HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
Is Your Fibromyalgia Coming From Your Gut?
Is your fibromyalgia coming from your gut? By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Fibromyalgia is a very common problem presenting itself as pain and tenderness in the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue. Patients experience muscular pain that is similar to what results from injury or muscle overuse. You can feel like you’ve been beaten up or lifted heavyweights, when you’ve done no such thing. Tenderness in the muscles and tendons, which are painful to touch are known as ‘trigger points’. Pain may be chronic or intermittent and to qualify for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia it must have been present for [...]
Autoimmune Disease Can Adversely Affect Mental Health
Autoimmune disease can adversely affect mental health By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Did you know that individuals with autoimmune disease are more likely to suffer with depression or anxiety? This can partly be explained by the stress of dealing with a chronic health condition, but there is more to the story. People with autoimmune disease suffer with excess inflammation generated by the immune system. Inflammation affects neurotransmitter production in the brain, and this can impair mental health. A recent study has shown that up to 75 percent of people with systemic lupus erythematosus experience neuropsychiatric symptoms. According to Allison [...]
Chocolate Granola Protein Clusters
Chocolate granola protein clusters This chocolate granola protein clusters recipe serves as the perfect breakfast or snack option for all the cereal lovers and sweet tooths out there. It is free from gluten, grains and refined sugar and uses nuts, seeds and quinoa flakes instead of grains, making it higher in protein and fat to help stabilise blood sugar levels and keep you fuller for longer. You can swap around the ingredients depending on your tastes and what you have in your pantry. Serves: 12 Ingredients: 10 Serving size: 55 g Total calories: [...]
Case Study: Losing Weight With A Sugar Addiction
Case Study: Losing weight with a sugar addiction By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Pauline is a 53 year old lady who recently consulted me because she was concerned about her weight. She was not significantly overweight, but it was all around her torso, which Pauline knew was a dangerous place to carry excess weight. Both of her parents had poor health and Pauline wanted to avoid following a similar path. Pauline had been totally addicted to sugary foods all her life and would binge on sweet cookies, cakes, candy, ice cream and donuts; she felt totally out of control [...]
How To Lose Weight With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
How to lose weight with polycystic ovarian syndrome By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women. It can cause unpleasant symptoms, disrupt the menstrual cycle and cause infertility. It typically also makes weight loss incredibly difficult. In most cases, women with PCOS can be eating well and exercising often, yet their weight doesn’t shift. This is understandably very frustrating and disheartening. In order to lose weight, it’s important to understand the underlying driver of PCOS. Insulin resistance and nutrient deficiencies are the usual culprits. Over secretion of insulin [...]
5 Low-Carb Breakfast Options That Will Fuel Your Day
5 low-carb breakfast options that will fuel your day By Louise Belle BHSC (Nut Med) If you’re a jam on toast or bowl of cereal for breakfast kind of person, then there are many more nutritious options you could reach for that will boost your energy and be kind to your waistline. 1. Eggs and veggies Simply cut up some mushrooms, tomato, onion and spinach, whisk some eggs with some herbs and spices and make yourself a quick omelette or scramble – it really doesn’t take much [...]
Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
Crunchy roasted chickpeas Easy, moreish and healthy, these perfectly seasoned chickpeas are perfect as a snack or salad topper. They are also vegan friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free! These crunchy roasted chickpeas are high in protein and fibre to aid weight control, stabilise blood sugar levels and keep appetite under control. Serves: 4 Ingredients: 9-11 Serving Size: 106g Total calories: 158 kcal Carbohydrates: 23.83g Fat: 4.28g Protein: 7.27g Ingredients 1 x 400g can chickpeas, ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp paprika ½ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp onion powder ¼ [...]
Bleeding Gums May Signal Premature Labour
Bleeding gums may signal premature labour By naturopath Margaret Jasinska New research has shown that the health of an expectant mother’s gums may indicate her risk of premature delivery. Researchers compared gum inflammation and the microbes in 33 women whose babies were born before 37 weeks, with 44 women who had full term deliveries. According to study author Dr. Valentin Bartha, of Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany, "We observed that women with premature births more often had inflamed gums, with pockets and loss of the supporting tissue around their teeth compared to their peers with full-term pregnancies. If [...]
Benefits Of Improving Liver Health And Function
Benefits of improving liver health and function By Dr Sandra Cabot If you focus on improving your liver health, you can see enormous benefits within a few months. Your liver responds beautifully to some TLC. This is not surprising because your liver is the most strategic organ for overall health in your body. Take a look at our diagram. At the centre is the liver and the arrows show some of the things that the liver is designed to do. Incredible that the largest organ in our body does all this and more, 24 hours, 7 days a [...]
Chicken And Vegetable Stir Fry
Chicken and vegetable stir fry For a healthy weeknight meal you cannot go wrong with, try this chicken and vegetable stir fry. Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 10 mins Serves: 2 Ingredients: 11 Serving size: 752 g Total calories: 624 Protein: 58.87 g Fat: 33.85 g Carbohydrates: 29.74 g Fibre: 0.8 g Ingredients 2 tbsp coconut oil 400 g chicken breast, sliced into thin strips ½ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp cracked pepper 1 tsp grated ginger 1 red capsicum 8 stems of broccolini 2 medium carrots, cut thinly [...]