Thanks to Thankful Expressions for the inspiration!!
Category Archives: Health
Recipe of the Week: Tropical Spice Smoothie
Thanks to www.ecolocalgrown.com for the inspiration for this one. I tried their recipe, then tweaked it a bit and now it’s my favourite!!!
Enjoy!
Detox in Bali: In search of my last meal(s)
When I arrive in Ubud, Bali the sun is high. It warms my back as I walk the long alleyway to the Yoga Barn where I will spend the next four nights.
It’s only 10 am and my room is not ready so I leave my bag at reception and head out in search of a few healthy cafes I have listed in my notebook.
Lucky for me, I come across Clear Cafe, a stunning eatery a 15 minute (or so) walk away. ( I posted a review about it here.) Continue reading
Change is coming
I went to a blog seminar in Perth the other night.
The 2-hour talk featured graphic designer Kelly Exeter. I look up to her and admire what she does.
It seems that everything she produces is beautiful and inspiring.
Guess that’s why the Australian Writers’ Centre called the seminar, Make Your Blog Beautiful and had Kelly present it. (Not only is she ace at design, she has the cutest voice ever! Just saying.)
I’m not going to sugar coat this
While the wind howled and the rain tapped on the window panes yesterday, I watched the documentary Fed Up.
Fed Up is about the obesity epidemic in the USA but really, it speaks about much of the Western world.
It didn’t tell me anything I do not already know.
We consume too much sugar and it makes us fat.
Why quit sugar?
Say good-bye to these
Jaimie’s never quit sugar.
September 1 will mark the first of a 30-day challenge to give up refined sugar.
Jaimie signed up for the event via Live it. Do It’s Facebook page
As my readers know, I basically live my entire life on these kind of restrictions and detoxes. Although I have not signed up for Sugar-free September, I too am reviewing my eating habits on September 1 and undertaking a 3-day cleanse in Bali starting September 2 as a kick-start.
But, enough about me (I’m always ragging on about MY issues…lol). I want to use this post to learn more about 22-year-old Jaimie and why she wants to give up sugar for a month. It’s not an easy thing to do so I was curious to find out what her reasons and expectations are. Let’s find out…
Confessions of a food addict
It’s been 7 weeks since the end of my elimination diet (the umpteenth one!!). I ended that one with a bang when I got drunk on wine and shots with a couple friends. Boy, that hurt the next day!!
It’s always a good idea at the time
But my diet remained fairly stable and healthy. Sadly, I can no longer say that.
It all went pear-shaped when I hit the wheat: sweets, bread & pasta.
Once I had a taste of it, I was hooked again. It started off slowly with a piece of toast then went to peanut butter on an English Muffin then a week later I graduated to a tuna sandwich then pasta for dinner with the boys……you get the drift.
And I must say, physically, I don’t feel too bad. But I know if I don’t stop soon, I’ll crash.
I am already noticing the fatigue and the cravings though. I’m eating bread daily – Oh give me my daily bread NOW or someone might get hurt.
Yes, a wee bit mad.
I truly do think wheat is addictive and let’s not forget the sugar I’ve been consuming (it’s in everything). I knew I was crossing a line when I went to the local bakery (Hell on earth) and ordered a lamington (see exhibit B). I pretty much inhaled that the minute I got home (which is only 2 blocks away). It was all downhill from there.
Welcome to the dark side
Now, I’m consuming wheat daily and I’m back to that attitude of ,’what’s one more day going to hurt?’
But I know I cannot stay here in food heaven – or is it hell? There seems to be no borders lately.
I read this article about how new research is linking depression to inflammation. And what is a main source of chronic inflammation? Diet.
The article states:
There are several problems with the modern diet. It is high in foods that provoke inflammation, such as refined flour, excess sugar, oxidized (rancid) fats, trans fats, and a wide range of chemicals and preservatives. And it is low in foods that reduce inflammation, like long-chain omega-3 fats, fermented foods, and fermentable fiber. Numerous studies have associated the Western diet with major depressive disorder.
And I don’t want to be depressed. Nor do I want to be fat, unfit, sluggish, lazy, anxious, constipated, addicted, wheezy, snotty or sick all the time. All of the things that come to me when I eat a diet full of wheat, sugar and dairy.
So, once again, I am setting myself up for a restriction. It will start on Sept 1 when I go to Bali on a mini wellness holiday. That gives me just over a week to fill my face. Now, pass the caramel popcorn and M&Ms please.
How does my garden grow? The pros and cons of growing your own food.
fresh coriander and broccoli ©Jennifer Morton 2014
Growing your own vegetables is not an easy thing to do. Well, not for me anyway.
I love the idea of growing my own food. I love to just pop out to the herb patch and steal fresh snips of coriander, basil and parsley any time I’m in need.
Right now, my celery is flourishing – it obviously loves the Australia winter. The stalks are finer and thinner than the ones from the supermarket and a bit more chewy but it’s nice to know that there are no sprays or nasty stuff on it – maybe a few ants.
