Eco, Green & Organic by Wellness Warehouse

R20

(incl. VAT) FREE TO WELLNESS WAREHOUSE REWARD CARD HOLDERS

JULY 2016

Meet Misha Teasdale co-founder of environmental movement Greenpop

Organic ECO, GREEN &

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Dump the city and join an eco-village

LEARN ABOUT INFLAMMATION

Follow our guidelines for optimum health and active prevention

Offers valid from 1 - 31 July 2016. Selected items may not be available at certain stores. We reserve the right to limit quantities. E.&O.E.

The Wellness Warehouse magazine

GROW A TEA GARDEN

Leaves, buds and petals made into delicious, healing teas 1

Do you take your health seriously? Not feeling Because we do.

100%?

We have all your nutritional needs covered

Treat your baby’s precious skin to the very best Your baby’s skin is its largest organ and absorbs a lot of what you put on it. It’s important that you only use gentle, natural ingredients on your baby’s skin, especially because its immune system is fragile and still developing.

South Africa’s first internationally certified organic baby and mother care range Beauty Without Cruelty • 100% Vegan Friendly • Fair Trade Certified

www.glukiorganics.org

The new GLÜKi™ range is a breakthrough in mother and baby care. It is packed with all-natural plant based extracts and micro-nutrients that nourish the skin, without disrupting the skin’s natural oils and flora. GLÜKi™ is certified organic by EcoCert France, the world’s most trusted organic certification authority. EcoCert prohibits the use of “synthetic chemicals” like parabens, petroleum, paraffinum oils, synthetic fragrances in lotions, creams, baby oils, tissue oils and lip balms; as well as sulphates in soaps, shampoo and body washes. Use it with the love and confidence you and your baby deserve.

PUBLISHER'S LETTER

Dear Wellness Readers

t’s such a great gift to be able to share and swap ideas about the world and how to live more in accordance with nature.

When I was studying in New Zealand I became aware of many excellent environmental practices. They’ve had waste separation for decades and most homes have an organic waste pipe installed in their sinks. We’re definitely becoming more aware and hopefully, if we all do our bit, we’ll create a better world. Wellness Warehouse is always on the lookout for organically certified offerings and we’re hoping this issue will encourage our suppliers to grow, develop and produce more organically. In the meantime, I’m going to keep adding eco practices to my daily routine. I heard the latest in earth-friendly practices is to take your own lunch box when collecting take-away’s – that will certainly save on packaging. I’m for it. If anyone has earth-friendly ideas they’d like to share, please feel free to post them on our facebook. Here’s wishing you a green month Yours in wellness, Dr Sean Gomes, Co-founder

EDITOR’S LETTER

ECO, GREEN & ORGANIC very little action we do, ripples out and is magnified in the greater world. That’s why, no matter how small, it’s important to play a role in preserving the earth. If you are firmly committed to recycling, composting and minimizing landfill impacts, then convert someone else too. If you’ve switched over to a non-chemical lifestyle, explain that to another. In this issue we feature veggie recipes, we explain organic, describe integrative medicine and offer tips on how to get your kids a balance between nature and screen time. We delve into eco-village living and help you grow your own tea garden. Closer to the body, we look at inflammation and why everyone’s talking about it. We introduce green supplements and focus on the pelvic floor – a part of the anatomy it’s essential to exercise. Our aim for this issue is to convert as many people as we can into earth-loving, earth-caring green warriors brimming with health. We hope you join in our mission.

Sharni Quinn Yoga and Life Coach Consultant 071 954 2816 sharni@followthesun.co.za www.followthesun.co.za Elan Lohmann Sleekgeek 084 333 1313 elan@sleekgeek.co.za www.sleekgeek.co.za Kelly Shreuder Dietician & Personal Chef 082 321 8463 kelly@ctdietician.co.za

EDITORIAL PUBLISHER: Dr. Sean Gomes EDITOR: Robyn Wilkinson robyn@wellnesswarehouse.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR: Lara Potgieter lara@holistica.co.za DESIGN: Inge Smit inge@wellnesswarehouse.com DIETITIAN: Hayley Cimring

ADVERTISING & DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES: Sue Dall, cell: 084 707 4477 wellmag@wellnesswarehouse.com PRINTED BY: Paarl Media Paarl

STORE LOCATIONS Wellness Warehouse Kloof & Wellness Caf Kloof Lifestyles on Kloof, 50 Kloof Street, Cape Town. 021 487 5420, 021 487 5440 Wellness Warehouse Cavendish Cavendish Square, Cnr. Dreyer & Main Rd, Claremont, Cape Town. 021 673 7200 Wellness Warehouse Cape Quarter Cape Quarter, Somerset Road, De Waterkant, Cape Town. 021 425 7007 Wellness Warehouse Palmyra Palmyra Junction, Claremont, Cape Town. 021 671 2363 Wellness Warehouse Wembley Square Wembley Square, Gardens, Cape Town. 021 461 3775 Wellness Warehouse Seapoint Piazza Da Luz Mall, Seapoint, Cape Town. 021 434 0460 Wellness Warehouse Plattekloof Plattekloof Village, Plattekloof, Cape Town. 021 558 7106 Wellness Warehouse Gardens Gardens Shopping Centre, Mill Street, Cape Town. 021 465 8787

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Dr Mark Vella School of Lifestyle Medicine 021 438 4155 (work) 082 940 7465 mark@lifestylemedicine.co.za www.lifestylemedicine.co.za Leilah Kirsten Movement Coach and Prime Movement Pilates Teacher leilahkirsten@gmail.com www.leilahkirsten.com Despina Learmonth Counselling and Health Psychologist 071 473 4973 despina@drlearmonth.com

Antonia De Luca Owner of Leafy Greens Caf 082 882 7300 antonia@leafygreens.co.za www.leafygreens.co.za Imtiaz Desai Exercise Scientist and owner of CrossFit Jozi 083 293 6470 imtiaz.desai@gmail.com Daniel Mpilo Richards Professional Actor 082 331 6566 dmrichardsltd@gmail.com

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WELLNESS magazine takes no responsibility for the content of the advertising material supplied directly by advertisers. We accept advertising in good faith and do not research advertising claims. Kindly consult a professional should you have any doubt as to the efficacy of any claims made.

Modern life is filled with so much information that we’re all inclined to believe everything advertisers tell us, and select products that we think are the most convenient for our lifestyles. One of the most important aspects of our lives is to live in clean, dust-free and healthy environments whether at home, office or out and about. We also love to keep ourselves and our families safe from harmful or toxic elements, and yet it’s common practice – perhaps because we believe it’s more convenient – to use toxic chemicals to clean our ovens, floors, counters, bathrooms and clothing. But the truth is that those chemicals can have a serious effect on our health in the long-term. The time for change is here – nature has provided us with the perfect alternative to harmful chemicals: orange oil. A powerful and completely organic detergent, orange oil is able to lift and remove the most stubborn dirt, grime and grease, whether in our homes, factories, businesses, schools, hospitals and all other areas. Triple Orange products help you keep all your environments clean, sanitised and smelling fresh and natural. And the best part of all? Tiple Orange is completely non-toxic! Triple Orange Wonder Gel takes all the hard work out of cleaning, while Triple Orange Bio-Det is your natural choice for all types of laundry. Triple Orange products are completely organic, child- and pet-friendly, and come from a renewable source. They have not been tested on animals, are biodegradable and formulated with naturallyderived ingredients that are hypoallergenic. Safe for you, safe for your family, safe for the environment.

For more information or to place trade orders, speak to one of our experts on 011 023 7208 or email orange@tripleorange.co.za.

www.tripleorange.co.za

JULY 2016 EAT 18

ROASTED CABBAGE WITH LIME AND CHILLI SAUCE - crunchy, punchy, filling and fit for anyone, this low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free dish almost serves up a main course.

POTATO KUGEL - Taste this and you’ll make it a weekly staple. Potato kugel sneaks in some veggies and wow’s the fussiest of palates.

3-ALGAE HEMP & CORIANDER PESTO Deliberately adding algae to your meal might sound a little far fetched but when you feel the incredible benefits of putting power greens in your body you won’t hesitate to make it part of your menu. EAT YOUR GREENS, FOR DESSERT - Who would have thought a chocolate brownie could ever have spinach as an ingredient? Here’s how to sneak spinach into your dessert and love it.

HEAL 28

ALL ABOUT INFLAMMATION - Inflammation is spoken about so often as a precursor to disease. We look at what it means and how to avoid it

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE - This is a healing discipline everyone should know about, particularly if you believe in a holistic approach and treating the individual over the disease.

ECO-VILLAGE LIFESTYLE – Dump the city and head for the hills to join an eco-village. Here’s what it takes.

NURTURE

FROM SCREEN TO GREEN – Get your kids off their screens and into some green. Activities kids want to do instead of using their comm devices.

THE ROOT OF BEAUTY - This showcase of top-to-toe green beauty lists your essential green products and offers tips you’ll thank us for.

LIVE

ON THE COVER

ORGANIC STANDARDS – We look at what organic means, and the difference between products containing organic ingredients and full certification. GROW YOUR OWN TEA GARDEN – Leaves, buds and petals can be plucked and boiled into tasteful and healing teas. From the ground to the cup, here’s how to do it.

GREEN 38

MOVE 58

GREEN SUPPLEMENTS – from wheat grass to barley, spirulina and algae, we look at the best of green plant supplements

GROW 40

CHEMICAL FREE – from safe pesticides to natural preservatives, and earth friendly cleaning, we offer some alternatives to the nasties.

THE PELVIC FLOOR – Include pelvic floor exercises in your routine and you will be surprised at the benefits both now and in the future.

REGULARS 8

Events - Interesting Workshops, Training,

Editor’s Choice - Looks at our favourite

Meet our Supplier - We feature Esse and

Faires & Courses products for July

their lovely story

Read Well - Incredible food, a workable

Journey - Head off to the Wilderness for a wonderful break

garden, a deeper relationship with nature and more.

Classified - Lets you know what’s happening in your wellness community with workshops, retreats, therapies and more.

MODEL: Misha Teasdale from Greenpop PHOTOGRAPHER: Anton Robert STYLIST: Bernadette McCabe LOCATION: shot on location at the Oranjezicht City Farm

helping you live life well

OUT & ABOUT

JULY

by Lara Potgieter

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE LOCAL HOLISTIC WELLNESS SCENE, ALLOW YOUR TASTEBUDS TO REALLY SAVOUR WINTER, EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH NEW HEALING TOOLS, AND EMBARK ON A

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES COURSE

MIND/BODY/SPIRIT HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME. GNOSTIC WHOLISTIC FESTIVAL 1 JULY TO 3 JULY 2016 This unique community gathering in Kenilworth, Cape Town is for those wanting to learn more about physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing. The three-day experience offers four floors with a variety of exhibitors, healers, products, talks, demos, food, and more. Mini-workshops and treatments by various practitioners will run throughout the weekend, with visitors able to experience a variety of healing modalities like reflexology, aromatherapy, Indian head massage and many more. A range of health, raw and organic foods and beverages will also be on sale. For more information visit www. holistica.co.za or contact info@ gnosticwholisticfestival.co.za

FEAST ON THE SEASONS WINTER COOKERY RETREAT 8 TO 10 JULY 2016 The winter diet is a celebration of all the most hearty and warming foods that help keep us nourished during the chilliest time of the year. Join experienced retreat chef and author Daniel Jardim at Temenos Retreat in

McGregor as he presents a winter feast using the most delectable - and affordable - seasonal ingredients. Expect a celebration of health-giving comfort foods with handy suggestions on how to get the most from seasonal produce, as well as useful tips on buying and storing. Qigong and meditation will also form part of the weekend, creating a comprehensive guide to staying healthy during winter. For more information visit www. seasonalcookery.co.za or contact temenos@lando.co.za.

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES COURSE 15 TO 16 JULY 2016 Bach Flower Remedies can help you cope with everyday stresses and strains, assisting you on your path towards your true potential. Bach registered practitioner and trainer Liz Olver will present a Level 1 course offering a sound grounding in the system in Sandton, Johannesburg. The course is accredited by the Bach Centre in England and teaches how to use the safe and natural method of healing to restore the balance between body and mind. For more information visit www. beinginbalance.co.za or contact liz@ bachflowers.co.za.

MEDIUMSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP 23 JULY TO 24 JULY Join Doreen Virtue-certified angel therapy medium Glynis Dinsdale on an intimate and enlightening workshop in Meadowridge, Cape Town to help you to develop your ability to connect to deceased loved ones. Deepen your connection to spirit and become a channel for conveying messages of love and hope to those who have experienced loss. For more information visit www.angelways.co.za or contact glyndins@netactive.co.za.

UPCOMING:

YOGA AND WELLNESS RETREAT 1 TO 6 AUGUST 2016 Renew and restore your body, mind and spirit on this 6-day tour through the magnificent Garden Route. This yoga retreat will allow you to escape to some of the country’s most beautiful and tranquil places, enjoying inspiring day trips and overnight stays in luxury accommodation. Add to this daily yoga, delicious Yoga Kitchen Food and inspiring workshops, and you have the perfect rejuvenation experience. For more information visit www.yogakitchen.co.za or contact retreat@yogakitchen.co.za.

accredited Breathwork Practitioner Foundation Course. Breathwork is the next major skill highly functioning individuals require to manage their energy, support their health, deepen their relationships, and optimise peak performance. The practice of breathwork can be integrated into your current skillset, whether you are a health professional, psychologist, coach, trainer, yoga teacher, HR consultant, healer or teacher. For more information visit www. woodlandsconsciousliving.co.za or contact marjmurray.mm@gmail. com.

YOGA HOLIDAY IN BALI 25 SEPTEMBER TO 3 OCTOBER 2016 If the idea of sipping on coconut cocktails in tropical Bali after an invigorating yoga session sounds enticing, don’t miss Follow the Sun’s Eat, Play, Yoga Journey to Bali this year. The trip promises a combination of gentle yoga, fun in the sun, spa time, shopping, and adventure - making for an unforgettable ladies-only holiday. Pamper yourself, recharge, and get your sparkle back on this exotic physical, mental and spiritual holiday. For more information visit www.followthesun.co.za or contact sharni@followthesun.co.za.

