Bowel Cancer Awareness

 

The latest information from Bowel Cancer Australia tells us that ‘it is estimated that changes in diet and physical activity could reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by up to 75%’.  15,151 Australians are told they have bowel cancer each year, including 1,091 people under the age of 50.  Don’t be one of the statistics.  Be aware of risk factors associated with this fatal disease and how your diet and lifestyle can help prevent bowel cancer. 

According to Bowel Cancer Australia there is convincing evidence that higher levels of physical activity protect against colon cancer.  Diets that are high in saturated fat, meat protein and calories and low in plant fibre pose a high risk. Convincing evidence also suggests that consumption of foods containing dietary fibre protect against bowel cancer.  Colonic inflammation and vitamin D deficiency is also associated with bowel cancer. 

Proper nutrition, diet and physical activity are essential factors to help prevent this disease. 

Remember, bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer.  The risk of bowel cancer increases with age and with around 25% of cases there is a family history or hereditary component.  90% of cases can be treated successfully and early screening every 1-2 years from age 50 could save your life.  

For more information on dietary and lifestyle tips for a healthy and happy bowel, contact one of our friendly staff at the House of Healing.  Your Health is Our Passion!

These facts and more are available at Bowel Cancer Australia:  www.bowelcanceraustralia.org. 

Healthful and Harmful Oils and Fats Uncovered

Saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated – which one should I choose!  This is a topic often talked about that can leave you feeling even more confused!  So here’s a quick overview of why some oils are very unhealthy and should never, never be used in cooking…

Anything that is labelled as ‘vegetable oil’ could include soybean oil, olive oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil…and the list goes on.  In most instances these oils are highly processed and are NOT HEALTHY!  These oils are processed under high heat, pressure, and industrial solvents such as hexane.  Vegetable oils such as soybean oil, safflower oil and other similar oils are mostly composed of polyunsaturated fats.  Polyunsaturated fats are the least stable type of fat when exposed to heat and light therefore you should NEVER COOK with these oils!

Highly processed polyunsaturated oils that are then used in cooking at high temperatures are the most inflammatory type of oils for the body!

While polyunsaturated fats are necessary in the diet because they provide essential fats such as omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, these should come from unprocessed sources.  Choose raw nuts and seeds such as walnuts and sunflower seeds.  Avoid roasted nuts and always store these items in a cool place away from sunlight to avoid the oils turning rancid. 

Saturated fats are actually a healthier option to cook with.  These oils include coconut oil and even animal fats such as lard, butter and ghee.  They are mostly composed of natural saturated fats which are the least reactive to heat and light and therefore the least inflammatory in the body when used for cooking.

The bottom line…..cook with saturated fats such as or coconut oil or ghee and never over heat your oils.  Olive oil is suitable for lower cooking temperatures as it's mostly monounsaturated and moderately stable.  Avocado oil and macadamia nut oil are great for baking as they are mostly monounsaturated plus add great flavour!  Avoid processed polyunsaturated oils such as soybean, corn, grapeseed, cottonseed, safflower and include natural sources of polyunsaturated oils from nuts and seeds in their raw form or used the unrefined oils to add to salads.

References for this article:
6 cooking oils never to eat, Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist & Personal Trainer.  Author of The Fat Burning Kitchen & Ten Top 101 Foods that FIGHT Aging

Eat Seasonally - Here's a Few Good Reasons Why...

                                    

As you know apples are available all year-round but the actual picking time is between January and April.  But don’t be a fool and assume if you bite into a Granny Smith in March it is fresh seasonal produce, it could have been picked over a year ago! And supermarkets make no secret of it, with some farmers calling their apples ‘birthday fruit’ because some apples can have their first birthday before being sold to the public.  Follow this link to read more about it…

http://www.smh.com.au/business/birthday-fruit-science-keeps-apples-crisp-and-firm-for-more-than-a-year-20141107-11ilr8.html

There was a time when our ancestors ate certain foods only when they were readily available and in season because there was no other choice.   Nowadays, thanks to modern food processing techniques and worldwide distribution of resources, most foods remain available to us all year round.  Supermarket shelves are stocked exactly the same irrespective of the seasonal availability of food.  Fruits and vegetables transported from far away can be picked before they have naturally ripen and nutritionally matured, allowing the produce to survive for days or weeks while being transported. 

Processes such as controlled atmosphere storage keep our apples at zero degrees and deprive them of oxygen, slowing their metabolic rate to prevent full ripening.  Produce such as green bananas are heated and treated with a food-grade ethylene, a man made copy of the hormone bananas naturally release to trigger ripening and create uniform yellowing.  Furthermore, non-seasonal produce is often full of pesticides, waxes, preservatives and other chemicals that are used to make them look fresher than they actually are. 

And the experts tell us there is no compromise to nutrition or taste…!

