Best Eco-friendly products of 2018

To me, wellness doesn’t mean just ‘living well’ for yourself, but enabling others to ‘live well’ too, and that applies to future generations.

In the last few weeks, a report about climate change was released by the IPCC that told us we have 12 years to make a difference and not let the world become warmer than an additional 1.5 degrees, or the world’s future isn’t very bright.

But! The best news is there are actionable things you can do to help prevent a climate increase of more than 1.5 degrees, and it’s thanks to some of the products below.

These ingenious inventions require a change in mindshift: Yes you DO need to change your habits to help you and your children live well.

These products Changing your habits easy!

I’m mentioning these brands by choice because I truly believe change is needed, and the women behind these brands are the change makers we all need to look up to. Get inspired, take a look!

1. Bio-friendly Coffee pods: Nature’s Pod Capsules

   Patricia founded Nature’s pod capsules after an ‘enough’s enough’ moment
   

   “I saw my own personal Nespresso Pod Machine at home was constantly filling my bin with disposable single use pods and contributing to an excessive amount of landfill.

   Finding a solution like our reusable and recyclable coffee capsules was a wonderful realisation to us that we could enjoy coffee in a much more sustainable way.”

2. Reusable Coffee Cups (because coffee cups are a HUGE contributor to land fill) - Eco Llama

Kelly started Eco Llama after she learned over 1 billion cups go into landfill in Australia each year!

“The parts of standard disposable coffee cups we can see are recyclable ( outer paper layer) but it's the bits we can't see so well that cause the problem.”

“The polyethylene (plastic) film inside the cups are used for insulation and waterproofing and they can't be broken down. Recycling loads can often become contaminated if these cups are part of a whole pile of recycling and everything goes straight to landfill.”

If you think using a reusable coffee cup is too tricky, try Kelly’s tips:

1. Purchase a cup that you are proud to show off. A cup that appeals to you in look and feel is most likely to get the most use

2. Have a couple of cups so you have a back up just in case you happen to forget one. Keep one in your handbag/car

   (We are offering a buy one, get second one half price promo at the moment. Enter code HALFPRICE at checkout on our page ecollama.com.au )

3. Put your cup next to your handbag/keys at night to remind you to take it in the morning

4. Frequent cafes on the responsiblecafes.org website for your morning coffee. These cafes offer a discount off your coffee purchase when you bring your own cup. There are over 400 cafes available around Australia and this list is constantly growing. Saving money and saving the environment = win win

3.Eco-friendly cleaning services that don’t pollute, and have re-usable bottles - Neatly.com.au

You don’t have to clean your own home to keep harsh chemicals away from your skin, your lungs, and the waterways that all our sinks flow into.

Emma started Neatly because she knew it wasn’t just the cleaning products that needed to change, but they way they’re packaged.

Emma’s key tip to decrease waste:

“Buy in bulk! Many people don't realise that simple, safe and effective cleaning products are available to buy in bulk.”

“Things like castile soap and vinegar are not harmful, are powerful multi-purpose cleaners and can be picked up for a song at your local bulk store. No packaging! Yay. I also love to add essential oils to the products I use for additional cleaning and mood enhancing properties.”

4. Swimwear made from recycled materials - Seamone Swimwear

Did you know over 10% of all landfill is clothing, and 24% of Aussies throw away a piece of clothing after just one wear?

Simone knew there had to be a solution, so she created Seamone Swimwear to combat textile waste and give stylish consumers a better alternative.

“Our swimwear is made from recycled materials such as discarded fishing nets, and sustainability is our key desire. Seamone’s elegant and timeless pieces are not designed to last a season, but a lifetime.”

Simone’s top tip to help keep us below that 1.5 degree increase:

“Say no to plastic... it’s a simple start.”

“Invest in metal straws, keep cups, glass water bottles... we can all be more conscious about the way we consume.”

“Look closely at fabric contents and even the way items are packaged. For example: The bags our products arrive in are made from 100% biodegradable cassava plant starch. These non-plastic bags are naturally compostable, safe to consume for land and marine animals, and they will dissolve in water.”

“It’s all the little things that add up to make a bigger difference.”

