Child food sensitivities are common

Does your child suffer from any of the following:
- Behavioural problems?
- Digestive issues?
- Poor concentration?
- Asthma/eczema/allergies?

Come to our FREE information session
Call 3368 1300 to book your place!

Benefits of attending:
- Learn  the difference between an allergy and a food sensitivity or intolerance
- Recognise the most common food sensitivities
- Elimination diets – what and when to use
- See the kinds of testing available to pin-point problem foods
- Understand what to eat – healthy snack ideas

Call 3368 1300 to book your place!

Seats limited,  act now!

Got a question?   

Like us on Facebook

By Emily Sugars  Adv.Dip.Nat  

‘Too hard’ and ‘failure’ are just some words that spring to most people’s minds when confronted with the task of losing weight. It is in fact true that dedication and commitment are very important when applying yourself to improving your state of health. We are all well aware of the ‘obesity epidemic’ that is taking place across the wealthy industrial world and the role it is playing in chronic illness.

There are myriad weight loss programs and solutions out there but do any of them really get to underlying issues of why we can’t lose weight?
Diet and lifestyle are obvious players in weight loss, but more can be said about weight loss than simply increasing energy expenditure and decreasing caloric consumption?  This can be frustrating for many people who feel they are doing all the right things in this regard.

Reasons behind the inability to lose weight are multi-factorial; this is why seeing a health practitioner is important to help address these issues and support you on your journey.

Lately there has been intense interest in the ‘HCG diet’ / ‘RFM program’.  But is this the solution to everybody’s weight loss woes? This program can in fact be the solution for almost everyone, especially those of us that have tried everything else without success. It is a program that requires strict compliance and preparation and planning is the key.

One step that is often overlooked is the importance of a detoxification program prior to commencing the HCG diet.

Dr Walter Crinnion’s book  ‘Clean, Lean and Green’ is an interesting read, and talks about how toxins affect our ability to lose weight. We are exposed to toxins every day and these toxins, over time, accumulate in our fat tissue and also affect cell function. If our cells can’t function properly, then normal metabolic processes are affected!

So how is this particular program different to other weight loss programs?

The HCG diet works on a different level to other weight loss programs. It addresses an under-active hypothalamus. One of the roles the hypothalamus has is to regulate appetite and balance hormones. Other weight loss programs do not address this issue and therefore, long term success is limited.

The HCG diet uses a carefully planned eating program, in conjunction with ‘homeopathic HCG drops’.  It designed to access ‘famine’ fat stores while at the same time preserving structural fats and lean muscle, while also normalising hormone levels.

The support of your health practitioner through the detoxification phase, the dietary phase and in the maintenance phase of the program will ensure long term success and provide you with the education to better your health for life.

Listen to the interview

“When I first consulted Dr. Nirala Jacobi, it was with a sense of desperation.

Years earlier, I had been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, bipolar disorder, depression, bilateral Morton’s Neuroma, iron deficiency anaemia and hypothyroidism.  I had been taking Lithium and anti-depressants for the bipolar disorder, thyroxine for the hypothyroidism, had scheduled surgical intervention for the Morton’s Neuromas, and was desperately trying to find a way to be medically retired.    I also suffered from a general weariness, odd muscle and joint aches and stiffness, and a debilitating lack of energy and mental acuity, which I took to be simply a symptom of my age (55).

Within a few short weeks, my symptoms had improved markedly, and within a couple of months, my mental acuity (which I had never thought to see again) had returned, my emotional instability has vanished (no more Lithium or anti-depressants for ME!) along with my Crohn’s Disease symptoms, my vague aches and pains, my joint stiffness and my Morton’s Neuromas.

Another amazing thing has been the return of ENERGY.  I feel like I did in my twenties.  I can put in (and enjoy) a full day’s work, participate in strenuous and rewarding boot camps, sleep better, and have lost almost twenty kilos. Nirala’s knowledge has lengthened my life, and ensured that I can participate IN my life.  I owe her an enormous debt of gratitude, and will be grateful every day of my life that I stumbled across her website and made the decision to trust her with my future health.

Meg Kerr – Brisbane

Rapid fat metabolism helps you lose weight faster

The Rapid Fat Metabolism (RFM) program is designed to access the “famine” fat stores preserving muscle mass and structural fats as well as potentially normalising hormone levels. Specially formulated  remedies are used to rebalance the hypothalamus in conjunction with specific dietary protocols.  Together they facilitate the body’s ability to lose weight.

Weekly naturopathic consultations are recommended throughout the program to keep you motivated, on track and to answer any questions along the way.

As part of the weekly consultation a Bio-Impedence Analysis (BIA) will be a part of your weight loss program which will tell us more about your progress than a number on the scales!  This method will give us insight on how your body has changed biologically.

So….  are you ready for our weight-loss challenge?
Re-ignite your Personal Power by calling Emily and Fran on 07 3368 1300 to book an appointment.

“When you expect success, your mind focuses on success”

A recent article in Environmental Health Perspectives  reviewed some new research into the field of “obesogens” – everyday chemicals which can cause us to gain weight even if we’re eating right and exercising.  This is especially interesting to those who are overweight but cannot loose weight no matter what they try.

The research has shown that different chemicals have different effects on fat cells.  Some affect number of fat cells, others tell fat cells to become bigger, and still others affect the hormones that affect appetite, satiety, food preferences, and energy metabolism.

None of us are immune to the exposure of even low level chemicals on a day to day basis.  Whether it’s eating foods sprayed with pesticides and containing additives, using cosmetics or other personal products containing a string of chemicals, using cleaning products, driving in traffic or simply taking a cash register receipt from a sales person, we are constantly exposed to substances which even in low levels can add up to cause problems.  I liken it to collecting rain drops in a rain barrel.  Each drop represents an exposure.  At some point that barrel will fill and spill over.

