Total Wellbeing

Naturopathy in Sunshine Victoria

Jodie Williams

What is Naturopathy?

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Naturopathy is a holistic system of natural healing for the body. That means naturopaths consider all aspects of a person – body, mind, spirit and emotions – as important for staying healthy.

Naturopaths use herbs and natural remedies derived from plants like these. Turmeric, thyme and ginger are pictured. Image by Chinh de Luc on Unsplash.

The 6 Guiding Principles of Naturopathy

Naturopaths work under 6 guiding principles you might like to know about.

These naturopathic principles are very consistent across all countries that practice naturopathic medicine.

Snider and Zeff, 2019, Unifying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine Origins and Definitions

1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

You might have noticed something similar in your garden, ignored all winter, you find with the right amount of rain and sun in the spring everything is in flower and you can take no credit for any of it! Naturopaths recognise this inate ability to heal as something our bodies use to restore health, in an ordered intelligent way. The role of the naturopath is to help this process along, through removing barriers to healing and supporting a healthy environment to thrive, both on the inside and outside the body.

2. Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)

So what pulls the body out of alignment and away from the naturally maintaining processes for health? Illness can arise from many causes. Perhaps there is a mind-body imbalance, or your digestion isn't the best? It is now well understood that stress is a factor impacting many diseases and the impact on the gut has been linked to mental illness, allergies, hormonal and metabolic disorders. These symptoms are your body's way of trying to cope. Rather than simply aiming to suppress the symptoms, naturopaths are like detectives, looking for the barriers to health so the body can go back to doing what it does best – healing itself!

3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)

Common to all forms of medicine is the principle of avoiding harm while we heal. Respecting the power of the body to heal means taking time to gently reassert balance,

  • Naturopaths use methods and medicines, herbs, vitamins and minerals which aim to apply the gentlest force or intervention necessary to return health.
  • Whenever possible the suppression of symptoms is avoided as suppression generally interferes with the healing process. It's great to see the shift in the acceptability of the ‘soldier-on' when sick mantra, just pop a pill and suppress your symptoms. Taking time to rest, recover and convalesce with naturopathic support is one of my favourite ways to connect to the healing power of our bodies.

4. Naturopath As Teacher (Docere)

Having the tools under your belt to guide your own health is a wonderful thing. Your naturopath teaches you about natural medicine and uses this and the therapeutic relationship to empower you with knowledge about maintaining your health. Afterall, who knows your body better than you?

5. Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totum)

Health and disease result from a complex interplay of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual and other factors. It is all interconnected and we can see this in many ways such as when our mental and emotional stressors create physical symptoms – racing heart, rapid breath and pulse for example. Likewise, when our physical symptoms create mental and emotional stress, like when chronic pain leads to depression and anxiety we are reminded that no part of the body exists in isolation. Treating the whole person, within their environment is essential from a naturopathic perspective.

6. Prevention (Preventare)

Promoting healthy ways of living and educating our naturopathic clients form the preventative medicine component of naturopathy. Looking at your health holistically, we assess factors that could put you at risk disease such as lifestyle and your own and your family's health history to work in partnership to optimise health. In a similar way naturopaths look at the world around us and promote living in a healthy environment to support healthy, happy people.

If taking the time to restore your body to health feels like the right type of medicine for you, give your naturopath a call today.

Developing skills for Mental Resilience and Self-Love

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This woman standing on a beach with her arms outstretched is demonstrating how filling up on nature can develop mental resilience and reduce stress.

What is mental resilience?

Life has a way of not going 100% your way all the time. Mental resilience is the quality that helps you adjust your heading to cope if your plans go awry, tolerate disappointment, persevere and believe in yourself.

We all feel anxious, down or depressed at times, just like we might feel happy, excited, pleased, angry or upset, at times. These are all normal emotions. However, if these emotions are too intense, lasts too long or interfere with your wellbeing they can become a problem. Feelings of worthlessness, failure, inadequacy and hopelessness are often the result of stress becoming too much and anxiety and depression interfering with how we see ourselves. Developing mental resilience is a foundation of strength that allows us to rebound from adversity, helps us safeguard against stress and have a more loving, accepting, optimistic view of ourselves.

