To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle

Dalai Lama

February Focus

• Ch Ch Changes
• Give your liver a break and some help
• Recipe – Roasted pumpkind & beetroot salad
• Brain teaser
• A Poem – ME – (have a tissue ready)

Ch..Ch..Changes

Ok this one may be hard but is most likely necessary!   I am sure we have all enjoyed Christmas and New Year and now our Liver may not be so happy about that.  You may not realise how much it needs to recover, so this month our ch ch ch change is to have an alcohol free week… yes week not a day and not just 30 minutes.

Can you do it????

Yes you can!!!

And if you are thinking why bother, then you should keep reading to find out why!  Click here

The liver – What does it do?

When might the liver need more support? – Nutrients to support the liver! – Foods to support the liver! – Lifestyle!

The liver is one of the most important organs in your body, and it usually is the most overworked! The liver’s job is to break down all the toxins in our food and environment (air & water). It is essentially the chemical factory of our body that builds and recycles substances you need for good health and breaks down those that you don’t need.

The liver is a metabolically active organ responsible for many vital life functions. The liver has well over 500 functions. The primary functions of the liver are: (hiding behind the click of a button)

Recipe

Now this is something for the ladies. The lads might shy away from this

Roasted pumpkin and beetroot salad

Details are here

Brain Teaser

A boy was at a carnival and went to a booth where a man said to the boy, “If I write your exact weight on this piece of paper then you have to give me $50, but if I cannot, I will pay you $50.” The boy looked around and saw no scale so he agrees, thinking no matter what the carny writes he’ll just say he weighs more or less. In the end the boy ended up paying the man $50. How did the man win the bet?

Brain Teaser Answer

A Poem – ME

Who is ME?

I am not you, but who is ME?

I love, I care, I cook, I bare

But who is ME?

ME, the one I have forgotten

Till ME is not there at all

ME, the shadow less remembered

After the sun does fall.

But ME is precious, ME is special,

ME so deserves much more.

It is time to find ME inner child

ME friend I once adored.

So from today I laugh with ME

I smile, I sing and dance.

I wrap my arms around MEself

And start a ME romance.

For those of you who lost their ME

I do suggest you start,

To find the ME you once did be

And give back to your heart.

(By ME)

Brain Teaser Answer

The man did exactly as he said he would and wrote “your exact weight” on the paper.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
500g pumpkin, peeled, seeds removed, cut into 2cm cubes
500g beetroot, peeled, cut into 1cm wedges
1 Spanish onion, cut into thin wedges
Cracked black pepper
½ cup basil or Italian parsley leaves

Balsamic Dressing
1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon or orange juice
1 teaspoon honey
2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

• Preheat the oven to 200°C.      Brush 1 or 2 baking trays with a little of the oil.
• Combine the remaining oil with the garlic. Place the pumpkin, beetroot and the onion in a large bowl and add the garlic oil. Toss the vegetables so that they become evenly coated with the oil.
• Arrange the vegetables on the baking tray/s and sprinkle with the pepper. Bake in the preheated oven until tender and lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool to room temperature, then transfer the vegetables to a bowl.
• For the dressing, whisk all the ingredients together in a cup or small bowl with a fork, then drizzle over the vegetables.
• Decorate with the basil (or parsley) and serve.

Serves 4

Can you do it????

Yes you can!!!

And if you are thinking why bother, then you should keep reading to find out why!  Click here

What does it do? – When might the liver need more support? – Nutrients to support the liver! – Foods to support the liver! – Lifestyle!

The liver is one of the most important organs in your body, and it usually is the most overworked! The liver’s job is to break down all the toxins in our food and environment (air & water). It is essentially the chemical factory of our body that builds and recycles substances you need for good health and breaks down those that you don’t need.

The liver is a metabolically active organ responsible for many vital life functions. The liver has well over 500 functions. The primary functions of the liver are:

• Bile production and excretion

• Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs

• Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates

• Enzyme activation

• Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals

• Synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin, and clotting factors

• Blood detoxification and purification

When might the liver need more support?

Many people don’t know they need to relieve stress for their liver’s well-being.

Some typical symptoms of a sluggish liver are:

• Feeling constantly tired even though you have slept

• Nausea – especially after a fatty meal or alcohol

• Skin disorders such as acne, eczema and psoriasis

• Muscle joint pain

• Age spots of the skin

• Regular or recurrent infections

• Constipation

• Yellowing of the whites of the eyes

• Yellow looking skin

• Fever

• Increased sensitivity to chemicals, perfumes, petrol

Over a long time if the liver is not supported and left under-performing it can have dire consequences for the brain and nervous system, including memory loss, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

The good news is that the liver can regenerate itself, so with a good diet, lifestyle and correct supplementation your liver can be nursed back to good health.

Nutrients to Support the Liver

The liver requires certain nutrients for detox. In addition, increasing the flow of bile is an important part of detox because bile carries stored fat-soluble toxins away from the liver to be excreted in the stools.

Signs of poor bile flow include constipation aggravated by fibre supplements, flatulence, dry skin and hair, indigestion 1-2 hours after eating, indigestion after fatty foods and small, hard stools.

