Natural Alternatives - Natural Care of Eczema, Allergies and Chemical Sensitive Skin

Eczema friendly Shampoo | 100% Natural Cleanser | Chemical Free Cleanser

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1100

GREEN AUSSIE CLEANER

Don’t be fooled by the name. This product has many Domestic and Commercial applications. Some of its domestic applications include Body Gel, Bubble Bath, Dentures, Hair Shampoo and Shaving Gel, in the Dishwasher as the final rinse aid and you can even wash your pet with it. For me - well this is my favourite Shampoo.

It is a 100% natural product made from environmentally safe, naturally occurring ingredients including renewable plant crops. It contains biodegradable natural oils, including naturally grown Spearmint oil from Tasmania. It has a soft, fresh, clean, minty aroma to it.   This product is Owned and Made by Aussies.

I've been using this product for around 7 years mostly as my Shampoo and also as Liquid Hand Soap in the bathroom and as the rinse aid in my dishwasher – it flushes away the chemical residue left on the dishes from the Powders and liquids and leaves my dishes and my dishwasher clean, shiny and smelling fresh.

For my sensitive skin condition this is the best shampoo and liquid body cleanser that I have used and I am happy to recommend it to anyone who has eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or chemical sensitivity. I can wash my body, head to toe with this, without any irritation whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I find its cleansing action soothing when my skin is irritated and/or dirty.   It does not have chemical additives so If you get it in your mouth it does not have that harsh chemical taste to it - actually, you can even use it as toothpaste.

I like to take it with me when I travel, stay out overnight or on outings such as picnics. I take a small dispenser with me to work so I can wash up without using the chemical liquid soaps supplied in most public bathrooms.

As a matter of fact I always take this with me to the Hairdresser. Professional shampoos and conditioners contain many chemicals that my skin is sensitive to. I find it safer to take my own shampoo than expose my skin to the chemicals I work hard to stay away from. My hairdresser is more than happy to oblige me and is very understanding of my condition.

For those of us with eczema, dirty skin becomes irritated and itchy skin. Where ever you may feel the need to wash up whether at home, at work, or at play, this is a convenient and quality product.

Not only is this product 100% natural and ‘safe’ to humans and animals it is an environmentally friendly product – biodegradable, non-toxic, non-abrasive and non-pollutant. So not only will you be safely caring for your skin and general health, you’ll be doing your bit for a cleaner planet.

Eczema Baobab Cream | Natural Moisturisers | Eczema Soothing & Nourishing Creams

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -1100

MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE ... NATURALLY!

I have searched high and low for the perfect moisturiser for my super sensitive and seriously dry Eczema skin and in my desperation I had to come up with something myself. It seemed to me that my body and my skin was not producing its own natural oils; therefore I figured the logical thing to apply to my skin was ...Oil.

Initially I started with Olive Oil and Lavender. I found the olive oil too heavy on my skin and too strong an aroma so I started researching Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. I needed a moisturiser that would NOT irritate my sensitive skin but would soothe and nourish, hydrate, protect and heal my skin; a Moisturiser that would also help repair old and new damage.

For me, an added factor is that I am not getting any younger. My skin is now classed as mature skin and it has some different requirements than younger skin. In developing a Moisturiser I wanted to create a product that was suitable for both young and mature skin.

I cannot stress to you enough the importance of moisturising your skin daily. If I were to give you only one important piece of information today it would be exactly that ...

MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE! ...

EVERY day, at least twice a day; as often as you need ... I would hope that your doctor has told you the same.

Sorbolene Vs Nature

The difference between your doctor and me is what each of us would recommend to you. No doubt your doctor, specialist or health care professional would be recommending Sorbolene Cream or some other Aqueous Cream to you.

I was bought up on Sorbolene and Aqueous creams and right up to the day I stopped using them, they irritated my skin. Apart from that I would find myself going through a litre or more each week, it never seemed to provide enough moisture to my skin and would irritate and itch on my skin. Many people I have spoken to with eczema say the same thing - it really does irritate their skin condition.

The recipe for sorbolene cream has changed dramatically over the last 40 years and at this point is really quite a cocktail of chemicals passing for a moisturiser! Sorbolene Cream is a petro-chemical or mineral oil product. It contains many chemical additives that are known to have adverse side effects especially on prolonged or repeated contact and particularly on sensitive skin. Check out my report on Sorbolene Cream on this website ... I'm sure you'll find it very interesting and more than a little disturbing!

Natural Moisturising Alternatives

My personal recommendation would be to use a product that is completely natural and purely plant based. There are some excellent natural plant based creams on the market (in health food shops and online) as well as some good animal based products, such as Emu Oil products which many others have had success with.

My skin does not tolerate animal-based products or the petro-chemical based products, so my Blend DO NOT contain animal or petro- content at all. There are NO chemicals or synthetic preservatives or artificial colour and fragrance.

TRISHA'S BLEND BAOBAB BODY BUTTER

Moisturising Cream

Made with TLC (Trisha’s Loving Care) this Moisturiser Blend contains exotic butters and essential oils, I also decided to develop this blend with NO nut oils because so many people have sensitivity or allergies to nuts.

During my research for something quite unique and specific toward eczema skin, I came across The Baobab Tree also known as "The Tree Of Life." It is well known in Africa for its healing properties not only on the skin in particular but also the Baobab fruit has been used as food and a medicinal plant, for hundreds of years. Its bark has strong fibres and is used to make rope and fabrics. The Fruit contains high levels of Vitamin C, calcium and dietary fibers. Recent studies have shown that baobab fruit is an excellent antioxidant and has probiotic properties.

For generations, Baobab Seed Oil has been known for its skin healing properties. It is particularly good with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It is known to be a superb skin moisturiser and it absorbs quickly without leaving an oily residue.

Baobab seed oil is rich in Omega-3, -6 & -9 Fatty Acids. These fatty acids are important in the maintenance of healthy skin. It also contains Vitamin D, Palmitic, Oleic and Linoleic acids. Topical applications have shown to alleviate chronic dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

I have also used Kokum Butter in this blend. It has the ability to soften skin and heal ulcerations and fissures of lips, hands and soles of feet. Kokum butter helps reduce degeneration of the skin cells and restores elasticity.

I have discovered that the combination of these two ingredients as well as the inclusion of 4 carrier/essential oils and natural Vitamin E has proved to be an extrememly good healing Moisturiser on my eczema skin.

This Moisturiser is my personal Favourite.

FEEDBACK...

Hi Trish

I received my order (Baobab Body Butter) on Monday and straight away tried it on my little boy’s skin at lunch time, then put more on before he went to bed and more after his bath this morning and the eczema has just about completely gone.

I did what u said and have been bathing him in manuka honey and together it works a treat.

Thank you for all your advice… I am so excited that something has finally worked, I bragged about it to the mums in my mother’s group as some of their little ones have eczema too, so you should get some more orders coming from this way.

Donna & a very happy Max (11 weeks old)

Morphetvale, South Australia

Hi Trish, just wanted to let you know that I got my body butter yesterday. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! I put it on after my shower last night and my skin felt smoother when I woke up this morning. Now that spring is here in Texas there are all kinds of pollen floating in the air and I think it's affecting my skin. It's been real bumpy and itchier than usual. The cream really smoothed out the little bumps and along with an OTC antihistamine it felt much better today. I will definitely be ordering the larger size soon.

Thanks~~~Sherry

Hi Trish, thanks so much for getting my order out quickly. I am so glad I found your website. Your body butter is far and away the best moisturizer I have ever used; it's so soothing and I feel good knowing that it's a safe product. The borage oil lotion I'm using now is ok but nowhere near as effective as your body butter, just something to use while waiting on my order. Being as this is a chronic problem, I will be using this ALOT and most likely ordering on a monthly basis. Got any larger sized available?

Thanks~~~Sherry

Grand Prairie, Texas

TRISHA'S BLEND TOTALLY NATURAL MOISTURISING BALM

Has been developed exclusively from plant derived materials. Each natural ingredient has been specially selected for its unique properties and actions on dry, mature and eczema skin. Some of the ingredients have natural preservative qualities of their own as well as having their own subtle aroma, so no added fragrance is necessary. I have added natural Vitamin E for its action on the skin and as an extra preservative.

You don't have to have eczema to use this Moisturiser. It is a 100% Natural Moisturising Alternative to sorbolene creams and a good quality Natural Moisturiser

This Moisturiser Blend contains natural Butters of the Shea and Cocoa plants; a combination of 7 cold pressed and essential oils (including two Nut oils (not peanut)).

For those of you with sensitivity to nuts, perhaps the Baobab Body Butter - which DOES NOT contain nut oils - would be more suitable for you.

SOOTHING AND NOURISIHING - NATURAL SKIN NUTRITION

THE INGREDIENTS LIST

Trisha's Blend Baobab Body Butter

Trisha's Blend TOTALLY Natural Moisturising Balm

Unlike chemical moisturisers, you'll be able to pronounce each ingredient name. I have listed the COMBINED properties of the ingredients for your information.

Both Moisturisers are packed with skin nutrition.

I have given samples of my Blends to a number of friends, some dealing with eczema issues, some with dry skin, and some with mature skin; even one friend with normal skin and including ages ranging from infant to elderly. The feedback has been so positive it confirmed my decision to make these moisturisers available to others facing this condition and frustrated by the search for a suitable Moisturiser. These products have been tested by Family & Friends, not animals.

Trial & Error

I understand how difficult it is to try something new on your skin. I encourage you to simply try a small 50gr jar before spending too much money. Try it on your hands or a small test patch somewhere on your body for a few days to see how your skin responds before smothering yourself with it. It is always wise to patch test any new moisturiser or cosmetic on your skin. If you have a negative response to this moisturiser simply wash it off with warm water.

The properties of some of the ingredients looks like this :

Shea Butter: A soft ivory butter obtained from the Shea Nut Kernel.

· Excellent emollient

· Long lasting Protection

· Protects from harsh weather conditions

· Relieves chapped skin exposed to wind or cold.

