With all the health-related information available these days, do you ever wish someone would just simplify it all into a few easy steps you could understand?
I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Sydney Cardiologist, Dr Ross Walker speak twice in as many months. The first time, I was blown away! Although I certainly knew of him, as someone who does not have (known) heart issues, I’d never listened to his radio show or discovered his view on health issues. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he’s been championing preventative medicine for 20+ years. He’s very much a man of science & that science backs up the power of lifestyle choices in maintaining optimal health.
On the second training call last night, he spoke again about what he believes are ‘The 5 Keys to Good Health’:
He says by following these five keys, you can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by a massive 83%!!!!! Given that 1 person has a heart attack every 12 minutes in Australia and 1 in 3 people will have a heart attack in their lifetime, that’s a lot of lives that can be saved….as well as a lot of tax-payer dollars.
To reduce the risk even further, one of the products he’s been involved in developing is Bergamet Pro+, based on the bergamot fruit which grows only in the rich volcanic soil of Calabria, Italy. He’s had some amazing clinical results with his patients who are able to reduce or stop other medication. He recommends it for anyone over the age of 50 because of the following effects:
It activates AMP-Kinase (AMPK) which is the master metabolic switch that triggers the breakdown of sugar & fat in the gut. This results in a reduction in belly fat
It inhibits PDE-3 & opens the arteries to improve blood flow (no more ‘little blue pills’ for the older men)
It contains 5 polyphenols which have antioxidant properties
It converts the small, dangerous cholesterol particles into the large, desirable variety & reduces triglycerides
It protects against fatty liver – something 1 in 4 people in Western society have to some degree
Used as a treatment for metabolic syndrome (sometimes called ‘Syndrome X’). 30% of white people, 50% of Asian people & 100% of black people have the gene for insulin resistance. From an evolutionary standpoint, this was useful as it allowed us to store belly fat for energy until we could hunt/gather our next meal. However, these days there’s an abundance of food & we tend to be much more sedentary, so that benefit has become a liability.
There are a number of complementary supplements he also recommends particularly for people aged 50+, but also for anyone with ongoing lethargy:
Ubiquinol – Active form of CoQ10. Increases mitochondrial energy production which decreases significantly around the age of 50 due to hormonal changes. Low ubiquinol levels result in tiredness & muscular aches. Statin medications also reduce ubiquinol levels, so anyone on statins MUST supplement with ubiquinol. Insufficient ubiquinol can result in heart failure.
Vitamin K2 – decalcifies arteries & returns the calcium to the bones (better at preventing osteoporosis that calcium supplements, which increase the risk of heart attack in women by 30% with no reduction in the risk of bone fractures)
Ateronon – excellent source of lycopene (equivalent to 30 tomatoes per dose) which is a well-recognised antioxidant. It reduces risk of breast & prostate cancer & is beneficial for men with prostatic enlargement (BPH). Also acts as a vasodilator to improve blood flow & reduce blood pressure.
Because he knows how effective these products are not only individually, but synergistically, he has bundled them together in a ‘Heart Health Pack‘, available here.
**UPDATE 15 March 2018** Dr Walker has now released his own brand of supplements, which can be purchased individually or as a pack. You can see the full range HERE under ‘Shop > Supplements’.
As always, check with your health care provider to ensure the products are suitable for you (and get some “before” blood tests), but if you try the products & love them, leave a review on the website & also comment below. I’d love to hear what a difference they make to you 🙂
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices. While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice. Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.
AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS
This post/site may contain Affliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!). I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.
This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.
I’d bought my Thermomix back in August 2009 on the recommendation of a friend. I’d just sold my house so we had some spare cash to set ourselves up in the house my husband & I had built together. I remember speaking to the consultant I was buying from & she asked if I was sure I didn’t want to see it in action first. I trusted my friend & knew from what she’d shared that a Thermomix would add value to our lives. The order was placed.
I had a delivery demonstration where I had some family & friends over to see this beast in action & taste some of the recipes from the included cookbook. I’ll admit it……about half way through the demo, I kissed the Thermie (thereafter known as “Thermeseus – God of the Kitchen”). I can’t even recall now what I’d just witnessed it do, but it was love!!! My consultant asked at the end of the demo if anyone else would be interested in being a consultant. My daughter was only 4yo and I was the primary parent, so I was not in the headspace to be working outside the home. I kindly declined.
