Essential Fatty Acids for beautiful skin.
April 11, 2012
To put it simply, the skin needs the right balance of essential fatty acids to maintain suppleness and smoothness. I see a great deal of clients with skin problems such as dryness, eczema, psoriasis and acne with one thing common; the lack of or imbalance of proper fats and oils.
While most people get enough Omega-6 EFA in their diets, intake of Omega-3 EFA is seriously lacking. This results in an imbalance. Omega-6 can increase inflammation whereas Omega-3 decreases inflammation. Generally, conditions like eczema are inflammatory in nature and a small change in diet can lead to huge improvements. This is not to say that Omega-6 is bad, it just needs to be the right type and in the right combination with other oils.
Omega-3 is damaged through cooking and processing and in fact can become toxic when heated. The key is to ingest these oils as close to their natural state as possible. Walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds are some of the highest plant sources of Omega-3 so adding these to your diet is a great place to start. Here at Cleanse we use Udo’s Oil with DHA to get the perfect balance of oils. One thing I always look for in a product is integrity in processing, Udo’s oils are free of pesticides, PCB’s and dioxins and guarantee that no damage occurs to the oils during processing.
Although EFA are crucially important to skin health, other nutrients that are required include, A and B vitamins, minerals such as zinc, magnesium, copper, good quality protein and of course pure water. A well rounded diet with a variety of vegetables, superfoods, lean proteins and good quality fats and oils will set you off on the right path to achieving beautiful skin from the inside out!
Cleanse 2012
February 13, 2012There year is certainly well on its way and if any of those new year health resolutions are starting to slip(or have been completely abandoned) maybe its time to get back on the wagon. The best and quickest way i’ve found to do that is to start a detox. It doesn’t have to be radical. Just start with eliminating all processed foods and replacing with fresh vegetables, fruits, whole ancient grains and lean proteins with a ratio of 80% raw to 20% cooked. Filtered water, green smoothies and an alkalising green superfood powder(spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, etc) will also help tremendously.
Colonics are an important adjunct if you want to make it a thorough detox with reduced detox symptoms. Remember the quicker you can eliminate the waste and toxins that are being liberated during the cleansing process the less you’ll experience ‘detox’ reactions.
If you’d like to see what our clinic looks like check out our new promo. We look forward to hearing from you.
Water: what you should know.
November 29, 2011Most of us don’t drink enough water and we may not recognise the body’s signs for more. The stand out symptoms of dehydration are thirst, dry skin, dark coloured urine and fatigue but there are other less obvious symptoms that can also be related to dehydration.
-Digestive disturbances, namely heartburn and constipation.
-Urinary tract infections
-High cholesterol
-Chronic fatigue
The general guideline is 1L per 30kg of body weight. More may be needed in cases of extremely hot weather or regular exercise/sweating(Bikram yoga anyone?).
The type of water you are drinking is also important. Let’s start with bottled water.
I personally do not drink bottled water. I read an amazing statistic recently that stated 40% of bottled water is tap water, just a lot more expensive(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/02/more-deception-about-bottled-water.aspx).
The main problem I see with bottled water is the plastic bottles most brands are packaged in. Plastic bottles contain bisphenol A, a chemical which binds to estrogen receptors in the body causing all sorts of serious health problems. Reusing plastic bottles and or leaving them in the sun increases the leaching potential of this chemical. If you taste even the slightest hint of plastic in your water do not drink it!
Secondly the impact of plastic bottles on the climate is disastrous. Each year around the world about 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to manufacture water bottles. By products of this process are toxic compounds such as ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide and benzene. Not to mention the millions of barrels of oil used to make the plastic bottles, most of which end up in landfill!!
If you are interested in learning more about bottled water and its effects on your body and the planet check out this documentary. Its a real eye-opener.
So what about tap water?
There are a few things to consider about tap water. There have been many studies in Australia to show that tap water is contaminated with pollutants, most of which are heavy metals and pesticides(www.lead.org.au/lanv8n1/l8v1-11.html www.foe.org.au/chemicals/pesticides-in-domestic-drinking-water-catchments).
