Today I am going to share a very private and personal journey and the reason behind my passion and drive to help others improve their health and well-being.

June 2013 I quit my job as a receptionist to peruse studies in Food Coaching.  The toxic daily grind of making people coffee and scanning documents along with office politics no longer proved meaningful too me regardless of what I was getting paid.

My own health journey started back in 2011 when I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a horrible “syndrome” which causes small cysts to development on the ovaries causing absent / irregular periods, acne, facial hair, weight gain, infertility, depression and a myriad of other lovely symptoms.

Mine started out with acne….horrible, painful, ugly, depressing acne. I had 15 cysts on one ovary and 17 cysts on another! I was depressed to the point that I missed so many social outings, called into work “sick”, hours or days hiding in a dark room trying to sleep off the acne, tears, tantrums and other erratic behavior.  I had never suffered acne, I was not used to having big red painful ugly lumps all over my face and I had trouble facing the world with it.  I was 27 years old…isn’t acne for 17 year olds going through puberty?? I’m an adult woman!

So for the next four years I was on a quest to rid my acne no matter what! So I tried some pretty crazy things!

Decided to take the “pill” because apparently it gets rid of acne..well I don’t know if this is coincidence or not but I took it for 2 months and ended up in hospital with pancreatitis – chronic inflammation of the pancreas which resulted in being hospitalised for 2 weeks on IV with NO FOOD.  By the end of the 2 weeks I was 42kg and looked like death..so safe to say I never took the pill again.

This is what roaccutane did to my skin.
Dry, red & unhappy

     ROACCUTANE – now please please please listen to me…DO NOT TAKE THIS!! I thought I had depression before..well this just made it 10 times worse.  What is roaccutane??  It is a vitamin A derivative that is administered orally in pill form with a meal that contains an adequate amount of fat, it’s prescribed at lower dosages for up to six months or longer. It dramatically reduces the size of the skin's oil glands (35%-58%) and even more dramatically reduces the amount of oil these glands produce (around 80%). It slows down how fast the skin produces skin cells inside the pore, which helps pores from becoming clogged in the first place.  GREAT sounds amazing! And guess what it did eliminate all my acne..but at what cost? It basically shuts down the body’s oil glands, so that means YES it does stop the oil on your face but it also stops the oil all over your body resulting in BONE dry flaking skin, the oil in your joints goes away so you can’t exercise without pain, you CANNOT take one step into the sun – you will burn in 5 seconds, your face permanently looks like a tomato due to the dryness, your lips crack and bleed – SOUNDS lovely hey..I was starting to wonder if I would just prefer to have zits…safe to say that after only 3 months the side effects got the better of me and I stopped taking it before the 9 months that I was suppose to.  My face stayed clear 6 months…then guess what – acne was BACK!

    Next….. HRT (hormone replacement therapy).  After taking some tests it was evident that I had low progesterone, so I started using bio-identical progesterone cream…acne got better in the beginning but after 6-8 months it got worse…the progesterone shot way too high and ended up with HUGE painful cysts along my jawline that never went away.  I didn’t get “time of the month” acne, I had full time acne :-( 

Products – HUNDREDS of dollars worth of every product imaginable – there is no miracle cream!

I decided to have my hormones tested again..I always have my hormones tested via saliva, the result is MUCH more accurate than blood.  The results were very scary.  Progesterone HIGH,  Estrogen (bad) HIGH, Testosterone HIGH – so high that I had the same amount of a man!

There are lots and lots of components to healing the body, you need to look at EVERY aspect.  You need to look at hormones, cortisol levels (stress), bowel function, poor liver function, leaky gut etc.  There is no ONE pill that will fix you (so I have learnt!)

I have FINALLY managed to get my skin under control by slowly and patiently healing every aspect of my body.

Exercise to manage my stress along with meditation, night time rituals (warm baths)  - reduce cortisol

Hormones – a combination of herbs that are working exceptionally well for me to control and manage my hormones

Leaky Gut/Bowel – high quality probiotic, L-Glutamine, Aloe Vera, Kefir, Saurkraut

Liver – herbs herbs herbs – NO sugar! No processed foods! No high carbs!

