating and craving sweets.

4. Move!

Exercise will ensure regulation of insulin and therefore satiety.

5. Sleep.

Fatigue will increase sugar and caffeine cravings.

The GUT & Its Glory

With The Gut Blueprint being sent to the printers I thought it was time to do a gut blog. It's long overdue but something I have been avoiding, as everyone has a gut blog and it's such a trendy topic right now, I feel you will know most of what I know! So, as with my book, I aimed for some interesting and unique information that maybe you haven't heard yet.

Although the gut is ‘in’ at the moment, it is still utterly underrated and fairly misunderstood. If we consider that there are three parts of our body that keep us alive, everyone immediately thinks of the heart and the brain and forgets that the gut is the other essential ingredient.

When conception takes place, the foetus essentially starts as these three pieces of a puzzle. The rest of the body is formed from and around this, in the miraculous beginnings of a what will become a baby. 

So, if evolution prioritises the gut as one of the three most important elements of life, who are we to poo poo the importance of the gut? 

Yet, this is exactly what has happened for the last five decades. In fact, naturopaths and herbalists have been laughed at for years for our emphasis of treating seemingly unrelated disorders primarily through the gut such as acne, psoriasis, thyroid disorder, infertility and so much more.

Now, as modern science catches up they have been shocked and impressed by how fundamental treatment of this part of the body can affect disease states.

Our gut is not just the place where food goes. It is the control room for our immune system and contains more bugs than most people can wrap their head around. These trillions of bacteria are so different in each human that they are more unique than our fingerprint. I could tell you about the impacts these bacteria have on all things from heart disease and diabetes, but this is everyday gut talk.

Did you know however, that these little guys actually secrete anti-inflammatory compounds, control when we poop, hold much of our intestinal tract together with their upkeep and make more decisions on a daily basis than our mind?

Here is the big news, the microbes in our gut are at least 30% less overall than they were 50 years ago. We can cure disease by putting one person’s microbes into another or, we can make a healthy person sick with diseased microbes. We can also make people fat or thin with another individual’s garden of bugs.

It is important to remember that for all we know about the gut there is so much more we are yet to discover. This is literally the iceberg that hit modern medicine in the side and has opened an enormous hole with information flooding out and waiting to be discovered. 

The Gut Blueprint is my version of a gut healing protocol. It is not a liquid food, soup, paleo or vegetarian approach. It is what I have found to be a unique perspective based on the balance and traditions of food. This book is written with real food philosophy and the ethical approach of using the whole animal, from snout to tail.

If this is the start of the gut healing journey for the general public than we all need to buy tickets and jump on board before it is too late! This book can help you do that in your everyday life, no pills, powders, potions, fecal transplants or colonics needed (at this stage!).

The book will be released at the end of June, with a launch party happening in Newcastle on the 30th.

Milk Myths

Over the years, I have done a few blogs on milk - From pasteurisation to how much pus (yes, PUS) is actually allowed into the milk we drink, due to the constant pumping on teats which causes infections in the poor overworked Mumma cows.

This time, I thought I would focus on a few common misconceptions about dairy that have been floating around lately. 

Number 1. Best to get the controversy out of the way first

Unfortunately, milk is not the best source of calcium!

Something as simple as chia seeds provides up to 7 times more calcium than dairy products alone. This common misconception has been purposefully orchestrated by the dairy industry to sell lots of milk and cheese. 

I don’t really care if you drink milk or not, but this becomes an issue when people who are dairy or lactose intolerant continue to drink milk for its perceived calcium benefits. This does damage to the gut and actually impedes absorption of nutrients - Meaning that any calcium in the milk will not be absorbed or utilised anyway!

Number 2. Let’s talk lactose free

Many of my clients come in knowing what foods affect them badly. For most this is the common culprits of wheat or dairy.

However, many people swap over to lactose free products thinking that these are in fact also dairy free. Lactose free dairy products are just this - lactose free. They still contain dairy.

In fact, they are just milk with added lactase, which is the enzyme missing from those who cannot digest lactose. Often, people also grab the tetra packed lactose free products, as fresh lactose free has been hard to come by in the past.

This further reduces the nutrients in the product as it has been heated to such high temperature.

Number 3. My biggest advice

Fat free dairy is just not the same.

Be it skim, light, % fat free, easily digesteable or fortified.

There is nothing that beats good old fashioned full fat milk if you can enjoy it. When we remove the fat the milk must go through another process, plus it is no longer a ‘whole’ food.

