Stay Well Through Autumn With Natural Remedies

Autumn Stay Well For Winter

As the gentle energy of Autumn settles around us, wrapping us in her hazy sunny days and crisp evenings it is time to prepare for the turning inward that naturally occurs as we approach winter.  Autumn is a time of benevolence, when the activity of summer has slowed, when pastimes become gentler and more leisurely, when we turn our attention within to our own thoughts and dreams.

As the energies of Autumn contract and gather inwards, they cause us to also slow down in readiness for the stillness of the coming winter. The contemplative nature of the season allows time for inner reflection and awareness, providing a space to find clarity before setting plans and goals to initiate in the Spring.

In readiness for increased awareness and understanding, Autumn is a time to embrace peace and avoid engaging in personal dramas. This is the time to practice distancing yourself, to step back from conflict, judgement and other triggers in your life. It is the time to take a deep breath and count to ten before responding to potential conflicts.

Autumn Health

April is a time of transition for our whole body. As the evening air takes on a bite after the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun our bodies become more susceptible to health problems. Illnesses that have gone underground over the summer will re-appear and new coughs, colds and other infections appear.

If you don’t use this time to build your health and charge up your immune system, you may find yourself more susceptible to winter illness and less capable of throwing off any illness you develop by June.

Change Your Habits

By adjusting your lifestyle to align with the seasonal energies you can strengthen your whole system.

There are a number of changes you can make which all contribute to building your health.

Most people naturally change their foods when the weather cools and Summer salads make way for heavier meat and root vegetable stews and soups. But also adapting your life practices including exercise, meditation and sleep offers huge support through the colder months.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

Sleep autumn pexels

One of the most important lifestyle changes to make for Autumn and Winter health is to recognise that your body needs much more sleep as it turns inward. Getting seven hours sleep every night is one of the best ways to protect yourself against winter illness. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t recover from a work-induced sleep deprived week by sleeping in on the weekend so it’s important to develop routines that make sufficient sleep every night a regular part of your daily health practice.

If you can’t get to sleep or stay asleep, speak to your natural health practitioner now, before Winter, for advice and treatment to help you break this pattern.

Push yourself to rest whenever you need it and take it easy. Develop great bedtime routines to maintain wellness and keep ‘office illness’ away.

These Seven Surefire Ways To Get a Good Night’s Sleep will get you started.

Self Care

As Autumn settles in it is time to treat yourself with compassion. Be conscious this is the season to be gentle, and wrap yourself with TLC. If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.

It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

self care sleep

Modify Your Exercise

Exercise is a great way to boost immune health.

It increases oxygen levels in the blood. A recent study has shown that there is no place on earth that does not have some level of air pollution.  In major cities the level of oxygen in the air is significantly below normal. When you consider that most people also breathe poorly, and that many chronic diseases including cancer are associated with low oxygen levels, the importance of boosting oxygen intake becomes obvious.

Exercise makes you feel more alert, boosts your levels of endorphins to make you feel positive, as well as improving oxygen levels in every cell of your body. But during Autumn it is vital to tone down your exercise program to prevent your energy becoming depleted, as that adversely affects your immune system.

Yoga, t’ai chi or Qi Gong are very balancing and present the perfect exercise option for autumn. Deep breathing exercises and yoga stretching both serve your immune system as well as your respiratory organs through the Winter. Brisk walking and bike riding are other great ways to exercise in Autumn.

Avoid heavy aerobic exercise outdoors in the cooler autumn months, as it may reduce vital energy and weaken your system.

autumn-colors

Susceptible Organs During Autumn

The lung and the colon are both organs of elimination and relate to your ability to “let go” on all levels. According to the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine if your immunity is weak these are the organs that will be affected during Autumn, with respiratory problems including coughs, breathing difficulties and sinus problems, or gut issues like constipation and/or diarrhoea.

These are the organs that are affected when you hold on to grief and sadness. If you are holding unresolved grief or sadenss they eventually affect the health and function of your lungs or large intestine, sending you the message that it is “time to let go”.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatments suggested on this site.

Why You Need To Go On Retreat

The word ‘retreat’ has become the new event buzzword. It seems every second event is labelled ‘Retreat’ no matter what the focus and format. I’ve seen ‘retreats’ lasting from a single afternoon through to a couple of weeks. I’ve even seen online retreats! So you may be wondering exactly what makes a retreat different from other events. You may also be asking yourself “why would I want to go on retreat?”

