Do You Do This Health & Beauty Ritual?
The ancient concept of Oil Pulling is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance in the modern health movement. The concept is a simple enough; you use a high quality, plant based oil (i.e. coconut oil) as a ‘mouthwash’ for between 15 and 20 minutes. But are there more benefits to this tradition than you might expect? […]
Spicy Paleo Beef Rajma with Aubergine
Back when I followed a Standard American Diet (SAD), one of my favourite curries was Rajma. This spicy, fragrant vegetarian dish traditionally features kidney beans as the main ingredient. However, since beans are not allowed on the Paleo diet, I wanted to recreate the delicious, heady flavours of Rajma in a healthier, bean-free way. Consequently, […]
Which Fats & Oils Do You Actually Use?
All of the Paleo blogs you read rave about Coconut oil – but is this the fat people really use? I asked the followers of my Facebook page The Paleo Network this exact question: Which fat and oils do you use? And with over 300 mentions of different fats and oils, guess which was the […]
MTHFR – say what?
If you've been following my series on investigating my inability to lose weight, you’ll have read about my blood test results last week. (Catch up on the other posts in the series Can't lose weight, getting answers , dexa body scan , slow metabolism and blood test results). Well, the other component to those test results was […]
The Blood Test Results Are In… Here’s What I Found
If you've been following my series on my weight loss struggle – and discoveries, you’ll have read how I’ve struggled to lose weight (despite my paleo diet and exercise), the tests I had done and experts I saw, my DXA body scan and how wildly out my metabolism turned out to be. This week it’s […]
Almost free health products…
I just found out about a new feature on iherb called “Trial Pricing” today that I thought I should share with you. On their trial page they offer a handful of things (there are 57 at the time of writing this) at a hugely discounted rate, limited to one per customer. Some of the trial […]
It’s not just about you…
It may be a little strange to think of, but the body you inhabit isn't strictly your own. In fact, you’re sharing it with approximately 100 trillion bacteria that colonise your gut – your own unique army of micro-organisms. But it’s not as scary as it sounds, as these tiny creatures control your health in […]
It's official – I have a slow metabolism
I've been talking about my own weight loss struggle, and the journey I'm on to find out exactly what’s going on (and what I can do about it). You can catch up on the first three posts can't lose weight, getting answers and dexa body scan. This week, it's all about metabolism. Last week I told […]
Win a Free Copy of the IQS Kids Book!
It's giveaway time! I'm going to be giving one reader a free copy of the new I Quit Sugar Kids Cookbook! This book is exactly what you need if you're trying to get your children eating healthily but are struggling for ideas and inspiration. In the beautiful book you'll find: 85+ fructose-free party recipes, breakfast ideas, […]
My DXA Body Scan Experience
Last week I wrote about my weight loss struggles, and my first appointments with a naturopath and functional doctor… Exactly how overweight am I? As I spoke about in my first post, my weight has not budged within a 3kg range since 2010, despite following a paleo diet and exercising regularly. Everyone always tells you […]
Why You Need to Eat More Salt on Paleo
The title of this article may come as a bit of a shock to some, especially with the range of ailments an increased salt intake has been linked to. Salt is vilified by conventional wisdom; but then again, so is saturated fat. We know that the ‘experts’ don’t always get it right, and it seems […]
Jamaican Goat Curry in the Slow Cooker
Ever tried goat? I’ll admit, it can be a bit of a challenging meat. It took me quite a few visits to my butchers before I finally learnt how to use it properly. Through experimenting, I’ve learnt that it requires an extended, slow cooking method in order to make it tender. The meat itself is […]
Why I'm eating margarine & 6 other non Paleo foods again
I've been thinking a lot about my diet recently, and I'm getting a little worried that being fully Paleo maybe isn't the healthiest choice I can make. After speaking to several health experts recently, and reading up on the latest government recommendations, I've started to get really worried about how healthy my Paleo diet really […]
This week's strangest Google searches
Every so often I look at the Google searches that brings people to this blog. And as you’ll see, there are some really strange ones. These are the searches that have confused me this week… “what to feed a maltese dog that has allergies and is sick of eating kangaroo mince???” (Er, just a suggestion […]
Getting answers – why can't I lose weight?
Last week I wrote about my weight loss struggles, and how I finally realised there might be more than “eat right, eat less and move more” to the weight loss equation… The Naturopath After speaking to my naturopath-trainee friend Jodie, I got an appointment with one of Sydney’s top naturopaths. I've always been a little […]
What Would You Tell Yourself About Health 10 Years Ago?