· Soothes skin reducing irritation

· Revitalises the appearance of the skin

· Good for all skin types especially dry

· Excellent for eye and neck areas

Cocoa Butter: A solid yellow butter obtained from the cocoa seed.

· Excellent emollient

· Long lasting Protection

· High in vitamin E

· Softens and lubricates

· Good for all skin types especially dry

occlusive - draws in and closes pores

· Excellent for eye/neck/lip areas

Kokum Butter: A light Brown Butter obtained from the seed of the Garcinia Indica.

· ability to soften the skin

· heal ulcerations and fissures of lips, hands and soles of feet

· reduce degeneration of the skin cells

· restores elasticity

Baobab Seed Oil: Obtained from the Baobab Tree seed.

· high content Vitamins A, D, E & F

· moisturising benefits to the skin and hair

· absorbs quickly

· improves skin elasticity

· encourages regeneration of skin cells

· does not clog the pores

Natural Vitamin E: may be obtained from wheatgerm and other plant products.

· nourishes, moisturises and regenerates skin cells

· Antioxidant properties

· protects against fine lines and wrinkles

· helps prevent damage from environmental elements

· improves elasticity

· promotes healing of damaged skin

 Add to these my special Blends of cold pressed and Essential oils. . .

Each attribute has been specially considered as an important ingredient in these soothing, nourishing, repairing and hydrating moisturisers for your sensitive skin.

COMBINED ATTRIBUTES OF THE COLD

· Light consistency

· Moisturising & softening

· Fast penetrating

· Rich in Vitamins A, B, C, D E & F

· Excellent for Eczema & Psoriasis

· Good occlusive properties (draws in)

· Moisturises aging skin

· Smoothes wrinkles, softens, protects

· Helps prevent the signs of ageing

· Rejuvenating - reduces scarring

· Soothes itching

· revitalises the skins appearance

· promotes elasticity

· prevents the appearance of ageing

PRESSED AND ESSENTIAL OILS

· Easily absorbed

· Soothes the irritation of dry skin

· Rich in Omega-3,-6 & -9 essential fatty acids

· Repairs UV damage

· Restores pH level

· Leaves skin with a healthy looking glow

· Rich in Beta-carotene, vitamins and minerals

· emotional effect -Stress relief

· Beautiful calming aroma

· Low odour, very stable oils

· natural emollient

· reduces roughness and cracking

How to use ...

You will receive with your moisturiser a little plastic spatular or applicator. Use this to dip into your cream so that you do not contaminate your moisturiser with bacteria from your hands or under your fingernails. I would recommend that you always wash your hands before applying moisturiser and keep your little applicator clean.

As mentioned the butter/oils will melt upon contact witht he skin. To apply your moisturisers, place a small amount in the palm of your hand and rub your hands together to melt the moituriser for easy massage into your skin. Melting it in your hands will make a little bit of moisturiser go a long way.

You can use this moisturiser all over your body - from head to toe.

Two CAUTIONS - Use with care around your eyes and;

most definitely avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.

We should all avoid prolonged sun exposure to avoid melanomas and skin cancers and those of us with eczema and very sensitive skin should practice this even more so.

When using a moisturiser such as this you are applying oils to your skin; so to then expose your skin to the sun for long periods is very unwise, you might as well be frying or roasting and basting yourself!

How to keep ...

Light, heat and oxygen destroy natural oils, so all your oils (including cooking oils) should be stored in a cool dark place, such as your pantry, bathroom cabinets or the linen closet. I would suggest that if you live in a very warm climate you store it in the refrigerator. The exotic butters/oils used in this blend will all melt upon contact with the skin and will definitely melt in the warmer climates and solidify in colder temperatures.

Keeping it in the fridge also helps to keep the oils stable and lasting longer. During summer especially, I find that applying my moisturiser cool from the fridge is cooling on my skin which is helpful during very hot weather. As a part of this condition, there are a lot of times where my body and skin feel quite hot, even on a cold day so applying a cool Moisturiser is, in itself cooling and soothing.

If your Moisturiser should melt in the heat, simply put it in the coldest part of the freezer for around 30 minutes to solidify it. Cooling it quickly will stop it from becoming grainy.

When you receive your moisturiser, you will notice it is in an Amber coloured PET jar. The darker coloured jar protects the butters/oils from light which is one of the three things (light, heat and oxygen) that will destroy the quality of this natural product, so keeping your moisturiser (lid on) in a cool dark place should avoid this.

The human condition requires Vitamin D from the sun, however, you dont need to bake yourself in the sun to get what you need. Day to day activities outdoors on a sunny day is enough to gain vitamin D. The Active Ingredient Baobab Seed Oil in my moisturiser has Vitamin D.

When you are outdoors Slip on a long sleeved cotton top and throw on a hat and sunglasses whilst you are out and about and protect yourself from the damaging effects of the sun as well as early unwanted wrinkles!

It is worth checking with your doctor in regards to your Vitamin D level as Vitamin D is very important for the funtion of the Immune System. If you are low in Vit. D you can take a supplememnt. Talk to your health care professional about it.

If you live in a grey, cool climate you might consider a vitamin D supplement.

All in all take good care of your skin, you only get once chance at it. Skin cancers and deepset wrinkles during our older years are often the result of damage caused in our younger years. So, take the time to care for your skin now and it will serve you well as you get older.

PRODUCT NAME

AVAILABLE BY

AVAILABLE THROUGH

CONTACT DETAILS

$$$

Aud

Trisha's Blend Baobab Body Butter

Trisha's Blend 100% Natural Moisturiser

Online shopping

Allow for postage costs

Looking for Alternatives web site

Web:

Looking For Alternatives

www.lookingforalternatives.com.au

trish@lookingforalternatives.com.au

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME. PREFER THE NUT FREE BLEND? PLEASE CONTACT ME. NEED A LARGER QUANTITY? PLEASE CONTACT ME

50gr= $14.75

100gr= $22.50

200gr= $38.95

Larger quantities available by arrangement

Breakfast | Gourmet Food on an Allergy Diet

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -1100

YE OLDE FASHIONED BREAKFAST!

REALLY TASTY PORRIDGE

Now, now, don't roll your eyes, go eeewww or think how boring ...

Porridge doesn't have to be bland and boring. It makes a highly nutritious start to your day; it only takes 5-10 minutes to prepare and cook and you can add any number of delicious flavours to jazz it up and create a delicious morning meal.

Starting your day with a fast, easy and delicious meal such as this, will cover some very important nutritional 'm ust haves' for the day ...

Oats provides - beta-glucan (bad cholesterol fighter), fibre, skin repair and is immuno-supportive; Amaranth is chock full of - protein, amino acids lysine and methionine, dietary fibre as well as iron, phosphorus, copper, calcium, manganese and silicon. Cinnamon offers Vitamins C & K; Nutmeg aids digestion; Vanilla for the nervous system and Maple Syrup offers extras such as Potassium and Magnesium as well as Vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin. Add to that your recommended 2 serves of fruit per day and WOW ... ... what an easy, tasty and very nutritious way to kick off your day.

Bonus - You won't be looking for a sugar hit by mid morning!

NOW, THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE PORRIDGE!

The quantities in this recipe will do one or two people, or keep a serving for brekky tomorrow!

Start with: Add flavour with:

approx 1 cup Rolled Oats 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1 TBspn Maple Syrup

¼ cup Amaranth Cereal Pinch of nutmeg Splash of vanilla extract

around 2 Cups water

Amaranth is optional of course

Cooking your porridge ...

Place all the above ingredients into a pot
Put it on a hotplate. Bring to the boil and then turn the heat down a little so as not to burn your brekky.
Keep your porridge stirred. You'll know it's cooked when the oats have softened and the mixture looks creamy - around 5 - 7 minutes.

NOW THE REALLY TASTY PART ...

Turn the heat right down and ADD YOUR CHOICE OF FRUIT. You only need to stir the fruit in for a few minutes to warm it through your porridge.

NOTE: If you are adding grated Apple and/or Pear, grate the fruit into the pot at the start with all the ingredients so it cooks well and releases some of its juice.

Adding fruit will give you the recommended one to two servings of fruit for the day depending on what you add as well as jazz up your porridge! Berries, especially blueberries are a great natural antioxidant and will sweeten up your porridge.

Some Fruity ideas:

Grate a small apple or ½ a large apple
Try Pear - it's just as tasty
Add a handful of seasonal Mixed Berries or your favourite Berry - Frozen berries are always in season! Definately my Favourite
Peaches - fresh or goulburn valley sliced peaches - roughly chop or smash up with a potato masher ... ... Goulburn Valley brand peaches have no preservatives
½ a passionfruit - if you don't like the seeds, just strain the pulp
Mango - mmmmmmmmmm ... roughly chop or smashed
Apricots - fresh or bottled - check for no preservatives - roughly chopped or smashed
Try adding a combination of two of the fruits ie.,
1. peaches and passionfruit;
2. Mango & apple;
3. Pear & apple;
4. Peaches & mango;
5. Apple & passionfruit;
6. Apricots & pear
7. Mango & Passionfruit
8. Your favourite fruit

What about Sultanas! ... You could try Sultanas and Pecans (roughly chopped) - add with the dry ingredients so as to cook and soften a little.

... ... CREATE YOUR OWN SIGNATURE COMBINATION ... ...

Serve your brekky hot and add a little more Maple Syrup over the top if you like things sweet.

So you see - Porridge can be very very tasty.

Not only is the mix of Oats, Amaranth, sweet Spices and Fruit really yummy, it is an extremely nutritious way to start your day; full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

You will certainly kick start your metabolism and energy levels for the morning. Best of all you can cook and eat your breakfast inside of 15 minutes.

Let's look at the 'The Queen of Grains' a little closer and see just why Rolled Oats or 'Porridge' is a great breakfast and an easy way to nourish your skin from the inside-out.

