In case you don’t much about me or what I do, here’s my story…

What modality do you practice? Naturopathy i.e. nutrition & herbal medicine

What motivates you as a practitioner?

• Working with a wonderfully diverse and interesting range of people each day.
• Educating my patients on the best ways to improve their health and change sticky habits.
• Learning from these same people about their experiences, challenges and triumphs.
• Practicing what I preach.

What single piece of general advice would you give for good health?

Take responsibility for your own health by learning what practices you enjoy most that keep you feeling well. A good health practitioner will help to steer you onto the right path (and keep you on the straight and narrow!), but at the end of the day, managing your health is up to you.

What makes you tick when you are not at the clinic?

My husband, family, friends and cat; along with yoga, reading, writing, and travel all keep me busy when I’m not at HealthWise.

I love being outdoors, connecting with people and learning as much as I can about food, health and other cultures.

Oh, and chocolate. I really like chocolate.

Myself and my beloved having trekked to the centre of a glacier in a blustery snowstorm. Hardly glamorous, but such fun.

When Jon started out on the Paleo food journey, there were a lot of new ideas for us to get our heads around. Certain inclusions, exclusions, food combinations, etc…

I just came across this diagram, via a paleolicious friend of mine, that I wish I’d seen earlier – it’s crass and wonderful and explains the diet perfectly.

Keeping it REAL simple. Paleo, explained.

Chia seeds are a good source of fibre, plant protein and beneficial fats. When they are soaked, as in this recipe, the seeds develop a soft viscous coating (known as mucilage) that is reminiscent of sago. You can find chia seeds in all health food stores and the health food section of most supermarkets.

Coconut milk is another good source of healthy fats, which will help to balance your energy for the day and nourish your body from the inside. You can read more about the health-giving nature of coconut here.

So what do I need?

• 1/2 – 1 cup chia seeds (the more you use, the thicker the mix)
• 1 can (approx 440mL) coconut milk, preferably organic

And how do I put it together?

1. Combine the chia and coconut milk in a ceramic dish or bowl, then cover with a lid or cling film.
2. Place in the fridge and leave to soak for a minimum of 4 hours (I’d normally recommend leaving overnight).
3. Stir through the resultant mixture – it will have formed a thick consistency. This, my dears, is your porridge.
4. Serve into a bowl (3-4 tablespoons is usually sufficient!) and top with fresh or frozen fruit, natural yoghurt, chopped nuts and/or a dash of maple syrup.

I was introduced to the chia-coconut combo by my friend and colleague, the lovely Linda Brown, who you can see demonstrating how to make some seriously delicious foods  here.

For those of you who like to know these sort of things, this little recipe is both dairy and gluten free.

The bucketing sheets of rain over recent weeks haven’t helped me get going, nor has the alarmingly large pile of things and stuff waiting for my attention. Just thinking about it makes me want to bury myself in blankets or lie on cushions reading travel stories (which I may or may not have spent several days hours doing).

I’ve found that the best way to pull myself out of this stuck feeling, and get myself going, is with the help of a list. A trusty list!

It is a well-known fact that I am a listophile. So much so that one of my dearest friends sent me a luscious red ‘List Book’ for Christmas, full of lovely plain pages just busting to be filled with words, ideas and plans. It’s the best! Just looking at it makes me feel motivated.

Here is a list (!) of the some of the reason I love lists that may help you love them too:

• My thoughts appear so neat and organised this way (otherwise existing as a jumbled bunch of half-finished and/or potentially-genius ideas running rampant in my mind) – i.e. a list creates order where there was previously chaos.
• A dot, star or box (personal favourite) at the start of each sentence practically begs me to tick it off – i.e. a list provides incentive.
• Tacked to our fridge or tucked into my diary, a regular glance at my list reminds of all the (mostly) excellent things I need to get done – i.e. a list maintains focus, useful in a world of numerous distractions.
• Writing a list makes me feel like I’m already “getting stuff done” i.e. a list is a little achievement in itself.

