Why are nuts and seeds a healthy snack?

Not all fat is bad and a lot of it is very good indeed.  The essential fatty acids found in nuts and seeds (as well as the rich vitamins and minerals) are actually very nourishing and supportive to your body. The fats in nuts and seeds are completely natural and full of cellular support.  Our cell membranes are made from a water and lipid (fat) layer.  When they are composed of good healthy fats then cellular function will flourish and nutrients will pass easily over the membranes and stored toxins and old fats will pass out easily.  

If however, the diet is composed of a lot of saturated meat fats and man-handled trans or hydrogenated fats, then the cell walls becomes rigid and the healthy transfer of wastes and nourishing nutrients suffers. This rigidity can actually make losing weight hard, as stored fats cannot find their way out of the cell.  

Therefore snacking on healthy nuts and seeds, as well as oily fish and avocados, can actually help you lose weight and provide valuable protein (keeping you satisfied and provide a source of essential amino acids).  These healthy fats, especially the omega 3 fats found in flax and hemp seeds are anti-inflammatory and may help with joint disorders, skin conditions and support brain function.

So, next time you are wondering what to snack on, a small handful of unsalted, raw nuts and seeds may just hit the spot!  Always mix the nuts and seeds and use as many varieties as you can to give full nutritional support.


Enjoy!

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Are fruit juices and smoothies too high in sugar?

For a long time now we have all been led to believe that lots of fresh fruit juice and fruit smoothies are the best possible way to remain healthy.  We can buy and drink litres of the stuff and feel refreshed and proud for doing something so supportive and beneficial to our health. However, could daily intakes of juice and fruit smoothies be contributing to blood sugar imbalance and the associated health risks (diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity?)

The short answer is yes.  

Although fruit is crammed full of vitamins and antioxidants, when you remove the fibre and drink only the juice, the glucose takes an instant journey into your cells and gives your pancreas the job of regulating that glucose through insulin production.  Although smoothies retain the fibre, they still remove some digestive time and get that glucose into our system at record speed.  When we get too much sugar in one hit and it has minimal fibre, protein and fat to balance it, we often experience a sudden blood sugar low afterwards. This low can lead to mood swings, cravings and the conversion of more glucose within the body's supply (this can result in a rise in adrenaline and feelings of anxiety).

So are all juices and smoothies too high is sugar?  Not necessarily. If you balance your juices with green vegetables, you reduce the sugar load per glass and experience a more gentle and healing drink.  Green juices are much more healthy and also offer an even greater nutrient load.  In terms of smoothies, you can add flax seed, coconut oil, spinach or other leafy greens to the fruit and this creates a well rounded drink which releases glucose into the system at a much more regular rate.

So, don't kick juices and smoothies altogether, simply adjust your recipes to provide a more balanced glass of goodness.  Remember even some vegetables are very high in sugar, these are generally below ground root vegetables such as carrot and beetroot (always balance this kind of juice with green vegetables not more fruit).  An example of a very high sugar juice to avoid is carrot and apple.

Happy drinking!

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How can you heal anxiety?

Feeling anxious and nervous about life is a common symptom of modern lifestyles and so many people go through the day dodging various levels of unease with distraction.  These days we are on sensory overload and screens, sounds and advertising infiltrate us without us even trying.  This means that sitting with ourselves and focusing on our needs, is something which rarely happens.  

It is so much easier to put on the latest episode of your favorite programme than to sit on the sofa in silence and focus inside on your pain and your dreams and what you really want to do with your days. This means that so many people are pushing their feelings back down into the abyss of the psyche where they can fester for a while before they reappear to be dealt with or ignored.

If your feelings are constantly being ignored and pushed down out of sight, then sometimes they appear as simply a feeling without any apparent root cause.  This is a feeling of anxiety or panic.  A sudden feeling of not being able to cope or manage your day, or possibly even that minute.

This is much more common than people realise and symptoms of anxiety can be anything from biting your nails to full blown panic attacks.  The key here is to notice your behaviour.  Once you realise you are displaying physical or mental patterns of stress then you are already in a place of power to do something about it.  Once you recognise that you are suffering with stress then you can take steps to dismantle it, starting with the outside layers and moving into the middle to find out what is really going on!

