True Life Stories & True Life Issues
First, allow me to share that I’ve been using Verizon as my landline phone and internet provider for the past 14 years. And up until about 3 years ago, when I started having issues with losing my phone and internet service 3-4 times a year, I had always been happy with Verizon.
Many of you will probably remember that two years ago (and ironically in July), I had no phone or internet service for TWO weeks and required that Verizon pay me back by taking two weeks off my monthly bill. Which they did, but only because I insisted.
Since then, I still have times when I lose either my phone or internet service for a day or so, or lose them at the same time.
Last week I had another issue with losing my phone service. And since I don’t have a cell phone, I created a repair ticket online and was given a repair date of Tuesday, July 28th. Well, THEY NEVER FIXED IT. So, I called them on Wednesday from work and spoke to a service representative who said that the next available repair date would be on Sunday, August 2nd, to which I said, “No way, I’m not waiting until Sunday to get my service restore. Verizon said that someone would be out to fix my phone on Tuesday and they didn’t follow through. Therefore, for that terrible inconvenience, I think you need to send a repairman out to my apartment by TOMORROW or I will be looking for another service provider.”
The customer service representative agreed with me and said that he would do his best to send someone out on Thursday and that he apologized for the inconvenience.
Well, guess what? IT’S FRIDAY AND I STILL HAVE NO PHONE.
I’ve been without phone service for a week, so can I just tell you how FED UP I am with Verizon?
Truly, over the past several years, Verizon’s service has gone quickly downhill. What used to be a very reliable and consistent company, has turned completely the opposite.
Even their My Verizon website has been an inconvenience lately because many times there are technical issues whenever I go there to check my emails. Also, it’s extremely SLOW to load.
Yes, I am at my wits’ end with Verizon and have only one thing to say…
Verizon…what a HUGE disappointment you are!
And you better start shaping up because you’re bound to lose a lot of customers.
Oh, and one more thing. I think it’s hysterical that Verizon had the nerve to send me a customer service questionnaire in an email; asking that I rate my repair experience with them.
And the first question was:
“How likely is it that you would recommend Verizon to a friend or colleague?”
Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
And do you know what my answer was?
0 – not at all likely
Hi Health Food Lovers. Today we have a giveaway for some beautiful bath tea, from the lovely Natasha Linz from Temple Bath Tea. I met Natasha in India earlier this year. Natasha is currently studying Naturopathy (Bachelor of Health Science) and she has created her own line of Naturopathic, hand-crafted bath teas, called Temple Bath Tea.
Here’s what Natasha has to say about her hand-crafted line of herbal bath teas:
“Temple Bath Teas were created from my passion for herbs and their medicinal values. Herbal baths have been used for centuries, by cultures all around the world. The skin is the largest organ of your body and when immersed in water, the pores of the skin are open and receptive to the healing properties of herbs. The Bath Temple experience allows you to unwind your mind while nourishing your body. For most of us, showering has become another task on the to-do list. Yet, having a bath encourages 15 minutes of you time, a time for peace and introspection. I strongly believe in conscious and mindful living, which is why I have provided mantras for you to meditate upon. All products are made by hand and naturopathically formulated to support the condition indicated. There are currently 5 therapeutic teas; Nourish, Detox, Sleep, Immunity, and Soothe. Jump on over to the website at www.templebathtea.com to read all about the ingredients”.
Thanks to Natasha, today we have a giveaway. In this giveaway you have the chance to win a surprise Temple Bath Tea.
UPDATE 1/7/15:GIVEAWAY CLOSED. CHECK BELOW TO SEE THE WINNER!
One lucky person will win a surprise bag of Temple Bath Tea.
There are 6 ways to enter and each way counts as one entry. Please leave a comment with EACH way you have followed/liked/signed up/re-posted/tweeted/shared so we know which way(s) you have entered (though with Instragram we can see your entry with the #wintemplebathtea).
Good luck!
…
UPDATE 1/7/15: GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. The winner is: TAYLA_W93 (on Instrgram).
Thanks everyone for entering!
Hi Health Food Lovers,
This is a bit of a mixed-bag of a post, but here goes! Here are some updates, a recipe and some information on my upcoming Ebook which I’m very excited to tell you about.
I’m now a qualified Naturopath! After studying for quite a few years, I’ve now completed my Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) and am a now a qualified Naturopath! Please stay tuned for more information on my future endeavors.
India & my visit to Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti: In January I had an awesome experience learning at Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti, which is an Indian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. I, along with a group of qualified Naturopaths and student Naturopaths/Nutritionists were introduced to some of Jagran’s programs including one where they support the traditional medicine healers, the Gunis. They help the Gunis to work at the health camps where they can look after their people using a range of therapies including myotherapy (originally taught to them by an Australian myotherapist) and herbal medicine. Here are some photos of the Gunis and the health camps we visited:
It was really a great experience and we learnt a lot. I you would like to learn more you can contact Jagran, in the link above.