5. Reusable drink bottles with a lifetime guarantee - Rolla Bottle

Plastic drink bottles are still the most commonly occurring plastic you’ll find on the windward side of any island. Around 370 MILLION plastic bottles end up in landfill in Australia each year. If you recycle - that’s not enough. The plastic is still made.

Katy created Rolla Bottle; silicon water bottle that roll into a little ball for your convenience. Plus, they have a life long guarantee which means you don’t need to chuck them out at all. She created this product in response to people’s complaints that carrying a reusable bottle was ‘bulky’ and ‘inconvenient.’

Katy’s top tip on how you can limit your environmental impact:

“The one thing I think is REALLY important is always carry a reusable bottle on you and don’t buy bottled water! “

“It is environmental madness to spend the money and invest all the resources and create all the emissions it takes to bottle water and get it to the stores - and then have the plastic aftermath to deal with "forever"- when we have such great and readily available fresh drinking water in Australia. (And in most developed countries)”

6. Stylish clothing made from recycled fabrics - All in a curated online marketplace - We-Love

Ashly created eco and ethical online clothing store We-Love because she wanted to support the labels that were doing the right thing: “Giving fair wages, championing transparency and encouraging customers to question their purchases.”

Ashly’s top tip for decreasing your environmental impact:

“Buy better quality clothing! It lasts longer and likely works out cheaper than replacing it every year. Plus it means less old or ruined clothing ending up in landfill. “

“Honestly, I have so many ‘old’ clothes in my wardrobe only they’re not old! I wear them all the time and I look after them so they still look as good as the day I bought them, with the exception of linen, that actually gets better with age!”

7. Beeswax wrap instead of gladwrap- Mind your own Beeswax

Plastic wrap is so old-school, and such a huge contributor to waste. This environmentally friendly alternative is a super clever way to keep your goodies fresh in the fridge, in kids’ lunchboxes, or in your desk at work ready for your muffin break.

SO! There you go guys - a few incredible suggestions for how you can decrease your environmental impact, and some great tips from the founders of these brands.

What eco-friendly brands have you discovered to try to keep us below that 1.5 degree increase?

Liver Detox, Self Worth & Taking the Food Out of Junk Food

Dr Libby's Surviving to Thriving Workshop

The other night I went to an incredible workshops with Dr Libby Weaver, biochemist extraordinaire and wellness advocate. Much like Aprivé Wellness, Dr Libby blends scientific evidence with fun stories and meaningful wellbeing tips to help women live their best lives. 

Last night's workshop focused around women in particular, and featured everything from the importance of liver health to the danger of oestrogen dominance. Most interestingly, Dr Libby answered her own question:

"Why do we do what we do when we know what we know?"

I learned the answer during the workshop, and here are other things I learned.

1. People and the decisions they make are healthy, not food itself

Dr Libby points out food (whole, real food that is) is just food, it's your choices that determine health. She's also keen to remind everyone that junk food isn't food. It's just junk. 

2. Nutrition is vital for the biochemical reactions that drive everything in your body

To convert one chemical into another, which the body can use, we need nutrients. Nutrients are what we get from real food. Take broccoli for example: Broccoli is broken down into a special kind of medium, which also helps your liver process oestrogen. Without broccoli, this reaction is stalled. Why don't you want to much oestrogen? Read on....

3. Your liver needs a cleanse. Trust me.

Liver cleansing and beetroot juices have been around for ages, but apart from helping recover from a champagne binge, no one is really sure why livers need cleansing. 

Alcohol isn't the main reason your liver needs cleansing. Fat and oestrogen is.

In the old days, alcohol was the main reason livers developed fatty liver disease. Now though, it's occurring in many women, even children. What does this mean?

 It means there is less viable liver able to process the incoming fats, cholesterol, oestrogen and alcohol, so it's working at lower capacity and is overloaded. Uh oh...

What happens when you liver is overloaded?

First up, think of the liver as a 2-phase funnel. Dr Libby uses her arm to depict a liver. Imagine your forearm is the input, where trans-fats, alcohol, cholesterol and oestrogen come in. At the wrist is phase one, where every substance undergoes a change, call it A1. After A1, imagine your palm is phase 2, where the changed substance A1 chooses a pathway down one of your fingertips, one of 5 different pathways.

