Passion

"Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark."

~ Henri Frederic Amiel

AUSTRALIANS CONFUSED ABOUT ANTIOXIDANTS

Australians consider the intake of antioxidants as a vital component of a healthy diet, yet nearly half (49 per cent) of people aged 18 to 64 years are confused about the different types of antioxidants that exist and their actual benefits.

A Newspoll study commissioned by Lipton Green Tea was undertaken to gauge Australians understanding of antioxidants, their health benefits and intake and the study found six million Australian adults are unaware there are hundreds of different types of antioxidants or that many antioxidants have different health benefits in the body.

'Many foods and drinks such as green tea, citrus fruits, legumes and dark chocolate are sources of antioxidants; however, what many people don't realise is that not all antioxidants are the same. Different types of antioxidants have different health benefits in the body and for some antioxidants there is not yet much evidence which demonstrates a health benefit,' outlines leading nutritionist Catherine Saxelby.

'To give you an example, you can find anthocynanins in red wine, chlorogenic acid in coffee and flavonoid antioxidants in green tea. Each one of these substances is an antioxidant but all have different health benefits,' says Catherine.

Green tea naturally contains many good things, like flavonoid antioxidants. The health benefits of flavonoid antioxidants have been studied for many years.

'The new research reveals Australians believe green tea to be a good source of antioxidants, which is correct and good news,' comments Catherine.

'With summer right around the corner, people will be pleased to know drinking green tea may be nature's secret to help keep your shape as it contains virtually no calories or sugar. So why not switch your daily latte for a green tea and save around 180 calories a cup?'

Other facts about green tea:

• 75 per cent of Australians believe green tea is good for you and is a good source of antioxidants.
• Green tea can provide an important source of fluids and can contribute to the body's hydration levels - the US beverage guidelines rank tea as the next best drink to water.

Another reason why a few cups of tea a day may improve your health

In addition to the antioxidant benefits, research presented at the 3rd Tea Science Symposium also suggests that tea improves heart health because it plays an important role in helping to maintain healthy blood vessel function.

Green and black tea consumption may contribute to cardiovascular health by improving blood flow in the blood vessels. The amount of flavonoid antioxidants you would find in a cup of tea has also been shown to improve blood vessel function.

Dr Jane Rycroft, Nutrition Manager, at the Lipton Institute of Tea said, 'In recent years, more and more research from many different sectors has pointed to many health benefits of regular green tea consumption. This new study adds improved blood vessel function to the list. We are delighted to have supported this study and helped further our understanding of the role of tea in physical wellbeing.'

The studies were presented to healthcare professionals, nutritionists and researchers from across the region participating in the 3rd Tea Science Symposium: Focused Mind and Healthy Body - New Studies on Theanine and Tea Flavonoids hosted in Bangkok by the Lipton Institute of Tea.

Dr Sheila Wiseman, a researcher at the Lipton Institute of Tea, 'We recently performed a study, which demonstrated the blood vessel protection properties of tea and suggests that green tea may exert cardiovascular benefits in regular tea drinkers in real life.'

Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world after water, and is a major source of dietary flavonoid antioxidant intake in Australia.

HEALTH RELIES ON HYDRATION

We all know we should be drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day, but what if the water we are drinking is actually not supportive of optimum hydration and internal fluid balance?

Most people are aware of the dangerously high levels of chlorine in our water supply, which disrupts our balance of healthy bacteria required for metabolism and assimilation, yet few realise the dangers of other chemicals in our water.

Humans are composed of about 75 per cent water, and this is because water is required for our bodies to undertake many key functions, such as maintaining a stable internal environment for all our cells and metabolic processes, and allowing us to acquire nutrition and aid elimination of wastes. Therefore, the water we consume needs to be clean and supply all the naturally-occurring electrolytes, minerals and trace elements to enable these bodily functions to occur efficiently an effectively.

So how does our water supply fare today?

The truth is that municipal water systems are repositories for millions of tonnes of chemicals, medicines, waste products, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides from water run-off. And these toxins often find their way into our food supply. Chlorine is added liberally to kill the bugs and is useful to prevent contamination; however, chlorine and its by-products are not suitable for human consumption.

Fluoride was introduced to 'reduce the incidence of tooth decay' in the 1940s, but this has never been proved true. Opposition to fluoridation has existed since its initiation.

Surprising to most, tooth decay has dropped at the same rate in countries with, and without water fluoridation. Some developed areas that stopped their practice of water fluoridation include continental Europe and Japan, due to these ill effects.