Food for thought

Remember, what you eat and drink plays a huge role in developing resilience. Drinking around 8 glasses of water a day is an example of a habit that makes a big difference while eating foods that promote balance in your nervous system is an essential part of managing stress, depression or anxiety.

Good choices

Foods on the A list are examples of nutrient-rich sources of energy. We find the most resilient diet includes whole grains, vegies, leafy greens, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean protein and fish. Getting enough omega 3 oils is also essential for resilient brains! So load up on deep-sea fish where you can, For the best sources of low-mercury seafood for omega 3 oils, remember MASSH on your shopping list – mackerel, anchovies, salmon, sardines and herring.

Sometimes choices

Foods that are low in nutrients and highly processed actually put physical stress on your metabolism. Counter-productively, these provide an energy burst that quickly bottoms out, creating cravings and the urgent need to top up on fuel. Thus, limiting foods made from white bread and flour, fried foods, sweets, coffee and alcohol is a choice that supports sustained energy and positive, stable moods.

Helpful things to remember

Hope and optimism is actually something that is learned. In fact, through setting realistic goals, having the tenacity and perseverance to pursue them, you will gain confidence in your own abilities and the optimism that you can indeed change your circumstances. What does your inner voice tell you? Is it optimistic or hopeful?

Hopeful self-talk sounds like…

This is tough, but I can do it.

Deep, slow breathing calms anxiety. While feeling keyed-up, restless, worried, fearful or nervous, and the common physical symptoms of anxiety, like shallow breathing and a racing heart, are relieved with this simplest meditation. Try sitting quietly, with your eyes closed and one hand over your stomach. Then count slowly to three as you breathe in 1,2,3…and as you breathe out, 1,2,3… feeling your stomach gently rise and fall. Experiment with this technique for 2-10 minutes and check-in with how you feel before and after.

Getting control back

One of the strongest resources for mental resilience is having a sense of control. This is the belief that we can have some effect on our circumstances. Finding control in a stressful situation can mean accessing your problem-solving skills or using strategies to change your emotional state.

Problem-solving tips: What can I change about this situation?

  1. Perhaps, if you’re feeling too busy, take a looks at the things on your ‘to do’ list. Then decide what’s really important and what’s contributing unnecessarily to your stress. Ditch the unimportant ones, then delegate. Remember, resilient people ask for help – you don’t need to do it all yourself.
  2. Seek advice. No-one has all the answers. Ask a specialist for their opinion. Once you have reviewed the options, make a decision. Making a choice directs your energy and releases stress.
  3. Relationships benefit from developing open heart communication and listening skills. Mediation or counselling can be helpful if this is tough. Going as a couple, family or on your own is a great option.
  4. When setting goals, break up the steps into small achievable chunks. Slot time into your week to work on one achievable step at a time. As you complete each step, you will see your goals becoming a definite reality.

Mental resilience tips: How can I change how I feel?

  1. Exercise feeds the body with feel good chemicals. It also helps expend nervous tension and combats exhaustion.
  2. Engaging the mind in hobbies, meditation or breathing exercises help focus and change your emotional state.
  3. Acknowledging and expressing how you feel can help change your thoughts. Respectfully communicating your thoughts in a safe space, can be very helpful.
  4. Check in with yourself – are you feeling stressed due to messages you are receiving from advertising and the media? Sadly, many of these messages are designed to make you feel bad about yourself in order to get you to buy their products. Tricky! Give yourself a holiday from negative messages by putting down the gossip magazines and turning off the TV for a while. Call or visit a friend who reminds you how great you are instead. Check out Jameela Jamil's podcast “I Weigh” for some perspective on advertising and media driven self-expectations.

Happiness Training for mental resilience

According to current research, it takes 21 to 66 days to create new ways of thinking. Positive psychology researchers such as Shawn Achor train people to view the world more positively and optimistically. He suggests a series of daily practices that take only about 2 minutes each day for 21 days to get this done. Read more about Shawn Achor's happiness training here or check out his TEDTalk for an entertaining take on rewiring your brain for happiness.

Further Resources

Local Counselling Services (Melbourne's West)

www.ipchealth.com.au/communityhealthcounselling

www.headtohelp.org.au

National Mental Health Services

www.beyondblue.org.au

www.thiswayup.org.au

The above website contains a free online education program ‘This Way UP’, with online support communities and helpful information on stress, depression and anxiety.

