ABODE~ Natural Cleaning Products

On a typical day, the air inside of your house may have air pollution levels hundreds of times higher than the outside air. Many chemicals used in household cleaning products use ingredients which are found regularly in industrial settings and can be toxic to you and your family's health.

Some of the chemicals commonly found in cleaning products include:

• Acetone- a skin and eye irritant which can cause damage to the liver and the unborn child


• Formaldehyde- a known carcinogenic found in aerosols


• Ammonia- exposure to vapours can lead to pneumonia and bronchitis


• Fragrance- this on an ingredient list can indicate the presence of up to 4000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic.


• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)- used to create a lather, this ingredient is a known skin irritant and allergen.

... plus many many more!

Consumers also need to be aware of products which claim to be green but under closer inspection they still contain synthetic compounds, artificial fragrances, SLS and betaines.

At Evelyn Faye we are now stocking a new range of cleaning products which are Australian owned and made and provide full ingredient disclosure.

Abode Cleaning products consist of Laundry liquid, laundry powder, baby laundry liquid, wool wash, dishwashing liquid, surface spray, window cleaner, floor cleaner, toilet gel and bathroom cleaner. They have a natural range and a specialty range for super sensitive skin. They are competitively priced and available now!

Spirulina - Nature's Superfood!

Many of you may have heard of Spriulina, or perhaps taken it before as a supplement, or in a drink from your favorite juice bar....but many dont know just how amazing this little algae is!

Did you know, Spirulina has:

300% more CALCIUM than whole milk

2300% more IRON than spinach

3900% more BETA CAROTENE than carrots

375% more PROTEIN than tofu

On top of all that, just 3g (1tsp) of Spirulina has more antioxidants than 5 serves of vegetables, and 31 times more phytonutrient levels than blueberries, 60 times more potent than spinach and 700 times more potent apples

Stuck for ideas on how to use your powdered spirulina? Here's a couple of my favorite recipes if you're bored with just mixing with water...and they taste delicious too!

Spirulina Smoothie

2 Bananas

Half a cup of Pineapple Juice

1 cup Raspberries (or other berries that are in season - fresh or frozen)

1 teaspoon Spirulina

Blend all ingredients together, add ice if needed

Spirulina Guacamole

2 Avocados

2 medium Tomatoes

1 tablespoon Spirulina

Cayenne Pepper

Fresh lime of lemon juice

Salt to taste

Mash avocados, add all other ingredients and blend well

Male Fertility

When we think of fertility and preparation for conception many of us focus on the mothers health and dismiss the male partner as simply a bystander... Not So!

One obvious barrier to conception is erectile dysfunction. Stress and anxiety can play a significant role in sexual performance; and you may be surprised to know that emotional stress can also effect sperm quality.

Male fertility can also be affected by exposure to chemicals, radiation, toxic metals and nutritional deficiencies or excesses. Oxidative stress from these factors can damage sperm motility, function and quantity. Exposure to heat or ionised radiation such as from mobile phones, microwaves or laptops have also been found to negativly impact sperm health. Xeno-estrogens such as BPA found in plastic water bottles (see our previous article on the dangers of BPA's!) have also been found to reduce testicular steroidogenisis which reduces the size and weight of male sex organs.

So... what can we do to ensure your sperm are swimming along well with plenty of their mates around?

Well the process of developing sperm takes about 3 months so you need to start looking after them at least 3 months before trying to concieve.

First things first, clear your cupboard: Avoid exposure to environmental factors such as using plastics, direct heat or radiation and chemicals found in pesticides, cleaning agents and food.

Then, clear your mind: improve your response to psychological stressors, or find ways to help you better cope with these pressures. Maybe take up more exercise, start reading or walking... anything to help you relax during the day.

Next, look at your nutrition. Try to always eat food that is as close as possible to its natural form. Most research on male fertility and nutrition is based around anti-oxidants including Vitamin C and E, Carnitine, Alpha lipoic acid, Zinc, CoQ 10, Selenium and Lycopene. Essential fatty acids such as those found in fish oil are also important for sperm health and motility; whilst herbs such as Tribulus, Panax Ginseng and Damiana have been used traditionally as male fertility and libido tonics.

Herbs of Gold and TNP both make great general male fertility tonics which provide a range of nutrients for preconception care.

For more information or a more personalised approach, contact us or visit us in store.

Candida Solutions!

Candida is a naturally occuring yeast that lives in the large bowel, its role is actually to feed the good bacteria that help our bodies to stay healthy. If these good bacteria are killed off, through the use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, steroids, prolonged illness, stress and poor diets, this results in an overgrowth of candida....which is when the problems start!
An overgrowth of candida can lead to the problem to developing into a 'parasitic fungus', and given time this parasitic fungus can penetrate through the genito-urinary tract and bowel wall, into the bloodstream, and circulate through the whole body. Once this happens, Candida can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from very vauge digestive complaints and a general 'hung over' feeling, to extreme fatigue, depression, and listlessness. Obviously these symptoms can be indicative of many other diseases and imbalances in the body, so it is important to get a Candida Test done, your GP can do a blood test, or if you'd prefer to self test we highly recommend the Candida5 test (available at Evelyn Faye Nutrition) To find out more about this test click here.
The aim of treatment for candida overgrowth is to weed out the candida, and to restablish the balance of 'good' bacteria/flora in the body, vagina, and digestive tract. As you've probably seen
there are quite a few supplements on the market that claim to kill off candida, lets look at the most effective options in my opinion.


Wormwood
Recent research has found that the herb Wormwood is extremely potent against the Candida fungal infection. Renowned medical herbalist, Gerald Green, conducted a trial on patients comparing the most commonly prescribed herbs prescribed for candida (pau darco, golden seal plus a few others) and found them all relatively ineffective compared with Wormwood!

This potent herbal anti-biotic/anti-viral/anti-fungal (you name it!) helps to strengthen the immune system from the cell level up, helping to overcome the promary cause of candida infestation and a low/damaged immune system.

Wormwood also stimulates digestive enzyme production and is mildly anti-inflammatory, and is currently being trialled as an alternate to anti-malarial drugs.

Wormwood does however come with some cautions. After a couple of days of treatment on high doses, some people may suffer from a condition called Herxheimers Syndrome, causing headaches, exhaustion and some other minor symptoms. This is usually caused by the rapid reduction of Candida, and should only last 1-3 days depending on the case. Depending on the individual, and the case, I generally recommend a dose of between 3g and 10g (in seperate doses) per day for 1week.

Saccharomyces Boulardii (SB)
SB belongs to a group of supplements referred to as 'probiotics' because it helps to maintain a normal balance of friendly bacteria in the intestinal and genito-urinary tract. SB is in fact a yeast (not a bacteria) that competes for space and interfers with binding of candida and other unwanted organisms on the mucous membrane wall.

Some Candida probiotic formulas will also contain other strains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnous. Again, depending on the case and the individual, I would recommend a probiotic supplement 3 x daily during candida treatment.


Diet
The term 'Candida Diet' gets thrown around alot, but its hard to actually give a definitive about what this diet allows/doesnt allow, and again will be based on an individuals case. For the most part, simple dietary sugars (lollies, sugary drinks, white carbs) should be avoided, as should starchy foods, such as potatos and pasta. Depending on the practitioner, complex carbohydrates and grains (quinoa and amaranth are good options) may be allowed, and some low GI fruits may also be ok. But again, check with your practitioner on the details of what your diet may involve during treatment. This site may give you some more ideas about the diet.


Products
Here is a rough guide to the products that I generally recommend for my clients with vaginal and/or intestinal candida.
- BioMedica Femicare Pessaries: each pessary contains 201mg tea tree oil, 900mcg garlic and 1.05g calendula. Use once daily.
- Bioceuticals SB Floractive or Ethical Nutrients Candex: contains SB strain (as above) plus other probiotics to increase good bacteria and 'weed' out candida and other organisms.
- Mediherb Bacto-Cand GI or Bioceuticals Paracea Forte: contain anti-parasitic (anti-candida) herbs in combination


Need more info about anything you've read? Give us a bell (03) 9686 0086

Written by Hannah Denham - Naturopath

Grass Fed V’s Grain Fed Beef

To put it bluntly; real cows eat grass- not grains!

(much of this information is from Dr Mercola)

Due to the massive industry push for increased quantity at lowest possible prices, short cuts are being taken in the food industry to cut costs and increase production. Unfortunately this is happening at the expense of both animal health and human health.

If you love milk, cheese, yogurt and beef but like many of us are becoming concerned with both the treatment of cattle and the nutritional factors such as high levels of saturated fats and cholesterol, then read on as I'm about to tell you about the healthy choice you can make when selecting food for your fridge.

The fat content of meat is a major reason why many people avoid eating it, and rightly so. Some beef products can have up to 70% fat content with the vast majority of that fat being saturated.

"Grain fed beef can have an omega 6:3 ratio higher than 20:1" J. Animal Sci 2000. 78: 2849- 2855

This far exceeds the 4:1 ratio where health problems arise due to essential fat imbalances

"Grass fed beef has an omega 6:3 ratio of 0.16:1"

Science suggests this ratio is ideal for our diet and similar to that of fish. Of the total fat found in grass fed beef, less than 10% is saturated in comparison to the 50% that can be found in grain fed beef.

Compared to grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef is:

• 2-4 times richer in heart health omega 3 fatty acids


• Lower in Saturated fats and higher in the "good" Unsaturated fats


• 3-5 times higher in CLA (contributes to weight loss in humans)


• Loaded with over 400% more Vitamin A (as beta-carotene) and E


• Significantly lower in calories

And it's not just the meat that's better for you... According to a recent study by the University of Aberdeen; Organic Milk has up to 71% more Omega 3 than non-organic milk.

For a list of Australian companies which produce grass fed beef go to http://www.haverickmeats.com.au/

The Dangers of Bottled Water

Your body is made up of 80 percent water and you can only live a few days without this precious, life-giving substance. Most of us are dehydrated and not even aware of the body's many cries for water. But the quality, and hence the source of our water is vitally important for maintaining optimal health.