Let me help…

 

go on a retreat

 

In common event-speak, retreats are now any event where you’re removed from of your day-to-day activity. Which basically could apply to pretty well every event!  The dictionary defines them as “an organised group withdrawal from regular activities, as for religious contemplation, the development of closer relationships, etc.”.  But neither really defines the nitty-gritty of a retreat.

 

Retreats generally have a theme. These vary from self-development, through skill development, creative refinement, business skills, religious practice, intuitive development, self-care pampering, finding your purpose, and many more. Many retreats also offer a deeper, non-religious spiritual experience to nourish your soul. You can always find a retreat with a theme that matches what you need in your life.

 

But here’s where things get confusing, as the format and structure of a retreat experience is not clear-cut.

 

 

What Makes An ‘Event’ A ‘Retreat’

 

Retreats generally have an element of coaching, as do many events. But events and retreats differ in that a retreat’s generally a journey of discovery – of yourself and others. Whether it’s about skill development, personal development or one of self-nurturing, retreats always take you to deeper levels of understanding and wisdom.

 

Retreats are usually live-in which disconnects you from the responsibilities of your daily life. This separation form the everyday world allows complete immersion in the retreat experience and journey. When you’re not being constantly pulled back into routine you receive new insights to make new conscious intentional choices with clarity.

 

And this is where the magic happens.  

 

By completely withdrawing from daily life and not returning home (or to an outside hotel) in the evening to cook dinner, do laundry or check social media, you’re able to completely immerse yourself in the retreat.

 

When you don’t downgrade your focus into mindless activity like social media or TV you stay completely connected to the energy of the closed group and the process.

 

When you don’t become distracted by the outside world, you can remain totally with the insights and challenges that arise as you journey through the workshops and experiences provided on the retreat. You can stay completely focused and allow the unfolding to occur fully, and in it’s natural progression and time.

 

If you shift outside the retreat, either physically or mentally by going online, you interrupt or shut down the process and halt the unfolding.

 

It is this complete immersion that defines an event as a retreat. It’s also what makes a retreat such a powerful tool for catalysing big shifts in perspectives, skills, knowledge and results.

 

 

4 Reasons To Go On Retreat

 

There are so many benefits that you’ll gain on a retreat. Here are four reasons why you should opt for a retreat over a regular vacation:

Continue reading…

 

 

Work With Me On Retreat…

 

Would you love to develop deep Self-Care practices to keep you grounded and energised, and your heart singing?

Join me on the Indochine Queen Women’s Retreat in Vietnam in March 2019.

Find all the details here

womens self care retreat

 

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Best Tips For Spring Wellness

Spring has blossomed in all her exuberance, bringing the reminder of youth, and the promise of new beginnings. Spring is the time of transformation and growth; the time to renew your energy and change your life. These top tips for Spring wellness will launch your momentum to rise to your fullest Summer potential.

As the days warm and lengthen in Spring you start to feel lighter, in body, emotions, mind and spirit.

These unexpected practices will help you feel your best and at the peak of Spring wellness.

 

best tips spring wellness

 

 

Top Spring Wellness Tips…

 

 

To Awaken

 

Get outside. Play, socialise and have fun, just as a child would.

The sun is up earlier and staying around later. Join him and get outside to watch the dawn. Even if you wake grumpy give yourself the opportunity to get out, feel the earth under your feet and soak in all the rebalancing benefits of grounding as you connect with the Earth.

 

 

Spring Movement

 

Instead of letting restlessness irritate you in spring use it to kick-start your exercise program.

Spring is a great time to overhaul – or begin – your exercise routine. Walk, join a dance class, try yoga, qi gong or tai chi, even join a hiking group or cricket team.

Honour your body by not overdoing it, and remember to keep hydrated or you’ll become fatigued very quickly.

 

 

Spring Foods

 

As we move out of winter’s chill we need to change our diet. The heavy, salty foods of winter put a big strain on your liver, which is sensitive during spring. Your liver is the main detoxifier in your body so it needs some TLC during spring. Cut back on alcohol, fats, oil and particularly junk food.

Sour foods like vinegar, lemons, limes and grapefruit stimulate your liver. An excellent spring wellness practice is drinking lemon or lime water in the morning.

Bitter foods cleanse the liver and are essential to good health. Some bitter foods are dandelion greens, radicchio, rapini, endive, kale, rocket, rye, chamomile, unsweetened cocoa, daikon, and even nettles. A salad of mixed leaves can easily include many bitter herbs.

Replace heavy winter foods with light, quickly-cooked ingredients.

 

 

Friend’s Support

 

With the warmer weather and longer days, Spring is a great time to reconnect with your support network.

Having friends who have your back when the going gets rough, and who really listen to you, is essential for wellness. Having someone you really trust who will hold the space for you to download, discuss, or even rant if you need, helps you stay on top of stress and overwhelm as life gets busier.

 

 

Better Sleep

 

Most people don’t get enough sleep. Many have passed the point where they can recognise that they need sleep.

You need between seven and eight hours sleep every night. Binge sleeping on the weekend doesn’t compensate for lost sleep during the week, or the other way around.

If worry is keeping you awake introduce some strategies to reduce the stress.

If your bedroom does not support good sleep use this guide to make changes

Most importantly, don’t sleep with your cell phone anywhere near you, and stop using at least thirty minutes before bedtime.

 

Reduce Stress

 

Spring is the perfect time to set the resolve to manage your stress more effectively.

 

Continue reading….

 

Work With Me…

 

Would you love to develop deep Self-Care practices to keep you grounded and energised, and your heart singing?

Join me on the Indochine Queen Women’s Retreat in Vietnam in March 2019.

For all details and  bookings

spring wellness self care womens retreat

 

Disclaimer

 

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Natural Remedies For Winter Health

When your mood matches the sky it’s tempting to dive under the doona and tune out from the world.  Winter is naturally a time to close down and go within so we need to be mindful of honouring our needs during this time.  We need to sleep more, eat nourishing foods and tone down the active life we enjoyed over summer, for our inner health.  We also need to support our immune system because it can take a beating during the winter months.  It’s important to know how to keep your immune system strong and balanced if you want to avoid winter infections and stay healthy.  These natural remedies for winter health provide a simple foundation for wellness.

 

natural remedies for winter health

 

 

The chill of Winter brings with it a swag of seasonal diseases which range from chilblains and cold sores through many respiratory illnesses.  The common cold is the most prevalent contagious disease in Australia and the most common reason for people to stay home from work or school.  Coughs, colds and sometimes flu are a common part of most household’s winter experience.  Colds are very easily spread from person to person affecting over half of the population in winter

 

 

Natural Immune Support

 

Your immune system protects your body and is your greatest health asset.  But with greater demands and stress placed on it over winter it can suffer. In order to get through winter without any sickness it pays to build your immunity naturally.  Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are three of the best nutrients for this. When you add probiotics you have a powerful combination.

Zinc and vitamin C are essential for the healthy function of white blood cells which fight infection.  Vitamin D contributes to a multitude of body functions including fighting infection.  Probiotics support the immune function of the gut.

 

Vitamin D

 

As we huddle indoors over Winter and spend less time in the sun, our vitamin D levels can easily fall below our needs. Vitamin D is essential for immune health. When these levels don’t meet the increased demands of our immune system we’re left open to coughs, colds and flu.

Low vitamin D can also lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder or ‘SAD’ which causes seasonal depression and low mood.

Vitamin D is difficult to source from food. While you’ll find some in sardines, salmon, mackerel, cod, and eggs most is produced by your body from exposure to sunlight.

 

Zinc

 

Is your diet lacking in zinc?  Zinc is essential for a number of life-sustaining functions, including strong immunity to help prevent coughs, colds and flu.  This important mineral triggers approximately 160 different reactions within the body including immunity.  Unfortunately about 83% of Australian women are deficient in zinc.

 

Continue reading…

 

 

Disclaimer

 

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

 

 

Change Core Beliefs And Take Back Control

You don’t need six ways to take back control, just one straightforward way!  The only thing we have any true control over in life is our inner world.  But when we are strong  in our authentic power we can intentionally direct our outer world, because our outer world mirrors our inner world.  Effectively we take back control of our life and how we interact with the world.

