HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
Thyroid problems following childbirth
Thyroid problems following childbirth By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Thyroid problems are far more common in women than men. It is extremely common for them to first manifest after giving birth. This condition is known as postpartum thyroiditis. It just means inflammation of the thyroid gland. In most causes the cause is autoimmune disease. Postpartum thyroiditis occurs in five to nine percent of women during the first six months after giving birth. The thyroid gland can become enlarged but this is usually not painful. Symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis There are usually two phases to this disease: [...]
Vaccination – a vexed dilemma
by Dr Sandra Cabot Sometimes in medicine there is a perfect solution for a disease – such as penicillin for syphilis or weight loss to reverse diabetes type 2. However, when it comes to infectious diseases the battle is far from over, and infectious diseases remain a leading cause of death, especially in poor countries. Universal vaccination of babies and young children today has become a political and emotional topic and parents often find the issue overwhelming and confusing. It is a very polarising subject that causes great discussion in the community. Overall, I am a firm believer in vaccination [...]
Boosting Your Metabolism
Essentially, metabolism is the speed at which the motor of our body is running and the rate can be referred to as the amount of calories we burn per day. Approximate 60 to 75 percent of energy is used by the body in such activities when we are at rest or sleeping. There are many ways you can boost your metabolism which include: not skipping meals, exercising everyday especially in the morning before breakfast, drinking plenty of water, eating foods with a high nutritional value, avoiding alcohol and sugar-laden foods, not fasting, and strengthening your bones and muscles to increase lean muscle tissue. [...]
Australia is facing a ‘surge’ in dementia
The number of Australians living with dementia is forecast to double by 2030 (that's only 14 years from now!). Today there are 234,000 Australians diagnosed with dementia and by 2030 it will increase to more than 465,000. The number of carers, both paid carers and non-paid family members, will have to increase in size by 76 per cent on today's levels if it is to meet the demand. This surge in dementia is reflective of an ageing population and also earlier diagnosis. The Access Economics report, commissioned by Alzheimer's Australia, said the carer sector would need another 60,000 paid workers and [...]
Got a coeliac in the family? You’re at increased risk of autoimmune disease
By naturopath Margaret Jasinska A study published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology has shown that first degree relatives of coeliacs have an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease. The study included more than 84,000 first degree relatives and spouses of coeliac patients. They were compared to 430,942 controls, who did not have relatives with coeliac disease. These individuals were monitored for 10.8 years. Results showed that systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes mellitus, and sarcoidosis were the most common autoimmune diseases other than coeliac disease that first degree relatives developed. It is important to realise that coeliac [...]
Get Your Swim On
While the weather is still warm across the country many people return to their local swimming pools or favourite lakes, rivers or beaches to cool off, but have you ever thought about learning to swim with correct technique or swimming for fitness? Swimming has many benefits including: Tones your arms, legs and core Low impact aerobic activity which burns lots of calories Can be a low cost alternative to other sports Tips for improving your swimming: Contact your local swimming pool, swimming/triathlon/surf lifesaving club to get some advice/tuition on your technique If swimming in open water (ocean, bay, lake, river [...]
Delicious Flesh of the Earth – organic field mushrooms
by Dr Sandra Cabot Recently I was lucky enough to discover a crop of large dark brown to black underneath coloured mushrooms growing in my back yard. I had not eaten mushrooms for years as I found the ones in the supermarket to be rubbery and devoid of flavour. I decided to sauté them in fresh butter for 10 minutes. Wow the taste was out of this world with a rich deep earthy flavour and the texture was chewy. I am not really a “foodie” but I think I did go to tastebud heaven with my pleasure centre firing off [...]
Want to Look Great?
Improving your liver improves your appearance! The liver is an amazing organ with literally thousands of functions. Here are two of the main functions – The liver regulates fat metabolism by breaking down fat and pumping it out of your body via the bile The liver filters and cleanses the blood stream removing toxic chemicals, unhealthy cells, cancer cells and micro-organisms that would otherwise attack your body Thus the liver function has a tremendous impact on your weight and your immune system. These beneficial effects can slow down the rate of ageing of our cells keeping us younger for longer [...]
Chia Pudding
Chia pudding Used as a dessert or even a breakfast- chia puddings take little time to prepare and even less skill! Serves: 3 Ingredients: 4 Serving Size: 109g Total calories: 323 kcal Carbohydrates: 16.6g Fat: 27.68g Protein: 6.47g Ingredients 1 cup coconut milk– macadamia milk, almond milk or A2 dairy milk are also options ½ cup chia seeds 2 tsp Nature Sweet Sugar Substitute ½ tsp vanilla extract Optional flavourings may include: Acai powder 2 tbsp cacao powder ¼ cup lemon juice Coconut flakes ¼ cup berries of choice [...]
Nutrition – are you doing it right?
Nutrition is often just as important as the training session itself. At times, it can mean a successful session or one where you do not achieve your goals. The key is to consume your last meal approx. 90 mins to 2 hours prior to the start of the session to ensure enough time to digest the food and replenish energy stores.Choose meals that are light, easy to digest and provide you with plenty of energy. Workout schedule Monday day off Tuesday 10km easy jog <75% on grass or trail + core & stretching Wednesday 30min easy jog <75% before brekky + 30min [...]