Eating seasonally is crucial to a healthy lifestyle; it’s a way of reconnecting with the organic cycle that nature intended for us.  Local produce that doesn’t have to endure long distance travel means it doesn’t lose so much of its vital nutrients along the way.  Fruits and vegetables that are harvested as they ripen or mature have developed abundant nutrients.  When you choose seasonal produce you will find much more flavour than fruits and vegetables shipped from across the country or from the across the globe. Eating with the seasons can bring variety to your diet and help you get the full complement of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that nature offers.  There are plenty of studies that conclude that seasonally grown produce is of a higher nutritional quality. Here’s a study that looks at the vitamin C content in seasonally harvested broccoli.  

Wunderlich SM, Feldman C, Kane S, Hazhin T. Nutritional quality of organic, conventional, and seasonally grown broccoli using vitamin C as a marker. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2008 Feb;59(1):34-45.

                                       

So please eat seasonal local produce and choose organic wherever possible!  Check out Adelaide’s Farmers Market and other markets that support local growers.  The House of Healing will be updating our Facebook page with plenty of seasonal produce suggestions and recipes. 

References for this article:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/what-they-do-to-food-20120608-201su.html
http://www.adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au/www/content/default.aspx?cid=2444&fid=2435

Back to School - Give your kids a head-start for the new school year

Back to School - Give your kids a head-start for the new school year

The first day of school can be tough! There are so many new faces, new rules and so much new information for your kids to take in. The start of the school year can be filled with anxiety, dread or excitement. Fortunately there are some simple and effective things you can do to give your kids a head start for the beginning of this school year.

Sharpen their mental focus

A protein breakfast will make a huge impact not only on their physical energy but also their immune system and brain.  This means they can concentrate much more easily and longer.  If you follow up with a protein snack for recess and lunch they will not get sleepy in the afternoon nor come home irritable and moody.  You will be amazed at how much information they can absorb on a full belly.

Is the new school year stressing them out?

Many children get stressed and anxious at the beginning of a new school year. Anxiety can interfere with children’s confidence, attention and behaviour and is often associated with ADHD. Talking about their day every evening at meal time is a great way to find out what is going on quickly and also take any positive action if needed. Magnesium and calcium play an important role in reducing stress and these are abundant in leafy green vegetables. And please see one of our Naturopaths if you wish to give a supplement as they will ascertain exactly what your child needs.  Buying cheap products over the counter is not recommended as they often contain additives and fillers that can actually exacerbate the situation.

Feed their brains fish

Many of you may have heard of the benefits of omega-3 essential fatty acids. It is mainly the DHA component of omega-3 fatty acids that is responsible for assisting with normal brain and visual function. In fact the brain and retina (in the eye) contain the highest content of DHA of any tissues. DHA has been shown in a number of experiments to enhance learning and memory. For children and teenagers who have learning difficulties or students under high pressure, DHA from purified fish oil is an excellent choice. Sadly most children do not eat enough oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines.  If you are looking for an easy way to get DHA into your children then come into the Clinic where we can quickly and effectively ascertain some of the great tasting options that are available which are not oxidised nor contain heavy metals. 

Simple recommendations to maximise your child’s learning experience:

• Make sure your children eat a protein breakfast.  Ideas are listed below. 

• Put your child to bed early.  The most beneficial sleep is before midnight.
  Children need more sleep than adults and lack of sleep can affect their learning.

• Get a regular routine and stick to it; this will make the start and end of the day less stressful for

   both you and your children.

• Encourage your kids to talk about their day, this helps them develop their communication skills

   and can give you valuable insight into how they are going. If you sense any problems, discuss it
   with their teacher.

Want the best for your children?

We have some great natural options available from our Clinic for optimising the health of your children and assist them get through these first weeks of school. We also have many other natural health solutions specifically tailored to meet their needs.  So if you want the best for your children’s health come and discuss available options with us today.

Resource:  Wellness Review, Metagenics

Breakfast Ideas

13 Gluten & Dairy Free
* Scrambled eggs with spinach/kale and herbs on GF toast
* Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and parsley
* Eggs with sausage (preservative/gluten free), tomato & GF toast
* Eggs with bacon, grilled tomato & spinach on GF toast
* Egg turnover with kale and sheep/goats cheese
* Tomato and parsley frittata

* Sliced turkey/chicken/smoked salmon & avocado on rice thins
* GF Chicken sausages with tomato, avocado, cucumber, red onion salsa
* Brown rice, tuna, stock, roasted almonds, parsley
* Homemade baked beans
* High protein gluten free muesli - see recipe at thesensitivetarteblogspot.com
* Smoked salmon, fresh sliced tomato/avocado on GF toast
* Turkey/chicken patties with avocado or wilted spinach

Your Health is Our Passion!