Make a Fresh Start in 2012

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Toxic Exposure - A Reality of Modern Life

Clean up with a Safe and Effective Detoxifcation Program

IT’S TIME TO COME CLEAN!

Live the Detox Lifestyle
To make the most of a detoxification program, specific lifestyle modifications can also be helpful:
1. Exercise: Our bodies are designed for regular physical activity. Regular exercise supports detoxification by allowing the lymphatic system to carry toxins and wastes out of the body. You should aim for 30 to 40 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, three to four times per week.

2. Avoid recreational drugs: Recreational drugs (including caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol) interfere with your detoxification processes and should be avoided to ensure you get the most out of your detoxification program.

3. Drink pure water: One of the easiest ways to improve your detoxification capacity is to drink plenty of water. Ideally the water should be filtered and you should aim to drink at least 2 litres of water per day, or more if it is hot or when you are exercising.

4. Detoxify your environment: Your home and work can be major sources of toxins. Try to eliminate or minimise your use of chemical cleaning products (vinegar, bicarb and other natural products are suitable alternatives), antiperspirants with aluminum, pesticides, petrochemicals, paints, solvents and hair spray.

5. Avoid toxic emotions and stress: How you think and feel can profoundly influence your health. Choose to be positive, optimistic and focused on improving your health. If you have a major stress in your life, enlisting the support of others to help can be useful. If you have lots of little stressors, practicing a relaxation technique like yoga, tai chi or meditation may be helpful.

6. Dry skin brushing: Your skin is a major organ of elimination. Dead skin cells can accumulate and prevent the skin being able to remove toxins effectively. Before you shower, spend five to ten minutes with a firm bristled brush or loofah brushing the skin of the arms, legs, and back briskly in the direction of the heart.

7. Massage:  Massage techniques may accelerate detoxification, particularly
lymphatic drainage. These treatments have a long traditional use for detoxification and will certainly leave you feeling relaxed and stress free.

8. Sleep and rest well:  Proper rest and a good night’s sleep will go a long way while you are on your detox program.  Many experts recommend that we get between 7 and 9 hours a night.  While the length of sleep is important, it is equally as important that you get a good quality sleep.  If you are having trouble sleeping speak to Marti.

9. Chiropractic:  of course, without a fully functioning nervous system your body can not deal with the toxins it is exposed to every single day, so make sure you get your regualr treatments.

Make a Clean Start to 2012!

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CHILDREN'S LEARNING DISORDER & BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES

Extract from Metagenics Brochure.

Childhood is a time of immense social, intellectual and physical development. Ensuring healthy brain development at this vital stage of life can set the stage for healthy cognitive function, memory and learning well into adulthood.

 Issues with brain function and learning during childhood can lead to longer term social, psychological and behavioural problems. If your child suffers from learning, behavioural or developmental issues, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism, your natural Healthcare Practitioner can help.

COMMON CHILDHOOD PROBLEMS

ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in children. It affects about 5 to 10% of children. ADHD is characterised by different levels of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and/or significant academic, social and emotional problems.

Autism is another common childhood problem affecting the brain. It is less common, but is becoming more widespread. This neurodevelopmental condition is characterised by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviour.

NATURAL MEDICINES CAN HELP

If your child has a learning disability, behavioural problem or other disorder affecting their brain function, your natural Healthcare Practitioner can help by complementing any existing treatments with specific recommendations for dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments and key natural supplements. Some basic recommendations that can help support healthy brain function, learning and behaviour in children include the following:

Feed that hungry brain:

Eating well gives the growing brain and body the nutrition it needs to encourage optimal development. Your child should eat a nutrient-rich diet containing essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibre and high quality protein.

• Ensure your child eats a full breakfast every day. The brain is the hunrgriest of all organs and needs adequate energy and nutrition to function at its best. Having a poor quality breakfast, or no breakfast is known to impair learning and concentration in children.
  
  
• Ensure your child eats plenty of vegetables and fruit every day. Vegetables and fruit are very high in nutrients and beneficial dietary fibre. Regular fruit and vegetable consumption can help support brain function and development.
  
  
• Ensure your child eats protein-rich foods in each meal or snack. Protein is essential for health, especially in childhood. Make sure you choose lean protein sources, such as free range chicken breast, lean cuts of red meat, fish and eggs. Reduce or eliminate fatty meats, as these are high in saturated fats. Nuts also make an excellent snack.
  
