Useful Sites

I am one of those people who loves to record all the interesting books and websites I find - just in case I need them later.  I have a collection of bits of paper carefully noting all the addresses, titles and authors.  I thought that it may be a good idea to track them here as well, no the paper trail will not disappear, so that everyone can use them.  I will keep adding to this list as I find good sites.

http://www.emark.co.nz/
Meal plans and food calculators
http://www.organicpathways.co.nz/
Recipes, food outlets and news
http://www.rubbishfree.co.nz/
Blog with ideas to be rubbish free
www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/additivesall.htm
Information on food additives
www.nzfloweressences.co.nz/index.html
New Zealand Flower Essences
www.alaskanessences.com/index.html
Alaskan Flower Essences
http://www.aumhimalaya.com/prodflow1.htm
Himalayan Essences
http://www.baileyessences.com/cgi-bin/atoz_bailey.pl?bailey
Bailey Essences
http://www.greenmanshop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Tree_Essences_2.html
Tree Essences (Green Man Essences)
http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/bach/calif.html
Californian Flower Essences
http://www.ausflowers.com.au/shop/scdproducts.asp?catid=1
Australian Bush Essences
www.positivehealthsteps.com/
Calorie information
http://shtrainer.com/
free exercise an diet plans
http://www.bachcentre.com/
Bach Flower Remedies
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/ 
Information about food, nutrition and natural healing
http://www.chetday.com/
Natural Health articles
http://www.livingnutrition.com/
Ezine
http://www.eftuniverse.com/
Emotional Freedom Technique
http://www.bcominghealthy.com/
Free natural health consultations and information

Half full or half empty?

A wee while ago I put some extra effort into creating less rubbish in a bid to help the planet and our wallet.  Our council bags continue to increase in price so that they now supersede a box of beer! My efforts seem not to be coming to much as we are still having to put a new rubbish bag in the bin each week - well that's what I believed anyway.

Himself normally prepares the recycling and rubbish ready to take down the drive and to be honest I try and avoid any contact while he is in the midst of preparations least I'm asked to help!  Last night however himself was busy earning a bit more cash to get those beers and rubbish bags so I decided I would do the wifely thing and organize the rubbish.  When I got to the rubbish bag replacement part low and behold the bag was  half empty.  Yay!!! I cried to myself finally my efforts are working.  Although I couldn't quite work out why this week was any different.

Upon arriving home I did a little investigating with himself.  'Yeah it's normally like that' he says nonchalantly, 'it's almost full so I just put it out.'  This week the half full/half empty bag has stayed put to see if we can get two weeks out of it.  Hmmmmm

20 Super Foods

Here is a list of 20 great antioxident foods that help fight disease and keep your body fighting fit.

1. Asparagus

Cousin of the yellow onion asparagus is a valuable source of antioxidants Vitamin C, bioflavonoid rutin and beta carotene. High in folate it is good for lowering the risk of birth defects, colon and cervical cancer. It is a good detoxifier and immune builder as well as reducing fatigue.

2. Beets
Having edible roots and leaves beets are a good brain and anti-fatigue food rich in beta carotene and betaine. Beets have been used for centuries medicinally and as part of many staple diets. Containing calcium, potassium, iron and vitamins A and C they are also valuable to a healthy heart.

3. Berries
While there are many to choose from all berries are a wonderful cool down food. Blueberries are a powerful bacteria fighter against infections of the urinary tract and kidneys as are cranberries. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C as well as 20 different anti-aging trace minerals and cancer fighting flavonoids.

4. Carrots
Related to parsnip and celery, carrots provide more protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A, C and B than most other vegetables. They contain cancer fighting flavonoid antioxidants, and are the second highest source of pro-vitamin A beta carotene. Carrots are great for colds, diarrhoea (as soup or juice) and arthritis.

5. Cabbage
Rich in two antioxidants sulfaphane and the flavonoids complex, cabbage offers more anticancer benefits than any other vegetable family. It is one of the top 5 sources of vegetable fibre to help reduce cholesterol, risks of coronary artery disease and preventing blood clotting. Cabbage juice is also a powerful healer.

6. Celery
Celery has been used medicinally for centuries, having a reputation of a laxative, diuretic, gallstone nostrum and an antibacterial agent. It contains Vitamin C, B complex, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and more fibre than parsnips. Celery’s crunch has stress reductive properties and it is also a great body balancer after overindulgence.

7. Garlic
With over 100 healing ingredients, garlic is a natural antibacterial and antifungal plant which contains vitamin A, B and C, calcium, potassium, iron, antioxidants, carotenes, germanium, selenium, and garlic’s all important sulphurous compounds. Garlic helps to restore metabolic equilibrium, blocking free radicals, which weaken immune systems, helping to prevent disease.

