febfast

I have decided to participate in febfast this year, and maybe every year from now on in. I think it is a great idea, it brings alcohol awareness to our society, it gives your liver a rest, it's a great cause for people receiving and those doing. Bring it on I say. If my donations can help someone in need I am happy to promote myself and this cause to try and get as many donations as possible. As some of you may know, I have a new baby so I am not drinking everyday but nor do I when I don't have a newborn, so it may not seem like a great challenge for me but it is a great cause. 

Once upon a time I did drink everyday and with that I spent a lot of money on drinks, so I ask you to donate the amount of a drink that you would buy me. Be it $8 for a glass of pinot, $7.50 for an Asahi, $3.50 for a pot. C'mon buy me a drink and support those affected by alcohol or drug problems.

If you don't know what febfast is, it is abstaining from alcohol for one month and raising funds for people with drug and alcohol related problems. Some of the charities where your donations will go are 

• YSAS in Vic
• Mater Health Services in Qld
• The Ted Noffs Foundation in NSW and ACT
• Bushmob in the NT 
• Mission Australia in SA and Tassie
• Holyoake in WA and 
• The Australian Drug Foundation nationwide

Donate to febfast Fiona Hogan Team

If you are also participating in febfast, here are some tips for making it easy:

• Consider taking a herbal support such as St Mary’s thistle, it's a great liver restorative.
• Take a quality vitamin B complex daily.
• Drink at least two litres of water a day and assist flushing those toxins.
• Drink chlorophyll everyday, it's another great cleanser.
• Try black Dandelion root tea, it will help your liver detox.
• Walk or move for at least 20 mins a day.
• Hide all the alcohol in your house.
• Meet friends and walk, a bike ride or do a movie instead of meeting at the bar.
• Take a good anti-oxidant which may include Vitamins A, C & E and Minerals zinc, selenium, calcium and magnesium.
• Enlist the help of a trained practitioner to support you and prescribe therapeutic doses.

Want to get pregnant? Preconception care

There comes a time when you may think about getting pregnant and maybe 'doing it' just doesn't do it!
So here are a few ideas to think about before you go 'doing it'.

First of all we are all very different, our health, our general make-up, our constitution so of course it is best to facilitate with a health care professional before hand so they can asses the best prescription for you and your partner.

Here are some general tips to help you conceive your baby.

Eat lots of wholefoods, fresh foods, home-made food

Rest and relaxation, enjoy spending time with your partner and enjoy getting jiggy
Reduce or even eliminate alcohol
Reduce caffeine
Reduce processed food intake
Stop smoking
Increase water consumption
Begin taking a vitamin B12 and Folate tablet
Increase your intake of EFA this includes flaxseed oil and fish oils but please take good quality fish oils, this means fish oils that have been tested for heavy metals contamination, PBA contamination and produced under strict guidelines.
Increase eating fish in your diet but again remember small fish are best, sardines, anchovies, mackerel because they don't tend to have mercury and toxic stores as larger fish can
Be kind to yourself and think positive thoughts
Even complete a detox and prepare yourself and your partner for your pregnancy - a healthy body = a healthy baby

Good luck on your journey, it will happen

Eating disorders

I have just finished reading 'Unbearable lightness' by Portia deRossi. It is an incredible tale of her life, beginning at a young age with her obsession of her body image and the need to look a certain way and then leading onto her struggle with bulimia and anorexia. For those of us that have no experience or association with these diseases it is easy to say that these people are crazy - which is exactly what Ellen Degeneres said to her now wife after reading her book.
And crazy they seem, their view becomes distorted and they become obsessed with the outcome that they are trying to achieve loosing sight of what is 'normal'.
For anyone that has had an eating disorder or acquired one of these diseases life can be tuff. Once the body has been slowly starved our natural systems and normal functions start to break down and we can acquire other insufficiencies.
If you know of anyone with an eating disorder seek help, even if they are determined to loose more weight or refuse food try to get them to take a vitamin B complex which may help them 'see' clearly and aid with the beginnings of normal brain function.
Very interestingly I just tried to google an anorexia help page - and it isn't easy. I came up with the Wesley Hospital, located in Sydney and the Anorexia & Bulimia Nervosa Foundation of Victoria in Glen Iris however it doesn't have a website. The butterfly foundation didn't come up which does provide support for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and negative body image issues.  They also provide support for their carers.