*that = any number of tasks, trivial and large, that require my attention and can no longer be hidden under a neatly stacked pile of magazines.

Personally, I don’t make new year’s resolutions as I tend not to stick to them (at least I’m honest!). And in any case, I have a habit of making new plans and setting goals for myself almost weekly… it’s just the way I flow.

However, for many people the start of a new year is the perfect time to kick back into forgotten goals and fresh ideas. Already this week heaps of people have come through the clinic wanting to get their health back on track and make a plan to stay well in the months ahead.

Post-festive season is an obvious time for many of us to think about being well and doing good. An excess of everything naughty and treat-like during the previous month (or few?) makes the idea of being virtuous so very appealing.

A good old-fashioned detox can help with festive season fallout - but I would also suggest setting achievable goals that can be maintained long-term.

Setting an intention (e.g. better health, less alcohol, more sunshine, deeper relationships) is a gentle and realistic way to get yourself on track – and stay there.

The benefit of this is that you don’t have to adhere to any hard-and-fast rules, nor strict guidelines or ball-busting regimes. Instead, it’s something you can focus on throughout the year and adjust your plans accordingly.

Let me give you an example:

• I intend to sleep better this year, which means I’ll be more rested and refreshed at work, have more energy through the day, feel generally more inspired, have clearer skin, brighter eyes, and will be even nicer to my husband.

Now, I haven’t said: “I will have 8 hours of sleep each night” – if I did, I would most likely break my resolution immediately, huff and puff, throw my hands in the air and never sleep properly again (I may be exaggerating slightly).

However, if my intention is to sleep better overall I can adjust my (ever-changing) plans accordingly – not taking on too much extra work, turning the computer off by a certain time each night, getting myself up with the sun, eating more protein during the day – and stick with those habitual adjustments that suit me best.

What will your intention be?

Where will this year take you?

Here are some of my top tips on how to keep yourself healthy over the silly season:

• Support your digestion - if you’re planning on dipping into the rumballs, pudding and extra potato salad, spare a thought for your digestive system. Unused to managing such rich foods on a daily basis, many people find they feel sluggish and sometimes sick after indulging. Simple measures like lemon juice in water before starting the day, peppermint tea in the evening, or the digestive tonic Iberogast with meals will help you get through the festive season symptom free

• Don’t forget about your liver - if you find yourself partial to a shandy or two, particularly if that’s not your normal style, it’s important to support your liver. This unsung hero of health is what keeps your body balanced, clearing out toxins from excess alcohol and rich foods. Herbs such as St Mary’s Thistle, Dandelion and Globe Artichoke can keep everything going like clockwork and nip hangovers in the bud.

• Drink plenty of fluids - staying hydrated is important at all times of the year, but when the weather’s warm and you’re having plenty of treats, keeping fluids up is essential. Aim for at least 1.5L each day – more when the weather’s scorching and/or you’re drinking alcohol.

• Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater - just because you’re indulging doesn’t mean you can throw all your good habits out the window. As much as possible, maintain a healthy diet, get good sleep, drink plenty of fluids and exercise regularly.

These are just a few ideas to support you through the silly season, but there is plenty you can do.

If you feel like you need some personalised advice please make an appointment to come in and see me!

FRUIT

Yummo

• Pears
• Apples
• Cherries
• Apricots
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Plums
• Mangoes
• Pineapple
• Coconut
• Paw Paw
• Bananas
• Lychees
• Oranges
• Passionfruit
• Grapes
• Melons (watermelon, rockmelon, honeydew melon)
• Berries (all of them! blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)

VEGETABLES

Crispy fresh radish!

• Asparagus
• Cress
• Rocket
• Spinach
• Peas
• Beans
• Beetroot
• Avocado
• Sweet corn
• Zucchini
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Capsicum
• Chili
• Eggplant
• Tomato
• Radish
• Pumpkin
• Spring onion
• Red onions
• Leeks

This list is not exhaustive… let me know your summer favourites and get yourself to the markets!