These pollutants are toxic to the body(don’t even water your plants with tap water). They are endocrine(hormone) disruptors and are difficult for your body to remove. Heavy metals harden tissue and organs and put an added burden on the kidneys and liver which use water to metabolise and excrete wastes.
The fluoride issue is constantly debated world wide but Dr Mercola in the U.S makes a compelling argument against water fluoridation in his article; http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/01/paul-connett-interview.aspx
So what’s the best answer?
There are various water filters on the market today, ranging from very economical to very expensive. The simple Britta filter, available in supermarkets, does a pretty good job, so long as the filter cartridge is changed regularly.
If you wanted something a little more advanced, I recommend the Nikken PiMag water filter www.enikken.com.au/info/pimag/main.html. This is what I use at home and in the clinic. It is reasonably priced around $600.
I also use a shower filter and I really notice the difference on my hair and skin. The smell of shower water is very different with a filter.
For anyone who truly wants to be healthy, water intake is undoubtedly important. It’s also important to be aware of what’s actually in our water supply and how we can protect ourselves against the harmful effects. There’s lots of information out there and plenty of state of the art products to consider.
It all begins with the colon.
October 20, 2011The phrase ‘death begins in the colon’ was coined by Bernard Jensen, a famous U.S naturopath/chiropractor, who to many(including myself), was considered the ‘father’ of colon hydrotherapy and nature-cure. His depth of knowledge in health and healing always astounds me and his work in the realms of iridology, nutrition and colonics is unsurpassed.
Decades in practice with hundreds of thousands of patients all over the world led him to surmise that the accumulation of toxic waste due to inadequate and infrequent elimination produce poisons that cause all kinds of diseases.
“In the 50 years i’ve spent helping people to overcome illness, disability and disease, it has become crystal clear that poor bowel management lies at the root of most people’s health problems”. B.Jensen.
Think about it…if you are eating 2-3 meals a day and only eliminating once every 2-3 days, a build up of waste is occurring. Even if you are eliminating daily but not completely, waste will be accumulating and hardening in your bowel. The internal environment becomes perfect breeding ground for bad bacteria, parasites and fungus, which feed on the fermenting carbohydrates, rotting proteins and rancid fats. This is not good for your skin, immune system, liver and kidneys, which all have to work much harder to pick up the slack.
Overcoming constipation is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health. The bowel needs to be functioning properly before any other healing in the body can take place. Toxic acids are normal byproducts of cell metabolism(not to mention all the toxins we ingest, absorb or inhale from our environment). When these can be eliminated freely, there is less of an impact on the system, but when they accumulate and recirculate, unable to be fully eliminated, problems arise and disease develops.
There are many causes of constipation and other bowel disorders; poor nutrition, dehydration, lack of exercise, emotional and physical stress, medications and other ingested toxins. Addressing each of these is a good start. Cleaning up the past with a series of colonics is essential in this process and makes detoxing so much easier and quicker. Often I hear people say that their detox was awful; headaches, rashes, exhaustion. This will happen if toxins are reabsorbed. Colon hydrotherapy stops this from happening by removing the toxins before they have a chance to be reabsorbed.
If you would like more information on our treatments and detox packages please feel free to call or email. You can find all our details on the homepage!
Sun ‘fear’ does more harm than good.
September 26, 2011We’ve all heard it before; ‘sun causes cancer’, ‘a tan is not healthy’ and all the other sun fear mongering that’s gone on since the ’80′s, but recently scientists have begun reversing their stance on sun and cancer.
In 2009 a group of Leeds University researchers found that higher levels of vitamin D actually improved skin cancer survival odds and that in fact optimum vitamin D levels are important for a strong immune system.
Unfortunately a significant proportion of Australians are deficient in vitamin D (www.mja.com.au/public/issues/182_06_210305/dia10848_fm.html).
Chronic vitamin D deficiency has been linked to numerous health issues including osteoporosis, hormonal imbalances, depression, lowered immunity and some have gone so far as to say that vitamin D alone can prevent between 50% to 80% of cancers (www.naturalnews.com/021892).
