RAISING KIDS NATURALLY - ISSUE 3

RAISING KIDS NATURALLY

Issue 04/14 Children’s Health & Lifestyle FR

EE PUBLICATION

03

Editorial advice is non specific and readers are advised to seek professional advice for personal problems and situations. No part of the book shall be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by individual writers, contributors, editor, and advertisers are not those necessarily of the publishers. The publishers believe all information in this book is true and correct at the time of printing. The publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions relating to any advertisements, the responsibility is on the advertisers to supply correct details. IMPORTANT: This magazine is intended as a reference only, not as a medical manual. While the information is based on material provided by researchers, the magazine does not presume to give medical advice. Be sure to consult your physician before beginning any alternative therapy program.

COVER: Juliana Prosser LOCATION: Long Tan Park Currumbin Valley

A few nights ago, I was driving home late from an extremely busy day and was feeling quite tired, stressed and anxious. I got home to a rare empty house, had a nice long hot shower, put some relaxing music on, had a healthy meal and a lovely organic herbal tea and felt fabulous. Which element had made the huge difference to how I was feeling an hour ago? Was it the hot shower, the music or the food? The answer was, I thought, all of these things working together. That’s how your body works and that’s how natural healing works – in symphony. We all know visiting a GP for an infection will result in antibotics, or visiting for feeling how I was feeling when I got home may result in a script for anti-‐depressants. They all go to the source and stop the pain, or numb the feelings but they don’t actually treat the source of the problem. Natural healing works on healing the body, mind and spirit. By reducing stress, eliminating toxins, changing ones diet will all help the body to heal itself, naturally. Eating organic foods, cooking without preservatives, using products on our bodies that are chemical free are all viable and with a little bit of time is something all families can achieve and utilise in their daily routines. Sometimes this road can be slow, as we are a very time poor society, but changing one thing at a time is very achievable. We have put together some very simple and effective tools in this edition to help get you on your way to living as organic and chemical free as possible. Happy Easter

Deb Connect with us: www.raisingkidsnaturally.com.au

this month

06 whatsap 07 books 08 Bees – not just honey 11 Smoothies 14 Inspiring Imagination 18 Nanna’s kitchen 20 Aries Children 23 What’s really in your food 27 Kids in the Kitchen 30 Superfood – Cacao 34 Apple Cider VInegar

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WhatsApp

Everest – Achieve Goals, Set Resolutions, and Change Personal Habits

Easter Bunny Dress Up and Card Maker by Tabtale Web Site The Most adorable Easter bunny dress up and card maker game. An Easter bunny and an Easter egg to fall in love with with over 200 special Easter decorations!

Laugh and learn as you help a Sesame Street monster friend calm down and solve everyday challenges. Tap and touch to help the monster take deep breaths, think of plans, and try them out! Your child will enjoy silly animations and playful interactions.

Aussie Farmers Direct

Aussie Farmers Direct is Australia’s leading home

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anytime. They are leading the way in creating a sustainable

farming future for us all.

Everest makes it easier to achieve your personal goals.

From getting in shape to learning Italian to travelling the world. Build your dream

team to stay motivated, easily trace your progress, get

suggestions when you’re stuck and be a part of

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Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame

Books……

TITLE Beatrix Potter The Complete

Tales

AUTHOR Beatrix Potter

This complete and unabridged collection contains all 23 of Beatrix Potter's Tales in one deluxe volume with all their original illustrations. A perfect gift to introduce children to the world of Beatrix Potter, the Complete Tales is also an ideal Easter present; traditional and timeless, it's a classic for any nursery shelf. Discover Beatrix's most famous character, Peter Rabbit, and meet his family and friends. There are so many exciting adventures to enjoy, told with such humour and wit it's difficult to believe that Beatrix Potter wrote many of them over 100 years ago.

Now you can enjoy one of the great tastes and textures in raw—raw chocolate. Raw

chocolate can be made without a lot of fuss and with great results. This book

features truffles, fudge, buttercups, fruit, smoothies, bonbons, and more. With

cacao beans and health-promoting ingredients like goji berries and maca, raw

chocolate is even healthyfor you!

“Diets and exercise won't help us lose weight. Vitamins and minerals are a waste of money and sometimes downright dangerous. Sugar makes us fat and sick. And polyunsaturated fat gives us cancer and works with sugar to give us heart disease. This book exists because I desperately hope that with a little knowledge we can all vote with out feet and change the rules of the game before the game kills us.' David Gillespie

TITLE Raw Chocolate AUTHOR Matthew Kenny and Meredith Baird

TITLE Big Fat Lies

AUTHOR

David Gillespie

IF WE LOSE THE BEES, WE LOSE

THE FOOD

Despite our highly-industrialised and technology-based modern agricultural systems, the farming of plant-based foods is underpinned by the activity of insect pollinators such as bees. Pollination refers to the transfer of pollen between plants, an essential aspect of plant reproduction. Bees pollinate at least 75% of global food crops, and up to 85% of our staple crops – that is, one-third of everything we consume [1]. A number of Australian staples – including apples, avocados, broccoli, citrus fruits, cucumbers, melons, stone fruits and tomatoes, among others [2] – are wholly dependent on the activity of insect pollinators. Many other industries also rely on insect pollinators – for example, cattle feed, vegetable oil crops, coffee and cocoa, among others. [1]. According to the US Food & Agriculture Organisation [1], bees add well over A$200 billion to the global economy, and “contribute greatly to global food security”.

Bees are an ancient species, first appearing in the fossil record over 100 million years ago [15]. Today, there are 20 000 bee species recognised by science, and probably at least another 20 000 undiscovered bee species [16]. Bees are amazingly industrious – to produce one teaspoon of honey, a dozen bees must collect pollen for three weeks straight, travelling ten thousand kilometres in the process [16]! And, as key agricultural pollinators, bees are quite literally essential to the survival of humans on earth. Alarmingly, there is increasing evidence that bee populations are in significant decline in many regions of the world [3, 4, 5, 6]. In some cases, the decline in bee numbers has been so dramatic that bee species have become regionally extinct. Referred to as ‘colony collapse disorder’, this be extinction phenomenon has been observed throughout history – but has been dramatically accelerated since 2006. Since this time, the United States has seen an average annual honeybee loss of around 30% - though this jumped to 50% in 2012/13 [7, 8].

In Europe, the average annual honeybee loss since 2006 has also been between 30% and 50% [9]. Whilst the problem is not yet so severe in Australia, with no significant honeybee losses reported [10], the risk to honeybees in this region is believed to be significant [10, 11, 12]. The decline of bees has had a significant effect on parts of the US agricultural industry – particularly, the Californian almond industry, which supplies over 80% of the world’s almonds [17]. Due to the decline in US bee populations, the Californian almond industry had an 800 000 tonne shortfall in almond production in 2013, and is now projected to decline by 2% annually [18]. This decline – in combination with the fact that Californian almond farmers are now required to rent hives of bees to pollinate their crops, at significant expense – saw almonds reach an eight-year high in 2013, up 31% to A$6.60/kg [19]. It is fair to argue that almonds are a luxury food rather than a staple one – but the situation with the Californian almond industry may be a glimpse of what we can expect if global bee populations continue to decline.

BEES

NOT JUST HONEY WORDS Lauren McCosker

However, it is unlikely that neonicotinoids are the only cause of colony collapse disorder – the evidence for this comes primarily from Australia, which uses neonicotinoid pesticides widely but which has not seen widespread honeybee losses. We now understand that colony collapse disorder is underpinned by a wide variety of interrelated factors. Bee pests and pathogens are now recognised to be a key contributor to the colony collapse disorder phenomenon – not only do these kill bees directly, but by impairing bees’ immuno-capabilities they may also increase their susceptibility to pesticides and other stressors. Bee pests and pathogens include those capable of wiping out entire hives across multiple sites – including acute paralytic virus, nosema fungal infections, parasitic phorid fly and, perhaps the most deadly of all, the insidious varroa mite. However, such pathogens would be unlikely to wipe out entire bee colonies unless the colony was already stressed and weakened – and researchers have identified a number of potential bee stressors. Modern bee-keeping practices – such as the overcrowding of hives, the long-distance transport of hives (leading to a phenomenon known as ‘migratory stress’), and selective breeding (which has significantly reduced bees’ genetic diversity) – have all been suggested as potential contributors to colony collapse disorder. Agricultural areas often have a high density of a single species of plant, and this reduced diversity (and limited availability of pollen / nectar) – in combination with competition from introduced species – may lead to significant nutritional deficiencies among bees.

