Can You Live On Just Light?
I read recently about a woman, Naveena Shine, 65, from Seattle, who was planning to go for six months without eating, existing solely on “nutrition” from the sun; Sungazing. She installed video cameras in her house, with live streaming, to prove that she wasn't cheating. After losing a lot of weight, she stopped after 47 […]
Are You Deficient in Copper?
Copper is an important trace dietary mineral which fulfils many important functions within the body. Many of the proteins and enzymes that perform essential metabolic functions contain copper. It is important for the growth, development and maintenance of bone, ligaments and many organs. It also works as part of the immune system to fight infections […]
Gelatin – The Secret Superfood
Forget Goji Berries, Spirulina and Peruvian Maca Root, there is one ‘Superfood’ that you can guarantee your ancestors would have consumed in abundance that you’re probably not getting enough of now – Gelatin. As conventional wisdom has seen us spurn traditional cuts in favour of lean muscle meat, our intake of gelatin has dropped to […]
Paleo for Better Skin
I've read about so many people going onto a paleo diet and noticing significant improvements in their skin. With a few tweaks, eating this way seems to have helped a lot of people suffering from acne, eczema, spots, redness, blemishes and breakouts. What causes skin problems? It seems that a lot of issues are down to […]
Omega 3 and Omega 6 – How's Your Ratio?
Omega 3 and 6 (Sometimes referred to as N3 and N6) are spoken about a lot with reference to the Paleo diet – but just what are they – and how can you make sure you are getting the right ratio? Omega 3 is a fatty acid which is essential in order to maintain a […]
Serotonin & The Paleo Diet
We have probably all heard the word serotonin, but usually in relation to going to the gym or doing another form of exercise. It is true to say that exercise boots serotonin levels in the brain, which is why we feel better after a workout, even if it was a bit of a struggle to […]
Low Protein? High Protein?
In case you didn't already know, dietary protein is essential for human health. Protein is used in the body to build and maintain new tissue such as muscle, hair, nails, skin, bone and blood cells. It is also required to create the enzymes for the body to carry out certain processes, such as the digestion […]
Is Your Deodorant Toxic?
When you put so much care and effort into your Paleo nutrition and fitness, are you equally aware of the health and beauty products you use, like your deodorant? Deodorant and antiperspirant are something most people use – and apply directly onto their skin every day, but is commercial deodorant safe? Shop brought deodorants often […]
Are You Using Fake Olive Oil?
Olive oil is one of the healthier oils around, because it’s full of nutrients and antioxidants. Using high quality ‘extra virgin’ olive oil is pretty standard on a Paleo diet. But just how good is the olive oil in your kitchen? Apparently some olive oils are not all they seem… Olive oil comes in different […]
25 Reasons You Should Get More Herbs In Your Diet
Instead of using herbs just to add flavour and colour to your cooking, do you ever add them for their medicinal benefits? Since ancient times herbs have been used as medicine in cultures all around the world. Many modern medicines use active ingredients which come directly from plants – so there’s clearly a lot to […]
12 Signs You May Be Deficient in Zinc
Zinc is a crucial mineral that is found in every cell in the body. It's involved with growth, cell division, the immune system, bones and teeth, skin, the brain, the nervous system not to mention hormones – and yet over a third of people appear to be deficient in the Western world! 12 signs you […]
Gout & The Paleo Diet
A common form of arthritis, Gout is a condition which can cause a lot of pain to sufferers and can have a highly negative effect on a person’s standard of life. It can be apparent in any joints of the body but is most widely found in the toe, knee and ankle. The signs of […]
CLA & The Paleo Diet
Concluding my focus on common deficiencies, this week turns to CLA. CLA stands for Conjugated Linoleic Acid and is the good trans-fat that occurs naturally in dairy and meat products – especially when animals have been grass-fed, another plus for the Paleo diet. In the stomach of animals such as the goat, sheep or cows […]
Do You Get Enough Iron In Your Diet?
Have you had your iron levels checked? Women especially need to be careful to ensure their diet contains sufficient levels, as deficiency can be dangerous. What Does Iron Do? As part of hemoglobin, iron plays an important role in the transport of oxygen around the body from the lungs to the other organs. It is […]
Is Quinoa Paleo?
So we know that grains aren't Paleo, but what about the pseudo grains such as quinoa (pronounced “keen-wah”) chia seeds and buckwheat? Are they considered acceptable for a paleo diet? The answer is no, and here’s the reason why… Pseudo grains are actually seeds, not grains, but are loaded with anti nutrients and carb heavy. […]
Have You Got A Dehydrator?
A dehydrator is a great way of adding some variety into your Paleo diet. There are loads of great dehydrators on the market, like the Excalibur – but you don’t have to buy a dedicated dehydrator, as you can dehydrate produce directly in your oven. A dehydrator is an indispensable machine if you want to […]
Alternative to Fruit?