 

 

Everything we experience in the outer world is a reflection of what is happening on the inside.  If our life experience is chaos it reflects a chaotic state within.  If we notice exploitation all around, it is mirroring a sense of powerlessness within our self.

This is not about attracting things to us but rather, knowing that what we notice in our outer world reflects our inner experience.

In other words, we play an active role in how we experience our world, although we may not be doing it consciously.  However, we can change that and make that choice conscious, by becoming aware of how we respond to what happens around, and to us.

 

 

Notice What You Notice

 

Take a moment to observe where your thoughts are right now.  Don’t judge, don’t attach any emotions, simply observe with keen awareness.  Notice what your notice.

If your thoughts or emotions right now are focused on feeling hurt, or overwhelmed, or not good enough, or any other such feeling, step outside the emotion.  Put it to one side and simply witness it.

 

Read More…

 

 

Would you love to know

HOW TO RECLAIM AUTHENTIC POWER?

 

Join me on retreat in Thailand in August!

It’s time to AWAKEN, break apart those limiting beliefs and create a life of Soul Empowered Wholeness and Wellness

 

 

Disclaimer

 

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

5 Ways To Practice Self Care

As Autumn settles in it’s time to treat yourself with compassion.  Be conscious this is the season to be gentle, and wrap yourself with TLC.  If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.  It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

Although we know that self care is so important it can be difficult to know how to start.  Self care begins with self love.  Self love has nothing to do with being selfish.  Rather, it’s about attending to your needs not about putting yourself before others.  It is a vital step on the pathway to Soul Empowered Wellness.

 

how to practice self care

 

If you wish to grow in consciousness and walk a path of integrity and authentic power, one of the most fundamental steps is to attend to your self-care.  It all begins with self-love, the simple act of honouring yourself with kindness and respect.  Practicing self care requires you tune into your body, your emotions, your mind and your soul and attend to what it is you really need and desire.

 

 

Silence Your Inner Critic

 

In order to care for ourselves we must first recognise and banish the inner critic.  That inner ‘mean girl’, ‘critic’, ‘judge’, ‘saboteur’ or whatever you call it, (I call mine ‘The Committee’) serves us at certain times in our life.  But at others it undermines our dreams.

This is that voice that always casts doubt on your inspiration, your actions or even just you.

There are times in our life we really need that inner voice.  It is the voice of caution that pops up to keep us safe.  But it is also the voice that keeps us small, limited, and unfulfilled.

In the interests of self-care it is at these times that you need to reclaim the control to direct your own life.  When you don’t do this your inner voice will keep you restricted with old stories and belief systems that don’t support your personal growth.

The second part of the process is to attend to your needs.  A lot of people think this is about pampering but it is much more.  While pampering can be a part of self-care it’s not the crux.  At its centre self care is about tuning in to your body, emotions, mind and spirit and addressing what it is you need on all these levels.

It can be hard to know how to begin the process of self care.  Here are five suggestions.

 

 

Guide To Self Care

 

1. Shut Down Your Inner Mean Voice

I began the process of self-care by dealing with the voice of my ‘Inner Committee’.  The very first step was to recognise it when it very first showed up and stop it dead.  I used strong language first and then spoke back to it.  I reminded it that I was the driver on our life journey; that it was welcome to come along for the ride, but I was in charge.

 

Continue reading this article…

 

“When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver.”                           ~  Brene Brown

 

 

Disclaimer
All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider.  Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition.  Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication.  Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Create Your Wellness Blueprint For Great Health

It’s often during their fifties or sixties that many first receive shocking news about their health. It may be they have pre-diabetes or high blood pressure. They may be diagnosed with thyroid disease or another autoimmune condition.  Menopause may be tiresome and seem tireless. Or they even have serious life-threatening disease like stroke, heart disease or cancer. This is the age when it’s crucial to take control and create your own Wellness Plan to keep you healthy in your fifties and beyond.

Create your wellness blueprint

 

Your Wellness Plan

 

But creating a Wellness Plan that fits with YOUR life can be difficult. Where to begin?  What do you do when the advice on “Dr Google” seems to be contradictory?  You can’t change everything at once so how do you know which changes are the most important?  And what about natural remedies?  There are sure to be some that will help your situation.

