April 7, 2017
Inflammation can be a good thing
Everyone has experienced the remarkable phenomenon of acute inflammation - a sprained ankle, splinter, or cut – and as a result have witnessed the affected area turn red, puffy and hot as your immune system rushes to your aid to assess the injury and fight any pathogen that might have entered your body.
A normal, healthy inflammatory response should flare up and die down again a short time later, as the healing process resolves the inflammation and the injury heals.
It’s the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent disease — There are more than 89,000 medical articles about it, yet you’ve probably never heard of it.
It’s the secret to prevent ageing, cancer, heart disease, dementia and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer’s disease.
I’m talking about the mother of all antioxidants, the master detoxifier and maestro of the immune system: Glutathione.
March 30, 2017
Zinc is an indispensable trace mineral playing an essential role in each and every cell.
In humans, zinc enzymes outnumber all other trace mineral-dependent enzymes combined, with over 300 zinc related mechanisms involved in normal body functioning.
Is it any wonder then that zinc is paramount in a myriad of biological processes?
March 22, 2017
Women’s urogenital tracts abound with bacteria – when we have a dominance of ‘good’ bacteria, the vagina is healthy, but when ‘bad’ bacteria dominates, we can run into problems like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candida infection (thrush).
While taking an oral probiotic, which may have additional benefits, can be the perfect tool for maintenance of vaginal health, a pessary may provide a fast-acting boost in good bacteria in times of imbalance.
March 8, 2017
In most countries, healthcare and welfare systems are legal pyramid schemes; that is, lots of young, healthy people have to pay in at the bottom, so that the few old, sick people can take out at the top.
But what if the young people are too sick to have jobs to pay in? What if they’re so sick they’re taking out?
Without a solid foundation, the whole pyramid collapses.
June 9, 2016
If you suffer from occasional insomnia or if it’s a nightly battle for you, you’ve likely looked at all of the natural solutions currently out there
You may have even tried some melatonin supplements, and if you’re like many individuals, had some disappointing results.
While research has shown the body’s naturally-produced melatonin helps regulate sleep, synthetic melatonin has proven less than impressive.
May 25, 2016
No woman who’s expecting, or expecting to expect, can avoid the advice, from any doctor or health site worth its salt: Take folic acid.
But with levels of infertility, multiple miscarriages and failed IVF attempts on the rise, we need to take a closer look at our genetics – the MTHFR gene could be the key to conception.
The MTHFR gene directly dictates if folic acid, folinic acid or 5-MTHF is the best way to improve your folate levels for successful conception.
April 29, 2016
Tennis elbow, characterised by pain, weakness and inflammation ordegeneration of the wrist-extensor tendon that connects to the elbow, is one of those intractable overuse injures that, until recently, yielded very reluctantly to treatment.
Bymost estimates, about half of all competitive tennis players will beafflicted, a statistic that must resonate, painfully, with these athletes.
Tennis isn’t the only predisposingactivity, either. Golfers get tennis elbow, as do plumbers, painters, gardeners and accountants. (Heavy briefcases can strain the tendon.)
April 28, 2016
No matter your reasons, one of the challenges for non-meat eaters is making sure they get enough protein every day.
But it’s not as big a deal as many think.
Training at high intensities can place greater nutritional demands on the body. Fuelling your body to maximise energy metabolism, recovery and overall health is paramount to help you achieve best results.
A diet rich in a variety of plant foods providing healthy carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients is a great place to start.
April 14, 2016
Outrage spread across Australia last week when it was revealed that our most popular oregano brands only contained between 11% - 50% dried oregano herb.
The rest being made up of olive and sumac leaves, cheap substitutes which look very similar to oregano.
The shock results have prompted an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission probe, and calls for other imported herbs and spices checks.
February 2, 2016
Australian and New Zealand honey faced a full frontal attack from an international study recently, raising questions of how safe are our locally made honey products?
Is this a reckless claim aimed to discredit our honey industry or does this raise some alarming points that we should all be aware of?
January 14, 2016
MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY QUESTIONNAIRE
Circle each yes answer which is given a numerical value.
When you finish, total your score.
January 5, 2016
Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson has recently come out and stated that she is disgusted by the mantra of clean eating inferring that clean eating is in fact a euphemism for an eating disorder.
People are using certain diets (such as clean or raw eating) as a way to hide an eating disorder or a great sense of unhappiness with their own body” she notes.
What is common knowledge (or at least should be) is that it isn’t our diet that defines who we are as people; it is our actions.
November 6, 2015
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently (October 2015) released a bombshell of a study stating that processed meats – such as bacon, sausages and ham cause colorectal cancer.