The overuse of pesticides – specifically, the neonicotinoid pesticides of clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid – were originally believed to be the primary cause of colony collapse disorder. As a result, neonicotinoid pesticides were banned in the European Union in early 2013, and the use of these pesticides is also under review in both the United States and Australia [13, 14]

A wide variety of other stressors – from harmful Bt proteins in the pollen of genetically-modified crops, to electromagnetic radiation exposure and even climate change – have all been identified as factors in colony collapse disorder in various regions of the world. Bees are a fascinating – and alarming – example of the natural disasters that can occur when human beings interfere with nature. However, the vast amounts of research dedicated to understanding colony collapse disorder is also an indication of our commitment to the natural world – a commitment that will, with luck, save the remarkable bee species from extinction.

You can do your bit to help the bees by attracting bees to your garden – provided, of course, that no member of your family is allergic to bee stings! Plant pollinator-friendly flowering plants such as lavender, nasturtiums, clover and Australian natives like bottlebrush and wattle, as well as herbs such as basil, thyme, sage, rocket, chives and coriander. In no time at all, you will have a thriving bee population in your own garden.

ALMOST 90 PER CENT OF THE WORLDS PLANTS RELY ON

POLLINATORS, INCLUDING MANY OF THE PLANTS WE USE

FOR FOOD.

If you can't get

your kids to eat it - get

them to drink it!

Banana & Coconut Smoothie

Cacao, Almond & Chia Blueberry & Mint

Berry & Yoghurt Smoothie

Banana & Coconut Smoothie 2 ripe bananas 1 cup coconut milk 1 cup milk (dairy, soy or nut) 3-‐4 scoops ice-‐cream (or frozen yoghurt) 2 teaspoons honey (optional)

Place bananas, coconut milk, milk, vanilla ice-‐cream honey in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Berry & Yoghurt Smoothie 150g strawberries, hulled, roughly

chopped 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

(thawed) 2/3 cup thick vanilla yoghurt 1/3 cup milk 1 tblspn maple syrup

1 cup ice cubes Place strawberries, raspberries, yoghurt, milk, syrup and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy. Pour into glasses and serve.

Cacao, Almond & Chia

1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other non-‐dairy milk) 1 banana, peeled 1 handful fresh kale (about 1 cup) 1 Tbsp almond butter (or other nut butter) 2 Tbsp cacao powder 1 Tbsp chia seeds (soaked in 2 Tbsp milk for a couple minutes) 1 Tbsp maple syrup I cup of ice cubes Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. - See more at:

Blueberry & Mint

1 cup frozen blueberries 1/2 avocado 1/4 cup orange juice 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves 1 tsp lemon juice 1/2 cup ice cubes Place Blend blueberries, avocado, orange juice, mint, lemon juice and ice until smooth.

IMAGINATION AT PLAY WORDS Lauren McCosker

Have you ever watched your child create a pirate ship from the upturned kitchen table, invent an elaborate role-play game with their toys, or interact with a pretend friend? It is well known that young children learn through imaginative play – however, we now understand that play is also essential in equipping children with a range of key life skills. There is a growing body of research that suggests that children who engage in high-quality imaginative play are more efficient problem-solvers, with strong social and linguistic competence and the complex cognitive skills that underpin academic performance. Essentially, imaginative play in early childhood sets children up for success in later life. One of the key benefits of imaginative play is the development of fundamental literacy skills, such as the ability to create and recall complex narrative structures (often with a mind-boggling myriad of plots, settings and characters!). The communication of these narratives – that is, ‘story-telling’, both through spoken and written (or, more accurately, ‘drawn’) language – is another key benefit, and engagement in imaginative play has been shown to expand children’s vocabulary

almost exponentially. When learning materials – such as books, clocks, weights, rulers, scales, etc. – are integrated into the child’s make-believe play, children become more confident and capable at utilising them in formal education settings. Role-play games – a key part of imaginative play – are important in allowing children to re-create meaningful experiences, to explore the identities of both themselves and others, and to test the rules of the world in a safe and controlled environment. By enabling a child to adopt the boundaries and behavioural norms of a character, role-playing also teaches self-

regulation and the ability to look beyond oneself, as well as key emotional skills such as compassion, empathy and understanding. Whether role-playing with a real friend or an imaginary one, children will learn the important skills involved in establishing and maintaining robust relationships with others. Imaginative play allows a child to develop and practice a range of problem-solving techniques – including essential skills such as improvisation, negotiation and cooperation. When engaging in imaginative play involving props, children are able to develop not only cognitive but also physical problem-solving skills, and their fine- and gross-motor skills are enhanced. By utilising problem solving in an artificial environment, children become habitual problem-solvers and are better prepared to develop creative solutions to the variety of real-life problems they will inevitably encounter. Perhaps most importantly, imaginative play is simply fun, and it provides the child with an escape from the stresses of everyday life. Indeed, it provides them a setting where they are in complete control – important in a world where children often have little say.

That children learn through play is well known, however

the extent to which they learn is only now being

discovered – and it is quite remarkable.

Once children begin imaginative play, their imagination expands – creating a perpetual cycle of growth and development. Venture into your

child’s world of imaginative play with these ideas for fostering make-believe and pretend:

• Provide your child with a wide range of props. These need not be expensive –

and, indeed, some of the best props are everyday household items that require imagination to bring them to life! The ubiquitous cardboard box is a perennial favourite with children, and can be used in thousands of different ways.

• Give children dress-up clothes (including hats, scarves, bags, shoes and wigs), and encourage them to take on the different roles of the characters who might wear these clothes. Dress-up clothes should be rotated frequently to ensure children do not become bored with them.

• Through everyday experiences and stories in books / movies, expose children to a variety of different situations and experiences that they can role-play.

• Participate with your child as a character in their role play, challenging them to think of innovative solutions to the problems they encounter – though always let the child take the lead, and never be intrusive.

• Have theme days, or even theme parts of your day – for example, in the supermarket you might become space astronauts, on the way to preschool you might become medieval knights, when walking the dog you might become lion tamers, etc.

• Use a sheet as a canopy to separate your child from their everyday play environment – it’s amazing the creativity that children will employ in order to turn this blank space into a blockbuster adventure!

Why Use Natural Deodorant?

Families striving to be healthy, eco-friendly and natural still use commercial deodorants which contain anywhere around 25% aluminum salts. Then you have the parabens and triclosan, which is a great eco hurter. Every day we're just painting the stuff on, and for women, on broken skin sometimes. Besides minor irritation, rashes and the not so good effect on the environment, the biggest health concern is the possible connection to breast cancer. Who would really like to use a product with over 18 different ingredients, most of which are synthetically produced and need to be decoded just to find out they are some crazy chemical chain and I still don't have an answer as to what it is. We will leave out brand names {it's all the same anyway}, but here is what you can expect in just about every over the counter store antiperspirant deodorant:

Active Ingredients: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydres GLY (18.5%) Inactive Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane; Stearyl Alcohol; PPG-‐14 Butyl Ether, Dimethicone; C12-‐15 Alkyl Benzoate; Hydrogenated Castor Oil; Talc; Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) seed Oil; Fragrance (Parfum); Steareth-‐100;Vegetable Oil

nanna’s kitchen

1.5 tablespoons beeswax 4 tablespoons shea butter 1 tablespoon cocoa butter 4 teaspoons clay (bentonite or kaolin) 20-25 drops tea tree essential oil or 10 drops tea tree essential oil with 10-15 drops of any other essential oil you love

NANNAS HOME MADE

NATURAL DEODORANT

Measure the beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter into a pot and melt over a low heat until the mixture is mostly melted. Stir to finish melting everything down into a clear liquid. Then whisk in your clay with a fork, until the mixture is nice and smooth. It only takes a minute. Your clay should be either white kaolin or bentonite clay. Bentonite is a soft gray powder, exactly like the white kaolin. Then add your essential oils and stir. Prep a chilly ice bath. It's simply a large bowl with a few cups of cold water and one cup of ice. Set your container with the melted deodorant in it, into the ice bath. Stir the deodorant mixture slowly while you let it start to cool down and thicken a bit, stir some more, cool some more...When it's just cooled off, but still drippy, pour into your container. You can let it cool over night at room temperature -or- after 15 minutes, pop into the freezer for about 30 minutes. Either way, when it's all cooled off and room temp, cap it up and use lightly as needed.

Even the daintiest of Aries babes will have strong wills and dominant personalities.

With their emotional and mental health kept in tact, these are some of the most loving little adventurers of all the signs! Just be sure you don't leave them alone too long. They like attention and lots of it.

Their hearts are soft and their idealism naive but if there can be such a thing as a hard, practical, idealistic dreamer - that is your Aries baby.

They have vivid imaginations and are dreamy and sentimental all wrapped up in a fiery little body. The girls will be as direct in their actions as the boys. Aries toddlers will be difficult to control, so don't try so hard. The key to smooth relations with an Aries tot is allowing them a certain amount of freedom to explore and learn.

Constantly on the go, efforts to try and confine or suppress the Aries enthusiasm will be futile. And since they do move so much you must be on the alert for accidents and injuries (especially to the head and face).