And then there’s the issue of different advice coming from different people. What happens when your doctors and therapists are all focused on a different part of you so they all tell you to do something different?  For example, you may be told you need to walk every day for your health. But what if your arthritis or foot problems make this really difficult. What if you’re recommended a diet based on foods you know don’t sit well with you?

The situation can become confusing and may result in you making only minimal changes at best. For many it’s just too overwhelming and they give up before they even begin.

And of course there’s the whole challenge of how you begin when you need to make dramatic changes.  W hat is the very first step?

 

Information Overload 

 

I have seen this situation occur in many of my clients who are left confused, frustrated and scared.  They want to make changes to their lifestyle to become healthier and reduce the likelihood of further problems.

But too often they end up drowning in an overload of information. They lose sight of the big picture and sink below the details. They need the key to managing the situation. Only then they can go ahead and continue to enjoy their life.

That key is to create the Big Plan which I call the WELLNESS BLUEPRINT.

When dramatic change seems overwhelmingly huge it can help to break down the changes needed into small steps. If you have been told to cut out coffee or alcohol for example, cutting back gradually can make it easier. It help breaks the habit so you achieve your goal over a few weeks.

Of course in the case of certain serious illnesses you need to do much more than just give up coffee. And you usually need to make the changes immediately.  But by making small changes across your whole life you begin the process. Change happens in small increments in many different ways at the same time. Later changes are much easier to make because you’re already part of the way towards successfully achieving them.

There’s no doubt that in order to stay healthy, feel young and continue to enjoy life we must change our lifestyle behaviours and ditch bad habits. But the way you go about it will dictate whether it is easy or difficult. More importantly, it also impacts how successful you are at making long-term sustainable change.

After all, if you just slip back into your old habits nothing is gained. Whether it happens immediately or not for a year or so, you’ll again find yourself back in a health crisis.

The message in a health wake-up call is to make changes that are sustainable.

Continue reading to discover how to  create long-term sustainable wellness…

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer

 

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

 

Slip Me a Slug From The Wonderful Coffee Mug – Ahh Java!

Lots of us rely on our morning java to get us going and for some that is followed by numerous refills through the day
Lots of us rely on our morning java to get us going and for some that is followed by numerous refills through the day

For most people the question of whether coffee is good or bad for you is entirely irrelevant. Whatever the answer, it makes no difference to their coffee habit.

Lots of us rely on our morning java to get us going and for some that is followed by refills through the day. But caffeine is highly addictive and can lead to adrenal fatigue

Coffee serves lots of purposes for each individual – it can get you through depression or anxiety. But the caffeine it contains that provides the adrenaline rush, the temporary jolt,  also has a dark side, putting stress on your adrenal glands, increasing your stress hormones and leading to a vicious cycle of stress and anxiety. When you drink lots of coffee the adrenaline rush initially makes you alert. But as it wears off cortisol builds up. When this cycle is repeated frequently it creates the same effect on your body as chronic stress.

Caffeine also contributes to fertility problems including increased miscarriage and infertility; triggers the secretion of stomach acids and causes heartburn; contributes to hypoglycemia, an imbalance of blood sugars; increases weight gain over the long term linked to the production of stress hormones; hastens osteoporosis because it interferes with mineral absorption in the bones; affects the normal detoxifying process in the liver; and causes dehydration which then can lead to many other problems including wrinkles and stretch marks. It can even contribute to gluten intolerance  or Coeliac disease.

It is interesting that the heaviest consumption of coffee occurs in regions that are overcast, drizzly or that lack sunshine for long periods and are generally dreary. Caffeine seems to help with depression initially by contributing to dopamine production, which in turn helps to lift our mood. But increased coffee consumption can then create the vicious circle that actually leads to depression.

Caffeine is present in some other foods also like chocolate, cola and tea but most caffeine in our diet comes from coffee. However it only makes up 1 – 2% of the coffee bean and it the other constituents that are now beginning to be researched for their effect on our health.

For some years coffee has been recognized as having some benefits as well as being harmful, and for a while the belief that to be healthy you needed to quit coffee eased somewhat. Caffeine can offer benefits to those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinsons disease. Research done 20-30 years ago discovered that there seems to be a relationship between coffee and diabetes – the more coffee drunk the lower the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

More recently however it has been found that the caffeine in coffee could be causing insulin spikes and contributing to hypoglycemia. Considering that insulin imbalance plays such a part in ‘diabesity’ which is such a big and rapidly growing problem in our society, the alarm bells are now ringing.