BREATHWORK PRACTITIONER FOUNDATION COURSE 16 SEPTEMBER TO 18 SEPTEMBER 2016 The Woodlands School of Breathwork at the beautiful Woodlands Spa and Conscious Living Centre in Muldersdrift, Gauteng has teamed up with resident Integrated Medical Practitioner Dr Ela Manga and One Sky International to present a CPD-

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IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS EMAIL robyn@wellnesswarehouse.com

EDITOR’S CHOICE

GREEN UP YOUR ACT “NATURE IS NOT A PLACE TO VISIT. IT IS HOME.” GARY SNYDER

CONSCIENTIOUS CLEANING

NOT JUST FOR BABY

While we greenies once had to accept the fact that our earth-friendly products may not have been as good for the grease as they were for the trees, there are (thankfully) new products beneficial to both. A forerunner of sustainable living, the chic and entrepreneurial Eco Diva Nicole Sherwin has expanded her offering from personal to home care. The All Purpose Cleaner is our favourite (and not just because we’re lazy and can use it on just about anything). We love the fun purple packaging, and can’t get enough of the vanilla bergamot and grapefruit fragrance. Eco Diva Clean Machine All Purpose Cleaner 500 ml R79

I’m not sure about you, but I’ve always been a bit jealous of the new organic baby products popping up these days. Surely us older folk deserve to have our skin equally gently nurtured and protected? It may seem strange for someone without children to keep Organic Baby Bum Cream in her handbag, but Gluki’s works exceptionally well as a nourishing and fragrant hand lotion. The other products in the brand are also exceptional, they’re extremely safe, they have a natural gentle fragrance and such a pleasure to use. I must say though, bum cream still stands out as my personal favourite. From mom’s hands to baby’s bum – it’s a winning combination, really. Gluki Organic Baby Bum Cream 75ml R89.99

HIGH ON HEALTH Most progressive wellness enthusiasts have contributed in some way to the debate around the latest research showing the powerful impact that the cannabinoids in the hemp plant can have on human health. Yet few of us know where to start when using it in our own lives. Enter Elixinol. co-founded by a global leader in the industrial hemp industry, the brand brings a new level of consistency, quality control, and education to the field. Their Hemp Oil Dietary Supplement Drops (available in Cinnamint and Natural Flavour) contain a full-spectrum cannabinoid extract and other beneficial natural molecules with over 400 phytonutrients found in hemp plants. While hemp oil isn’t psychoactive, you may just enjoy the natural high that comes from treating your body to the exceptional nutritional qualities of the unique product. Elixinol 100mg R600 Elixinol 300mg R995

THE OVERPERFORMER Just when I started thinking that a 3-in-1 product had a lot to offer, Solal’s 24-in-1 Superfruit & Vegetable Drink swooped in to raise the bar. Forget making sure you get your five a day and enjoy some of this tasty blackcurrant flavoured concoction to get a daily dose of no fewer than 18 fruits, vegetables and herbs, complete with SuperNutrients and bioactive cultures. With seven times less sugar than fruit juice, you can enjoy the benefits and flavours of blackcurrant, acai, goji berry, noni, mangosteen, pomegranate, cranberry and more in this guilt-free purple powerhouse of a drink. Solal 24-in-1 Superfruit & Vegetable Drink 150ml R154

TURMERIC TRANSFORMED

FROM MOROCCO WITH LOVE Argan Oil has exploded onto the international market as a beauty and wellness wonder product. One of our favourite brands is Argan Green, a Cape Town based company that uses pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil in its range of face, body, hair and even culinary products. I’m particularly enjoying the Nourishing Argan and Rosehip Day Cream, with its silky smooth texture, heavenly fragrance, and range of skin-loving natural ingredients. Argan Green owner Hasna grew up in Morocco - her product formulation expertise is clearly backed by years of invaluable traditional knowledge and experience. Argan Green Nourishing Argan and Rosehip Day Cream R90

While I know that turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant super spice that can improve digestion, relieve colds and flu, detoxify the liver and more, I’ve always struggled to add it to my morning cup of warm water with lemon, as has so often been advised. When I discovered Taka’s Turmeric drinks, I was surprised to find the mildly spicy blends, which contain turmeric, coconut and other spices, are actually very tasty. The Golden Tea, Golden Latte and Smoothie Mix are also easy to prepare. While the Smoothie Mix offers the greatest nutritional offering of the three, my favourite is the Golden Latte, which has become my regular bedtime indulgence. Taka Turmeric Golden Latte 150g R90

A BALMY REMEDY There are so many different therapeutic balms on the market today that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. What makes Herbal Balm stand out to us is its incredible versatility. It can be used on everything from arthritic pains, bruises, sports injuries and muscular stress to sinus and nasal congestion, headaches, and other cold and flu symptoms. It melts at body temperature, can be applied anywhere on the body, and offers long-acting relief. Its natural active ingredients work together as an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory, and to improve blood circulation. An all-round winner, I’d say. Herbal Balm 50ml R79 SHOP ALL ONLINE AT WELLNESSWAREHOUSE.COM

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CONNECT, SHARE

& spread some love

Congratulations to @elzannedekock for being our June winner! We loved your post which was inspired by the brownie recipe from our Wellness magazine. Enjoy the R500 voucher and we hope to see more of your yummy creations!

WINNING POST

share your wellness moments with us and stand a chance to

WIN R500 12

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Live life well by sharing your wellness moments with us on social media. Every month weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll select our favourite social media post to win R500 to spend at any Wellness Warehouse or online. Remember to tag us in your posts: @WellnessWarehouse on Facebook and Instagram and @Wellnews on Twitter

Try us at the V&A, Kloof & Wembley

Shop 6105, Ground Floor, V&A Waterfront | Lifestyles on Kloof, 50 Kloof St, Cape Town | Wembley Square, Solan Street, Gardens

GREEN BULLETIN

Imagine a world where kids could pluck fruit straight from trees they grew themselves, play in the gardens that supply food always knowing where their food came from, where good food is a way of life and everyone has enough to eat. Goedgedacht Care for the Planet team are working on making this a reality. Care for the Planet is one of four cornerstones of the Goedgedacht Trusts’ POP (Path out of Poverty) programme working to improve the lives of children in rural communities. The Trust was established in 1992 by a group of social workers exploring ways to break the cycles of

generational poverty. Over the past 20 years it has grown into a four pronged approach to combine personal development, health and nutrition, education and care for the planet into a holistic programme for rural children in South Africa. Teaching children to take care of themselves while looking after their natural environment creates environmentally aware and resilient communities. Growing local organic food and using this to generate income ensures a waterfall of benefits: better nutrition, lower living costs, increased income and learning valuable skills to create

a healthier environment. Permaculture ethics, principles and techniques are used for social transformation. Permaculture is an alternative approach to large scale chemical agriculture founded on the principles of care for the earth, care for people and sharing of surplus-before making a profit. A team of “Food SoulJahs” are working to establish 10 organic community food gardens as demonstration and training sites. They’re looking to support 800 home gardens and 80 micro enterprises with small scale organic food production. These include vegetable seedling nurseries and tree sapling nurseries, honey and moringa farming and local artisanal bread. In Riverlands, it took only four months to start delivering fresh produce to the POP centre kitchen that feeds over 100 children a day. This shows how quickly a garden can become productive and supply the community with good food. To become part of this Good Food revolution, log onto the Goedgedacht Trust website (www.goedgedacht.org), Goedgedacht Care for the Planet facebook page or send a direct email to info@goedgedacht.org Marié is creating a library of ideas and information where we can learn from and inspire each other to build a more inclusive and sustainable world. She is currently exploring Cape Town and surrounds for examples of inspiring individuals and organisations who are changing the world for the better. See www.smalltracks.org

RECLAIMED WOOD THE HOTTEST TREND IN HOME DESIGN Repurposed, reclaimed, recycled has become one of the hottest trends in home design. With resource scarcity becoming a huge worldwide concern, those of us with awareness are driving some of the alternatives. We caught up with Cape Town based Faizel Achmat from Wood Kraft who swapped his former life as a stressed architect to a more gentle one making furnishings with reclaimed wood. “I love watching an old fence, or a piece

of partitioning from a building turn into a cherished table or cupboard. There’s something so moving about creating something from old discarded items,” he says. Faizel has made everything from speaker stands to bespoke drawers, cupboards, picture frames, coffee tables and more from all sorts of pieces of wood. “Often I get to work with incredible pieces of wood - yellowwood, mahogany, oak and pine – it’s fascinating what you can find.”

The best thing about it is its enviro-friendly stance. You get to be creative with minimal impact to the surroundings. Another recycling advocate is Tucker Robbins, a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, which has over 500 members. He believes that, “Artisans and the earth are connected.” Robbins visits places all over the world, especially those in need where he encourages a relationship between local artisans and the natural resources around them. “It doesn’t make sense to have artisans ignore what’s already there,” explains Robbins. “Why would you tell a Guatemalan carpenter to make something out of imported steel when he has the tools to create something using what’s already at his doorstep?”

For more about Faizel’s work at WoodKraft contact him on cell: 079 881 4822 or email woodkraft2016@gmail.com. For more about Robbins sustainable work log on to www.sustainablefurnishings.org.

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GREENPOP THE TREE REVOLUTION WE ASKED OUR COVER STAR MISHA TEASDALE, A FEW QUESTIONS. Misha is the Tree E O and co-founder of Greenpop - an environmental movement that plants trees, promotes sustainable living, and is on a mission to reconnect people with the planet. How do you live life well? Spending time in the wilderness with close friends allows me to rejuvenate and regain perspective on things. Society and day-today city life can be so all-consuming: our work, our social life, what we wear, eat etc. Nature gives me the stillness and space to breath and declutter. It also reminds me of the natural world that we are custodians of. What’s your favourite Eco tip? Terra Khaya in Hogsback is one of my true happy places. The whole area is so full of life and ecological abundance. It’s the kind of place that should be on everyone’s bucket list. If you are keen on the environment, being outdoors and super-fun festival vibes,

you should join us this September for the Hogsback Festival of Trees - www.greenpop. org/hogsback-festival-of-trees/ Tell us more about you, what inspires and drives you? Possibility inspires me: the opportunity of what could be. I have a huge amount of passion for the life I live and for the work I do, and every day I try to deliver this with a solid work ethic. That alone, however, is not enough. You need to have compassion, and you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable - because that’s where the magic is. It’s in that space that the real growth and opportunity for change happens. I believe that humanity is capable of achieving so much, but complacency and self interest holds us in a state of distracted consumption and cynicism. We need to break free of this and revel in the social, environmental and political challenges that we’re presented with, and become active citizens. For more about Greenpop go to www.greenpop.org.

MEET OUR SUPPLIER

ESSE PROBIOTIC SKINCARE TREVOR STEYN, CHEMIST AND #FATHEROFPROBIOTICSKINCARE IS A BIT OF AN ENIGMA. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CORPORATE PHARMACIST IN A WHITE COAT AND THICK GLASSES, YOU’VE COME TO THE WRONG PLACE. WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT ESSE IN 2014, I ASKED TREVOR IF THERE WAS A DRESS CODE (I COME FROM THE CORPORATE WORKING WORLD). HE LOOKED AT ME BLANKLY AND SAID “WORK NAKED IF YOU WANT TO, AS LONG AS YOU WORK”. HE WASN’T JOKING EITHER … I’VE SEEN HIM WORKING IN BOARDSHORTS AND SLOPS, BUT MAN, DOES HE WORK.

DID YOU KNOW Research is showing mounting evidence that probiotics may help to build collagen in the skin acting as a great anti-aging support. Dr. Whitney Bowe, Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Esse Probiotic Skincare is based in the rolling green hills of Richmond. Trevor lives there with his lovely wife Dee and their 7, extremely individual, kids. He finds time for surfing, playing Ultimate Frisbee, yoga, a lot of squash and plenty of family time. He has promised us that this year will be dedicated to his laboratory, so keep your eyes peeled for what the #FOPS will be releasing next.

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Trevor went to varsity at the University of KwaZulu (UKZN) in Pietermaritzburg. He recently had us giggling at a training session, saying that his choice of subjects was completely random, after he had to send a friend to registration due to an ‘unfortunate headache’ – we won’t ask if there were beverages involved. It would have been stretching it to ask the friend to stand in two queues, so Trevor got signed up for: Chemistry, Physics and Genetics. After another hair raising

night out with friends, Trevor managed to drag himself to his first organic chemistry lecture. The German professor looked around the room, drew 3 chemical structures on the board and casually explained that the first was for Strychnine, the second for LSD and the third, the structure of Nitro-glycerine. The not-sointerested student started listening, and that was the beginning of a passionate career in organic chemistry.

This led to the creation of Esse Organic Skincare in 2002… Esse means ‘to be’ in Latin. The original moisturisers were in a special aluminium cylinder and needed to be refrigerated due to the high omega content. Trevor remembers sitting anxiously staring at the very quiet telephone, hoping someone would call. A very dear old lady did eventually call and complimented him on his beautiful packaging, but then had to ask “how on earth do you open it?” When everyone else was talking chemicals, Trevor was already talking organic and sustainability. When everyone else started talking organic, Trevor had already had his brands certified Organic by EcoCert in France. Where others said you need to test on animals, Trevor said “We’re designing skincare for humans, not rabbits”. The brand always was and always will be certified organic, Vegan, cruelty-free and fair trade. As Trevor says,

“

AS CLOSE TO PERFECTLY SUSTAINABLE AS WE CAN GET

When the findings of the Human Microbiome project started being released in 2010, (with weird statistics like ‘there are 10 microbial cells for every human cell’), Trevor was doubtful and then became increasingly interested as the facts started making sense. This new research led him to produce the World’s First Live Probiotic Serum. Where other brands are talking about probiotic, they are generally referring to fermented versions of probiotics. Please do pop onto our website if you’d like to learn more about the different types of probiotic levels – it’s a fascinating topic. Trevor has managed to take 3 species of probiotic bacteria, and bottled them in an oil suspension, so that when applied to the skin, the microbes make contact with water, wake up and can start colonising. In simple terms, conditions like acne, eczema, dermatitis etc are caused by an overgrowth of bad bacteria – similar to an overgrowth of candida in the gut when good microbes have had their numbers obliterated by antibiotics and bad diet. When the good bacteria are applied, they can colonise and multiply and outnumber the bad bacteria, allowing the existing good bacteria on the skin to also multiply and reapply balance. Everything in nature requires balance.

