Hunger vs. Appetite
By Dani Sacht on
Our bodies are very clever! They’re delicate and intricate with complex biochemical processes that help us thrive and survive. Just like a mechanical machine requires proper fuel to function, our bodies require the same attention to function optimally. Want to be let in on a secret? Humans get hungry! And it’s 100% normal to feel hungry. Hunger is a crucial element of survival. So what exactly is the difference between feeling hungry, and fuelling your appetite?
HUNGER
Hunger: Hunger is the signal telling us that our bodies require more fuel for energy.
We get our fuel from food. Wonderful, glorious, delicious food! When we need more fuel, our body will tell us. Hunger is a protective mechanism to ensure our cells have enough...
5 Reasons to Include Coconut Oil in Your Diet
By Sally O'Neill on
There’s no denying people are continuing to go loco for coconut oil. No longer considered to be an artery-clogging fat, we now know coconut oil is actually amazing for our bodies!
Coconut oil is metabolised differently to traditional saturated fats thanks to it’s medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs) and can have positive effects in enhancing the absorption of minerals and amino acids (protein).
So what does consuming MCFA fats in coconut oil mean for your body?
1. BOOSTED METABOLISM
A study reported in the Journal of Nutrition found that coconut oil boosts metabolism. Researchers found that participants who consumed two tablespoons of coconut oil per day burned more kilojoules than those who consumed less. A speedy...
Dry July Psychology Tips
By Sarah Gibson on
Thinking of taking on Dry July? Wondering if you've got the willpower to see it through? For so many Australians, the prospect of a dry thirty-one day stretch can seem as gruelling as any marathon. If you're the kind of person for whom the word "dry" usually only comes before "martini", Psychologist Sarah Gibson shares a few tips to help you rise to the challenge.
Tough goals become easier to commit to when they are closely linked to our values.
Remind yourself each and every day of how Dry July relates to the kind of person you want to be: someone who helps people who are dealing with serious illness, someone who invests in their own health, someone who embraces challenge. Remember that such values-oriented action can have...
A Few Good Reasons to Participate in Dry July
By Golden Door on
Indulging every now and then is always nice, a well deserved treat to yourself. But one of the easiest ways to see if you’re overindulging is through your skin – your body’s largest organ.
Not only does alcohol dehydrate your skin – and we all know dehydration is one of the main causes of lines but it also deprives your skin of essential vitamins and nutrients leaving it susceptible to premature ageing, a dull complexion, dark circles, bloating and puffiness as well as roseacea which causes the skin to flush easily and may even leave permanent capillary damage resulting in permanent redness!
Now that we’ve gotten through the downside, here’s some benefits you will see within your skin in conjunction with an at home skincare ritual – a...
Healthy Sleep
By Mel Ingram on
Every single one of us needs to simply stop and recharge – regularly! Most of us have experience times where stress is high, deadlines are tight and yet we still seem to be able to move mountains. On the flip side, I can guarantee that all of us have also experienced periods of the same pressure yet feel we are not firing on all cylinders – resulting in lower quality of work being produced or it taking longer to complete.
Allow your body enough time each night to recharge. Start with attempting to get 7 – 8 hours of quality sleep every night. We are all different with regards to the amount of sleep we require to operate optimally, however the average 7 – 8 hours is a great place to start. While we sleep we unplug from our lives and...
10 Tips for Eating Out
By Olivia Horvat-Benson on
It can sometimes be a bit “too hard basket” to eat out when you’re on a “diet” or a specific health/food plan that limits what you can eat/drink, not to mention socially isolating; But it need not be like this. Firstly you need to remember that if you are on a “diet” or a specific plan, whether you’ve done it yourself or a healthcare practitioner has advised you of it, the intention for it was clearly to maximise optimal health, so it was a choice and when you make a choice you can’t say that you are missing out, because you’re not. All this means is that you’ll need to think outside the box a little from what you would normally opt for.
Here are some tips to help you.
1) Read the menu thoroughly & ASK questions. Fancy words and...
Managing your Daily Life Stressors without Smashing the Booze
By Jaye Hoelscher on
One of the first things so many of us hear ourselves saying is: “I need a drink!” And when we get that first bevvy into us, there is this real feeling of “aahhhhhh”. A chance to breathe, relax and let go of the day’s stressors. That sigh –
that deep breathing – is something we clearly don’t need alcohol for – it’s just often we go until the end of a long day without ever taking a deep breath and allowing ourselves a moment to be still.
Breathing via different channels in the body, physiologically counteracts our stress response and begins processes to ease the nervous...
10 Reasons Meditation Will Change Your Life
By Claire Obeid on
“Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there, buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day” - Deepak Chopra
Every morning, at around 3 am, I rouse a little from my deep sleep. And usually, there is one conscious thought; “I can’t wait to get up and meditate”.
Seriously. That might sound ridiculous, a little geeky even… especially considering that meditation is simply about sitting, not thinking and not doing anything at all! Some might say boring. I say ‘heaven!’
It’s taken me 4 years of daily meditation to reach the point where I know, not in theory, but from practice, that meditation can (and will) change my life. That’s something I know to be...
I Want More Energy!
By Claire Obeid on
There are a few key areas to think about when shining a mirror on you and your energy levels. Consider the chemical stress on the body – food, beverages, toxins. Also look at the emotional, mental and physical stressors too – these contribute more than we give them credit.
An easy example – I aim to practise yoga five mornings out of the seven. Initially I thought that a daily practise would work to rejuvenate my body and mind. It took a while, but eventually I realised that in fact practising five morning straight actually sapped me of energy. Now I break it up throughout the week, which reignites my body and therefore I avoid feeling strung out and anxious.
So, do consider all the stressors in your life, especially if you are...