Coffee is a very acidifying food. Foods which cause an acidic reaction in the body are known to contribute to a wide range of problems quite apart from digestive upsets including arthritis and gout. Here is a checklist of 30 symptoms to find out if you are too acidic.

Caffeine is a diuretic, causing the body to release more fluid. This also results in an increased excretion and loss of high levels of minerals – calcium, magnesium and potassium. This becomes particularly significant in a country like Australia where the soils, and therefore foods grown in that soil, is very mineral deficient already.

With concern over these rapidly increasing health problems and given that so many people in the 21st Century are stressed, depressed, overworked, sick, nutritionally deficient, hormonally imbalanced and generally living with inflamed or toxic bodies, it seems that the time has arrived for many to kick their habit.

Caffeine is very addictive and when lots of coffee is combined with stress in your life then the addiction can take over. But, some people don’t actually want to even consider that there is a level of addiction, let alone kick it.

Quitting coffee can be very difficult and apart from leaving you feeling weak and tired can cause all sorts of side effects such as headache, fatigue, depression and difficulty concentrating, as anyone who has to forgo their normal fix knows very well.

The answer is not to turn to de-caf coffee, which is often subjected to some nasty toxins such as solvents in the decaffeinating process and still contains trace amounts of caffeine, but to turn to healthier alternatives – choose NO-CAF over DE-CAF.

In addition, caffeine withdrawal does not have to be so difficult and there are measures that can ease it. I regularly use Homeopathic remedies for my clients with great success to stop cravings for all manner of substances, including caffeine. Hypnotherapy and EFT are other successful strategies you can use to break addictive habits. Supplementing with the amino acids L-Tyrosine or Phenylalaline can also help – some people do better on one and some on the other.

When my clients are drinking lots of coffee and need to cut it back I encourage them to do it in steps. This might be to just drink one cup less a day at first gradually working down to one ‘high quality’ coffee treat on the weekend, or even better, no coffee. The easiest way to do this is to replace the coffee with alternatives.

If you would like to make the switch here are some much healthier alternatives.

Start out by replacing some of your coffees with these. Perhaps initially alternate a coffee with one or more from this list and gradually decrease the coffees and increase the alternatives.

DANDELION COFFEE – This is one I drink and enjoy. It has a strong, slightly bitter flavour, very similar to coffee but it contains no caffeine. It has an astonishing range of health benefits – it is nutrient rich, supports the liver and kidneys to remove impurities, aids digestion and decreases inflammation, plus much more. The root is roasted and you will often find it mixed with chicory root. I drink it black and unsweetened but you can mix it with milk and sugar. I prefer the pure dandelion root to the mixes but try both out. I also mix it half and half with coffee occasionally.

You can make your own dandelion coffee and a quick google search will yield lots of instructions. If harvesting your own plants make certain that it is true dandelion and not the very similar Catsear.

TEECHINO – gives the energy feel of caffeine but without the crash of caffeine. It tastes like coffee but is made of carob, barley, chicory, dates, figs and almonds. But, just take note that this contains gluten so don’t use Teechino if you are watching gluten in your diet.

YERBA MATE – (pronounced yerba matay) This is a herbal tea from South America. It doesn’t taste exactly like coffee but has a pleasant flavour of its own. It is rich in antioxidants and minerals. Like coffee it boosts energy and fights fatigue. It does contain caffeine but the levels are lower than in coffee or even tea. You can also find Yerba Mate in some herbal tea blends.

GREEN TEA – Green tea has small amounts of caffeine, about 20 grams a serve, but these are substantially less than in coffee. It has high levels of antioxidants that fight free radical damage, improves cardiovascular health, reduces the risk of cancer and helps with weight loss. By the way, your green tea needs to be green, if it is brown it has been oxidized.

WHITE TEA – even better than green tea is white tea which is less processed and retains a higher amount of antioxidants compared to green. It also has less caffeine than green, only 15 grams a serve, and is light and delicious.

ROOIBOS TEA – A pleasant full flavoured, slightly sweet and nutty tea from South Africa which like coffee, can be mixed with milk. It contains no caffeine and very little tannin. It is also rich in antioxidants and minerals. It is thought to reduce stress, irritability and headaches, the opposite of coffee, plus has many other health benefits as well as relieving many illnesses.

