Be
Kind To Yourself This Festive Season: by Tracey Stranger!
Overindulgence
looms closer as the festive season is almost upon us.
Road rage and shopping frenzies surround us, it's like
a hurricane has just hit town. It will pass, it does
every year. Emotionally it can be increased intensity
of anger, frustration, loneliness, sadness but are you
over that and want something different?
Instead of looking outward at the chaos, look within.
Emotionally indulge in love, nurture and nourishment
for yourself. When you are happy with yourself you will
be able to cope better. Even the Dalai Lama says "Be
Kind Whenever Possible. It is always possible."
That starts with being kind to yourself. Apply the simple
ABC taken from my new book How To Overcome Stress
Naturally with a foreword by HH Dalai Lama:
Step A - Accept the situation you are in & Accept
yourself. Love yourself! Be Kind to yourself.
Step B - Breathe - take a long slow deep breath
in, breathe out and relax. Chill out! Let go.
Step C - Change your Perception, Change your
Thoughts, Change your Ideas, even Change your Friends!
Meet new inspiring people that can help change your
life for the better. In Chapter 8 Pat Mesiti says …as
the saying goes, "if you want to fly with the eagles,
don't hang out with the turkeys".
Do you want to have fun, laugh, start getting fit, eat
healthier, enjoy more time with your friends, make more
money, be inspired, hang out with eagles? Think Big,
Dream Big and start making small steps. It all starts
with the mindset. Decide today. Start changing your
thoughts today, right now. Don't choose to be stressed,
choose to be creative & compassionate! Now!
Note: HH The Dalai Lama is in Australia December 1st
-10th. Our Future - Who is Responsible? Visit www.dalailamainaustralia.org
for details
My How To Overcome Stress Naturally book shows
you how to take control of your mental, emotional and
physical wellbeing in simple step-by-step practical
ways before stress gets a hold of you in a downward
spiral. Every page bursts with wisdom, hope and inspiration
plus a 20 page Natural Health Resource Directory.
Special My Health Specials/Naturally Happy offer visit
http://www.HowToOvercomeStressNaturally.com/blog/
Special Offer bonus mp3 inspirational story how
to overcome depression and mp3 introduction to meditation.
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Green Is The New Black: By Ananda Mahony ND from
Vitale Natural!
Walk
down the personal care isle of the supermarket isles
and you might see 3 or 4 hair products with "organic"
or "natural" ingredients or branded with an organic
sounding name. Take a closer look at the label and you
will soon realize that underneath the feel good name
these products are still made of synthetic cleansers,
include artificial fragrances and are chock full of
preservatives. True to label claim there may be ½ a
percent of an organic essential oil or herbal extract
but is this what we really expect as consumers when
we read "organic" or "natural" on the label of a product?
Practices such as these are known as greenwashing. To
be more specific, when a company or organization misleads
consumers by claiming have green practices or sell green
products without actually having any or limited basis
for this claim, this is known as greenwashing.
From a consumer perspective, green is the new black.
Companies are jumping on the green bandwagon in an effort
to appear more ecologically sound and in many instances,
those behind the marketing claims really are making
an effort to minimize their impact on the environment.
However, in other cases, it is all just a marketing
ploy to get consumers on side. In skincare, the issue
becomes even more blurred and there are many companies
taking advantage of an industry-wide lack of clarity.
In the skincare industry Greenwashing can occur in a
number of different ways.
1. Using a single environmental claim suggesting that
the product is greener than it actually is eg. A shampoo
that claims to contain no Sodium Laurel Sulphate (SLS)
but uses alternative foaming agents such as Ammonium
Laurel Sulphate, which have the same risks associated
with their use.
2. Having no proof - for example personal care products
that claim to that they are "fair trade" without any
certification or evidence. Whiel the certificatio nmay
not necessarily be on the lable, upon request from the
manufacturer or supplier you should receive evidence
of fair trade status.
3. Lack of definition - using terms such as "green"
or "natural" without actually outlining what that means.
Australia has no set guidelines here, so there is alot
of confusion as to what is considered "natural skin
care". Again if in doubt, ask the manufacturer or supplier
what their guidelines are for making a "natural" label
claim.
4. Make "green" claims that are irrelevant. The claim
might be truthful, but is also unimportant, eg CFC-free
shaving creams. Given that the use of CFC (cholorflurocarbons)
has been banned for some time, this claims is considered
irrelevant.