Books of Interest

  • The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown
  • The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor

What Type of Massage is Right for you?

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Do you remember the first massage you ever received? My first professional massage is something I still remember with delight, over two decades later. I was gob-smacked. Awed. How could something feel so wonderful?

If you enjoy massage you probably have a similar story to tell. You appreciate the deep relaxation, the relief your muscles feel as the tension of every day wear and tear melts away, the quietening of a busy mind, and you are restored to yourself. As one of my clients recently said “massage reminds me how I'm supposed to feel”.

As a massage therapist in my seventeenth year of practice, I still think about that first massage. So grateful to that first massage practitioner for her skill, care and inspiration. To create that feeling for someone else is the aspiration I carry into every treatment. Perhaps if you are yet to experience massage for yourself, you might like to hear about the types of massage we offer…

What is a Remedial Massage?

How does a massage practitioner find the right spots? I like to tell my clients, perhaps only half-jokingly, it's a “little bit of science and a little bit of magic”. A practitioner designs a remedial massage to treat specific conditions. It may be especially helpful for back and sciatic pain, neck and shoulder tension, arthritis and posture-related aches and pains. Sports and work-related injuries also benefit from remedial massage. Treatment will include assessment, assisted stretching and a home maintenance plan.

  • A 90-minute treatment is great for clients who wish to treat multiple problem areas. Clients may combine this with a maintenance massage for the rest of the body. Patients who wish to have a full-body remedial massage treatment are advised to book a 90-minute appointment. $130
  • A 60-minute treatment may be used to treat a specific problem area combined with a maintenance massage for the rest of the body. Alternately, the client may prefer to use the full hour to address 2-3 major problem areas. $90
  • A 30-minute appointment is focused on a single problem area. This may include related muscle groups associated with the primary problem. $60

What is Relaxation Massage?

This is a soothing massage incorporating aromatherapy, acupressure and therapeutic pressure. The practitioner lengthens contracted muscles to renew from head to toe. This is an effective treatment for stress, overwork and symptoms of anxiety.

  • A 90-minute session allows enough time to deeply relax. Drift into a dream-like state and emerge with a sensation of contentment, bordering on bliss! $130
  • A 60-minute relaxation massage lulls you into a state of worry-free contentment. An escape from everyday life that follows you into your day. $90

What is Pregnancy Massage?

We use a specially built pregnancy support pillow. This allows you to feel comfortable during your massage no matter what stage of pregnancy.  This is a gentle, safe and nurturing style of massage. It is designed to relieve postural tension, improve circulation and stimulate cell nutrition during this time of additional stress on your body. Many clients also find that they simply feel better about themselves and better able to stay in touch with their changing bodies. This is a nurturing treatment when growing a baby often feels like hard work.

Lymphatic Massage

Light strokes are used to gently stimulate the passage of lymphatic fluid. This improves the flow of lymph out of tissues and back into the blood. Lymphatic massage has been found to improve immune function by increasing filtration through the lymph nodes and the elimination of wastes.

The movement of lymph increases the dispersal of swelling caused by injury or surgery, decreasing healing time and inflammation. Fluid retention may occur during pregnancy. Patients who have had lymph nodes removed as part of cancer treatment, also find benefit with this type of massage. People usually sleep very well after a lymphatic massage treatment. So, this is a great option for those that have sleep difficulties or chronic fatigue.

Which Massage is Right for You?

If you can't decide which massage is right for your needs, call the clinic to speak to a massage practitioner. Then go ahead and book yourself in for a massage today.

Healthy Blueberry & Almond Meal Cupcakes

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With Easter coming up, my diabetic clients could be feeling a tad deprived to be missing out on hot-crossed buns. However, let's not miss out – let's have something better!

These little gems, while not necessarily going to give you a sugar-hit, they are certainly satisfying. To add a sweeter taste you could easily add a little stevia to the batter, however, I found them to be delicious just as they are.

Most of us can tolerate the occasional sweet treat. However, when you don't process carbohydrates easily, the goal is to minimise simple, easily absorbed sugars and opt for slow-release or lower carbohydrate content in your snacks and meals. If you have a metabolically impaired ability to absorb carbohydrates (sugars) efficiently, blood sugars can become dangerously high in the blood, especially if eating a conventional diet, including processed flour products, sweetened foods, soft drinks and confectionery.