Milk is meant to have fat, it hold nutrients such as the ever sought after vitamin D plus it keeps us full and satiated for longer, helps us shed excess weight and gives a beautifully balanced food.

This is especially important for the little ones so grab a full fat, good quality milk for them. 

Number 4. My opinion

Don’t buy supermarket or no name brands. Pay the little extra and get a good quality milk that supports small local farmers.

Trust me, it will taste better and you will be looking after those Mumma cows in your own little way.

CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD BE EATING?

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EATING WHOLE, HEALTHY FOODS?

Transform your LIFE and your health for the better with my easy to follow 14 Days To Transform Your Life online program.

Join the hundreds of clients who have lost weight, boosted their immunity and ramped up their energy!

TRANSFORM NOW.

Health Benefits of Herbal Teas

Guest blog by Hayley Hinton from Infuse Herbal Teas.

Herbal teas are made from beautiful, natural, nutritious plants.  When you infuse a herbal tea, the hot water extracts therapeutic nutrients from the herbs in your blend, leaving you with an infusion brimming with health benefits.

Let’s explore some of the health benefits of common herbal teas:

Peppermint tea – contains an essential oil called menthol, which has pain relieving counter-irritant properties.  Menthol effects the cold-receptors of the skin, which makes peppermint a cooling herb.  Compounds in peppermint have an anti-spasmodic action, particularly on the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, contributing to peppermint’s ability to ease digestive cramps.  Peppermint also contains a compound called rosmarinic acid, which opens the airways, beneficial in the management of asthma, and to clear a blocked nose associated with allergies or with the common cold.

Chamomile tea – chamomile is a great herb for children, and has long been used to treat colic, gas pain and discomfort in infants.  It’s completely safe to give your baby chamomile tea, just ensure the tea has cooled enough for baby to drink comfortably.  Of course, chamomile has the same effect on adults suffering gas pain and discomfort, as it helps the muscles of the digestive tract relax and dispel the problem wind.  Chamomile also has a protective effect on pancreatic beta cells, protecting them from oxidative stress, making it a great herbal tea for diabetics.

Hibiscus tea – has a bright, tart flavour and is consumed for its health benefits in many parts of the world.  In Egypt, it is known as Karkade, and in the Americas it is known as Roselle.  It’s health benefits include lowering blood pressure and lowering cholesterol.  It is extremely high in antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, making it a great immune boosting tea.  Hibiscus is often consumed as an iced tea, as it is a great thirst-quencher, and helps flush excess fluid and toxins out of the body through its diuretic action.

Ginger tea – being an aromatic spice, ginger tea improves circulation in the body, helping maintain healthy blood flow to all parts of the body.  For this reason, it’s great stimulating spice for heart health, immune health and brain health.  Ginger tea has long been used to help relieve common colds, coughs and sore throats, as it is high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  Ginger contains an essential oil called gingerol, which has pain-relieving, nerve-soothing, and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as anti-nausea effects, making it a great tea to drink if morning sickness, motion sickness, or any other nausea is an issue.

Rooibos tea – is a herbal tea from South Africa, rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  It’s great for cardiovascular health, as it contains quercetin, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory actions, which lowers blood pressure and relieves nervous tension.  Rooibos is high in the minerals calcium, manganese, and fluoride, making it an excellent herbal tea for teeth and bone health.  Rooibos also balances blood sugar, and improves insulin resistance, making it a great tea to prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes, or to help manage blood sugar in diabetics.

Herbal teas carry a wide array of therapeutic health benefits.  Find the right herbal teas to suit you, and enjoy them every day – your health is worth it!

Hayley graduated the Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy in 2015, which included extensive training in herbal and nutritional medicines. She translates this education to her range of herbal teas by incorporating herbs specific to the body systems each blend seeks to nurture. 

To hear more about Hayley and her wonderful range of herbal teas, you can listen to episode 20 of The Naked Naturopath podcast!

The Naked Naturopath Nude.

by Melissa Gearing (The Naked Naturopath)

I have always felt more comfortable without clothes than with. I grew up in a naked kind of house where doors were left open and I never thought much about it until I started visiting friends and doors were always closed. For me, this has always been my comfort zone. I was awkward at high school with people and groups and spent much of my time in the library.

Always comfortable with my body, I have worked very hard to become a public speaker and face and be confident with my personality and being myself. As well as sitting one on one with people and finding the confidence to support them as a health professional. 