So, while Esse Organic Skincare has had a name update to Esse Probiotic Skincare, our customers can always remain confident that the man behind the scenes is not only staying up to date with the research, but leading the pack on how to improve skin with his continuing research. Interestingly, the White House released a statement this week saying that the US government will be allocating half a billion dollars to microbiome research in the next few years, with extra funds coming from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and some respected US universities. And a little bird told me that one of the biggest market research companies in the world contacted Trevor to find out more about what probiotics really are doing in skincare. It is a pleasure working for such a ground-breaking company, as well as a truly inspiring scientist.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ESSESKINCARE.COM. SHOP ONLINE AT WELLNESSWAREHOUSE.COM

eat

LIME ROASTED

cabbage

CRUNCHY, PUNCHY, FILLING AND FIT FOR ANYONE, THIS LOW-CARB, GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE, VEGAN DISH GOES WITH ALMOST ANYTHING. Serves 3-4 people

INGREDIENTS 1 MEDIUM-SIZED FIRM CABBAGE 4 TBSP OLIVE OIL 4-6 TBSP FRESH SQUEEZED LIME JUICE 1/2 TSP. VEGGIE SALT OR HIMALAYAN SALT 3 TBSP. SESAME SEEDS

FOR THE SAUCE 1/3 CUP APPLE CIDER VINEGAR 1 1/2 TSP DRY MUSTARD 1/2 CUP RAW OLIVE OR FLAX SEED OIL 1/2 TSP AGAVE NECTAR OR COCONUT BLOSSOM SUGAR SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

1. Preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius. Grease your baking tray with coconut oil. Cut your cabbage into 4 quarters, then cut those again so you end up with 8 pieces. If the outer leaves are a bit shabby throw them away. 2. Arrange all the pieces of cabbage on evenly around your baking tray. Use a Nutri-bullet or whisk to mix the oil, lime and salt into a glazing mixture. Use a pastry brush to brush the cabbage making sure it’s pretty well saturated. Once it’s cooked half way through you’ll need to brush it again using more of the mixture. 3. Roast in the center of the oven for 15-17 minutes, or until the edges of the cabbage start going brown. Turn the cabbage, touch it up with your glazing mixture and roast for another 15 minutes, or longer until the second side is well roasted. 4. Mix together all the ingredients for the sauce, whip them in your blender. Then toast your sesame seeds on the stove top until they emit a wonderful aroma. Add your sauce and then sprinkle the sesame seeds over your cabbage and serve it.

helping you live life well

recipe THE HEART OF A VEGAN Mostly, being vegan is about being aware. It means realising where our food comes from, what happens en route to our plates and how animal food production impacts the environment and animals. Being aware of how certain foods feel in our bodies, how they impact on our moods and if eating them generates kindness. Switching on awareness may make you naturally feel like you don’t want animal based food anymore. Some people feel less angry and more loving. It also offers an opportunity to really taste the amazing goodness of nature. You tend to connect more with the source of food and become more creative in your cooking pursuits.

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A VEGAN DIET IS NOT ONLY ECONOMICAL BUT IT’S ALSO A WAY OF BOOSTING YOUR HEALTH AND WALKING MORE SOFTLY ON THE EARTH.

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eat

recipe

POTATO

kugel

TASTE THIS AND YOU’LL MAKE IT A WEEKLY STAPLE. POTATO KUGEL SNEAKS IN SOME VEGGIES AND WOWS THE FUSSIEST OF PALATES. For some time now, the sweet potato has stolen the scene and the common potato has taken a back seat. We bring her back with a bang with this recipe that’s particularly kid friendly. If you’re having a family meal with a lot of fussy eaters, this one’s perfect, it’s hard to find anyone that doesn’t love it. Just remember it takes about an hour and a half cooking time. Serves 8 people

INGREDIENTS 5 MEDIUM POTATOES 1 MEDIUM ONION 1 LARGE ZUCCHINI 1/2 CUP OLIVE OIL 5 LARGE EGGS 1 TBSP SALT 1 TSP PEPPER

helping you live life well

1. Turn your oven on to 180 degrees Celsius 2. Peel the potatoes, onions, and zucchini 3. Grate all the vegetables or use the shred function on a food processor. 4. Crack all your eggs into a mixing bowl, ad the oil, salt and pepper. Whisk it well. 5. Pour this mixture over your potato mix and make sure it’s well combined. 6. Put it in a large baking pan and cook uncovered for 1 ½ hours or until you see the top going brown.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN Where vegetarians mostly don’t eat meat, fish or poultry, they may eat dairy products like cheese, eggs, yoghurt and milk. Vegetarianism has come to be quite a broad description covering a few different food choices. Lactovegetarians will eat dairy, but not eggs. Ovo-vegetarians will eat eggs, but not dairy. Lacto-ovo vegetarians will eat eggs and dairy products. Some people call themselves vegetarians and eat fish and chicken but not meat. Others refer to themselves as pescatarian when eating fish but not chicken or meat. There are different reasons behind a vegetarian choice. It may be purely for health, for economic or religious reasons, for moral or eco reasons or simply from preference. Vegans, strictly speaking will eliminate all animal products including dairy from his or her diet and from his or her wardrobe and home. Things like leather shoes, furniture, belts and handbags may be avoided along with other products derived from animals like wool, silk and feathers. Generally vegans have huge humanitarian feelings towards animals and this becomes an overarching feature in the way they live their lives. Although a vegan lifestyle may be chosen for health, eco or other reasons, veganism is generally associated with compassion for animals, humans and the earth.

HEALTH BOOSTING TURMERIC & COCONUT DRINKS Scientific research & ancient wisdom agree TURMERIC IS GOOD FOR YOU! Studies show that turmeric may help

REDUCE INFLAMMATION FIGHT INFECTIONS TREAT DIGESTIVE ISSUES

eat

recipe

STICKY, GOOEY, TANGY

cheese love

THIS RECIPE WILL AMAZE YOU. IT’S VEGAN HEAVEN, COMFORT FOOD AT ITS BEST. IF YOU’RE A CONVERTED VEGAN AND MISS CHEESE YOU’LL FIND GREAT SOLACE IN THIS YUMMY TAPPY CHEESE. REMEMBER IT USES SOAKED CASHEWS SO YOU NEED TO DECIDE ON IT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

TAPPY CHEESE Makes 1 small block

INGREDIENTS ¼ CUP RAW CASHEWS 1 CUP WATER 3 TBSP + 2 TSP TAPIOCA STARCH FLOUR 1 TBSP OF NUTRITIONAL YEAST FLAKES 1 TSP APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ½ TSP SALT ¼ TSP MUSTARD POWDER

helping you live life well

1. Cover your cashews with water and soak them overnight. 2. Blend together, 1 fresh cup of water, the cashews and the rest of the ingredients. Blend it until it’s as smooth as a smoothie. 3. Warm a pan on the stovetop to medium heat. Slowly pour the mixture into the pan and stir it continuously. First it will tend to make lumps but as you stir it transforms and after about 5 minutes it will turn into a beautiful cheesy mix. 4. Once it becomes cheesy, keep cooking until it’s firm. 5. Because it has such a great texture, you can use it on pizza, as a dip, with chips, in a lasagne or any of the traditional cheese dishes.

DID YOU KNOW? Tapioca is a starch that comes from the Cassava plant. It’s often used in desserts and puddings as it works so well as a thickener and is chewy and resilient. It doesn’t have too much nutritional value but definitely adds texture.

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eat recipe

3-ALGAE HEMP & CORIANDER PESTO DELIBERATELY ADDING ALGAE TO YOUR MEAL MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE FAR FETCHED BUT WHEN YOU FEEL THE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF PUTTING POWER GREENS IN YOUR BODY YOU WON’T HESITATE TO MAKE IT PART OF YOUR MENU.

Makes 500ml

INGREDIENTS 3 CUPS FRESH CORIANDER 2 CLOVES OF GARLIC 1/3 CUP ALMONDS (SOAKED) 1/3 CUP SUNFLOWER SEEDS 1/3 CUP PUMPKIN SEEDS 1/3 CUP HEMP SEEDS 2/3 CUP OLIVE OIL ¼ CUP HUMP OIL JUICE OF 1 LEMON 1 TBSP OF AFA KLAMATH CRYSTALS ½ TSP SPIRULINA POWDER ½ TSP CHLORELLA POWDER ½ TSP KELP POWDER ½ TSP HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT

1. Soak your almonds beforehand. They should soak in spring water for at least 4 hours. This will help them to be more easily digested. 2. Power blend everything together until you have a well blended paste. Celebrate the tangy taste on salads, crackers, veggies or any other creative meal you might think of.

KLAMATH

You may not be familiar with Klamath but it’s one of the most cleansing, nourishing and regenerative food sources in nature. It’s a blue-green algae with high levels of protein, vitamins and nutrients. With 70 percent vegetable protein, beta-carotene, amino acids, chlorophyll, and over 65 vitamins, minerals and enzymes easily absorbed by the body, it speaks for itself. RECIPE SUPPLIED BY PETER AND BERYN DANIEL FROM THE MAGIC OF SUPERFOODS (SOARING FREE)

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Grown in Mozambique by a community development project, Superfoodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest quality EU and USDA organically certified cold processed virgin coconut oil. It is manufactured under strict conditions retaining the highest level of health and nutritional benefits. Nutritionally Superior

Healthy cholesterol Weightloss Increased energy Immunity Hormonal balance Skin youthening Coconut Oil is also the most stable of all oils and is therefore the best oil to use in cooking.

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eat

EAT YOUR GREENS…

FOR DESSERT? by Lara Potgieter

YOU’LL PROBABLY BE LESS SURPRISED TO HEAR THERE’S A NATIONAL SPINACH DAY (26 MARCH) THAN THAT THE POPULAR GREEN CAN BE USED TO SATIATE A HEALTHY SWEET TOOTH.

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IN THE 1930’S US SPINACH GROWERS CREDITED POPEYE WITH A 33% INCREASE IN DOMESTIC SPINACH CONSUMPTION – A WELCOME BOOST TO AN INDUSTRY DURING THE DEPRESSION ERA.

DID YOU KNOW? •

•

Spinach is a native plant of Persia (now Iran). Spinach is still widely known as ‘the Persian Green’ in China (the world’s largest spinach producer) ‘Florentine’ is a common part of names of recipes where spinach is a significant ingredient (Forence in Italy was the home town of Catherine de Medici, a lover of spinach, who married the King of France in the 16th century). Make sure you buy organic spinach, as with non-organic versions the leaf tends to be sprayed heavily with pesticides that don’t come off with normal washing.

helping you live life well

“

We all remember what Popeye taught us: if you eat spinach, you’ll feel better. You might not be able to give your own version of Bluto a good knock-down, but you might just be mellowed out enough (from all the magnesium, that is) to choose to ignore him. But spinach as a comfort food – something to crave when it’s cold outside and you need something sweet to nourish your soul? Probably not an association that’s ever sprung to mind. Often referred to as one of the world’s healthiest foods, spinach is a great source of vitamin K, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. It’s also a very good source of dietary fibre, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, protein,

and choline. That’s a rather long list of benefits – and not one you might expect to enjoy in a tasty chocolate brownie. Ingenious as us health nuts have become in our quest for combining the taste factor with the health advantages, we’ve started creating all kinds of previously unthought-of treats to substitute the usual naughties. Raw chocolate, wheatfree/sugar-free everything, and even unique concoctions like black bean brownies have become a part of many of our diets. I guess it was just a matter of time until we started eating one of our most-loved greens for dessert. Forget the green juice and spinach salad – we’re pleased to introduce you to the most decadently delicious spinach sweet treats around…

recipes

SPINACH BROWNIES Makes 12

INGREDIENTS 1 CUP SPINACH ½ CUP XYLITOL ¼ CUP COCONUT MILK 1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT 2 EGGS ¼ CUP COCONUT OIL ¼ CUP COCOA POWDER ½ CUP COCONUT FLOUR ICING ½ CUP DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS 20 DROPS STEVIA 1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT 2 TABLESPOONS COCONUT OIL 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

Preheat the oven to 180°. Blend the spinach, coconut milk, coconut oil and eggs in a high-speed blender. Pour into a medium sized bowl. Mix in the xylitol, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, coconut flour, salt and baking soda. Place in a greased baking pan. Bake for about 20 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool before frosting.

Place all the ICING ingredients in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Once melted, spread over the brownies.

SPINACH CUPCAKES WITH GREEN CREAM CHEESE ICING Makes 10

INGREDIENTS SPINACH MIXTURE ½ CUP CHOPPED SPINACH ½ CUP MASCARPONE CHEESE 1 TEASPOON XYLITOL CUPCAKES 1 1/3 CUP ALMOND FLOUR 3/4 CUP XYLITOL 2 LARGE EGGS 1/2 CUP GREEK YOGHURT 1/2 CUP BUTTER 1/3 CUP MILK (OR NON-DAIRY SUBSTITUTE) 2 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER 1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT PINCH OF SALT

ICING 1 ½ TABLESPOONS SPINACH 5 TABLESPOONS CREAM 225 GRAMS CREAM CHEESE ¼ TEASPOON STEVIA 2 TABLESPOONS COCONUT SUGAR ½ TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT SPINACH MIXTURE 1. Chop spinach in a food processor. 2. Mix the spinach with the teaspoon of xylitol and the mascarpone cheese. Set aside. CUPCAKES 1. Preheat the oven to 180°. 2. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Set aside. 3. Beat eggs, butter, yoghurt, vanilla and milk on high speed for about 1 minute. 4. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Beat together on high speed for about 1 2 minutes. 5. Fill cupcake tray cups to about half full with the batter. 6. Add about 1 tablespoon of the spinach mixture to each, then top with more cupcake batter. The cup should be about 2/3 full. 7. Bake for about 20 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. 8. Allow to cool before icing. ICING 1. Blend the spinach and 4 tablespoons of the cream until the spinach is smooth. 2. Add the last tablespoon of cream and blend until creamy. 3. In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese until smooth. 4. Add cream and spinach, stevia, coconut sugar and vanilla. 5. Blend until icing is thick and green. 6. Ice the cupcakes once they’re cool.

MINT CHOCOLATE GREEN SMOOTHIE Makes 1 smoothie

INGREDIENTS 1/2 CUP SPINACH 3/4 CUP GREEK YOGHURT 1/2 CUP MILK 5 ICE CUBES 1/2 AVOCADO 1/2 TABLESPOON HONEY 1 TABLESPOON DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS 1/4 TEASPOON PURE MINT EXTRACT Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.

health

LIVING AN

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY LIFE by Dr Kevin Lentin

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT INFLAMMATION. IT SEEMS TO BE THE NEW ‘BUZZ WORD’ POPPING UP NOT ONLY IN NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICAL JOURNALS BUT GLOSSY MAGAZINES AS WELL. BUT WHAT’S ALL THE HYPE ABOUT? IS IT A GOOD OR A BAD THING? WELL, AS IT TURNS OUT, IT’S BOTH, GOOD AND BAD. CAPE TOWN BASED DR KEVIN LENTIN GIVES US THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF INFLAMMATION.

did you know?