In this recipe, inspired by Maya Krampf ‘s Wholesome Yum Keto Muffins, we are opting for ingredients with both a higher nutritional value and lower in total carbohydrates to be stabilising on blood sugar – like almonds, coconut and eggs. Whip this batter together in under 10 minutes and cook at 180 degrees for 25 minutes and you'll be having a delicious morning or afternoon teatime treat before you know it.

Ingredients

  • 2  cups almond meal
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 2 tsp inulin (optional – adds a little extra fibre to feed your gut bacteria for those who are not fructose intolerant)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt (optional, but recommended)
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil  or butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup your choice of milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 small apple, grated

Method

Mix together all the dry ingredients – almond meal, coconut, salt and baking powder. Follow with wet ingredients – eggs, milk, melted oil or butter, vanilla extract. Then stir through the blueberries and grated apple.

In a cupcake tray lined or greased, divide the batter into 12 even portions. Pop them into a pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes until they are golden on top and a skewer comes out clean.

Exercise is Self-Care in Motion

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There are so many ways to improve your fitness…

The benefits of exercise are ah-maz-ing. Quite simply, we are made to move and part of brilliant self-care is giving our bodies the opportunity to do that daily. I always get a bit poetic about the benefits of exercise the day after a workout, must be the endorphins elevating my mood!

Slipping in a 15-minute walk makes a difference. Moving isn't all about long hours at the gym. Do what you can and work up to clocking up an hour of activity over the day. Think you don't need to exercise because you are a normal weight? Think again!

Active obese people have lower rates of sickness and mortality than non-obese sedentary people.

Curated from Carolyn Ross – The Emotional Eating Workbook: A Proven-Effective, Step-by-Step Guide to End Your Battle with Food and Satisfy Your Soul 

I've collected a few ideas below to get you thinking about exercise a bit differently. For balance, the 1-2-3 of physical fitness includes:

  1. Stretching
  2. Weight training
  3. Cardio

Why stretch as part of my exercise routine?

Stretching is insurance for your old age, keeping you limber and mobile. People who stretch tend to feel younger and have better flexibility. It can also calm your mind, ease muscle tension and improve your posture.

Do I really need to lift weights?

All those machines can seem a little intimidating to the uninitiated, but building gym confidence isn't a bad thing either. Tag along with a friend who loves the gym, get your gym trainers to give you an introduction and you will soon find your bearings amid the world of weights and indoor treadmills. Strength training with weights or using your body weight helps keep your spine strong and muscles active. And it will get your heart moving. Weight training also has cardio benefits and benefits for maintaining your muscles for your metabolism.

Cardio calling you?

Cardio keeps your heart fit, reduces stress and moves your blood around your whole body. Great for winter, when toes are chilliest! Or when you are feeling a little unfocussed and your brain could use a wake-up call. In fact

aerobic exercise enhances cognition and likely prevents cognitive decline.

Curated from High levels of incidental physical activity are positively associated with cognition

Moderate exercise helps relieve stress and floods your body with feel-good chemicals – the natural high that's good for your mood and makes you smile. With such a list of benefits, I bet you feel like putting on your runners and hitting the streets now! I know I do.

Being active during the day adds to your life span and has positive results. And it doesn't have to be all structured exercise either. A recent study found that people who have a lot of incidental movement along with a regular exercise routine, live longer and are healthier and happier than those who are mostly sedentary and have a regular exercise routine.

Ways to get physical – your checklist to success!

At home and at work there are so many ways to clock up some active time, no matter how busy we are. Exercise isn't one size fits all, there are so many ways to get active, why not check out some of these ideas? Perhaps there are some in this list that you haven't thought about. Put a mental tick next to each idea that could easily fit into your routine:

At Home

 Join or start a walking group with your neighbours or see if there is one at the local shopping centre. Enlist a walking buddy for support.

 Take your little ones out for a walk in the pram.

 Include the entire family — an evening bicycle ride with your kids is great exercise and also models self-care to help create an appreciation for movement and life-long habits for the younger generation.

 Walk the boundary while watching your kids play grass sports. There's no rule spectators can't get a little exercise too!