I hate “food” products that masquerades as healthy and natural. I fear that well some meaning parents will buy these products for their children, believing that they are giving them healthy nutritious food. So many products have packaging covered in words like “natural”, “made with real fruit“, “no artificial colours or flavourings” which I think […]
Antioxidants & The Paleo Diet
Antioxidants are essential substances in the body, as they are known to protect cells from damage caused by chemicals, pollution and radiation. Some of the known antioxidants are Vitamin A, C and D as well as lycopene and selenium. It is important to have a diet which is rich in these antioxidants as it can […]
11 sneaky ways to exercise
Let’s be honest, we don’t all love exercise. For some of us, the idea of going out for a run, or an early morning boot camp is enough to make us break out into a cold sweat. But the fact is, movement is good. There’s a huge myth that exercise has to be long, intensive […]
101 (more!) paleo snack ideas
After the popularity of my previous post on paleo snack ideas, I've put together a new, extended list of snack ideas. After my last list, I got a lot of people telling me “DAIRY IS NOT PALEO” (yep, I think they were shouting), so just to clear it up, some of the snack ideas listed […]
7 signs you're dairy intolerant
Dairy is a huge dividing issue in the paleo world. Strict paleo would omit dairy, but a lot of people take a more primal approach and include good quality dairy in their diet. My study showed most people who identify with paleo do in fact consume some dairy. The deciding factor here is if you are dairy […]
7 Ways to Make Your Desk Job Healthier
In an ideal world, none of us would have jobs in offices or at desks, and we’d all have the day free to roam the land, walking miles to hunt for tonight’s dinner or digging in the vegetable garden. Sadly, real life isn't that simple – and many of us rely on the jobs we […]
18 Ways to Get More Veggies in your Diet
With most things in life, the key is ‘everything in moderation.’ Not that this means you can eat pizza in moderation, but you get my point. One thing that certainly shouldn't be moderated however is your intake of delicious, fresh veggies. We could all benefit from upping our vegetable intake, and certainly shouldn't be aiming […]
What's so special about grass fed beef?
Grass fed beef gets plenty of recognition on the Paleo diet, and rightly so. We know our ancestors would have undoubtedly eaten copious amounts of wild fed ruminants; not the sort that were shuttled in their droves into giant feed-lots, devoid of natural light and space to roam, and fed with industrialised slop made from […]
How to Make Spicy Stuffed Aubergine
These stuffed aubergine halves are a great meat-free option
Listen to paleo
I used to read books all the time. But for the last couple of years I've been listening to books instead.
Cooking paleo with sweet potatoes
Before I went paleo I ate a lot of white potatoes. Now, I eat
10 paleo alternatives to soft drinks
When you stop drinking soft drinks, it can be hard to know what to
Shopping for 10 cents
You can't get much for 10 cents these days, so I was amazed to see iHerb have currently got 7 trial products available for just $0.10 each (USD). What's the deal with trial products? Well you get to try a new product, or sample, with a maximum of two per order. Using code DUV741, you also get […]
5 paleo tweaks to speed up weight loss
For the vast majority of people, transitioning to the Paleo diet will often see dramatic improvements in their personal battle with weight loss. However, on some occasions, you may hit a plateau with your weight loss and find yourself struggling to reach your desired weight. Before I go any further, I must stress that it […]
How to season cast iron cookware
If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a cast iron frying pan for Christmas this guide will tell you exactly how to season and look after it to make sure it does the job and lasts for a long time. If you haven’t got any cast iron cookware, it’s definitely worth looking […]
6 things to do with left over herb stems
When a recipe calls for a few fresh basil leaves, a bit or parsley or oregano, what do you do with the stems that get left behind? If you've been throwing them away – STOP! Use them whole For big stems like rosemary, try adding them whole to sauces and soups, then removing them whole […]
Why you must wash your pre-washed salad
If you buy a pre-washed ready to eat bag of salad leaves, do you tip straight out onto a plate – or do you thoroughly wash it first? The whole idea of bagged salad mixes is convenience, so it’s no surprise most people don’t wash. But how do they wash the salad before they bag […]
Stop being a fat bitch
As someone who's struggled with weight loss, I was surprised to see the name of Lola Berry's new diet plan – “Stop Being a Fat B*tch”. Yes, you did read that correctly. Whilst the intention was apparently noble, there was a huge back-lash. With people shocked that she'd chose such an emotive title. These comments summed […]
9 paleo ideas for left-over turkey
If you went a bit over the top with turkey, what are you planning to do with the left-overs? If you’ve not yet served up the original turkey, make sure you get the leftovers in the fridge within an hour or two of serving. I separate it into bones, white meat, dark meat and freeze […]
Soybean oil in hiding
If you read the ingredients labels, you’ll have noticed soybean oil is hiding everywhere. Sometimes, you might even see it in a “partially hydrogenated” form, or listed as “may contain canola oil and/ or soybean oil” – as if it’s of no importance what you’re actually consuming. I’ve written before about the problem with soy, […]
Does Asthma switch on allergies?