  
• Ensure your child drinks plenty of pure water daily. Aim to substitute soft drinks, fruit juices, cordials and other sweetened drinks with water. A healthy replacement for soft drinks is 4 parts sparkling mineral water with one part fresh juice.
  
  
• Avoid or severely limit processed foods, additives and artificial flavours. Heavily processed foods containing artificial colourings, flavours or preservatives may exacerbate behavioural symptoms.
  

Growing Children Need a Healthy Lifestyle

Consider the following lifestyle suggestions that your child may benefit from.

• Identify your child's interests and encourage active participation. Encourage them to become involved in team sports, martial arts, ballet, music or art. Studies show that regular participation in structured social activities is linked to low levels of antisocial behaviour.
  
  
• Exercise and fresh air matters. Getting regular exercise and fresh air encourages not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind! Make sure your child gets plenty of regular exercise.
• Sleep and rest are also important. Your child's growing body and mind also need adequate rest and sleep. Ensure your child is getting sufficient sleep each night, remembering that younger children need more hours of sleep every night than older children.
• Positive role models and family support are essential. Lack of parental supervision and support are strong predisposing factors for problem behaviour during childhood and into adulthood. A healthy family environment and positive role models are very important to ensure optimal health and development of your child.

Smart Supplements for a Better Brain

Along with the above advice, your Practitioner may also recommend some key natural supplements to further assist in improving the health of your child.

• Multivitamin and minerals. A children's multivitamin and mineral formula will provide your child with the nutrients they need for optimal brain function. A powdered supplement that can be mixed with water or juice is often best for children.
• Fish Oils. Adequate levels of the essential omega-3 fat in the form of a children's fish oil supplement will provide the essential building blocks for healthy brain development and cognition. Your Practitioner can recommend a pleasant tasting liquid option for your child to take every day.
• Herbal Support. The herb, bacopa (also known as brahmi) is proven to boost memory. It may also enhance learning, by optimising mental alertness and concentration. L-theanine, from green tea, also has positive effects on memory and learnign ability, and helps enhance relaxation. Passionflower and chamomile are herbs that may assist in relieving nervousness, restlessness and irritability in children.

TALK TO YOUR NATURAL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER

If you would like more information on these Natural Medicines, or on any of the dietary and lifestyle advice mentioned, then arrange and appointment to discuss this with Marti. Marti can provide your child with an individualised program to help improve their memory, learning and behaviour, and assist them in reaching their full life potential.

Numerous studies have shown that food additives can promote hyperactivity in children, and that removing them from the child's diet may help improve behaviour. It has also been shown that many children with ADHD and behavioural problems react to food additives.

You will need to read the labels of packaged and processed foods to ensure the goods are free of additives. If you would like a full list of additives to avoid please contact our office.

SOME TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTING AN AFC DIET

• Choose natural, unprocessed foods whenever possible. The less that has been done to a food, the better. Choosing unprocessed, natural food is always best (e.g. fruit, vegetables, whole grains like brown rice vs. white rice or rolled oats vs. quick oats.
• Choose unprocessed snacks. Include snack foods like nuts, fresh fruit and sulphite free dried fruit. Avoid processed, packaged snacks as these often contain AFCs.
• Base your child's main meals around vegetables, fruits, whole grains and high quality proteins. Main meals should always include a balance of proteins (from meat, chicken, fish, eggs or dairy), whole grains (e.g. brown rice, quinoa) and lots of veggies.
• Change to preservative free bread. Several franchise bakeries and many popular brands found in supermarkets have preservative free bread (no added calcium propionate - 282).
• Choose plain or naturally coloured products. As a treat or when hosting a party there are many additive free options to purchase. For example, you can select:
  - Naturally coloured confectionary and icy-poles
  -Plain lemonade or unpreserved juice
  - Plain biscuits instead of biscuits with artificial colours and flavours
• Avoid obviously flavour enhanced foods. The plain variety of a food item is a suitable alternative to the flavoured version. For example, choose plain chips over flavoured chips or plain rice crackers instead of the BBQ flavour.
• Buy the preservative free option. For example, dried fruit without the sulphites (220-228).

For more information, visit some of the following sites:

http://www.additivealert.com.au

http://www.additiveeducation.com.au

http://www.additivefreekids.com.au

http://www.chemicalmaze.com

I had to share this with you because statistics can be made to look good when they are massaged the right way and this can fool us all because we are told to believe that statistics do not lie.