The bottled water industry has become the target of some of the largest corporations of the world. Millions of dollars are spent each week by water bottlers to give consumers the perception that their water comes from some pristine mountain spring or pure underground aquifer. At least 40 per cent of bottled water you buy though, is simply tap water with perhaps a few added salts!

Water filtration

Purchasing a water filtration system to minimise exposure to heavy metals, chlorine and other waterborne toxins can save you a lot of money, including on your health bill. The cheapest is a carbon water filter, which requires a filter change every two to six months (available from $30 to $50). If you are willing to pay a bit more, recommendations are PiMag or PiWater ceramic filters ($500 to $700) which Pi water filters use a combination of carbon filtration, magnetic fields and infrared energy to create water that is very similar to the water found within the body's cellular tissue. This makes pi water highly compatible to the body's existing homeostasis; this energized, structured water is said to have positive health benefits including antioxidant and immune-boosting properties.

Wellness Water filters (around $600) are another top brand, using a specially processed volcanic sand, granulated copper and zinc-based alloy and organic coconut and activated carbon to filter as well as retaining beneficial, acid buffering minerals magnesium, calcium and potassium.

Other filters include water Ionisers, which perform filtration to remove impurities but also causes the water to be electronically enhanced due to exposure to positive and negative electrodes; separating the water and the minerals into 70 per cent alkaline and 30 per cent acid water.

Many studies suggest that cancer cells can only grow in an acid environment. This theory seems to be supported by the fact that the areas where people live the longest most disease free lives are the areas that have the most alkaline water, water with the highest mineral content. Water Distillers combine steam distillation and coconut shell carbon filtration, resulting in the removal of all fluoride and 99.8 per cent of impurities from the water.

Reverse osmosis filters expose water under pressure to a semi permeable membrane, which rejects certain contaminants, but unfortunately also important minerals and trace elements. Because many synthetic chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides are smaller, molecularly, than water, a reverse osmosis system must also be used in conjunction with a carbon filter.

Confused? The above information is to help you decipher between the many different options. Personally, and with the global climatic and economic changes we are already seeing, setting up your own rainwater tank would be my choice. I'd also set up a built in filtration system if you are close to the city.

Adding minerals back to filtered water

Two very negative things happen when we consume water that has been stripped of its natural minerals. Firstly, demineralised water contains more hydrogen and has a pH below seven (acidic). Any time we consume an acid substance, our body will pull minerals from our teeth and bones to produce bicarbonate in order to neutralise the acid. Second, it has been proven that when our body fluids become more acid than alkaline the production of free radicals increases, causing increased cancer risks. Adding a pinch of natural sea salt (best bets are the pink Himalayan crystal salt or the grey Celtic Sea salt bought at natural health stores) or a bit of clay (organic clays bought in powder form from natural health stores such as Bentonite clay and Green Olive clays) which add deep sea minerals and also detoxify by drawing impurities and heavy metals out of the body.

Following the hydration principle

Store water in a dark, cool area and IN GLASS. If you are purchasing bottled water, the best brands with adequate minerals and trace elements include Fuji, Evian, Trinity, Volvic and Vittel. Take care to keep plastic bottles away from sunlight because they leak chemicals and phytoestrogens into your water (which ultimately disrupts hormonal balance). Never buy water contained in smoky plastic containers because the leaking factor is even worse, and often will not require sunlight exposure for this to occur!

How much water?

Everyone is different and the general six to eight glasses is not individually specific. Dr Batmanghelidj recommends a minimum of your body weight (kg) multiplied by 0.033 to give you amount of water (L) per day. If you are active or the weather favours particularly more water loss, the requirement will be greater. Again, he recommends adding a pinch of sea salt in each litre of water.

Adequate and proper hydration is paramount and you will be surprised how many health ailments can disappear solely with following this simple principle.

References

• Batmanghelidj, F. MD. Your Body's Many Cries for Water. Falls Church, VA: Global
• Health Solutions, Inc., 1992.
• Chek P. How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy. USA September 2004. p99.
• Martin B. (1989).The sociology of the fluoridation controversy: a reexamination. Sociological Quarterly. The Fluoride Debate: Question 34, Fluoride Debate web site, accessed 23 February, 2006.
• www.waterfiltercomparisons.com.au

Article by Michelle Drielsma, BAppSc (Ex&SpSc) AEP CHEK Movement and Lifestyle Coach Michelle's passion for health, fitness, nutrition and study, as well as an innate urge to help others have led her towards a career where wellness is achieved through movement and lifestyle coaching. Michelle is an accredited exercise physiologist and has trained under the CHEK Institute, which is recognised as a world leader in functional and rehabilitative exercise conditioning. She has participated in various sports performance and clinical projects including trials at the NSW Institute of Sport. Michelle is a regular contributor for fitness publications and can be contacted via michelle@studioevolve.com.au

