Lifestyle Choices

The brain emits various electrical patterns at various times of the day. When you are awake and in a busy thinking state, your brain emits what is known as beta waves. As you go through the various stages of sleep, your brain emits different electrical patterns as follows:

1. Eyes barely move, muscle activity slows and you drift in and out of slumber. You can easily be woken at this stage. Often you are in alpha state (the same state as when meditating) just before falling asleep.

2. Eye movements almost stop, brain waves become slower. You will need to be prodded to be woken.

3. This is considered one of the stages of deep sleep. Extremely slow brain waves called delta waves can be measured in this phase.

4. No eye movements at all, muscles are relaxed, blood pressure is at its lowest and heart and breathing rate are at their slowest. This is the stage when the body repairs itself with the aid of hormones.

5. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) occurs approximately 70-90 minutes after you fall asleep and recurs throughout the night. Breathing becomes more rapid, irregular and shallow. The heart rate increases and blood pressure rises. Brain waves break up and begin to look like those measured when you are awake. However, while your brain is very active, your body does not move at all in this phase.

Being in nature is the best way to recharge your batteries and get back in touch with yourself. A walk on the beach or in the forest, a bike ride in the park or through the country can do wonders for your physical and mental well-being. There is a much higher number of what are known as ‘negative ions’ in clean fresh air. Technically speaking, ions are charged particles in the air that are formed in nature. It is the negative ion of oxygen that affects human biochemistry the most. (more…)

Here are some ways you can check your breathing and maintain health and vitality through good breathing habits:

1. Become aware of your breath.

2. Make sure you are breathing through your nose, not your mouth.

3. Check the stress levels in your life and try to make changes where needed.
Mental and physical stress is the number one cause of health problems. (more…)

1. Iron helps form haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying red pigment in your blood. It also aids protein metabolism and is essential for brain development and growth. It is found in meat, seafood, poultry, whole grains, beans, peas and dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach.

Ninety per cent of all iron used is recycled because it is so well conserved in the body. This means that you don’t have to keep replacing it all the time. This, of course, calls into question the widespread use of iron supplementation. Iron overload (hemochromatosis) is the most common inherited disease. When excess iron is present, the body’s immune system becomes severely compromised. Vitamin E helps protect against iron-generated free radical damage. So a high-quality antioxidant would be beneficial for balance if you have excess iron levels. (more…)

A. Supplements — Who needs them?

You have now read about some of the benefits and characteristics of the nutrients considered essential to maintaining optimum health. So the question arises: do you need to supplement? Do you need to take vitamin and mineral pills, or a separate antioxidant supplement? There are some who say you get all you need from a healthy diet, and supplements are just expensive urine. Others see supplements as essential. So what should you do?

Ideally, a healthy and varied diet would provide your body with all the nutrients it needs. In some cases, however, food is grown in depleted soils or artificially under lights in hothouses. For example, selenium content in soils is varied and regional. New Zealand soils are quite low in selenium, as are parts of Australia, South Africa and North America, but it is important as an antioxidant and in supporting Vitamin E in your body.

Different circumstances and lifestyles can all take a toll on your health. In times of high emotional or physical stress, your body may need some extra support. While supplementation is not a substitute for a quality diet, it can certainly offer those with nutritional concerns some peace of mind. (more…)

How do you get the essential nutrients into your diet? Here are some super foods to eat that help maintain great health, increase immunity and make you feel good. They are packed with essential nutrients and powerful natural antioxidants, they taste delicious and add variety to your diet. They are some of our favourite foods, and we buy them regularly.

Fruits and vegetables

The best way to eat fruits and vegetables is straight from the tree or garden, when they haven’t lost any of their vitamins and minerals. This means that the produce is in season and you are obtaining the best nutrient value. Growers’ outlets or markets also supply good seasonal produce

There are endless ways to serve up your veges. We love leaving them raw and cutting them into small pieces to dip in hummus. Kids love this, too! Try different or unusual vegetables once in a while to add variety. When cooking vegetables, steaming is usually better than boiling, as it preserves more nutrients. For sauteing, use a little butter or olive oil. (more…)

1. Calcium is important for building healthy bones and teeth, and also plays an essential role in nerve and muscle function and blood clotting. It keeps muscles moving smoothly and prevents cramping. Approximately 99 per cent of the calcium in your body is present in the bones, teeth and skeleton; the other 1 per cent is found in and around cells. You will find calcium in milk and milk products; calcium-fortified foods; the bones of fish like sardines and salmon; tofu, spinach and oatmeal.