Aries children are amazingly generous, friendly and take the lead with playmates. They like to invent new games and ideas for the gang to follow but they may butt heads with anyone who tries to thwart them, so teach them early about personal responsibility and controlling their tempers.

Your Aries teen may neglect chores and homework but this just means she needs another challenge. Question her ability and she'll show you! Her nose will be glued to the books. Challenge is a better parenting strategy than comparison for an Aries. Comparison to their sibling's habits or grades will not impress them. But giving a challenge to meet will.

Aries children like to do it themselves and do it first, so it follows that they can learn just about anything in no time flat. They also like to live up to expectations, so raise yours appropriately and they'll only rise to the occasion.

They prefer direct honest logic to accompany requests and a smile never hurts if you'd like to see them bend over backwards to please you.

They are as soft as a teddy bear and rejection of their bright dreams, friendship or love will hurt them deeply as they have deep-seated fears of being disliked and unloved.

Hold her very close when your little Aries' heart is broken. She'll depend on you to kiss away the pain. Aries idealism is sensitive and bruises easily.

Aries children love books, believe in fairy godmothers, giants and fantastic tales of magical cities. They have a hope-filled optimism about life and though they may get knocked down a time or two, don't ever count out an Aries.

Babies/Toddlers

• strong & active (in body and mind) • extremely affectionate • fiercely independent • friendly • early talkers/walkers • accident prone • strong immune systems • generous • tempers

Adolescents:

• competitive • vivid imaginations • love fantasy • sometimes lazy • need/love a challenge • fiery tempers and emotions • intuitive • burning drive to succeed • independent •

Parenting tips to best handle your Aries tot or teen:

• don't give orders • teach kindness • indulge in their love of books • use logic and honest affection • do not attack

You can lose your Aries youngster to complacency if you engage in critical or demeaning behavior. Early negative emotional experiences can be devastating and it is important to not subject your Aries child to cold, negative people or actions. Independence comes early with Aries, and they may even run away or leave home earlier than expected but a foundation of gentle guidance will keep the path to their Aries needs to be taught responsibility but speak kindly to her or she could develop a mean streak. Same goes for destroying her confidence. An Aries child handled gently will pay the neighborhood bullies to stop picking on the other children but otherwise, can become that same bully.

April's metal is iron and April's birthstone is the

diamond, !the hardest

substances known to man.

Aries Children March 21 – April 20

WORDS Lauren McCosker

.

WHAT’S REALLY IN YOUR FOOD According to the consumer group Choice [1], well

over 300 different food additives are approved for use in Australia. Food manufacturers and food regulators point out that such additives are essential to ensuring our foods are nutritious, palatable and safe for consumption. However, advocacy groups argue that these additives, as artificial chemicals, are harmful – contributing to a wide variety of illnesses including cancer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism. Recent research has shown that around 5% of Australians are intolerant to at least one food additive [2]. So, what’s really in your foods, and how do food additives affect the health of you and your family? Food additives can be classified into seven categories: artificial colours, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers and stabilisers, flavour enhancers, sweeteners and thickeners. This feature will profile each of these groups of food additives – explaining their role in food production and their potential effects on health.

the truth about hidden

food addit ives

Artificial colours – the first group of additives to be profiled – are designed to add or restore colour to foods, and their code numbers on Australian food labels are generally in the 100s [1]. Much controversy surrounds the use of artificial colours, and particularly in the foods we give to our children. In 2004, large UK study [4] found that a combination of artificial colours and preservatives have an ‘observable effect’ on the behaviour of children – including an increase in hyperactivity – and this finding was supported by another UK study commissioned by the Food Standards Agency [5]. Whilst this research is disputed by the regulatory bodies Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and the US Food and Drug Administration, and FSANZ research proves that the majority of Australian children consume less than 5% of the ‘safe limit’ of artificial colours daily [3], it is clear that these chemicals do have an impact on how we function and should be consumed with caution.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2013, the Aldi supermarket chain in Australia removed all products containing one of the six artificial colourings that UK research [5] linked to hyperactivity in children – including Tartrazine (102), Quinoline Yellow (104), Sunset Yellow (110), Carmoisine (122), Ponceau (124) and Allura Red (129). [6]

DID YOU KNOW: Cochineal red (120), an artificial colour approved for use in Australia, is made from the bodies of insects found in Central America – which are dried, ground and soaked to remove their pigment! It is one of the few food additives that can cause true allergies. [7, 8]

