Blog
Get Vitamin D Naturally:
The sun is the best form of Vit D we have but our modern lifestyles with processed foods, supplements and high oxalate exposure, has our skin reacting negatively to the sun's goodness.
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Hot and Cold Therapy
Maintaining my health, now that I'm on the right track. Now that you are enjoying good robust health keep doing what you are doing. Thinking always about our ancestral principles to tune in and maintain this amazing healthy body that you have.
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What is a balanced diet???
What is a healthy, balanced diet?? I often hear people say ‘I eat a balanced diet” But what is this exactly? Balanced because they follow the food pyramid guidelines?? 5+ a day of veg and 70% of the daily food is grains and carbohydrates? Or balanced because they have meat and 3 veg? Or balanced because they eat what they feel like?? I think that balance is what we are trying to achieve with our hormonal health, by eating a diet that supports this. There is so much information available for us today. My thoughts on a balanced diet are these: Eat meat, fat and organs for hormonal harmony. Eat fruit in season, raw dairy and eggs for an animal based ancestral diet. A RIBEYE STEAK contains a stack of nutrients that humans need, not present in plants. B12: Studies have found that Alzheimer's sufferers are deficient in B12. That B12 deficiency also leads to depression. Good levels of B12 in the body supports DNA production, cell formation, nerve function and red blood cell formation. Carnosine: this protects us against heart disease!! Creatine: Improves cognitive function, Improves cardiovascular performance and therefore athletic performance. Taurine: This is an antioxidant. When it is present in your body it supports your immune system by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress Zinc: this by far is the most important mineral we can source from red meat. It is cardio protective and is essential for our immune system. Men also need zinc for testosterone production and to support erectile tissue. Heme Iron: far more bioavailable than iron from plant sources. It is essential for immune function and cognition. People with anemia can improve their iron levels with red meat and organs. RED MEAT IS NOT INFLAMMATORY, IT SUPPORTS THE BODY TO REMOVE INFLAMMATION FROM THE BODY. IT IS AN ESSENTIAL FOOD. Quote from the latest nz study on meat consumption: 'The role of red meat in healthy and sustainable NZ diets' 'There is emerging evidence that a high carbohydrate diet may be more harmful to cardiovascular health than high fat or protein intakes. A recent analysis of data from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study - a large prospective cohort study involving 135,335 people from 15 countries, with a median follow-up of 7.4 years, found diets in which a higher percentage of total energy was obtained from fat, saturated fat, and protein were associated with lower risks of total mortality and non-CVD mortality (Dehghan et al., 2017). Higher animal protein intake was also associated with lower total mortality risk. No significant associations were found between total fat and saturated fat intake, and major cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or CVD mortality. Eating a high carbohydrate diet (more than approximately 60% of total energy intake), on the other hand, was associated with higher risk of total mortality and non-CVD mortality.' Its now my mission to educate our people how to eat well and live long.
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Bovine Colostrum - GOLD FOR YOUR GUT!
We've developed this amazing product from NZ grass fed cows. It's liquid gold for the gut. Even when sprinkled over food, colostrum starts working in the mouth, binding any pathogens found there and transporting them past the gut and out so they can't take hold. Studies are conclusive: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34836054 Our Bovine Colostrum (BC) is sourced from grass fed cows on the Westcoast of New Zealand's South Island. It is rich in bio-active components to support your immune system and overall gastrointestinal health. We can confidently say that our colostrum can do the following: It has direct effects on pathogens - the immunoglobulins found in BC play a crucial role in immune exclusion by binding to pathogens on mucosal surfaces, preventing their entry into the body. Benefit: helps to protect against infections and maintain gut health. It supports intestinal barrier function - BC can support intestinal barrier function, preventing the passage of harmful substances like bacterial products and allergens across the gut epithelium. Benefit: helps to reduce inflammation and infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical evidence - studies of animal models and clinical settings have shown... Benefit: that BC can mitigate inflammatory responses and protect against conditions like necrotising enterocolitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Preventative effects in preterm infants - BC has been studied for its preventative effects in preterm infants. Benefit: shown to reduce the incidence and severity of intestinal issues like necrotising enterocolitis while also promoting healthy growth. Adding BC into your diet will support your gut health. Sharing with your family, at any age could possibly be the best thing you can do for them and their health. I'm amazed at this precious powder, and have started using it most days. I want to be healthy coming into winter and give my body the best nutrition so I can be resilient and healthy right through the year.
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Cholesterol and the Animal Based Diet
I often get asked if our supplements affect cholesterol. While it is tempting to simply say 'no', it's more complex than that. An animal-based diet will influence cholesterol levels, so the real question is whether cholesterol negatively impacts us? This is an age old argument that has been debunked by many scholars. Dr. Paul Mason, a researcher and advocate for low-carb animal-based diets, recently shared insights in his lecture titled 'Decoding Atherosclerosis: The Clotting Theory and Seed Oil Toxicity'. Watch it here. Oxidative stress in the blood can trigger clotting, a significant risk factor for heart attacks. This condition often involves blood clots forming in the presence of oxidised LDL, influenced by: Plant sterols (phytosterols) from seed oils, which oxidize quickly and become toxic in the blood Pollution particles Smoking Lead Animal fats help maintain healthy blood membranes and support red blood cells, contributing to overall bodily health. Additionally, nitric oxide production, boosted by exercise, promotes healthy arteries. A diet and lifestyle that minimise plant sterols and enhance nitric oxide levels in the blood lead to healthier blood and arteries. So, Do our supplements contribute to cholesterol? No. Does an animal-based diet contribute to cholesterol? Yes. Is this a bad thing? No. Poor diets and lack of exercise can cause blood clots. Like many experts, I advocate for reducing plant intake and maintaining an active lifestyle that will keep you healthy and full of life.
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Fibre: YES or NO
Re-evaluating the conventional wisdom surrounding fibre unveils a complex narrative. Despite being classified as essential, fibre's lack of direct nutritional benefits and potential harm prompts a reconsideration of its indispensability.
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Healthy Pregnancy, Birth, First Foods
Meat and Organs are fantastic first foods. For pregnant and lactating mummas they should be eaten every day to ensure that you and your baby are getting the best nutrition. Help contribute to the health of our future!
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Hows your summer planning going?
Heading towards summer at a great rate of knots!!: Hows your planning going? We've just flipped into daylight saving here in NZ and honestly, this first week is always a challenge for me. I'm an early riser and time on my mat in the morning is always the perfect start to the day. I'm blessed not to ever use an alarm to get me up, I let the birds and the morning sun move me out of bed. So my ‘alarm’ hasn't changed, its just now a little later for the mat meeting!! By “mat” I'm really enjoying the silence of the morning, so I can breathe, recentre and find the bliss so when I step into my day I'm in flow. I was wondering this morning about daylight savings and how this first week really messes with our rhythm. It messes with the kids, who need to get up an hour earlier, and it messes with the parents who manage their family, and their job on a daily basis. This is a reminder that we can change our groove with a positive mind set. My sister is a great one for affirmations and I love that her gentle reminding can assist me with my mind set change. Some affirmations that I love are: ( oh and do them in the mirror, so you can make eye contact with yourself) I am beautiful I feel love all around me Today is going to be an amazing day I am healthy I embrace ALL that life brings me today. There are lots and I encourage you to find some of your own, or maybe just start with the ones above. Finally, because we are getting to the season where we will be outside more, and socializing more Id like to remind you of the 9 Ancestral Tenets: Get some daily SUN MOVE your body CONNECT with the earth. BOND with your people. Maybe reach out and follow life and make new friends Base your food choices around the ancestral principles, EAT local. FIGHT for what you believe in Try some COLD plunges into the ocean SHIELD yourself from the chemicals in our environment Make SLEEP a good habit. Making these a framework for your days will perhaps be a guide for your approach to summer.
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What is Choline and Why is it essential for my diet?
Choline: Often rolls off the tongue when I'm describing the benefits of animal foods in the human diet. But what is it?? And why is it so essential? I'm going to explore what Choline is, the best high choline foods and why it is so essential. What is Choline? It is an essential compound. Not a vitamin or mineral. Functions similarly to Vit B The body does produce a small amount but primarily it is sourced from our food. The Benefits of Choline in the Diet. Because of its wide-ranging roles in human metabolism, from cell structure to neurotransmitter synthesis, choline-deficiency is now thought to have an impact on diseases such as liver disease, atherosclerosis and possibly neurological disorders. Below is what this miracle compound does: It produces acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that supports memory, learning and cognitive function It is a key component of phospholipids providing cell structure and cell integrity. It helps cells communicate about nutrient transport and cellular waste disposal. In older adults, research has shown it is essential for memory and recall It is involved in DNA replication and cell division It plays an important role in immune response It is essential during and before pregnancy to support the brain development and avoid Neural tube deficiency. What Happens if I Dont get enough Choline? Because the presence of choline is so important it is no surprise that the consequences of a diet that lacks it can present a number of impaired processes. Impaired brain function Liver damage and fatty liver disease. Impaired muscle function. Impaired foetal development and lifelong cognitive problems Increased inflammation Increased risk of pregnancy complications Also other stressors like endurance athletic sports, heavy drinking, or post menopausal can all increase the requirements of choline in the body. Without it in the right amounts the above groups will all show the signs of lacking choline. And now for the good news: Choline is easy to get in all our favourite animal foods. Foods high in Choline: The top foods high in Choline are: Beef Liver: 100gm of liver 418.2mg choline Ribeye: 227mg of meat 385 mg Choline Eggs: 1 egg 147 mg of Choline Salmon Roe: 100gm of roe 247.5mg Choline Salmon meat: 170gm of meat 191.4mg of Choline Vegetables do contain choline but not enough to be useful!! Best to stick with animal foods and be confident that you are getting the right amounts. Recent Studies referenced: The importance of choline in the diet extends into adulthood and old age. In a study of healthy adult subjects deprived of dietary choline, 77% of the men and 80% of the postmenopausal women developed signs of subclinical organ dysfunction; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782876/ Pregnancy and lactation are times when demand for choline is especially high and the supply of choline is critical. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15234930/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566660/ Inflammation Findings from the ATTICA study indicated that subjects whose diets were rich in choline and betaine had the lowest levels of several inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782876/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252552/ Breast cancer High dietary intakes of choline have recently been associated with a decreased risk for breast cancer. Thanks for joining me on this journey. I appreciate your time and your continued support. PLEASE keep spreading the word that ancestral eating is good for you and great for your long term health goals. Nga Mihi Janet
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