Dr Mercola, one of the world’s leading nutrition expert has long been touting the benefits of vitamin D, so much so that he has even brought out a range of in-home solariums. In his article(http://products.mercola.com/vitamin%2Dd%2Dspray) he gives a list of Vitamin D benefits including, heart and circulatory health, weight management, skin health, immune function, food digestion and absorption. In fact current scientific research is telling us that all cells and tissues in the body have vitamin D receptors, suggesting that every cell requires this vitamin for its well being.
So how can we increase our vitamin D synthesis responsibly(without getting burnt)? Of course this will depend on your skin colour, the fairer you are the less sun is required to produce vitamin D. Darker skins require more sunlight as the melanin blocks UVB rays.
Gradual exposure is the key to staying burn free. Start with 5-10 minutes a day and progressively increase to a level that suits your skin colour. By staying out of the sun between 11am-3pm you can further reduce the change of over exposure. A word of warning about sunscreen, nearly all contain toxic chemicals the sorts of parabens, benzophenones, solvents, petroleum oils, synthetic fragrance. These ingredients are highly toxic to our skin and body, producing free radicals and mimicking estrogen. I for one don’t want to slather myself in a cocktail of chemicals and sit in the hot sun, which opens up the pores and allows even more to be absorbed. Wearing hats, rash vests or long sleeves is a lot safer.
Now we come to my favorite sun protection strategy, your diet. Diet is undoubtedly important when it comes to internal sun resistance. In 2001, the National Academy of Sciences published a comprehensive review showing that the omega 6:3 ratio was the key to preventing skin cancer development. Omega-3 and omega-6 fats are both essential for human health, however the typical Australian diet contains far more omega-6 fats(corn, soy, sunflower, safflower) whilst containing very low levels of omega-3 fats(fish, flax, chia).
Antioxidant-rich foods and superfoods also help to boost your internal sunscreen. The red algae astaxanthin is well known for boosting the skins ability to handle more sunlight without burning. Its fat soluble carotenoids are transported to skin cells where they protect from UV exposure (www.naturalnews.com/z032815_chemicals.html).
The more natural antioxidants you consume, namely fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably in their raw state, the more you can improve your UV resistance. This is what Mike Adams, the health ranger has to say on this subject;
“To create skin cancer you have to eat a junk food diet, avoid protective antioxidants, and then also experience excessive UV exposure. All three of those elements are required. Conventional medicine completely ignores the dietary influences and focuses entirely on just one factor: Sunscreen vs. no sunscreen. This is a one-dimensional approach to the issue that’s grossly oversimplified to the point of being misleading.
The medical industry, it seems, does not want people to figure out they can literally eat their way to healthier skin. It’s amazing, actually: Your skin is made entirely out of the food you eat, so how could your diet not affect your skin health? Yet no one in conventional medicine, not the dermatologists, not the doctors and not the health regulators has the intellectual honesty to admit that what you eat largely determines how your skin reacts to UV exposure.”
If you’d like to learn much more check out Mike Adams youtube video; The truth about sunlight, cancer and Vitamin D. He throws the doors wide open on sun myths, sun scare and what we can do to protect ourselves naturally.
Drink your greens!
August 10, 2011I’ve always been a juicer. For many years I juiced fruits and vegetables for breakfast and noticed a huge boost in my energy and health. Juicing separates the fibre from the juice and leaves you with a potent, nutritious liquid. This allows the digestive system to rest whilst providing quick assimilation of nutrients. For people who suffer from severe nutritional deficiencies or have a highly irritable intestine juicing is an excellent way to provide nourishment.
Recently I discovered blending, and although I haven’t packed away my juicer just yet, I’m finding it really handy to be able to throw all my favourite fruits, green leafy vegetables and superfoods into one concoction and have it taste amazing. Juicing green leafy vegetables has always been a challenge but knowing their value I always tried. Firstly packing them into the juicer was difficult and then being disappointed at the little amount of juice they yielded. Not so with blending! Everything is simply thrown in and mixed up, oh so simple(and much easier to clean).
I’ve talked up the value of greens(chlorophyll) many times throughout this blog but it truly is a miraculous substance. Containing all the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids we need, the only nutrient is does not contain is vitamin b12. However it does encourage proper intestinal flora, which in turn produce b12. It’s really important to get a variety of different greens everyday and the blended green smoothie is definitely the easiest way to do this.