Here are my five top tips to beat anxiety:

1. Exercise.  Getting yourself to the gym or on a long walk is a great way to release the build up of adrenaline which builds up during the day.  Sometimes adrenaline can make you feel panicky.  Take yourself outside and get some fresh air.

2.  Meditation.  This is a great tool for lowering your heart rate and finding a place inside yourself where you can relax and retreat, honing this skill is probably the most useful tool you can ever have.

3.  Chamomile Tea.  this wonderful herb has great carmative properties.  Drink this ito get a feeling of total calm and reassurance.

4.  Kick Caffeine.  This substance actually mimics the stress response.  Needless to say that if you are already feeling wired and anxious, this is not a good idea.  Switch to herbal teas!  

5.  Count your blessings.  Spend as much time as you can focus on what is going right in your life.  This is a great way of dispelling negative thoughts which can lead to anxious behaviour.

Everything is going to be fine, it always is in the end.  Finding a way to manage the times when you feel like things are far from fine, is a very useful tool in life and everyone will have a different pathway to get to that place.  Jsut keep trying different techniques and remember that life is a magical journey which goes up and down, the lows are always followed by highs, allow yourself to recognise both and embrace the roller coaster instead of fighting it.

Good luck!

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Adapting to Change - My Five Top Tips...

I find it fascinating that the most unavoidable of all life's conditions gives us the most anxiety; change.

As humans we enjoy stability and security.  Yes perhaps sometimes we like to stretch our legs and reach out of our comfort zone with an adventurous trip or a new adrenaline rich hobby.  However, unplanned, perhaps unwanted change can throw us completely out of kilter and leave us feeling utterly lost and bewildered. 

Life is a complex twisting journey which is a little like the books we had as children which allowed you to choose the destiny of your character and change the ending by making different options.  We might decide to move, to take a new job or to have children and this creates a new chapter with new risks, options and opportunities.  However sometimes we get something thrown in that we didn't bargain for. Or perhaps something we opted for has turned out slightly differently that we had planned or imagined.  This is the time which causes us to stumble a little and find it hard to make sense of things.  The unknown bears down on us and leaves us feeling out of control and anxious.

So, when this time appears and change rears its head at an unwelcome time, what can we do to get in 'control' of things again?

1.  Forget control. Unfortunately as much as we like to think we are in charge here, we can only nudge things in certain directions, we cannot create outcomes. So imagine you are in a boat and instead of paddling against the river you allow the oars to sink to the bottom of the river bed and allow the boat to take you where the river flows...you may end up enjoying the view much more!

2.  Breathe.  Such a simple technique, but it really does make an awful lot of difference.  When we worry about something our chest tightens and our breathing becomes shallow. The lack of oxygen can make it hard to think and even harder to relax. So taking a deep breath in and allowing it to slowly flow out can make the world of difference when change jumps out from behind a bush.

3. Think about the positives.  There is always a silver lining to anything which at first appears bad.  A redundancy can result in a new way of life and new career opportunities.  A divorce can lead to new love, new friends and new adventures.  A death can lead to acceptance of life's fragility and a growing appreciation for those you still have.  When change appears and it feels scary, spend some time writing down potential positives to the situation and focus on these instead.

4. Accept that change will always be here.  It is actually the only thing in life which is constant from birth to death!  

5. Look to others for support.  It helps to get other peoples views on new change.  They are often more able to see the positives in the situation and they can help you adapt by giving you reassurance.  Often it is easier to laugh at yourself and feel more lighthearted about things when you share them.  So don't keep your fears inside, they look much scarier in there!

Good Luck with changes and remember, you are not alone.  Change can be scary, but it always presents an opportunity for growth and new potential.

Warm Wishes.

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Beauty is NOT Skin Deep

I always raise an eyebrow at the well known saying ‘beauty is only skin deep’, because although we all know that true beauty comes from within, in our heart and spirit, I happen to know that physical beauty starts much deeper than the upper dermis.  