Today we are surrounded by nudity. However, it is not our own. Body confidence in my young teenage clients and women in general is so low and I feel that the bombardment of nude or half nude, edited, selfies is very much to blame. The people putting up the photos are often very skinny and have a knack for good filters. I truly believe that the only nudity we need to be concerned about and the key to finding our body confidence is within (or outside) ourselves. 

I am often naked so look at myself in the mirrors around the house as I am walking past. When was the last time you spent time in front of the mirror naked? Prejudice and judgement on ourselves has no place here. It is just about appreciating different curves and shapes and the colour of your own skin. Once you have achieved this you can really start to appreciate the differences in other people (with or without their clothes on!). 

I’m not talking about perving on everyone who passes you or heading to the beach and staring but just taking the time to appreciate different bodies and realising that every body, including our own, is so unique and beautiful and deserves respect and positive thoughts. We can often be so happy with most of our body but focus on one part that bothers us and this negativity spreads. I believe that being happy and confident with your whole body is key to a healthy mind overall. 

When I released my Naked Naturopath podcast with semi-nude photos the response was so overwhelmingly supportive. To me, this was the best way to portray what I hoped the podcast would become. A genuine and stripped back approach to health advice without all the complexities and confusion that seem to go with food and medicine. So, here I am naked on a chair or with some bottles. And here is some advice and how I try to live the healthiest, most balanced life that I can. 

However, I was surprised by the amount of people who commented they wished that they could be so brave. I responded with my usual vigour about nudity-do it! Why not? You get one amazing body and this one fleeting life. If you want to post a selfie up in your bikini (or without it) then I say go for it! Backlash? Delete those people and forget them. I did not get one negative comment from The Naked Naturopath promo, but I understand there are haters out there. Or you can always take the pic and keep it just for you. This is also really special. We don’t have to share everything in this age of over sharing.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all been peaches and cream. I had a mild eating disorder as a teen and my struggles with food guilt have been ongoing throughout my twenties. However, I will not let this define me. I have made it my mission to share the good place I have found and have written my two cookbooks in hopes of sharing a simple and balanced approach to eating with an 80:20 rule of thumb. This is the best way I have found to remove the guilt and worry, and enjoy life, love, food and me.

Now, being pregnant, some of the changes to my body are scary and others elate me. My hubby took the picture featured on this post of me before we were going to bed one night and I was inspired to write this blog and share it. I want my daughter to grow up confident in her own skin.

Truly being naked is not just about getting your gear off or showing off to the world. Nor is it about comparison with any other human being. There is no pictures or posting required. It is about finding a happiness deep within yourself. This, you can keep, or share when you are ready. 

KETOSIS 101

Written by Mel Gearing & Caitlin. Edited by Cindra Banks

KETOSIS is a word you have likely seen banded around in the health and wellness space of late, so what exactly is it?

The human body is normally a sugar-driven machine – the carbohydrates we eat get converted to sugars and our bodies use them for either energy or storage. When the body is being fed a healthy balanced diet, the body is likely working in this state and controlling how much fat it burns. 

When one drastically reduces their kilojoule or carbohydrate intake, such as going on a high-fat-low-carbohydrate diet, the body must switch to using another form of energy in order to keep functioning. This new state is called ketosis and involves the burning of fat for energy.

Ketosis can also happen during pregnancy and after a long duration of exercise. Ketosis is often a common occurrence in people with diabetes and is a sign that the body isn't using enough insulin (this causes the fruity smelling ‘acetone’ breath).

The popularity of ketogenic diets has withstood throughout the years (remember the Atkins diet?) for their effective weight loss without calorie counting or restrictive eating. This way of eating has also been successfully used in a therapeutic setting to help control seizures in treatment resistant epilepsy and other conditions stemming from an altered functioning brain. 

Be warned however, as ketosis can become dangerous in the long term for some people as high levels of ketones may cause dehydration and changes in the chemical balance of the blood.

I like to consider ketosis more for as a short-term, therapeutic treatment as opposed to an everyday diet. You can listen to my podcast here for more information on how ketosis works in the body and my thoughts around it!

There is a lot of hype around ketosis at the moment and it is easy to get caught up in it all, with keto powders and bars being released and high-profile wellness personalities promoting their benefits.

It is important to consult your health care professional before undertaking any kind of radical diet change especially if there is any underlying health conditions. 

WANT BETTER SLEEP?