I recently asked the fans of my Facebook Page The Paleo Network this question: “If you could go back and tell yourself a key health message ten years ago – what would it be?” What would your answer be? There were hundreds of answers covering all sorts of aspects of physical & emotional health, here […]
Why can’t I lose weight? My story…
Ask almost anyone how to lose weight and you’ll get the same answer. It’s easy. All you need to do is eat less and move more. In the Paleo world it's almost as bad – eat Paleo and your weight will naturally regulate. For a lot of people, this seems to be the case – […]
Sweet Potato & Choc-Chip Muffins – Paleo Treats
I find myself wanting to eat baked goods like muffins, cookies and cakes very rarely now I’m Paleo. There’s always an abundance of ‘real food’ like meats, veggies, eggs, fruit and nuts sitting in my fridge, and nine times out of ten I will always go for something from this list rather than starting a […]
Five Ways to Eat Your Sunscreen (Seriously)
Despite what conventional wisdom would have you believe, it is not in any way a bad thing to spend plenty of time in the sunshine – provided you don’t burn. On the contrary, it is essential to good health; it is the best (and only significant) source of Vitamin D, it ramps up serotonin (the […]
5 Ways to Add More Coconut Oil to Your Diet
You know the health benefits of coconut oil by now. It’s loaded with MCT’s (Medium Chain Triglycerides) and is a wonderful source of healthy saturated fat. It’s antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-fungal, is excellent at improving gut health and even boosts your metabolism. There’s also a lot of research indicating it’s great for dementia/ Alzheimer's patients. […]
60 Stupid Reactions To Your Paleo Diet
Luckily, most people in my life either eat a broadly Paleo diet now – or at least understand it. But over the years I’ve been eating this way, I’ve had so many negative (or just plain confused) reactions from people, questioning why I've been eating this way. Which of these reactions have you had? And […]
Can Eating a Paleo Diet Help With Arthritis?
A couple of weeks ago I was asked by a reader whether adopting a paleo diet would help with their mother’s Arthritis – not having any experience of Arthritis myself, what better way to find out more than to post the question on the Paleo Network’s Facebook page? With almost 60,000 fans, there were a […]
Ever Wondered Where Canola's Grow?
Canola oil, otherwise known as rapeseed oil, is an oil growing in popularity in the Western world due to its supposed ‘healthiness’ as well as the fact that it is cheap to produce, and therefore, consume. Many people who follow conventional wisdom are switching to canola oil as their oil of choice for frying, roasting […]
7 Ways to Keep it Paleo While Travelling
Whether it’s a holiday, a business trip, or just visiting friends and family, sometimes it can be difficult staying on track with your Paleo lifestyle when you’re travelling. We've all been in a situation at one time or another where we've been faced with food, sleep, or exercise difficulties when away from home – the […]
6 Unusual Meats You Should Try
One of the many luxuries of a Paleo diet is all of the high quality meat, fish and poultry there is to enjoy. For me, it doesn’t get better than a grass fed fillet steak, a crisp wild salmon fillet or a couple of juicy chicken thighs. However, there are times when it feels like […]
The Ultimate Paleo Guide to Cooking Oils
In the Paleo world, we’re not scared of fat. Quite the contrary – we embrace healthy fats and encourage liberal consumption. We worship the health giving properties of coconut oil, olive oil and grass fed ghee. At the same time, we understand the danger of rancid seed oils with a scarily high Omega 6 content. […]
The 6 Most Common Reactions When I Say I Eat Paleo
In a world where different cultures, races, religions and sexualities gain more acceptance than ever before, it never fails to surprise me how much shock and confusion people express when I explain to them about my Paleo lifestyle. It’s amazing how even though the knowledge is out there for everyone to access, so many people […]
My Vitamin C Secret Green Smoothie
Not only is this delicious smoothie bursting with over 100% of your daily requirement of vitamin C – you’d never know it was hiding a bunch of greens in there too! When I made it, it came out a wonderful deep red, thanks to just a touch of beetroot and a dash of pomegranate juice. […]
YOUR Quick 20-Minute Paleo Dinner Ideas
I recently asked the followers of the Paleo Network's Facebook page for their favourite quick paleo dinner meals and got some great replies (and only one “McDonalds” comment!) – here are 70 of them… Steak & beef ideas This was by far the most popular meat people use for a quick dinner, here are some […]
How Losing Weight Almost Killed Me
This post, on the surface, hasn't got much to do with the paleo diet. It’s also pretty self indulgent. I’m writing this post in the hope that people who relate to anything I’m about to write below, will get in touch. Perhaps we’ll be able to compare our stories – maybe someone will point out […]
Slow Cooked Chicken Livers with Cayenne & Paprika
After finally acting on my resolution to use more offal in my cooking, I went to the butcher and purchased some chicken livers (along with some other interesting-looking cuts, which I’m sure you’ll read about soon!). Initially, my first attempt was pretty unsuccessful; the meat turned out tough. Although the flavour was good, it felt […]
Why You Should Get Rid of Your Microwave!