The inflammation response is meant to be short and to the point – rushing in, targeting damaged tissue or invading pathogens and sorting it all out. Because the ‘inflammatory brigade’ has the ability to break down tissue before building it up, it also has the potential to damage the body. That’s why it is normally controlled and regulated very well. If it is continuously on, it tends to become rogue, and undiscerning and can cause harm to the body.

helping you live life well

Normally, inflammation is an amazing response by the body to fight off and defend itself from infectious, toxic or traumatic stimuli. Something happens, a bacterial invasion, an injury or trauma perhaps, and this triggers the body to mobilise cells and substances to destroy toxic invaders and repair damaged tissues. If the body is continually exposed to triggers alerting it to danger, the body has a permanent inflammatory response going on and that’s where the problem arises. In its fit and functioning form, the inflammatory response is a key part of our immune system. It’s how the body protects us against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.

Once triggered, it signals other systems in the body that rush in to help. A whole complex network of biochemical pathways are involved. Participants like mast cells and lymphocytes are all over the body, in the blood, in the organs and under the skin. They’re like traffic cops driving around looking out for any potential danger. When they mobilise together it’s called the ‘inflammatory cascade’. This battalion of healing, or fighting cells will either rush to a particular area or they mobilise throughout your system. If you cut your finger, twist your ankle for instance, they’ll rush to finger or ankle. If your throat or chest gets infected they’ll arrive at the scene. You might get redness or swelling in

the affected area, or heat, fever and pain. These are all signs the body has mounted an immune and inflammatory response.

•

Many other cells are also released into the blood stream, including macrophages, leukocytes, cytokines and fibroblasts. Their primary function is to assist the ‘destroy and repair’ process.

•

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OUR BODIES SURVIVE THOUSANDS OF MINOR INVASIONS AND INJURIES ALMOST EVERY DAY BY ACTIVATING OUR IMMUNE AND INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES.

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This activation is what essentially allows our bodies to survive the literally thousands of minor invasions and injuries we are subjected to on a daily basis. Without it we would quickly succumb to invasion and damage. So it’s a critical process in our ability to survive the multitude of acute or sudden attempts at invasion. Or the times we injure ourselves either by accident, or through sport or other trauma. In these instances, it’s a specific stimulus that activates the inflammatory cascade and initiates the healing response, which is often about 3 – 5 days, until everything settles and you continue as normal. CHRONIC INFLAMMATION Another scenario, the one where the problem arises, is when the inflammatory cascade is excessively stimulated over a long period of time. This is called chronic inflammation. Here, the same cells and processes are activated, but the body can’t ‘switch off’ the process. This over, or excess stimulation is far more common than one might expect. In fact, most people living in the developed world in cities, without being aware of it, have a level of mild to moderate on-going inflammation, and sometimes even severe chronic inflammation. Unfortunately, chronic inflammation is usually not diagnosed until a significant health challenge manifests itself. Here are some of the signs of chronic inflammation:

•

• • •

Stiff muscles and joints in the mornings Generalized muscular tension and fibromyalgia Systems not functioning optimally – constipation, allergies and food intolerances, weight gain and insulin resistance, excess fat accumulation, recurrent sinus and other infections, headaches, mood disturbance and depression, acne All diseases – heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, diabetes, strokes Chronic pain Constant fatigue Arthritis and other auto-immune diseases

It’s very important then, to know what type of triggers or stimulus stops the inflammatory response from being turned off. They’re mostly found in our lifestyle choices and in the environment. Virtually everything we are exposed to through the day carries a type of cellular messaging ability. This cellular messaging affects our cells in one of two ways; pro life i.e. encourages cellular health, or pro death i.e. does the opposite. Here are some of the things pro death cellular messages are triggered by: • • • • • • • • • •

toxicity and chemical exposure the body’s inability to detoxify free radicals, pollution trans-fats, acidity food allergens (gluten) and genetically modified foods smoking, medication, alcohol sugar and processed foods high fructose corn starch food colourants, additives and preservatives sleep deprivation, stress

Perhaps you can now appreciate why chronic inflammation is so prevalent. It’s stimulated by just about everything! When these triggers continually bombard our cells, different immune and inflammatory substances are produced, like cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins and the like. These also cause cellular messaging processes, which can cause DNA mutations – the kind of mutations that show up as cancer or other chronic degenerative diseases. Chronic inflammation is a serious

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GABA is a natural amino-acid mostly known for its effect on the nervous system. GABA can be used to assist with anxiety, panic disorders, stress and sleep.

side effect of the modern, fast paced and stressful lifestyle many of us live. This is also why inflammation is such a ‘hot’ topic. It’s considered the underlying cause of virtually every one of the chronic degenerative diseases. HOW IS INFLAMMATION DIAGNOSED? Diagnosis is made after careful evaluation of many factors including a full and comprehensive medical history, diet history, physical exam, X-Rays and blood tests. The hs–CRP blood test is a very reliable and simple measure of systemic and chronic inflammation. Other important diagnostic tests include fasting insulin level, fasting glucose level, homocysteine, Vitamin D, thyroid panel and thyroid anti-bodies and iron studies. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ‘TURN OFF’ THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE? If chronic inflammation is the underlying cause of your state of dis–ease or disease, then an anti-inflammatory lifestyle is highly important to stop disease progression, or prevent disease in the first place. You can reduce the inflammatory load by avoiding the triggers that set off the release of the inflammatory cells.

HERE’S A CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO AVOID THAT STIMULATE INFLAMMATION:

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processed and refined carbohydrates processed foods, fast foods, gluten sugar, saturated fats, weight gain alcohol, high caffeine intake high acid foods high fat vs lean body composition chemical exposure, especially cigarette smoke high stress levels, interrupted sleep patterns

Mild to moderate exercise a least 3 times a week helps prevent inflammation build up.

•

Omega 3 essential fatty acids (EPA/ DHA) and Omega 6 Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) also have a noted antiinflammatory effect.

Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle most of us choose is generally an inflammatory type of lifestyle. That’s why many of the chronic degenerative diseases on the increase are directly linked to modern lifestyle choices. It is also widely accepted that many inflammatory triggers are introduced very early on in life. This leaves very young children to manifest conditions associated with chronic inflammation, and effectively sets them up for significant health challenges later in life. It’s important to note that some people have a genetic predisposition to inflammation, which means they are more prone to the effects of chronic inflammation. If so, extra care is needed to avoid an inflammatory lifestyle and avoid the early onset of chronic degenerative diseases.

Dr Lentin has been in private practice for more than 30 years. While his is core interest revolves around the diagnosis, treatment and management of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, his continual search to deepen his understanding of ‘wellness’ led him to study and practice Functional Medicine. He now focuses his years of study and clinical experience on a more integrated approach to health and wellness, incorporating his skills in the musculo-skeletal (chiropractic), bio-nutritional and functional wellness (Functional Medicine) as well as the psycho-emotional realms to offer patients a holistic approach to health care. •

•

Herbs like ginger, turmeric, Boswellia, Capsiacin and Cat’s Claw, have an anti inflammatory effect.

helping you live life well

1976 graduated from the University of Natal with a B. Social Science, majoring in Psychology. 1984 graduated Doctor of Chiropractic, Cum Laude, from Life Chiropractic College, in Atlanta, Georgia. 2004 Diploma in Applied Clinical Nutrition from the Academy of Nutrition, in Sydney, Australia 2006 & 2012 Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice’

Contact Dr Kevin Lentin at Constantia Chiropractic Clinic, 36 Constantia Road, Wynberg, W Cape Tel: 021 797-8056

health

EXPLORING

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE MANY QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTORS ARE OPTING TO USE TRADITIONAL, HOLISTIC AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALING ARTS IN THEIR PRACTICES. THEY’RE REFERRED TO AS INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS AND ADOPT AN APPROACH TO HEALING THAT RECOGNISES THE HOLISTIC AND UNIQUE NATURE OF HUMAN BEINGS. INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE ALSO FOCUSES ON THE ORIENTATION OF MEDICINE FROM ONE OF DISEASE TO ONE OF HEALING. WE ASK DR SEDICKA LASKERY WHY SHE’S SO PASSIONATE ABOUT INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE.

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EACH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS THEIR OWN STRUCTURED AND HOLISTIC APPROACH

“

did you know? Integrative Medicine encompasses principles from Traditional Medicine where doctors practice an organic and intuitive medicine, where biochemistry leads to bioenergy, experiment to experience, parts to whole’s and individual organs to complex dynamic systems.

helping you live life well

E AV S H CT ST U U D M RO P

In Integrative Medicine practice, the practitioner and individual work together to find a management protocol that’s best suited to the person. It’s a protocol that investigates the cause of disease in a holistic way and supports health using the least invasive and most natural approach. Whichever healing system it uses, the important thing is that it focuses on the cause of the imbalance or disease. When assessing an individual it considers the mind, spirit, (higher consciousness - subconscious and superconscious) and community as well as the body. Disease prevention measures and wellness initiatives are encouraged, and so are practices that stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Where possible, we use natural, less invasive interventions before costly, invasive ones. Integrative doctors are expected to follow their own healing advice and be open to self-exploration. Integrative Medicine acknowledges the art of medicine and looks at the body systemically, observing patterns, relationships, complexity, intuition and experience. “lntegration is, in essence, about integrating many different healing disciplines to address health using a much more comprehensive model. Integration means supporting lifestyle cultivating balance and preventing disease,” explains Dr Laskery. “I see humans as intensely complex with a host of causative factors that contribute to their unique set of circumstances. Everything about life, history, thoughts, the psyche, cultural observances, genetics, relationship factors, lifestyle, habits, inclinations, limitations and worldview can contribute to a frame of mind and body that emanate wellness or display disease symptoms. Integrative medicine is able to interpret patterns according to all these factors and give a much deeper understanding of a path to healing, says Dr Laskery. “It’s also highly satisfying to delve deeply into the intricate workings of each individual to find the best route to health that works with a specific lifestyle.” Dr Laskery refers to Unani-Tibb, a natural system of medicine that looks at specific individual temperament that matches the best advice for individual tendencies. Some people are more suited to rigorous exercise, some to more gentler forms, certain people need more sleep than others, some might thrive on a certain diet whereas the same

diet might be detrimental to another. Lifestyle is incredibly important; someone who is entirely sedentary might be getting sluggish and feeling ill simply from lack of exercise. Without exploring the length and breadth of a person’s lifestyle it’s impossible to find the best treatment plan to lead them to wellness.

“

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE (SASIM) NOTES A WORLDWIDE INTEGRATION PROCESS AMONG MEDICAL DOCTORS AS PRECEDING THE NEXT PARADIGM SHIFT IN MEDICINE, ONE WHICH WILL MOVE AWAY FROM SPECIALISATION IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND DRUGS, TOWARDS A MORE ENERGETIC UNDERSTANDING.

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Integrative medicine uses 3 main pillars when assessing a treatment plan. The first looks at lifestyle and encourages managing things like: Healthy food choices; appropriate and sufficient exercise; keeping an appropriate weight-to-height ratio; the ability to process and remove toxins from the body; managing stress; finding a psycho-spiritual balance. The second involves managing any underlying dysfunctions. Ailments and imbalances in the body can be indicators of impending disease. Dysfunctions always show up before disease. They might look like imbalances in the form of insulin resistance, nutrient deficiencies, under- or over-functioning glands, sympathetic or parasympathetic imbalance, too much or too little stomach acid, immune system imbalance, hormonal imbalance, pH abnormalities, metabolic disturbances and so on. Integrative Medical doctors look for tell tale symptoms before they manifest as disease and recommend interventions that work with the body’s own systems, to correct the imbalances. The third pillar looks at treating disease. If preventative practices are followed, body’s

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own innate healing processes will correct the body’s deficiencies and imbalances and disease won’t manifest. Herbal, nutritional supplementation or homeopathic medicines are often used synergistically to initiate healing or drugs and surgery, might also be used to relieve symptoms. In the case of surgery or stronger interventions, natural remedies are also used to support the body’s own ability to heal.

INTRODUCING AFRICAN FOREST MEDICINALS’ RANGE OF LONGEVITY & IMMUNE-BOOSTING WILD-HARVESTED TINCTURES All of our products contain wild-harvested mushrooms and herbs. Wild-grown mushrooms/herbs are superior to cultivated ones in a variety of ways: • They have developed more potent chemical defences against predators and it is these chemicals that form the protective “medicines” that are so beneficial to us. • They are more highly mineralised than cultivated herbs as they grow in pristine, wild nature, with its highly mineralised soils. • They have absorbed all of the wild energies of its environment, which in turn are passed on to us and help to keep us more closely connected to our own wilder, more natural state of being.

“Lifestyle choices especially, have a number of acute and chronic diseases to answer to. I feel it’s highly important to help individuals understand wellness, what it means and take the initiative to be pro-active about their health. My aim is to encourage people towards a healthier balanced lifestyle and away from disease through preventative and holistic healing.  So despite how fit we may consider ourselves or ‘nutritionally balanced’ we are all continuously exposed to toxins in both our inner and outer environment. Homeostatic mechanisms in the body, moderated through our biorhythms and natural cycles, make sure that healing is always present and functioning. Toxic interference, genetics and many more complex factors play a role in the patterns and levels of dysfunctions. That’s why we should all strive to overcome dysfunctions and work towards sustainable health. Each individual needs their own structured and holistic approach”, says Dr Laskery.