HOW MAXIMISE YOUR ZZZs WITH YOGA

By Holistic Health Honey (aka Cindra Banks) 

As a health coach and yoga teacher, the most common complaint I hear from my clients is, "If only I could get more sleep/go to sleep/sleep better!".

Can you relate?

A staggering 1.5 million Australians identified with a sleep disorder in 2010 (according to the Sleep Health Foundation) and The Age newspaper recently declared that one third of Australians suffers from a severe sleep disorder.

So, if you answered yes to the above question, you are certainly not alone!

Sleep is so important for optimal health; it is vital for existence, yet most of us do not get enough. We don’t know how to wind down or how to best set ourselves up for rest effectively.

This is where I believe yoga comes in, we can move our body gently and slowly at bedtime, opening up the joints, realigning the chakras (energy centers) of the body and take our bodies from relying on our fight or flight (sympathetic) nervous system, to relaxing into rest and digest mode (parasympathetic).

Practicing a little yoga (movement, breathing and meditation) before bed will cause feel good endorphins to be released, giving your body and mind permission to sink into a restful sleep.

Even if you don’t include meditation or movement in your bedtime routine, you will still benefit from an uncluttered, rested mind by simply sitting still and concentrating on your breathing.

I recommend Analoma Viloma (alternate nostril breathing) as it helps switch even the busiest minds off; all you are able to focus on here is the breath. If you are new to this practice, I would recommend watching a YouTube clip or ask a qualified yoga teacher to demonstrate this for you (book a private to map out your own personalised bedtime yoga routine with me).

If you can give yourself fifteen minutes before bed, practice the above breathing for five minutes, then try moving gently through child’s pose, cat/cow and legs up the wall pose (Google these poses if unsure, or seek professional advice) for the next five minutes, leaving you with five minutes for a brief meditation.

There are plenty of fantastic, guided meditations accessible for free from iTunes (through the Podcast app), you can set a sleep timer so your mobile device will simply turn off when the meditation is finished. I recommend My Meditation Station (the host's voice puts me to sleep every time!).

Now, go catch some zzzs!

PS Mel has some amazing sleep remedies if you are still struggling to have a good night's rest...I am a fan of the magnesium spray and the Rescue Remedy Sleep personally. 

For more individualised support, make sure you book an appointment with her!

Live Like Nobody Is Judging (Because They Probably Are Too Busy Judging Themselves)

10 Tips For Getting Comfortable In Your Own Skin 

By Holistic Health Honey (aka Cindra Banks) 

I went running in a sports bra the other day. And I felt completely uncomfortable. 

As I began to run along a popular beach path in my hometown, I started to feel deeply self-conscious.  

The beach was relatively empty, but I felt like those that I passed were staring at me. The few cars that drove past I could have guaranteed were judging me.  

On came the downward spiral of negative thoughts towards my body. The body that could easily run 5 kilometres, that could teach yoga 2-3 hours a day as well as practice, that carried me through a gym workout with strength. 

Yes, that body I tore apart with my disparaging thoughts. 

In reality, I knew I looked okay. Besides, who really cared what other people think? 

I did. 

And have for as long as I can remember. 

I was about 6, debut performance for physical culture. Mum had layered on my orange-looking, foul-smelling tan, my hair was slicked back, my uniform perfectly in place.  

I performed the routine with all my might and afterwards, my class lined up to receive our certificates.  

As they started to announce prizes, I got more and more anxious as I wasn’t hearing my name. I was reassured by my best friend Georgina standing by my side, who also hadn’t received anything as yet. 

My little world came crashing down when they awarded Georgina a bag of lollies with her certificate. When they finally got to me, all I got was that lousy certificate, awarded to everyone who participated. 

I felt like a complete failure and had an immediate meltdown. Why did everyone else get a prize but me?  

When we arrived home, I went straight to my room and sobbed my eyes out. I wrote on the back of my certificate, in messy 6 year old script, “I am no good”.  

Right in that moment, I was cementing an affirmation that I tried to fight for the next twenty-three years of my life. 

Throughout my childhood, I continued to try new sports, only to quit a year later when I wasn’t the best on the team. I strived to be the best in my classes at school, as I knew then I wouldn’t be disappointed with myself. 

After leaving school, I tried my hand at 3 different degrees, only to abandon them for easier jobs or courses that I knew I could succeed in. I tried various career paths; Journalism, acting, PR, running a music business and styling, self-sabotaging every one. 

I made failure my enemy. I punished myself for not being the best, the most successful, the prettiest, the smartest, the most creative. 