 Dogs are the best personal trainers and always keen to get outside! Go for a walk or run with your dog — if you're in an offlead area, get in on the fun and actively play with your dog.

 Clean the house or wash your car. Rock out with some tunes and get a clean house as a bonus. I don't know about you, but if I'm in a bad mood I can really let off some steam scrubbing something that desperately needs it. Channel your inner despot for good.

 Choose your transport. Walk, skate, and cycle more. Drive less.

 TV time? Do some stretches, your physio activities, or pedal a stationary bike while getting your latest Netflix fix.

 Mow the lawn and pull some weeds.

 Plant and care for a vegetable or flower garden.

 Play with kids—tumble in the leaves, dance to music, practice your cartwheels, build a fort or splash in a puddle.

At Work

 Get off the bus, train or tram one stop early and walk or skate the remainder of the way.

 In transit or waiting for the bus? This is the perfect moment to do some standing or seated stretches.

 Replace a work break with an energetic 10‐minute walk. Request that a colleague walks or runs with you.

 Take the stairs instead of the lift.

 Send your print jobs to a further printer and go pick them up personally.

 Take part in an activity program at work or a close-by gym or sports centre.

 Join the workplace sports team.

 Make sure you drink enough water to need regular toilet breaks. A hydrated brain functions much better and you get some bonus activity on your way to the bathroom during the day!

Play Time/Active Weekends

 Walk, run, skate, or cycle.

 Swim, throw a ball at the beach or do water sports.

 Take a class in self- defence, the latest dance craze or stretch with Pilates or yoga.

 Play 9 or 18 holes of golf and carry or wheel your clubs.

 Find out where the local clubs or leisure hire places are and canoe, row, or kayak.

 Pick up a racquet. Play tennis, squash, racquetball or maybe even badminton.

 Ski, toboggan or snowboard in winter.

 Play basketball, footy, or soccer. If you can't commit to a team, grab a friend and get yourself to a local park for some friendly competition.

 Handcycle or play wheelchair sports.

 Take a walk in nature. Exercise in nature has double points as just being in nature soothes your nerves and has healing benefits!

 Most importantly – have some fun and make fabulous memories while moving around!

Supporting your fitness with massage

Sometimes beginning to exercise can cause a few aches and pains – booking in a massage can be just the thing to keep you on track, feeling comfortable and motivated. We are happy to support your exercise routine with a regular massage. Book online now!

What inspires you?

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Time in nature is one way to inspire your optimistic outlook

You may have noticed I like to gather inspirational quotes and post them on my Facebook and Twitter feeds. I love them, I admit it. So while I was posting a collection of these gems one cloudy day I suddenly realised how differently I felt after reading them. I was lighter, more positive, looking forward to the day and optimistic for the future. Perhaps it really was true:

I'd been catching a healthy attitude from reading inspiring quotes. And the likes of Tom Stoppard and friends had been the carriers.

What lifts you up?

This got me thinking about the things that lift us up, the things that inspire us every day. My dad was a motivational speaker of sorts. Charismatic, complementary, he always knew the right words to pick you up and make you feel good. It's those sorts of people you remember because of how they make you feel. A ray of sunshine. Thanks, Dad.

Feeding your mind with compliments, beauty, inspired ideas can only be helpful. Perhaps even on a global scale, if Tom Stoppard is right and these things are contagious. It's a simple experiment, but observe for example the number of smiles you receive on a pleasant, sunny day – even better if it's a holiday. The magic of the day is intoxicating and it's almost impossible to feel otherwise infected. The reflection of happiness from person to person is so uplifting.

The way you feel can affect your health

I can't say I've always felt inspired in positive ways. Dark thoughts inspire self-blame, guilt, irritability and crankiness which unfortunately still spills over into the environment. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed, if you can't shake it, can lead to a really shitty day. And it's exhausting.

If you've ever been to that place where you can feel your blood pulsing through your head – quite literally like you're going to blow your top with anger, you can easily see the wisdom in this quote. Science backs up the mind-body connection with not-so-great impacts for cardiovascular disease in particular. Blaming others for your anger is statistically even worse apparently with the research finding this type of anger is

associated with a 31% increased risk of heart disease in both sexes.

