While we’re generally a pretty healthy household, winter was a tough one for us this year for about three solid weeks and we’re still copping the tail end of it. My 2-year-old daughter caught a spectacular lurgey involving green boogers that turned into a streaming nose, then a cough that lasted longer than I thought …
Now that I’m pregnant again, I’m revisiting my beauty cupboard and replacing items with more natural substitutes. This happened last pregnancy; while I do generally prefer to use natural beauty products on a regular basis, certain not-so-natural items tend to creep back into my daily routine if they’re particularly effective. However, something shifts in my …
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These days I don’t take supplements unless I really need them, but when I do include them in my wellness routine it’s always for a specific purpose. One of those circumstances is to guard against winter illnesses (and to battle them once they’ve set in!). The landscape of winter wellness supplements has vastly changed from …
Western medicine and science are only just starting to catch on to the benefits of preventative healthcare rather than focusing on treating symptoms as problems arise. Exercise, meditation, eating the right foods and natural stress management techniques have all been gaining traction in recent times to cope with health issues such as obesity, depression, anxiety …
One of the final things we did at the end of last semester at my yoga course was to spend some time in the kitchen as part of a practical Ayurveda class whipping up some recipes and remedies. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian healing system and its been around for thousands of years, so I …
We all know that trees and fresh air go hand-in-hand, but did you know that your houseplants can improve the quality of the air in your home? This is actually legit. Back in the 1980’s, NASA conducted a clean air study which found that certain common indoor house plants could provide a natural way of …
So many of the store-bought beauty and bathcare products we use contain ingredients that can irritate or damage sensitive skin. Even the products that claim to have no parabens/chemicals/phthalates/fragrance may have natural ingredients that can still cause skin reactions. I use oatmeal baths for my 3-month-old baby who experiences eczema; I tried numerous varieties of …
One third of adults suffer from insomnia and many treatment approaches fail to fix the root cause. Sleep expert Elina Winnel overcame chronic insomnia and wants to raise awareness to help others unlock the missing piece of the puzzle for sleep. ‘Good sleep isn’t just about what you do before bed. It’s dependent on a …
In the years leading up to the early 19th century, citizens around the globe relied on herbs and natural remedies to meet their primary health care needs. Early New Zealanders used a variety of native leafy bushes and plants for medicinal purposes. However, in the 1930s the power of herbs lost its lustre. Consumers sought …
For years we have heard about the health benefits of green tea – notably the powerful antioxidants it contains. However, new research is indicating that the more commonly used ‘standard’ black tea may actually have enough health properties of its own to warrant drinking it on a regular basis. So what’s the verdict? Is black …
Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient disorder in the developing and developed world, including New Zealand where the issue remains a serious concern, particularly amongst Kiwi women and children. Over 100 health professionals gathered in Auckland recently to discuss the alarming statistics, which emphasise the importance of iron in our diets. Dr Kathryn Beck …
Feeling tired and stressed out from work? B Vitamins support energy production by helping your body convert food nutrients into energy. They also assist with mental clarity and focus, and are vital for the nervous system to function normally. Unfortunately, these fantastic energy boosting vitamins can’t be stored by your body which means you have …