5. Outright fibbing about a "green" claim, eg. A product
that claims to be "certified organic" when there is
no such certification. In many cases the claim isn't
so blatant. eg. A certain well known company offers
'a truly organic experience', but also uses SLS, propylene
glycol and D&C red dyes in their products, which are
not organic. This in not to say that the product doesn't
include some organic ingredients but to the consumer,
the assumption is that the product is truly organic.
As a consumer how do work your way through the fog of
marketing greenwash? Firstly, read the labels and full
ingredient listing of the products you choose to determine
the products full worth. If you are unsure about an
ingredient, ask the supplier or seller. Once you know
you can make an informed choice about the products you
use.
Secondly look for evidence of certification. In Australia,
unlike "natural" status we have strict guidelines about
"organic" status. If a product claims to be "certified
organic" ensure the appropriate certification logo is
on the label eg products bearing the logos of Australian
Certified Organic (ACO) or the The National Association
for Sustainable Agriculture of Australia (NASAA).
Many skin care manufacturers claim that a product is
organic or natural without certification but you want
to know that the claim is made with integrity. For example,
a manufacturer including water when claiming a product
is 99% organic when in fact this is a misleading claim.
Water does not contribute to the organic status of a
skin care product and so should not be included in the
percentage claim. If a product claims to be organic,
as opposed to certified organic, ask the supplier or
manufacture what this means. Green marketing is a powerful
tool of communication for both buyers and sellers. More
and more consumers expect to see evidence of a commitment
to the environment from manufacturers and the green
dollar spend is increasing as a result. If a product
isn't green, natural or organic, that's ok but truth
in advertising is fundamental to the ongoing growth
of the green industry. Without it, consumer cynicism
and apathy creep in and we will lose the potential for
not just greener products but also a greener earth.
Green isn't the only colour that suffers mistreatment
at the hands of marketing companies. The list of pink
ribbon products promoting Breast Cancer Awareness grows
every year including skin care, teddy bears, household
appliances and the list goes on, with many companies
pinning on the pink ribbon in an attempt to raise their
profile by associating with a good cause. However, the
Breast Cancer Action group urges people to "think before
they pink". This group asks consumers to ask critical
questions before buying on the basis of pink ribbon
status.
The first question is how much money from the purchase
actually goes towards breast cancer? If the amount is
minimal, and you are really concerned about breast cancer,
ask yourself if you would be better off actually donating
money directly to your local or national breast cancer
group.
Is there a maximum amount that the company will actually
donate? Presumably buying pink ribbon goods after this
amount has been reached will not be donated and so you
may actually not be supporting breast cancer after all.
Which breast cancer organisation does the money go to
and is it one that you support yourself? If not, again
perhaps a direct donation is preferable. If you want
to ensure that the money you give is reaching the people
who need it the most, take a moment to find out where
the money actually goes and if the organisation is actually
already well funded or not.
Finally, can the company assure you that the pink ribbon
product being promoting is not actually contributing
to the breast cancer epidemic. With skin care this is
a critical consideration as there is growing research
that some of the chemical ingredients included in products
may actually increase the risk of developing cancer.
Some examples include parabens and phthalates which
recent studies indicate may be linked to cancer development.
Others include formaldehyde, coal tar and talc. It is
not enough for cosmetic companies to claim that they
won't be absorbed because we know that they are with
recent research showing evidence of parabens in human
breast cancer tissue (Darbre et al. 2004).
Arguments stating that the quantities of harmful chemicals
found in skin care are so small they won't have an effect
do not wash either. In groups such as children and developing
teens, even miniscule quantities may have serious consequences.
In addition, most women use numerous personal care items
every day making adding to the accumulation of chemicals
building up in our bodies.
The above gives serious pause for thought about choosing
to buy some "pink ribbon" products particularly in the
case of skin care, where the risk is not just that money
may be misdirected but rather that the product itself
may be the problem.
Green and pinkwashing are issues we now commonly face
as consumers however, a little curiosity and some well
asked questions will help you to work your way through
the marketing maze. Some other useful resources include:
http://www.safecosmetics.org
References: 1. Darbre, P. D., Aljarrah, A., Miller,
W. R., Coldham, N. G., Sauer, M. J., and Pope, G. S.,
"Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumors,"
Journal of Applied Toxicology, Jan 2004: (24): 5-13.