REISHI MUSHROOM TEA – This is one to take if you are determined to wipe the slate clean and it is certainly an acquired taste, but reishi mushroom is absolutely loaded with antioxidants, is a wonderful stimulant for the immune system, lowers blood pressure and is purported to have cancer fighting qualities. It requires long brewing and you may need to add ginger or to sweeten it.

Coffee is often touted as having health benefits but the simple truth is that coffee is not a health food. Like other drugs there are side effects to any benefit that it offers. There are much better, less risky ways to achieve any of the professed benefits of coffee consumption.

If in spite of everything, you are going to continue drinking coffee then consider the coffee you are drinking and choose the best options around.

  • Firstly, opt for Organic fair-Trade varieties. Coffee is notorious for its dangerous growing practices.
  • If your coffee is laden with milk you might want to think again. The latte drinks offered by Starbucks for example are high in kilojoules, sometimes as high as fattening desserts like ice-cream or chocolate cake that most people avoid, and those joules are all in the form of unhealthy fats.
  • The way the coffee is prepared also affects the caffeine levels in the cup. Espresso coffee contains less caffeine than drip coffee and also has the most antioxidants, but it is also the one linked to higher levels of Triglycerides and LDLs.
  • The amount of caffeine in light and dark roasts varies only slightly so which you use makes little difference

After all this bad news are you still reading?

If you are still with me then enjoy this video (I’m not sure why it isn’t displaying properly, but follow the link it will get you there).

Then let me know in the comments below what your favourite coffee alternative is.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pULXnVTRynY                 .

cup_coffee_cream_heart_2  

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

Source articles:

http://www.hungryforchange.tv/article/10-reasons-to-quit-coffee-plus-healthy-alternatives

http://www.naturalnews.com/036412_coffee_dopamine_caffeine.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/034335_Starbucks_nutrition_calories.html

Coffee – The Good and The Bad

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/food+diet/expert+opinion/white+tea+vs+green+tea,13045

http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/mushroom-tea.html

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/what_is_rooibos_tea

http://www.naturalnews.com/034058_coffee_health_effects.html

http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-to-end-your-coffee-addiction/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/14/Is-Drinking-Tea-or-Coffee-the-Smarter-Choice.aspx

Natural Remedies For Hay Fever Relief

As winter loses it’s grip and we have the occasional sunny day some unfortunate people already face the prospect of seasonal allergies. That’s right, we’re at the onset of hay fever season. Seasonal allergy sufferers have a choice between using conventional treatment or being housebound. Either they’re unable to get out and enjoy the beautiful Spring sun, or they can take medications with side effects that really knock them about. But there are many natural remedies for hay fever relief.

 

 

natural remedies for hay fever

 

Hay fever occurs when pollen released from grasses and other plants is carried through the air on spring winds. These pollens affect the immune system and cause inflammatory reactions on the mucous membranes. Sneezing, itching, runny nose, coughing and congestion, hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis) is enough to ruin anyone’s day. It can affect any of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, sinuses, throat and palate, or all of them at once.

 

But it doesn’t need to be like this!

 

 

Natural Remedies For Hay Fever

 

There are many natural alternatives that provide natural antihistamines and can effectively knock hay fever symptoms on the head. These include herbs, vitamins, kitchen cures and my favourite, homeopathy,

In addition to actual remedies some precautionary practices can help minimise the effect of the allergen on your system.

Gifting your liver a Spring clean can reduce the allergic effect. These tips will help you gently detox your liver without doing a ‘full detox’.

  • Vitamin C and the bioflavonoid quercetin have an antihistamine effect to reduce the release of histamine.
  • Vitamin A helps maintain healthy mucous membranes which can improve your response to allergens.
  • Studies have shown a link between low zinc intake and higher allergy risk. Therefore a zinc supplement may help anyone who falls into this category.
  • With any aggravation of the mucous membranes it’s essential to reduce the amount of dairy food you eat. Dairy foods increase the production of mucous on these surfaces and exacerbate congestion. So eat less milk, cheese, ice-cream, cream, yoghurt and butter during hay fever season. And watch for “milk solids” often added to processed foods.
  • Refined starches can also stimulate mucous production. Limit bread and other baked goods to reduce the severity of your symptoms.
  • Increase your intake of omega 3 fatty acids over the season. These can help decrease your hay fever because they help lower the amount of inflammatory chemicals produced when you’re exposed to an allergen.
  • Many herbs including chamomile, stinging nettle, ginger, and butterbur have great use blocking histamine and relieving symptoms. But their effect is often limited to just some of your symptoms, not all. Plus they can take time to have an effect.