 Vitamin C

A water-soluble vitamin, vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports detox. It may also help to decrease some of the side effects of detox, such as headache or nausea.

A high potency multiple vitamin and mineral is helpful to deal with the toxic chemicals we are exposed to. Antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E are important in protecting the liver from damage as well as helping in detoxification mechanisms. Also important are nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, and trace minerals; they are critical in the elimination of heavy metals and other toxic compounds from the body.

Milk Thistle

This herb has many positive effects on the liver. It is an antioxidant, assists in liver cell regeneration, and is used after exposure to chemical and industrial pollutants or adverse effects from excess alcohol or fat consumption.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) known as Silymarin, exerts a tremendous effect on protecting the liver from damage as well as enhancing the detoxification processes.

Silymarin prevents damage to the liver by acting as an antioxidant. Silymarin is many times more potent in antioxidant activity than vitamin E and vitamin C. The protective effect of Silymarin against liver damage has been demonstrated in a number of experimental studies.

Magnesium

Magnesium is required by literally hundreds of enzymes throughout the body, many of which have a detoxifying function. Take at least 500mg daily in divided does; twice that if you have backache, twitching and or cannot sleep.

 Zinc

Important for liver enzyme production

 Sulphur Amino Acids (support liver function)

• Methionine

• Glutathione

• Cystiene

Foods to Support the Liver

• Cruciferous vegetables

• Increase your intake of all fruit and vegetables, especially those rich in antioxidants, such as organic carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, papaya, mangoes, alfalfa sprouts and watercress.

• Eat more berries, grapes, brussel sprouts and kale. Aim for 40% of your diet to be raw in summer. Eat plenty of salads and fresh fruit.

• Eat more globe artichokes, radicchio, black cherries, pears, beetroot and celeriac.

• Also include sulphur-rich foods in your diet, such as garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, cabbage and broccoli.

• If you know you have a liver problem, eat lighter meals regularly and avoid heavy, rich meals. If you eat too much in one sitting, especially fatty or fried foods and alcohol, then you place an enormous burden on the digestion and liver, which could make you feel nauseous.

• Foods that naturally raise glutathione levels in the body are fresh asparagus, avocado and walnuts. Spinach and tomatoes are also great foods for raising glutathione – but they need to be eaten raw.

• Lemon juice in warm water in the morning

 Artichokes

Contains plant compounds known as caffeoylquinic acids, which increase the flow of bile and help to digest fats.

Beets

Beets contain betaine, which promotes the regeneration of liver cells and the flow of bile. It also has a beneficial effect on fat metabolism.

Broccoli

Broccoli and other members of the brassica family (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, kholrabi) support the liver’s detoxification enzymes.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Food sources of vitamin C and glutathione, which are essential for detox. Cruciferous vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, lemon juice and chlorella.

Protein

Protein is required by the liver for detox. Beans, nuts, seeds, quinoa, protein powder. Some people may choose to eat fish in moderation.

Onions and Garlic

Rich in sulfur-containing compounds. Involved in sulfation, the main detox pathway for environmental chemicals and certain drugs and food additives. Helps with the elimination of harmful heavy metals from the body.

Dandelion Root

Increases the flow of bile. Can be taken as a tea

 Lifestyle

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that will support a healthy liver includes avoiding alcohol, diets high in fat and refined carbohydrates and increasing regular exercise. Some helpful ideas are:

• Deep breathing exercises: inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 8, and exhale for a count of 8. Start with 2 minutes and work up to a goal of 5-10 minutes each day.

• Take a brisk walk or another form of cardiovascular exercise 20-30 minutes each day.

• Drink clean filtered water

• Avoid aluminium cookware, try stainless steel instead.

Hello Everybody. Holidays are over, Christmas is done and dusted, lets get going full steam into the year ahead.  The clinic has reopened after the Christmas break. Sharyn has rested up and is ready to go.

Watch this space for the return of our regular newsletter. It will contain new information, new products, specials and more.  We are looking forward to providing you all with usefull and helpfull articles. If you have friends or family that could benifit from some of this informaton then please feel free to forward the newsletter email to them.

We look forward to catching up with many of you through the year and watching you progress and change for the better.

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
Dalai Lama

December Focus

• Ch Ch Changes
• Understanding Headaches and Migraines
• Recipe – Gooey chocolate pudding
• Poem – My comfort zone
• SALT LAMP SALE – Bonus lamp
• Trading hours over Christmas

Ch…Ch…Changes

The lead up to Christmas is now in full swing and no doubt you have started running around in preparation and trying to find the right gift for the special people in your life.  So for this month, again just 30 minutes a week, take some time for yourself and I have a new change Read More…

Headaches and Migraines

Despite the anguish it causes, pain is an essential ally. Were it not for this warning signal, we would not know when something was hurting us. We tend to dismiss headaches, the most common type of pain and one with which we are all familiar, as a simple annoyance. However, like any other type of pain, headaches are the body’s way of telling us something is wrong. Headaches are not a disease. But they are a symptom of a larger health problem, one that needs to be investigated. Read More…

Gooey Chocolate Pudding

I know everybody will click here

Poem – My Comfort Zone

I read this poem today and thought it would be nice to share with you. It was
dedicated to Sharyn from one of her clients and made me reflect and smile. I
hope it will for you too!