OATS (Botanical name Avena Sativa)

The humble Oat is perhaps the most nutritious of all the grains and has been referred to as the "Queen of Grains'. Oats have been around for a long time, dating back to around 2,000 B.C. in the Middle East and back to around 1,000 B.C.in Germany. Recent research has focused on the ability of the oat to reduce blood cholesterol. High in fibre, oats are an effective laxative and also feature Protease Inhibitors (an enzyme that breaks down proteins) - a combination that has been found to inhibit certain cancers.

In laboratory studies reported in the August 2004, a compound discovered in Oats called Beta-glucan was found to significantly enhance the human Immune System's response to bacterial infection. Beta-glucan not only helps Neutrophils (the most abundant type of non-specific immune cell) navigate to the site of an infection more quickly but also enhances its ability to eliminate the bacteria it finds there. According to study leader, Jonathan Reichner (of the Department of Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University), priming Neutrophilswith Beta-glucan helps these Immune defenders quickly locate the bacterial mother-load within infected tissue. This more rapid response to infection results in faster microbial clearance and healing.

Since our non-specific Immune defenses are the body's first strike forces against invading pathogens, starting your day with a bowl of oatmeal may boost your Immune response in addition to your morning energy levels.

OAT-FACTS

Beta glucan, a soluble fiber in whole oats, stimulates repair of skin cells. It may help reduce wrinkles, protect against UV damage, help heal wounds and improve hair strength.
Oat beta-glucan increases immune function which decreases the risk of herpes virus infection.
Oat beta-glucan reverses chemically-induced immuno-suppression.
Oat beta-glucan improves immune function and enhances resistance to parasites.
Oat beta-glucan improves multiple immune functions and increases resistance to staph infection (Staphylococcus aureus).

MORE NUTRITIOUS FACTS

Amaranth - Available at Health Food Shops and some supermarkets

Amaranth is an exceptionally complete protein. It contains protein and amino acids lysine and methionine. Amaranth's amino acid/protein profile is even higher than that found in meat and other animal products. Amaranth provides a good source of dietary fibre as well as iron, phosphorus, copper, and especially manganese. It contains more calcium and the supporting calcium co-factors - magnesium and silicon - than milk. It has a cooling thermal nature, a bitter sweet flavour; it dries dampness and benefits the lungs.

Several studies have shown that like Oats, Amaranth seed may be of benefit for those with hypertension and cardiovascular disease; regular consumption reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while improving antioxidant status and some immune parameters. It is especially helpful for those with consistently elevated nutritional needs such as pregnant and nursing women, children and those who do heavy physical work as well as those with auto-immune conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, allergies etc. Health workers have reported that in parts of Africa and Latin America where it is eaten, there is no malnutrition.

Amaranth was used in several Aztec ceremonies, where images of their gods were made with Amaranth mixed with Honey. The images were cut to be eaten by the people. This looked like the Christian communion to the Roman Catholic priests, so the cultivation of the grain was forbidden for centuries.

Because of its importance as a symbol of indigenous culture, and because it is very palatable, easy to cook and its protein particularly well suited to human nutritional needs, interest in the grain Amaranth was revived in the 1970s.

It was recovered in Mexico from wild varieties and is now commercially cultivated. It is a popular snack sold in Mexico City and other parts of Mexico, sometimes mixed with chocolate or puffed rice, and its use has spread to Europe and other parts of North America.

Amaranth and quinoa are called pseudo-grains because of their flavor and cooking similarities to grains and both contain exceptionally complete protein from plant sources.

EXTRA NUTRITIONAL TIPS

Cinnamon -Balances out your blood sugar levels; rich in calcium, iron, manganese, fiber and Vitamins C & K.

Nutmeg - A very good source of manganese, can enhance digestion, supports the adrenal glands and assists the nervous system.

Vanilla - Nerve stimulant and Aphrodisiac.

Maple Syrup - A source of Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Manganese as well as Vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin.

The above information was sourced from Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, and other internet searches using the words ‘oats' and ‘skin nutrition.' As well as Websites - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranto, www.alfalfahouse.org/html/PRODUCTS/SPECIFIC_PRODUCTS/amaranth.htm, www.peertrainer.com, lowcarbdiets.about.com

Chicken & Vegetable Soup-Gluten Free | Allergy Friendly Recipes | Gourmet Food on an Allergy Diet

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -1100

WARM WINTER SOUP with FINGER TOAST

Here is a fantastic recipe for good old fashioned Chicken and Vegetable Soup to keep you warm on a chilly winters' day or help you get through a cold or flu. Serve with Finger Toast for a warm comforting meal.

It is not complicated; it just requires throwing together a selection of your favourite vegetables, a whole chook, and a couple of flavour makers (herbs/spices). It beats anything you can buy in a tin, is highly nutritious and tasty and of course has none of the nasty additives that you may find in processed tinned or packet soups. It is filling, easily digested, non- fattening and most of all, as Ned Flanders might say . .. scrum-diddly-doodly-umptious!

Winter is a time of year when we are mostly looking to warm foods for our meals. Mmmm, soup, the perfect winter meal. Soup can be whatever you want it to be. There are no great secrets; you can create your own personal recipe according to the foods you like. Preparation time is minimal - however long it takes to collect a few ingredients and chop up your vegetables. Cooking time, however, is the key. Use plenty of water and with the lid on and the heat way down low, allow 1.5 - 2.5 hours for your soup to boil gently - cook it slowly (the key), this way you retain the flavours and most importantly the nutrition - the all important vitamins and minerals.

This soup is very easy. You can use the same vegetables as in this recipe or choose your own favourites according to the vegetables you like and the ones you are not allergic to. The vegetables I use are because I like them; because of their nutritional value to my immune system and skin and because they cause me no allergic response. The quantities used will of course vary according to how many people you are cooking for. This recipe makes enough for 2-4 people and extra serve or two to go in the freezer.

Organic chicken or not organic chicken, that is the question? Even though it is a little more expensive when it comes to chicken, I stick with Organic chicken, raised free range and free of antibiotics and other growth stimulators. I believe it important to my overall health for the long-term; and personally, I find the way caged chickens are raised and fed offensive.

Always use a whole chicken. Using a whole chicken offers much more nutritional benefits than using breast meat or thigh fillets. When you have a cold or flu, chicken soup (amoung other things) is an excellent remedy for warmth, nutrition and fluids. Foods consumed during a cold or flu or even emphysema should aid in the clearing of mucus from the body. Chicken soup is good for these conditions because the chicken contains Cysteine, which thins mucus and is useful for all respiratory problems.

Some of the above information was sourced from Nutrition Almanac, John D. Kirschmann & Nutrition Search Inc.

Let's get cooking ...

SOUP INGREDIENTS

Approximately 3.5 to 4 Litres of water in a large soup pot

1 Whole Chicken

1 tsp Salt

1 medium to large onion - roughly chopped

2-4 cloves of Garlic - just squash with flat of knife

1 - 2 Bay leaves - fresh or dried

½ bunch parsley - washed & dried then roughly chopped

1 large carrot or 2 medium carrots - roughly chopped into bite size pieces

1 bunch Bok Choy - washed & dried then roughly chopped

A sizeable chunk of Pumpkin - skin removed, roughly chopped into bite size pieces

1 medium Sweet Potato - roughly chopped into bite size pieces, skin on or off - up to you

A generous handful of snow-peas - cut or broken into bite size pieces

-or any other seasonal green vegetable

that you like ie., zucchini, broccoli.

Something to remember: Wash all your vegetables well. Use a soft nylon kitchen brush to scrub away pesticide residue.

HOW TO

Firstly remove your whole chicken from its packaging, quickly rinse inside & out in cold water and place in a large saucepan or soup pot.
Add 3.5 to 4 litres of water (filtered or spring where possible).
Toss in the salt, garlic, onion and Bay leaf then place the saucepan on the stove with the lid on and set element on high so as to bring the water to the boil.
While you are waiting for the water to come to the boil, start chopping your other vegetables adding them to the pot as you go.
Once the water is boiling well, reduce the element heat so the water boils gently - simmer with the lid on for up to 2.5 hours. Every so often, carefully take off the lid and push the vegetables around a little.

To give your soup some weight, add a generous cup of barley or brown rice at the beginning of the cooking process. Keep an eye on the water though; the grains will soak up a portion of the water; so, as you see the water level drop, just top up the soup pot with hot water from the kettle (so as not to lose your boil).

You'll know when your soup is ready because the meat of the chicken will fall away from the bones very easily and fall apart in shreds. When the soup is ready, remove from the heat and allow it to sit and cool for a little while, long enough to be able to handle it without scalding yourself.

Remove the whole chicken (and any bones that have come away), from the soup pot into a strong standing colander/strainer. Strip away the meat from the bones and return it (the meat) to the soup pot. Do not include any skin or gristle. Discard the bones, gristle and skin. Soup-making tip - If you use a standing colander you'll have both hands free. Stand the colander in another dish - you can catch juices from the chicken carcass and return into the soup.
Pour your soup into a container with an airtight lid (or use plastic wrap over the container and place in the fridge overnight. A layer of solidified fat will form on the surface of the soup. You can use a spatula or a kitchen ladle to scrape off the top layer of fat. Underneath you will find your delicious chicken and vegetable soup. Another soup-making tip - If you want to stretch your soup a little further, at this point you could add another litre of water.

Your soup is now ready. To serve it needs reheating, which is as long as it will take to prepare some yummy Finger Toast. Now, that wasn't so complicated or difficult.

You do need to allow yourself time with soup, especially chicken or other meat soups. Refridgeration solidifies the fat and makes for easy removal thus giving you very low fat soup.

Purely vegetable soups do not need this procedure so you can tuck in as soon as it's ready!

FINGER TOAST

This way of preparing bread has been around for a long time; I don't know where it originated, except that whilst growing up and into my adult years I enjoyed many a meal with people of mediteranean backgrounds and this was often an accompanyment to soups. The bread they used, however, was often thick, crusty, chunky and home baked - mmmm, mmm!

Whatever bread you choose to use is entirely up to you. You may have discovered some of the safe and healthy breads at the Health Food Shop in their freezer. If you haven't yet, go and check it out. You may even be making you own. My local Health food shop has several types of alternative grain breads such as , Buckwheat bread, Rice bread and other specialty gluten free breads.

Ok, back to the Toast ...

Ingredients

Choose your Bread

Rice Bran Oil

Salt - Rock-, Sea- or Herbamare - My fave is herbamare

How To...

Place your bread into the toaster - while the bread is toasting, prepare on a flat dish a thin spread of Rice Bran Oil covering the plate.

Lightly sprinkle your favourite salt evenly across the oil.

When the toast is ready, lay it flat on the plate for a couple of seconds - to soak up a little salted oil - not too much!

Remove to a clean plate and cut the toast into sticks.

Repeat this for each slice of toast. You may have to replenish the salt and oil as you go depending on how much toast you have.

Your Finger Toast is now ready to dip into your soup. Bon Apetite.

Eczema friendly Soap | Eczema friendly body cleanser | 100% Natural body cleansers

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -1100

SOAPS & BODY CLEANSERS

Washing and personal hygiene are essential tools in maintaining good health all-round especially when it comes to the health of your skin. Clean, moisturised skin is very important to those who suffer with eczema. The big issue facing those with sensitive skin, particularly Eczema skin is what to use as a cleanser; what is available that will not irritate the skin and cause further drying, itching and rashing? So many modern soaps contain foaming agents, artificial fragrances and colours as well as chemical nasties such as sodium lauryl sulphate which cause alot of irritation and further exacerbate eczema and other skin conditions.

Soap has enjoyed a very long history of invention and use throughout mankind's journey to good hygiene. The earliest recorded evidence of soap-like materials dates back to around 2800BC in Ancient Babylon where a recipe for soap was discovered (written on a clay tablet) consisting of water, alkali and cassia oil. It is indicated that ancient Egyptians who bathed regularly learned to combine animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to create a soap-like substance.

SAFE SOAPS

I've always been on the search for suitable soaps and cleansers; unfortunately even those soaps advertised for sensitive skins or allergy skin still irritate my skin, they still contain some ingredients that are irritants. I even tried sorbolene cream as my soap (as directed by my doctor) for many years and tolerated its use because there wasn't much else available.

Things have changed over the last 10 years because consumers are looking for more natural products and the demand has bought forth some great products.

In recent years my partner actually found this soap for me. I tried it and loved it and I now sell it on this website. Surprise, surprise, it is inexpensive, readily available and free of nasty chemicals - 100% natural...

...I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ...

PRIYA Natures Olive Oil Soap Bar. This is my personal favourite in the shower. It smells lovely and feels silky on my skin. It does not irritate my skin nor does it dry my skin.

Used as a skin purifier for over 3,000 years, Olive Oil provides your skin with essential oils and nutrients to leave it invigorated and refreshed. This bar contains 100% Olive oil, Palm Oil and an exclusive blend of essential oils to leave your skin smooth and aromatic every time you use it. It contains no animal fats and is made in Australia. It does not contain chemical additives, colours or fragrances and lives up to my expectations every single time.

When trying a new soap or body cleanser, firstly try just washing your hands with it. If it irritates your hands you can guarantee it's going to irritate the rest of your body.

If it does irritate your hands, leave them under the running water and thoroughly rinse, then lightly dry your hands and apply moisturiser.

Actually you should ALWAYS apply moisturiser after washing your hands and after bathing or showering.

Other soaps I have tried have been purchased at health food shops and local markets supporting natural and hand crafted products. Some are a little expensive and some still contain things I am sensitive to. Priya Olive Oil Soap has remained my favourite.

As far as a Liquid Soap goes, I stick with a product called Green Aussie Cleaner. Click on the link for more information on this fantastic Eczema safe Australian Product.

Natural soap making has become very popular recently and you will often find beautiful natural hand crafted soaps at market stalls throughout the country. These soaps are made using all natural ingredients including essential oils that nurture the skin rather than strip your skin of its own natural oils.

When you buy these products from market stalls, talk with the person who made it, explain that you have a skin condition and it is important for you to know what is in the soap. Most people who make these natural products are quite willing to discuss it with you as most of these people recognise that the manufactured soaps can be dangerous to sensitive skin.

PRODUCT NAME

AVAILABLE BY

AVAILABLE THROUGH

CONTACT DETAILS

for more info

$$$

Aud

Priya Nature's Olive Oil Soap

ONLINE

www.lookingforalternatives.com.au

Ph:

Web:

ML International

Pty Ltd

(+61) 2 9690 2688

www.priyasoap.com.au

100gm Bar $1.95

Ancient Soap Stories

The word ‘soap' (from the Latin word - sapo) first appears in a European language in Elders Historia Naturalis by Pliny an ancient natural philosopher, author and naturalist, which records the manufacture of soap from tallow - a hard fatty substance extracted from the fat of sheep and cattle mixed with ashes, but the only use he mentions is as a pomade -perfumed oil or ointment used to make hair look smooth and shiny.

Another popular claim is that soap takes its name from the supposed Mount Sapo where ancient Romans sacrificed animals. Rain would send a mix of animal tallow and wood ash down the mountain and into the clay soil on the banks of the Tiber. Eventually women would notice that it was easier to get their clothes clean with this ‘soap'. The location of Mount Sapo is unknown as is the source of this ancient Roman legend.

True soaps were made from vegetable oils such as olive oil and aromatic oils such as thyme oil, lye was also added. These soaps were first produced by Muslim alchemists in the medieval Islamic world. The basic formula for soap hasn't really changed since then.

From the beginning of the 7^th century soap was produced in Nablus (West Bank), Kufa (Iraq) and Basra (Iraq). Soap as we know it today is a descendant of the historical Arabian soaps. Arabian soap was perfumed and coloured, some were solid bars and others were liquid and they even produced a special soap for shaving! Recently a manuscript was discovered from the 13^th century detailing more recipes for soap making.

Modern Soap Making

In semi-modern times soap was often made in the home made by mixing animal fats with lye (a sodium hydroxide) or potash (potassium hydroxide) and soda ash (sodium carbonate) which were leached from the ashes of a hardwood fire for soap-making at home. Because Lye is caustic it was a dangerous procedure which could result in serious chemical burns or even blindness.

In recent modern times the use of soap had become universal in industrialised nations due to a better understanding of the role of hygiene in reducing pathogenic microorganisms. Manufactured soap bars first became available in the late nineteenth century, and advertising campaigns in Europe and the United States helped to increase popular awareness of the relationship between cleanliness and health. Until the Industrial Revolution, soap making was done on a small scale and the product was rough.

Andrew Pears started making a high-quality, transparent soap in 1789 in London. With his grandson, Francis Pears and they opened a factory in Isleworth in 1862. William Gossage produced low-price good quality soap from the 1850s. Robert Spear Hudson began manufacturing a soap powder in 1837, initially, by grinding the soap with a mortar and pestle. William Hesketh Lever and his brother, James, bought a small soap works in Warrington in 1885 and founded what is still one of the largest soap businesses, we now know as Unilever.

In Chicago in 1888, one of the first manufacturers of soap was the Armour & Company. The soap was made from tallow, a by-product of the meat production process. In 1948, Armour soap became Dial soap, the first deodorant or antibacterial soap introduced in the USA.

In addition to the traditional sale of many kinds of soap products by pharmacists through retail outlets, soap itself has found numerous applications in pharmacology, such as pill making, lotions and liniments, dentifrices, plasters, enemas, suppositories and poultices, in addition to veterinary applications. The use of soap in pharmacology is long established.

The above information has been sourced from The pharmaceutical Journal Vol.263 pg.985-989 by Dr Hunt, Vice President of the British Society for the History or Pharmacy; The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2001-07 www.bartleby.com ; and Wikipedia, http://www.wikipedia.com/ and www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Quarter/2926/Soap_History.html

Current Soap Manufacture Practices and the introduction of Chemicals

So there you have it, soap has a long standing history of invention and use dating back to ancient times, although this is probably a lot more information on soap than you may have thought possible.

With the introduction of the industrial age and the large scale production factories, soap has taken a more chemically based route. Sadly the chemicals used in the large scale production of soaps have many side effects for th ose with sensitive skin and for young babies and children. It is my opinion that modern chemical based soaps are not just hazardous to sensitive people but to all of us used in the long term.

A typical analysis of a modern bar of soap or a liquid soap wash includes (and usually second on the ingredients list) such chemicals as SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or SLES - Sodium Laureth Sulphate which just on their own have some very nasty side effects such as stress related illnesses; lowered sperm counts; cataracts; corneal damage; improper eye development in infants and children; dry skin; liver toxicity; dermatitis; mouth ulcers; impaired hair growth and corrosion of hair follicles; teratogen; and is on the NIH Hazards list.

Is it any wonder that many soaps are not recommended for use with babies and young children? Is it any wonder that most soaps will irritate sensitive eczema skin when one of the main ingredients can cause dry skin and dermatitis? It pays to choose your soap wisely,

Look around, shop around, there are many more alternatives available than what you find advertised and on the supermarket shelf. Support your local hand crafters, those that make products with love and devotion to their craft and your skin rather than those whose devotion lies only with your hard earned dollars.

Yoga | Natural Stress Relief

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -1100

YOGA

The practice of Yoga dates back over five thousand years to the time of ancient forest dwellers called "Rishis", Sages who dwelt in the Indus Valley, in what is now Northern India. Observing nature and searching within themselves, they evolved physical postures and breathing exercises which stretched, cleansed and centered the body, cultivating states of vitality, clarity and focus. Yoga means ‘union', to yolk or unite and comes from the Sanskrit root yuj. Through the practice of Yoga we aim to integrate the body, mind and emotions to bring about a state of balance, drawing ourselves deeper into the present in search of the eternal moment. There are several different forms of yoga , including Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga and Astanga Yoga. The aim of each form is UNITY of being, achieving a balanced mind by natural methods. The most practiced form of yoga in the west is Hatha Yoga for it gives us a tangible system of physical culture, training the body, breath and mind towards a ‘one-pointedness' or single focus. Yoga gives us a superb total physical training system of realignment and health.

Human beings are made up of three components: body, mind and soul. Corresponding to these are three needs that must be satisfied for a contented life. The physical need is health; the psychological need is knowledge; and the spiritual need is inner peace. When all three are present there is harmony.

Modern society faces problems which affect all these aspects. Today's lifestyle with its technological wonders is a mixed blessing. Convenience and speed are obtained at some cost to physical health. Labour-saving devices minimize physical exertion, resulting in stiffness and muscular weakness. A sedentary life causes backache, neck problems, heaviness in the limbs and difficulty walking. The extensive use of visual media leads to headaches and eye strain.

The mental anxieties of a competitive world deplete inner resources, inviting stress-related problems such as insomnia and digestive, respiratory and nervous disorders. If pressures are not balanced with time for quiet reflection, the quality of life is impaired.

Modern trends of thoughts are a melting pot of old and new ideas. Artificial values stemming from acquisitiveness and self interest lead to alienation from the spiritual purpose in life. The loss of belief can bring a sense of loss of one's own true identity.

From the psychological viewpoint, Yoga sharpens the intellect and aids concentration. It steadies the emotions and encourages a caring concern for others. Above all, it gives hope. The practice of breathing techniques calms the mind. Its philosophy sets life in perspective. In the realm of the spiritual it, Yoga brings awareness and the ability to be still. Through meditation, inner peace is achieved.

The above information was sourced from Power Yoga by Liz Lark , Carlton Books Ltd, London, England and Yoga: The Iynegar Way, by Silva, Mira and Shyam Mehta, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London.

‘Yoga is an immortal art, science and philosophy. It is the best subjective psycho-anatomy of mankind ever conceived for the experience of physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual well-being. It has stood the test of time from the beginning of civilization and it will remain supreme as a precise psycho-physical science for centuries to come. There are many different types of cells in the body with physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual and spiritual functions. It is known that each cell has a life of its own. These cells are the pearls of life.

In the practice of Yoga every cell is consciously made to absorb a copious supply of fresh blood and life-giving energy, thus satiating the embodied soul. With serenity, one then experiences the self by the self and rests the self in the lap of the soul.'

Yogicharya B. K. S. Iyengar

This form of relaxation or stress management is available to people of all ages and aside from being an effective tool in learning how to calm the mind and focus and not get stressed it is also a great way to stay in shape. It is challenging physically, but never impossible. I understand the problem faced by those with eczema of getting all ‘hot and sweaty'. As this happens your body starts to itch from the heat and the perspiration on the skin. Whilst working out in a yoga session, stretching and strengthening you body and your mind, you will definitely warn up, but you won't overheat. This is a definite plus as far as exercise goes. Sweating it out in a gym, aerobics and other high impact sports can be tricky when dealing with the issue of sweaty itchy skin.

Yoga encourages you mentally and physically to push your own boundaries as to what you can achieve, it teaches you clarity of mind to help you focus and through concentration and meditation in movement, the deeper purpose is to still the mind and open the heart. For myself, yoga has taught me ways to deal with the stress of eczema and the intensity of the itch. Learning breathing techniques to quiet my body and mind has been invaluable.

Yoga has become a popular ‘new age' form of exercise even though it has been around for thousands of years, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a Yoga class near you. If you go to one and you find it does not suit, look elsewhere, you will find a class and a ‘yogi' (instructor) to suit your needs. If you'd rather not go out to a class, there are plenty of DVD's around. Check out your local sports equipment store, department store, shopping centre temporary market carts, bookshops, health food shops and the like. Although not completely necessary, a rubber yoga mat is most helpful in keeping your feet from slipping. You can buy a yoga mat just about anywhere these days, I have seen them in Coles and Woolworths, sports stores, department stores etc as well as Clark Rubber where you can buy it by the meter which is great if you are tall and it also works out cheaper.

I prefer to do Yoga at home. The privacy of my home is a more comfortable situation for my Yoga practice and meditation because I can practice when it suits me and go at my own pace. I used to attend a class outside the home for many years, many years ago, where I was taught the fundamentals by a very good Yogi. That experience has helped me greatly in motivating myself to practice at home.

Try to put aside the same time for doing it at home as you would if you had go to out to a class. Pick an appropriate time, where you are free of distractions and can give your session the same degree of attention as you would in a class. I you feel more motivated by going out to a class, by all means, it's really up to you and your level of comfort when it comes to this condition.

Yoga, in conjunction with other stress management treatments or therapies, is another very effective natural stress management application.

Next time let's look at Meditation and the stress relief that it offers. Meditation is an age old therapy that is thought to have many positive therapeutic effects on the human body. It's really not as hard as you may think, there are a couple of little tricks to learn, and once you have these mastered, it's as easy as breathing! As with any form of therapy it will require some input from you. I hope you'll enjoy a nice quiet relaxing read.

Beds & Bedding | Daily Care & Personal Grooming

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -1100

GOODNIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT ...

We are all familiar with the powerful need for sleep. You may not realize that sleep is as essential for your well-being as food and water. When dealing with eczema and allergies; sleep and the bed can become issues. Overheating in bed is a problem for most of us with eczema so the issue of bedding is quite important. Let's first observe that powerful and primitive urge to sleep and what it actually means to the state of our overall health and wellbeing.

Until the 1950s, most people thought of sleep as a passive, dormant part of our daily lives. We now know that our brains are very active during sleep. Moreover, sleep affects our daily functioning and our physical and m ental health in many ways that we are just beginning to understand.

Sleep - A vital and natural alternative and one that is often overlooked; it's not just the flu and other illnesses that require adequate and healthy sleep habits; things such as hay-fever, allergic symptoms and eczema are exhausting and can be helped by making sure that you get adequate rest and the right amount of sleep to allow your immune system the time it requires to rejuvenate and actively fight off allergens and inflammation.

The Practicalities

The first requirement of a good nights sleep is obviously going to be the bed. We all know how expensive they are. At the same time we need to accept that the bed you sleep on each night is of great importance. When it comes to allergies and eczema, this is especially so. Dust mite is a huge factor as well as bed hygiene.

Firstly, please I beg of you, if you have eczema or allergies or your child has eczema and allergies and you allow your pet, the family dog or cat, to sleep in the bed, please, I am begging you DON'T do it. Dogs and cats are known allergens to those with eczema and asthma and respiratory problems. The animal might get a good night's sleep, but I can guarantee that the sufferer will not. Even if you don't realise it, you are probably scratching in your sleep or you may even find your breathing is impaired whilst you sleep. Find a more suitable place other than the sufferer's bedroom, for the family pet to have its own comfortable and personal space to sleep. Humans and animals alike benefit from a good nights sleep, but each to their own habitat please!

As far as bed hygiene goes, it is important on the list of priorities. It was and still is a weekly routine for me to change my bed sheets and pillowcases; throw the quilt and pillows and woolen under-lay over the clothes line outside on a nice sunny day, this helps to kill off dust mite and air the dust out of the fabrics. Give it a bit of a bash and shake before returning it to its rightful place. It's a little old fashioned I know, but it has always worked for me. In between bedding changes if you notice skin flakes in the bed, run over the sheets with a hand held vacuum cleaner. This gives any dust mite less of a smorgasbord!

THE MATTRESS

I have used the mattress covers that are designed against dust mite. Although they do their job of restricting the movement of dust mites throughout the bed etc, for me it was more than uncomfortable. The biggest problem was that the cover was a plastic or nylon type material and regardless of summer or winter, I would sweat all night long, scratching away whilst I slept and sweat and then of course dealing with constant ‘sleep debt'. It got to a point where I preferred to deal with dust mites in a more conventional way than sweat it out like that, so once a week whilst changing the bed sheets, I would turn over the mattress and run a hand-held vacuum cleaner over it. Around once a month, I'd enlist some help to drag the mattress out into the sun for a few hours. Dust mite does not survive 50 degrees celcius or more and leaving a mattress & bedding in the sun a few hours will achieve this. Before you bring it back in give it a bash with a large stick or the broom handle.

Recently we had to replace our bed and after a little shopping around we came across a mattress called Tempur. This mattress is in my eyes, perfect. It has all the qualities it needs to be outstanding and then some. You can check it out for yourself at www.tempur.com.au but for now I'll give you a brief idea: The manufacturers have designed it for total comfort and body/spine support and it is recognised by NASA and certified by the Space Foundation. Tempur Mattresses and Pillows are resistant to bacteria, mould, mildew, dust mites and odour-causing germs. They are 100% CFC-free (chlorofluorocarbons) and they have been allergy tested and approved. Amazing!

For me it is the MOST comfortable bed I have ever slept on. It is not just the support it provides that gives me comfort, it is the fact that I am not over-heating and itching all night from plastic/nylon materials and dust mite.

It was definitely a financial investment, but with the quality of sleep it provides, no mattress dust mites to deal with and the fact it has a 15 year warranty makes it a worthwhile investment. Oh yeah, and I dont have to drag the mattress out into the sun once a month! Now I just run over it with a hand held vaccuum.

We sleep a lot better each night without me scratching around and we take comfort in the fact that we will not have to buy another bed for at least 15 years!

I urge you to recognise the importance of the mattress you sleep on as well as the mattresses the children are sleeping on. This is vital for normal growth and development and particularly important for anyone with auto-immune diseases such as eczema that are exacerbated by allergens like dust mite. Look around for a suitable mattress one that includes chiropractic care as well as taking into consideration the issues associated with dust mite.

THE BEDDING

Sheets

The bedding you use is also very important. Always choose bedding made with natural fibre. Choose 100% cotton sheets, pillow cases and quilt covers where possible. Most bed sheets are a cotton/polyester mix and a little cheaper. Go for one that has more cotton and less polyester where you can, preferably 100% cotton if your budget allows.

Nylon sheets and satin sheets don't allow your body to breathe through the bedding and you may overheat through the night, waking up sweaty and itchy. I find that Flannelette sheets, although cotton, really really irritate my skin, they are too rough and make me itch, so I steer clear of them.