HE TRUTH ABOUT MEAL REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS

'Meal replacement' meals and meal replacement programs are the commercially manufactured meal replacement foods and 'diet' programs that come in a variety of forms with some of the more popular being 'milkshakes', 'soups', and 'snack bars'. These items are generally of high protein, and moderate to high solute (salt) levels, and usually come with some vitamins and minerals added and other food additives. They are packaged professionally usually boasting of a set 'diet' regime. There are two types of diet: 1) being comprised of only meal replacements in the program and 2) designed to replace only a couple of meals during each day.

Meal replacement mechanics

Meal replacement items use a combination of food properties to elicit their potency. Most are of low energy density and have a high protein content as their main constituent to deliver its satiety properties reducing the consumer's urge to overeat. Moreover, they are often presented in portion-controlled sizes to further reduce calorie intake. By controlling our food intake and our hunger cues we have much better control over our calorie intake and consequently our weight.

The main impulse for meal replacement use is in its allure and potential to deliver rapid weight loss. Some research suggests they can potentially result in one to two kilograms of weight loss per week when used correctly with the right individuals and so with potential like this it is no wonder why so many people opt for this silver bullet. This may well be good, but what risks do they pose for our health?

Meal replacements are not meant for anybody or everybody. While they can be beneficial to a small part of the population in special circumstances and under close medical supervision, they can be quite detrimental to others with side effects both minor and severe. Signs, symptoms and conditions to watch for are fatigue, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, to more serious health implications such as peripheral neuropathy, numbness, palpitations, hair loss, syncope and cholecystitis. While reported to be uncommon under medical supervision and regular dietetic monitoring, ad hoc use of meal replacements will most likely increase the consumer's health risk to these conditions. What also needs to be noted are consumer contraindications, such as lactose intolerance or pregnancy, children and teenagers, not to forget those more complex existing conditions such as type II diabetes, kidney, liver or heart problems.

How nutritious are meal replacements?

In recent nutrition science studies it was found that of the 17 full meal replacements from 11 different brands were analysed. From these, none of the 'very low energy diets' were found to be nutritionally complete, not even meeting the RDIs or even what is considered an adequate intake for a representative obese male or female. In fact, only 12 per cent of partial meal replacements were deemed nutritionally complete for meeting RDIs, and only half of the meal replacements analysed were able to meet the nutritional requirements of 50 per cent of the average population. Some met the nutrient recommendations for one sex only, while only two programs managed to meet all RDIs for all nutrients for both sexes. The remaining 88 per cent were reported to lack nutrients such as magnesium, iron (required for the production of blood cells and its big role in body energy), calcium (for muscle contraction, bone strength and longevity), folate (for its role in cell production for skin, digestive system and blood cells) and other nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium.

Will they help us lose weight?

The question asked most often is 'do they work for short-term weight loss?' and the answer is 'yes they do'. However, while in the short term they do result in weight loss, there are substantial implications for our long-term health. This includes an increased risk in heart, kidney and liver problems from potential electrolyte imbalances, higher risk of gall bladder disfunction and cholescytitis. As shown in recent science, there are basic deficiencies from nutrients not supplied by these meal replacements if consumed on their own for extended time. This has longer term consequences on such things as cognitive and physical performance, the presentation of vitamin or mineral deficiency diseases such as in the case of folate, both red and white blood cell reduction as well as wound healing is compromised.

Other potential chronic long-term problems include band-aiding of life skills such as healthy food selection when shopping or at restaurants, and even cooking which can seem trivial. There are also longer term implications on our connection to the environment and our friends and family with the removal of oneself from social meals and celebrations and the enjoyment we share in these moments. Can you imagine dinner and you asking your family member to pass you an extra helping of protein shake? Moreover, the cost of long-term continuation on these is quite substantial with price per serving costing up to $3.95 for a 'slimming bar.' So how can we improve our health and still lose weight?

The bottom line is that rapid weight loss is not sustainable or good for your health. If you are wanting to shed some winter kilos then the safest and most permanent way to achieve this is to train regularly and with variance, and ditch the junk food for whole, clean foods. As much as you may wish, there is no silver bullet for weight loss. You need to put the hard yards in if you want to reap the reward of optimal health and wellbeing.

Reference:

• Collins C Jones J Sherwood D (2009) Formulated meal replacements: a Comparison of the nutritional adequacy of available products. Nutrition and dietetics 66:12-19.

