Environmental toxins and expecting/nursing mothers-guide to avoiding overexposure

In the first national survey by the US obstetricians' attitudes towards counselling expectant mothers about environmental health hazards, nearly 80% agreed they should play more of a role in educating and raising awareness about toxic exposure in everyday life.

Virtually all pregnant women in the US had at least 43 different environmental chemicals in their bodies. Indeed alot of these are unavoidable but certain steps can be taken to reduce this toxic load.

The UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists concluded in a report(free online) the following steps should help reduce the burden by:

• Use fresh food rather than processed where possible
• Reduce use of foods/beverages in cans/plastic containers, including storage
• Minimise the use of personal care products such as moisturisers, cosmetics, shower gels and fragrances
• Minimise the purchase of newly-produced household furniture, fabrics, non-stick frying pans and cars while pregnant/nursing
• Avoid the use of parder/household/pet pesticides or fungicides(such as fly sprays or strips, rose sprays, flea powders)
• Avoid paint fumes
• Only take over the counter analgesics or painkillers when necessary
• Do not assume safety of products based on the absence of 'harmful' chemicals in their ingredients list, or the tag 'natural'

Useful websites;

www.safecosmetics.org

www.organic-trust.org

www.naturalproductsassoc.org  

Appreciation

This is our last ‘away’ weekend of the year, this is good as the nights draw in and the wind howls and you know it is time to hibernate around the wood burning stove with the flames of peat adding an earthy aroma and bright yellow flame.

Allergy Expo Cork

When I say ‘our’ last weekend on the road I refer to the whole team who prepare the logistics, design the banners and man the stalls. Over recent months we have been to Bloom garden Festival at the invitation of Woodies DIY, the Ploughing Championships, Allergy Expo in Dublin and Cork.

From Cork I went to lecture the Pharmacy students in Athlone Institute of Technology and one of the slides I was dreaming up was advocating self care as a key to success.

This lead me to reflect on why I feel so fortunate: my work life is so happy because I do what I love and I have a team to support me with the aspects for which I have neither the affinity nor the aptitude. The amazing (to me) realization that other people love to administer, technify (new word for the English language) and organize makes me feel grateful and humble in equal measure. Because of the team I get to do more of what I love, which is mostly talking and teaching!!

Ploughing Championships

Watch out for our Academy launch of the Introduction to Herbal Medicine on-line course. http://drclaresacademy.com Just piloting it as we speak.




So thank you and appreciation for team effort. We are always willing to help where we can and let us know of difficulties with any of our platforms for keeping you involved and informed.

Don’t forget to exercise as a break from hibernating. 
Dance around the kitchen table if it is truly wicked outside.

Dr Dilis

Hibernating season begins in Health and Herbs!

This is our last ‘away’ weekend of the year, this is good as the nights draw in and the wind howls and you know it is time to hibernate around the wood burning stove with the flames of peat adding an earthy aroma and bright yellow flame.

When I say ‘our’ last weekend on the road I refer to the whole team who prepare the logistics, design the banners and man the stalls. Over recent months we have been to Bloom Garden Festival at the invitation of Woodies DIY, the Ploughing Championships, The Allergy Expo in Dublin and here in Cork where I am today. From here I am going to lecture the Pharmacy students in Athlone Institute of Technology and one of the slides I was dreaming up was advocating self care as a key to success.

This lead me to reflect on why I feel so fortunate: my work life is so happy because I do what I love and I have a team to support me with the aspects for which I have neither the affinity nor the aptitude. The amazing (to me) realization that other people love to administer, technify (new word for the English language) and organize makes me feel grateful and humble in equal measure. Because of the team I get to do more of what I love, which is mostly talking and teaching!!

So thank you and appreciation for team effort, we are always willing to help where we can, and let us know of difficulties with any of our platforms for keeping you involved and informed.

Watch out for our Academy launch of the Introduction to Herbal Medicine on-line course. Just piloting it as we speak.

Don’t forget to exercise as a break from hibernating. Dance around the kitchen table if it is truly wicked outside.