Author: Ananda Mahony ND. Ananda is a naturopath and
skin specialist. She owns Vitale Natural, an organic
skin care store and beauty salon in Paddington, Brisbane.
www.vitalenatural.com.au
83
Latrobe Terrace (at Sowelu) Paddington
(07)
3367 3233
The Problem
With Excess Weight: by Kathleen Murphy ND From Healthwise!
THE
PROBLEM WITH EXCESS WEIGHT
ustralia
is currently the second-most obese nation in the world.
As our waist-lines expand, so too do our list of ills
and ailments. Not only do excess kilos inhibit our physical
mobility, reducing our exercise and respiratory capacity,
affecting our feeling of self-worth, they can also contribute
to more serious health complications over time. Obesity
is linked to heart disease, diabetes, metabolic abnormalities
and some cancers - the longer we allow ourselves to
carry this burden, the greater the risk of disease and
future damage.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Establishing good eating habits and a regular exercising
routine are both key elements in the maintenance of
a healthy weight - leaving you looking good, feeling
good and preventing the development of chronic diseases.
Losing weight can be hard work; and the discipline required,
particularly when you're starting out, can be a big
challenge on your own. This is why beginning the process
with someone else, having them monitor and encourage
you along the way, can help you stick to your plan -
improving your health and your life with it.
Self-acceptance is another, very important, factor in
feeling good. Learning to accept your body, your strengths
and your limitations, enables you to understand what
does and doesn't work for you and how best you can maintain
optimal health in the long term.
Ultimately, prevention is the solution - by keeping
your weight in a healthy range, eating well, staying
active and living life to the full, you can create for
yourself a brighter, lighter future.
CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY
There are many reasons why it can be hard to start,
and stay, on a path that will ultimately benefit our
health:
You may be addicted to eating, not allowing yourself
enough time to tune into what your body needs and wants
You may eat poorly out of habit, or just because food
is there
You may eat when trying to solve a problem, fill in
a gap, or put off doing something you'd rather avoid
You may make poor choices, simply because you haven't
been educated as to what other, better, options there
may be available
You may be afraid of changing what you already know
DIET DETAILS
The Healthwise weight loss program is a monitored, 5
week program, based on a modified diet designed to promote
the fat-burning capacity of the body and boost energy
production. The program is monitored at all stages by
a qualified practitioner, who will explain the diet
in full and be happy to answer any questions you may
have. Throughout the program we provide ongoing support,
as each week you will meet with your practitioner to
monitor your progress, allowing time to discuss any
queries, challenges or discoveries. At the end of the
5 weeks, dependant on your progress and overall health,
a maintenance program will be developed with you and
your practitioner, in order to keep you looking and
feeling your best.
THE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
No meal replacements - you still eat real food, every
day
A diverse variety of tasty and fulfilling meal options
Your progress monitored by a qualified health professional
Other health conditions can be assessed and treated
by our qualified naturopath, keeping you feeling and
looking great
Instigate long-term changes improving your diet, lifestyle
and wellbeing ABOUT US
HealthWise is one of the Brisbane CBD's longest practicing
full-time natural medicine clinics. The clinic is a
peaceful haven located conveniently in Brisbane's medical
specialist area. Our practitioners are passionately
committed to improving our patients' health and wellbeing
through diet, lifestyle, acupuncture and herbal medicine.
07
3839 1077 5th Floor Morris Towers 149 Wickham Terrace
www.healthwiseclinic.com.au
Feeling Stuck? Free Yourself With Mind Mapping:
By Sue Lester NLP Practitioner - Coach - Trainer!
"Feeling
Stuck? Free Yourself With Mind Mapping" (c) Sue Lester
Feeling stuck is actually a good thing. It means you
had the sense to stop. You realised (at some level)
you needed to stop and work out better options for yourself.
So let go of that negative feeling and thank yourself
for your good sense. Now you can get excited! You are
now on the path to more interesting, creative and exciting
options - should you choose to take the steps forward!
It's always a choice - you can stay in the fog of 'I
can't. What if it doesn't work? I'm too busy.', or take
a step or two out of the fog into the sunshine of 'I
can. What if it does work! How great will that feel?'