Blankets/Quilts

Feather quilts are full of allergens, they collect dust and dust mite and will probably drive you mad. Nylon/polyester quilts and blankets are made from crude oil. They do not allow your body to breathe through the bedding causing the body to overheat and yes ... you wake up sweaty and itchy. Stay away from nylons in your bedding. Where ever you can, stick with natural fibres, fabrics and materials.

Natural fibres would include materials such as Cotton, Hemp, Wool, Rayon and Tencel. They are a much healthier alternative, they allow the body and skin to breathe and not overheat thus reducing some of the discomforts that can come with sleeping. The eczema and allergic body retains a lot of heat which adds to and causes itching.

One style of Quilt I have had success with in the past is 100% wool filled quilt with a 100% cotton outer cover. Even though I cannot tolerate wool directly against my skin, it is fine when there something like cotton between it and my skin. Wool breathes and allows your body heat to move through it thus overheating and sweating is less likely. My woolen quilt was a worthwhile addition to a comfortable nights sleep.

I've also seen Cotton filled quilts onthe market, which of course makes alot of sense when in comes to bedding. They are a little expensive though but certainly worth consideration.

Another natural fibre quilt I have recently come across and now currently use, is called Tencel. This is a new age Australian innovation and made from Plantation Forests of Eucalyptus Tree wood pulp which makes it human and earth friendly. Tencel fibre also has therapuetic properties - It has excellent moisture management and prevents the formation of bacteria which keeps it cleaner and fresher therefore less washing and laundering. Tencel is gentle to the skin, it has a cooling effect and the smooth fibres prevent skin irritation. It is breathably warm in winter, so you don't get hot & sweaty & itchy, it is cooling in summer.

This winter I had to replace my woolen quilt and I have chosen a Tencel Quilt. What a difference it has made to my sleep. It is warm and light, fresh and comfortable. You'll find it at most bedding suppliers and some online suppliers as well. I picked mine up at Target, they offer them at a very good price, even better I happened to be in the right place at thte right time and managed to purchase mine whilst they were having a 40% off manchester sale - lucky me!!

BRAINI-FACTS

Nerve-signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters control whether we are asleep or awake by acting on different groups of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. Neurons in the brainstem connect the brain with the spinal cord and produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin andnorepinephrine, which keep some parts of the brain active while we are awake. Other neurons at the base of the brain begin signaling when we fall asleep. These neurons appear to "switch off" the signals that keep us awake. Research also suggests that a chemical called adenosinebuilds up in our blood while we are awake and causes drowsiness. This chemical gradually breaks down while we sleep.

Since sleep and wakefulness are influenced by different neurotransmitter signals in the brain - foods and medications that change the balance of these signals a ffect whether we feel alert or drowsy and how well we sleep. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and drugs such as diet pills and decongestants stimulate some parts of the brain and can cause insomnia, or an inability to sleep. Many anti-depressants suppress REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Heavy smokers often sleep very lightly and have reduced amounts of REM sleep. They also tend to wake up after 3 or 4 hours of sleep due to nicotine withdrawal. Many people who suffer from insomnia try to solve the problem with alcohol - the so-called ‘night cap'. While alcohol does help people fall into light sleep, it also robs them of REM and the deeper, more restorative stages of sleep. Instead, it keeps them in the lighter stages of sleep, from which they can be awakened easily.

The amount of sleep each person needs depends on many factors, including age:

Infants generally require about 16 hours a day,
While teenagers need about 9 hours on average and pre-teens up to 10hours
For most adults, 7 to 9 hours a night appears to be the best amount of sleep

Some people may need as few as 5 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day. Women in the first 3 months of pregnancy often need several more hours of sleep than usual. The amount of sleep a person needs also increases if he or she has been deprived of sleep in the previous days. Getting too little sleep creates a "sleep debt", which is much like being overdrawn at a bank. Eventually, your body will demand that the debt be repaid. We don't seem to adapt to getting less sleep than we need; but while we may get used to a sleep-deprived schedule, our reaction time, judgment and many other functions remain impaired.

The Science of Sleep

Although scientists are still trying to learn exactly why people need sleep, animal studies show that sleep is necessary for survival. Some studies suggest that sleep deprivation affects the immune system in detrimental ways.

Sleep appears necessary for our nervous systems to work properly. Too little sleep leaves us drowsy and unable to concentrate the next day. It also leads to impaired memory and physical performance and reduced ability to carry out math calculations. If sleep deprivation continues, hallucinations and mood swings may develop. Some experts believe sleep gives neurons used while we are awake, a chance to shut down and repair themselves. Without sleep, neurons may become so depleted in energy, or so polluted with by-products of normal cellular activities that they begin to malfunction. Sleep also may give the brain a chance to exercise important neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate from lack of activity.

Deep sleep coincides with the release of growth hormone in children and young adults. Many of the body's cells also show increased production and reduced breakdown of proteins during deep sleep. Since proteins are the building blocks needed for cell growth and for repair of damage from factors like stress and ultraviolet rays, deep sleep may truly be "beauty sleep." Activities in parts of the brain that control emotions such as the decision-making processes and social interactions are drastically reduced during deep sleep, suggesting that this type of sleep may help people maintain optimal emotional and social functioning while they are awake.

Sleep and sleep-related problems play a role in a large number of human disorders and affect almost every field of medicine. For example, problems like stroke and asthma attacks tend to occur more frequently during the night and early morning; perhaps due to changes in hormones, heart rate and other characteristics associated with sleep. Sleep also affects some kinds of epilepsy in complex ways. REM sleep seems to help prevent seizures that begin in one part of the brain from spreading to other brain regions, while deep sleep may promote the spread of these seizures. Sleep deprivation triggers seizures in people with some types of epilepsy.

Neurons that control sleep interact closely with the immune system. As anyone who has had the flu knows, infectious diseases tend to make us feel sleepy. This probably happens becausecytokines (chemicals our immune system produces while fighting an infection), are powerful sleep-inducing chemicals. Sleep may help the body conserve energy and other resources that the immune system needs to mount an attack.

Information sourced from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS atwww.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics

WELL ... GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT ... DON'T LET THE DUST-MITE BITE!!

Natural Decongestant | Natural Cold and Flu Remedy

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -1100

NATURAL COLD & FLU REMEDY

Let me share with you a great recipe for a decongestant. This recipe was passed on to me by a very good friend of mine, Maria. She comes from Italian background and it is something she grew up with. My guess is that this recipe has been around for Generations and may probably be around for many more as we collectively see the extraordinary benefits Natural Remiedies have to offer.

Thank you Maria for passing on this fantastic natural Decongestant Cold and Flu Remedy.

If honey is a sensitivity or allergy issue for you, then don't use this recipe

For some, onions cause unpleasant reactions in their stomach and digestive systems, so if this is you, then it is fair to avoid this receipe

1 small - medium onion very thinly sliced in rounds

Good quality Honey

Garlic (optional)

It is important you use a good quality honey to maximize the use of its healing properties. Many commercially produced honeys are highly processed and heat treated which may interfere with the quality. UMF [Active] Manuka Honey is probably the best around for the active healing properties it contains. It is pure and untreated and has many great healing qualities. Honey fresh from the hive would be fantastic of course. Check your local markets for quality fresh local honeys.

Step 1. Cough Syrup

Place the sliced onion (and garlic if you dare!) in a container that can be sealed. Pour a generous amount of good quality honey over it to cover the onion. With the lid on, allow the onion and honey to stand on the bench. Don't refrigerate or the honey will harden. The honey becomes very syrup-y as the onion infuses with it. When it is very syrup-y, it is ready. A teaspoon or two of this at a time, throughout the day and night, will break up the mucus in your lungs and nose and throat and allow better breathing. All the other beneficial properties of the honey, onion and garlic combined will do wonders to support your immune system so your body can fight the infection.

Step 2. Cough.

This decongestant will assist in breaking up the muscus in your lungs and your body will naturally want to expel the infected mucus by coughing it up. This is a good thing; you need to cough and to cough-up the infected mucus. Yes, I know ... yuck!

But it's a fact of life so let's get over it. A bronchial infection is certainly better OUT than in. Swallowing the infected mucus keeps the infection within the body and can make you feel quite nauseous. Coughing and coughing it up allows you expel the infection from your lungs and keep it from your stomach.

Deposit it into a tissue and dispose of thoughtfully so as not spread your germs around, perhaps flush it down the toilet; or for those who are tougher about these sorts of things, ‘hawking-up' and spitting directly into a basin or toilet. The shower is a great place to expel any mucus; the heat and steam from the shower loosens it up in your chest and it is easier to cough up and get rid of under the running water.

Take it as often as you like. The taste is unusual but not disgusting and when you're used to it and feeling game and want an extra boost - try adding squashed fresh garlic - Kapow!! Honey is such a great healer. In this recipe it will soothe the throat and is antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Onion and Garlic are extraordinary healers ~ google it, there is plenty of info out there about the benefits of these two Natural Remedies.

Common Sense for the Common Cold

If the smell of this remedy worries you, think of it this way - If you are sick with cold and/or influenza and bronchitis you should be at home resting and recovering; in bed, away from the general public keeping the spread of the viruses to a minumum, so the way you smell should not be an issue! Seriously it doesn't smell bad.

This decongestant recipe and a good supply of tissues combined with a few other ‘home remedies' such as sleep, plenty of water, chicken soup, recsue remedy, steam vapouriser with something like a few drops of Eucalyptus oil and more sleep, will help you get through the cold or flu in half the time than you would relying on toxic medications which many doctors and pharmacists now admit have no real effect on the cold or flu itself.

Of course, if you have any doubt as to the severity of your cold or flu, visit your doctor or health care professional. Serious infections left unattended can lead to life threatening complications, so always take the time, care and effort you need to assist your body in healing and allowing your body to recover from something as common as the human cold and influenza viruses.

HEALTHY TID-BITS

Honey Health

Honey has so many wonderful healing qualities it's hard to know where to start.