Gorgeously green celery. ©Jennifer Morton
I do struggle to keep the broccoli going. It seems to go to flower before the vegetable has time to grow much bigger than my thumb. It’s still edible and great for stir-frys.
The snails and caterpillars love my broccoli leaves. ©Jennifer Morton
I’m quite keen to pull my biggest leek and make a leek and potato soup before it gets too warm here in Western Australia. It’s beautiful with fresh or dried Thyme. Yum.
Soon to be soup. My biggest leek is almost ready. ©Jennifer Morton
I want the goods but I don’t want the work involved.
This is a bone of contention between Mr M and I. He moans because I don’t spend any time in the garden (he does most weeding and maintaining).
I just don’t have a green thumb, which is shocking considering my mother and step-father were both professionals gardeners!!
I remember being a teenager and sulking because I had to help weed and pick vegetables. If I had only paid attention and soaked up that education (that I saw as punishment at the time)!! Regret is a bitch.
So, I don’t like weeding, pruning, watering, sun protecting, planting or getting my hands dirty.
But I LOVE picking, preparing and eating freshly grown, chemical-free herbs and vegetables (and it feels like it’s FREE cause you forget how much the boxes, seedlings, soil and gardening tools cost).
My first carrot. How cute it that? ©Jennifer Morton
I think I’m getting better at it. I get out there, if only for 5 minutes, every few days to maintain my scattered gardens. And I reap the rewards at dinner time!
If I can do it, surely anyone can!!
Do you grow your own food? Why?
When the end is just the beginning
Today is the last day of my 6-week elimination diet. I did it!! (again)
Instead of celebrating with a chocolate cake with extra whipped cream, I’m doing nothing.
Sure, tomorrow I will relax my strictness, mostly about sugar (choosing natural only) but I am not running back to my old habits.
I have new habits now and I love the way that I feel.
I have NO physical reactions to foods I consume and any body image issues I had, are gone.
My muffin top tummy is gone and I don’t feel I need to exercise like a demon daily to keep myself looking good.
I am getting together with friends on Friday night and wine will be involved.
But as far as food is concerned, I’m quite happy to stick to my fruit, veggies, proteins and grains.
There are plenty of food choices out there that were not formed in a test tube or come from a factory. Just think outside the box. Pun intended!!!!
Breakfast was hard but I’ve found a couple hot winter breakies that I LOVE.
Sauteed veggies with almonds and poached freerange eggs
Quinoa flakes with banana, fresh date and chopped nuts
I do realise that quinoa flakes are processed but going 100% fresh produce only is near impossible in the Western world. I also drink almond & rice milk from a box..tsk tsk tsk.
I’m still addicted to organic peanut butter but have cut down on my consumption. But just typing that out has made my mouth water.
Off to get a celery stick with PB now.
Here’s to great food and good health!
What I love about Bowen Therapy
When I was deep in the throes of my physical misery (severe acid reflux) I felt desperate for a fix. So desperate that I took prescription meds and we all know how that turned out. If you don’t have a peek here.
So, I told you that after stopping the horrible meds and one session of Bowen, I began to feel better.
Six days after my first appointment, I went back for a follow-up, which by then I was 98% clear of any acid reflux. My sinuses also were clearing greatly.
Now, you may be asking, ‘what is Bowen anyway?’.
Well, I don’t fully understand it but I do fully believe in it.
What I do understand is that it focuses on the muscular structure and fixes any misalignments.
What happens in a typical session?
Bowen is not like getting a massage.
You do lay down on a massage table but you are fully clothed.
The practitioner feels around your spine and muscles then leaves the room.
These slight touches are called moves.
A 2 minute break between moves allows the adjustment to take place, so to speak.
This continues throughout your body for close to an hour (yes, he/she leaves the room every few minutes so don’t be alarmed when this happens).
Because I went to aid my stomach and sinus issues, my practitioner also honed in on these areas.
The session ends with a few standing exercises and adjustments in needed.
When done, I left feeling relaxed and content.
For 48 hours after each appointment, it is advised to not have any other treatments or apply excess heat to your body (heated blanket, hot water bottle, hot tubs etc).
After my second session, I was advised to wait 2-3 weeks before returning. I was told that after 10 days, I may feel my symptoms return and even get worse but that did not happen. I just continued to get better and now, I have zero reflux and aside from am occasional runny nose and mild congestion (which is the norm for me) my sinuses are clear most of the day and night.
My third session is booked for tomorrow and then I plan to return once a month.
Bowen Therapy (aka Bowen Technique) originated in Geelong, Australia over 50 years ago. Founder, Tom Bowen believed that “that the underlying cause or source of many musculoskeletal, neurological, neuromuscular and other health or pain problems could be found in the soft tissue or fascia.”
For more information about this holistic therapeutic therapy, click here.
Kai Chronicles 