One of the largest categories of food additives are the artificial preservatives. These help to protect against food spoilage due to the activity of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, and their code numbers on Australian food labels are generally in the 200s [1]. Sulphite (also sulfite) preservatives – particularly sodium bisulphite (222), sodium metabisulphite (223) and potassium bisulphite (228), all commonly added to alcohols and dry fruit – are well known to trigger asthmatic episodes and migraines in susceptible people [2]. The World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has also found that the preservatives sodium nitrite (250) and sodium nitrate (251) – both commonly used in processed meats – are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ [9]. Whilst FSANZ research indicates that the average Australian is exposed to just half of the ‘safe limit’ of artificial preservatives daily, the debate about the use of such chemicals in our food is ongoing [10]. Synthetic antioxidants, one of the smallest groups of food additives, are designed to slow the oxidative deterioration of foods (particularly fats and oils), and their code numbers on Australian food labels are generally in the 300s [1]. Synthetic antioxidants should not be confused with natural antioxidants (such as Vitamin C and

Vitamin E), which are known to have significant health benefits. Unlike natural antioxidants, however, synthetic antioxidants – for example, BHA (320) – and a related group of chemicals called gallates can produce a range of symptoms of general intolerance in susceptible people – including irritability, mood swings, digestive discomfort, headaches and joint pain [11].

DID YOU KNOW? According to Australian labelling laws, if a substance comprises less than 5% of a final product – for example, vegetable oil in commercial biscuits – then the ingredients of that substance – such as the synthetic antioxidants in the vegetable oil – do not have to be listed on the food label. [12]

Flavour enhancers are food additives intended improve both the flavour and / or the aroma of food, and their code numbers on Australian food labels are generally in the 600s [1]. The most controversial of the flavour enhancers is monosodium glutamate or MSG (621), found in a variety of cheeses, tomato pastes, stocks and sauces. If a large amount of MSG is consumed in a single meal, it can produce alarming (though usually short-term) symptoms such as headaches, flushing and peripheral tingling in susceptible people [2]. Other glutamates – including 627, 631 and 635, all commonly used as flavour enhancers in Australia – can also produce such negative reactions [13]. Artificial sweeteners are an important category of food additives, designed to sweeten food whilst adding fewer kilojoules to the food than sugar [1]. Intense sweeteners have code numbers on Australian food labels in

the 900s, and bulk sweeteners (such as sorbitol) have code numbers in the 400s [1]. The use of artificial sweeteners is highly controversial – aspartame (951, 962), saccharin (954) and cyclamate (952) have all been linked to cancer in laboratory tests [14]. Also, artificial sweeteners provide little energy, and may cause overall increases in appetite, energy intake and weight gain – though clinical trials are yet to prove this theory. The last of the groups of food additives to be profiled are the emulsifiers, stabilisers and thickeners. Emulsifiers prevent mixtures of oil and water (in foods such as mayonnaise) from separating [1]. Stabilisers act similarly, maintaining the uniform dispersal of substances in a food [1]. The code numbers of both emulsifiers and stabilisers on Australian food labels are generally in the 400s [1]. Thickeners increase the viscosity of a food, making it more palatable [1]. Thickeners include vegetable gums – with code numbers on Australian food labels generally in the 400s – and starches – with code numbers in the 1000s [1]. Emulsifiers, stabilisers and thickeners are largely accepted as ‘safe’ in small quantities – however,

like all food additives they should be consumed with caution.

DID YOU KNOW? Cheese is not just cheese! The cheese used in McDonald’s cheeseburgers contains a range of emulsifiers (340, 452, 331), acidity regulators (260, 330, 339), colours (160b, 160c), preservatives (200) and added salt! [15]

It is important to note that Food Standards Australia & New Zealand rigorously tests food additives for

safety and, at present, the benefits of their inclusion in foods is considered to outweigh the risks. However, FSANZ and many international scientific bodies continue to conduct extensive research into artificial food

additives – and if you or your children are susceptible to food additive reactions it is important that you remain up-to-date on new findings in this area. Click here to see a complete list of Australian food additives from the Australian consumer advocacy group, the Food Intolerance Network: http://fedup.com.au/information/information/complete-lists-of-additives-3

FIRST AID FOR CUTS If an emergency occurs... While the blood is gushing – hold pressure and crack open an egg. Peel that membrane off and put it on the wound (continue holding pressure). The membrane will harden and keep the wound closed until you can get stitches.

Arnica Topical creme used for muscle pain or injury, bruises or any type of trauma. It greatly reduced healing time or bruises and sore muscles when used topically right after injury.