Article by Chris Everingham, B N&D, APD, AN
Chris is an accredited practising dietitian, accredited nutritionist and director of Lifted Health. Chris is currently the personal training manager for Fitness First, Tuggerah (NSW) and is one of few personal trainers with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics and a background in Wellness Coaching. Chris can b contacted via everinghamc@gmail.com

8 STEPS TO ACHIEVING YOUR BEST HEALTH EVER!

8 STEPS TO ACHIEVING YOUR BEST HEALTH EVER!

Have you ever noticed those people who look super lean from head to toe, but have a weird little belly? Chances are it could be to do with their digestive health.

Being healthy is misunderstood these days. Health is all about taking responsibility for ALL areas of your life. Here are the tips I use with my clients, to help them achieve a whole new level of good health.

1. If it is white, don't eat it! The four white devils are white flour, white sugar, white salt and pasteurisation and homogenisation milk products. If dairy is a necessity and you can't get hold of raw dairy, choose certified organic as your second choice. For those who are lactose sensitive, full fat cream is very low in lactose.
2. If you can't pronounce a word on a label, do not eat it. Your liver won't like it!
3. The longer the shelf life, the more harmful it is likely to be to your body!
4. Choose products and meats in this order:
   • Certified organic produce and free range meats
   • Organic produce and organic meat
   • Locally farmed produce and locally farmed free range meat
   • Commercial produce and commercial hormone free meat
   • Commercial meat
5. Always season foods and water with 100 per cent unprocessed sea salt. The best is Celtic, followed by sea salt from New Zealand, because there is less heavy metal toxicity there.
6. The minimum amount of water you should drink each day can be calculated by multiplying your body weight (kg) by 0.033. This gives you the amount of water (L) that you should consume per day. Remember, nothing substitutes for water, not tea, not juice, not beer – nothing! Always choose top selling brands such as Evian, Fiji, Trinity and Volvic because they sell the fastest and, therefore, have the least exposure to plastic bottles. The most health-giving waters have a hardness factor of 170 mg/L or greater and a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of 300 or greater. Adding a pinch of sea salt to water is recommended to replace electrolytes. Additionally, it will harden otherwise good but soft waters and will significantly increase the TDS.
7. Follow the 80/20 rule. If you live healthily 80 per cent of the time, you can absorb the other 20 per cent.
8. Get to bed by 10pm and sleep until 6am minimum. The body (physical) repairs itself from 10pm to 2pm, while the mind (mental) repairs itself from 2pm to 6am.

After years of living an unhealthy lifestyle it will take a bit of time to repair the damage so you need to be patient and realise that this is a long-term endeavour, rather than something that will change overnight. Depending on how toxic your body is you might experience a number of reactions from eating proper food, which could include weight gain, weight loss, enhanced mood, increased energy and vitality.

When your foundation is established, there are other areas as well that can be looked into such as your digestive health, hormones, adrenal glands, amino acids, to name a few. In conjunction with the guidelines above you can start with the Gut Healing Program. If we eat all of these great foods and take all of these high-end supplements but have a gut dysfunction (low SIgA, parasites, fungus, bacteria, dysbiosis, etc), then what we eat will not have its benefits. The gut healing program consists of the following and should be done for a minimum of four weeks:

1. Remove caffeine, alcohol, refined sugars and processed foods and bad fats (all irritate and create inflammation in the gut).
2. Remove foods that you know you are sensitive to. It's worth getting a food intolerance test to find out.
3. Restore probiotics daily such using lactobacillus acidophilus/bifidus.
4. Repair with healthy fats such as fish oils and nut oils.
5. Eat whole foods, unprocessed, lightly cooked and organic wherever possible.
6. Remove antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin and tylenol.
7. Be aware that many other medications affect the GI tract(i.e., osteoporsis mediations, antidepressants, acid reduction medications).
8. Repair with herbs such as garlic, aloe vera, oil of oregano, and turmeric, nutrients such as L-glutamine, quercitin, fish oils, as well as specifically formulated low antigen medical foods to help promote healing.

You now have the healthy, natural tools that will help rekindle your health and save you a truckload of money on those vitamins and pills, and right now we all know how important it is to save money!

Article by Blake Worrall-Thompson. Blake's fitness industry experience and knowledge is outstanding having worked in an elite personal training studio in London along with owning and running his own bootcamp and holding management roles within Fitness First. He is the director and owner of Raw Solutions, which is an international mentoring and coaching program for those in the health and fitness industry looking to get the edge over others in the industry. Along with being the director and owner of Ministry of Wellbeing the corporate health and fitness program aimed at improving each company's productivity and health. Blake is also the author of the best selling book 'Switched on Health & Wellbeing Professionals' and is a regular contributor to a number of publications including Fitness First and the Network magazine.