I continually compared myself to my friends who had followed through with a degree and subsequent job, whilst I was still a student or living on a minimum wage. The only thing I ever stuck to was retail management, because I knew I couldn’t fail. It was safe. I was safe.  

Here, I continued to punish myself for not doing something more with my life.  I even compared myself constantly with my wife. 

Searching for something more, I stumbled across a podcast that changed my life.  

Motivation sparked within me to pursue a career in holistic health coaching and yoga, where I could help others who were facing some of the challenges I did. 

I didn’t want anyone to have to endure the same pain that I was working hard to overcome.  

Undoing twenty-three years of negative self-talk was not a simple task. Giving yourself true worth and love is absolutely a life long practice. 

For me, I have great days and still, not so great days. Nobody is perfect.  I take each day as it comes, and when it goes, I learn and let it go.  

My 10 Simple Ways To Bring More Love Into Your Life: 

1.      Repeat three times, morning and evening, “I love myself”. 

2.      Give yourself a hug 

3.      Smile at yourself in the mirror 

4.      Each evening, write one awesome thing that you did or that happened to you that day, no matter how small. 

5.      Get outside. Connect with nature. Take your shoes off. Stand in the sun. 

6.      Dance. Just move without thinking. Get your groove on, whether you have it or not.  

7.      Tell someone else how much you love them. 

8.      Be completely alone, in a quiet place if possible. Sit and focus on breathing in and out. 

9.      Laugh. Find a silly YouTube video, watch a funny TV show or movie. Don’t take things so seriously. 

10.     Think about how amazing it is to be on this earth, as you, just as you are. 

A Mindful Blog

by Cindra Banks (aka Holistic Health Honey)

MINDFULNESS is one of the biggest buzz words and trending topics right now.

You might have heard Mel chat about this on her podcast in episode fourteen (or the million other people who have been talking about it for the past few years) and been wondering what all the fuss is about.

And I don't think it's so much about mindfulness. I think it's more about our current state of being.

Let's look at myself, right now. I have 2 other windows on my computer open, as well as my phone beside me...My partner is giving me the hurry up, my flatmate is watching TV loudly in her room and I can hear the oven ticking away in the background.

Do you see where I am headed with this?

We are beyond busy.

We have become so consumed with everything outside of our bodies - Social media, the news, TV, the internet, looking right, eating right, buying a house, having kids, consuming the latest trends...

Losing sight of what really matters. Ourselves!

How many times do you pick up your phone a day? Check your inbox or social media accounts? Look outside yourself for validation?

I have noticed for myself, this is TOO MUCH. 

We are trained from an early age to seek validation outside of our true selves. You get commended for an A in an exam, for winning a sporting event, for securing a job, for getting a promotion, for buying a house. 

Too little or perhaps never do we hear, hey, you are an amazing person. Well done! Or, you are such an incredible listener. 

That busy-ness comes from a desire to achieve, achieve, achieve until we are noticed, appraised and then have to go again to seek the next hit.

Self worth comes from ourselves. To drop the busy-ness and be able to get validation in your own mind, you need to practice being MINDFUL.

It doesn't mean sitting for hours a day in meditation (although go for it, if that's your thing).

It means, being aware of your thoughts. Being attentive to negative thought patterns. Bringing yourself back if you can feel your mind running away from you.

It means, noticing your breath. Are you breathing just into your chest or is the breath coming from the belly? Chest breathing is shallow breathing, and shallow breathing goes hand in hand with stress, anxiety, raised cortisol levels and poor bodily functions. 

Taking a moment out of your day (perhaps one to two minutes) to notice your thoughts and to become aware of your breath is all it takes, especially to begin with.

The more aware you are of yourself, your thoughts and your breath, the more connected you are with your true self, the easier it is to start changing your habits to more healthy ones.

But it all starts with you and it all starts with being MINDFUL.

Mel and I have developed a program just for you, if you are sick and tired of being busy, stressed, anxious and unfocused. If you are ready to make a change. If you are willing to break old, negative habits and begin new, inspiring, life changing rituals.

The Mindful Blueprint is here.

And it will change the way you live your life. Not for the faint-hearted.

Register your interest now.

To Be Organic, or Not To Be?

The age old question of our times: organic vs non-organic.

I think that the article below is too good to rewrite. I will make the point that even if organic food does not contain MORE nutrition than conventional food (but has the same) it is what is does not have that is important- pesticides, herbicides and nasty fertilisers. I will also simply add that organic food tastes better and is only as expensive as you make it. I order mine from Go Organics, a local family run Co-Op. Check them out.