NATURAL FIRST AID

Happy Easter

cake pop easter cakes 1 Pkt Gluten Free cake mix cake pop cake tin 375g white chocolate melts sprinkles and decorations of choice Prepare cake mix as instructed and cook in cake pop tin. Cool and put in freezer. To melt the chocolate, put a saucepan of water 1/3 full on the stove. Bring to the boil and melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over the water, ensuring that the water is not touching the bottom of the bowl. Turn off the heat but leave the bowl sitting over the hot water.Remove the cake balls from the freezer. Dip them into the chocolate and cover with sprinkles.

rice crispie easter nests 2-‐4 drops natural green food colouring ½ cup flaked coconut 3 tbspns butter approx 40 miniature marshmellows 6 cups gluten free rice crispies Jelly Beans Chocolate eggs In a small bowl stir together water and green food colouring. Add coconut. Stir unitl coconut is tinted. Spread on baking paper to dry. In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add rice crispies cereal. Stir until well coated. Divide warm mixture into sixteen muffin-‐pan cups coated with cooking spray. Shape mixture into individual cups. Cool. Remove from pans. Fill cooled nests with coconut, marshmallows, jelly beans or chocolate eggs. rice crispies easter nests

bacon and egg mini quiches 3 eggs

4 rashers of bacon, diced

1 small onion or 1/2 large -‐ diced -‐ optional

1/2 cup of tasty cheese, grated

salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 cup of thickened cream

sprinkle of fresh or dried parsley, optional

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C.

Lightly grease 2 patty cake pans (12 cup) with cooking spray or butter.

In a bowl, mix the eggs, bacon, cheese, salt, pepper, cream and parsley (optional) with a fork until mixed together well.

Spoon the mixture into the pastry.

Bake in the oven for 15 -‐ 20 minutes or until golden brown.

These mini quiches are so quick and easy you could get your little one to help you. They are great for entertaining, for kids' parties and as a snack and also great for school lunch boxes and can be whipped up in no time!

CACAO To the Aztecs, the cacao bean was the food of the gods. The beans are the basic ingredient of chocolate. Recent research has suggested dark chocolate offers some health benefits. Raw cacao beans are an increasingly popular alternative to chocolate. Many people believe the raw beans are better for you than processed chocolate.

The best way to make sure you're getting the real deal is to start with quality raw cacao powder available in good supermarkets and health food shops.

The best powder is dark brown and will taste bitter. You can make your own hot beverage by mixing the powder with hot water or milk. Some research has found that mixing dairy with cacao inhibits the absorption of the nutrients. So to get the most health benefits from your cup of cacao, try using a milk substitute such as coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk or just plain water.

If you have a sweet tooth, add sugar, honey or agave nectar. Drinking hot cocoa will give you more antioxidants than simply eating chocolate, because the heat releases more antioxidants.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF RAW CACAO v Reduces appetite and helps in weight loss v Helps with cardiovascular health v Helps to protect from environmental and metabolic toxins v Acts as an anti-‐depressant and balances the mood v Balances the brain chemistry v Builds strong bones v Helps to increase focus and alertness v Detoxifies the liver v Helps with healthy pancreas functioning v Facilitates anti-‐aging and rejuvenation

Jam packed with

antioxidants, magnesium and nutrients that can help keep you energized, healthy and

happy!

SUPERFOOD

Homemade Mosquito Repellent

Ingredients: 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil 5 drops of Citronella essential oil 3 – 4 Tbsp Homemade Vanilla Extract 5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil *NOTE: You can just use plain vodka instead of the vanilla extract, but the vanilla extract just makes it smell great! Mix all of the above ingredients in a 12-16 oz spray bottle and fill the rest up with water (or a mix of water and vodka, or a mix of water and witch hazel) . Spray away!!

health benefits

and other uses

NON TOXIC CLEANING Make a nontoxic cleaning spray using a 50/50 mixture of water and ACV in a spray bottle. Use this to clean hard surfaces. It absorbs odors and has antibacterial properties. Clean and disinfect wooden cutting boards. Wipe with full strenth apple cider vinegar.

HEALTHY HAIR Rinse hair after washing with a mixture made of two tablespoons of ACV and 500 ml of water. It will balance the pH of the hair, leaving it thicker, smoother and healthier. The vinegar smell will dissipate once the hair dries.