Curated from Anger Expression and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: Evidence From the Nova Scotia Health Survey

Inspire yourself

So if anger makes you sick, feeling happy fosters health? Seems like the obvious conclusion. I love a feel-good movie, a touching biography, being in nature, time with good friends and family, a positive quote. This all inspires me to feel the way I want to feel – compassionate, optimistic, kind. What about you? What inspires you to feel the way you want to feel?

When did I book my next appointment?

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Life is busy and sometimes things can fly straight out of your memory! Perhaps your next massage or naturopathy appointment for example?

Confused cat wondering when his next massage appointment is

Don't worry, we have you covered! You can always contact us or view your upcoming bookings online via our online booking system. Simply follow these steps:

1. Follow the link to our booking system on your smartphone or computer: http://total-wellbeing.com.au/book-online

2. Click on the profile symbol in the middle of the page

3. Enter your password and user name (your email). This was sent to you in an email when you first made a booking with Total Wellbeing Massage & Naturopathy.

a. Don’t worry if you don’t know your password. You can reset it by clicking on the green “Remind password” text. Just enter your email and you will be sent a link in your email to use.

4. Once you are logged in you can find all your upcoming appointments and even view your past appointments and cancelled bookings under the “All bookings” tab.

5. Here you can also add your appointments to your calendar. Simply click on the “Add to Calendar” button.

a. Choose your calendar.

b. Save your appointment. It's a good idea to double-check the date and time is correct in your calendar, and then go ahead and save your appointment to your calendar.

Easy! Well done on finding all your upcoming bookings.

At any stage, you can always give us a call to update your appointments. Just remember to please give 24 hours for all changes!

Healthy Hot Drinks for Winter that Won’t Increase Anxiety

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I love chai written in cinnamon on a steaming mug of chai latte

There is nothing better than sitting down to take a moment in a busy day with a hot cuppa. Sometimes it's just the act of taking time out that helps to reset your stress levels. What's your favourite hot drink for winter? While coffee and tea are favourites for many, the extra stimulation of caffeine is not always the best, especially if you experience a racing heart-beat, anxiety or sleep problems!

Sugar can also be a problematic part of the tea and coffee ritual, as sweet treats are often enjoyed at the same time, whether or not you sweeten your drinks. If you are wanting to reduce the impact of sugar or caffeine I recommend finding an alternative first and then changing your habits little by little. This is particularly important with caffeine withdrawal – try substituting every second cup of tea or coffee with a non-caffeinated cuppa. Cutting out caffeine cold turkey can be pretty uncomfortable, so the slower withdrawal is generally recommended.

Warming spices through the colder months are a great way to increase heat and circulation. Or if you have a colder disposition and tend towards cold hands and feet even in summer, why not enjoy a cup all year-round? They also have therapeutic benefits for blood sugar control (cinnamon and stevia), inflammation (turmeric and ginger) and your digestion (ginger, turmeric and cacao). A cuppa can be time to enjoy a moment to breathe and centre as part of your daily self-care. Try these options for yourself!

Chai Spice Mix

This is a lovely alternative to the commercial chai powders that usually contain powdered caffeinated tea and a healthy dose of sugars. If you do want to sweeten this one, you get to control how much you put in there or substitute for a herbal sweetener like Stevia.

Stevia is one of my favourite sweeteners. It doesn't spike your blood sugar or have an inflammatory influence on insulin the way most artificial sweeteners do. There is some evidence to suggest it may also help with insulin sensitivity. And it only takes a tiny amount to sweeten your hot drinks.

I did a bit of an experiment and found this was a lovely blend – courtesy of https://bargainmums.com.au/easy-chai-spice-mix-powder

  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cardamom powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon clove powder

Add a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of the spice mix, a tiny dust of stevia powder or a little honey, hot water and milk of your choice. Perfect warming winter treat!

Change it up: You can also add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to your cup – one of nature's herbs that is a tonic for the liver and also anti-inflammatory.

Or, why not combine with the mood boosting benefits of raw cocao, for a chocolatey-chai sensation!

Hot Chocolate

This is a really simple, no nasties way to get all the benefits of raw cacao. Simply pop in a teaspoon of raw cacao, hot water and milk of your choice. For an extra tasty variation, zest a little orange rind into your cup – jaffa hot chocolate!

