We Have Our Health Priorities All Wrong

When the new QLD Chief Health Officer makes a priority in health that is not even a priority, the health of its citizens is doomed. Let me explain. Last September I had the chance to visit and work in an orphanage and community in Uganda. I was only there 5 days, but it gave me […]
Meeting Mila from Croatia

Originally posted on Changing Habits 2017 It’s funny where life takes you and how it puts you in the right place at the right time, you just have to be open to it. I’ve had a tiring last couple of days. Starting with a long flight to Philadelphia from San Francisco, dinners, rehearsals, meeting people, […]
Losing Weight ≠ Getting Healthy

I was at a party recently. There were many women there around my age. This is the time when the middle-age spread sets in, and for many at the party, it had begun. There were also complaints of sore knees and hips, as well as not having enough energy and other maladies. Some of the […]
Emotional Self-care: how to be a better version of yourself

Is it just me? Or is life sometimes just one huge challenge? How come we argue? Why do we have to put up with confrontations and people bad-mouthing or hurting us? How come we lose it and behave in ways we do not like within ourselves? Why do we self-sabotage, overeat or choose the wrong […]
Declutter and Get Organised to Lose Weight,Gain Health and Get More Energy

Originally written in 2008 Several years ago I read a book on Feng Shui and while I was very interested in what it had to say, the point that stood out the most was the fact that clutter causes disorganisation and chaos. The main theme of the book was to get rid of the clutter […]
Leptin 101: How This ‘Hunger Hormone’ May Be Preventing You From Losing Weight

[Updated August 2019] What is Leptin? Leptin is a hormone secreted by fat cells in white adipose tissue. Leptin is a master hormone and sends a signal to the hypothalamus in the brain to let it know how much fat is to be stored. It controls our hunger and feelings of satiety. What is Leptin’s […]
Healthy Lunchbox Ideas

Is there really a healthy school lunch that tastes as good as a chip roll? Transcript from a 2008 interview ‘Bad’ food in kid’s lunch boxes traditionally give them hyperactivity, they don’t concentrate, they just muck up in class, that’s what we’ve known over the last 25 years. But traditional lunches that we ate 25, […]
Never Give Up On Your Dreams

A 41-year-old dream just came true… In 1983, frustrated by my degree in Dietetics I got on my bike and went to the beach near my university. I had dreams about being a dietitian but everything I was being taught did not sit right with me. I was being taught a mechanistic dietary dogma that […]
Cost of Living and Health

As the cost of living goes up many people take short cuts, but when it comes to health this is where we should place more emphasis and reduce costs somewhere else. Why? Prioritising your health when the budget gets tight is key. Health is not hard to maintain, and even getting back to health is […]
Flavours in Food and Vaping

I’ve been traveling for nearly 3 months now through different countries and continents. Food habits and diets of the different countries and areas are remarkably different. I noticed that in Eastern and Western Europe that the diet was filled with real food but as I made my way through some supermarkets, as opposed to the […]
F**k Cancer, or should we be mad at something else?

More and more I see bumper stickers saying F**K Cancer. Whenever I see them, I think “it’s not the cancer you should be mad at , it’s what causes the cancer that should be bumper stickered everywhere”. Perhaps we should be saying, “f**k ultra processed foods, chemical agriculture, microplastics, glyphosate, sunscreens, toxic personal care products, […]
Climate Change, Weather, and Food.

Firstly, I want you to know that you are about to read an opinion piece. It’s about climate and this subject is highly polarising not just in the general public’s point of view but also in the science community. Why would I be writing about climate when I’m a nutritionist? Possibly because our farms and […]
Glutamine; Hoax or Healer?

I’ve been in the nutrition world far too long to see a new supplement trend on TikTok and become a best seller not to be a little suspicious as to its ability to do all the things claimed. I also wonder how the demand for this nutrient can be maintained worldwide. Is it an extract, […]
Does Organic Mean Nutrient Rich?

Before I talk about what I don’t like about certified organic foods, it’s important that you know that I do support this industry. Despite some of the Australian organic standards being archaic, the ACO (Australian Certified Organic) certify many brilliant foods. Despite this, there are some loopholes and some big players in the food industry […]
Ultra-Processed Foods Can Be Good For You?

Not all ultra-processed foods are made for you? I’m a little perplexed by this statement as in their references are there multiple studies showing the relationship between increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and disease states.
Back on the Speaking Circuit

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks back on the speaking circuit with a series of library talks on the Sunshine Coast. It’s the greatest number of live talks I’ve done in the last couple of years and I must admit, I’ve really enjoyed them. It has been wonderful to reach beyond those who follow […]
4 Ways to Promote a Healthy Gut-Brain Connection

Do you ever have that ‘gut feeling’ that something isn’t right, mentally or physically? As your brain and gut actually do communicate with one another, this could be more accurate than you perhaps think. The gut (gastrointestinal tract) is an important organ, sometimes referred to as our ‘second brain’. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut […]
What are Oxalates in Plants? Health Considerations

I was taught from a young age to listen to my body. If it whispers, it’s best to listen because if you ignore the whispers, it will eventually get louder until you can no longer ignore the pain or inflammation associated with a body that screams at you. It wasn’t until my 50’s […]