I’ll be teaming up with acupuncturist extraordinaire Sarah George for a double-act in the festival’s health programme. Sarah and I will be talking about easy household remedies for common conditions such as nausea, fatigue and pain.  I’ll be sharing herbal and nutritional tips, while Sarah will be teaching some simple acupressure techniques. Come along if you’re interested in learning more about what we do.

We will also take part in the Woodforum: Raw Food panel discussion;  and I’ll be running a hands on herbal preparation workshop for kids (in the children’s festival). Juicy! Can’t wait!

WANT THE DETAILS?

Wed 28th Dec 1.45pm – Big Ideas (Kids’ Festival): ‘Medicinal Remedies from Herbs’ i.e. DIY / let’s get our hands dirty

Thurs 29th Dec 5pm – Blue Lotus Forum: Raw Food

Friday 30th Dec 11am - Blue Lotus: ‘Herbs, Health & Acupressure’

Sunday 1st Jan 11am - Big Ideas (Kids’ Festival): ‘Health, Herbs & Acupressure’ – kids’ version

Check out the full programme to find out what else the festival has to offer. Hope to see you there!

A vegetarian for many years, he’s been feeling increasingly like he needs more protein and less carbohydrates… particularly at the tail-end of a busy year and in the lead-up to a PhD submission. So, turning his previous diet on its head, Jon’s going to go paleo… i.e. eat like a caveman. What does that mean? Well… lots of fresh fruit and veg, nuts and seeds, as well as plenty of (free-range) meat, poultry and fish. No grains, no refined carbs.

As a fellow vegetarian and nutrition-fiend I felt outraged at first that he wouldn’t let me design a meat-free menu. Outraged!

However, the more I learn about primal nutrition the more I like it. Although eating meat is not something I can do, I dig the principles – ones I can adapt to a meat-free diet. In the meantime, for all you omnivores out there, it might be something worth considering.

So… now we’re learning to cook meat again – a skill that’s been shelved for well over a decade. But before we even get started on cooking we have to get savvy to buying. And, if I’m going to have meat/fish/poultry in the house, it’s going to be as ethically and naturally produced as possible. You’d better believe it.

Where to go for that? Well here are our preferred local suppliers:

Vive Organic Market in Hawthorne

Sourced Grocer in Teneriffe

The Meating Place in Paddington

Happily, these guys (even the last one – despite their name) sell more than just meat and have a bountiful supply of many tasty, organic and (in most cases) locally sourced food. Highly recommended.

Where do you go?

Well, I’m a bit late to the table, but we are well into spring. Spring! A glorious and abundant time of year! (can you tell I just came back from my honeymoon?..) This abundance is particularly relevant for people like me who love to eat with the season – because this time of year provides plenty of choice!

What’s the big deal with eating seasonally anyway? Well, for one thing it supports sustainability and for another it forces you to have variety in your diet.

Where do you think out-of-season fruit and vegetables come from? They’re usually flown over from the other side of the world (where they are in season) and/or picked early and stored in cool rooms until it’s time to put on our supermarket shelves. Over time this produce is depleted of important nutrients and flavour … not to mention racking up serious food kilometres to get to you!

Interesting fact: Did you know that fruits and vegetables tend to appear in the seasons to which they’re best suited nutritionally? For example: think of those heavy winter staples (e.g. root vegetables) that are ideal for warming soups and stews; or of the leafy greens and juicy fruits that go perfectly in light summer salads.

So … what’s in season now?

FRUIT

Spring fruit salad

• Apples
• Cumquats
• Lemons
• Grapefruit
• Mandarins
• Oranges
• Pineapples
• Pawpaw
• Strawberries
• Blueberries (just about!)
• Raspberries (just about!)

Soon it will be time for all those lovely summery stone fruits and even more berries to start filling up the market stalls – I can’t wait!

VEGETABLES

• Asparagus
  

  Yum.. don't you just want to EAT it!?

• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Asian greens e.g. Bok choy
• Rocket
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Green beans
• Avocado
• Sweet corn
• Artichokes
• Carrots
• Beetroot
• Spring onions
• Broccoli
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini