I have begun my annual September detox and have been looking forward to it for the last few weeks! I always know that by the second week I will have so much more energy, my mood is improved, sleep is fantastic and that sluggish winter feeling is beginning to melt away.

I know that many of you are joining me in detoxing this month and encourage you to send in any tips or recipes that are making your detox easy or special. During a detox, I usually like to complement my diet by committing to a new (or improved) exercise regime and taking as many saunas and steams as possible to enhance detoxification via the largest organ in the body - the skin!

This month I am committing to regular yoga practice and runs along the beautiful Bronte-Bondi coastline followed by a swim at the Icebergs pool (oohh cold!!) and  then a well-deserved sauna overlooking Bondi Beach. This routine always makes me feel energised and refreshed. What are you going to commit to during your detox this month?

For those of you who are interested but have not yet made your first detox appointment, it is not too late to begin! Make an appointment today and join us in feeling refreshed, renewed and amazing!

My gentle detoxification program aims to reduce acidity in the body, give your body systems a rest, support detoxification and aide fluid and weight loss. The program will result in enhanced health, increased energy, fluid and weight loss, clear skin, bright eyes, shiny hair, stronger nails and a healthy digestive system. 

A variety of detox programs are available including 2, 4 and 6 week programs. Each program is individually tailored to suit your specific needs.

Make your detox appointment today!

Your body will thank you!

Natural Births Better for Babies

Babies born by caesarean section are more vulnerable to asthma, allergies and infection as they miss out on receiving their mothers' good bacteria during birth, a scientist says.

Professor Patricia Conway, of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of NSW, said babies delivered vaginally received protective bacteria as they passed through the birth canal. Left on the baby's skin, this bacteria could then colonise the intestine and help inoculate newborns against hospital bugs. Gut flora was also crucial for developing a balanced immune system, Professor Conway said. "With a C-section, the newborn baby misses an opportunity to pick up a lot of mum's good bacteria," she said.

"This can have long-term health implications, as the development of a good intestinal ecosystem is necessary for health and immunity to allergies, from childhood right through to adulthood."

Professor Conway said emergency caesareans, performed after labour had begun, meant babies did receive some of the beneficial bacteria, particularly if the waters had broken. But elective caesareans were ''sterile" and gave babies no chance to pick up any of the mother's good bacteria.

Recent studies have shown white blood cells in babies born by caesarean were different to those born vaginally, potentially altering the way their bodies responded to attacks on their immune systems for the rest of their lives. The studies could explain dramatic increases in rates of diabetes, testicular cancer, leukaemia and asthma among babies born surgically.

Recurrent Miscarriage and Gluten Free Diet

Women having recurrent miscarriages or intrauterine growth retardation could have sub clinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by serological screening tests.

44 patients of average age 33 years with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (recurrent, unexplained miscarriage), and 39 patients average age 34 years with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (poor growth - birth weight lower than 10% percentile) and 50 healthy controls, matched for age and from the same geographical area were assessed.

Results:

Concentrations of anti-endomysial and anti-transglutaminase antibodies (two common markers in gluten- intolerant patients) were measured in all patients. The patients with recurrent miscarriage and those with intrauterine growth restriction had a significantly higher frequency of markers than the controls.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that women having recurrent miscarriages or intrauterine growth retardation could have sub clinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by blood screening tests.

Belinda routinely assesses all her preconception patients for gluten intolerance as part of her miscarriage prevention protocol. If gluten intolerance is detected, Belinda is able to provide you with gluten-free information and dietary suggestions. This is one of the many reasons that preconception health care is recommended to all couples who are considering conception in the near future! For more information on preconception health care, please call Belinda on 0400 551 622 or visit my website for more details.

Click here to read the full article

Baked Snapper fillet with spinach and mushrooms

This delicious and easy recipe is incredibly quick to prepare and cook and difficult for anything to go wrong! If you are detoxing this month, simply omit the butter and vermouth and add a splash of verjuice or water to prevent the fish from drying out. Enjoy with a fresh green salad or steamed green vegetables.

Ingredients (for each serving):

• 150 g fillet of Snapper
• 1 handful of picked, washed spinach
• 50 g shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 30 g dried porcini soaked in boiling water & roughly chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 sprig Thyme
• 50 ml dry vermouth
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 20 g knob of unsalted Butter

Method

1. Cook the mushrooms in the olive oil with the garlic & season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Lay out a piece of baking paper and fold in half to make it double thickness. Lay the spinach on the foil, the cooked mushrooms, the snapper fillet, the thyme sprigs & the knobs of butter, season with salt & freshly ground black pepper.
3. Fold the baking paper over the top to make a bag & start to seal the sides to make a tight packet, now splash in the vermouth & seal up the bag as tightly as possible.
4. Place the bag on a baking tray & place in a hot oven for 6 minutes, remove from the oven & let rest for 2 minutes, open the bag at a the table and serve with a piece of lemon and a fresh green salad or steamed green vegetables. Yum!
   

Focus on Zinc

Zinc is necessary for a healthy immune system, and is also of use in fighting skin problems such as acne, boils and sore throats. It is further needed for cell division, and is needed by the tissue of the hair, nails and skin to be in top form.

Zinc deficiency:

Men with zinc shortage may have a problem with fertility, while women may experience irregular periods. Children with too little zinc may have stunted growth and slow sexual maturity. Deficiency of zincmay also result in:

• a weakened immune system
  
• poor wound healing
• allergies
• loss of smell
• falling hair
• white spots under finger nails
  
• skin problems

More zinc!

Men should always ensure enough zinc in their diets, since the health of their prostate gland is linked to zinc. Zinc is needed to manufacture testosterone and a shortage may induce a low sperm count, loss of libido and other emotional problems. Zinc may also be helpful in fighting infection and inflammation of the prostate gland in older men. It is lost on ejaculation, since sperm needs this mineral to swim towards the egg.

For women taking oral contraceptives or receiving hormone replacement therapy, extra zinc may be indicated, and all vegans and vegetarians should also consider their zinc intake, as well as people suffering from psoriasis and women while pregnant or lactating.

Sources of zinc:

Great sources are found in muscle meat, poultry, fish and seafood, while grains, nuts, eggs, seeds and brewer's yeast also supply good quality zinc. Meat is a better source of zinc as certain whole grains contain phytic acid, which binds to zinc, making it un-absorbable and zinc is also lost through excessive sweating.

Zinc supplements are available for those with an increased need for zinc and/or inadequate zinc status. Zinc deficiency can be measured via pathology and also by a simple and immediate in-clinic zinc taste test.