Diabetes: ‘awareness’ vs action
The endless parade of ‘disease awareness’ days, weeks and months rolls on. This time it’s diabetes’ turn to twirl the baton, with Diabetes Australia declaring 8-14 July National Diabetes Week. Diabetes Australia summarises the mission of National Diabetes Week, and the broader ‘It’s About Time’ Campaign of which it forms part, as follows: “Diabetes Australia’s…
Depressing drugs
A recent US study has revealed a worrying trend: in the midst of growing concerns about rising rates of depression, nearly 40% of adults are taking prescription drugs that can cause depression as a ‘side effect’, and the number of people taking such drugs is steadily increasing. The study, conducted by researchers at the University…
Tangy Passionfruit Nice Cream
My favourite fruit and vegie shop had overripe bananas for $3 a box last week. Happy days! I peeled them, chopped them up and popped them in the freezer, and have been experimenting with different versions of Nice Cream ever since. Baobab powder is optional for this recipe, but it adds to the tanginess –…
Flu vaccination – 2018 update
Winter is now well underway in the southern hemisphere, and so is the annual push to persuade everyone with a pulse to get a flu vaccine. Interest in this topic was high among members of my EmpowerEd health and nutrition education program, so I decided to run a Deep Dive webinar on flu vaccination, which…
Home-made Toothpaste
In this month’s live Ask Robyn Q&A session (a membership benefit of my EmpowerEd health and nutrition education program), a question about dental hygiene popped up. The research that I did to answer the question got me thinking: could I create a simple home-made toothpaste that combines the dental health benefits of xylitol, essential oils…
Preventing bowel cancer
18 June 2018 June has been designated Bowel Cancer Awareness Month by Bowel Cancer Australia, which aims to ‘raise awareness’ of this disease – officially titled colorectal cancer – as the second leading cause of cancer death in Australia. I have no doubt whatsoever that the individuals involved in Bowel Cancer Australia are well-motivated people…
Sprouted Buckwheat Crackers
You’ll go crackers for these tasty gluten-free crackers with just the right combination of crunchy and chewy! They can either be dried overnight in a food dehydrator or baked in a slow oven. Ingredients: 1 cup raw buckwheat groats 6 sun dried tomato halves (preferably not oil-packed) 1/2 cup boiling water 1/4 cup pepitas (green…
Sweet Potato and Carob Buckwheat Breakfast Pudding
Filling enough for breakfast and delicious enough for dessert, this simple-to-prepare dish combines several nutrient-rich ‘superfoods’. Ingredients: 1 cup raw buckwheat groats Water for soaking 1 large sweet potato, baked in the skin at 200°C until soft (you should have about 500 g flesh, once baked and peeled) 1/3 cup carob powder (you can also…
Ketogenic diets: Part 5 – Cancer
Are cancer cells really dependent on sugar, and do ketogenic diets cure cancer? Here’s what we know.