Nodding our heads at the workshop, Dr Libby went on, explaining what happens when the liver is backed up. After a substance comes into the liver and undergoes a change (becomes A1) sometimes there's too much traffic for it to filter down one of the five pathways. So! It sneaks out a trap door and gets back into the blood stream.

Our body isn't skilled at processing these altered substances (A1) and a good example is oestrogen. After it become altered, if it is forced to sneak out the trapdoor, the altered oestrogen enters the blood stream. Unfortunately it can't be processed, and has been linked to oestrogen-dominant cancers like some breast cancers. Not good.

How do you cleanse the liver?

You need to free up the traffic that's blocking those five pathways.

1. Decrease cholesterol, alcohol and trans fats to slow down the flow of substances coming into the liver.

2. Decrease your oestrogen levels. How? Decrease your stress levels; this helps increase your progesterone levels which is your body's anti-anxiety hormone. When progesterone levels increase, oestrogen decreases and they level out. This means there's less oestrogen flooding into the liver, and none has to sneak out the trap door!

Thinking of the info I learned from Dr Libby!

4 Wellness Tips I Learned from Dr Libby

1. Eat Greens Everyday

Dr Libby has a green juice every morning, and finds it the easiest way to increase her veggie intake.

2. Say "No" Without feeling guilty

Seeing hundreds of women every year at her Beautiful You Weekends, Dr Libby encounters so many women who feel overwhelmed, flustered and stressed, but who wear a mask of serenity to hide it all. Her antidote is to get you to say 'no' more often. Not a guilty no, where you beat yourself up for not being able to help a friend, attend a seminar or walk someone's dog, but a content, strong 'NO!' Give it a try.

3. Listen to your body. She knows best

For the first time, Dr Libby shared her own personal story in this seminar about a battle with gluten intolerance where she lost excessive weight, and was very ill. She says she didn't go to the doctor for four whole months, but if she'd listened to her body, she would have gone earlier. Libby wants you to listen to your body, and trust your intuition as it is almost always right about what you need to look after yourself.

4. if you don't value yourself - you won't look after yourself

This was the most profound part of the workshop for me. As a wellness consultant, I chat with women about habit change and many do incredibly well. But this fact is absolutely true, and I had never thought of it so clearly.

Everyone knows what they should to do look after themselves, so why don't they do it? Because they don't think they deserve to be their best selves. If you truly believe you are precious, and valuable, and special, you're more likely to treat yourself to the best gift - health. If you're not sure how to start valuing yourself, come to one of our retreats. It's the perfect place to start!

Dr Libby is a truly brilliant speaker, and the other night's workshops was no exception. She truly listens to women, and looks at what she can do to help you have more energy and be your best self. I feel so privileged to have attended this event for Aprivé Wellness and our Health & Wellness blog for Queenstown.com. Thank you Dr Libby! Amazing as always.

Healthy Travel Tips

In-Room Stretches For Healthy Hips

Do your hips and back feel stiff and stuck after travelling on a plane, or even after a long drive? Don't worry, there are easy stretches you can do right in your own hotel room! Give them a try.

Firstly: Why do you need to mobilise the hip?

When you sit all day, your hips are constantly flexed at 90 degrees. As the hip is a ball and socket joint, it's designed to move around in many directions, so it doesn't like being stuck at 90 degrees all day.  The muscles that attach to the femur, plus the glutes (butt muscles) and your hip flexors become short and weak from too much sitting, so stretching and moving is the best thing you can do to ensure you have a healthy hip joint for longer. 

1. Sitting Gluteal Stretch

This stretch can be done in your plane seat, at a desk, or on the bed of your hotel room.

• While you’re sitting, bring your right ankle up to rest on your left knee.

• With a straight back, gently lean forward, placing gentle pressure from your right forearm onto your right knee, gently easing it toward the floor.

• Hold as you count to thirty,

• Gently let go and repeat on the left.

Pic by Lifehack.org

2. In-Room Hip Flexor Stretch

This stretch is perfect to when you arrive at your hotel room. It's a great way to release the hip flexors that have been shortened throughout your trip.