8. Ginger
Ginger provides more protein than green beans and is rich in Vitamin A, calcium, iron phosphorus, potassium and riboflavin. It has been used for centuries medicinally for nausea, indigestion and as a poison antidote. Ginger also is an effective antibacterial killing salmonella and inhibiting the fungi that produces a carcinogen.

9. Grapes
Enjoyed fresh, as a juice or dried as raisins, grapes are a good source of fibre, potassium and Vitamins A, B and C. Both dried and fresh grapes have been used in healing dyspepsia, liver and kidney disorders, tuberculosis, haemorrhoids and venous disorders due to their flavonoid antioxidants.

10. Kiwifruit
Originating in China, Kiwifruit is a rich source of Vitamin C (120% of your daily quota) fibre, magnesium, and potassium. Kiwifruit in your diet can help in lowering cholesterol, maintaining stronger arteries and protecting skeletal growth and repair. The high vitamin C content in kiwifruit also aids in oral care.

11. Lemons
One of the top seven sources of potassium lemons are good for promoting clear thinking. An excellent source of Vitamin C, one tablespoon is one tenth of the daily requirement; Lemons have been used as a remedy against scurvy. It is a natural cleanser and therapy for treating fever.

12. Nectarines
Rich in beta carotene, Vitamin A, potassium and magnesium, nectarines are a great heath giving and tasting fruit. They can help with lowered immunity, kidney stones, poor vision and protection against pollution. Nectarines also contain 12% of your RDA of ascorbic acid and can be used cooked or fresh.

13. Nuts
Nuts are a rich source of antioxidants selenium and the polyphenols, which assist in preventing cancer. They are rich in protein, topping cheese, milk and eggs depending on the variety. Nuts provide high levels of Essential Fatty Acids which the body needs for energy and a healthy heart.

14. Onions
Coming from the same Allium family as garlic, onions share many of the same healing qualities. They have been used for centuries medicinally helping with tuberculosis, coughs, hypertension and cancer as well as in beauty recipes for the hair. Onions provide beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2 and Vitamin C.

15. Oranges
Oranges have long been used to improve people’s health. Rich in Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, phenolic acids and fibre oranges are good for preventing free radical damage and neutralizing carcinogens as well as stabilizing blood cholesterol and treating respiratory disorders. Oranges also make a good alcohol-free germicidal gargle and mouthwash.

16. Parsley
Parsley has long enjoyed a reputation as a healing and sacred herb. Containing Vitamin A, folate, chlorophyll (an age slowing nutrient) Vitamin C and antioxidants; courmarins, flavonoids, monoterpene and polyacetylene, it can assist in iron deficiencies, strengthening immune systems, stomach disorders, rheumatism and act as an anti PMS aid.

17. Peppers
Having between 150 – 200 varieties, peppers belong to the nightshade family. They are effective painkillers when used in the form as capsaicin cream for the treatment of a variety of illnesses. Peppers are source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folate, Vitamin A, phosphorous, iron, sodium, magnesium and silicon.

18. Rice
Unrefined Rice is an excellent source of nutrients such as B-complex vitamins, iron and calcium. Rice also contains high levels of protease inhibitors which help prevent or retard the growth of tumours. It has been used medicinally for centuries to treat infant diarrhoea, rehydrating the body and bulking stool volume.

19. Soybeans
Soybeans are packed full of nutrients which makes them valuable in helping reduce cholesterol levels, cancer-proof the body, act as a natural appetite suppressant and an antidepressant. Prepared in various ways soybeans contain more potassium and iron than milk, Vitamins A and E, Vitamin C, zinc, calcium, protein and B12.

20. Tomatoes
One of the richest known sources of lycopene, an anticancer antioxidant; tomatoes are a good way to cancer proof your body and boost your health. Tomatoes contain Vitamin C, Vitamin A antioxidants P-coumaric, 2-phenol and cholorogenic acid. They are natural healers for kidney disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypoglycaemia and diarrhoea.

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day:

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be." Patanjali - Indian Philosopher

Kapiti International Women's Group

Well I have finally taken the bull by the horns and organized a place for the Kapiti International Women's Group to meet.  That is when we get the group established!

I have written before about belonging to an International Women's Group in Lichfield, England and just how valuable I found it.  Thinking about it more and after a few phone calls I realized that there is a need here that is currently not being fulfilled by any groups.  I have asked a few 'International' women that I know and they are all keen so fingers crossed we can get it up and running.  I have booked a room with the Kapiti Women's Centre for every second week and am looking forward to our first meeting on 5th August 2010.