One very important thing to remember with PCOS is that sugar and carbs fuel it! So avoid them at all costs!  Personally I live a partial paleo diet.  When I say partial I still eat legumes, but everything else is fresh and organic.  I don’t eat anything that has a shelf life, think about it…would you eat something that has an expiry date of 2020?!!

My skin today 2015

My skin today 2015

So has all my hard work paid off???? YES it has!  I had a re-scan of my ovaries which confirmed I no longer had PCOS!

Don’t let doctors or anyone else tell you that PCOS is irreversible, it is! But it requires patience and hard work.  

There is not one magical pill out there that will cure you, because trust me if there was I would have found it.

Love yourself, be kind to yourself.

XOX

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LKMhealth

Sonya thank you so very much for your time!

Firstly, tell us about Ecotan and how the brand was born?

Eco Tan was born in 2010 after my sister was diagnosed with a melanoma. 

We started using the fake tans on the market as my  tanner said it was " 99" percent natural. This was far from the truth after I researched the ingredients. I was super vigilant as my sister had a nasty deep scar and I didn't want any poisons in her blood stream. 

The term "Organic" is thrown around alot these days and consumers are getting confused..how can one be certain they are purchasing a quality certified organic product?

A certified organic product will have a processor number.

Make sure the logo is a recognised certifying body such as ACO or OFC etc. If it is a true certified organic product well then it can not contain GMOS, Synthetics, animal derivatives. 

Do your research as there are so many fake and misleading claims/marketing out there.

You have expanded the Ecotan brand further than tanning products, what prompted you to go into deodorants and shower products? 

I am a runner and I couldn't find a natural deodorant that actually worked for me! The last thing I wanted to make was a deodorant however I am so pleased I did. It is unisex coconut deo that actually works. If I cant find an organic product that my family need and like. I will make one.  A few surprises are being launched shortly.

Thankfully solarium's are becoming a thing of the past and SOME people are spending less time in the sun due to skin cancer & premature aging, this is showing a rapid decline in vitamin D levels (making sunless tanning popular), what are your thoughts on this?

As I write this I am sitting with 7 stitches in my face from a sun cancer being removed. Skin cancer is the number 1 cancer in Australia and can be deadly.


I am sure some of my readers are currently using chemical laden sunless tanners, what are some of the most dangerous ingredients in these tanners and how does Ecotan compare?

I make it my policy not to compare Eco Tan to other brands. We are 100% natural and contain no artificial  ingredients and are certified toxic free by safe cosmetics Australia, accredited by choose cruelty free, vegan, and of course certified organic.

Synthetic fragrances, artificial dyes and colourings are a high allergen people react to these all the time. Headaches, nausea etc. Propylene  glycol a petro chemical weakens the skin barrier and can let other nasty ingredients into the blood stream. There are so many more ingredients, really the only way to be sure is to research the ingredients on the back of bottles.


What is your favorite product from the Ecotan range?

I love them all, seriously. I can't compare as they are so different from each other. 

I am loving my organic coconut deodorant and my organic rich honey spray tan at the moment.

What are you interests outside of Ecotan?

I am part of a running group (run half marathons ) amazing for stress release. I have 2 young daughters and with all of their activities  I am pretty much flat out. I love to laugh and help people in any way I can.


How can my followers connect with you and purchase your products?

Follow us on our instagram and Facebook where we educate and entertain, they can also purchase our products at www.ecotan.com.au

What's next for you? Any dreams?

Very exciting things are happening with our company globally. 

We are launching 3 new products in the next 6 months.

Personally- I am hoping to build my house this year. The girls and I live in a small rented unit and we would love a swimming pool and a bit more space. Its nothing fancy however it will be our home...

Me wearing Ecotan

EXCITING NEWS!!

Jenni Madison is the Founder / Director of Coconut Magic.  

Jenni’s discovery of organic coconut oil in Thailand was the motivator in giving birth to her company Coconut Magic. 

 

I was lucky enough to catch up with Jenni for an interview! So please enjoy!         

Jenni thank you so much for your time!

Jenni Madison

In what way has coconut oil changed your life the most?