It additionally noted that red meats were “probably carcinogenic” but there was limited evidence.
However what should the takeaway message be from this contentious and unpopular conclusion?
September 8, 2015
Are you on the low FODMAP diet and having trouble knowing what to put in your trolley?
This list will help you become more confident in what is low FODMAP to help you stick to FODMAP way of life.
Sue Shepherd developed a form of fructose malabsorption diet. Subsequently a team at Monash University, led by Professor Peter Gibson and including Dr Shepherd and others, developed the low FODMAP diet.
FODMAPs is an acronym for: Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols.
Should a person determine that they are sensitive to any of the above FODMAP, a low FODMAP diet is recommended.
September 2, 2015
When you’re training to run a long distance, or taking part in an intense physical program, your body has significantly higher demands.
These increased needs are met through improved nutrition, technique and performance training as well as supplementation to overcome noted deficits.
Complications such as muscle soreness and oxidative stress, that are often experienced by athletes, can also be reduced through the right recovery technique.
August 11, 2015
For those people who are embarking on a low carb high protein lifestyle there are some truly delicious recipes to incorporate into your wellness program.
Here are six of Emed’s top dinner picks.
August 6, 2015
Love a bit of spice in your life?
A recent study confirms that eating spicy food particularly fresh chilli, regularly positively influences our long term health and wellbeing.
Published on the 4th August 2015 in the British Medical Journal, the study looked at 199,293 Chinese men and 288,082 Chinese women aged 30 to 79 years in 10 different geographical areas.
Addressing disease states involving the cardiovascular system, metabolic system and gastrointestinal system, near daily intake of fresh chilli was shown to reduce both morbidity and mortality by 14%.
July 7, 2015
Everybody knows somebody who has had their gall bladder removed. That’s how common it is! Have you ever wondered what exactly the gall bladder is and why it is so frequently removed without any significant concern?
Often without questioning the consequences people are going under the knife at the advice of medical doctors. The gall bladder is a digestive organ with a purpose and without it there is a whole job not being done.
Natural therapies seek to firstly prevent gall stone attack occurring, but also provides some sound advice about what to expect and how to manage after gall bladder removal.
May 27, 2015
When somebody loses weight, where does the fat go?
The answer may surprise you.
It is in fact via carbon dioxide, making our lungs and their function a very important part of our weight management.
May 20, 2015
Australia has a new food pyramid!
Placed firmly at the bottom of this 2015 version is vegetables; the word is eat more of them and you will be on the right track.
Grains have now replaced the traditional bread and cereal group, sugar has been moved to the same ‘limit’ category as salt and spices and fresh herbs have been included as a means of enhancing flavour.
This is a realistic food pyramid that reflects Australians ever evolving tastes and nutritional requirements.
May 15, 2015
Fibromyalgia is a complex neurophysiological syndrome.
It encompasses a vast range of symptoms, including extreme fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, many of which overlap and may be confused with other conditions such as rheumatic diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS), depression and hypochondriasis.
Nutritional therapy for fibromyalgia can be helpful in counteracting stress, ridding the body of toxins, and restoring nutrients which have been malabsorbed or robbed from the body. Find out more…
May 12, 2015
Do you want to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 14-25%?.
Some simple alterations in our daily routine could make a lot of difference.
By replacing a serving of soft drinks with a serving of water or unsweetened tea or coffee, the risk of developing diabetes is reduced by 14%.
Replacing a serving of sweetened milk beverage with water or unsweetened tea or coffee cuts the risk of developing diabetes by between 20 to 25%.
May 5, 2015
Is aspartame bad for you? Of course it is in high enough amounts, yet an article being little more than thinly veiled advertisement for Pepsi, points out all the reasons why aspartame has been demonised by us on the ‘other side’ of the pro-aspartame fence.
To add insult to intelligence, the author contends that avoiding gluten (due to intolerance/ sensitivities) and aspartame are faddish spruiked by misleading, unqualified health experts.
All health commentators it seems has been tarred by the Belle Gibson brush.
April 28, 2015
An editorial published 22 April 2015 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, noted that no matter how much exercise an individual does, it cannot work off the ill effects of a long term unhealthy diet.
“Let us bust the myth of physical inactivity and obesity,” the authors write. “You cannot outrun a bad diet.”
Healthy choices must become the easy choices. By ignoring the insidious marketing of the junk food industry, we can reclaim our health and wellbeing.
April 27, 2015
The negative effects of a diet high in gluten are increasingly becoming clear to researchers, health care practitioners and gluten-sensitive individuals.
A prospective five-year study, by Monash University, followed 72 patients on a gluten-free diet. Results showed that their gut health improved significantly after one year on a gluten-free diet, with a continuous improvement up to five years later.
The study reinforced that there were clear long-term benefits in following the diet, even for those who don’t present with gastrointestinal symptoms, said lead researcher Dr Evan Newham.
April 22, 2015
Effective from June 2015 Kellogg’s has revealed that it is voluntarily adapting the Health Star ratings on all its cereals both in Australia and New Zealand.
More than 70 per cent of Kellogg’s cereals, or 26 products in the range, have a rating of between 4 and 5 health stars, with their cereals ranging from 1.5 to 5 stars.
The food industry has a long way to go however with food giants including McCain, Mars, PepsiCo, Mondelez, George Weston and Goodman Fielder yet to implement the health star scheme.
April 15, 2015
Commercially available protein powders – targeted towards weight loss, are popular with a broad range of the population.
On the surface these protein powders appear to be a convenient way of getting dietary protein into a deficient diet but take the time to look closer and many of these products contain harmful toxins.
Whether contaminated with heavy metals, MSG or allergy triggers, examining these protein powders is extremely important.
March 24, 2015
Carbohydrates provide the main source of energy, used to fuel every part of the body from the brain to our beating hearts (a bit like petrol in a car).
All carbohydrates have the ability to raise glucose levels in the blood but the slower a carbohydrate is digested, the slower it releases energy into the bloodstream and the lower its Glycemic Index (GI) score.
The GI ranks carbohydrate foods based on the rate at which they are broken down into glucose. Your body performs best when your blood sugar is kept relatively constant.
March 20, 2015
In the wake of the furore and angst surrounding healthier lifestyle promoters Belle Gibson, Jess Ainscough and Pete Evans a spotlight is brightly shining on Australias natural health industry.
Sarah Wilson of ‘I Quit Sugar’ fame, recently posted a well tempered but reactionary article on her blog which describes the limitations of healthy lifestyle promotion from her perspective.
The vast number of healthy lifestyle promotion (some good some not so good) provides a forum that educates members of the public so they can adopt certain practices to achieve better health.
March 19, 2015
Get ready for the 2015 Australian Fitness & Health Expo that will sprint into the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 10-12th April.
The Fitness and Health Expo in Melbourne is the largest fitness event in the Southern Hemisphere.
We have 6 double passes to giveaway! Like & Share the Fitness & Health post on Emed’s Facebook page for your chance to win!
March 6, 2015
Recently (February 2015) in Australia there has been a concerning public health scare after two brands of frozen berries were recalled after a number of people became sick with hepatitis A.
To date health authorities state there had been 21 cases of hepatitis A nationally associated with the current outbreak: three in Victoria, eight in Queensland, seven in New South Wales and one each in Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT.
As a population used to strict quality control on our food stuffs either domestically or internationally sourced – we are far from amused.
February 27, 2015
A study coming out of Massachusetts USA has reconfirmed that a single dietary change – an increase in fibre, is a simple more manageable addition to assist in weight loss.
Increasing fibre intake can result in having a more “clinically meaningful weight loss” when compared to a restrictive diet.
Emed offers some tips to help you get to that magic 30grams of fibre per day.
February 24, 2015
The Short & Fat Truth – Junk Food Stunts The Growth of Children
Cigarettes are known to stunt the growth of children, now new research has shown that junk food and lack of exercise is also stunting the growth of our next generation.
With over 300 million obese or overweight children worldwide aged under 18, this could mean one step backwards in evolutionary terms, Charles Darwin would be rolling in his grave!
Real change will depend on pressure from the public similar to the public pressure that saw smoking bans in public buildings
Find out how much impact junk food could be having on your child.
January 23, 2015
Only six weeks into office, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unequivocally stated his support for the retention of a McDonald’s in Victorias Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), stating that”having a McDonald’s at the RCH was in the best interests of the community”.
Additionally has opened the doorway for a McDonald’s to be included inside the new publicly funded Monash Children’s Hospital due to open in 2017.
In this aspect of health Daniel Andrews and his government have got it wrong.
January 6, 2015
The silly season is drawing to a close once again and you may be left feeling lacklustre and fatigued from the last few months of celebrations, over-eating and alcohol indulgence.
Chances are your skin has flared up, your joint pain is worse than you remembered, your frequent headaches have become the ‘norm’ and you’re feeling a bit bloated.
Start back on your way to wellness by alkalising your body and detoxing with the help of some nutritional powerhouses known as Super greens.
December 19, 2014
November 28, 2014
The Dieticians Association of Australia (DAA) has responded with vehemence against Pete Evans’ backing of the Paleo Diet. Labelled as potentially dangerous the DAA has made firm its stance against Australians following the Paleo lifestyle.
Yet Paleo advocates, of whom celebrity chef Pete Evans has become the public face, have returned criticism with questioning the agenda of DAA.
The DAA has yet to convince many people of its objections. Due to a possible conflict of interest in the DAA guidelines via its corporate sponsors of which Nestle, Unilever and Kellogs are included, the Paleo diet remains a valid lifestyle that can bring health and vitality to many people.
November 25, 2014
Chia seeds are one of the world’s oldest sources of nutrition, documented to have been eaten by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans as early as 3500 BC.
Derived from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, chia seeds offer the highest combined plant source of omega-3, fibre and protein, alongside a range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Chia offers essential wholefood nutrition that is often lacking in the modern diet.
November 18, 2014
On November 13th 2014, the ABC program Catalyst explored the science behind the Low Carb Diet – what are the health benefits and are there any risks? Is it suitable for everyone?
The low carbohydrate diet is rich in quality fats, fibrous fruits, vegetables and meats.
For those individuals who have a hard time metabolising carbohydrates such as those with insulin resistance, Type II diabetes, PCOS, are obese or even for endurance athletes the low carbohydrate diet could provide a proven method of controlling blood glucose and act as as a fuel source.
November 14, 2014
Gut Health In A Bottle – Is Yakult Your Best Choice?
It is easy to fall into the trap of convincing marketing promising you good health if only you just drink this, or eat that product.
Probiotics, the helpful critters that support bacteria living in our guts, are getting a lot of press in recent times for the number of health benefits they bestow.
November 11, 2014
People exercise for a variety of reasons including maintaining physical fitness, promoting a healthy body composition, maintaining or improving bone density, improving muscle strength and joint mobility and promoting emotional well being.
Whatever the reason for exercise, the body needs the right nutrition and recovery strategies in place to sustain performance and facilitate recovery.
Pre-workout supplements continue to become increasingly popular among recreational and professional athletes. Both aerobic and anaerobic athletes use pre-workout supplementation because of their potential erg-ogenic effects and ability to increase performance.
July 11, 2014
What Happens To Your Body Within An Hour Of Drinking A Coke
Don't drink cola if you want to be healthy. Consuming soft drinks is bad for so many reasons that science cannot even state all the consequences.
July 9, 2014
It’s Australia 2014 and according to our current Food Act it is still illegal to sell hemp seeds or hemp oil as a food!
Hemp seeds and hemp oil have an impressive nutrient profile as they are high in available essential fatty acid and protein.
With historical use ranging back 5,000 years and known for its benefit in conditions such as cardiovascular health, immunity and skin conditions and legal to sell in the European Union, it is time for the ministerial review removes the hysteria surrounding this benign food and let common sense prevail.
December 23, 2012
It’s less than a week until Christmas and if you haven’t planned out your menu yet, don’t despair!
Emed has you covered with some delicious and healthy recipes sure to please the whole family. All of these recipes are dairy and gluten free and can be adapted to suit vegans and vegetarians.
Instead of feeling bloated and lethargic on Christmas day, try some of these lighter options perfect for an Aussie Summer Christmas lunch or dinner.
April 13, 2012
Something as simple as vitamin B supplements could change the lives of hundreds of thousands of migraine sufferers.
New research has discovered that 1 in 5 people prone to migraines have an enzyme that doesn’t work as well as other people. The MTHFR gene makes people susceptible to migraine attacks when there is a mutation or dysfunction in this gene.
Since some people don’t respond to current migraine remedies, this new research could significantly help those with a genetic predisposition to this condition.
Read on to find out how genetic testing and B vitamins can help reduce your migraines.
April 12, 2012
The moment the Heart Foundation accepted $300,000 a year from McDonald’s to put its Tick on food such as the Filet-O-Fish and chicken McNuggets, the program was doomed.
Last week The Heart Foundation severed ties with McDonald’s, a move that has been described as essential to maintain any shred of credibility.
It’s very unlikely that people were ever going to think of McDonald’s as a place you go for healthy food. Adding the Heart Foundation tick only confused people.
People aren’t stupid and this is why they don’t trust the heart Foundation Tick of Approval anymore.
April 11, 2012
The benefits of whey protein on lean muscle mass and weight loss arewell documented, however a new research study has shown amazing newadvantages of whey protein for heart health.
Conducted byGlanbia Nutritionals, this randomised, double-blind study has shownthat a whey-protein-rich ingredient may improve blood vessel function inhealthy individuals. This is a major step forward in the battle againstincreasing rates of heart attacks and disease plaguing many Australians.