1. Standing up tall, place the shin of your right leg on a chair or on your bed, making sure you left foot is straight.

2. Standing on the left leg, bend your left knee into a lunge position

3. Hold as you count to thirty

4. Gently let go and repeat on the left.

3. Spinal Massage & Child’s Pose

Lying on your back, bring your knees to your chest and gently rock side to side. This helps to release the erector spinae muscles that run parallel to the spine.

Next, on your hands and knees, gently rock back until you’re sitting on your heels, and stretch your arms forward for a real spine stretch into child’s pose. Rest here for a few breaths. If it’s more comfortable, place your hands down by your side instead of stretching them out in front.

4. Restore mobility with a spinal roll down

The hip joint, pelvis and lower spine are all connected, with many muscles joining these bones together. A spinal roll down is a great way to let gravity help you gently stretch the muscles and nerves of your lower spine and pelvic region. Check out the video below to learn how to do a spinal roll down.

1. Standing up tall and breathe in

2. Breathe out as you gently tuck your chin to your chest and roll all the way down to the floor.

3. Let your arms go floppy and your head hang.

4. Breathe in at the bottom, and breathe out as you roll all the way up to the top, thinking of stacking your vertebrae, one on top of the other.

You can repeat this roll-down a few times until you feel ready to sit back down.

If you get hip pain, low back pain or feel sluggish after travelling, try the stretches above when you arrive in your hotel room. If you're not sure how to get started with moving better at work, see a good Physiotherapist, or get in touch with me to get help, and start living your healthiest life at home, and when you travel.

Need More Motivation To Live Healthy?

The BS of Busy with Jen Lean

Are you busy? Most people are these days. But what if saying you're 'busy' is wearing you down and giving you low level anxiety? I chatted to Jen Lean of Soul Retreats - a woman dedicated to sharing her journey from being busy, to being real. 

1. Why is saying we're busy so accepted in modern day life?

“I think it’s about self-fulfilment. Not that long ago, when people would ask, "How are you?" I would say, "Oh, good thanks, busy, but good.”

When I’d ask people how they were, I’d hear things like "Flat out, exhausted, SO busy, I can't keep up". Particularly with mothers. 

It almost become self fulfilling. If I keep telling myself I’m busy, my brain goes, "Ok, must be busy". Then the anxiety really sets in..."Holy crap, I’m just not doing enough...must do more.”

After a while I was like, what is REALLY going on here? Why are we all saying we're so busy? I mean, do any of us single handedly run small countries?

A great non-busy pic from an Aprivé Wellness Retreat

2. You've written about the BS of busy a number of times. Why did this become an area of interest for you? Was it to do with women you've met on your retreats?

“It is an area of interest to me because it was something I personally experienced in my own life. Also, many of the women I’ve worked with have had similar experiences.

People feel like they have to keep up with the cultural call for women to be all, do all, have all.

I have come to see that a lot of women are exhausted. They’re exhausted from living a really masculine energy-driven life. The need to achieve, to DO, to have, to get to, go, go go....do more! A life that is completely out of alignment with their innate energy. It appears to be affecting their intimate relationships, their life passion and their health! Ah hello! That was me!”

A cup of tea without your phone at arm's reach is a great 'non-busy' activity

3. Being busy has been likened to a drug. What are your thoughts on this?

“Rob Bell says "busy is a drug a lot of people are addicted to.” And if that is true, what do we know about using drugs? It numbs the pain. 

Thanks to the exhaustive research Brene Brown has done, we know if we numb pain, we also numb other sensations too like love, pleasure and joy.

Maybe busy has become the new 'socially acceptable' drug to be addicted to? The 'measure of success' drug?

For me I was numbing out the fact I didn't feel good enough. As a mother, a wife a friend, a coach. If I did more, I might be enough. When I got sick, I couldn't hide from the BS I was telling myself. 

I had to get real. Real honest! I got some therapy, reconnected with yoga, began to write more, healed some old pain. Began to feel enough...slowly! 

4. What made you stop saying "Can't, I'm busy".

Honestly, I got really sick. My busy story actually made me sick!