The butterfly foundation
Eating disorder help

Beans, Beans make you…………

Pulses and Legumes are an important part of a healthy diet for meat eaters and vegetarians. Here's some info about beans!

CHICKPEAS - contain saponins, a group of SUPER-NUTRIENTS that act as ANTIOXIDANTS. A good source of FIBRE - 42% of our daily intake in ONE CUP. Add them to your salad today.

GREEN PEAS – are a great source of VITAMIN C, 1 cup provides about 23mg. And this helps the IRON in the peas to be absorbed by our body.

LENTILS – are an excellent source of PROTEIN when combined with rice or wholegrains they are high in FIBRE, which makes them a good protector against bowel cancer. Lentils are an important source of B vitamins, especially B3, which is essential for both a healthy nervous system and digestive system. They are high in iron, zinc and calcium and are a good replacement for red meat. GO LENTILS.

RED KIDNEY BEANS - are a very good source of FOLATE, which assists our nervous system, they are also high in dietary FIBRE and manganese. Red kidney beans are a good source of protein, thiamin (vitamin B1), phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium and vitamin K.

SOYA BEANS - contain all of the essential amino acids making it a (near) complete PROTEIN. Also they contain ISOFLAVONES, which are good for BONE HEALTH

Naturopathic Health- January 2011 Hints and Tips

• Treat yourself and go swim in the ocean - what is your treat?
• Traveling - take a thermos and a sandwich - avoid the drive through’s and arrive feeling healthy!
• Tired? Go to bed early. Be refreshed for the new week.
• Feeling a tad Monday-itis - take a B complex and boost your energy
• Take on "Toss out Tuesday" - go through your cupboards and shed some clutter. What did you throw out?
• Sending positive vibes to all those in Queensland - Be safe.
• Sunshine helps increase levels of serotonin, the happy chemical in our brain - Go outside and get some sun, it may only be here for a minute!
• Go on - go for a brisk walk give those endorphins a kick start to begin your weekend. What healthy options do you have install?
• Research has shown drinking Beetroot Juice can increase blood flow to the brain! What's your favourite juice?
• Try a MEATLESS MONDAY! Aid you bodies digestive track by giving it a holiday and assist with the reduction of your carbon footprint as meat production is such a big use of resources.
• Thirsty. Have you had your 8 glasses of water today?
• WATER the great detoxer - reduces those feelings of sluggishness, generally gives the body a flush and hydrates the body
• YOGA - have you ever tried to get bendy? What is your favourite type of yoga?
• Prevention is better than a Cure. What can you easily prevent this weekend?
• Does an apple a day keep the Dr away??? Best to buy from farmers markets and try organic or biodynamic produce produce.
• Monday starts the beginning of the week - try to achieve HAPPINESS by acknowledging GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION. Why are you grateful and appreciative?
• Did you know using 'Blu Tac" as earplugs is great to protect small children's hearing (and of course adults too)! Are you celebrating Australia Day with loud music?
• Research shows that Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes assists with a healthy prostate! Summer = Tomatoes - fresh from the garden, eat up guys!

The Benefits of Oysters

People either love or hate oysters. I am an oyster lover.

I have loved them since I was a child and my dad would open them on the rocks and we'd walk with the waves washing around us and eat them. I loved the taste, that hard to describe metallic, salty, rich flavour, I loved the texture, I loved the whole experience. Now as an adult I can easily sit and eat a dozen natural oysters (or more) in one sitting – YUM and this summer I did.

The best thing about oysters is their goodness. They are known to provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals, packed into a high-protein, low-fat, and low-cholesterol package, this makes them sound like the perfect food. They also have a high vibrational energy too – this is because they are often shucked then eaten, it is as fresh as eating vegetables straight from your garden!

