Food & Nutrition

22 posts in this category

Foods that Enhance your Microbiome

March 20, 2018

In as little as twenty four hours, the food you eat can be changing your resident gut microbiota. We have already discussed that diversity is one key parameter of a healthy microbiome in a previous post. Simply having a large variety of bacterial species is beneficial to overall health. And studies done by Professor Rob Knight show that the number of different types of plant food you eat will increase your microbiome diversity. Another key parameter of a healthy microbiome is whether it is....

Tags: fibre, gut health, Inulin, microbiome, polyphenols, prebiotics, resistant starch, SCFA's

Are Probiotics the new Multi’s?

March 14, 2018

Supplementing with probiotics can influence the composition of our whole microbiome. They positively alter the microbiome environment and encourage the proliferation of what is now dubbed our “core” bacterial strains. Exciting research is also revealing that healthy people have a diverse variety of microbiota and conversely a reduction in this microbiota diversity is linked to diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation and bowel disease. Interestingly data suggests that t....

Tags: depression, Free In-store seminar, probiotic strains, probiotics, stress and anxiety

Food as Medicine for Happy Hormones

October 20, 2017

In our teens and early 20’s our bodies are building foundational health that sets us up for life-long health. Ideally, the aim is to begin adult life with a great foundation… fantastic bone health, mental health, hormone health, immune health and with luscious skin, hair and nails. Emerging adulthood is a time when the body is active and the mind is also very active with a great capacity for learning and experiencing new things. Consequently both the mind and body needs great nutrition t....

Tags: Essential nutrients for vegans, food as medicine, Hormonal Health, Secret Women’s Business, vegan, Vegan diet

Foods for Mood

July 17, 2017

Life is too short not to be happy… but unfortunately anxiety, lowered mood and depression inhibit many to fully enjoy life’s pleasures. The “Winter blues” also known as SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is caused by lack of sunlight and can affect some people during the colder months. The good news is that there are specific nutrients found in certain foods that can boost your mood naturally… 1. Omega 3 essential fatty acids are crucial in aiding the transmission of nerve impulses....

Tags: mood foods, Oats, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, protein, tryptophan, vitamin d, walnuts

Immune-Boosting Foods

July 10, 2017

There are “germs” everywhere and we are exposed to them every day. Because our immune systems generally work efficiently these germs generally don’t manifest as viruses. However there are factors that do affect and compromise our immune system making it more susceptible to viral attack. Namely, emotional stress from relationships or work demands, poor food choices, lack of exercise, poor sleep and a general lack of ‘balance’ in our lives. Because most of us do live very busy and full....

Tags: food as medicine, gubinge, immune boosting foods, Manuka honey, medicinal mushrooms, miso, probiotics, tempeh, vitamin d

Are You Getting Enough Protein? You might be surprised at the Answer!

June 6, 2017

It is quite hard to believe that those eating a western diet can be deficient in protein – but we see in-store and in our clinics, a lot of people who are. Experts are now telling us that to maintain good health and prevent degenerative disease we need to eat less meat. However if we are going to include some “meat-free “days or explore the vegetarian and vegan diet, then it is very important that we also know how to combine our foods adequately to ensure we are still getting our requ....

Tags: Amazonia raw fermented salted caramel protein powder, iron deficiency, Protein Combining, protien deficiency, quality, vegan, vegetarian, Vitamin B12 deficiency, zinc

Vegan Easy: My Top 5 Tips

February 13, 2017

There’s been a huge interest and shift towards a vegan diet lately. A vegan diet is one that is plant-based and excludes the use of animal products. This mean no meat, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy, honey or anything other animal-derived products such as gelatine. Other products avoided by vegans include fur, leather wool, beeswax as well as cosmetics, personal care or household products that have been tested on animals or contain animal products. A vegan diet can be very healthy if done right.....