 

Reduce Hay Fever

 

Many alternative treatments, including nutrition and supplements, can alleviate hay fever by strengthening the immune system. However they don’t always give immediate relief in the moment when symptoms strike. Some can reduce symptoms when taken in mega dosage but often need to be taken in combination with others.

 

Continue reading   for more natural ways to get hay fever relief fast.

 

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

 

How To Reduce Chronic Inflammation

Many people think of inflammation as being skin redness, joint swelling after exercise, or even a pimple. And it is. But there’s a different kind of inflammation that is more insidious. This is chronic inflammation, or systemic inflammation. It’s a slow, silent attack on your body and health that never switches off. And worse, it’s the underlying cause of many serious chronic diseases in our lives. Luckily there are simple changes you can easily make to reduce the chronic inflammation in your cells.

chronic inflammation

 

You actually need some degree of inflammation in your body to stay healthy. However it’s more and more common for the inflammatory response to get out of hand.

Inflammation serves an important purpose but when it continues indefinitely it can become dangerous. You know your immune system is stuck in “high alert” when inflammation doesn’t recede. And this is where chronic disease develops.

 

Effects of Chronic Inflammation

 

Most of the common chronic illnesses today are thought to develop when the body is in a state of chronic (or systemic) inflammation. Osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, IBS, heart disease and even cancer are just some indicators of chronic inflammation.

Many things in life both contribute to and maintain chronic inflammation. Excess weight, lack of exercise, poor diet, excess alcohol, poor oral health and ongoing stress are just some factors that lead to it. Others such as pollution and toxins in our environment can also contribute.

 

Stress And Chronic Inflammation

 

For many people stress can be the major problem. Cortisol is an important part of your body’s stress response to perceived threats. So levels of the hormone cortisol rise in response to any stressful situation.  However, when stress of any type is ongoing the cortisol release mechanism doesn’t turn off. This results in persistent low grade inflammation. In some cases it can go on forever.

The first step to turn off the chronic inflammation response is to change your lifestyle. Simply switch to an anti-inflammatory diet for a significant impact.

 

Conditions Caused By Chronic Inflammation

 

  • Heart disease – stroke, hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Lung issues – asthma, hay fever, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, breathing difficulties
  • Bone and joint disease – all forms of arthritis, osteoporosis
  • Depression – including feeling down, sleep problems, appetite loss
  • Cancer
  • Anger disorders, aggressive behaviour
  • Autoimmune – Crohn’s, Lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, colitis, IBD,
  • Neurological disorders –  Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, Multiple Schlerosis,

 

Common Causes Of Inflammation

 

Excess Weight

Stacking on the kilos causes fat cells to grow. This leads to immune system distress and results in an inflammatory response within the fat cells.  Over time these cells become insulin-resistant which can lead to diabetes.

 

Chronic stress

Whether it’s a terrible job, unhappy marriage, sick parents, overfull diary or worry about your kids makes you anxious, they’re all chronic stressors. And chronic stress causes unchecked chronic inflammation.

 

Poor Air Quality

Chronic inflammation is one result of smog or any other form of pollution. Tobacco smoke is probably the worst form of air pollution.

 

Gut Health

The gut is integral to your immune system. Seventy percent of it is seated within the gut. Therefore bacteria balance is crucial to the regulation of inflammation. Beneficial bacteria suppress inflammation and harmful bacteria activate it. Boost the beneficial bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Certain foods contain inulin, a prebiotic which feeds beneficial gut bacteria and keeps your gut healthy. These include onions, raw asparagus, raw dandelion greens, raw banana, yoghurt, sour cream, and raw leeks.

Gut inflammation can initiate diseases like Crohn’s or rheumatoid arthritis.

Discover how to fight inflammation in your body.

Continue reading …

 

Disclaimer

 

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only. They are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

 

Happy Healthy Whole: Regain your health, reclaim your passion for life

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