Coconut oil transformed my own health in an amazing way, but what changed my life the most was how it became a purpose, mission and business for me. My personal discovery of coconut oil was what inspired me to start Coconut Magic and spread the word on good oils, raw foods, whole foods and super foods. Coconut Magic is now a successful brand and distribution company for premium organic coconut products and our newest Raw Energy Bars.

What is your favourite product in the Coconut Magic range and why?

I love them all of course, but our coconut oil will always have a special place in my heart. It was and always will be our signature product. It is the basis of everything we create, whether it be food or body care. It is just so beautiful and it is what started Coconut Magic. I believe it is the quality and purity of our coconut oil is how people have come to trust and love our products.

You have such flawless beautiful skin, share your secrets!

Awwwwe thank you! It sounds cliché but it is so true, skin health depends on what you put on your body as well as what you put in it. Since using coconut oil both inside and out I have noticed a huge improvement in my skin. Coconut oil offers detox benefits, and helps liver function. When the liver is functioning optimally, and the body is detoxing regularly, the skin will not create blemishes and acne in order to eliminate toxins.

I believe that many other antioxidant rich foods in the diet help also, and most of all keeping those trans fats and refined sugars out of the diet.  I wrote an article once on the 5 top foods for beautiful skin. They include: Coconut Oil, Green Smoothies, Avocado, Berries, Green Tea and Pumpkin. The article is called Get the Glow, Top Foods for Beautiful Skin http://www.coconutmagic.com/blog/1338/get-glow-top-foods-for-beautiful.html

I eat clean food and I only put clean products on my skin. What I refer to when I say clean, is food and product with no chemicals, fragrance (because this is a chemical too), or artificial ingredients. I like to use pure coconut oil on my skin, and thats about it.

My skin care my range is very basic. My bathroom bench has coconut oil, essential oils, and a rosehip oil (which I use on my face occasionally) and thats it! I dry skin brush regularly, which is amazing and I love lathering and soaking in coconut oil straight afterwards. Sometimes I fill a bath with water and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and soak in it. My skin is always so soft afterwards.

There has been some controversy about  coconut oil’s  high level of saturated fat…what are your thoughts on this?

Coconut oil is 92% saturated fat, the highest of any fats. Much of which is made up of lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid which has potent antiviral properties. Mother's milk also contains lauric acid, it is nature's gift to us for building strong immunity.

The misconception, and what you call controversy, began back in the 1930's when the soy bean association wanted to launch vegetable oils such as soy bean, canola and corn oil into the main stream market. They did this via market domination, and set out to have all tropical oils (which were then being used for healthy cooking) off the market. Their campaigns succeeded and sadly the success of this campaign also cost consumers their health. Post 1930's we saw a massive rise in food related disease such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and more.

Unlike animal saturated fat, coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid that is plant based. It therefore does not carry the foreign cholesterol of the animal. The campaign clumped coconut oil in the artery clogging category of animal fats such as butter, this is what got vegetable oil and margarine on the market.

The interesting part is how milk never got a bad word amongst all of this, when it too is a saturated animal fat. People were saying no I cant have coconut oil or butter but drinking litres of dairy each day. There is no sense in that, and that is because these campaigns were not driven with the consumers health in mind, they were driven by political and economical agenda.

Anyway thank fully this is all old news now, and the real health revolution is taking form. Coconut oil is back on the market in a big way and it is here to stay.

What’s next for you? Any dreams?

I am pretty excited about doing my NIA white belt training in Bali next month. Whilst over there I'll be visiting some sugar plantations and organising the first  import of our new organic coconut sugar.

With the Raw Bars being such a great success, I am also excited about expanding our Coconut Raw Food range.

I am working on a new book which we launch at the end of this year! That's a dream in progress right now.

At the end of our coconut journey, my husband and I will move to live in a quiet sanctuary in Asia with plenty of fresh coconut water, just to enjoy a quiet healthy life together with plenty of nature, one day....

How can my followers connect with you and purchase your products?

We have a website page with a blog and regular news updates such as recipes, events and online specials. Our products are available online and through health food/organic stores. Come to one of our events and we can meet in person!

Lastly, what is your advice to those who want to launch into and create their own health product?

Keep it simple, honest and authentic. Believe in yourself, it's your passion that will create success for you so create and choose products that you love. Do your market research and still...be prepared to take some risk, you never know what’s around the corner.

MY REVIEW:

I have tried many products in the Coconut Magic Range.  My favourite is hands down the Raw Energy Coconut Bars (cacao flavour!) Each bar contains premium organic virgin coconut oil and coconut flower nectar. Perfect super food energy. The cacao flavour bars are a blend of coconut and chocolate flavour. Made 100% from real whole natural ingredients. gluten free, wheat free, dairy and soy free.

I always have one in my bag as it’s the perfect super-food snack!

I have also tried the organic virgin coconut oil, it tastes different to any other coconut oil I have tried, it has a very smooth texture and a mild flavour which is perfect to add to my green tea.  I have also applied it to my skin after a body brush and shower.  It makes my skin silky smooth and well hydrated. Always make sure anything you apply to your skin is organic!

Lastly and another one of my favourites is the Organic Coconut Flower Nectar! This is liquid gold! I add it to cakes and my homemade energy balls rather than honey or agave, it’s a low GI (35) low fructose natural sweetener. An excellent alternative to those trying to steer clear of sugar!

Coconut Magic products can be purchased at: http://www.coconutmagic.com/

Silky Oaks Lodge (Healing Waters Spa)
Mossman NORTH QLD


As a part of a healthy lifestyle it's very important that we look beyond what we put into our bodies and that a healthy lifestyle is more than eating right and exercising.  Taking the TIME OUT to revive, rejuvenate, refresh and reset the mind and body is equally important.

So....in light of this my husband and I decided that we needed to to do all of the above and leave Brisbane behind for some much needed fresh air, fresh water and no stress. Neither of us had ever been to North Queensland and always heard great reviews about the Cairns, Mossman, Daintree area. Originally wanting to stay in Port Douglas I come across a little treasure hidden away in the dense rain forest behind Mossman called Silky Oaks Lodge, one click of the website gallery and we were sold and booked 6 luxurious nights. 
You can see why.....


Upon arrival we were greeted with smile and very warming staff. We were whisked off the bar for a welcome drink while the concierge unloaded our car and placed our luggage in our "Riverside Treehouse". The resort staff then gave us a in depth overview of all the area has on offer with things to do and the best places to visit while in the area. We had only been on site less than 30mins and were blown away by the attentiveness and caring nature of the Silky Oaks family.

Our Bathroom

We booked a Riverside room which was exactly that..a tree house style bungalow nestled right on the bank of the Mossman river among the most beautiful dense rain forest. The air smelt like water, the ground felt like heaven, the birds sang the most amazing tunes and the river flowing sounded just like one of those mediation CD's you buy! Instantly I was embraced by the beauty of nature and knew this was going to be the best 6 nights of my life!  

The room was fully air conditioned with ceiling fans, floor to ceiling windows & a spa. The water that comes through the shower is from the Mossman River then filtered. I have never been lucky enough to experience showering in spring water everyday (as apposed to the heavily chlorinated and chemical ridden Brisbane water that makes your skin snake dry!) my skin and hair was baby smooth AMAZING!

Breakfast Table

As a part of our package a full gourmet breakfast was included. The food at Silky Oaks is AMAZING. Fresh, well cooked, well prepared food! From goat cheese omelettes to smoked salmon eggs benedict, breakfast was the best part of my day. The restaurant also looks over the river so every morning was a blessing with the great food, the yummy green tea, singing birds and some mornings we experienced a heavy downfall of rain, however rain, hail or shine the weather never hindered our holiday. I should also mention that one morning there was no grapefruit on the buffet so I asked the staff if it was possible to get some? the chef kindly cut one just for me - one of the biggest stand outs of Silky Oaks is that nothing is a hassle! There is nothing worse than eating out and the waiter rolls their eyes at you because you cant have any dairy in your scrambled eggs.


Silky Oaks offers some fabulous inclusions in your stay including;

• Morning Yoga
• Guided rainforest walks
• Mountain Bikes
• Canoes
• Tennis
• Access to complimentary laundry
• In ground swimming pool
• Snorkeling gear
• Trail walking sticks
• Nightly turn down service (including chocolates & candles!)

Reception Foyer

During our stay we had many swims in the river, a crack at canoeing, a trip to the Mossman Gorge, a trip to Cape Tribulation, local organic markets, local lunches, trips to Port Douglas, a peek at the Daintree river (trying to spot a croc), a game of tennis, a swim in a spring waterhole and loads more!

Silky Oaks is world class in my opinion and I highly recommend anyone who needs some time out to come here. By the end of the trip I felt "healed" hence healing waters!

Here are the contact details if you would like to book:

Finlayvale Road, Mossman
P:(07) 4098 1666
E: reception@silkyoaks.com.au
W: http://www.silkyoakslodge.com.au/

Tell them Laura Michell-White sent you!

Love & Light x

My Interview with Rory Bland 

(Aka The Whole Food Dude)

NAME: Rory Bland

AGE: 24

Occupation: The Whole Food Dude

Rory, thank you so much for your time!

Firstly, what you do and what inspired you to become the "The Whole Food Dude"?

I make YouTube videos, write eBooks, blog, run workshops and speak about FOOD and living a holistic lifestyle! 

The aspects of food that I love particularly are whole foods, juicing, blending, raw food and intuitive eating. 

Becoming 'The Whole Food Dude' wasn't something I ever planned. 7 Years ago my dad died from a heart attack which changed the way I looked at the world. I spiralled into depression, drinking and death metal for 2 years before deciding enough was enough! 

2 Weeks later I moved into a Yoga Retreat for 8 months and my life hasn't been the same.

Since then I've been on a mission to discover the secrets to Health and Happiness.

I've studied yoga, nutrition and holistic health, I've run a massage business, done personal development, worked in health food stores and picked fruit in the middle of summer.

The Whole Food Dude came about one day when a friend of mine had seen some of my YouTube videos from a website I had. He called me "The Whole Food Dude" and the rest is history!

Now my goal is to reach the little ones and inspire them with good habits and knowledge from a young age so we live in a world in harmony with nature.

What does ‘health’ mean to you?

Health to me means having the energy, clarity and vitality you need to do what you love and make a difference in the world.

It's not just the absence of disease, but a state of being whole and complete. Clean body, clean mind!

It's a holistic thing too. It's food, it's exercise, it's sunshine, it's financial health, life purpose health, living our passions, having healthy relationships.

It really is the key to winning at life.

How strict are you— are you 100% raw? And how long have you been eating mainly raw foods and has eating a raw diet improved your health?

I'm not heaps strict anymore. I went through a stage where I would ONLY eat Raw. Now I'm about 51-60% as a rule.

When I'm not eating Raw I don't feel 100%. When I'm having my green smoothies, juices, salads as a staple of my diet I feel great. I have energy, my bowels are great, my eyes are clear, my mind is clear. Everything just seems to work better!

What are your interests outside your profession?

All my interests are a part of my profession so there is a very fine line between work and play. 

I love making YouTube videos, writing, traveling, eating, spending time with loved ones, doing yoga and going to seminars .

Who is your favourite inspiration in the health world?

I've got heaps! I'd have to say David Wolfe is one of my faves though.

Please share with us your favourite smoothie!

Ah dude, this is a tough one, I have sooo many.

One of my absolute faves is my Blueberry Cleanser…

1 whole coconut - water & flesh

3 stalks celery

1-2 cucumbers

1 knob ginger

Juice of 1-2 lemons & limes

1 cup blueberries

2 cups baby spinach

1 tbs MicrOrganics Supergrass

What’s next for you? Any dreams?

Working with kids, a couple of hard-copy books, more awesome videos, speaking internationally, my own television show, a family of my own and a world that works!

How can my followers connect with you?

www.thewholefooddude.com

youtube.com/thewholefooddude.com

facebook.com/thewholefooddude

instagram.com/thewholefooddude

Cheers to your Health!

Rory Bland

AKA The Whole Food Dude

The Great Australian Un-Cook Off Event

Brisbane – MODA Events, Portside

Wow what a day! Brisbane should hold more events like this!

I was asked VERY last minute by a friend of mine Kristy Ord who is the owner of 48 Degrees Raw Café in Windsor Brisbane to be a tasting judge at the event. I leaped at the opportunity as this was a great opportunity to mingle with like-minded people who are into healthy lifestyles and delicious raw organic food just like me!

 As well as the “un-cooking” component there was an abundance of stalls promoting a range of different products and services. From Colon Hydrotherapy to delicious Kombucha, everything was on display for the public to experience.

I was blessed to connect with a lot of owners and express my love for their products – one in particular is Peace Love & Vegetables.

Peace, Love & Vegetables produce Raw, organic fermented amazing products that brought to you by their Superhero team who stand for peace, love and cultured vegetables based in Byron Bay, NSW.

Their products include sauerkraut, kim chi, currykraut and coconut kefir (all with love particles in them!). They don’t sell their products online but all their stockists are listed here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peace-Love-Vegetables/242928825786110?id=242928825786110&sk=info

I wanted to mention Peace, Love & Vegetables because I wanted to talk about fermented foods and their benefits in this post.

What is fermented food?

Have you heard of sauerkraut and/or kimchee? These are perfect examples of fermented foods, however beware if buying these straight from the shelf at the supermarket. Store bought fermented foods are often laden with salt and often tend to be completely over processed and are also usually pasteurized, which means they have been prepared at high temperatures that kill all the goodness that properly fermented foods provide. Always look for is raw fermented foods.  Raw fermented foods is cultured vegetables that are left in airtight jars at room temperature for several days. Cabbage is most commonly used, but you might also find it mixed with carrots or beets or radishes and other vegetables which can be used as ferments too.

Why eat fermented foods?

When vegetables have been fermented, they become even super nutritious. The healthy enzymes which are present in the vegetables flourish when fermented, and create an environment that is full of probiotics, enzymes and minerals which are important for a healthy body. The probiotic good bacteria and enzymes in fermented foods help to populate our gut and intestines with Lactobacilli which are really important for healthy digestion. They also help to eliminate toxins from our body, so eating them may allow your intestines to detox.

Raw, cultured vegetables are really potent in terms of helping your body to operate efficiently. When your body is working properly, will not only feel great, but you will look beautiful too. Eating fermented vegetables can also help with weight loss and lead to more energy, as well as balance out the pH levels of your body. When everything is working as it should, you will find your immunity is boosted from having a healthy gut and you will start to really feel cleaner.

My personal experience with sauerkraut has been amazing, I feel less bloated and my skin looks better (not perfect but better). I have been doing a rather heavy duty digestive cleanse and over the past 2 weeks have been very vigilant with taking probiotics, kefir, sauerkraut and other digestive herbs. 

Let’s talk about the S word…SUGAR!
 

Before I go on...I encourage you to watch this 15min clip.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n

What are your thoughts?

So as we have learnt sugar is causing a public health crisis.  Diseases we see in 60 year olds we are seeing in 10 year olds.

Obesity

Type 2 diabetes

Hypertension

Heart disease

Just to name a few.

Sugar is the only highly addictive drug that is feed to babies. By the time any of us are conscious of sugar, we are already well and truly addicted. Our brains have been hard-wired to seek out sugar as surely as the cocaine addict is wired to seek out stuff to sniff.

The average age group that is reading my blogs I am guessing are any where from 20-40.  In our teens and early 20’s a lot of us don’t pay much attention to your diets, loading up on sugars and not thinking about the repercussions as we age.  Girls..sugar affects the reproductive system! Blokes…sugar has been linked to male infertility.

Sugar makes you look old and encourages premature aging.  Essentially what happens is that sugar attaches itself to any protein in the body and produces harmful molecules called ‘advanced glycation end products’. These reduce the effectiveness of elastin and collagen, proteins in the skin that help maintain its youthful appearance.  A high-sugar diet reduces the quality of the collagen in the skin, too. There are different types of collagen, known as I, II and III, and for healthy looking-skin you need the correct blend of all of these.

As mentioned in the YouTube clip, sugar is in EVERYTHING and we don’t realize it! Anything that is processed has sugar in it, you think your supermarket cereal is healthy, read the label again. We are brain washed by advertising and so confused!

WHO KNEW?
Sugar contributes to 35 million deaths a year worldwide, say researchers from the University of California.

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2125217/How-giving-sugar-20-years-looks.html#ixzz26PrrRSP8
http://sweetpoison.com.au/?page_id=196