‘Our’ Nigel And His Saddleworth & Lees Natural Health Centre

 Just a quick note to let you know that Nigel Dunbar, our massage therapist and foot doctor from the Uppermill clinic is now well up and running at his High Street, Lees Natural Health Centre (above Slender World). Therapies there include chiropody, podiatry, massage, sports injury clinic, Hopi ear candles, reflexology, acupuncture, counselling and homeopathy. Dave and Emma from our old clinic are doing the counselling and homeopathy as before.  Contact them for appointments on 01457 878691. We wish them all well and miss working with them.

New Quicker Self Treatment Instructions for NAET

For those of you doing NAET home treatments, you’ll be delighted to know that you can now do it a lot faster. NAET US have discovered it works fine in half the time. Do your gate points whilst holding the allergen for a full minute on each point, put it away for 10 minutes, then do this again twice more, making a total of three times instead of the previous six. Please ask for an up to date copy of the NAET Self-Treatment Instructions if you need one. (But only if you have been asked to do self treatments and have completed your basic allergens, otherwise it won’t work.)

Larger NHR Cream Sizes

I have stocked the gorgeous and extremely pure NHR moisture lotions, shampoos, soaps and conditioners ever since I started simply because they are great. They contain very few ingredients and are just lovely to use. The ever-popular moisture creams (Lavender, Tea-tree and Rose) now come in a 250ml size rather than 100ml and is MUCH better value so I have swopped to this size instead. If you like the pretty silver pump bottle of the 100ml size, keep your existing one and fill it up from the new larger size which comes in a squeezy non-PET plastic cream bottle. The 100ml size was £9.65 (and I still have some of these left), but the new size is £16.95 or £17.95 (for Rose) and you get 2 and a half times as much which would normally add up to £24 odd! Hoorah. Bargain!

Why An Apple Will Fill You Up More

 The water content of food is important for maintaining your weight and weight loss. This is the key to feeling full. Water in the food itself is more effective at controlling appetite and losing weight than low-moisture food accompanied by a glass of water and this concept has now been verified by a study of 1,136 women conducted by the University of Tokyo. The research showed that the women consuming the most water in their foods were the leanest. The women consuming foods with the least water in were the most overweight. They also found that drinking water from drinks with meals had no impact on body mass index or waist circumference. Only the water within the foods was effective.

What does this mean practically? In effect, you can control weight better with a handful of 20 grapes rather than 20 raisins with a glass of water. That’s why water-laden food such as brown rice, lentils, soups, salads, veg and fruit are great. So, next time you go for a handful of dried apricots, a biscuit or even some nuts, think – and have veg or fruit instead or with it to feel fuller for longer.

Source:
Murakami K et al Intake from water from foods but not beverages, is related to lower body mass index and waist circumference in humans, Nutrition. 2008 Oct;24(10):925-32

Havin’ a Larff…

Having said all that, in these credit-crunchy times when everything seems so serious, it’s good to keep a bit of perspective if you can. I’m pretty convinced things are difficult for many, but don’t be led by the media coverage and get into a frenzy with it. Remember, it’s their job to make things sound bad – it’s what sells papers and gets people watching and listening, although quite why people choose to listen to depressing stuff more is beyond me. It is always a good idea to remember to limit your exposure to bad news. You are in control of how much negativity you allow into your life. Sure it’s important, but you don’t have to immerse yourself in it just because it’s there and you’re encouraged to.

 

I am seeing quite a few more people feeling anxious and depressed. It may simply be the weather and lack of light, but don’t underestimate the power of ubiquitous, subliminal bad news messages affecting you at a conscious and subconscious level.

 

My advice? Have a news fast – avoid reading, listening or watching any news or serious programmes for a week and see how much better you feel. If it’s important enough, you’ll hear about it from someone. Read inspiring books, watch silly feel-good films and re-runs of your favourite TV programmes (we’re talking Porridge/Only Fools/Friends here NOT Eastenders/Casualty/The Bill!!!)

 

To help, this month, here are some daft Tommy Cooper jokes for you…

 

This lorry full of tortoises collided with a van full of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster.

I told my girlfriend I had a job in a bowling alley. She said ‘Tenpin?’ I said, ‘No, permanent.’

I went in to a pet shop. I said, ‘Can I buy a goldfish?’ The guy said, ‘Do you want an aquarium?’ I said, ‘I don’t care what star sign it is.

I went to buy a watch, and the man in the shop said ‘Analogue.’ I said ‘No, just a watch.’

I went into a shop and I said, ‘Can someone sell me a kettle.’ The bloke said ‘Kenwood’ I said, ‘Where is he then?’

A Healthy Bank Balance

Now I know it’s not very PC to say it, but I actually think the Credit Crunch will be good for us in many ways. Why? Because something had to stop the inexorable swing to mass consumerism we’ve seen over the past few years. True, I’m as grateful as anyone that my house price has increased, but I think it’s about time we were forced to think about what we use and waste and become much more aware of what we’re doing with this life and planet. Short term pain maybe for longer term gain.

This month, then, here are my top tips for saving money whilst still making healthy and ethical decisions..

 

1.    Grow Your Own. Anyone can plant a few seeds and grow a supply of salad leaves that will last all through Winter. Just make sure they’re organic seeds and use non-peat compost. Salad leaves are so expensive and are usually shipped in so you’re saving money and miles.