Fast forward a couple of years & my consultant rang me to say there was a Thermomix Cooking Class on just down the road from us & she invited us to attend. As I was sitting there watching my consultant trying to help another consultant, all I could think was, “Oh my gosh, I could do so much better than this (other) woman!” and I started to see myself in her place. At the end of the class, they passed around feedback forms & I ticked the box to say I was interested in becoming a consultant. A few weeks later, I had completed my training & the rest, as they say, is history.
Over time, avoiding grains became a focus of ours as an extension of eating gluten-free. I came across a grain-free cracker recipe which I converted for the TMX, but found the mixture was a little too wet & the resulting crackers were a bit too soft/crumbly. I’m a big fan of chia seeds, especially in GF cooking, so I decided to add chia seeds to the water as a binding agent & the texture was much better. The addition of sesame seeds on top made this version taste better than the original, too.
I uploaded my conversion to the Recipe Community website and it ended up being so popular & highly rated that it was a featured recipe on the official Thermomix in Australia Facebook page. WOO HOO!!!
Perfect for those following a paleo-type diet, GAPS or avoiding grains for whatever other reason. Also suitable for vegans.
If you prefer a blonder biscuit, you could blanch the almonds first. Of course, these may not be suitable for school lunches with so many schools being nut-free these days, but they would make a great high protein after-school snack or the perfect accompaniment to dips or a cheese platter.
Perfect for those following a paleo-type diet, GAPS or avoiding grains for whatever other reason. Also suitable for vegans.
Course
Snack
Prep Time1hour15minutes
Cook Time15minutes
Total Time1hour30minutes
Servings20pieces
AuthorNyree @ www.unitywellness.com.au
Ingredients
For the crackers:
1tbspChia seeds(white or black)
140gWhole raw almonds
15gWhole linseeds
30gSunflower seeds
1/2tspSea salt or Himalayan salt flakes
1/2tspGarlic powder
1/4tspDried chilli flakes(1/2 tsp for extra bite)
60gWater
To sprinkle on top:
2tbspSesame seeds(to taste)
1tbspSea salt or Himalayan salt flakes(to taste)
Instructions
Mix chia seeds & water in a small bowl & sit aside for 1 hour (room temp is fine)
Preheat oven to 175C. Line a large baking sheet with non-stick baking paper.
Place almonds, sunflower seeds, linseeds, sea salt flakes, garlic powder & chilli flakes into the TM bowl & mill for 20 secs on speed 7. It should look like crumbs at this point.
Add the soaked chia seeds (now a thick seedy gel) & mix on speed 4 until the ingredients begin to form a dough ball (approx 10-15 secs).
Using a spatula, scrape dough onto lined baking sheet & form into a ball with hands. Mixture will be sticky but firm.
Place another sheet of non-stick baking paper on top & roll out dough to approx 2-3mm thick.
Remove top sheet of paper & sprinkle extra sea salt flakes & sesame seeds over entire surface, pressing in gently with your hand to help them stick. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter score dough into cracker shapes (mine were approx 4x5cm each).
Spread the shapes out a bit on the baking sheet so that each cracker cooks evenly
Bake in the oven for approx 15 mins or until golden brown (watch that the thinner edges don't burn). Remove from oven & transfer crackers to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely - they will crisp up as they cool.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
If you prefer a blonder biscuit, you could blanch the almonds first. Of course, these may not be suitable for school lunches with so many schools being nut-free these days, but they would make a great high protein after-school snack or the perfect accompaniment to dips or a cheese platter.
Feel free to experiment with flavours - rosemary, oregano, seaweed, or sprinkle with a little grated parmesan. The options are endless!
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices. While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice. Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.
AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS
This post/site may contain Affliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!). I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.
Now, I’m not usually one for cooked fruit, but late the other night I had a craving for something warm, sweet & spicy that I could not shake. Usually I’d make a hot chocolate, but that was just not going to cut it on this occasion.