Microwaves – probably one of the most celebrated and widely used 20th century inventions in the western world. The chances are, even if you don’t use it, you’ll have one in your house and office. They’re quick and convenient, but they pose all sorts of health risks, and are best avoided at all costs. But […]
Make Juicy Paleo Jerk Pork Chops at Home
Jamaican style ‘Jerk’ is one of my favourite marinades in the whole world. It goes great with pork, chicken and fish, so I always make double quantities and keep some in the fridge. Everyone has their own take on the recipe, but this is mine; spicy and full bodied, just as it should be. Jamaican […]
Is Coffee Anti-Paleo?
There are a lot of things that draw controversy amongst the Paleo community – High fat dairy, ‘paleo-fied’ baked goods, potatoes, white rice, and of course, coffee. Coffee is part of a daily ritual for so many people around the world, but whilst it provides many of us with the ‘get up and go’ required […]
Paleo Skincare – Homemade Moisturiser Recipe
Everyone loves to pamper their skin, and in the colder months a moisturiser can be especially useful help prevent dry, flaking skin caused by cold winds and heating. Unfortunately the many commercial brands of moisturiser seem to come with so many added chemicals. Moisturisers often have harmful chemicals such as parabens added in order to […]
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) in the Paleo Diet
An expert at aiding your body to convert carbohydrates into energy, Vitamin B3 or Niacin plays an important role in the metabolic functions. Good digestive function, detoxification processes, and the creation of hormones – all of these have to say a word of thanks to Niacin as well. But how do you know if you’re […]
How Is Your Gut Health?
After the stress and perhaps over indulgences of the festive season – how is your gut health? Our ancestors were surrounded by dirt – and certainly won’t have washed their hands in antibacterial soap before touching everything! Today, everyone is terrified of germs and dirt. Children aren't allowed to get dirty – people can’t even […]
Are You an Insect Magnet? Try This Natural Repellent
I'm on holiday at the moment – and with holidays in the sun, the insects seem to come out. I hate using an artificial insect repellent and covering myself in chemicals. But I also hate being covered in Mosquito bites! Fortunately, there are some natural alternatives to keep the bugs at bay. Below is a […]
Is It Time to Get Healthy?
Post Christmas is a popular time to readdress your goals. Perhaps you got a bit carried away with the festivities and have realised you are carrying more weight than is healthy? Or perhaps you have a few health issues that you want to concentrate on, and resolve once and for all? Now is the perfect […]
Your Paleo Christmas Menu Plan
What are you cooking this Christmas? Are you going with a traditional menu, or perhaps you're serving up something completely alternative? It can be hard to stick to your good Paleo intentions over Christmas – particularly if you’re having to cater for lots of relatives, who perhaps don’t follow a healthy lifestyle like you do. […]
The Ultimate Paleo Guide to Christmas Dinner
So on the face of it you might be thinking Paleo and Christmas don’t go together. Perhaps you need to have a week or two “off” your Paleo diet until the festivities are over? Not so fast! Your Christmas Dinner might just be a lot more Paleo than you realised! Turkey Turkey is a fantastic […]
9 Ways to Keep it Paleo This Christmas
With all of the festivities at this time of year, you might be worried about keeping it Paleo? Well, with a bit of planning and organisation, there’s no need to worry about foregoing your health this Christmas. Remember how you feel after you eat gluten/ drink alcohol/ eat something that doesn't agree with you. Organise […]
Natural Alternatives to Soap
So you’re careful to eat a natural paleo diet, but what skincare products do you use? Have you looked at the ingredients in the soap you use? While soap is considered a necessity by most people for keeping clean, if often comes loaded with chemicals. Soap can also be very drying to a lot of […]
Why You Should Add High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) To Your Workout
What exactly is high intensity interval training? High intensity interval training (HIIT) has become a bit of a buzz word in the Paleo community, but what is it? HIIT is a series of short high intensity workout intervals combined with short “recovery” intervals. Instead of spending hours on the treadmill, a HIIT is far shorter, […]
Paleo Griddled Tuna Steaks with Coriander
When cooking tuna steaks, only the best will do for my Griddled Tuna Steaks. Buy ‘Sushi Grade’ tuna, which you can effectively eat raw, and cook it to medium. This way, the fish will do the talking, and you won’t need overpowering sauces or marinades to make it palatable. This simple yet flavourful recipe is […]
What Has Fukushima Got To Do With You?