I like the bitter taste of the cacao but you might like to add a tiny pinch of stevia powder to taste.

Remember, chocolate has caffeine-like components, so it can be a little stimulating. Avoid having this one in the afternoon and evening if you are experiencing poor sleep.

Lemon

A naturopathic favourite! Hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice is not only a satisfying cuppa, it also has digestive benefits.

Bitter and sour foods stimulate digestion and prepares your body to break-down and utilise your meals, via the taste-receptors on your tongue.

Modern styles of eating, involving convenience and on the go foods often lead to our taste buds being trained to only accept sweet and salty flavours. Getting to know more bitter tastes is a good way to round out your palette and one of the tips we use to reduce indigestion and bloating.

If you are having digestive symptoms and you want to explore more ways to make your tummy happy, make a time to chat with your naturopath today.

What’s ‘Self-Care’ got to do with food?

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It can be a bit confusing when you've been brought up to believe relaxing is being lazy and your self-worth is tied to what you ‘do', what you sacrifice and how busy you are, to really GET ‘self-care'. So let's define the goal.

What is Self-Care?

Self-care refers to activities and behaviours that can assist you to reduce stress and improve your general happiness and wellbeing: basically, proactively taking care of yourself.

Were we designed for so much stress? A stress reaction is the body's protection against predators and danger. It flushes the body with chemicals to allow you to prepare to sidestep or go head to head with danger. You might know this as the “fight-or-flight” system.

Be that as it may, unending stress causes mileage on your body. It may likewise cause illness, either due to changes in your body or the overeating, smoking, drinking and other negative behaviour patterns we use to adapt to our pressure-cooker lives.

Looking at a mountain, an untouched river or a sleeping newborn baby, most of us would agree, this is a beautiful existence we humans have. Confronted with chronic stress, the thief of perspective and rational thought, the beauty of this world can seem tarnished indeed. This is where self-care comes in. It is a basic truth; you are precious and important, valuable in this world and somewhat of a miracle. So, let's take a look at ways to take care of your precious self and your experience of this world.

Good Food=Self-Care

In my early years, I grew up on the family fruit farm just over the Victorian border in southern NSW. I ate fruit in season and the mainstays were simple home-cooked meals, soups and stews. Fast forward to my teens and 20's and I was in a bit of trouble with a sugar addiction that put my energy, moods and immune health on a rollercoaster ride. Soothing my nerves and emotions with sugar was a vicious cycle that took many years to overcome. Without a doubt, adding to my stress, instead of helping to sustain a feeling of calm in the long term. I also suffered from skin conditions that didn't go away no matter what I tried. And every cough and sniffle dragged on for weeks. Until that is, I switched to a whole food, minimally processed diet. Bingo! My skin cleared up, my immune system was more resilient and my mental health stabilised.

In contrast to the foods I'd eaten before, I found foods that stabilise your energy, support your moods and immune health are in fact stress-busters. We all have to eat, so my advice is to pick foods wisely – include a lot of:

The Good Stuff – Foods for Emotional and Physical Health

  • Fresh vegies and fruits. 5 serves of veg a day really keeps things ticking along. One serve of vegies= 1 cup of uncooked or 0.5 cups of cooked vegies a day. While a serve of fruit is about 150g or 2-3 pieces, depending on the size of the fruits you are eating.
  • Clean sources of protein – including grass-fed organic meats if you can get it and eat meat, beans and lentils, eggs.
  • Good fats including oily, wild caught fish like sardines, Atlantic salmon, anchovies and mackerel; plus avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds.
  • Probiotic foods like unsweetened yoghurts, sauerkraut, kim chi, miso and fermented vegies. Small serves are recommended to help keep your digestion in check without putting your gut in overdrive.
  • Whole grains including oats (steel-cut are even better), quinoa, buckwheat, barley and brown rice are some personal favourites.

Tips for Breaking Away from Foods that Destroy your Health

Excellent self-care includes eating 5 serves of veg with quality proteins and fats. If this is new, it's likely to be a work in progress, so give yourself a break, it's not every personality who can suddenly commit to a new way of life overnight. And, please forget telling yourself you can NEVER eat your favourite foods. Just make sure you are eating 3 meals a day based on vegies, fruit, wholefoods, quality proteins and fats. Once you are taking care of your nutritional requirements with all this good stuff, the foods that contribute to rocking your equilibrium are much easier to stay away from most of the time. These foods just get edged out. In fact, you'll find you are having fewer cravings for:

  • highly sweetened foods and drinks,
  • deep fried foods,
  • salty snacks.