Tags: Complete Proteins, Iron, Protein Combining, vegan, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B12 deficiency, zinc

You Are What You Eat

August 16, 2016

I like to classify food into two groups: “every day foods” and “festive foods”. I purposely use these terms as opposed to “good” and “bad” foods, because ‘good & bad’ are quite emotive terms and I don’t think it is healthy to place emotion on food. Festive Foods These are our treat foods – the ones we eat occasionally for celebrations. They are not for every day. Cakes, biscuits, muffins, chocolate, desserts, white bread, pasta are examples of these “occasional ....

Tags: Everyday Foods, festive foods, healthy foods, local food, Sugar Toxicity, whole foods

The Healing Magic of Ayurveda

May 5, 2016

Ayurvedic medicine is traditional Indian medicine, an ancient medicine that has been used for centuries. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizome that is native to India and enjoyed as a spice throughout the world. Curcumin is the active constituent of turmeric and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is now known to be a wonderful antioxidant, brilliant for pain relief as it has anti-inflammatory properties, is great for liver detoxification support and is also known for its ....

Tags: anti-inflammatory, ayurveda, golden milk, golden paste, turmeric paste

Almond Nut Milk

What is almond milk? Almond milk is made by blending almonds and water and then straining the mixture. Sweeteners are sometimes added. Almond milk contains about 90 calories per eight-ounce cup. It has no saturated fats or cholesterol and is lactose-free. Almond milk contains half of the daily requirement of vitamin E and a good dose of vitamin D, but it contains very little protein. With its creamy, nut-like taste, almond milk is a good alternative to milk in coffee and cereal. People who re....

Tags: almond milk recipe, Almond Nut Milk, nut milk bag

Eat Well for Life

August 17, 2015

I spoke about healthy eating at our “Just for the Health of It” day recently in-store, and many have asked me to write about this workshop. According to Healthy Together Geelong, 56% of adults in Geelong are overweight; “95% don’t eat enough vegetables; 58% don’t eat enough fruit; nearly one quarter smoke and 22,400 adults in Geelong experience high levels of psychological distress including feeling nervous, hopeless, restless, sad and worthless”. My passion is to address the way....

Tags: creating change, fad diets, food portions, metabolism, mindful eating, over eating, portion sizes, stabilizing blood sugar, The Secrets to Eating Well

What is Matcha?

August 4, 2015

We had such a great Saturday morning for our “Just for the Health of it Day”. We were jam-packed out the door for our “Eat Well, Age Well” workshop. It is great to see so many willing to brave a cold Saturday morning to learn how they can tweak their daily food habits to improve their energy & vitality and quality of life. Our “Sugar Stop” station was a huge success. Many tried for themselves our trade secret herb that will stop the taste of sugar in its tracks and were absolute....

Tags: Just for the Health of It, Matcha, Matcha Lattes, winner

Your Special Invitation

July 29, 2015

We would love for you to join us for our annual Winter in-store Celebration “Just for the Health of It” on Saturday 1st August from 9am-12noon. We are so excited and busily preparing for the big event. I am passionate about food and how what we eat directly impacts our vitality, our mood, our stress coping mechanisms, our risk of illness and disease, our energy levels, our sleep quality and our hormones. Come in-store at 9.30am and listen to me speak about How to Eat Well to Liv....

Tags: dietary analysis, Free Health Appraisals, Just for the Health of It, local, local food, seasonal food, Sugar Stop

Lets Focus on Wellness & Simplicity

July 21, 2015

There has been a shift in health trends in recent years and the focus is on wellness (as opposed to “weight-loss”). “Wellness” as a concept, encompasses not only a diet-based movement but also looks at our lifestyle as a whole… something we subscribe to at Mammoth Health as we are passionate about incorporating and embracing our 7 core principles of Optimum Health. The secret to “Wellness” lies in its simplicity… a diet based around the notion of eating foods in their mos....