To build healthy bones and avoid osteoporosis, get plenty of calcium in your diet and also include regular weight- bearing exercise in your lifestyle - especially while you are young. If supplements are needed, drink with a glass of milk, as it will help increase the uptake of calcium. (more…)

It is worth mentioning cholesterol here, while we are talking about fats. Often people think that if something is cholesterol free, it is fat free, but this is not the case. Cholesterol is a complex fatty substance that your body manufactures on a daily basis. It is used to manufacture cell membranes and provide a base for the synthesis of hormones (sex and adrenal), Vitamin D and bile acids. Your body produces about three-quarters of the cholesterol it has in the blood on its own in the liver; the rest comes from your food. Cholesterol from your food does not instantly become cholesterol in your blood. When you eat food high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks, liver, kidneys and shellfish, your body makes less from its own resources or gets rid of more. (more…)

1. Vitamin B1 works in digestive enzymes with niacin, pantothenic acid and magnesium.

2. Vitamin C helps folate build proteins.
3. Vitamin D helps your body absorb many minerals including calcium and phosphorous.
4. Zinc and selenium help maintain healthy skin and immune function.
5. Calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and Vitamin D are critical in the formation of bone.
6. Sodium, potassium and chloride are the three electrolyte minerals that maintain the all-important fluid balance.
7. Selenium, Vitamin E and Vitamin C work powerfully together as antioxidants.
8. Iron, copper and cobalt are essential for the manufacture of red blood cells.

Organic farming means that no harmful pesticides or fertilisers were used on the crop or soil, and it involves the rotation of crops so that soils do not become depleted or exhausted. Organic or free-range meat comes from animals that ate more healthy feed and were not treated with potentially dangerous hormones or other chemicals. There is some argument about whether organic fruits and vegetables contain a higher mineral and vitamin content than conventional foods. Nevertheless, you are sure to get foods free from chemicals and pesticides if you buy organic produce. Look for Certified Organic to make sure you get the best quality. (more…)

Here are some guidelines for buying health supplements that may be of assistance to you:

1. If you live a busy lifestyle and know that at times you are not eating right, you may require supplementation.
2. As mentioned before, be aware of the following antagonists when purchasing supplements: folic acid with zinc, iron with Vitamin E, Vitamin B and antioxidants.
3. Avoid supplements that mix vitamins and minerals with herbs. While vitamins and minerals supplement your diet, herbs are treating your body, and when taken on their own work a lot more powerfully.

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Chamomile

Known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is an excellent oil to calm and heal irritated skin. Used for skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, acne and sensitive skin.

Frankincense

Regenerative and skin-healing properties. Conditioning to mature and sun-damaged skin. Heals and tones the skin.

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1. The facts

Your skin is the largest organ of the body. Did you know that you have about 300 million skin cells that renew themselves regularly every 21-28 days? You shed approximately 4 per cent of your total skin cells daily, or about 50,000 cells per minute! In a lifetime you will shed about 13.5 kg of skin.

The skin is the body’s first line of defence against harmful bacteria and viruses. There are about 25,000 ‘good’ bacteria cells per square cm of skin. Facial skin is about 0.12 mm thick while skin on the body is about 0.6 mm thick. Skin on the lips and eyelids is the thinnestwhile skin on the palms and soles of the feet is the thickest. (more…)

Skin facial steaming is another great treatment to use about once a week. It causes the skin to perspire, which helps loosen grime, dead skin cells and hardened sebum. The heat also increases the blood supply, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, and the steam helps hydrate and relax the pores. Overall, skin steaming can help your skin feel more radiant with a softer skin tone and a clearer, more vital colour. Avoid steaming if you have broken capillaries in your face — compress instead. (more…)