 

2.    Freeze. Shops have a habit of offering 3 for 2 type offers which I think encourages waste. But, not if you freeze the excess or make 2 of the same dishes and freeze one of them. Freezing food keeps most of the nutrients. Just don’t reheat in a microwave and spoil all that healthy effort!

 

3.    Walk or Bike. Forget the car, save the petrol mand get fit whilst you’re at it. Obvious – but how many of you are actually doing it? If it’s a journey of less than 10 minutes by car, resolve to walk it cycle it instead. You’ll save loads on those gym costs in the New Year too because you won’t need to join!

 

4.    Buy Smarter. Stop wasting money on toiletries you don’t need, don’t work and just slap more chemicals on your body. I recently went to a skincare party and was quite appalled at how chemical everything smelled and the ingredients in them. I certainly wouldn’t pay good money to give myself a slathering of toxins! There are some fantastic non-toxic and organic products on the market if you know what to look for. Try the Supermodel’s secret Weleda Skin Food. Used by Helena Christensen, Erin O’Connor and other famous faces for years, it comes in at just under six quid – bargain! In fact, the whole Weleda range is fantastic value and one of the most ethical companies around. Faith in Nature, Annemarie Borlind and NHR are all other excellent makes.

 

5.    Stop Smoking and Drinking So Much! I know, I know: boring, but true! Why not try buying better quality organic wines and beers to enjoy slowly at home? Co-op do some fantastic, cheap ones. With smoking, have you really added up how much it is costing you? It’s astounding when you do. It makes no sense from a health or wallet perspective. Most smokers we see (and we’ve seen thousands) say they have wanted to give up for ages in their hearts but would never admit it – the power of an addiction.

Working Hours

Can you believe it’s been 6 months since we closed the Uppermill clinic?! Time really does fly when you’re having fun. All in all, I think it’s gone really well – and I hope the new service is suiting you too. You now have face to face, email and phone appointments, a full e-shop and mail order service at just £1 per delivery, several e-books and an information service of factsheets, website, blog and e-news.

Working from home is a lot different, and those of you who have got to know me, know I love my job and am a bit of a workaholic! Having the laptop and files etc at home means I am never really switching off, never get out of the house to go the gym, shopping etc. I’m surprised I haven’t turned into a half-starved tramp (don’t say anything…!)

So, I have decided to streamline things a bit more now so I have time to fit it all in – as well as have a life! The old system used to work perfectly, so I shall be going back to a 4 day week for clinic and patient work, 1 day for writing and teaching and a weekend off!  ( I am teaching by example here so all of you who need to take steps to sort your life out a bit, take note!)

Monday – day off/journal reading

Tuesday – writing & teaching – watch this space for events coming up

Weds & Thurs – clinic work, admin, research, patient stuff, ordering, etc

Fri & Sat – appointments

Sunday – rest!

Obviously I am still on the phone/email for urgent stuff and will run to the post office with your orders every day as now. I just wanted you to know what I’m up to so unless it’s urgent I will be in touch with you Weds-Sat from now on.

 

Recipe: White Beans with Herbs & Chickpea Flat Bread

I have just returned from a short break in Paris. Go if you ever get the chance. The architecture is stunning. I know everyone says it is a beautiful city, but it truly is – I loved it. Unfortunately, as Philip is a vegetarian and I don’t eat wheat or dairy, I can’t say the same about the food. French cuisine does not suit you unless you like your food laden with bread, meat and butter! We even went to an Indian restaurant which didn’t do any plain rice without butter in it! However, Paris seemed to be full of sushi restaurants, so I was fine in the end.

 

This experience inspired me to look at true French cuisine, though, and here are a couple of recipes adapted from Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian cook book. The first is one from a traditional Parisian bistro.

 

White Beans & Herbs

 

Heat some olive oil in a pan, add some finely chopped onion, a couple of chopped garlic cloves and a little very finely chopped fresh or crushed dried rosemary. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the onion starts to brown. Then add in a finely chopped tomato and a bay leaf. Add about 10oz of soaked and drained white beans and one and a half pints of water. Bring to the boil and cook for an hour. Add some salt and pepper and then simmer for another half an hour on a gentle heat. Check the beans are tender and then serve in a wide bowl and top with some wilted spinach and some of the chickpea flatbread.

 

For speed, you could of course use a tin of beans and cook it for about 20 minutes, but somehow the slow cooking brings out more flavour. This will keep in the fridge for a couple of days and mature in flavour. It goes nicely with left over brown rice too as a quick supper or lunch dish.

 

Chickpea Flat Bread

 

Madhur calls this La socca and describes it as a type of pizza that is traditionally eaten by workmen in both France and Italy.

 

Sift 75g chickpea flour and a little salt into a bowl. Slowly add in 250ml water stirring all the time, taking time to get lumps broken down as you go along before adding more water. Then let the batter sit for half an hour. Strain it through a sieve to remove any lumpy bits and add some black pepper and some finely chopped black olives or finely chopped herbs like rosemary or thyme (you can use dried too).

 

Preheat your grill, put a tablespoon of olive oil into a pan that will also go under a grill, then stir your batter and pour it into the oil when hot. Pour a little more oil onto the top to cover and cook for about 4 minutes, bursting the big bubbles as they rise with a knife. When the batter looks set, pop it under the grill and cook until it is golden or browned in patches. This is traditionally eaten hot, torn into strips with your fingers. Yum!