A year or so after developing asthma out of the blue, something strange started to happen to my skin. At completely random intervals, I started to notice my skin would be covered in small red hives. I changed washing powder, re-washed everything and it made no difference. I wondered if it was what I was […]
62 sneaky ingredients out to mislead you
It’s common knowledge that sugar is to be avoided, but if only it were that simple. Did you now there are at least 62 words food manufacturers can use, instead of simply saying sugar? Many of the words on the list, such as Golden syrup and HFCS may be obvious no-no’s, but what about less […]
But it’s natural!
If you’ve strayed from the perimeter of your local grocery store, you can’t have missed the endless products screaming at you that they are “natural”. The labels often heavily feature the colour green, which we associate with nature, and may even show images of endless fields in perfect sunsets. Often the packaging will be brown […]
Did my address give me asthma?
Long before I moved to Australia, I lived in an idyllic rural village in the South West of England, with open views of fields for miles around in each direction. The houses were beautiful cottages made of Cotswold stone, with roses in the gardens – and looked exactly as they would have a hundred years before. The […]
The Ultimate Australian Wellness Bundle
Finally – an all Australian ebook bundle! (I'm a bit late to share this with you, as it's only available until OCT 16th) The Ultimate Australian Wellness Bundle contains 35+ eBooks (worth over $450) from 30 of Australia’s top healthy living experts and it can be yours for just $44.95! If you aren't familiar with eBook […]
Which type of onion should you use?
So you’ve got some red onions left over and no time to pop out to buy yellow ones – can you use them? Well onions aren’t all made the same, whilst it’s not the end of the world if you use the “wrong” type, for best results you’ll appreciate selecting the most appropriate type of onion […]
What happens to the ugly ones?
I was interested to read that Australian retailer Woolworths are now selling ugly, misshapen fruit and vegetables. Normally when you go into a supermarket there is no variety whatsoever. Carrots all look identical and perfectly shaped. Apples are all shinny and the exact same size, with no blemishes. But if you’ve grown fruit and vegetables […]
How to get a picky eater to go paleo
We’ve all heard about those people who come with a huge list of foods they cannot possibly eat. Or worse still, those who can only eat from a restrictive list of very specific foods – and the acceptable foods always seem to be things like pizza or chicken nuggets, rather than green vegetables. So when […]
Paleo is old news, it's all about the Pegan diet now…
Have you heard of Pegan? It’s what you get when you combine Paleo, with Vegan. So…. How does that work? Well, as we know, Paleo is eating natural, whole, unprocessed foods: meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruit. Vegan is a whole step further than vegetarian and doesn’t involve any food that comes from […]
Have you seen who's behind the (not so) Healthy Star Ratings system?
I saw a TV commercial recently for Uncle Toby’s Oat sachets and the main focus of the advert was how amazingly healthy they are. Apparently these Oats achieve a “4 healthy star rating” – and the higher the star rating, the healthier the product. So they say. Whilst I don’t want to pick on oats […]
6 ways to make sure your paleo diet is not hard to stick to
A common response to the idea of eating a paleo diet, is that surely it must be so difficult to stick to. All the changes, all the cooking – it seems impossible to keep up, long term, right? Well, I think once you’ve established a few habits and patterns, it would be harder not to […]
Borderline paleo food
Eating a strict paleo diet is simple; meat, veggies, eggs, nuts, seeds and a little fruit. Right? What about all those borderline foods? Are they paleo, or not? Dairy Dairy is a huge grey area for a lot of people following a paleo diet. Strictly speaking, a paleo diet omits all dairy, since it contains lactose […]
Is beer paleo?
I've randomly had a few questions about beer this week, along the lines of “is beer paleo” and “which beer is the most paleo friendly” and (perhaps more accurately) “which beer is the least bad on a paleo diet“ So it looks like beer is one of the things people miss most from their pre-paleo […]
So you think you know where your food comes from?
I saw a documentary the other day that was both fascinating and disturbing. I've given so much thought to the quality of what I eat, eating locally and seasonally – and avoiding processed foods. But it turns out there’s a significant aspect to what I eat that I hadn't considered. Who is involved in getting […]
This month's weird google searches
I’ve written before about the bizarre google searches that lead to people finding my blog. So I thought it was time I shared some new ones – and of course answered them, just in case they’re still looking for their answer. what to feed a maltese dog that has allergies and is sick of eating kangaroo mince??? […]
How to stop herbs and spices clumping together
It can't just be me – I come to use a particular jar of dried herb, spice or seasoning, to find it completely stuck together and impossible to get out. It's so frustrating, and seems to be worse with onion and garlic powder, which always seem to cake soon after the containers are opened. This […]