It is an exciting time in the health and beauty industry. As awareness grows surrounding the skin and its impact on our health, we are seeing more responsible companies offering unsafe and very effective products. These companies are looking very seriously at the science of the skin and combining that with the best quality, natural plant-sourced ingredients. As this industry is constantly evolving we can look forward to the latest cutting-edge information on how to keep our skin at its optimum, while supporting our health and protecting the environment. (more…)

Massage stimulates the blood flow to rejuvenate your skin, it stimulates the lymph fluid to clear wastes away and it improves your skin’s tone and texture. Once a week give your skin a treat and massage it. We pre-mix a facial massage blend and have it on hand for ready use.

Take 10 ml of a massage base oil (carrier oil), and blend with 5 drops of your chosen essential oils in a dark glass bottle (these can be purchased from a pharmacy or aromatherapy shop). Shake before use. Keep the bottle in a cool place away from sunlight. This facial blend will last you for about five massages, then assess your skin and its needs and make up your new 10 ml blend. (more…)

Despite what you may have read in advertising or seen at cosmetic counters, your skincare routine does not need to be complicated. You do not really need a different cream for each part of your face. Good nutrition from good ingredients will help your skin balance and thrive.

Your skin needs to be cleansed, nourished and protected. Sound simple? It is, and your routine should reflect that. This way you will become aware of how your skin functions and reacts to your lifestyle and environment, then you will know when you need to supplement with other products to bring about balance at various times. (more…)

Apart from helping in your daily skincare, natural ingredients can also help in healing specific skin problems you may have. Here is a list of helpful remedies for the whole family:

Acne

More than just a spot or blemish, acne is an inflammatory condition often brought about by a sensitivity to androgen (male) hormones in the body. In mild cases blackheads and blemishes are present and in more severe cases you find inflamed pustules and cysts. Acne sufferers often carry a higher bacterial content on their skin and experts suggest that it could be this bacteria and its reaction on sebum (oil) levels in the skin that are affected when you are under stress, as stress seems to be a contributing factor. (more…)

Knowing how to read nutrient labels will help you to make better food choices when shopping. Marketing slogans that call a product ‘healthy’ or ‘natural‘ can make a food sound a lot better than the ingredients would merit. When we are too busy we tend to believe what is written on the front of the package, rather than taking the time to read what is on the back. For example, popcorn is considered a great low-fat snack. However, if you buy the microwave or prepared versions, you will find they can be a lot higher in salt and fat than if you buy dried corn and pop it yourself. If advertising can be misleading, let’s have a look at what some of these terms really mean.

A. ‘Lite’ or ‘Light’

This can mean a number of things and not necessarily that the product is lower in kilojoules or fat. Lite potato crisps may be thinly sliced and lightly salted, but they may still contain a high fat content. Light olive oil has a lighter flavour, light beer has less alcohol content, light margarine has less fat, light cheese has less fat and salt. It is important you check the label for what it is that has been ‘lightened’. (more…)

The following is a list of ingredients that have come under question in the last few years. From being carcinogenic, DNA damaging, hormone disrupting or known irritants, many of these ingredients are under further investigation in various countries. It may be interesting to check your beauty and personal care products and see how many of them contain these ingredients:

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (or Laureth)

This has its origins in natural sources. It is produced by the sulphation of commonly available lauryl alcohol, which comes from coconut oil. You will often see on the label ‘coconut derived’, and this can be a bit misleading as it sounds very natural, when in fact it goes through a lot of chemical processes to become the final product. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate may damage the outer layers of the skin, causing dermatitis, dryness and blackheads. It may also enhance the absorption of other chemicals. It should only be used in cosmetics that are quickly rinsed off the skin. It is widely used in shampoos, bubble baths, face and body cleansers, toothpaste and most household detergents. The US National Toxicology Program (NTP) classifies it as a skin and eye irritant. In fact, when dermatologists want to test the calming effect of an ingredient, they use Sodium Lauryl Sulphate as the irritant! (more…)