Possible Benefits: Wild Red Reishi - immune-modulator, anti-cancer, anti-aging/longevity, anti-stress/calming, liver tonic/detoxifier Turkey Tail - potent anti-antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-cancer, immune-modulating, energy-boosting Passion Flower - hormone-balancing, counters “estrogen dominance”, mood-enhancing Our medicinal mushroom tinctures are “dual” hot water and alcohol extracts. This means that the active ingredients are actually extracted from the hard, chitin-walled cells of the mushrooms, making them bioavailable to the body. This is a vital process, as without this the active ingredients (polysaccharides and triterpenes) cannot be absorbed and used by the body. Non-extracted, powdered mushroom material does not give you the same benefits.

helping you live life well

“Integrative Medicine supports our innate intelligence and works in unison to cultivate balance. The spectrum of disciplines and healing innovations is enormous but the greater power at work is bigger than we will ever understand or grasp.” HEALING DISCIPLINES USED BY INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE: African Traditional; Anthroposophical; Antiageing; Ayurvedic; Functional; Traditional Chinese; Unani Tibb. THERAPIES USED: Acupunture; BEMER, BEST, Bio-puncture, Chelation, Energy, Flower Essence, Homotoxicology, Hypnotherapy, Intramuscular Stimulation, Intravenous Nutritional Therapy, Kinesiology, Laser, Lifestyle changes, Live Blood Analysis, Meditation & Visualisation, Mindfulness, Nutrition, Ozone, Prolotherapy, Psycho-neuro-immunology, Psychophonetics, Quantec, Reiki, Rife, SCIO, Trauma Release, VoiceBio.

Dr. Sedicka Laskery MBCHB Stell, Integrative Medicine Specialist supporting health and cultivating balance. Find Doctor Sedicka Laskery on www.holistica.co.za or on Facebook: www.facebook. com/IntegrativeCreativeWellness/ Twitter: (@DrSlaskery): www.twitter.com/DrSlaskery?s=08 Instagram: @integrative_creative_ wellness.

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SAVING THE SURVIVORS CREATING HOPE FROM HURT EVERY RHINO IS WORTH SAVING, NO MATTER WHAT THE EFFORT INVOLVED. BECAUSE IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME THERE MAY ONLY BE A FEW LEFT, AND BY THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE. This is what veterinary surgeon and Saving the Survivors co-founder Dr. Johan Marais urges us to remember. Inspired by the fighting spirit of Hope, a white rhino he treated after she suffered a gruesome poaching attack, Dr. Marais teamed up with Dr. Gerhard Steenkamp to launch a passionate campaign they have come to call ‘surgical conservation’, in which they use their experience as veterinarians to help the injured wildlife they encounter, particularly in the aftermath of poaching attacks. Hope’s will to survive in her mutilated state is what motivates the Saving the Survivors vets to continue to give each victim of cruelty the fighting chance they deserve. Dr. Steenkamp explains: “There is no manual on how to deal with the kinds of wounds that we are seeing

on poached rhino. What we are learning every day will allow us to try to ensure the continuation of this iconic species that is being killed for something that has no medical benefit to humans.” Hope, who has now undergone four surgeries as part of her recovery, has become a living symbol of the poaching crisis – and a reminder not to give up the fight for survival against the odds. Saving the Survivors’ mission to rescue and care for rhinos that have survived poaching attacks is heavily dependent on donations from the public. To find out more about how you can help them in this worthy cause, visit www.savingthesurvivors.org

Proguard Natura is a range of natural products which have been independently tested by a Medicines Control Council accredited testing laboratory and /or extensively field tested for efficacy. All products are child safe and contain no chemicals, no alcohol, are non-toxic and biodegradable

Apply to exposed skin, linen, curtains, clothing, tents etc for a mosquito free experience at the braai, outdoor show or camping. – Toddlers to Adults Contains no DEET

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Apply to any surface and be assured it is bacteria free. Counter tops, cutting boards, toilet seats, gym equipment etc.Use as a waterless hand cleanser. Does not contain Triclosan.

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Apply to wounds, cuts and abrasions to prevent infection. Does not contain Triclosan.

Utilising this product will ensure your hands are totally bacteria free (including MRSA, E-Coli, Staphyloccocus Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa). Reduce stomach related illness.

Be proactive and prevent head lice by spraying your child’s hair in the morning before school. Also apply to those sports caps that are shared.

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DID YOU KNOW?

According to numerous studies, there are more than 800 chemicals commonly used in commercial skin care products and cleaning products, 44 of which are potentially harmful. The body lotions, hand creams and moisturizers you are using to soften your skin may actually be causing dry, cracked and scaly skin. Those same chemicals, when applied, are absorbed through the skin and into your body. Once in the body, the chemicals have to be processed by your liver.

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Find more about Nicole Sherwin on www.ecodiva.co.za or email her on nicole@ecodiva.co.za Twitter: ecodivanicole

helping you live life well

CLEANING OUT

THE NASTIES by Nicole Sherwin

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE USING TO CLEAN YOUR HOME OR YOUR BODY? I’m referring to the ingredients found in most cleaning products. Famous brands, made famous by clever marketing and advertising campaigns seduce us into believing that these products are good for us and our family and pets. But are they? A label says it all and most of us don’t question or think about it much. We purchase our body and beauty creams without pause and our cleaning products without hesitation. Our favourite creams with favourite fragrances that moisturize, tantalize and seduce our senses. Delicious descriptions like body butter, anti-aging, skin revitalizer, plant extracts, Hawaii

coconut, strawberry-vanilla and Bali-mango cream, entice us to buy and spread this deliciousness all over our skin, the largest organ of the body. We clean our homes while breathing in the product fumes and prepare our food on surfaces cleaned with these products. And why wouldn’t we? If government agencies have approved the ingredients and they are right in front of us on the shelves, shouldn’t we trust them? Surely they’ve been tested and found to be safe - especially when the brands say ‘natural’ herbal extracts.

Well, quite possibly not. Trusting everything available for purchase, without conscious knowledge about the ingredients lurking beneath the attractive packaging can be misleading. We live in a world where the only real control we have is over ourselves, and the choices we make. So I urge you to get to know your favourite brands inside and out. Check the labels to see if they have ingredients in them like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Petrochemicals, Cocoamide, Methylparaben or Propylparaben.

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BE MORE EARTHFRIENDLY BY MAKING CONSCIOUS CHOICES ABOUT THE CLEANING PRODUCTS YOU USE IN YOUR HOME

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Let’s look at a typical ingredient list on a jar of common hand cream: Water, - Stearic Acid, - Sorbitol, Glycerin, - C-12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, - Sodium Borate - TEA, - Cetyl Alcohol, - Dimethicone, - Aloe Vera, Phenoxyethanol, - Propylene Glycol, - Quince Extract, - Tocopheryl Acetate, - Cocoamide, Lauramide, Potassium Sorbate, - EDTA, - Allantoin, - Methyl Paraben, - Propyl Paraben, - Butyl Paraben, - Menthol Now let’s break down some of these ingredients from various studies and research: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This is actually car wash soap, specifically an engine degreaser and a garage and concrete floor-cleaner. When used in beauty and hair products it is known to surround the hair follicles and keep it from growing, with the result that hair falls out. In toothpaste it is known to possibly weaken enamel on teeth and cause cavities: SLS is very abrasive and may burn the skin, mouth or scalp. The journal of the American College of Toxicology reports that (SLS) is easily absorbed into your skin and builds up in your heart, liver, lungs, and brain even if you wash it right off after using it!

Cocoamide, Lauramide DEA (diethanolamine): These chemicals are readily absorbed through the skin, they’re potentially cancer causing ingredients found in many mainstream cosmetics and toiletries. They reacts with nitrates in cosmetics to form another potential carcinogen/DEA. Your blood cells immediately direct it through your skin to the body’s organs, particularly the liver, kidneys and heart. Petrochemicals Almost all skin care products contain synthetic substances like petroleum, which are chemically based. What’s alarming is that the manufacturers deem it necessary to test them on animals. Studies have found that oral and topical application of petrochemicals in rodents resulted in anemia, kidney degeneration, and nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. Even more disturbing was that several animals died before the study ended. Parabens Also known as Methylparaben, Propylparaben, IIsoparaben, Butylparaben. Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They have been linked to possible carcinogenicity, as well as an estrogenic effect from being exposed to the continued use of parabens as preservatives. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report “Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change?” reported that the parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. It is a known medical fact that estrogen stimulates breast cancer and anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the concentration of an oral dose. These chemicals can be found in face and body moisturizers, body wash, cleansers and cleaning products. So, with this alarming knowledge, how do we ensure that we are living a healthy life through our everyday regimen? It’s really all about educating ourselves and ensuring that we know what we are buying. Make sure you do your research before you blindly sanction the products you use and choose chemical-free, safe products.

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THE DELICIOUS TASTE OF SUNSHINE THAT RESONATES IN ORGANICALLY GROWN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES CAN’T BE IGNORED.

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DID YOU KNOW? There’s no such thing as organic fish. Although the possibility of creating organic standards for farmed fish is on the National Organic Program’s agenda, no consensus has been reached.

GOING

ORGANIC by Kirsten Alexander

DISCOVER WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO GO ORGANIC AS WE UNPACK EVERYTHING FROM WHAT DEFINES THE PROCESS TO PRODUCT COMPLIANCY. READ ON FOR ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA’S ORGANIC FOODS. FOOD VIBRATIONS As the world begins to fully recognise the importance of good nutrition and healthy living, organic and healthy food markets are springing up all over the countryside, and local stores are offering more variety of real food. It’s no longer a chore to do your weekly grocery shopping; it’s becoming an adventure of the senses. Nature’s own energy life force is intricately infused into the very core of food – the soil, rain and sunshine that works seamlessly together to bring forth a plant is so suffused in natural intelligence and beauty it deserves to be revered. That energy is

helping you live life well

transferred into your body when you eat – but it’s more than just about getting your daily fuel. It’s about connecting to the fundamental energy that brings life to everything on the planet.

It stands to reason that the more a food is processed, the more it’ll lose its natural life force and vibration – which is why raw and organic is touted so much as the basis for a healthy diet.

Whether you’re a vegan or a meat-eater, nature offers you a vast array of every possible nutrient to help you sustain physical, mental and spiritual energy – to sustain life. Food’s intelligence is in the myriad differences in each type of food – its unique combination of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fats, carbohydrates, fibre and sugar.

Nature gives clues to the type of energy infused in food as well – for example, a potato that grows in the ground will give you a solid, grounding energy, while spinach grows up and out of the ground, lifting its leaves towards the sunlight and gives you a more uplifting energy. Something infused with chemicals will lose its vitality, meaning your body won’t see much benefit from eating it.

Really ORGANIC?

Yes!

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WHAT IS ORGANIC? But what does organic really mean? Essentially, the word organic means ‘relating to or derived from living organisms’. With that definition, then, all food could be deemed organic. However, the general understanding of organic is unadulterated – no added chemicals or pesticides, well-nourished soils used to grow produce, or animal feed that’s chemical and toxin-free.

rehabilitated, a process that takes about three years on average. There is also a difference between products that contain organically certified ingredients but were not necessarily made utilising an organic process - which means they are not 100% organic.

It’s also understood to be closer to how Mother Nature intended. Most people believe that organic food is packed with more goodness than conventionally created food. But, it really goes deeper than that – many commercially available cereal for example, offer added vitamins and minerals, theoretically making them even better for you than a ‘natural’ cereal.

CONVENTIONAL

While added vitamins and minerals may assist in keeping your daily intake of essentials in check, the grain these are added to may be genetically modified and not contain the whole grain (many cereals only contain the endosperm, the least nutritious and most calorific part of the grain). Many of the fruit and vegetables available in stores are flaunted as being ‘longlife’ and they do tend to stay fresher or crispier for longer. In today’s world, we expect to be able to buy fruit on a Saturday and still have it as fresh the next weekend. But the question is – how does it stay so ‘fresh’? Genetic modification and chemicals, of course. If you want convenience and week-long freshness, you may have to forgo natural goodness. WHAT MAKES IT ORGANIC? In South Africa there are two types of certification for organic produce and products: ‘certified organic’ and ‘organic in conversion’. ‘Certified organic’ means the farmers or producers of the food or product have undergone an official and industry-recognised process of application, inspection, compliance and authentication that entitles them to use the label. ‘Organic in conversion’ means the farmers or producers are still in the process of getting the organic certification. In the case of agriculture, for example, the produce is being farmed using organic methods but the soils in which they grow have not been completely

helping you live life well

CERTIFICATION ORGANISATIONS, STANDARDS AND INDICATORS: •

The Mayo Clinic offers a chart of some of the key differences between conventional and organic farming methods:

• •

• • • • •

Chemical fertilizers applied to promote plant growth To fight against pests and disease, spray synthetic insecticides Weeds are managed with synthetic herbicides Animals are given antibiotics and medications to prevent disease, and growth hormones to speed growth

ORGANIC • •

•

Use natural fertilisers to feed the soil and plants, like manure or compost Use pesticides from natural sources; employ beneficial insects and birds, and traps or mating disruption to reduce pests and disease Environmentally-generated plantkilling compounds, crop rotation, tilling, mulching or hand weeding for weed management Animals are fed on organic feed and allowed free access to roam. For disease prevention, rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing are provided

ORGANIC RULES Currently, South Africa has no legislation, regulation or standard controlling organic agriculture production. The organic sector, with support and co-operation from our government, has begun a process to develop a set of voluntary standards as an interim measure. In the meantime, the labelling of organic products is subject to the Consumer Protection Act and the Advertising Standards Authority. Currently the protection of the consumer and the control of labelling are effectively done by the retail sector in co-operation with suppliers and the various certifying bodies operating in the country.

•

Carbon Protocol of South Africa info@carbonprotocol.org Eco Standard South Africa 021 530 1899 WIETA Agricultural Ethical Trade Initiative (South Africa) 021 880 0580 SGS South Africa 011 800 1000 Ecocert 0033 5 62 07 34 24

ONE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT It’s well recognised that organic farming methods are kinder to the environment. It hasn’t been scientifically proven, however, that organic food is indeed healthier for you – but, that’s not so say it isn’t so. Also, the delicious taste of sunshine that resonates in organically grown fruit and vegetables can’t be ignored. Whether you go for only organic or choose to mix organic with conventional, keep the following tips in mind: •

Variety – eat a variety of food from a variety of sources to ensure you get a better mix of nutrients and reduce your exposure to a single pesticide

•

Be seasonal – be kind to the environment and keep it green by consuming fresh produce that’s in season

•

Savvy reading – just because its organic, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a healthier or lower fat option – some organic food may still be high in sugar, fat or salt

•

Keep it clean – wash fresh produce under clean running water to remove traces of chemicals, dirt and bacteria. You could opt to peel fruit or vegetables, but that does mean you’ll lose out on some valuable fibre

Healthy eating tip: Choose foods with the least ingredients listed. Also, in the words of Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, if you don’t understand a word on the ingredient list, don’t buy it.