Ebook & Updates
I also have started a Health Food Lover newsletter! You can subscribe in pink bar at the top of my blog or from the box to the right under the search bar. The newsletter will give you updates of what i’m up to, the latest recipes and news.
I’m now in the process of writing my Health Food Lover Ebook. I would love to know what you would want to see in it, so please have a look at this short survey and tell me what you would like to see. Alternatively you can just let me know what you think in the comments below. Take The Health Food Lover Ebook Survey Now Thank you! You can also sign up for an exclusive newsletter for information on my Ebook. Click here to sign up.
Recipe: Indian Ginger Chai
While I was in India, we had a few Ayurveda cooking classes and I tried to find out the recipes for as meals and drinks as I could learn, from the lovely people who prepared our meals. The chai was a recipe I found was essential for me to write down. We enjoyed chai every day and multiple times a day. It was so delicious, this is definitely a recipe you’ll want to try!
Ingredients:
- Water, about a cup per person
- 1/2. – 1 tsp. per person of loose leaf black tea – At Jagran, they used a brand called Bajaj. Here in Australia I’ve just used a loose leaf Assam chai that I bought from an Indian shop.
- ~ 1/2 – 1 C. Full cream milk (full cream, rather than low fat milk makes it taste best), or an alternative milk of your choice
- Sugar – In India they used plain white sugar. When I’ve made it myself I’ve used Rapadura sugar but you could use honey instead or just leave the sugar out. When using sugar, I try to add just enough to sweeten, usually 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. of sugar.
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, sliced
How to:
- In a pot, add the water, put the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil.
- Add the loose leaf black tea.
- Add the sugar and milk and keep boiling.
- While that’s boiling, take the piece of ginger, and roll it with a rolling pin to crush it. Then add the ginger to the boiling tea. Keep an eye on it as it can boil over quickly. When your chai has a nice colour (like in the picture above) turn the heat off.
- Then strain the mixture and enjoy your chai.
Drinking Adequate Water Will Keep Your Skin Hydrated |
Perform A DIY Homemade Hand Soak to Relieve Dryness |
DIY Hand Scrub From Kitchen Cupboard Ingredients |
Lemon Twist Intensive Repair Organic Hand Cream |
There are multiple health and ethical benefits to following a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, it is fundamental when undertaking a vegetarian or vegan regime that the right food choices are made, in order to ensure your body is not deprived of vital nutrients.
These nutrients are fundamental for sustaining overall physical and mental well-being. Often the quantity and types of food consumed by vegetariansand vegans results in being deprived of certain vital nutrients.
A viable solution to this problem is incorporating vitamin supplements, which provide your body with the nutrients required, while still upholding the values of vegetarianism and veganism. Listed below are a handful of recommended supplements you can take, to protect your own body when pursuing this type of diet.
Vitamins for Vegetarians Image Source
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is responsible for red blood cell growth and nervous system maintenance. However, because the only unfortified, natural sources of Vitamin B12 are meat and dairy products, vegetarians and vegans are most often deprived and deficient in this very important vitamin. One recent study using the more sensitive vitamin B12 testing technique, found high rates of deficiency: 68% for vegetarians and 83% for vegans, as compared to just 5% for omnivores.
This is important to note as B12 depletion can take years to become clinically evident. This means deficiency sets in long before obvious symptoms appear, and some of the more serious effects, such as nerve damage from being deficient, are irreversible.
Deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to a host of serious problems including macrocytic anaemia, an abnormality in red blood cell development, heart palpitations, numbness, loss of vision, learning disabilities in children, cognitive decline, memory loss, infertility, premature aging, vascular problems such as heart disease and stroke, irreversible nerve damage, and numerous other symptoms.
Also, Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin we can not obtain from plants or sunlight. Plants don’t need B12 so they don’t store it. It’s found exclusively in animal foods, such as liver, clams, oysters, mussels, fish eggs, octopus, fish, crab and lobster, beef, lamb, cheese and eggs.
A commonly held misconception amongst vegetarians and vegans is that it’s possible to get vitamin B12 from plant sources like seaweed, fermented soy, spirulina and brewers yeast. However, it’s important to note, plant foods said to contain B12 actually contain vitamin B12 analogs called cobamides, which actually block the intake of, and increase the need for true vitamin B12.
Therefore, it’s crucial for those abstaining from animal products to understand there are no plant sources of vitamin B12, and that all vegans and most vegetarians should supplement. This is especially imperative for vegetarian or vegan pregnant women, and for children, whose need for B12 is even greater than that of adults.