All you need to start is an A4 piece of paper and a
pen. If you can manage a chart size paper and lots of
colourful felt pens even better! The decision to concentrate
is more important than a quiet place - I've mind mapped
on a commuter train - but the door closed and telephone
off help. Mind Mapping is an easy way to tap into your
unconscious mind, to follow thought patterns which are
helping or hindering you. You can release lots of creative
ideas, reinforce what you are doing right in your life,
and identify underlying thoughts or beliefs which are
holding you back from feeling the way you want.
Choose the area you feel most stuck in, e.g. conception,
pregnancy, a relationship, career, weight, finances,
social life, work project etc. If you feel it's your
whole life, be kind to yourself and choose one area
in which change would have the most impact overall,
knowing all aspects of our lives are intertwined. Know
you can mind map as many areas as you wish, it's just
more effective if you complete one small area rather
than get overwhelmed and give up on the lot.
Draw a small oval in the centre of your paper and write
your chosen area inside. By the time you complete your
mind map it will look like an overgrown fern garden.
For each major sub-area draw a long tentacle from the
oval out towards the edge of the page. For example,
if I was feeling stuck in my marriage I might draw (different
colours is great) and label a tentacle for Me, 'His
Name', Work, Sex, Relatives, Children, Social.
I would then choose one tentacle to start with, and
for each main area of it, I would draw and label a branch,
and every little thought related to it gets a labelled
twig. So if I started with Work, my first thought on
Work as related to Marriage (my 'Stuck' area) might
be His Work (branch), long hours (smaller branch), no
time with kids (twig), no time for me (twig), I'm lonely
(smaller twig) etc. When I'd finished exploring His
Work, including the positives too, I might start another
branch for My Work, then explore how that impacts on
our marriage.
The key is to allow the words and thoughts to flow without
getting caught up in the 'right' way to do this. It's
your garden. If you get an "Ah-Ha" thought, something
significant or new, circle it in a bright colour so
you can consider it later. By the time you finish you
will have gained clarity and have identified more options
for yourself, some which will appeal more than others.
Whether you choose to act, with or without help, is
now up to you.
If you'd like to tap into the powerful tools of NLP
to help you clear your path so you can move forward
easily, particularly from pregnancy into parenting,
feel free to call me to discuss your needs.
Sue Lester BA DipTeach Master Practitioner of NLP, Hypnosis.
Results Coach. Ph 07 3103 2679 or 0428 128 679. www.growingcontent.com.au
My
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Short
and Sweet:Garbanzo Bean Salad!
Garbanzo
Bean Salad
One
can Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained 1/2 cup minced
red onion 1 cup minced green, red or yellow peppers
(or use all three!) 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves 1 small
bunch of rocket (washed & ready to go)
DRESSING:
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano flakes Salt & pepper to taste
Add first four ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix dressing
ingredients in a small bowl, stir with whisk and pour
over beans, onion, pepper and parsley mixture. Let chill
in refrigerator for several hours.
Laughter
is the best medicine!
A
man rushed into the doctors office and shouted "Doctor!
I think I'm shrinking"! The Doctor Calmy responded,
Now, settle down sir. You'll just have to be a little
patient"
.Quote
of the week!
"Happiness is mostly a byproduct of
doing what makes us feel fulfilled." -- Benjamin
Spock, Pediatrician
For
a Good Cause: Why Support Life Goes On?
When
you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with
a serious illness, or if you are grieving the loss of
someone you loved, call us. We can help. We offer strategies
and choices for the seriously ill and those who care
for them to help you get more out of life despite your
illness or your loss. All Life Goes On counsellors have
either faced death or cared for someone who did. All
of us are highly trained, and have a level of empathy,
experience and understanding that will be of genuine
help.
http://www.lifegoeson.org.au/
BACK
ISSUES OF NATURALLY HAPPY
In
the next issue of "Naturally Happy"
- Osteopathy!
- Pro-active
Physiotherapy!
- Pranic
Healing!
- Vitale
- Xmas
Ideas !
- nourished.com.au!
- Short
and sweet!
If
this link doesn't work please email [email protected]
My
Health Specials provides this information for your personal
education and enrichment. Information provided should
not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem
or disease. Nor should the information replace the advice
of your health care practitioner. Always seek professional
advice if suffering an illness. My
Health Specials Pty Ltd and all parties involved in
the conception, production, ongoing maintenance and
operation of Naturally Happy accept no liability and
no responsibility for any damage whatsoever arising
from or in connection to your use or operation of the
website or information contained in this e-magazine.
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