Now comes the tricky part - promoting it!! I have made up a flyer and will be busy over the next few weeks giving this out so that the first meeting has more than me and the kids there.  Local groups that I have spoken to are all very supportive so hopefully the word will get around.  It is very exciting and unlike anything I have ever done.  It is all part of me becoming the person I want to be though - taking action and following through on ideas.

Another break through

Well I went to my EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) session last night and can already feel a difference.  It is amazing how just saying things out loud and 'tapping' on body parts can actually make things connect, make sense and clear out. 

My main focus was my overeating to cope with emotions brought up from childhood abuse.  Even during the session I was thinking about eating!!!  Eating is one of those things that I do whatever the emotion, it makes me feel occupied and happy while pushing down the upsetting issues that I really need to deal with.  The after effects however are miserable as I feel disgusted at my excess and physically unwell.  Today, while I have overeaten a little, I have felt far more in control of my eating along with noticing the lack of the nagging voice that talks about the food constantly.

Normally I am thinking about the next meal before I have consumed the first - never satisfied  with what I have!  I just want to eat 'normally' what ever that means, with food providing energy rather than zapping my energy due to emotional, spiritual and physical overload.   I think that EFT may just help me along that path. Check it out for yourself  http://www.eftuniverse.com/

It's the little things that count

Taken from New Idea Health Page http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/health/article/-/7568217/60-second-weight-loss-secrets/

Losing weight doesn't have to be complicated. It's often the small, quick things you do that can make a difference to your weight and shape. Here, diet and fitness experts share their fast – but effective – weight-loss secrets.


1. Go disco
Put on some energetic dance music in the morning to get you in a move-faster mindset. 'Often we get out of bed and we drag ourselves to the bathroom and to the kitchen and we feel slow,' says psychologist Meredith Fuller. 'If you're woken by fast music while you get ready, you can't help but move faster – that effect can last all day.' And anything that gets you moving, and moving faster, helps to burn fat.
2. Stand up for yourself
Can you take that phone call standing up rather than sitting at your desk? Could you read that report on your feet? 'Standing recruits more muscles than sitting, so you burn more fuel or fat standing,' says Leigh Brown, an exercise physiologist at RMIT University School of Medical Sciences in Melbourne. 'Try and stand up as often as possible and at least stand up and walk for a few minutes for every hour or two that you sit at work. It will help your posture, too.'
3. Prepare ahead
If you've got a big day at work tomorrow, or if you know you're going to be on the run for most of the day, prepare healthy snacks and a nutritious lunch to take with you – you will easily save about 1255kJ a day this way. Also, keep some nuts in your handbag to snack on – they're brain food!
4. Take the stairs
It's an obvious but quick and effective way to lose around 2.7kg a year. Take the stairs instead of the lift as often as you can. Walking up two flights a day is the equivalent of that 2.7kg weight-loss, says registered dietitian Areli Hermanson.
5. Cut down on sugar
If you have two teaspoons of sugar in your latte every morning, try having just one. If you halve your daily sugar intake you can easily save yourself about 420kJ a day – which will equate to around 4.5kg of lost body fat a year. And the more sugar you consume, the more you crave it. So break that sugar cycle today.
6. Get some fresh air
Do you really need to eat that muffin mid-afternoon or would some kilojoules-free fresh air be enough? 'Often we binge on comfort food when we're tired,' says psychologist Meredith Fuller. 'Sometimes all we need is some oxygen in our body.' So during that slump, open a window or go outside and breathe in some fresh air.
7. Go round the outside
'When you go to the supermarket, always remember to go “round the outside, round the outside,”' says Scott Williams of Succeed Personal Development in Canberra. 'All the food we don't need is situated in the middle aisles – and all the good food we should be eating to help with weight loss is, as the Malcolm McLaren [Buffalo Gals] song goes, “round the outside”.'
8. Push yourself
Increase the intensity of your gym workout and do it in less time. This will help you to burn fat and lose weight faster. 'Do multiple exercises without resting in between to elevate your heart rate,' says trainer Scott Williams. 'This will speed up your metabolism over the rest of the day, which means you'll burn more body fat when you're resting, too.'
9. Get the picture
'Stick a photograph of yourself at your stunning best in the kitchen – either in the pantry or on the fridge,' says psychologist Meredith Fuller. 'It might be a picture of you in your 20s or 30s, as a teenager, or on your wedding day.' Keep that photo visible to help motivate you to lose weight during moments of weakness or when you feel a bit discouraged.
10. Read the fine print
Take 60 seconds to read the wrapper before you eat something,' says trainer Scott Williams. 'At a quick glance that chocolate bar, bottle of juice, bag of chips or nuts appear to contain 920kJ. But a closer look might show those products provide two or more servings, which more than doubles those kilojoules.'