When we think of skin, we all have an ideal of a glowing, blemish free complexion.  However, most of us don’t think much deeper than our appearance and only see troublesome spots or red patches as a beauty obstacle.  A nutritional therapist will look at blemished skin and think, ‘liver? Gut? Lymph?’  The secret to looking good on the outside is very much a matter of being clean and functional on the inside.  A tired liver, a slow gut and a sluggish lymphatic system will instantly show in the face and body as a hunched posture, puffy eyes, dark circles and blemished skin. 

Seeking beauty from within will most definitely show as external beauty.  It may also result in a good mood, positive mindset and a skip in your step.  The good news is that by nurturing your body with fresh juices, green smoothies, abundant salads and plenty of water, you have a better chance of creating a shining, glowing vision of perfection with a lot less covering and simply more highlighting.  

A great tip is to increase your intake of fluids to 1.5-2 litres a day.  Choose mineral water, diluted juices and herbal teas and avoid caffeine as much as possible.  This is going to give your elimination organs a great deal of support and help you heal in miraculous ways, in the most simple of steps.  Drink up and enjoy feeling hydrated and happy in the knowledge that your body is doing all the good work of excreting toxins and plumping up your complexion.

Either way? Enjoy.

Josie.

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Hangover help: My Top Tips!

Ok, so we all overindulge once in a while and a Friday night is often the time to do it...

But, when it comes to looking and feeling great?  Dehydration, tired livers and late nights are a real no-no.  There is nothing more aging to the skin than repeated bouts of excessive drinking.  Of course most of us enjoy a drink occasionally, but if you are binge drinking once a week or more then your body and face will start to show it.  Here are my five top tips to help you take care of your body during these frivolous nights:

Five Top Tips

1.   It is wise to drink plenty of water between drinks to keep your body hydrated.  The liver has the impossible job of detoxifying your blood during nights out so it is vital to provide it with plenty of water to do the job!

2.  Make sure you always have a sustaining meal which is rich in protein (this will stay in the stomach longer). 

3.  When you start to feel drunk then try to slow down, this is the last point you will be able to use your conscious decision making and is probably the best company you will be all night, so switch to water instead of another drink and save your lovely liver.

4.  Avoid shots and choose a mixer drink like vodka and soda with lime, which will provide you with water as well as alcohol.  This makes the balance more equal and your liver will thank you for your thoughtful choice.

5.  Green Smoothie the next morning!  Instead of reaching for the frying pan, choose your blender and make a green smoothie, your body will start to repair much more quickly, as will your headache!

Green Smoothie Love!

All you need is a tabletop food processer/blender, a good knife and a chopping board.  Start with fruit as this is full of water and blends better, the greens will then whoosh in with the fruit pulp easily.  Add the ground flax (linseed) and water at the end for a final whizz.  When it comes to water, just add as much as you like to get the consistency you prefer.

Summer Berry Green Boost (frozen fruit is fine in winter months)

1/2 cup blueberries (rich in antioxidants)

1/2 cup strawberries (rich in wonderful vitamins)

1 small banana (the potassium will help your hangover)

3/4 cups Spinach (magnesium/iron and green goodness to ease the aches)

1 teaspoon of milk thistle powder (your liver''s best friend)

2 Tablespoons of flax ground seed

Add water to blend it to a drinking consistency.  Yum!

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How can colonic irrigation help with problem skin?

For those of you who are new to the idea of colonic irrigation, you may also hear it termed ‘colonic’, ‘colema’ or ‘enema’.  All techniques are quite similar but if you visited a therapist to have it done, rather than a DIY job at home, they would usually term it ‘colonic hydrotherapy’.  All methods do the same thing; they allow water to gently enter the body through your bottom and around the colon - this cleans inside and carries out years of hardened waste. 

The large intestine (colon) has a one way valve where it meets the small intestine so the water will never go further than the colon.  The pressure of the water feels like the urgency of needing to go to the toilet RIGHT THIS MINUTE and with practice you can retain the water and allow it to flow further into the colon to cleanse even deeper.  I understand that it may seem very strange, but I can assure you the results are amazing.