Dr Dilis

Gluten and dairy free chickpea flour flatbread recipe

I came across a great recipe for Chickpea flour flatbread recently. It's naturally gluten and dairy free, takes five minutes to prepare and is so adaptable.

You can get ground chickpea flour in some health food shops and Asian shops. (It's most commonly used as the batter in onion bhajis and pakoras commonly seen on menus in Indian restaurants. It can also be called besan, garbanzo bean flour or gram flour.

The basic bread recipe is as follows:

1 cup of chickpea flour
1 cup of water
3 tbsp of olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt 
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup of finely chopped onion
2-3 cloves of garlic finely chopped

Mix them together in a food processor or a bowl and add your flavourings.

I've made two versions so far: fresh rosemary & olive, and also fresh coriander, lime & chilli flakes. Both came out really well, so you can adapt the bread to match whatever you're serving it with.

You can also use it as a pizza base, or make pancakes out of it!

More variations can be found at:

http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/vegan_socca_farinata_-_chickpea_flatbread_3_ways

or:

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-socca-a-naturally-gluten-free-chickpea-flatbread-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-169513

or

http://cookieandkate.com/2014/socca-pizza-with-summer-squash-and-feta/

Happy eating!

"Healthy is the new sexy"

Hi everyone

I went to a fantastic cookery class 2 weeks ago in 37 West.

Gill is so knowledgable about all food Paleo.

I don't think I could stick to it completely but it was great to get some really nice recipe ideas.

I was delighted when she asked me to come and do some Juice workshop classes there in November.

I will keep you posted with the dates.

Gill is a real inspiration to anyone wanting to take an idea and dream and make it into a reality.

37 West is a beautiful restaurant which I love to go to.

"Healthy is definitely the new sexy"

Michelle xx

Asian Salmon Skewers with Buckwheat Noodles

I made this for my children last week because it looked yummy of course but I was falling into the 'cooking fish safe and boring' category. They wanted more so be warned!

We should all be aiming to eat 2-3 portions of oily fish weekly(unless otherwise advised) so try this recipe on your little or big ones. I used salmon but you could use *prawns, trout, sea bass, fresh tuna steak or even scallops.

Get some wooden skewers and soak them in water for at least 20 minutes-if you use metal ones thats fine too.

What you will need-

2 *salmon darnes sliced across the grain at least 1 cm thick

4 skewers

225g buckwheat noodles cooked in lots of water and stirred well while cooking

1tsp toasted sesame oil

Pinch of white sesame seeds

For the marinade:

1 tbsp local honey

2 tbsp braggs liquid amino or tamari

1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

1 lime juiced

1/4 red chilli seeds in or out(for kiddies) and finely diced

1 tsp grated ginger

1 tsp sweet chilli sauce

Mix the marinade togethor and brush over fish.

Leave aside for as long as possible-maybe an hour minimum

Salmon skewers with buckwheat noodles,steamed broccoli and soybeans

Thread the fish slices onto the skewers like a snake(see above) and place on a lined tray.I put the lime into the oven too for a finish toasty lime finishing squeeze on serving...

Serve with the noodles drizzled with the sesame oil, roasted lime, sesame seeds and a few coriander leaves if you have some.

Enjoy.

Happy health

Tara

Laughing is the best medicine

This time of the year can be busy and sometimes we just forget or don't have time to catch up with friends or family.

I love catching up with friends over some food or a glass of wine and having a proper giggle.

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”

~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.

Laughing is a great stress reliever and has been proven to help lose weight. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

The Benefits of Laughter
Physical Health Benefits: Boosts immunity Lowers stress hormones Decreases pain Relaxes your muscles Prevents heart disease	Mental Health Benefits: Adds joy and zest to life Eases anxiety and fear Relieves stress Improves mood Enhances resilience	Social Benefits: Strengthens relationships Attracts others to us Enhances teamwork Helps defuse conflict Promotes group bonding

So I might give the gym a miss this evening and catch up with friends. :)

Michelle xx