Without making an effort to eat quality meals, 3 times a day, I have no doubt I would not have been able to quit my personal reliance on sugar as an energetic and emotional bandaid. You have to find the parachute before you jump out of the plane. Or, less metaphorically, you have to fill your pantry with the tasty, healthy stuff you want to eat before you decide every second thing you currently eat is suddenly off the menu. It's likely to be a work in progress, so give yourself a break, it's not every personality who can suddenly commit to a new way of life overnight. But don't give up. Small changes make a big difference over time. You'll be giving your friends advice on eating well before you know it!

Tasty fresh foods with a rainbow of colours do a lot of the work in a detox diet

If you need some help with putting self-care on your ‘plate', book in for a checkup with your naturopath. Let's workshop some ideas together, you and your tastebuds will love!

Beat Boring Breakfasts with Banana Bread

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Almond meal gluten-free banana bread

Why Eat Breakfast?

Eating breakfast sets you up for steadier blood sugar throughout the day. This means you will be less likely to find yourself starving at morning tea time and heading to the vending machine for an emergency top up. Your metabolism gets a boost and your brain has the fuel to help you concentrate on your life. Skipping breakfast is a metabolic stress on the body and when typically there is more than enough stress in a day, why add any more!

 

If you start with a breakfast that has balanced amounts of protein and healthy fats, with a moderate amount of carbs you will find you will be satisfied for longer and have energy that will sustain you until your next meal.

 

Just 6 ingredients make a healthy banana bread that's moist and naturally sweetened with fruit. You can enjoy a slice with a hot beverage in the morning. My favourite is a dandelion chai with a splash of soy or almond milk. The spices are perfect for warming up as the mornings get cooler and go really well with a slice of banana bread!

This is a very moist banana bread. If you prefer a more dense type of banana bread, please see the receipe options following the instructions below.

 

Serves: 8

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Almond Flour Banana Bread

  • 2 cups,  Almond Flour
  • 1 tsp, Baking Soda (bi-carb soda)
  • 3 large, Eggs
  • 6 ripe, Bananas
  • 1/4 cup, Sunflower Seeds
  • 1/4 cup, Pumpkin Seeds

Easy Banana Bread Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
  2. Line your loaf tin with baking paper and set aside.
  3. Add all ingredients (except one of the bananas) into a blender or food processor and blend until a well-combined batter. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Alternately, if you don't have a blender or food processor handy, mash your bananas with a fork and mix into all the other ingredients until combined.
  4. Garnish the top of the batter with thinly sliced banana.
  5. Bake for 60 minutes or until the loaf feels firm and the top has browned.
  6. Turn off oven and let the loaf cool completely in the loaf tin.
  7. Slice and store your banana bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for easy access in the mornings.

Full of Fibre, Healthy Fats and Protein

As you can see, the estimated nutritional breakdown for our banana bread sets us up for a satisfying serve of carbs, fats and protein. Perfect for giving us a great start to the day. If your breakfast choices have become a little tired, try out a slice of hearty banana bread for a change.

Low carb banana bread for breakfast

Recipe Changes You Might Like to Try

The following options are some variations I've tried. Perhaps my flavourite version so far is one cup of rolled oats and one cup of shredded coconut substitued for almond meal/flour, with the addition of 2 Tablespoons of sultanas. Also, the most well received as far as the tastebuds of family and friends – it is a little sweeter, which is more accessible to those not used to eating a wholefood diet.

  1. Use rolled oats instead of almond flour. This makes for a really hearty, dense banana bread which is great if you like your oats!
  2. Use one cup of almond flour and one cup of rolled oats instead of 2 cups of almond flour.
  3. Use one cup of shredded coconut or coconut flour and one cup of rolled oats instead of 2 cups of almond flour.
  4. Add some extra sweetness with 2 Tablespoons of dried sultanas.
  5. Spice it up! Throw in your favourite spices. You might like to try cinnamon, ginger or mixed spice. Enjoy!