If you are suffering from bad skin in the form of spots, rashes, lumps or bumps, it is important to think about where the problem is starting.  We all have bad skin from time to time as hormones and lifestyles change over the years, but putting up with skin problems constantly can be exhausting and bad for self esteem.  The skin is something we cannot hide and visible eruptions can be one of the most upsetting problems people experience.  

The most important factor to remember is the skin is one of our elimination organs.  If what our body is consuming, producing and excreting is toxic?  Our skin will look toxic.

Maintaining a healthy colon can be a great way to help your skin by taking the strain off your liver and releasing the toxic load on your body.  Compacted faecal matter that gathers, as a result of our low fibre and high simple carbohydrate diet, becomes sticky and clings to the wall of the colon.  This hardened matter creates blockages and causes a toxic overload on the liver (which is responsible for cleaning and filtering our blood).  

Our poor lovely liver has SO much to do already because blood which circulates to the liver from our small intestine and colon can be extremely toxic (on top of this we drink alcohol and get exposed to all sorts of pollution which our lovely liver also has to manage).  If our digestive tract is clogged with old rubbish then our body is always full of toxins (waste products) which cannot be detoxified and released (autointoxication).  This may leave us tired and sluggish and very often...spotty!

I can understand that it may repel some people, but if you keep your mind open there really is no space for anything other than magical healing power inside and out.  A healthy digestive tract may produce clear skin, clear thoughts and a lot more energy, so it is definitely worth a try!

Good luck and remember that the body can heal itself of anything if you give it a helping hand.

Josie

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CONCORDE HOUSE SPRING OPEN DAY

Spring Open Day

at Concorde House Clinic

26a Stour Street, Canterbury CT1 2NZ

Saturday 20th April

11am — 5pm

Our skilled and experienced team of therapists will be on hand to answer questions, give demonstrations, free taster sessions and a series of informal and informative talks

Acupuncture Herbal Medicine Homeopathy Shiatsu

Hypnotherapy Aromatherapy Reflexology Yoga

Massage Alexander Technique Sophrology Reiki

Sound Baths Healing Naturopathic Nutrition Qi Gong

Cosmetic Acupuncture Counselling Psychotherapy

Free Talks & Classes - All Welcome

11:00 Men’s Yoga class - increase your flexibility and stamina

11:30 Sophrology open workshop - practical tools to manage stress

12:30 Acupuncture for anxiety, depression and emotional stress

1:00 Posture & Movement – the Alexander Technique

1:30 Women’s womb health - from fertility, pregnancy, post-natal to menopause

2:00 Introduction to Soul Voice work - discover yourself through your unique voice

4:30 Sound Bath with sacred instruments to subtly soothe, restore and rejuvenate

Book Your Free Taster Session Now

Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Aromatherapy,

Massage (Indian head, Japanese Facial, Deep tissue, Stress release), Womb massage, Advanced Bowen

Technique, Postural assessment (Alexander Technique)

Call 01227 788 868

Concorde House Clinic 26a Stour St Canterbury CT1 2NZ

www.concordehouseclinic.co.uk info@concordehouseclinic.co.uk

How to reduce your toxic exposure by 90% in 1 easy step!

Organic foods are expensive and often they are not an option financially.  Although choosing organic is the best way to avoid your exposure to pesticides and other damaging chemicals used to grow crops, there is a way to reduce your exposure to these toxins.  

Although all non-organic crops always use some kind of chemical spray, there are some crops which use considerably more.  By avoiding the most heavily sprayed crops or choosing organic versions of this produce you can reduce your exposure to chemical nasties by 90%!  

So, here is the list!

1. Apples (More than 10 different chemicals may be sprayed on apple trees or other vegetable crops 
before harvest)

2. Bell pepper

3. Celery

4. Cherries

5. Imported grapes

6. Nectarines

7. Peaches

8. Pears

9. Potatoes

10. Lettuce

11. Spinach

12. Strawberries



Happy Shopping! :)

Josie

WHO. Pesticides - Children's Health and the Environment. Available from: http://www.who.int/ceh/capacity/Pesticides.pdf.

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"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

Edward Stanley