Popular health myths debunked

There are so many things to worry about these days. Wouldn't it be nice to cross something off the list? Turns out you can. Researchers have been busy debunking some common medical myths that have been repeated so many times, people assume them to be true. Here are five misconceptions you can stop biting your nails over now:

1. Myth: Stretching before exercise prevents injury.

Fact: There's no evidence to support the old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds primes muscles for a workout. On the contrary, we now know it actually weakens them, thanks to a recent University of Nevada report, among other studies. A light, 5 to 10 minute jog five minutes before exercise is now recommended.

2. Myth: Eggs raise your cholesterol.

Fact: In the 1960s and '70s, scientists linked blood cholesterol with heart disease and gave eggs a bad rap. More recent studies have found that saturated and trans fats in a diet are more likely to raise heart disease risk. An egg has only 1.6 grams of saturated fat, compared with about 3 grams in a cup of 2 per cent milk. At 213 milligrams of cholesterol, one egg slips under the recommendation of no more than 300 milligrams a day. Just watch the cholesterol levels in the other food you eat that day.

3. Myth: Cancer cannot be prevented.

Fact: As many as 50 per cent or more of cancer deaths are caused by social and environmental conditions and unhealthy choices, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. In general, you can help your body prevent cancer if you quit smoking, avoid second-hand smoke, avoid drinking too much alcohol, avoid weight gain, eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, eat a low-fat diet and be physically active.

4. Myth: Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker.

Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in nonshaved patches. The hair that replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster, according to Indiana University School of Medicine researchers who debunked seven commonly held medical beliefs in a 2007 report. When hair first comes in after being shaved, it grows with a blunt edge on top. Over time, the blunt edge gets worn so it may seem thicker than it actually is. Hair that's just emerging can be darker too, because it hasn't been bleached by the sun.

5. Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: A 1945 article from the National Research Council claimed that a "suitable allowance" of water for adults is 2.5 litres a day. The last sentence of the article noted that much of that water is already contained in the food we eat, but most people ignored that fact. Existing studies suggest we get enough fluids from our typical daily consumption of juice, milk and even caffeinated drinks, the Indiana University researchers found.

Taken from The Age.

13 STEPS TO SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE

We all feel a little cluttered at times. But if your life has become filled with excess, here are 13 steps to help you shed all that you don't really need, in a bid to create and sustain the life you really want (and deserve)!

1. Feel lighter
   Too much stuff in your home and your life can leave you feeling heavy and overwhelmed. Buy less, donate more – and feel instantly lighter!
2. Limit your hangers
   Keep just enough hangers for your current closet of clothes. Whenever you buy something new, you'll have to donate something in order to free up a hanger.
3. Stuff
   The less stuff you have, the easier it is to get organised and stay organised. Every extra item costs you in organising time, space and energy.
4. Subscriptions
   Cancel subscriptions to papers and magazines unless they enhance your life. If they don't, they're simply taking up your time, money and living space.
5. Closet
   Only keep clothes, shoes, boots and accessories that you love or that make you feel fabulous. Donate the rest, even if expensive. Let others enjoy the items you don't.
6. Say 'no'
   Graciously say 'no thank you' to low-priority tasks. Make peace with the idea that it's not your mission to be everyone's rescuer.
7. Bedtime tidy
   Make a habit of doing a quick tidy before bed. You'll be more likely to start the next day in a good mood.
8. Viewing policy
   Only watch TV that meets your 'viewing policy'; for example, it makes you laugh, learn or relax. Never be at the mercy of whatever's on.
9. Social networking
   Limit your active social networking participation to one to three sites (unless networking online is your passion or business). Any more, and you'll be spreading yourself thin and feeling overwhelmed. For me it's Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (come and join us!).
10. Abandon everyday versus guest
    When it comes to crockery and cutlery, forget 'everyday' versus 'guest'. Instead, have plenty of one attractive, replaceable, dishwasher/microwave/family-safe set.
11. Don't buy it
    If you don't need or love it, don't buy it. Less stuff means less clutter in your home, more clarity in your head.
12. Ready donation box
    Keep a donation box or bag somewhere handy. Any time you see something you don't love or use – in it goes! Soon downsizing will be a habit.
13. Don't bring in the mail
    Open snail mail over your recycle bin. Ditch everything except for those items you need to (a) action (b) file (c) cancel.

Source: Michele Connolly (www.getorganizedwizard.com)