In addition to the importance of supplementing with vitamin B12, the proper form of B12 to use should also be considered. A general approach to B12 supplementation might include 1,000 mcg (1 mg) to 5,000 mcg (5 mg) of sublingual methylcobalamin.
Cyanaocobalamin is the most frequently used form of B12 supplementation in the US, as it’s the cheapest form of B12, but not the best. This low-grade, low-quality, and slightly toxic (contains cyanide) form of vitamin B12 is widely available and used in most vitamin formulas, so read your labels. (Hydroxocobalamin is frequently used in Europe, and is another inferior form of the vitamin).
The far superior choice for B12 supplementation is to choose methylcobalamin. This is the form existing in nature, and is a bio-available form, meaning your body can put it to immediate use. Methylcobalamin has increased absorption, better retention in tissues, is free from toxic cyanide, and supports the production of SAMe. Also, there are no worries of toxicity by supplementing with vitamin B12.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a common deficiency, because most people think they receive sufficient amounts of it from the sun. However, cloud cover, long winters, living in a northern climate, using sunscreen, and indoor jobs means for majority of us, our bodies do not have access to enough vitamin D. Moreover, vitamin D is only found in a small variety of foods, most of which are not included in the vegetarian or vegan diet, such as milk, egg yolks and salmon.
Therefore, it’s recommended to supplement with a minimum of 1000 to 2000 IUs per day. It would also be prudent to request your doctor test your vitamin D levels, including those of children. Most people, even those who are not vegetarians or vegans are deficient in vitamin D, and may find their levels are below optimum.
However, bear in mind that while vitamin D2 is vegan, vitamin D3 is not, so always read the label carefully before purchasing if you follow a vegan diet. Fortified vegan products contain D2 (ergocalciferol). Foods with naturally occurring vitamin D usually contain animal derived vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). (There is one form of D3 that is derived from lichen and suitable for vegans, which is marketed as Vitashine).
A vegan diet can be planned to provide adequate amounts of vitamin D through use of fortified foods like fortified plant milks. Some brands of hemp milk for instance, provide 160 IUs of vitamin D per eight ounce serving. Any person, regardless of chosen food path, who does not include good sources of vitamin D their diet or take vitamin D supplements can be at risk for not getting adequate vitamin D, especially if sunlight exposure is limited.
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones as it helps the body maintain calcium levels in order to regulate tooth and bone development. A deficiency can thus lead to stunted or defective bone growth and conditions such as osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, etc. which require long term medical aid and chiropractic therapy. The body also needs vitamin D to absorb calcium so it’s important to use these supplements in conjunction with one another for optimum bone health.
Calcium
Calcium is vital for bone and tooth growth, blood-clotting capabilities and the overall health of your heart, nerves and muscle function. Calcium is often found in milk and other dairy products, however, there are other excellent sources of calcium.
Sources of well-absorbed calcium for vegetarians and vegans include calcium-fortified organic soy or rice milk, calcium fortified juice, calcium-set tofu, tempeh, organic soybeans and soy nuts, bok choy, broccoli, collard greens, navy beans, almonds, almond butter, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens, and okra, grains, beans (other than soybeans), figs, and hummus.
Vegetarians and vegans should strive to meet daily calcium recommendations, and if these can not be met through food choices, than a calcium supplement should be used. Adults require 1,000 milligrams every day to maintain health and prevent long term illnesses associated with low bone mass such as osteoporosis, convulsions or abnormal heart rhythms.
Iron
Iron serves as a pivotal element of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in your blood from your lungs throughout your body. Iron comes in two forms; heme and non-heme. Heme is more readily absorbed than non-heme, and unfortunately for vegetarians, all plant based sources of iron are non-heme, thus vegetarians and vegans may have lower iron stores than omnivores.
However, this has not translated into higher rates of anemia, and many vegetarians’ iron stores are in a low-normal range, but is not cause for alarm. There are some evidence based studies supporting low-normal iron stores as beneficial for improved insulin function, and lower rates of heart disease and cancer.
Many nutritionists believe if you eat a varied, healthy plant-based diet which includes a balance of grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables, then it’s not necessary to keep close track of iron intake.
Begin, by making sure you’re eating foods containing substantial amounts of iron. Some of the best plant sources of iron include:
But regarding iron, here’s the key: It’s not how much iron you consume, but how well you absorb it.
There are ways to to increase the absorption of non-heme iron from a plant based diet, so making sure you’re absorbing your iron is as important as making sure you’re getting enough from your food.