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used since 5000BC as a tonic and beverage; it is made from the juice of whole apples that have undergone a fermentation process until their sugars turn to vinegar.

apple cider VINEGAR

KEEP YOUR PET

SHINY AND

HEALTHY

Apple Cider Vinegar can also be used to

keep your dog healthy. Add a little to drinking water or food

as a general health tonic, to help

digestion, reduce allergies and prevent

parasites. Spray a water/ACV mixture on

skin conditions, ear infections and thinning fur and use as a rinse

after bathing.

SPIDER AND INSECT BITES Make a simple poultice using Slippery Elm Bark powder, a couple of drops of lavender oil and ACV to mix into a paste. Spread thickly on bites, stings or splinters and cover with a

dressing. Repeat as often as necessary until heat, pain and swelling has gone.

SLEEP

Mix one or two teaspoons with a little

honey and some water, and sip prior to bed, traditionally this mixture was used to

help bring about sleep.

References: Bees – Not J ust Honey REFERENCES: [1] http://www.fao.org/uploads/media/risk_pest_wildbees.pdf [2] http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/bees [3] potts, s.g., biesmeijer, J.c., kremen, c., neumann, p., schweiger, o. & kunin, w.e. 2010. Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts and drivers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 25: 345–353. [4] neumann, p. & carreck, n.l. 2010. honey bee colony losses (guest editorial). Journal of Apicultural Research, 49: 1–6. [5] cameron, s.A., lozier, J.d., strange, J.p., koch, J.b., cordes, n., solter, l.f. & griswood, t.l. 2011. patterns of widespread decline in northe american bumble bees. PNAS, 108: 662–667. [6] biesmeijer, J.c., roberts, s.p.m., reemer, m., ohlemüller, r., edwards, m., peeters, t., schaffers, A.p., potts, s.g., kleukers, r., thomas, c.d., settele, J. & kunun, w.e. 2006. parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the netherlands. Science, 313: 351–354. [7] United States Department of Agriculture (2010). “Colony Collapse Disorder Progress Report”. [8] Wines, M. (28 March 2013). “Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms”. New York Times. [9] Douglas, I. (8 October 2010). “Study Finds Causes of Colony Collapse Disorder in Bees”. The Daily Telegraph (London). [10] Vandamme, r. & palacio, m.A. 2010. preserved honey bee health in latin america: a fragile equilibrium due to low-intensity agriculture and beekeeping? Apidologie, 41: 243–255. [11] carvalho, s., roat, t., pereira, A.m., silva-zacarin e., nocelli, r.c.f., carvalho c. & malaspina, o. 2012. losses of Brazilian bees: an overview of factors that may affect these pollinators. pp. 159-166 In: hazards of pesticides to bees – 11th international symposium of the icp-Br Bee protection Group. wageningen, november 2-4, 2011. P.A. Oomen & H. Thompson (eds). Julius-Künh-archiv no. 437, Quedlinburg. [12] kasina, m.J. 2011. Bees require protection for sustainable horticultural production in Kenya. pp. 167-172 In: hazards of pesticides to bees – 11th international symposium of the icp-Br Bee protection Group. wageningen, november 2-4, 2011. P.A. Oomen & H. Thompson (eds). Julius-Künh-archiv no. 437, Quedlinburg. [13] Warner, B. (19 February 2013). “To Revive Honey Bees, Europe Proposes a Pesticide Ban”. Bloombeerg Business Week. [14] http://www.apvma.gov.au/news_media/chemicals/neonics.php [15] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061209083342.htm [16] http://www.naturalnews.com/041194_honeybees_neonicotinoids_pesticides.html# [17] http://www.almondboard.com/English/Pages/default.aspx [18] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businesslatestnews/10426888/Almond-prices-rocket-due-to-honey-bee-shortage.html [19] http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2013/conditions-in-california-push-up-almond-prices

Whats really in your food [1] http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/food-and-drink/safety/food-additives.aspx [2] http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2013/02/14/3684208.htm [3] http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/additives/foodcolour/Pages/default.aspx [4] Bateman, B et al, The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children, Arch. Dis. Child. 2004; 89, 506-511. [5] McCann, D et al, Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year old and 8/9 year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, Lancet, 2007; 1560-7. [6] https://www.aldi.com.au/en/shopping-at-aldi/aldi-initiatives/no-artificial-colours/ [7] Ferrer, A. (2005). Occupational asthma to carmine. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 138(3), 243-250. [8] Kotobuki, Y. et al. (2007). Case of urticarial due to cochineal dye in red-coloured diet [Japanese]. Arerugi, 56(12), 1510-1415. [9] http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Meetings/prioritylist.pdf). [10] http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/publications/documents/21st%20ATD%20Study %20report-Aug051.pdf

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