100% organic fertilizer For your herb and veggie garden WHY CHOOSE GO ORGANIC? 2 ℓ makes 80 ℓ of plant food 100% organic natural seabird guano Won’t burn plant or roots Use as a foliar spray or soil nutrition ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: It allows better metabolism of nitrates in plants. Stronger cell walls lead to flavour enhancement, resistance to mould fungus attack and more upright stems and open leaves and enhanced photosynthesis. There are more fertile and viable seed production.

It causes an increase in soil-micro-fauna. Resulting produce has a longer shelf life and food is better to eat.

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Company Reg. No.: 2014/283523/07. Use products only as directed, follow instructions as per label. All products: Act 36 of 1947. GO ORGANIC Reg. Nr. B3839 Act 36 of 1947. Active Ingredient: N 0.91%; P 1474mg/kg; K 2293mg/kg; Ca 3.9mg/kg; Mg 0.1%; Na 1719mg/kg; Mn 0.01mg/g; Fe 2.51mg/kg; Cu 0.56mg/kg; Zn 0.61mg/kg; B 0.67mg/kg. Registration Holder: GO ORGANIC (2003/021759/07).

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SACRED SOIL SOIL IS THE BASIC RAW MATERIAL OF ALL LAND-BASED LIFE. THE WAY WE VIEW AND TREAT THIS SACRED RESOURCE CAN EITHER HARNESS OR HINDER ITS LIFE-GIVING POTENTIAL.

NORMAN HABEL’S PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINING SACRED SOIL • • • •

While it’s true that the basic structure of soil consists of rock particles broken down by the elements over time, to regard it as a mere collection of mineral particles (or worse, as ‘dirt’) is to overlook the large part of its makeup that is the organic matter essential for all plant and animal life.

DID YOU KNOW? •

•

What you see in your garden is simply the surface of the soil. Soil is made up of three layers: topsoil, subsoil, and the soil parent matter. There are five main soil types: clay, sand, silt, chalk and peat. All have various advantages and disadvantages. Just as a healthy body is more resistant to infections, so healthy soil builds up a plant’s resistance to attacks. Healthy soil is soil rich in humus – the brokendown organic matter that is its ‘life force’.

Nature builds herself on the foundation of the fertility of the soil. Life within the soil itself is rich, consisting mostly of the invisible bacteria and fungi that form the base of the food chain, transforming mineral and decaying matter into sustenance for life. The healthier this microscopic life, the healthier the rest of life. Our own bodies need a healthy community of micro-organisms for our digestive and immune health. In a beautiful and intimately connected web of life, these micro-organisms start in the soil, move into plants, and then enter our own internal eco-systems in a way that we so often take for granted. There’s nothing more life giving than eating fresh whole foods from rich, healthy soil – soil so balanced that no chemical fertilisers, pesticides or fungicides are required in its maintenance. The most significant way in which organic gardening differs from other gardening methods is, in fact, in the treatment of the soil.

In order to nurture ideal soil (which has a crumbly structure, is rich in organic matter, drains well and is capable of providing the nutrients needed for healthy plant growth), Organic Gardening (Dorling Kindersley, 2011) author Geoff Hamilton suggests the following four phases of soil management:

• • •

•

Soil is to be served not subdued Soil is to be rejuvenated with rest Soil is to be celebrated as alive Soil is to be heard and heeded

Analyse your soil type (it’s best to send a sample away for professional testing) Use soil conditioners (like compost and manure) Add general fertiliser (such as blood, fish, and bone meal or pelleted chicken manure) Use specific fertilisers (such as a potash fertiliser to encourage flower and fruit formation; extra nitrogen fertiliser for leafy plants that remain in the ground for a long time; and phosphate before planting trees) Avoid chemical fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides

As Australian Pastor and Professor Norman Habel reminds us: “We are soil beings with a responsibility to serve and sustain the soil as the very source of our being. We are kin with all that has evolved from the soil and ought to be concerned not only with our kin but with mother soil. We are called to sustain the soil as sacred.”

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“THE SOIL IS THE GREAT CONNECTOR OF OUR LIVES, THE SOURCE AND DESTINATION OF ALL.” Wendell Berry

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Homeopathic Care Kit for winter ailments

Homeopathic

care kit for winter ailments Boiron Laboratories brings you a comprehensive range of homeopathic medicines to assist you and your family with the treatment of winter ailments, including flu symptoms, coughs, colds, sinus, sore throat and laryngitis.

Because of their homeopathic formulations, these products have no known side-effects and can be used by everybody in the family. • Not habit-forming • No drug interaction • No drowsiness • Contains no stimulants The Boiron Homeopathic Range is available at leading pharmacies and health shops countrywide. For more information, e-mail marketing@lebron.co.za. Products contain sucrose and lactose. Persons intolerant to these ingredients should take these preparations only on advice from a practitioner. Consult your practitioner if symptoms persist.

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Anemone pulsatilla 6 CH - 0.95g, Antimonium tartaricum 6 CH - 0.95g, Bryonia 3 CH - 0.95g, Coccus cacti 3 CH - 0.95g, Drosera MT - 0.95g, Ipecacuanha 3 CH - 0.95g, Myocarde 6 CH 0.95g, Rumex crispus 6 CH - 0.95g, Spongia tosta 3 CH - 0.95g, Sticta pulmonaria 3 CH - 0.95g, Tolu syrup - 19.00g, Senega syrup - 19.00g, Excipient q.s.p.100.00g. U2161 (Act 101/1965)

CORYZALIA® TABLETS Allium cepa 3 CH, Sabadilla 3 CH, Gelsemium 3 CH, Belladonna 3 CH, Kalium bichromicum 3 CH, Pulsatilla 3 CH. U2137 (Act 101/1965)

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THE POLITICS OF YES

SUSTAINABLE LIVING IF YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT THE WORLD, ABOUT FOOD SUPPLY, THE RISING COST OF POWER AND EXTINCTION OF SPECIES; IF YOU LACK A SENSE OF COMMUNITY; DISLIKE THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC, PROCESSED FOOD AND DAILY DRUDGE, RATHER THAN WAITING FOR A REVOLUTION, YOU MIGHT WANT TO JOIN AN ECO-VILLAGE. WE SPEAK TO HEART AND EARTH ACTIVIST JEANPIERRE LE ROUX ON CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY, HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY, MEDICINE, MAGIC AND MORE. “Oftentimes people expect politics to be the means for changes in our world. But politics has become deeply corrupt, and no longer serves the whole. So rather embody the required changes”, says Jean-Pierre. “Take it upon yourself to engage in your own politics of transformation.”

wisely and compassionately we function in the world. Managing our own nutritional environment, and so our inner terrain, is fundamental to the ability each of us has to be an authentic loving presence in the world.

a collective way of living based on the heart and the presumption of inherent unity. “And hopefully”, says Jean-Pierre, “one leaves their patch of earth in better shape than they found it.”

If the whole world waited for someone else to fix things… which is actually happening to a large degree, then we get what we have. But how would the world look if everyone simply did what was required?

“FOR HUMANS TO SURVIVE AS A SPECIES, WE MUST RE-LEARN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO WORK TOGETHER.”

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“This kind of initiative, done by more and more people, is what will re-ground us, restore the sanity of our culture and heal a wounded planet. “

The process of regenerating the earth and restoring people to an authentic human culture is embodied in the concept of the eco-village, which is a human-scale settlement, or small village, where the basics of life are handled directly from within. Health is maintained by growing your own clean nutritious food; collective emotional sanity is fostered though the positive relational process, and wealth is generated through self-created sustainable economy. “In my early twenties I had a profoundly deep experience that showed me that the way I was living as a human being was not aligned with my deepest nature. And so began the journey of recovering my authentic self and purpose.” “In that process it became obvious to me how nutrition is part of the foundation of sanity and happiness. Look at someone who has had too much alcohol and transforms from a rational human being into a raging lunatic. The only thing that’s changed is their blood chemistry, nothing else. And yet there is an entirely different person there. That observation led me naturally into the study of nutrition. Nutrition is foundational. It impacts us on physical, mental and emotional levels and literally affects how

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DOUGLAS STEVENSON, THE FARM, THEN AND NOW - A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING (NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS)

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“Growing your own food means you’re able to choose genetically stable heirloom seed, which produces better nutritional content, you can enrich the soil with your own compost, rock dust and desiccated kelp to ensure the highest mineralization for growing the most powerful superfoods. Ultimately you can handcraft a level of nutrition you won’t find anywhere except in your own garden.” “Of course there are challenges living in an eco-village – and that is really the great gift of community. To function in a communal circumstance we need to learn to meet others in empathy, humility, clarity and respect, and to endure, with grace and humour, the challenge that human life and relationship can be. This way of living is a kind of yoga or spiritual practice in itself.” An eco-village is a secure base from which to explore the planet and the deepest profundities of life - and is a place of learning, teaching and sharing. Planting trees, making art, dancing - and engaging

GREEN CANVAS OF LIGHT Green Canvas of Light is a Conscious Sustainability Project based on a 122 acre forest-farm in the Wilderness Lakes area of the Garden Route in Western Cape. It overlooks a protected lake and bird wetland, has excellent soil and ample water, and is 5 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. It’s focused on permaculture-based organic farming as a basis for healthy living and enduring food security. “If you want to know more about this project then we’re happy to share our ideas” says Jean-Pierre.

Depth Ecologist, Renaissance Man and Student of Life and Consciousness, Jean-Pierre Le Roux has over 20 years experience in Transpersonal Therapy, Biological Terrain Modification, Nutritional Healing and Natural Medicine Formulation. As a Life Coach his work is firmly grounded in the essential Unity of all Life and he has a passion for empowering others to rediscover their own inherent and Limitless Nature. He is co-creating, with like-minded individuals, a sustainable organic farm as a physical circumstance for this kind of creative work. If you wish to get involved then you can contact him 044-883-1020 or change@happen.is.

ECO-VILLAGES AROUND THE WORLD The Findhorn Foundation in Scotland is a well known eco-village established in 1962 by Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy Maclean. It’s a vibrant creative home to more than 400 people dedicated to create new ways of living that promote inner listening and self-knowledge; peaceful relationships; cooperation with nature and sustainability on all levels. Crystal Waters Eco-Village in Queensland, Australia was established around 1987, and is considered as one of the bestpractice eco-villages in the world. The 200 residents share 263 hectares of private land managed under permaculture principles. Community life is well integrated with cafes, entertainment deck, shop, rammed-earth bakery and monthly market. They have a range of successful businesses that include natural therapies, organic food production and sustainability training. Auroville was born on 28 February 1968 in Tamil Nadu in Southern India founded by Mirra Alfassa, ‘the Mother’. Auroville offers education and learning on sustainability and collective explorations in areas like green agriculture, integral yoga, Tai Chi, natural healing therapies, architecture, sustainability, spirituality, sports, art, wellness and more. One of their decrees is that work would not be a way to earn a living but a way to personal expression, development of capacities and possibilities while being of service to the community as a whole, which, for its own part, would provide for each individual’s subsistence and sphere of action.

ODE TO THE WHOLE EARTH CATALOGUE In 1968 Stewart Brand published his first Whole Earth Catalogue, an engaging catalogue of counterculture with everything you might need to elevate your consciousness, live off the earth or save humanity. Brand believed that given the necessary consciousness, information, and tools, human beings could reshape the world they had made (and were making) for themselves into something environmentally and socially sustainable. Philosophies and ideologies are mentioned alongside gardening tools with things like a Tipi, Universal Mill, a Dome cookbook, Human Bio-computer, Cuisenaire Rods, Village Technology, Cybernetics, Modern Utopia, Zen, Self-hypnotism, Beekeeping, a Theory of Instruction and everything else you could think of. Brand’s Whole Earth Catalogues were highly influential in the counterculture movement.

Gene-based Personalised Health and Nutrition

You would not build a house without plans, nor embark on a road trip without a map. CTG is the first clinical centre of its kind in the world; offering you a unique opportunity to translate your genetic results into diet, lifetsyle and health recommendations. Headed up by the Nutrigenomics expert Dr Yael Joffe PhD RD, the medical and nutrition team at CTG offer Gene-based Personalised Health

The Farm in Tennessee, United States started in 1971, when 60 brightly painted school buses and other vehicles carrying over 300 hippie idealists travelled to a piece of land with a collective vision of following a peaceful path and making a difference in the world. Their intention was to live on the land, produce their own food, build their own houses and take care of their own wellbeing.‘The Farm’ is an exceptional example of living lightly on the earth.

and Nutrition interventions. CTG works with genetic tests that cover the areas of: •

Weight Management

•

Disease Prevention and Management

•

Optimal Health

•

Sports Performance

•

Drug Response.

Contact Us 17 Roeland Square, Drury Lane, Gardens 021 461 2530 info@ctgcentre.com www.ctgcentre.com facebook.com/CTGcentre/

grow

DID YOU KNOW? Blocks of solid tea were used in Siberia as currency up until the 1800s

GROW YOUR OWN

TEA GARDEN by Kirsten Alexander

LEAVES, BUDS AND PETALS CAN BE PLUCKED AND BOILED INTO TASTEFUL AND HEALING TEAS. FROM THE GROUND TO THE CUP, HERE’S HOW TO DO IT From heartache and bad days, to lazy Sunday afternoons and precious time spent with friends; tea is the universal drink of comfort. Second only to water, tea is the most consumed drink around the world; and the best part is, there’s a type of tea to suit every taste bud! So, why not try your hand at growing your own?

CAMELLIA SINENSIS Camellia Sinensis is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. This plant makes beautiful flowers during autumn and winter when little else wants to bloom. It’s also used in production of all of the world’s commercial teas, including white, green, oolong and black teas. Growing & Harvesting Camellia sinensis will usually thrive in sunny to partly shaded locations. If you decide to grow your Camellia sinensis in a pot, it’s best to move it to a sheltered place to protect the roots from freezing during very cold winter temperatures. You can prune it to a height of around a meter or so for easier harvesting, or you can allow it to grow naturally into a large shrub or small tree. The small white flowers that appear

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can be harvested, dried and added to the leaves to enhance the flavour of the tea. Different methods of growing, harvesting or processing are used to create the different teas from this species. TIP: The secret to making green tea is to harvest the top two leaves and leaf bud on the new spring growth. The new stems will be green in contrast to the brown stems from the previous year’s growth. Green tea is known as a stimulant, an antibacterial, and a diuretic. Vitamins and iron in green tea may also help lower cholesterol and slow the aging process. Making & Brewing Heat your Camellia sinensis leaves before they have a chance to oxidize or dehydrate. Steam the leaves for 1 to 2 minutes and then immediately run cold tap water over them to stop the heating process and to retain the green colour. Roll the soft, flexible leaves with your hands into tubes - a sushi-rolling device can also be used. Immediately after all the leaves are rolled, spread them in a dish and place them in an oven preheated to 120 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, turning them every five minutes to ensure even drying. The heating process is

finished when the leaves are totally dry and crispy. Store your dried leaves in a sealed glass container. The general guideline is one teaspoon (5 g) of green tea leaves per one cup of water. Place the desired amount of tea in a tea strainer over your mug. Pour heated water into the mug, over the tea leaves. Steep the tea leaves for around 2 - 3 minutes but not any longer, or else your tea will become slightly bitter. Allow it to cool and enjoy a delicious cup of homebrewed green tea.