Here’s how to do it …
If you choose to take an iron supplement, it’s best to break it in half, and take half in the morning and half at night, always with meals or juice. Zinc
Zinc is vital for a healthy metabolism, immune system and healing. The National Institute of Health recommends that vegetarians need 50% more than the recommended 40 mg dose of zinc due to the fact that the zinc found in plant based foods has a lower absorption level.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 Fatty Acids host a wealth of health benefits, ranging from assisting with inflammatory diseases, decreasing the risk of coronary heart disease, lowering blood pressure, alleviating joint pain and arthritis, to protecting against dementia and depression.
Vegans are at risk because they do not eat the fish which contains these fatty acids. To optimize your intake of omega 3 fatty acids, you can supplement your diet with flaxseed oil or ground flaxseed. (Keep refrigerated).
Taking vitamin supplements is ultimately a personal choice. If you research the amounts of nutrients your body requires and shop for your food accordingly, you may be able to receive enough vitamins and nutrients from your diet alone. However, a large number of vegetarians and vegans undergo a diet which does not contain the sufficient nutritional quantities for optimal body function. In these instances, supplements provide a simple solution to protecting the overall physical and mental well-being of your body, without compromising your vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
Guest Author Bradley Taylor, is a freelance writer from
|
Most of us are very busy – it’s a modern mark of value. There are so many things needing to be done, to be purchased, and to be watched on our screens. We are trained by the ever-increasing rates of media and concerns to move quickly. It gives us very little time for true understanding, or the development of potential and satisfication – in ourselves or in those around us. Through busyness we reduce our focus to just the immediate activity at hand, with the longer range and personal elements becoming secondary if considered at all.
One of the central concepts of a team – be it a group of employees, a family, or a sports team – is that combined strengths lead to shared success. Those strengths include both the hands-on skills of the team members, as well as the emotional ambience and influences that motivate and guide the group.
But when people are busy they tend to become reactive rather than proactive, and functional rather than intentional – the subtleties and considerations get lost – and each moment becomes one of immediate result or exhausted rest. In such a state people are finding it harder to be encouraging or appreciative of others. The emotional ambience becomes an assumption of commited determination rather than a thoughtfulness of how any team member might be lifted up, honoured or encouraged. “We’ve got things to do and you should be doing them right now!” becomes the mindset.
This is not to say that people have become unfeeling or dispassionate – those attributes are hard-wired into us. But telling your busy co-worker or friend “It’s okay – we’ll get through this” is very different from being purposeful in thinking about the people in our lives – from being encouraging – from being considerate and forward-thinking. Telling someone “Hey, I forgot to mention you did a good job last time but you did and here’s another task” is insufficient encouragement, and far short of intentionally seeking ways to recognize people’s contributions.
In a busy world people burn out that could have been lifted up, good ideas go unused or undeveloped, and existing and potential new leaders get discouraged. Without timely communication, personal encouragement, and reflection organizations and lives get stuck in the same pattern and conditions – they lose a better future while they grind through the present.
Every person is different, yet every person has the same needs: to be part of good things, to grow in their skills and potential, and to be recognized and encouraged. You have a vital role in the lives of those around you – not just through the hands-on skills you use on a task – but by being purposeful and intentional in your communication and encouragement. When we intentionally consider people’s needs we develop ways to help them, and also ourselves. When people are encouraged, honoured and built-up good things happen. Yes, it takes time, and yes it takes change, but it’s worth it because helping and encouraging others is a bigger source of joy, satisfaction and positive change than any bottom line can ever show.
You have more influence than you think, and more opportunities than you have been using, to help others and make life better.
Break the cycle of busyness, and bring intentionality back to life.
Let’s do a little quiz, how many of you would answer yes to one or more of the questions below:
Then it’s time to see a Naturopath! Michelle is now seeing clients for AFFORDABLE Naturopathy consults at the Melbourne Wellnation Clinic, at the fully supervised student clinic. Michelle has a person-centered approach that helps clients optimise their health and well-being and improves their understanding of how holistic health care can improve their lives. Michelle is passionate about whole, real and traditional foods and the role they have in helping clients to become nutritionally replete and balanced.
What is Naturopathy? Click here to read more about Naturopathic medicine on the Wellnation Clinic website (click “Naturopathy”).
What Naturopathy can assist with: As well the health issues and conditions mentioned in the questions above, in Naturopathic medicine we can also:
Not sure if Naturopathy can help your particular problem or issue? Send me an email for more information at michelle@healthfoodlover.com
Michelle’s session times:
Consultation costs:
Book now! Appointments get filled quickly so make sure to book soon to avoid disappointment.
To book call the Wellnation Clinic on (03) 9662 4856 and state that you would like to be booked in with Michelle and the session time you would like to be booked in (as mentioned above). You can also book online at your convenience.