♥

1. Apples

When it comes to eating for wellbeing, you truly can’t go past apples. Not only are they rich in antioxidants, they have also been shown to significantly lower many of our blood fats. Apples decrease the oxidation of cell membrane fats – which is a primary risk factor in the clogging of the arteries and other cardiovascular problems. The insoluble fibre found in apples also provides bulk and aids digestion by holding water, which helps food to move quickly through the digestive system. There are enough varieties of apples to suit just about anyone’s personal taste and you really should be aiming to eat one a day. (Ed: Organic is preferable, check out our reviews on farmers markets here and here for some suggestions on where to pick some up!)

2. Fish

Fish provides an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, is extremely low in saturated fat and very high in protein. Consuming fish with a fresh salad or vegetables will keep you fuller for longer due to its high protein content and you should try to eat fish two to three times a week to truly reap the nutritional benefits. Fish is healthiest when enjoyed grilled, boiled or steamed. (If you’re going to eat fish try and source sustainably harvested types!)

♥

3. Olive Oil

Olive oil contains the beneficial monosaturated fat, oleic acid, and the antioxidant Vitamin E. Olive oil is the essential ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, for maintenance of good health, particularly in reducing ‘metabolic syndrome’ risk.” Olive oil is believed to reduce the development of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and is said to increase life expectancy. Consumed in moderation, olive oil is an important part of a healthy, well-balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables and wholegrain breads and cereals.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that is considered to be nature’s natural healer and provides excellent health benefits when added to dishes. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has also revealed that turmeric may aid in fat metabolism and assist in the treatment of many different health conditions including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and liver damage.

5. Garlic

Proving to be a delicious addition to many dishes, garlic is known to offer a number of antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Garlic can assist in the lowering of blood sugar and can even be used by people with diabetes in addition to their regular regime of insulin and special diets. Garlic is also believed to help prevent life threatening illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

Article by Dr Robert Vial from SureSlim Australia for Wellness WA. Dr Vial has been working in General Practice for almost 20 years and has a special interest in obesity, nutrition medicine, weight related medical conditions and metabolic syndrome.

Be well,

xoxo

♥

Another budget beauty product that I have read about on the Vogue Forum is the microfibre cloth. According to my research (read: Google and Vogue Forum), microfibre cloths are able to eliminate oil, cleanse makeup with just water, exfoliate skin and deep clean pores. Plus, the household microfibre cleaning cloths are a LOT cheaper than the beauty specific ones and still get the job done. Needless to say, I was hooked! I just had to try them out.

As I have mentioned in my previous article, my skin isn’t the greatest. Unfortunately, I am not one those girls blessed with naturally perfect, glowing skin – mine is oily, prone to break outs unless I am very disciplined in my cleansing regime, with large pores and rough patches.

So, I toddled down to my local supermarket and found a microfibre cloth in the household cleaning aisle. That night, I decided to try it out. I wet my face, wet a corner of the cloth and massaged it over my face in soft, circular motions. Let me tell you right now, the cloth really delivers! It managed to clean ALL of my makeup off (moisturiser, primer, foundation, blush, eyeliner, mascara and concealer) with just water. No harsh rubbing and it took barely any time at all. After, I toned with witch hazel and there was no makeup residue on the cotton pad – none! At all! Even when I cleanse with Cetaphil, there is still usually a bit left. The cloth managed to get right down into my pores and sweep everything off.

In addition to removing all my makeup, the cloth also eliminated the oil from my face (not long term – it was back the next day) and my skin was left feeling very soft and smooth. The cloth acted as a very gentle exfoliant. In fact, it is so gentle that I feel comfortable using it everyday – there is no redness, rubbing or scratching. As the cloth is quite large, I have been using various corners of it so far, but once I have run out of clean patches I will just chuck it in the washing machine and voila! Good as new. Love it.

Cloth in packaging (so you can spot it in the shops!)

The Nitty Gritty

Cost:
$4.72 for Chux All Purpose Microfibre Cloth (pack of one)

Pros:
cheap as chips!
instant results
feels great during and after
re-useable

Cons:
results aren’t AMAZING OH MY GOD THIS IS A MIRACLE, but still really good

Recommended Usage:
I think that it would be totally fine to use the cloth everyday – I certainly am and haven’t noticed any adverse effects so far.

Rating:
4.5 / 5

Review by Cassandra, beauty lover on a student budget and Pilbara correspondent!

Be well,

xoxo

♥

Back in primary school, my Mum always sent me to school with extra home-made cookies to share with my friends. I happily dished them out to my hungry kidlet buddies and loved to see them smile as they ate a delicious treat!