Honey's anti-bacterial activity was recognised as early as 1550bc by the ancient Egyptians. Aristotle recommended it for assisting natural healing of infected wounds. Any type of honey may be called Active if it has antibacterial properties. However this anti-bacterial activity can vary widely in potency.

New Zealand UMF Manuka Honey's anti-bacterial activity has an equivalent concentration to Phenol (a common antiseptic). It supports the natural healing of wounds, and can help soothe the digestive tract as well as the throat. It can be taken by eating or by application to the skin surface. Manuka Honey is a superior treatment for wounds and infections. It is gathered in New Zealand from Manuka bush (Leptospermum Scoparium), which grows uncultivated throughout the country. Dr. Peter Molan and his research team at the Honey Research Unit, Waikato University, New Zealand, found in some specific strains of Manuka Honey, a second natural, more powerful and more stable antibacterial property now called UMF- Unique Manuka Factor. In laboratory tests the UMF property has been found to be effective against a wide range of bacteria including: Streptococcus Pyogenes which cause sore throats; Helicobacter Pylori - this bacteria causes most stomach ulcers; Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli - the most common cause of infected wounds as well as MRSA - Methicillin (or multiple) Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: an increasingly common dangerous bacterium that is resistant to many antibiotics and is responsible for outbreaks of infection in hospitals.

The Hydrogen Peroxide antibacterial property of other honeys (including ordinary manuka honey) is not effective against Helicobacter Pylori. The UMF is additional to the hydrogen peroxide activity and is very stable. It gives the honey a wider range of uses and effectiveness. It is heat resistant and more resistant to being broken down by the catalase effect of body fluids, than Hydrogen Peroxide activity on its own. Studies are showing UMF [Active] Manuka Honey with high levels of UMF could be very effective not only in digestive care by helping relieve stomach ulcer symptoms and gastritis but also wound care by assisting the natural healing of skin ulcers, diabetic ulcers and MRSA; wounds, burns, boils, cracked skin, pressure sores, eczema, and dermatitis; as well as relieving sore throats. In oral hygiene it may inhibit acid production and help prevent cavities developing in teeth.

A superb product bought to you from Nature's Pantry.

The Noble Onion

The onion has long been known for its healthy contribution to the human condition. The Onion is as powerful an ally as garlic. Whether raw or cooked, onions are anti-bacterial and anti-viral, helping to fight off colds, relieve bronchial congestion, asthma and hay fever. It is also reputed to be good for arthritis, rheumatism and gout. It is a rich source of quercetin, a potent antioxidant that has been linked to the prevention of stomach cancer. It is said that eating ½ a raw onion each day will thin the blood, lower the LDL cholesterol and raise beneficial HDL cholesterol by around 30%. What this means is that cholesterol is transported away from the arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

So why wouldn't you want to eat it every day? "Well, because it makes me fart!" you say. Well, I say ‘time get over it', farting is good for you, it releases the gases that build up in your digestive system whilst digestion takes place as well as releasing swallowed air. Imagine if you couldn't fart! Someone I know someone who had this problem for a while and believe me it was definitely worse than a bit of flatulance. Perhaps discretion is the key here. Mostly our families can live with it and it seems we all have a giggle at it. It is a primitive bodily function so let's learn to live with it.

GARLIC

Garlic is well known for its cancer-prevention properties, not to mention its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties when eaten raw. Cooking it does not, by any means, inhibit its anti-cancer, blood thinning and decongestant capabilities. Garlic has also been found to lower cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure, boost the immune system, lift mood and have a calming effect. So why wouldn't you want to eat it every day? "oh, but it stinks!" I hear you moan. Personally, I think it smells fabulously healthy!

Some of the above information was gained through personal experience and knowledge as well as being gathered by doing searches on ‘honey' ‘Manuka honey', ‘onion', ‘garlic' as well as the book Whole Foods, by Nicola Graimes.

Splendid Salad | Allergy Friendly Recipes | Gourmet Food on an Allergy Diet

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -1100

SPLENDID SALAD

My favourite salad is the mixed leaf variety. It's great alongside just about any meal and makes a really yummy light meal such as a salad sandwich. Some Fruit & vege markets have a lettuce mix which you can help yourself to as much or as little as you like. These premixes can be a little pricey, although I find less waste this way.

You can purchase salad packs already prepared, make sure you check the use by date and be warned...some pre-packaged leaf mixes are preserved by spraying the preservative solution to the inside of the plastic bag, please make sure you always gently wash and dry your leaves before using, even if it says ‘already washed' on the packaging - Pesticides are not safe for human consumption.

You can also make your own mix by buying several different types of lettuce heads and herb leaves; separate and wash the leaves carefully, tear apart the leaves and - if you have one - dry off the leaves in a salad spinner.

Don't use a knife on salad leaves as it bruises them, just tear them. If you don't have a salad spinner, carefully wrap the washed leaves in a cotton tea towel and go outside and spin the towel around to remove excess water.

Of course, a great alternative is to grow your own lettuce at home; in the garden or in pots on your verandah. Even if you feel you don't have a green thumb give it a go, buy a book or check out the internet for info on how to grow your own lettuce. Growing lettuce in pots on your verandah keeps them close by and they will get the attention they need, right outside the back door.

To store your washed and dry salad mix, use a large airtight container, place a layer or two of unbleached, recycled plain paper towel on the bottom of the container to absorb any moisture and store it in the fridge. Use a large container so as not to squash and bruise the leaves. It will last up to 5 days depending on the freshness of the leaves.

... HOW TO ...

Make your GREEN salad into a SPLENDID salad.

Place your salad leaves in a large salad bowl. Quantities are entirely up to you, this is just a rough guide.

In a seperate container prepare the following:

1 medium Carrot - Grated
¼ medium sized Beetroot - Grated
A handful of Snow peas - chopped
¼ Spanish(red)Onion - thinly sliced

Give the vegetables a good mix up and add a few handfuls of the vegetable mix to the salad leaves, then simply add your favourite dressing.

Toss the ingredients around gently and vwalla... you have a splendid and highly nutritious salad, great all year round for dinner or your lunchbox.

Simple Dressing

The most basic dressing to make is Lemon Juice, Olive oil (or Rice Bran Oil) and a little salt & pepper - all ingredients are to your own taste. All the ingredients go into a glass jar - lid on and give it a good shake.

A little fresh crushed garlic adds a lot ‘o' pizzazz to this dressing.

Time Saver Tip...

If you can spend a little extra time here washing and drying (preparing) your salad leaf mix, relative to the size of your family, you save time over the next 3 - 5 days by having it ready everyday to throw on a salad sandwich for lunch, in your lunchbox or with your dinner. My family and I eat salad just about every day all year round! I would rather prepare salad leaves twice a week rather than every day, I don't have the time each day. You will find that when it is washed and ready to go in the fridge you are more likely to eat it rather than spending that extra time each day to wash and prepare salad.

The same goes for the vegetable mix. Have everything grated and sliced and mixed in an airtight container in the fridge ready to add to your salad leaves.

So why are salad leaves so very good for you?

Although all types of salad leaves are around 90% water, they contain useful amounts of vitamins and minerals, particularly folate, iron and the antioxidants vitamins C and Beta-carotene, especially the dark green types such as baby spinach. The outer, darker leaves on say a Cos lettuce tend to be more nutritious than the paler leaves in the centre.

More importantly, like other green leafy vegetables, their anti-oxidant content has been found to guard against the risk of many cancers. Salad leaves are usually eaten raw when the nutrients are at their strongest. Lettuce is reputed to have a calming sedative effect.

HEALTHY TID-BITS

Carrots-

A single Carrot will supply enough vitamin A for an entire day and is reputed to cut the risk of lung cancer by half, even amoung ex-smokers. According to one American doctor, eating an extra carrot a day could prevent 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the USA. This may be due to the high level of the anti-oxidant Beta-carotene that carrots contain. Beta-carotene may also reduce the risk of Prostate cancer in men.

Beetroot -

Beetroot has long been considered medicinally beneficial and is recommended as a general tonic. It can be used to help disorders of the blood including anaemia; it is an effective detoxifier and; because of its high fibre content it is recommended to relieve constipation. Beetroot contains calcium, iron, Vitamins A and C - all at their highest levels when it is eaten raw.

Snow peas -

Belong to the bean family. When peas are at their peak of freshness they are delicious and have a delicate sweet flavour. The taste diminishes when not fresh because their sugars rapidly turn to starch. Peas and beans are a good source of protein and fibre. They are rich in vitamin C, Iron, Thiamine, folate Phosphorous and potassium. A really versatile whole food.

Spanish (Red) Onion -

Belonging to the onion family, the red onion offers a sweet juicy taste. Onions and garlic are highly prized as two of the oldest remedies known to man. Both contain Allicin which has been found to stimulate the body's anti-oxidant mechanisms raising levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol and combating the formation of clogged arteries. Numerous studies highlight the healing powers of the onion. It is a rich source of Quercetin, a potent anti-oxidant that has been linked to preventing stomach cancer. Eating half a raw onion a day is said to thin the blood, lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise beneficial HDL cholesterol by about 30%. This means that cholesterol is transported away from the arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Whether raw or cooked, onions are antibacterial and antiviral helping to fight off colds, relieve bronchial congestion, asthma and hay fever; they are good for arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

Lemons -

Citrus fruits contain Vitamin C, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, beta-carotene and fibre. Pectin, a soluble fibre that is found in the flesh and particularly the membranes of citrus fruit has shown to reduce cholesterol levels. The membranes also contain bioflavinoids which have powerful anti-oxidant properties. Use fresh lemons where you can. Bottled juices have reduced levels of Vitamin C. Choose lemons that are deep yellow, firm and heavy for their size with no hint of green in the skin as this is a sign of immaturity. A thin, smooth skin is a sign of juicy flesh

Some of the above Information was sourced from Wholefoods by Nicola Graimes, Lorenz Books, London, 2002

Drinking Water | Spotlight on Natures' Products

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -1100

WATER WATER EVERY WHERE, DO I DRINK IT? DO I DARE?