Recently, alot of dirt has been dug up about the bottled water industry, that in some cases it's been shown to be really only tap water, how environmentally unfriendly it is, and how bad water stored in plastic can be for our health. So lets look a little closer at the dangers of bottled water.

Environmental Impacts

(info from http://www.gotap.com.au/)

Australians spend more than half a billion dollars a year on bottled water, producing and delivering just one litre of this water can emit hundreds of times more greenhouse gases than a litre of tap water. In many cases, a litre of bottled water is more expensive than a litre of petrol.

Australia recycles only 36% of PET plastic drink bottles. Assuming the 582.9 million litres of bottled water produced in 2009-10 is in litre bottles, according to these figures, 373 million of those bottles will end up as waste, add to that the 15,253.79 tonnes of PET that was used in the packaging of this bottled water in 2009-10, and you'll soon realise that this is an environmental nightmare!

Approximately 52.5 million litres of oil was used in 2009-10 to produce the PET used to package bottled water in Australia, excluding the energy used in transportation and refrigeration. Plus
more energy is used to fill the bottles, move them by truck, train, ship, or air, refrigerate them and recover, recycle or discard the empty bottles. The Pacific Institute estimates that the total amount of energy embedded in the use of bottled water can be as high as the equivalent of filling a plastic bottle one quarter full with oil. Therefore, more than 145.7 million litres of oil was used in the production, transportation, refrigeration and recycling/disposing of bottled water in Australia in 2009-10.

Shocking isnt it!

The Impact on your Health

(info sourced from Dr Mercola’s blog here )

"Drinking water from a plastic water bottle poses serious health risks to you and your family. Let's take a look at some of these dangers to give you a better idea of why bottled water is not the healthy choice you've been led to believe it is.

Plastic would obviously be an issue for most bottled waters but it also comes into play for home or commercially filtered waters, or even raw spring water in that you need a container to store your water before you consume it. Obviously the best container is glass because when you choose plastic you are potentially exposed to the following chemicals.

BPA – Bisphenol A or BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that has been linked to a host of serious health problems including:

· Learning and behavioral problems
· Altered immune system function
· Early puberty in girls and fertility problems
· Decreased sperm count
· Prostate and breast cancer
· Diabetes and obesity

If you are pregnant or nursing, your child is also at risk. If you are feeding your baby or toddler from a plastic bottle, switch to glass to avoid BPA contamination.

Phthalates are widely used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible. Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been linked to a wide range of developmental and reproductive effects, including:
· Reduced sperm counts
· Testicular atrophy or structural abnormality
· Liver cancer

Further, in experiments on rats, phthalates have demonstrably blocked the action of fetal androgens, which affects

gender development in male offspring, leading to undescended testes at birth and testicular tumors later in life.

Studies have also found that boys whose mothers had high phthalate exposures while pregnant were much more likely to have certain

demasculinized traits and produce less testosterone.
Yet another study found that pregnant women who are exposed to phthalates gave birth more than one week earlier than women who were not exposed to them.

Pharmacy in a Bottle -- As mentioned above, about 40 percent of bottled water is tap water. This means you are not only exposed to dangerous BPA from the bottle, you may also be exposed to a variety of water contaminants such as

fluoride, chlorine, arsenic, aluminum, disinfection byproducts and prescription drugs.

Though drinking bottled water directly from a store shelf poses serious health risks, leaving this bottled water in your car or strapped to your bike and exposed to the hot sun will cause even more serious chemical exposure. Ultraviolet rays from the sun or high temperatures will accelerate leaching of the plastic chemicals mentioned above into the water.
Adding to this health threat is a toxic substance called dioxin, which is also released into bottled water when it is left in the sun. Dioxin has been strongly linked to the development of breast cancer.

What Are the Alternatives??

I know what you have just read is quite alarming, terrifying, depressing...etc! But there are alternatives to plastic water bottles, and the 'drinking water industry' so no need to stress!

Poly-Carb Drink Bottles

Are polycarb drinking bottles really safe? The short answer is definitely yes.

Contrary to the myths, misinformation and scare stories about the safety of polycarbonate water bottles, independent government and scientific bodies worldwide have declared they are safe to use and reuse. Poly-Carb bottles are very light weight, and can be recycled once you're done with them. We stock poly-carb bottles in 600ml, 1L and 2.2L sizes.

SIGG and Cheeki Bottles

SIGG has been manufacturing reusable water bottles since 1908 in Switzerland. SIGG can say with even more confidence all The ingredients used in SIGG products are in conformance with both European and U.S. regulatory requirements, they are also certified and free of harmful chemicals, free of any volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), Phthalates, BADGE, BFDGE, and NOGE and BPA’s. Furthermore, SIGG bottles are recyclable at the end of their working life!

Cheeki is a new Australian-owned brand, they manufacture safe/healthy (BPA free) stainless steel reusable water bottles, and are working hard to encourage a significantly reduced consumption of disposable plastic water bottles, and educate people on the risks of plastic bottles.

Got Questions? Give us a bell or pop in and have a chat!

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