Tags: 100 healthy snacks, dietary analysis, Just for the Health of It, Sugar Stop, Wellness

Nix Night-Time Nibbling

August 21, 2014

Do you find you have fallen into the habit of nibbling after dinner? If so, you are not alone. Many people consume the majority of their calories in the evenings. Some Of The Reasons For This Pattern Are: Soothing stress and anxiety from the day with high-calorie, high fat “comfort foods” at night. Many feel they “deserve” a treat for surviving the stressful day. Boredom or habit – if you always snack after dinner, your body learns to “expect” a snack at that time of nigh....

Tags: boredom, cravings, night time nibbling, stress

Are You Getting Enough of the Right Protein

Are you getting enough of the right protein? You might be surprised at the answer! It is quite hard to believe that those eating a western diet can be deficient in protein – but we see in-store and in our clinics, a lot of people who are. Experts are now telling us that to maintain good health and prevent degenerative disease we need to eat less meat. However if we are going to include some “meat-free “days then it is very important that we also know how to combine our foods adequate....

Tags: amino acids, eggs, grains, nuts, Protein Combining, protein deficiency, seeds

Beetroot Relish

June 16, 2014

We had a fantastic day on Saturday at our in-store Winter Feast. Damian from Kattwinkel Meats explained to us the difference between grain fed and grass fed meat and the importance of knowing where your meat comes from. Kirsten from Casuarina Farm also told us about the difference between growing fruit and vegies biodynamically and organically. Kirsten also very generously donated the door prize of the most enormous box of beautiful biodynamic produce which Heather Watson was our winner. Grace, ....

Tags: Beetroot relish, cooking food, Winter Harvest

Junk Food Makes You Sad

August 12, 2013

I was interested in research published in The Geelong Advertiser (Sat 19th March) which reveals that the food we eat has a direct influence on the way we feel. I think most of us have already worked out for ourselves that different foods have different effects on the way we think and the way we feel. But the 15 year research done by Dr Jacka and her team from Deakin University shows a clear link between junk food and anxiety and depression. The study declares that “eating fried foods s....

Tags: depression, healthy foods, junk food, lowered mood, mental health, optimum health

Behold the Humble Oat

August 5, 2013

Oats are one of my favourite grains and are now gaining “Superfood” status. They contain high amounts of fibre and have a cholesterol-lowering effect. They also are very cardio-protective as they contain a unique antioxidant (called ‘avenanthramides’) which help prevent free radicals from damaging our good cholesterol (HDL). They contain many minerals and vitamins and studies show that they have beneficial effects in diabetes – oats produce a much less rise in blood sugar compared t....

Tags: nervous system, nourishing, Oats, seasonal food, superfoods

Eat Well

October 10, 2012

“Geelong Fails Health Check 90% of us don’t eat enough fruit and veg.” This is the headline on the front page of today’s Geelong Advertiser. Which means that only one in ten people in Geelong eat adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables to maintain health and wellness. No wonder so many of us are walking around feeling tired, lethargic and unmotivated, have cravings for foods high in sugar, salt and fat, have hormonal imbalances, mood swings, suffer from allergies, headaches, aches and....

Tags: food garden, healthy foods, low sugar foods Geelong, vegetable garden

Why should we be alkalising our bodies

August 14, 2012

Alkalising or ‘balancing the pH of your body’ will provide your body with a level of nutrition that it can use to maintain optimum health and lots of energy and vitality. ‘Alkalisation’ can also enhance toxin excretion as well as prevent disease. It is impossible to avoid acid production in the body, as acids are produced as part of regular everyday metabolism. However it is possible to minimise unnecessary causes of acidity, by avoiding excess acidic foods and minimising stress. 80%....

Tags: alkalising, barley grass, chlorella, pH, spirulina, wheat grass

Do You Really Know Where Your Food Comes From?

November 29, 2011

“1 hamburger contains pieces of 1000 different animals” …food for thought when you next order a Big Mac. I had the great privilege of spending last Sunday in a room with Joel Salatin. Joel is a passionate farmer from Virginia, USA and is in Australia for a week sharing his philosophy on local food systems and the harsh reality of where our food really comes from and the cost and consequences this is having on our health, sustainability and our connectedness with not only our food....