Water, the essence of life, without it we do not survive.

Emerging from the warm and watery solution of the womb, the body of a newborn baby is 77% water. Children are 59% water and adults are between 45% and 65% water. The blood is 83%; kidneys are 82%; muscles, 75%; the brain is 74%; the liver 69% and bones are 22% water. Water is the principal constituent of the fluids that surround and are within all living cells.

The human body loses a substantial amount of water, around 2.5% of its total body water, every day -which is equal to around 1.2ltr - through perspiration, breathing, urine and the gastrointestinal tract. This water needs to be replaced on a daily basis for our body to function at its best. Under normal conditions, water accounts for around 65% of lean body mass . The symptoms of dehydration include thirst, sunken and dark eyes, dry mouth, infrequent dark urination, lethargy and irritability, nausea and vomiting. The skin may also lose elasticity. Dehydration occurs when fluid levels in the body are exhausted. Dehydration is serious and can be deadly.

Clean water is essential to the health of your skin. Water helps to keep your skin hydrated, supple and retaining its elasticity. Soft drinks, juices and coffee do not put enough clean water into your body, which is essential in keeping your skin well hydrated and keeping other body organs and body tissues such as brain, kidneys and muscle, clean and hydrated and functioning at their best. Water has the ability to flush our organs clean of infection and inflammation.

It is recommended to drink 8 - 10 cups of water a day. If 1 cup measures 250ml in the metric scale then 10 times that amount would be 2,500ml = 2.5ltres. This is an awful lot of water to drink every day and seems overwhelming to most of us, which in turn discourages many of us in drinking any at all. If you are able to drink this much each day, then stay with that and I commend you! I find this amount too much and then I find I do not stick with it each day, actually I start to feel water-logged. I now aim for 1.5ltrs each day or at the least 1 litre. I do admit that I don't love drinking water, but I do like it, it always makes my body feel good and I see the benefits it provides. There are times I do have to push myself to drink at least a litre that day. I have a sealed 1ltr glass bottle that is filled each morning and my aim is to finish it by the time I am going to bed. If I drink more than that one litre, then I consider it a personal daily success. When you are eating a nutritious diet the body is able to ingest water from other sources such as water absorbing foods like rice and pasta; fruits and vegetables and drinks such as juices, tea and coffee. So if you were to add at least one litre of clean water a day to your diet you should be taking in at least what your body expires every day and you should see and feel some real health benefits.

It is obvious that water plays a very important role in our overall health I encourage you to be water aware not just for your own good health but also for the health of our planet.

It is a well known fact that drinking clean water every day is beneficial to your overall health especially the health of your skin. So go and grab a glass of clean fresh water and one for someone else, clink them together, say 'bottoms up!' Bring the glass to your lips and pour that life giving liquid into your mouth and down your throat, allow your body to feel its cleansing and energising presence as it absorbs into your body. Your skin will love you for it!

Here are a couple of articles to give you a heads up on an important alternative to include in your lifestyle for the good health of your skin. There are many ways to obtain clean water and as you will see, the choices may be many, but the choice always remains yours.

Some of the above information has been sourced from Anatomica-The complete Home Medical Reference by Global Book Publishing and Nutrition Almanac by John D Kirschmann and Nutrition Search Inc, The McGraw-Hill companies.

TOXINS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, WATER POLLUTON.

Article sourced from: The Weekender Newspaper, Living, Health Clinic with Dr Sandra Cabot. 2005

Drinking eight to ten glasses of water each day is essential to maintaining good health. But just how pure is the water that comes out of our taps and should we be drinking it? Approximately 60,000 tonnes of fifty different chemicals are used each year to treat the Australian water supply (ref, Dept of Water Resources, Victoria). The main problems with the water supply are chlorine and its by-product lead, as well as bacteria, nitrates and organic compounds. Chlorine is added to drinking water to control bacterial levels. Studies have shown that chlorinated water can act as a skin irritant and may be associated with eczema. Chlorinated water may generate free radicals in the body and can destroy polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E in the body.

Chlorine in the water destroys much of our beneficial intestinal flora, making us more susceptible to digestive upsets. When chlorine mixes with organic compounds (leaves, dirt) in the water it forms what are called ‘trihalomethanes.' Chloroform is one of these chemicals. These chemicals are known to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) and they are stored in the fatty tissues of our body. Lead can leak into the water supplies from solder and/or brass fittings in the hundreds of kilometers of underground pipes.

Bacteria can live and multiply in pipelines, feeding on slime that builds up over time. Bacteria levels may be acceptably low at storage sites, but increase substantially by the time our water reaches the tap. Some bacteria have developed a resistance to chlorine and are not killed by it.

Nitrates that enter the water supply usually originate from pesticides that have contaminated stored water. While looking for pesticide residue many researchers around the world have identified pharmaceutical drugs in the water supply. Drugs identified include painkillers, cholesterol lowering drugs, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, hormone residue from the contraceptive pill and Hormone Replacement Therapy - HRT, anti seizure medications and beta-blocker. It is quite a cocktail that comes out of our taps.

AVAILABLE CHOICES FOR CLEAN WATER

Choice Magazine Study March 2006 www.choice.com.au

FILTERING SYSTEMS

The Carafe or Pitcher system is certainly the simplest and least costly solution to water quality issues. These pitchers are portable, use no electricity and waste no water. There is no professional installation. These pitchers or jugs are inexpensive and only require a change of filter every two months. Even this is low tech, the procedure involving nothing more than, in some applications, pulling out and replacing a short, fat cylinder.
This cylinder holds a carbon filter that strains out minute impurities. The water passes through the filter as it is dispensed. These filters significantly reduce chlorine, benzene and sediment quite effectively as well as pesticides and industrial solvents. They are not effective in removing bacteria. Check the product label to see if it contains an ion exchange resin that removes heavier metals like copper and lead.

One disadvantage to this system is the prolonged wait time for water to pass through the filter, sometimes amounting to more than 20 minutes. If your household drinks a lot of water you may find yourself refilling the carafe or jug many times a day, lugging it over to the sink, waiting for the water to filter. If you have a smaller refrigerator, its real estate can be diminished by a large jug of water. If it is difficult for you to keep track of the filter cartridge's usage, this may not be the best method for your water treatment. If the filter is old and no longer able to reduce contaminants, the system is useless. Some of the filters are known to clog easily impeding the water's passage into the jug. These jugs and pitchers have a life cycle of only about five years.
Before you buy, check the label and see what contaminants it removes and if those claims are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International, a non-profit testing laboratory.

Pressure Reverse Osmosis systems force water through filters to remove large contaminants and harmful chemicals and then through a membrane to remove very small contaminants. These systems are effective in removing 90% of metals like copper, chromium and lead and minerals like sodium chloride as well as fluorides and nitrates.
A reverse osmosis system is almost double the cost of the under-the-sink filtering product. However, it is extremely effective in removing contaminants, particularly arsenic. If you live in an area serviced by private well water, you might sleep a little easier with this system.
Reverse osmosis systems are large, and can take up all the cabinet space beneath your sink. Like the under-the-sink filters, they require another faucet for water dispensing and can be very slow. These systems require good water pressure to operate at an adequate output. More than five times as much water is wasted as is filtered with reverse osmosis. If you are looking for a speedier filtering than the drip of the carafe, you may not get it here.

Whole House Filters - This system, also known as point-of-entry, filters your water as it comes into your home. All the water used in your home, whether for bathing, washing or drinking, is filtered. If sediment in your water is a problem, this system can help remove it and prolong the life of your major appliances that depend on water, such as your water heater, dishwasher and washing machine. However, this system usually will not remove dangerous health pollutants.
Make sure the system is certified for the contaminants you want removed. Most whole house systems are not effective in removing lead and chloroform.
Whole house filters can cost about $250 for purchase and installation with inexpensive, long lasting filtering cartridges.

If the previous options are not quite what you are looking for, consider an Under the Sink Water Filter. This type of filter is attached to the cold water line underneath the sink and the water is retrieved through a separate above sink faucet. This system provides a better water flow than the faucet mounts.
These filters are out of sight and contain cartridges that need to be changed only twice a year. These cartridges may be difficult to get at under the sink and therefore difficult to change. You may not want to install an extra faucet in your designer sink, a usual requirement of this system and you will need to install a unit for each location that you require filtering. The initial cost can run over $100 for the filter and another $100 for installation by a professional plumber.

Faucet mounted filter. If you get tired of lugging the filtered water pitcher over to the sink and waiting for it to refill, you might consider a filter mounted on your kitchen sink faucet.
If you are a tad handy, you can install it yourself for about $40. The filter screws directly onto the faucet. The water is filtered at the point of service and there is no waiting, unlike the carafe method. If you do not require filtering for a particular job, there is a valve that allows you to bypass the filter. The cartridges in these filters need to be changed every three months and can clog well before their three months is up, severely slowing the delivery of water. If aesthetics is a concern the filter apparatus itself is not always very attractive.
If you want filtered water at more than one sink, you will need to install it at each venue. This can get expensive and tedious as you try and keep track of filter schedules.

PURIFIED WATER

Spring water must come from underground. But it's not necessarily untreated and it doesn't necessarily come from the picturesque location implied by the graphics on the label. Unless the label specifies that the water has been ‘bottled at source', it's probably been transported to a bottling plant in a bulk tanker. Many spring waters are filtered and some may be chemically disinfected (usually with ozone).

Artesian Water is similar, except that the water probably comes from deeper underground. Artesian water is confined underground between layers of impervious rock and is under pressure, so it comes to the surface without pumping. Some brands have a high mineral content and others have much the same as spring water.

Purified Water could be tap water that's been distilled (a process that removes almost everything that's not H₂O) or otherwise treated to remove bacteria, dissolved organic material and minerals. Some brands, though, are purified spring water.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS ... REMEMBER THAT WHATEVER WATER YOU CHOOSE TO DRINK WILL HELP TO KEEP YOUR SKIN HYDRATED AND HEALTHY