My colleague Sami Ziyeh is running art workshops in 2013 for adults as well as parents and their children to enhance wellbeing, rekindle their creativity and strengthen their relationship. Workshops are facilitated by highly experienced Art Therapist and Cultural Facilitator, Samiramis Ziyeh, who offers a supportive environment to enhance wellbeing with emphasis on the process rather than the end product. Classes start early February at E J Ward Community Centre 189 Underwood St Paddington 2021.


For more information and bookings contact:
Sami 0499 888 024
shami.ramzi@hotmail.com

A banana smoothie with a difference! For a fast track breakfast or a healthy snack my sensational smoothie is packed full of energising nutrients to keep you firing well into the New Year. Bananas provide energy and magnesium which prevents muscle cramps. Healthy Omega 3 oils are found in the avocado, almonds, chia seeds and flaxmeal. Fibre in the almonds, chia seeds and flaxmeal will keep your bowels regular. Cinnamon controls your sugar cravings and increases circulation which keeps your brain alert. Antioxidants to prevent disease and ageing are packed full in the superfood chia seeds and the green leafy spinach. Believe it or not, this actually tastes delicious!

Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 medium-sized avocado
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of almonds
- 1 tsp of chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 large leaf of spinach or silverbeet
- 1 Tb of flaxmeal or ground flaxseeds
- If you want more protein, add 1 scoop of a good quality whey protein or 1 cup of milk if you can tolerate dairy.

Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine is in the know about natural beauty. Check out stands for the December issue of Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine that interviews me for my advice on chemical-free beauty and skincare products in both pregnancy and for babies.

15 January Bondi Junction Move

02 9389 3689

I wish you and your families a joyous Christmas season, a happy and healthy New Year and a wonderful summer. Thank you for all your support throughout the year in rekindling my business into the thriving and vital life it is today. In January 2013 I will be moving my Bondi Junction clinic next door to Better Health Clinic which have better facilities so I can provide improved service to all of my clients. There will be full time reception making it easier to book appointments, collect herbal medicines and supplements, make postal orders and Hicaps health fund rebates.  I will be practicing from Better Health on Tuesdays 8am - 6pm and Thursdays 10am - 8pm. I will still be practicing in  the city at The Jocelyn Centre on Wednesdays 2pm - 7.30pm. Better Health Clinic is located next door at 40 Grosvenor St Bondi Junction on 02 9389 3689. I hope you all have a relaxing and joyous holiday season and I look forward to seeing you in 2013.

• Grill or barbecue chicken breasts for 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through 
• Slice chicken into strips  
• Mix baby spinach, sliced avocado, walnuts and pomegranate seeds with olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl 
• Arrange chicken strips over salad to serve 
• You can always substitute pomegranates or your favourite summer fruit e.g. mango

Summer has arrived and with it the festive season. Here are some tips to still enjoy the summer parties while keeping those Christmas kilos at bay.

• Hydrate: Make sure you are well hydrated by drinking a bottle of water before you go out. The more water you drink, the less fluid retention you will hold. 
• Booze: Tis the party season but that doesn’t give us a licence to go overboard with alcohol! Try and eat before you drink and have a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage. Try lower alcohol drinks such as Pimms and fruit punches for hot afternoons or for a more refreshing thirst quencher try vodka and cranberry juice. Avoid cocktails which are high in sugar and calories. Have a night off the alcohol and be the designated driver.
• St Mary's Thistle: This is the best herb to take during the party season to protect your liver and help it detoxify. 
• Detox Herbal Teas: Green tea and roasted dandelion coffee help the liver detoxify, while lemongrass and spearmint teas have a refreshing zing for summer. 
• Summer Iced Teas: Make some iced herbal tea by adding ice cubes, slices of fresh fruit e.g strawberries, apple, orange and a sprig of fresh herbs. Herbal teas can even be frozen into ice blocks for your children with added honey.
• Energizing Juices: Freshly squeezed juices flush your system with antioxidants and aid detoxification. Carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger are particularly effective, while pineapple and mint give a little summer zing.
• Summer Salads: Surrounded by the abundance of tropical summer fruits, it’s easy to forget your greens but these cannot be replaced so make the most of the bountiful salad season with lots of rocket, baby spinach, or try some of the many varied coloured and curled lettuces.
• Unclog: Keep your bowel regular so the toxins can be removed from the body. Try prunes, psyllium husks, lemon in warm water on rising, consider colonic irrigation.
• Metabolism Booster: Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system which encourages toxins to move out of the body. It also pumps more oxygen to the cells and the brain as well as speeds up your metabolism so you burn your fat faster. Try and exercise at least every second day after which your metabolism begins to slow again.
• Electrolytes: If you are exercising heavily, choose a good quality electrolyte drink with added magnesium to help you reabsorb your fluids, preferably without artificial sweeteners.
• Dinner Parties: When preparing dinner, use fresh vegetables steamed or in a delicious salad, complemented by lightly grilled or barbequed fish, seafood or chicken.Wholegrain sourdough bread on the table is much better than white, and with a lower GI too. Avoid too many dairy foods which clog up your digestive system such as cheese, cream, ice-cream and chocolate.
• Plan Ahead: Eat a small meal before going to a party. The misconception that "if I skip dinner I can eat everything in sight" can lead to too many calories consumed. Often these party snacks produce bloating and lack nutritional value.
• Socialising: When arranging to meet friends, organise activities that don’t revolve around alcohol, such as a picnic in the park followed by a game of boules or cricket, or a swim or surf at the beach.
• Recharge: Get a good night’s sleep. Too many late nights take their toll on the body, resulting in post party overeating. Try to alternate a late night with an early one to maintain energy levels.

This fresh summer salad is nutritious and quick to throw together for lunch or to complement your BBQ.
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup quinoa
• 1.5 cups of water
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 2 cups of rocket
• 1 cup of thinly sliced celery
• 1 cup of grated beetroot
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 1 tsp mined fresh garlic
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of ground pepper
• 1 sliced avocado
• 1 can of organic chickpeas or 1.5 cups of soaked and cooked chickpeas

Last week I attended a seminar on Andropause, or male menopause, testosterone deficiency and erectile dysfunction. All three are more common than most men would like to admit, with Andropause now medically recognised as a normal part of ageing, occurring between the ages of 40 to 55 with a significant drop in sex hormone levels. Signs of testosterone deficiency in men include loss of libido and physical agility, poor erection and low ejaculate volume, infertility, shrinkage or enlargement of the prostate, depression, anxiety, fat accumulation around the belly and hips, loss of muscle, high cholesterol and aged appearance. Studies show that this decline in testosterone can actually put one at risk for other health problems like heart disease and osteoporosis.

What Depletes Testosterone Levels?

• Age
• Intense endurance sports or exercise
• Intense emotional stress 
• Foods high in saturated fats e.g hot chips, deep fried oily foods, animal fats
• Adrenal fatigue (chronic stress exhausts the body)
• Medications: e.g Antidepressants (SSRI's)

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe Avocado
• 150gm raw Cashews
• 350gm Ice cubes
• 35gm Cacao (or Cocoa)
• 100gm Dates
• 1 tsp Vanilla bean paste or essence