I had taken on too many projects had said yes to too many folk and was totally overcommitted on pretty much everything! Work. Kids. Family. Friends. 

My NO muscle was pretty weak. I thought I could do it all and everything was important. 

In the end it caused me such anxiety and stress trying to do everything and keep everyone happy. Internal voice sounded like, "Must help more people. Must do more stuff. People need me...and that makes me feel like I'm important (#truthbomb) More, do more"!!!

Watching a sunset - the perfect 'non-busy' activity

5. What’s different now compared to then?

These days (mostly), I am so past worrying if I will be accepted or not. I'm going to let people down. I am going to put people off.

Those that matter to me, accept me; imperfection, forgetfulness, over-excitment and all. And I get stuff done...more of the stuff that is truly important to me. Like writing this!” 

Now when people ask how I am, I answer, "Doing my best to be productive.” Sometimes when I am really brave I just answer, "doing my best.”’

Jen Lean not being busy at yoga!

Thanks so much to Jen for this great article! Follow her great musings and learn about her inspiring coaching right here: www.jenlean.com .

Sleeping in - the ultimate non-busy activity

Having trouble getting out of the "No sorry, too busy" trap?

Try adding fun things to your diary so you make sure you set time aside for them.

1. Sitting with a cup of tea and a book (map out just 10 mins)

2. Meeting friends for an outdoor activity (picnic, skiing, or a short walk!)

3. Having a bath

4. Cooking a meal or bake something yummy!

5. Going to a yoga, meditation or Pilates class for fun not just for a workout

6. Staying in bed for a few extra moments. Set your alarm 10 mins early and enjoy that blissful 10 minutes of cuddly blanket time.

If you're into cooking or baking - try not being busy and bake something tasty!

What are your favourite ways to be 'not-busy?' Share them in the comments section and I'll post them on our facebook page!

5 Ways To Improve Your Digestion this Winter

Most of us don't usually think about digestion until it gets our attention with tummy pain or uncomfortable bloating. ugh! 

In winter; overeating of heavy, rich foods can leave you feeling horrible. Never fear! You can escape the bloat!

Try these 5 tips to decrease bloating & discomfort this winter.

1. Hot Water & Lemon - Yes it Works

It helps make your system more alkaline, stopping acid reflux and helping your stomach dissolve your food. It also helps flush your liver, and stimulate peristalsis - the contraction of your intestines that moves food through your digestive tract.

Tip: It's a warm, fuzzy way to start the day, and less stimulating on your nervous system than coffee. 

2. Eat Probiotics

In tablets, yoghurt, kombucha or sauerkraut, probiotics help keep your body’s delicate ecosystem of bacteria flourishing. This prevents ‘bad’ bacteria overtaking your system causing things like thrush. Probiotics also help boost your seratonin levels and mood! Read how. 

Tip: Try adding a curried sauerkraut to hot pumpkin soup this winter. I recommend the Amala Curry flavour by Be Nourished.

3. Try Chia Seeds & Psyllium Husks

These super foods are fibrous and help everything in your system keep...well...moving along. Try sprinkling some on your yoghurt or blend them up in a smoothie.

Tip: Chia puddings are all the rage; get a recipe from my interview for I am Co. You can even make hot chia puddings in winter!

4. Get Moving

Exercise helps aid digestion by increasing your body's blood flow, which your digestive tract needs to function. Try to make time for 30 mins of exercise a day (walking around the block counts!)

Tip: Yoga and indoor workouts work too if you don’t want to brave the cold in winter.

5. Decrease Your Stress Levels

When your body is stressed, you get stuck in a ‘fight or flight’ nervous system response. Your blood flows to your extremities and primes your muscles to help you run away from a bear, but it takes blood away from the digestive tract. Sadly, your intestines can’t function properly with low blood supply, and the movement of your intestines slows. Bits of food sit, unmoving in your intestines, causing gas, bloating and even IBS. Learn how to combat this here.

Tip: Try to avoid stressful situations (eg. a meeting with a difficult client) when your digestive system needs extra help like after lunch.

If you're stuck in a rut and want to live a happier, healthier life, contact me to get your personalised Wellness Action Plan now!