2 chemicals of particular concern in relation to weight gain and obesity are BPA and PFOA

• BPA is a plasticizer found in the lining of some tinned food cans, some plastic bottles, medical devices like IV tubing, syringes, and cash receipts.  BPA is a very well know endocrine/hormone disruptor and has been banned in some countries.  A recent study had 75 people eat a normal diet but included 1 can of vegetable soup for 5 days in a row.  After 5 days, BPA levels rose by over 1000%!!

• PFOA is a surfactant used for reduction of friction, and it is also used in nonstick cookware, Gore-Tex™ waterproof clothing, Scotchgard™ stain repellent on carpeting, mattresses, and microwavable food items

How to get rid of toxins

Avoidance is of course the best policy, but once these chemicals are in your fat tissues, detoxification must include a way to

• Mobilize these toxins
• Help your organs to process and eliminate the mobilized toxins
• Supply nutrients which are specific for eliminating specific toxins
• Replenish depleted nutrients

But SIBO is not only implicated in IBS–it is now considered to be the underlying cause of conditions such as

-  restless leg syndrome

-  Fibromyalgia

-  fatigue and exhaustion

-  chronic infections

-  and much more

Normal digestion

Our digestive tract is divided into 2 parts – the small intestine which is responsible for the break down of foods and absorption of nutrients and the large intestine which forms stool, extracts water and produces a few vitamins.

The Large intestine is a hotbed of bacterial action–it is the home of trillions and trillions of bacteria which live inside of us and are part of the normal flora.  Here, they help us do many of the functions we take for granted.

This includes regulating bad organisms, such as yeasts and bad bacteria which can normally be found in small amounts in a healthy gut, but run rampant in those which have had a lot of digestive disturbances.

The small intestine, in contrast, does not normally contain very many bacteria at all.  We’re talking hundreds of thousands per gram of stool in the small intestine vs billions and billions of bacteria in the large intestine.  The body is pretty clear about where it wants these bacteria and regulates this by a “cleansing wave” of muscular contractions which sweep the small intestinal contents and excessive bacteria downwards towards the large intestine.

Let’s now look at what happens when we have a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine:

Normal digestion of starches such as breads, potatoes, grains etc is done mainly by enzymes released by the pancreas.  It breaks the long strands of starch in to more manageable, bite-size chunks.  These chunks of carbs  get then broken down into the absorbable carbohydrate forms by enzymes released by the wall of the small intestine, called brush-border enzymes.

With a bacterial overgrowth, this breakdown of carbs in ineffective because the bacteria damage the brush border of the wall.  The result is that these bacteria then ferment the undigested starches and produce gas.  Both hydrogen gas and methane gas is produced which causes obvious gas and bloating, particularly after meals.  The gas is also further damaging to the small intestinal wall, causing a problem with nutrient absorption.

For example, people with SIBO often have an iron deficiency which doesn’t easily get fixed.  Other minerals can also be low, such as zinc which can then cause all the problems associated with low zinc such as chronic infections, skin problems

once the bacteria are established, common symptoms include:

-  frequent bloating

-  constipation or diarrhea

-  abdominal pain

-  tiredness

Why doesn’t the body get rid of the bacteria?

The cleansing wave of the small intestine occurs every 90 minutes or so in a healthy person.  In a person with SIBO, this can be seriously impaired, causing the slow-down of digestion and fermentation of food.  This slow-down can be caused by medication such as acid blockers, pain medication, and blood pressure medication.

Also, once the wall of the small intestine is fairly damaged and you can’t absorb all your nutrients, the immune function is also affected.

How do I know if I have SIBO?

you can order a breath test which tests for the presence of gas produced by the bacteria.  It involves following a strict diet for 2 days.  Drinking a test substance is then followed by the collection of breath samples over the course of 3 hours

What can be done?

a great book on the topic is Dr. Mark Pimentel’s book “a new IBS solution”.  He’s one of the researchers in the topic and has some excellent suggestions.  He is a conventional doctor so he mainly recommends specific antibiotics to kill the bacteria along with other drugs to improve the cleansing wave

“Breaking the vicious cycle” is another fantastic book if you suspect you have SIBO.  Elaine Gottschall wrote this book many years ago –it is great in terms of explaining the damage that occurs to the brush border and how to repair it with diet.

Naturopathic treatment

involves

-  a specific carbohydrate diet,

-  natural antibacterials

-  healing agents for the small intestine

-  nutrients which are deficient as a result of poor absorption

In summary, if you have IBS symptoms and have gotten no relief with previous treatments, consider getting tested for SIBO.  The results of treatment can be quite dramatic

WHAT YOU CAN DO…
Getting rid of those scratched up teflon pans is the first step. I shudder to think of my college days and all those omelettes in pans that looked silver because the coating was almost completely gone. Also, never ever overheat in teflon pans–especially when they don’t have any oil in them yet.
Replace non-stick teflon pans with:

• Cast iron skillets–these are great especially for those women who are in need of more iron in their diet. Acid foods like tomato sauce can pull out extra iron from the pan
• Stainless steel pans
• Ceramic cookware– the newest company to offer non-toxic non-stick ceramic cookware is Neoflam. I just bought one and can’t stop cooking with it, although I don’t have any more information than the company promo materials to confirm it’s non-toxicity claim
• If you are attached to the non-stick idea, you may look into those that make harder surfaces where there’s less toxic escape. Scanpan makes some nice products in this range.
• Don’t reheat in plastic, styrofoam, wrapping or containers. This includes Take away containers, microwave meals, and microwave popcorn bags.