The Health Benefits of Oysters:

High in Zinc

Oysters are commonly known as a rich source of Zinc in fact they are one of the most concentrated natural zinc sources.

Zinc plays an important role in wound healing and in maintaining a strong and healthy immune system, and helps regulate ones taste and smell senses. Zinc is also an important mineral required for the production of testosterone.

Zinc deficiencies can result in symptoms such as decreased wound healing, weakened immune system, poor appetite, slow growth of hair, skin and nails, loss of hair, impaired senses of taste and smell and more frequent infections. Eat an oyster and feel stronger!

High in Protein

Oysters are a good source of protein, on average six oysters can contain about six grams of protein. The protein found in oysters is high in quality and is easy to digest.  

Protein helps build and repair tissues and muscle it aids growth within our complex make-up. So do yourself a favor and eat some protein, complement of half a dozen oysters

Possible Aphrodisiac

Oysters have often been called aphrodisiacs! They are rich in specific amino acids that are known to increase the levels of sex hormones and of course high in zinc which aids in the production of testosterone!

It is believed that if food resembles an organ or body part then it is beneficial to it.  Taking on this theory, aphrodisiacs are those that resembled sexual organs. Oysters have a clear resemblance of a female vagina and food that in some way looked like vaginas were reputed as being aphrodisiacs, making oysters a possible aphrodisiac!

Good Source of Vitamins and Minerals

Oysters are a good source of Vitamins including Vitamins A and B12 and rich in minerals such as Calcium and Iron.

The Vitamin A can help improve your eyesight.

The B12 will give you energy and help with brain function, helping your mood.

Calcium is good for your bones and the Iron helps your blood form and transport.

Nutritional Highlights of Oysters

Oysters raw, (6 medium):
Calories: 57
 Protein: 5.9g
 Carbohydrate: 3.3g
Total Fat: 2.1g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Excellent source of: Zinc (76mcg), and Vitamin B12 (16.3mcg)

Get ready here comes the festive season

Oh yeah December is here, Summer is here, Christmas party's are here and it's that time of year where everyone needs to see all of their friends that they haven't had time to see in the last 12months, which is most of their friends. It is a crazy time of year and here are some hints on how to make you feel better and fresher in the mornings after some of those get-togethers!


Water = Hydration. Drink water between drinks. On arrival have a glass of water, generally we arrive thirsty and slightly dehydrated to any party, the stress of getting there, being late, the heat, the anxiety of not drinking too much in front of the boss and your colleagues - it all contributes to you being thirsty on arrival. It is so easy after each alcoholic drink to add a water drink, so easy and ever so effective in beating that hangover.


Sleep with your bedroom window open - fresh air is incredible it helps aid a good nights sleep and also helps reduce toxic overload in the body. Get yourself a bit of that fresh O2.


The Arctic Blast. After your nice warm shower in the morning turn that hot water off and crank the COLD. Your whole body will be stimulated, your blood circulation and lymphatic system will be yelling 'Oh yeah - bring on the day'. You may go into a slight shock but it will be easily overcome and you'll feel great.


Breakfast, yes you have heard it before but it is the most important meal of the day especially in the silly season. It refuels you and gives your body and your brain energy and strength to get through these long, hot and busy days. A combined cereal breakfast that is high in protein is perfect. My favourite is rolled oats, pepitas, sunflower seeds and almonds, add half a chopped banana (or whatever fruit you have in the kitchen) with a dollop of natural yoghurt and a splash of milk. Delicious.


Take good quality B complex supplement. B vitamins are wonderful, they help create energy production, help nerve function and formation, they help metabolise other vitamins and minerals, they help with the production and formation of blood, they help with brain function - the list goes on.  Our bodies cannot store  B vitamins because they are water soluble  therefore it it wise to take a B complex every morning.


Exercise. This doesn't mean a 10km run everyday but just a casual half hour of something. A good way to incorporate exercise into this silly season is to ride your bike to the BBQ/Party or walk there. Easy and it saves you money on taxis, saves the environmental footprint of using your car and saves your licence from potential being lost if you drink one too many!


Have a safe and happy silly season.
What do you do to beat the overload of the silly season?