I use to have a Comfort Zone

Where I knew I couldn’t fail.

Read More

Lamp Sale – Bonus

What a great idea for Christmas!!

Bonus Salt Lamp - Buy one Himalayan Salt Lamp and get one small Natural Himalayan Salt Lamp valued at $45.00 for free.

Original purchase must be of greater or equal value to the lamp offered. Read more here

Christmas Trading Hours

We at Perfect Health wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Stay safe and we look forward to supporting you in 2012.

This clinic will be closing for 2 weeks over Christmas so Sharyn and family can take a break together.

We are closed from Thursday 22nd 2011 and will reopen Tuesday 10th January 2012

As the clinic will be closed for this duration, please be aware that email and phone calls will not be repsonded to until returning on Tuesday 10th January 2012. Also, please consider your requirements for any products / enzymes that you may need over the Christmas period. Wednesday the 21st will be the last day to collect anything you may require.

A healthy body comes from within – is all well in your world

Bonus Salt Lamp

Buy one Himalayan Salt Lamp and get one small Natural Himalayan Salt Lamp valued at $45.00 for free.

Original purchase must be of greater or equal value to the lamp offered.

Please visit our web pages for more information about the benefits of Salt Lamps – Click here…

Known as “Vitamins of The Air”, the Salt Crystal lamp is Nature’s best
Ioniser which provides multiple health benefits including enhancing immunity,
improving sleep and relieving migraines. These lamps are highly beneficial to
your health and well being. The salt crystal lamps have a similar effect to the
ionizer. However, the natural ionization of a crystal lamp cannot be compared to
an ionizer. An ionizer can only have an ionization effect. However, salt crystal
lamps have many advantages in many aspects, including improving the general
atmosphere of a room. If the lamp is next to a television or computer monitor
(do not place a lamp on top of a TV or computer), its effect, through its
electromagnetic field, is in approximately the 100-160Hz zone. Our brain waves
however, produce only 8Hz according to the Schuman resonance frequency.
Therefore, the body is exposed to up to 20 times higher frequency patterns than
it is generally used to. The consequences of this exposure results in
nervousness, insomnia and lack of concentration or concentration weaknesses. In
addition, there will be an accumulation of more free radicals in the body, known
to be a cause of cancer. The salt crystal lamp binds the negative ions with the
excess positive ions. When the lamp becomes warm, it absorbs moisture and the
crystal will be damp on the surface. This builds up the ion field.Through the
lamp, the positively charged atmosphere of a room can be neutralized. In
addition to this, the colours of the salt crystal stones have a healing
effect.

My Comfort Zone

I use to have a Comfort Zone

Where I knew I couldn’t fail.

The same four walls of busy work

Were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things,

I’d never done before.

But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone

And paced the same old floor.

I claimed to be so busy

With the things inside my zone,

But deep inside I longed for

Something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by,

Just watching others win.

I held my breath and stepped outside,

And let the change begin.

You took my hand and with new strength,

I’d never felt before,

I kissed my Comfort Zone “goodbye”

And closed and locked the door.

If you are in a Comfort Zone

Afraid to venture out.

Remember that all winners were

At one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise,

Can make your dreams come true.

Greet your future with a smile,

Success is there for you!

Gooey Chocolate Pudding

Serves 6 (or maybe just one) – remember to share – it is Christmas

200 g dark chocolate

150 g unsalted butter, chopped

4 eggs, at room temperature

4 egg yolks, at room temperature

½ cup (110 g) brown sugar

40 g fine rice flour

Chocolate Sauce

200 g dark chocolate

1 cup (250 ml) pouring cream

3 tablespoons pure icing sugar

Preheat oven to 180c. Grease six 175ml ramekins.

Place the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan and stir over low heat for 5 minutes or until smooth and completely melted. Leave to cool for 5 minutes.

Beat the eggs, egg yolks and brown sugar with electric beater for 5 – 10 minutes or until doubled in volume. Fold in the cooled chocolate with a metal spoon.

Sprinkle the rice flour over the mixture and gently fold through.

Spoon the batter into the ramekins. Place on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes or until just firm to touch.

Meanwhile, to make the sauce, place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over medium – low heat and stir until the chocolate has melted and the sauce is smooth and well combined. Stir in the icing sugar.

Turn out the puddings onto individual plates or just server in the ramekins.

Drizzle with the chocolate sauce and serve warm.

For a final flourish, serve with fresh strawberries and thick cream.

NOTE

While we endorse healthy eating and nourishing foods, we also voice our approval to have everything in moderation. Yes, chocolate cake and cream may not be seen as providing the very best of nutrition advice that you could expect from us. But please consider that this is a home made cake made from raw ingredients. There are no ‘numbers’ or weird inclusions that cannot be recognised like you might on a bought one from a supermarket. Enjoy in moderation.