I think one of the most important benefits of smoothies over juices is the fibre content. We all know the importance of getting enough fibre, but its the quality of the fibre that makes a big difference. Yes grains contain fibre, but if you’re sensitive to grains or want to avoid too many carbs then that may not work for you. Personally grains don’t sit well with me and I crave more and more once I start eating them. Fibre from fruits and vegetables provide roughage and nutrients that keep you fuller for longer.
You can add anything you like to your smoothie and I often add extra superfoods like acai berry, bee pollen, afa or rice bran solubles(naturally high in vitamin b). Sometimes I add coconut water to thin it out a little but water or fresh juice works well also.
The key is adding fruit to keep it sweet and delicious. Fruit has gotten a really bad wrap lately, people saying its too high in sugar, that its causing their blood sugar to spike or their candida to flare up. I believe in a balanced approach to foods and diet. Whole fruit is a delicious and highly nutritious natural food and should be consumed with a grateful spirit not fear. Eating it whole, or in a smoothie keeps the fibre and reduces the absorption time preventing a rapid spike in blood sugar. A few pieces of fruit a day are good for you, and if you are reacting negatively to this then you need to look at what else may be out of balance in your system.
Victoria Boutenko would have to be the Queen of the green smoothie. She has an amazing story of how she healed herself and her family with raw foods. She has a great website with a book dedicated completely to green smoothies. Check out this interview with Victoria on you tube.
Don Tolman on whole foods, fasting and self-care
June 30, 2011Don Tolman has been speaking on whole food nutrition and self-care for many years. I was first introduced to his work a few years ago and recently I’ve rediscovered his principles on nutrition, signature foods, ancient healing techniques and forgotten health practices.
He is an incredibly inspiring, loving and funny man with a wealth of information that has been collected over many years, from around the world, in and amongst many different cultures and from ancient information held within scrolls.
One of the practices he advocates is fasting. In 1995 he fasted on water only for 40 days. This was documented, supervised and filmed and has inspired many other to do the same. Don believes the human body has instincts to stop eating when illness strikes, just as animals do.
“When the body gets no rest from processing foods day after day, the digestive and cleansing systems are often subject to an uninterrupted workload. The body is often unable to rid itself of all these stored toxins, waste products, excess proteins and fat deposits. Fasting is necessary to give the digestive system a rest and more importantly to cleanse the body.” D. Tolman.
Here at Cleanse I have supervised many forms of fasting. Most people who are first embarking on fasting and cleansing should NOT fast on water alone and I personally have never done a water-only fast, however that is not to say that someone who is experienced should not consider it, under the right circumstances.
There are many types of fasting/cleansing regimes. They range from liquid or juice fasts in which no solid foods are consumed but fruit and vegetable juices are taken at regular intervals. I like to add green superfoods, such as spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass etc with these types of fasts to chelate heavy metals and other toxins out of the system. They also provide fibre and decrease the likelihood of detox reactions such as headaches and rashes. I find these cleanses work best in spring/summer when there is an abundance of tasty fruits and vegetables and the body doesn’t need to generate so much heat.
You don’t have to stop eating completely to begin the cleansing process. Our simple ‘beginners cleanse’ eliminates processed foods, sugars, alcohol, white carbs, meat products, fried foods and encourages whole foods, focusing on raw salads, blended green smoothies, lightly steamed vegetables and vegetable broths.
Check out one of Don Tolman’s Australian tour lectures. I guarantee you’ll learn a lot of valuable information and be entertained at the same time.
When bread hurts
June 15, 2011
Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly baked bread?
Most of us crave bread and other wheat products just as much as sugar. The problem is, large numbers of the Australian population are adversely affected by the protein in wheat called gluten.
There are vastly different levels of wheat intolerance, ranging from slight symptoms such as bloating or tightness in the abdomen to full blown celiac disease where the symptoms are very severe. It is estimated that 1 in 100 Australians have celiac disease, although studies have found that this number may actually be higher due to many going undiagnosed.
In cases of celiac, the gluten in wheat triggers an immune response which causes part of the small intestine to become damaged and unable to properly absorb nutrients. Over time this can lead to serious side effects.