These days, it’s less about the cookies and more about the beauty product sharing!

The brand new Benefit “They’re Real!” Mascara will oomph up your lashes to viewable-from-outer-space status (could be exaggerating but it works pretty damn well!) and the Benefit Bella Bamba 3D Brightening Face Powder is a striking pink colour for your cheeks, no 3D glasses required, though who knows what you might see if you wear them and check out your cheeks with this on!

I would love to offer one super duper commenter the chance to try both of these gorgeous products (Valued at $89 together), all you need to do is leave me a comment below with the answer to the following:

Simple as pie!

Look forward to reading your suggestions and choosing one lucky winner to send these out too! Good luck!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

♥

I remember my first pimple fondly. Year 7, it was time for our yearly school picture and my best friend at the time had also broken out with one on the day of the photo. We both laughed, unaware of the imminent cascade of hormones about to wreak their havoc on our bodies (and skin).

Throughout high school I suffered from moderate-severe acne that would serve to crush most of my confidence. Although hormones played a large part, I failed to realise that eating mini pizzas, a bag of chips, 5 packets of wizz fizz and 3 glasses of soft drink each day was not doing my skin any favours. Not to mention my non-existant exercise routine and penchant for spending hours in front of the computer completing Dawson’s Creek quizzes.

Fast forward to now (10 years later!) and my skin has mostly settled down. However I have some persistant mild acne on the chin that almost never goes away, and any zit that pops up takes forever to heal. No amount of products have been able to get rid of it.

WHATS A GAL TO DO? In my quest for clear skin, I decided to look inside for the answers and see a naturopath who specialises in the treatment of acne, Brooke from mi:skn.

♥ ♥ ♥

The consultation starts with an extremely comprehensive question/discussion session incorporating many aspects of your current/past health and lifestyle. Things such as diet, stress levels, skin type, menstrual cycle (for the ladies!) and many more are examined, all of which can help paint a picture of your internal health and point towards some corrective remedies.

The most interesting part of the session was a zinc test (zinc is super important for pimple/wound healing and general health!), which involves swirling some clear liquid around in your mouth for 10 seconds. If it tastes absolutely horrible – you’re in luck! Your zinc levels are adequate. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t taste anything, which means… you guessed it, very zinc deficient.

Brooke prescribed me some vitamin c and zinc powder which should help to remedy this, and we’ll test my levels again in a few weeks time.

I was also prescribed a couple of other natural medicines to take that should help my skin on its way to being pimple free.

It’s not just about supplements though, personal lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise also play a huge role. I’ve been advised to cut down on sugars, carbs and grains, which is VERY hard for me, and dose up on vegetarian proteins and fresh veggies.

I will keep you all updated on my hopefully successful journey to clearer skin! Oh and I forgot to mention, Brooke has wonderful skin and she says that wasn’t always the case, which makes it very easy to believe that she knows what she’s talking about.

mi:skin is located in Highgate.

For bookings and extra information call: 0414 277 761 or Email: clinic@miskn.com

Tell me, have you ever seen a naturopath for your skin or a naturopath in general?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Disclaimer: My initial consultation was provided to me for review, however any supplements and additional consults are coming out of my own pocket. The complementary nature of the consult in no way affects my review. 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

♥

I’ve been experimenting a bit with smoothies lately, which is loads of fun! Tonight I came across one that is incredible and that I think I’ll stick with for quite some time.

My naturopath recently told me that eating more protein rich foods is excellent for the skin and that consuming more avocados and quinoa (along with some other dietary swaps) will go a long way in clearing up some of the stubborn blemishes that just wont seem to leave me alone!

But how to get more avos in the diet? Answer: SMOOTHIES!

While it may sound ridiculous to the uninitiated, and even I of spinach smoothie raving background was sceptical, the creaminess and mild taste that avocados are famous for go exceptionally well in smoothies.

Here’s my current favourite recipe, if you have one please share it with me!

Avocado, Apple & Berry Smoothie

1.5 x cups of water
1/4-1/2 x avocado
1 x small apple
1 x cup of frozen berries (I used mixed)
1 x tsp of flaxseed oil
1/2 x tsp Super Sprout 100% Strawberry Powder (I was sent this for review, so am currently trying it in all sorts of ways!)

Blend on high for about a minute, or until everything has been processed.

The result is a gorgeously creamy, healthy and delicious smoothie. I just got to the bottom of my cup and am peering sadly into it wishing for more!

It is quite filling on account of the good fats in the avocado and flaxseed oil, so would be perfect for an energising breakfast or post-workout recovery drink.

Love to hear your thoughts!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo