Supplement Shake-up

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I love taking my vitamin and mineral supplements because they work. 

I take them at therapeutic doses, I know exactly what they do for me and what I need them for, after all I am a Naturopath. I studied for four years at University learning about this stuff; doses, pathways, interactions, contraindications, actions, indications. Apart from learning at University, I've spent over 10 years in clinic and working with people seeing results and the benefits that proper prescribing can do. In effect I've been doing my own clinical studies and trials for a decade.

Do you know why you are taking those supplements that your neighbour told you to take?
Or the lovely girl at they health food shop?
Or the supplements you picked up at the supermarket because they were on special?
The TV advert, said that some fish oil would reduce inflammation! But are you taking the best quality and more importantly are you taking therapeutic doses that work? Do the vitamins living in your pantry even have therapeutic doses? Believe me I see brands (well known too) that don't have enough folate to protect you or your baby from spina bifida and they are charging you more than proper practitioner only products. Professional advice is the best advice.

The Health and Wellbeing Industry industry is a 20 billion dollar industry! Are all the sales and marketing slogans really working for you or do they want you to contribute to a piece of the pie? 

I will share with you my professional opinion and help you save your health and your money by conductiing a Supplement Shake-up and teach you if you need to take the supplements that you've accumulated.

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If you have loads of bottles of Vitamins and Minerals in your cupboards at home and want to know why you need to take them, come in and see a professional. 

Monday 25th November Supplement SHAKE-UP day

Bring your shopping bag of stuff into my clinic and I will sit down and go through it with you.
Why are you taking it?
What it will assist with?
What dose will achieve results?
Do you even need it?

Call me 0408 397 298 to book your appointment, it'll be the best $40 you've ever spent.

The Vitamin D Affair

We are a nation of sunshine, everyone thinks of Australia as a sunny country, where we are all lazin’ on our beaches and looking tanned and healthy. However this is not the case – whenever I go to another country everyone is tanned and enjoying the sun. Australians have become scared of the sun, we are told to slip/slop/slap; we’re told that the sun causes cancer, we are told to wear hats, cover up, sit in the shade. It is now coming back to haunt us, we in Australia are facing Vitamin D deficiency and nearly everyone is supplementing.

Vitamin D and lack of it has been a big concern of mine for a long time, it comes from the sun and synthesises in our skin to then be processed in our liver. It aids Calcium assisting bone density and bone structure. But apparently, we here in Australia are starting to have proportions of deficiency especially in children and older people because of our avoidance of the sun! Too much slip, slop, slapping so to speak.

The major benefit of Vitamin D is bone health it helps our bones stay strong and stable holding us up and enabling us to move. It’s also known to help aid and support our immune system, studies indicate higher levels of Vitamin D in our blood supply can help ward off the common cold in winter, help prevent cancers, help our moods, balance our hormones and make us feel happier.

Food sources are generally low in this vitamin. The richest sources of vitamin D include fatty fishes such as mackerel, herring, cod and tuna and of course Cod liver oil. The skin of fish and chicken also has some supplies of Vitamin D (if they have been growing in the sun)- but we are encouraged not to eat this because of the high fat content, let yourself go and enjoy some flavor. Eat til your heart is content! Often Milk and milk products are fortified so these are also good sources.

Sun is the best source of Vitamin D yet absorption of the special UVB rays only occur 8 months of the year (no Winter vitamin D) and to get the best absorption experts say you must be in the sun for up to 15minutes between the hours of 11-3 (scary hey). However, over the years we have been encouraged not to go out in it. Now I am certainly not saying to go out and bake in it everyday for hours at a time but we need some sun, preferably 15 minutes a day, and you need to expose more than just your face, as your face is only 9% of your skin coverage, get you back, arms and legs out. Enjoy that summer sun.

Tip: Vitamin D absorbed from the sun lasts up to 3 times longer in your body stores than that taken via a supplement! 

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!

What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy can easily and succinctly be broken down to define the ‘Natural Path’.

However, Naturopathy has really evolved over centauries and can be traced to ancient Greek times. In about 400 B.C, Hippocrates, ‘the Father of Medicine’, first formulated the concept of the ‘healing power of nature’ linking the body, mind and spirit to inherently be able to heal itself.

Naturopathy is the practice of health care that combines both traditional wisdom of natural medicine with modern scientific based evidence. It is the practice of treating the body as a whole and taking the body, mind, spirit and environment into account whilst preventing, assessing and treating conditions that are presented.

Naturopathy takes into account physical conditions, possible pathological presentation, psychological and emotional factors, diet, inherited genetic characteristics, lifestyle and environmental factors when rebalancing or aligning the body’s natural state.

The role of a naturopath is to work with a person to promote their body’s natural balanced state and their ability to maintain optimal order and function of their body (homeostasis). As a practitioner I will take a detailed case history assessing your current health concern/s, medical history, family history, current environmental and lifestyle factors that may influence your wellbeing, including exercise, diet, nutrition and stress levels. Pathological tests may also be required. From there I will be able to make an assessment and be able to recommend a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. Follow up visits assess your progress and treatment strategies are adapted to best suit you and your health, as well as providing further education for you to maintain optimal long term homeostasis.

The therapies I use may include; Herbal remedies (liquids, tablets or capsules), Homeopathy, Nutritional supplements, Diet and Lifestyle recommendations.

Naturopaths are able to treat most ailments by assisting and facilitating treatment plans. Naturopaths can treat: Women’s hormonal imbalances; PMS, PMT, painful periods, inconsistent periods, Pregnancy issues and pregnancy support. Children’s ailments and illnesses including; common coughs and colds, anxiety and stress. Men’s Health issues; exhaustion, stress, aid and support prostrate health. General health problems relating to the skin, energy levels, stress and tiredness just to name a few.