JANUARY NEWSLETTER

A Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year to you all.

I hope you all have had a great holiday and some well –earned rest.

I went to Norfolk Island with friends for a week over Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised at how well organised the Island is and how as a community they work together. If you build a house you have to allow for a 5000 gallon tank for each member of the family, each family has to have its own vegetable garden as only onions and potatoes are allowed to be brought into the Island, they have massive diesels to supply electricity, but solar power is becoming more and more the normal thing for each family. There is a deal done with cattle owners that cattle can agist along the roadsides for a small fee paid to the council, and in return the council has all its roadsides kept clear of long grass without paying staff, all cow pads are used by the islanders for their vegetable gardens – a win –win situation.

They offer all the comfortable amenities that we as tourists expect, with warmth and caring I have yet to find at other tourist destinations. Norfolk Island is well worth a visit, if for nothing else their beautiful sunsets and stunning coastline.

I was listening to the morning show on television where a “detox “ soup was being heralded as the answer to a Christmas food overload. The presenter made the soup of various vegetables that would combine to release any excess fluid and allow the person to be back to a normal weight within 3 days. For this exercise I thought I would breakdown the vegetables to find what made them so noteworthy.

LEEKS Contain potassium (healthy heart muscles) Calcium (bone repair, aids digestion) phosphorus (helps stabilize nervous system) Sulphur (aids infection) Silicon (prevention of arthritis.)

ONIONS Iodine (weight control and mental development) promotes better blood circulation and helps prevent nervous and mental fatigue. Onions contain Vitamin E and have natural antiseptic oils that may be beneficial in helping reduce blood clots.

CAPSICUM is one of the best sources of Vitamin C and a little known fact is that it contains vitamin P a deficiency of which can lead to varicose veins, arteriosclerosis and arthritis. We also need Vitamin P to help us absorb the Vitamin C. Vitamin P helps increase the strength of capillaries.

CARROTS Are great for the eyes with an excellent supply of Vitamin A. Regular intake of Carrot juice is often used for teenage acne.

BROCCOLI Is a wonderful source of magnesium and iron. Magnesium foods revitalise the body as they promote enzyme activity and nerve functioning. Iron deficiency can lead to nail problems, anaemia, diarrhoea, ulcers and gastritis.

PUMPKIN pumpkin seeds are a natural source of protein. They supply over 30% protein and all essential amino acids. They supply 10 times more iron than chicken and are a wonderful portable snack between meals, to help balance your blood sugar.

TOMATO Is the best food source of natural chlorine (mineral). This mineral stimulates the liver to filter out waste products. Assists weight reduction by maintaining correct fluid level retention of body cells and helps with reduction of excess blood fats. A great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A.

As you can see we have the ability to protect our own health by being aware of what we eat and where it comes from, in a perfect world it would be a product of our own gardens.

Guard your health it is the most precious possession that you have.

Barbara

October Newsletter

Hi friends

I must apologise, I am late in getting out our Newsletter but I hope the contents will be worth the wait.

In Queensland we are enjoying such beautiful weather, we walk the beaches, take our coffee in the sunshine, our water is warm enough to swim in – though at this time of the year it is mainly our southern visitors that you see swimming. Every day we should give thanks for our blessings.

I would like to talk to you about amino acids and their contribution to our health. They are not widely recognised as vitamins and minerals but they are so important in our maintenance regime.

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of the body. Your muscles, organs, brain, skin, bones, hair, nails – your entire body is made of proteins. Proteins are amino acids.

 Small deficiencies of one or more of the amino acids can lead to malnutrition, allergies, depression, diabetes, schizophrenia and chronic illnesses of many kinds.

There are 22 amino acids – 8 are called essential amino acids.

 Tryptophane is used in some countries as a cure for insomnia - Oats carry this amino acid

Phenylalanine activates endorphins, which helps with chronic pain - Oats again has this ingredient

Arginine/ is often known as the fat burners because of their relationship

Ornithine & with the pituitary gland

Methionine

Cysteine needs to be taken with Vitamin C.

This amino acid is a favourite of people with thinning hair

Taurine is called the brain amino acid as it works with choline to help the neurotransmitters that promote thinking ability

Aspartic acid is essential for the function of the lung and respiratory organs, heart and blood vessels

would like to draw your attention to a Channel 2 Documentary shown the other week called “Catching Cancer”.

In this show scientists are linking cancers to infections and bacteria.

This is important - link to Channel 2 documentaries and review the discussion – it is a show that we all need to see to get us thinking about the cause of cancer

In good health

Barbara