Some of the symptoms include;
-bloating, gas, cramping
-diarrhea, constipation
-osteoporosis
-anemia
-fatigue
-depression
-infertility
Fortunately celiac disease is manageable by avoiding gluten. This means not eating wheat products and quite a few other grains including rye, barley, spelt and kamut. Gluten can be hidden in other foods; canned soups, soy sauce, lollies and various ‘low fat’ products. I always recommend reading the ingredients label before buying any packaged food but if your wheat intolerant, it’s essential.
Probiotics have shown to alleviate the severity of celiac and wheat intolerance by reducing inflammatory reactions that commonly occur. These ‘friendly’ bacteria serve in a number of ways to increase gut health;
-digesting certain carbohydrates
-producing key b vitamins
-competing with ‘bad’ bacteria
-preventing allergies
-supporting immune system
For more information and helpful tips go to www.celiac.org.au
Your best bet is to stick to a diet of fresh, whole foods, preferably organic. Not only will it keep wheat intolerances under control but you will experience numerous other health benefits also.
Fat?…or toxic
May 31, 2011One of my favourite health mentors is Dr. Robert Cassar. He lost 20kg and rebuilt his body after a car accident left him seriously injured. Before this he was living the typical American lifestyle; eating processed, acidic foods, lacking energy and suffering health problems. After spending over 3 million dollars on some of the most advanced anti-aging, healing and rejuvenating technologies, he discovered ways of cleansing and rebuilding his body so it is strong, lean and flexible. His mind is also super sharp and he believes he’s healthier and fitter now in his 50′s than ever before.
So how did he do it? He says it all begins with cleansing the toxic residue and microbes out of your internal environment by transforming it with superfoods, super herbs, special liquids and an interesting technique known as guasha(more info on the link below).
Dr. Cassar believes that fat is nothing more than yeast, mould, fungus and microbes that sit in the lymphatic system feeding on toxins(plastics, heavy metals, additives, pesticides) that creep into our bodies via the food, water, air and environment we expose ourselves to. He believes these ‘creatures’ are there because we need them to break down all this toxic waste and they in turn rob us of energy and vitality.
However, Cassar says its not as simple as just ‘killing them off’ but rather changing the ‘internal terrain’ so that it is not conducive to their livelihood. This is done by alkalising the body to produce energy and conductivity. Hydrating with mineralised water and other fluids. Eating organic, heirloom foods, exercising and stretching and avoiding exposure to plastics, petrochemicals, pesticides and heavy metals(including mercury fillings).
Check out his presentations on you tube. You’ll be captivated and inspired.
AFA-a new benchmark for green superfoods.
May 17, 2011Green superfoods are important for optimum health. The nutrition gained from these dense green foods, such as spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa is unparalleled in its ability to alkalise, cleanse, chelate, repair and support the body.
I have been using green superfoods for years and im always on the look out for new, innovative products that are organic, easy to take and provide superior nutrition and value.
AFA or Aphanizomenon Floss Aquae
is a wild harvested water botanical considered by renowned health authorities to be one of natures most beneficial foods.
It provides over 100 easily absorbed vitamins, minerals, essential fats, amino acids and phytonutrients and contains more bio-active chlorophyll than any other known green food.
The first thing i noticed about AFA is its unique crystal like structure and amazing blue-green colour. The taste is mild, compared to other green superfoods and its effects are huge. I rarely say any food gives you an instant effect but this one comes pretty close.
This may be in part due to its bio-available chlorophyll, meaning the body can assimilate the nutrients easily and quickly, unlike synthetic vitamins. For example when magnesium is delivered to the body chelated(bound to) chlorophyll it is especially easy to absorb.
AFA is rich in protein, minerals and amino acids, making it great for building and repairing cells and tissue. Its blue pigment protects the body against various toxic substances and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
The other standout attribute is that AFA contains 3% nucleic acids, rarely seen in other foods, that are responsible for growth and regeneration, strengthen immunity, stimulate memory, reverse genetic damage and reduce stress…wow!
As with all natural foods and nutrients you need to be diligent, taking the right amount consistently to experience maximum benefit. Don’t forget other aspects of your well- being like exercise, relaxation, pure water, fresh foods as it all works together to build a strong, resilient, healthy body and mind.