Winter Sun

One of the great things about being at home is enjoying the classic kiwi winter days of a hard frost followed by a clear blue sky and sunshine.  I just love these days - cold as they may be to start the body motor cranking!  There are few things better than hanging the washing out on a crisp clear morning and knowing that you have the whole day of sunshine ahead.

Today we headed out to the park for a swing and climb on the juggle-gym before exploring through the native bush reserve that adjoins it.  The kids loved traipsing over the bridges and looking into the rivers and trees for any animals. They were both worn out at the end and asleep before lunch.  Gotta love being home!

Ice cream treats

Part of us becoming sustainable, organic and healthier in general is making more stuff myself so that we know exactly what is in it.  It is a slow ongoing process of finding a new item that I can make easily with a few simple ingredients to replace what we normally buy.  First it was the bread then the muesli bars, biscuits, houmous and now my latest is ICE CREAM.

After watching a programme the other night on Italy and the fantastic gelato they have there himself very kindly suggested that I could do that for us.  He is so thoughtful - really!  Anyway after a bit of face contortion I actually looked in the good old Edmond's cookbook where I found to my surprise a simple recipe to bring homemade Ice cream into our home.   I had always thought that you needed to be taking it in and out of the freezer to create the correct texture, this recipe though is the kind I like - mix it all up and shove it in a container. 

It takes about 2-3 hours to freeze and low and behold delicious creamy ice cream without any of the additives.  Definitely one that I will repeat and one that you too could try (see below for recipe).  Can't wait to try it with our own fresh eggs!

Homemade Ice Cream

4 eggs
1/4 cup Castor sugar
1/4 cup Castor sugar
300ml cream
1tsp vanilla essence

Beat egg whites till stiff then add first measure of the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until dissolved.  In another bowl beat the yolks and second measure of sugar till it is thick and pale yellow then add vanilla essence.  Fold yolks and white together.  In a third bowl whip the cream.  Fold into the egg mixture.  Put in container and freeze for 2 hours or until firm. Enjoy

Starting the business

Ever since I began my study a few years ago I've thought I would come home and practice naturopathy. I'd also have a few 'granny' flats that people could stay on, all of which would be organic and sustainable.  After going to see a woman from Business Network the other day I am suddenly doubting whether any of it is possible or worth while.

I know for a profitable and good business you need to have a specific market in mind, you need to find your niche and market well to get the customers coming in.  All of this felt fine until I was suddenly faced with the fact that I would have to organise all of it and actually DO something. The main concern is that the market for natural therapist feels a bit flooded as loads of people have come to this area for the same thing I have.

 It was a good eye opener and good motivator.  It has made me realise that I actually need to have more organized, written down and in place before I even begin to start my actual business.  One positive was that she seemed impressed that I had a website and business cards organized!  I think the plan for now(without any start-up capital) is to finish the study, write and business plan and keep handing out my cards for the odd free consultation.

Additives

I have made a bid to make our diet as natural as possible and slowly but surely we are moving there.  We now have organic homemade bread and organic homemade houmous.  Our potatoes are also organic, very delicious too I must say, all within our tight budget.  I have just achieved 7 full cloth nappy days and our rubbish is slowly reducing without the use of glad wrap and the like.

However the other day it suddenly struck me that I am more than a little blazé about the E numbers that lurk in the small print of all those products we buy.  I decided to do a little research into the ingredients of the custard I was about to make for the kids and was horrified to learn that it included E102, a yellow food colouring, which is linked to hyper-activity, itching and hives.  The more I read the sides of things in our fridge and cupboard the more I found E-numbers that had some kind of controversy surrounding them.

I'm interested what effect the lack of these E's with have on the kids health and behaviour not to mention mine.  I aim to cut as many out as possible by selecting wisely and making more myself. If nothing else at least my grandmother with now recognise everything we are eating!  Check out what some of the E-numbers are and which should be avoided on; http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/additivesall.htm

We have a home!

Finally contracts have been signed!!!! Yay we have somewhere to focus on.  It should all go un-conditional this month and exchange early next month.  Can't wait to get into the garden, get some chickens and get the kids some play gear up along with getting all our stuff out of the boxes of course.  Being kind of rural and close to the river and sea I'm looking forward to taking another step forward to the organic and sustainable lifestyle I dream about.