LAVENDER, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA Lavender is a member of the mint family and is native to the Mediterranean areas of Europe and Africa with a range that extends into India and Asia. Of the 39 different species, one that stands out as the best for making tea is English lavender or, Lavandula angustifolia. Growing & Harvesting Lavender is easiest to grow when bought as a small plant from a nursery rather than growing it from seed. Lavender needs a sunny spot and can be grown in the ground or in a pot. If you’re growing in the garden,

avoid low-lying areas because lavender resents wet feet. If you’re growing in a pot, take care not to overwater and drown your Lavender plant. If your garden soil is heavy, add gravel or sand to improve the drainage. You may need to prune regularly to keep the plant to a manageable size. The flowers are primarily used to make the tea and can be picked and used right away, or harvested and dried for later use. The Lavender leaves may also be added to the tea for a stronger flavour. To dry your lavender, cut long stems before the flowers fully open, tie the stems together and hang the bunches in a cool dark place with good air circulation to prevent mould. When the flowers feel crispy, dry and brittle, you know they’re ready to be plucked and stored in a sealed container in a dark cupboard. Making & Brewing If you’re using fresh lavender, put two or three flower heads and a few leaves in a tea-strainer over your mug. Pour boiled water into the cup, over the tea-leaves and let it steep for around three minutes. Lavender is well known for its calming and relaxing qualities, helps prevent insomnia, helps fight off colds and coughs, and relieves upset stomachs.

ROSE HIP, ROSA RUGOSE Rose hips are a bulblike fruit that forms on roses after they’ve been pollinated by bees. If you want to try rose hip tea, be sure to leave the flower heads on the plants because the petals age and drop. Keep in mind that some roses that have been bred to have tightly packed petals so they may not form rose hips as bees may not be able to get in and pollinate the flower. Rose hips have about 20 times more vitamin C than oranges, and vitamin C helps the body maintain a healthy immune system.

Get all your garden essentials from

Growing & Harvesting The Rosa Rugosa is a great choice to grow for making rose hip tea. As with all roses, pick a sunny spot and dig a planting hole twice as big as the root ball — or select a pot twice as big as the root ball. Roses are hungry plants and will appreciate bonemeal and compost being added to the planting hole or potting mix. Follow the pruning instructions that came with your plant to encourage new growth and more flowers. Pick the hips when they are round and brightly coloured, which is normally in autumn. Be sure to pick enough to last for a few months. Cut off the dark furry tops and the bottom stem. Making & Brewing Rose hips have tiny hairs in their centre that must be removed before making your tea. You can do this by cutting the hips in half vertically and removing the hairs with a teaspoon. The next step is to put the hips in a blender and coarsely chop them. Spread the chopped hips on a baking sheet and put them in a warm oven set to the lowest temperature for around 20 minutes. Move the hips around every five minutes to ensure they dry out completely. If you didn’t manage to remove the hairs previously, you can do so now by putting the hips in a sieve and shaking until all the hairs fall through. Store the dried hips in a sealed glass container in a dry, dark location.

All herbs can be dried and brewed into teas. Here are 5 of our favourites and the benefits of brewing them: 1.

Echinacea: Commonly used to thwart colds and flu, it can also be taken to reduce lymphatic swelling, urinary tract infections, candida, and applied topically to heal wounds and treat skin conditions. Dandelion: The greens are more beneficial than the flowers. This plant is a diuretic, detoxifier, potassium rich, supports healthy liver and balances hormones and blood pressure. Lemon Balm: Incredibly effective at treating nervousness, insomnia, menstrual cramps and digestive disorders. St. John’s Wort: Well known as effective in treating depression, it can also treat menopause symptoms, migraines, pain from nerve damage and anxiety disorders. Nettles: An incredible blood detoxifier, diuretic, laxative and treatment for hayfever. Has also shown promise in treating Alzheimer’s and ADHD. Topically it can relieve dandruff and stop bleeding.

To brew the tea, place a teaspoon of dried rose hips in a saucepan with 1½ cups of water and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain into your teacup and serve hot. You can also make rose hip tea from freshly chopped rose hips, although the flavour isn’t quite as strong.

Starke Ayres Garden Centre supply plants, gardening products and landscaping services. They have a range of flowers and seed, and expert advice to help you with growing.

WIN WIN WIN

Purchase over R150 and stand to win a Starke Ayres gift voucher of R100. Each branch (Rosebank and Sunningdale) will be issuing 2 x R100 vouchers during the month of July. All you have to do is attach your purchase slip with your name, phone number and email address into the in-store competition box. Note that this applies to all purchases over R150 and is valid for the month of July 2016. Starke Ayres Garden Centre will contact the winner telephonically. Starke Ayres Rosebank, 21 Liesbeek Parkway, Rosebank, Cape Town Tel: 021 685 4120 Starke Ayres West Coast Garden Centre, West Coast Village Shopping Centre, Sunningdale, Cape Town Tel: 021 554 8450

WIN 49

nurture

THE ROOT OF BEAUTY by Kirsten Alexander

WE’RE ALL FOR NATURAL BEAUTY – BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T GET A LITTLE ADDITIONAL HELP FROM MOTHER NATURE; HERE WE SHOWCASE TOP TO TOE GREEN BEAUTY; ESSENTIAL GREEN PRODUCTS AND TIPS YOU’LL THANK US FOR AVOCADO HAIR TREATMENT Avocado is one of the top beauty secrets around the globe. This magical fruit does wonders for your face and hair. For a fabulous hair treatment follow this simple recipe: Grab an avocado, a banana, and a tablespoon of olive oil. Mash them all together in a bowl until the lumps are gone to make a paste. Rub the conditioning paste into the roots of your hair. Work it down from the roots to the tips. Read your favourite magazine for half an hour; then get in the shower and shampoo, condition and rinse as usual. The results will dazzle you! CAMELLIA OIL FOR STRETCH MARKS We’re all about loving our bodies; stretch marks, wrinkles and all. But there’s no

shame in softening some of those pesky body lines. Here’s a way you can tackle stretch marks and it’s never too early to start. Rub camellia oil onto affected areas every morning and evening. Over time, this reduces the appearance of stretch marks as well as other types of skin discoloration, like sun damage. COCONUT OIL CONDITIONER Who doesn’t lust for super soft, hydrated hair? This is yet another beauty area for coconut oil to shine. Use melted coconut oil as a deep conditioning hair and scalp treatment. Massage the oil into your scalp and work it through your hair to the tips. Leave it on for a couple of hours and wash it out using your favourite shampoo. Your hair will feel baby-soft and silky to the touch.

GREEN TEA YOUTH ENHANCER Green tea has anti-aging and antioxidant benefits that can help delay signs of skin aging, such as sagging skin, sun damage, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles. The polyphenols in green tea help neutralize harmful free radicals, which can cause significant damage to the skin and accelerate the aging process. Try this simple recipe for a glowing complexion: Mix 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of ground green tea leaves and a little turmeric powder. Apply this mix to your face and neck. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. Use this face mask once or twice a week for best results.

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THE BEST BEAUTY RESULT COMES FROM TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF EVERY DAY

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DID YOU KNOW?

In Ancient Rome, urine was often included as an ingredient in facial masks used by women. It was also commonly used by both men and women to whiten teeth.

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nurture

HONEY LEMON FACE MASK Place 4 or 5 drops of raw honey on an open lemon wedge. Rub the lemon on your face for a minute, keeping focus on any trouble areas. Leave the mixture on for 5 minutes and then rinse with cold water. This is a lovely refreshing face treatment to shrink pores and revitalise your skin. Keep in mind that citrus can make your skin photosensitive, so it’s best to do this before bed rather than before going outside. OATMEAL FOR SUNBURN If you’ve ever looked up the nutritional facts on the back of a box of oatmeal, you probably noticed it contains an abundance of minerals and vitamins that your body needs. That nutrition is great for your skin too. You can use oats to ease the pain of sunburn and speed up healing. Next time you’ve spent a little too much time in the sun, tie up some oats in gauze and then position it over the tap of your bathtub. Turn on the tap and fill the tub, allowing the water to filter through the bag with the oats. Oats have amazing anti-inflammatory healing properties; so soak in the bath for around 30 minutes and you’ll get fast relief from your sunburn. POTATO EYE RELIEF It’s common to get dark circles around your eyes when you are fatigued. The good news is you can get rid of them by cutting thin potato slices and putting them on top of your eyes for ten minutes. This gentle eye treatment will lighten the skin around your eyes. You’ll find this trick works particularly well if you do it routinely. It’s a perfect foil for early morning meetings – you’ll look awake and alert, whether you feel it or not. RICE WATER FACIAL RINSE Rice is packed full of antioxidants that can nourish your skin and fight harmful free radicals that lead to aging. Buy any rice you like and soak it in water for 20 minutes. Strain out the rice, and use a washcloth to mop the water onto your face. Do this once a week and you should notice a difference. SEA-SALT BODY SCRUB Your body scrub shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. A simple mix of a 2:1 ratio of olive oil and sea salt make a quick and effective body scrub. This helps get rid of dead skin cells creating softer, more glowing skin.

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MUST-HAVE INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE BEAUTY PRODUCTS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Olive Oil Coconut Oil Apple Cider Vinegar Raw Honey Baking Soda Which Hazel Shea Butter Tea Tree Oil Aloe Vera Eggs

TEA TREE OIL DANDRUFF FIX This is one of those tricks where a little bit goes a long way, so it’s well worth the investment. Add a couple of tea tree oil drops to your shampoo and you will be amazed at the difference. The tea tree oil will prevent scalp itching and flaking. You can also find tea tree oil shampoos for sale that already have this brilliant ingredient included. ZAP BLEMISHES No matter your age or excellent condition of your skin, pesky pimples can come out of nowhere. With two ingredients homeopaths have used for centuries, anti-inflammatory arnica and antibacterial tea tree oil, you can zap those blemishes away. The mix helps the immune system to kill the bacteria and consequently reduce the inflammation. Gently apply the oil to trouble areas with a cotton swab before going to bed. Rinse off the oil mix in the morning. TAKE CARE The best beauty result comes from taking care of yourself every day; because you’re worth it. Sometimes your beauty needs a little help to shine. The best all natural beauty tips and secrets are not quick fixes; they work best when you’re getting good sleep, stress management, proper nutrition, and physical exercise.

GETAWAY

SURREAL & SENSUOUS There’s something very refreshing about removing yourself totally from your normal environment and having a complete break. Mark Epstein in his book Open to Desire (Gotham) recounts how Henri Matisse in 1912 went to Morocco and was struck by the softness of the light there. It changed the way he approached painting. In trying to express the spirituality he felt in that light he started removing many of the features he’d ordinarily have on his canvas. He left off outlines and allowed more colour. Matisse opened himself to another way of experiencing the world and painting was indelibly influenced from that time on. While sitting on the expansive deck overlooking the lagoon at Moontide, I kept thinking of Matisse and the quality of soft light. There was mist coming off the lagoon and the silence had an amazing depth to it. I was sure anyone could paint a masterpiece enveloped in the sensuousness of this surrounding. Maureen Mansfield, the owner of Moontide has a genius sensibility, every space in the

eight different cottages or rooms has their own individual flair and identity. “I collect art and I needed somewhere to put everything”, is Maureens humble way of explaining the way her beautiful rooms unfold. Each one is different. Mine was like a little house, it was a stand alone thatched suite with a spacious bedroom, lovely sitting area and generous bathroom with both shower and bath. The wardrobe, the artwork, the Japanese type window screens and even the bath plug were all worth an exclamation. It also had a little upstairs loft room, which was equally quaint. Each room or cottage has its own entrance and outdoor seating area, there’s a Boat house suite, the Stone Cottage, Moonshadow 1 and 2 and various others to choose from. From the deck, which is moody and atmospheric filled with birds flying between the trees, you can gaze across the lagoon for hours. We were immediately tempted to jump into the little pedal boat and sail down the lagoon. You literally step off the deck into one of the little boats and you can boat as far as you want.

From Moontide, if you walk for a few minutes you are right on the beach and have the option of a long beach walk. It’s also just a couple minutes from the little town with some vibrant restaurants and village life. There are so many things to do in the Garden Route area – anything from jumping off mountains to amazing hikes, organic food markets, craft trawling, enough restaurants for foodies, bird watching, horse riding, the choices are unlimited. But gazing across the lagoon from the deck at Moontide while eating breakfast, doing nothing but relax on one of the decks for the day, seemed a fine thing to do.

Wilderness is a four-hour drive from Cape Town. Recently awarded Best Luxury Hide-Away in the Western Cape by Luxury Travel Guide, Moontide offers excellent value (rates start from R550 pp B&B) and Maureen is running great winter specials, including a third night for free. Contact them on www.moontide.co.za or Tel: 044 877 0361 or moontide@intekom

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live

FROM SCREEN

TO GREEN by Kirsten Alexander

GET YOUR KIDS OFF THEIR SCREENS AND INTO THE WILD. HERE ARE TEN WAYS TO INSPIRE YOUR LITTLE ONES TO ENJOY GOING OUTDOORS. On average, children aged 12 the world over will receive their first cell phones. With today’s children growing up wireless with access to abundant games and online entertainment, encouraging your little ones to play outside can prove challenging. It’s no secret that young children need the opportunity to use their whole body to develop their gross motor skills – something a tablet or phone offers little opportunity for. To (literally) get the ball rolling, here are ten nature-inspired activities to use to encourage your tots to explore being outside.