(*cue gasps from fellow chocoholics*)
It needed to have a bit more texture without the bitterness of chocolate.
There wasn’t a great deal of food in the house post-Christmas, but we did have a bag of organics apples from one of the local farms that we’re lucky to have access to, as well as a tub of vanilla coconut yoghurt in the fridge. I remembered back to when I was doing the Changing Habits Fat Loss Protocol when I sometimes cooked up an apple with some cinnamon & stevia as a protocol-friendly dessert. I recalled all the things I liked about it:
Sweet without being sickly
Warming on the inside (don’t you love that feeling???)
Check, check, check, check & check! Exactly what I needed!
Even better, the yoghurt would add some good fat & probiotics, along with a delicious vanilla flavour. I have to say, the Nudie brand coconut yoghurt is probably the nicest of the commercial brands I’ve tasted, both for its mild, sweet flavour & smooth consistency, but unfortunately, it does contain corn starch which isn’t ideal for a lot of people. Cocobella also makes a nice one that uses tapioca instead of corn, so that’s another option. If you can’t find vanilla coconut yoghurt, you could always add some vanilla & a touch of sweetener to plain yoghurt. Making my own coconut yoghurt is still on my “to do” list, but I know people who have had great results making their own with the Kultured Wellness starter. Of course, you can use other types of yoghurt if you can’t eat coconut, but thankfully for most people, coconut allergy is relatively rare. You can even skip the yoghurt all together if you wish or if you’re doing some form of the hCG protocol, but I’m all about maximising nutrients & improving gut health at this point in my journey.
This recipe can easily be changed up according to your tastes – more spice, a bit of rapadura or coconut sugar instead of the stevia for a richer caramel-like flavour or even some berries for extra yumminess & to boost your antioxidant intake.
You’ll get 2 servings from this recipe. I haven’t tried making a double batch yet, so don’t know how well 6 apples would chop/cook at once in the Thermomix, but if you give it a go before I do, please comment below to share your experience.
Speaking of servings, when I was trying to take a photo of the finished dish, my 2.5 year old me to “hang on a minute” before coming back with an extra spoon which she placed in the bowl & said, “There! Persect!” 😀
Thermomix Stewed Apples with Vanilla Coconut Yoghurt
A quick & easy dessert or snack that combines the sweetness of the fruit, the creamy tang of yoghurt and the delicious warmth of vanilla & spice.
Course
Dessert, Snack
Prep Time5minutes
Cook Time15minutes
Total Time20minutes
Servings2
AuthorNyree Yali @ www.unitywellness.com.au
Ingredients
3Medium Apples(good eating flavour)
100gWater
1/2tspCinnamon(or mixed spice)
1/2dropper-fullVanilla-flavoured Liquid Stevia(or equivalent sweetener of choice to taste)
1tspVanilla Essence(or paste/seeds)
Vanilla-flavoured Coconut Yoghurt, to serve
Instructions
Core & peel apples. Cut into quarters.
Place quarters in the Thermomix bowl & chop for a couple of seconds on speed 5. Scrape sides of bowl & repeat if there are still a few chunky pieces.
Add all other ingredients except the yoghurt to the bowl. Cook for 15 minutes, 100C, Reverse Soft. If you like your apples more 'al dente', check the consistency around 12 minutes.
Serve in small bowls with a good dollop of coconut yoghurt on top. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Try adding a handful of raspberries or blackberries either when cooking or fresh on top of the yoghurt for extra nutrients & yumminess!
If you don't have a Thermomix or similar appliance, chop the apples finely & simmer in a small covered saucepan until soft.
If you can't find or can't eat coconut yoghurt, other types of yoghurt or even pure cream would also work well.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices. While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice. Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.
AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS
This post/site may contain affiliate links. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!). I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.
This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.
About Me
Nyree Yali
Hi, I'm a former Naturopath-turned-unschooling-parent to a toddler & a tween living in the beautiful South of Tasmania. I'm now helping others on their own journey to wellness & abundance through connecting with their community. I look forward to getting to know you better!Read more...
Because he knows how effective these products are not only individually, but synergistically, he has bundled them together in a ‘Heart Health Pack‘, available here.