I'm sure you’re aware of the Fukushima disaster that hit Japan in 2011 – but you might be wondering what it has to do with you? Following a big earthquake, a tsunami followed, which destroyed the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant. This result in almost unimaginable levels of radiation. Whilst a clean up operation is […]
Are Potatoes Bad for You?
Do you have potato-blood? I hope not because that would mean that you are terribly ill. It’s an old expression, apparently. But I digress; are potatoes really that unhealthy to eat? And do they fit in with a paleo diet? If you read a lot of Paleo blogs, I'm sure you’ll have noticed that opinions […]
Ginger Sesame Chicken Wings (Paleo)
Another wonderful way with chicken wings, this recipe is fiery and crispy, and great as a snack or as a main meal with some fresh vegetables. The key here is the ginger, and the amount of it! Requires overnight marinating. These Ginger Sesame Chicken Wings are a fiery and crispy delight, perfect for a snack […]
Are You Getting Enough Cobalt?
Cobalt forms part of the structure of vitamin B12, which makes it an essential dietary mineral. In its inorganic form, cobalt is also an active nutrient for bacteria, algae and fungi, which means that it can help to maintain the balance of the natural bacteria within your body, as well as all of the other […]
Fertilise Yourself – The Natural Fertility Guide
I was so inspired when I met Natalie Kringoudis at the Low Carb Down Under seminar series a few months ago. Natalie is a fertility guru, and Doctor of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturist. She spoke at the Melbourne seminar about Fertility, and how so many couples who appear to be infertile, are able to conceive, […]
Why You Should Add More Sulphurous Veggies To Your Diet
I hadn't given much thought to sulphurous veggies, until reading about the Dr. Terry Wahls protocol. Dr Terry Wahls reversed her multiple sclerosis in part, by modifying her diet. She recommends eating 3 cups of leafy greens, 3 cups of antioxidants and 3 cups of sulfurous veggies every day. What’s so special about sulfur and […]
The Primal Meal Plan Explained
What is a typical day of paleo meals for you? Have you got stuck in a meal plan rut? Once you get a few favourite recipes under your belt, it’s easy to have the same meal over and over, which can get very boring. Eating repetitively is also depriving your body of nutrients that can […]
What's So Wrong With Soy?
Are soy beans really that bad for us? So many “healthy” people swear by soy – and it’s certainly portrayed in a lot of mainstream media as a health product. Soy beans contain a lot of natural toxins. It doesn't matter whether they’re organically grown or genetically modified. The problem with modern soy products is […]
Which Kitchen Knives Do You Actually Need?
Eating a natural paleo diet – more real food – means more food preparation. Which knives do you have in your kitchen and are you using the right ones for the right job? One of the most important tools in the kitchen is the knife. You use your kitchen knives every day and if you […]
How to Get Enough Vitamin E on a Paleo Diet
Probably the most effective antioxidant known to function in the human body, Vitamin E is worth learning about. By counteracting free radical damage, it can help to protect you from cardiovascular disease and cancer. In addition, it can raise your skin’s ability to resist UV damage, and it may contribute to the prevention or treatment […]
What Exactly Is CrossFit?
If you've been reading about the Paleo diet – you’ll almost certainly have come across Crossfit. Perhaps you do it? Or perhaps you've been wondering what it is – and what the link is with Paleo? I only started crossfit a few months ago, having gone to “normal” gyms before. I've made so many big […]
Are You Suffering From Adrenal Fatigue?
Tired, washed out and exhausted, even when you had enough sleep? Feeling tired, weak and incapable of doing things? Could you be suffering from adrenal fatigue? What are the adrenals? The adrenals are like two caps on top of the kidneys which play a key role in the endocrine (hormonal) system. They produce more than […]
Vitamin B9 (Folate) on the Paleo Diet
Growth and development – this is what Vitamin B9 is most vital for. Growth and development actually comprise a whole set of processes in the human body, with cell division and DNA production perhaps the most important ones, and so Vitamin B9 becomes especially important during pregnancy, lactating, and early growth stages. What is more, […]