GROW A GARDEN Gardening can be a beautifully participative family activity that provides a chance for kids to learn about life-cycles, pollination and nutrition. Research has shown that children who plant vegetable gardens tend to make healthier nutritional choices as adults. Dedicate a small portion of your garden for growing tomatoes, carrots,

DID YOU KNOW?

Studies suggest that spending 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost comparable to a cup of coffee.

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sugar-snap peas or a vegetable your little one might like (this might also encourage them to become more passionate about eating veggies).

NATURALLY ART Nature’s exquisite beauty is a few steps from your back door; why not turn it into art? Do this by pressing flowers or making leaf-prints. Get your kids to press their favourite natural find between two sheets of wax paper and close them into a book. To make leaf-print art, ink a leaf with a sponge and press it onto paper.

MOON SHADOW Enjoying the outdoors doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down. Get your little ones to spend time with the stars, moon and other night-active creatures. Go for a short moonwalk, trace the constellations and identify nocturnal insects. You could also begin a moon journal and encourage your child to understand the phases of the moon.

MAKE A MAP Have your child make a map of the neighbourhood, with a difference. Encourage them to only use natural landmarks to build their map. This will heighten their observational skills and could even serve as a field-guide to the nature in your neighbourhood.

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS You don’t need special expertise or supplies for this one – cloud watching. Picking out shapes in the clouds is a great way to engage a visual learner. All you need is a blanket, a sky filled with big, white fluffy marshmallow clouds and a whole lot of imagination. You could even get them to draw or photograph their finds to show you later (if photogrpahing, go old school and give them a real camera, instead of a phone).

UP A TREE Climbing a tree is an important childhood rite of passage. When you feel your little one is ready for it, climbing trees can teach them about assessing risk and building self-confidence while exercising their bodies. Let your child get dirty. A growing number of researchers believe that good old-fashioned dirt can expose your children to myriad bacteria and microbes that strengthen their immune system. It may also get you out and about, especially if they get stuck and you need to launch a rescue.

Glucozone

™

Healthy blood sugar balance for effective weight management

TAKE A RIDE Riding a bicycle is a fabulous way to tour your city parks or forests. Why not make your next family outing a nature ride? Hop on your bikes, pack a picnic, do some bird watching and explore a new neck of the woods with your little ones.

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“EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST, THE PROBLEM IS STAYING AN ARTIST WHEN YOU GROW UP” Pablo Picasso

CAMP OUT

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The outdoor vacation is certainly making a comeback. Hiking and camping have been increasingly popular over the years and is a way to introduce your young ones to the wonders of the outdoors – the really great thing is that there aren’t many plugs so screens may just die over a camping night out. If your family isn’t quite ready for wilderness camping, set up camp in your own back yard; a safe and inexpensive way to inspire spending time outside.

PHOTO SAFARI A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found that on average kids spend around seven hours per day with electronic media. An antidote for gamers’ eye or texter’s hand is the sights, sounds and smells offered by your neighbourhood nature. Turn a wildlife expedition into a photo safari and see how many pictures of birds, insects or flowers your child can take.

Supports optimal blood sugar levels Balances sugar cravings Supports healthy energy levels

BIRDS OF A FEATHER No matter where in the country you stay, birds are probably the most familiar wildlife you see every day. You can invite these little critters into your garden by making decorative up-cycled bird-feeders out of plastic bottles and toxin-free paint. What do the birds in your garden like to eat? Fill your feeder with birdseed and different fruits and see what beautiful winged creatures accept your garden invitation.

BOOK REVIEWS by Lara Potgieter

GO ALL OUT AND USE NATURE TO CONNECT WITH FOOD AND FOOD TO CONNECT WITH NATURE. WHETHER YOU WANT TO PREPARE INCREDIBLE FOOD, OR START A GARDEN TO GROW YOUR OWN, IF YOU WANT A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE OR MORE UNDERSTANDING OF YOU BRAIN, OR SIMPLY A HAPPY DAY… READ ON, WE’VE GOT THE BOOK FOR YOU.

How to Connect with Nature l Tristan Gooley Macmillan A fundamental premise of this engaging little call to action is William James’ assertion that “What is called our experience is almost entirely determined by our habits of attention.” The author uses this as a starting block to encourage us to foster our (once instinctual) connection with nature by simply affording it more of our attention: by breathing in the scent of fungi and forest; by noticing the subtle changes in plant and animal life throughout the year; by listening for the creatures that hear us too. As Gooley points out, humans can no longer rely on the ‘game plan’ of wrestling with nature and hoping that tomorrow will take care of itself. We need to recognise that much of our existential angst is closely related to the ‘environmental anxiety’ currently experienced by and on the planet, and that taking the time to consider the connection between every organism of nature and ourselves is no longer just a contemplation, but an investment in countering the ever new challenges we are experiencing as a species essentially out of sync with its own home.

Sane New World l Ruby Wax Hodder & Stoughton How much time have you afforded to really understanding your triple-decker brain, or the chemicals that make you who you are? In this often humorous but profoundly insightful book, comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax helps us to “open the bonnet and look in at the engine” that is the human mind in a bid to understand the electrical and chemical

power behind our thoughts, dreams, hopes, memories and emotions. While this may not sound like a very inspired take on the human psyche, spending our lives in autopilot without understanding why it is that we feel and behave the way we do can be distracting from the bigger, deeper questions that all of us need to answer at some stage in our lives. In her characteristically quirky way, Wax points out that we are “being run by the guy behind the curtain”, and urges us to remember that, while we get clips of what’s really going on flitting in and out of our conscious minds, there are a trillion neurological cues really guiding how we insist on seeing the external world. If we are able to better understand these, we are less likely to be misguided by them.

How to Have a Good Day l Caroline Webb Macmillan Most of us wake up with an idea of our ideal outcomes for the day, and then spend much of our time resisting the reality of the situations with which we are presented. Caroline Webb offers us options for navigating this dichotomy in a more empowered and surrendered way. She suggests that knowing our ‘hot buttons’ and early warning signs can help us to step back and reset our thinking, offering our smartest, wisest, and most creative self even in the face of what she refreshingly refers to as ‘unspeakably difficult’ people and situations. While it isn’t a light read, if you can take the time to really understand its theory and apply its practical suggestions, you will be amazed by how adaptable your brain and behaviour really are.

Grow to Live l Pam Featherstone Jacana This very practical resource on growing our own ‘good, clean food’ is an answer to the discomfort many of us may feel due to the fact that we have become so heavily reliant on others to produce our most basic need for nutritional sustenance. Its primary purpose is to offer a foundation of knowledge and skills on which we are encouraged to build our own understanding and practice of self-sufficiency. The simple, lowcost and environmentally-friendly suggestions are not only empowering to us as individuals, but as communities looking to reassess our collective needs. Starting with the very basics of what’s needed to start a food garden and guiding readers all the way through to the recipes they can make using what they’ve grown, this comprehensive guide has the potential to wholly change both how you eat and how you live.

The Natural Cook l Tom Hunt Quadrille Do you feel good about the food you eat? Do you have a connection to its source? While these may sound like relatively abstract questions at first glance, we can often answer them simply by observing how we shop, cook, and eat. Do you begin with a recipe or meal idea and then hunt for the ingredients, or do you first find the organic, seasonal and ethically-sourced produce and then hit the recipe books to see how you can prepare them well? While most of us are probably in the habit of the former, The Natural Cook helps to simplify the process for us by increasing our understanding of the myriad meals we can really make from certain staple seasonal ingredients.

SHOP THE BOOKS ONLINE OR AT AMAZON.COM

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move

did you know? Once strengthened, the pelvic floor, rather than sit heavily in the legs, will carry the weight of the body, with shoulders that feel lighter, a head more poised and spine longer, lighter and well stretched. Legs will move easily and even the feet will feel totally different. When walking it will feel as if your butt is being lifted by invisible hands.

THE

PELVIC FLOOR by Sylvia Lampe

ADMITTEDLY, THE PELVIC FLOOR IS NOT SOMETHING WE GENERALLY THINK OF INCLUDING IN OUR WORKOUT, WHO EVEN KNOWS ITS EXACT LOCATION OR WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IF YOU FLEX IT, BUT STRENGTHENING IT HAS WIDESPREAD BENEFITS. WE SPEAK TO SYLVIA LAMPE, PRESIDENT OF THE CALLANETICS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND HOW EXACTLY, TO EXERCISE IT. Everything from strengthening the bladder, to preventing haemorroids, incontinence, intensifying orgasms and relieving hip pain can come from good pelvic floor function. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly beneficial during ageing when the organs in the lower part of the body tend to become less effective. Many older people find it difficult to control the bladder yet all a strong bladder needs is cooperation from muscles, nerves and ligaments from the pelvic floor.

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In 2002 a study by German urologist Frank Sommer compared the effects of Viagra with men who had pelvic floor training. The group of men who trained the deep muscles of the pelvic floor had better results than the Viagra group.

ANATOMY OF THE PELVIS: The pelvic floor is almost like a hammock that supports the bladder uterus and rectum. It’s about the size and thickness of the palm of your hand and consists of seven muscles. These muscles attach to the hip bones, the pubic bone and the bottom of the spine at the coccyx. Imagine it as a plate of criss-crossing muscles that form the floor of the torso. There are 3 layers – each has a specific function.

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ONCE YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE PELVIC FLOOR, WAKE UP THE MUSCLES AND START PRACTICING IT BECOMES A HABIT AND SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WHILE RUNNING, WALKING, PLAYING SPORT OR EVEN GROCERY SHOPPING.

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THE FIRST OR OUTER LAYER This layer winds itself like a net around the sphincter muscles. In females it’s the ureter, vagina and anus. In males, the root of the penis, ureter and anus. In both male and female the muscles cross over in the perineum. Most women have a relatively well trained outer layer. You are using your sphincter muscles when you hold urine back midstream. This muscle layer doesn’t need specific training, on the contrary: focusing only on this layer can lead to haemorrhoids. Females can experience painful intercourse if the muscles of the vagina are trained much more than the rest of the pelvic floor.

BENEFITS OF PELVIC FLOOR TRAINING: • •

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It is anti-ageing and keeps the lower body organs young. Prevents, improves and corrects hernias, haemorrhoids, incontinence, prolapse of lower body organs and other problems in this area. Protects men from prostate enlargement and erectile dysfunction stemming from physical causes. Intensifies orgasms in men and women Improves posture, relieves hip and lower back pain. Relieves the joints of the lower back, hips and legs during walking and running Lessens cellulite, shapes the legs, lifts the buttocks and diminishes ‘saddle bags’.

Awareness exercise Sit on a soft surface - an exercise ball or cushioned chair. Place one hand under the perineum and cough strongly. Where you feel the cough most strongly is the centre of the pelvic floor – the perineum. THE SECOND OR MIDDLE LAYER This layer stretches like a trampoline between the joints of the upper thighs and the pubic bone in a criss-cross of fibres. In strengthening this level, the legs are toned, the inner thigh muscles lift, and the upper thigh muscles become ‘suspended’. Top athletes use this level automatically.

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Awareness exercise Pull the sitting bones towards the perineum and pull the perineum up a little, expand the feeling in a star shape. Put your finger tips very lightly against your hip joints, and you should feel a slight pulling. THE THIRD OR INNER LAYER OF THE PELVIC FLOOR This is the largest level of the pelvic floor. It goes from the coccyx to the femurs and opens up like a fan with six parts. When activating this level, you can visibly see the movement. The hamstring muscles are tightened and even stubborn cellulite improves with patience and regular training.

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Awareness exercise First sit with your fingertips under your sitting bones and contract your pelvic floor to the deepest level, until you can feel the sitting bones moving towards each other – do this several times. Then stand in front of a long mirror and tighten the pelvic floor to the deepest level again until the sitting bones move closer together. Your hips will narrow noticeably. This innermost level, the actual pelvic floor, pulls the hip joints and sitting bones together and tightens the base of the buttock muscles, lifting the buttocks. This exercise can cause an intensive tingling around the testicles in men. Some men feel the testicles pull tightly against the body without sexual arousal. THE PELVIC FLOOR & A HEALTHY BACK Pelvic floor muscles contribute towards the stability and flexibility of the pelvic bones and when strengthened, often cause back pain to disappear. This is because the pelvis becomes wider, like a funnel, and allows more room for the sacrum, lumbar vertebrae and coccyx. This action is comforting for people with arthritis. GET STARTED Make sure you are working the pelvic floor muscles and not simply clenching the butt. Stand in front of a mirror, feet hip distance apart, bend your knees slightly and lean your upper body forward until your torso is parallel to the floor. Do not tilt the pelvis forward. There should be a table top line between your coccyx and the crown of your head. Dig into your buttocks until you can clearly feel the sitting bones. Use your muscles to pull the sitting bones strongly towards each other. Pull the sitting bones

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together and release them a few times, until you feel a distinct movement. What you feel between these two bones is the collective pelvic floor. Do this contracting exercise standing up, sitting or lying, as often as possible throughout the day. Do it while waiting in a queue, talking on the phone, brushing teeth, or driving. Once you feel the pelvic floor strengthening, add some variations . • Tighten the pelvic floor as deep as possible and pulse the sitting bones towards each other – up to a hundred times. • From a completely relaxed pelvic floor, tighten in three stages – you should feel three distinct movements. Then release the pelvic floor in three stages, until it is completely relaxed again – do this at least three times. • Tighten one side of the pelvic floor, then the other side, i.e pull the left sitting bone towards the perineum, release it again, then do the same with the right sitting bone – as often as you want, up to a hundred times. TIP: it is important to have a ‘floor like’ feeling and not a ‘tube like’ feeling. If you get a ‘tube like’ feeling, you are only working the outer layer of the pelvic floor with the muscles surrounding the vagina. In that case, relax completely, then start again, concentrating so you feel the sitting bones. After about five to seven weeks of conscious daily training the pelvic floor takes over its natural function automatically. The results are well worth the effort. Learn more about the pelvic floor and exercise through the Callanetics Teachers Association of South Africa. Email: info@ctasa.org.za Web: www.ctasa.org.za

Sylvia Lampe has been working in the health and fitness industry since 1981 and teaching Callanetics since 1991. She offers Callanetics teachers training courses and workshops at her studio in Randburg, Johannesburg. Sylvia is also a registered therapeutic reflexologist.

Bowen Therapy Bowen Technique is a unique, non-invasive soft tissue therapy using a series of light, safe, yet dynamic moves on the muscles, ligaments and nerve bundles in speciﬁc areas. These moves stimulate energy in the body which allows the body‛s natural capacity to self-regulate and heal.

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