I have adapted this article from http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/nutrition/nutrition+tips/is+organic+food+really+betterr,7471

The organic side

Speak to advocates of organic farming and they will tell you that yes, their produce is almost always better than that which is produced conventionally - that is, using pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. "There are some very good studies that show that on balance organic food has higher levels of nutrition," says Andre Leu, chair of the Organic Federation of Australia. "The data we have from Australia and around the world tends to be consistent. The number one reason people buy organic is for health reasons and concern about the use of pesticides.

"People believe that organic foods have higher levels of nutrition and leave less of an environmental footprint. It's better for the environment and organic food tastes better." American food philosopher and journalist Michael Pollan, whose most recent book, Food Rules (Penguin), is a call to arms against agribusiness and factory-produced food, wholeheartedly agrees.

He says that large-scale conventional farming has so overtaken food production that average consumers have lost connection with their food sources. The result of this is large-scale farming that produces food too cheaply and too quickly, with little concern for quality.

Pollan says he became an advocate for organic and home-grown food after he encountered a mass-scale cattle feedlot that turned his stomach. His other turning point came when he saw an enormous potato farm in Idaho, where fertilisers and pesticides were pumped over the crops by a remote-controlled computer.

"What they were pumping onto the crops was so toxic that the farmers would not go into the fields for five days after spraying," he recalls. "And for their own consumption, the farmers were growing organic potatoes in a small patch beside their house." New South Wales farmer John Reynolds, whose Nashdale Fruit Co sells naturally grown potatoes through farmers' markets around Sydney, says he stopped producing commercial potatoes after tiring of being encouraged to grow oversized, flavourless crops.

The supermarket type of spud is generally grown in a grey soil that's very sandy," he says. "They do that because they can feed them up with fertiliser, which makes them grow very fast and very big. And that's why supermarkets charge $1.50 to $2 a kilo for them. They're force-fed."

He says his potatoes, which include varieties such as Dutch cream, kipfler and purple congo, taste better because they are slow-grown. "People come to me and say, 'My God, these are the best potatoes I've ever eaten'," he says.

The research

In the face of evidence such as that, it would be hard to argue against the benefits of organic food. But despite the claims of advocates, independent studies that compare the nutritional value of conventional produce with organic fare remain open-ended about the differences between the two.

Associate Professor Samir Samman, from the School of Molecular Bioscience at the University of Sydney, says there is little evidence to suggest that organic food is nutritionally better than conventional food, especially in relation to fresh fruit and vegetables. In amajor study that has been accepted for publication in the international scientific journal Critical Reviews In Food Science And Nutrition, Professor Samman and his team "surveyed the international literature and critically evaluated the results" - and they aren't heartening for the organics industry.

"Our review showed [that] when all the published articles on this topic are considered, organic food is reported to contain more vitamin C and phosphorous than conventionally produced food," Professor Samman says. "[But] when the articles are scrutinised for scientific quality, and only the better-quality articles are considered, only phosphorous remained significantly higher in organic food as compared with conventional foods.

"Phosphorous is not in any way a limiting nutrient in the diet. The presence of higher amounts in organic food has probably little significance. We conclude from the analysis that the nutrient composition differs very little between foods that are produced by organic and conventional methods."

Professor Samman's team also analysed the nutritional content of food bought from conventional shops and organic stores, and found that with oils such as olive, peanut and canola, "the method of production [organic or conventional] has no real impact on the composition" of the fatty acids contained in the food. The same result was found for eggs. His team is now conducting research on nuts, dairy foods and meat.

"Some health professionals believe that organic foods have more nutrients and elicit favourable effects on health," Professor Samman says."This advice is given despite the lack of scientific evidence to support it." He says it's more important to simply consume as many fruit and vegetables as possible rather than worrying about whether they are organic.

"The really important thing for consumers is that they continue to consume fruits and vegetables regardless of the source, because this is going to bring about health benefits," he advises. "If you only eat one organic apple because that's all you can afford, instead of having two conventional apples, surely you're better off having two."

And for those worried about the environmental impacts of conventional farming, Professor Samman says that organic farming has become such a big business that it's now facing the same problems as other agribusiness. "The more that the organic supply increases, the more likely it is to be detrimental to the environment in a sense, because we have to get the food transported to the cities, we have to get it mass produced and we have to use some of the equipment that conventional farming uses," he says.