Posts by Dr Karen’s Team
Guidelines for Progressive Intermittent Fasting
‘Doc, how should I start intermittent fasting if I’ve never done it before?’ I get this question quite often. The truth is that most people will suffer no serious health issue if they suddenly fast for 20-24 hours, even if they’ve never fasted before. However, the chance of feeling unwell or very hungry during the…
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Healthy Plate Tool for Meal Planning
Do you know what a ‘Healthy Plate’ is? A healthy plate contains all the important nutrients your body needs to thrive. If you can achieve a ‘Healthy Plate’ for most of your meals… not only will you lose weight, but you will feel fantastic too. The first step to achieving a ‘Healthy Plate’ is to…
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Seed Cycling Instructions
Seed cycling is a growing trend that makes use of phyto-chemicals found in seeds to balance hormones naturally. How does it work? Different seeds contain different phyto-chemicals (plant-based molecules that can affect how your body works). Eating certain seeds at particular times of the month can affect the balance of estrogen and progesterone. Flax seeds: …
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How to grow your own Sprouts
Sprouts are fantastic in stir-fry dishes, salads, and even as a standalone snack When you sprout a grain or seed, you unlock a massive nutrient bank – all the energy, vitamins and minerals a plant needs to germinate and grow are available to your body when you eat a sprout. The nutrients are more easily…
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Guide to Sweeteners
People always ask whether it is best to avoid sweeteners. And strictly speaking the answer is ‘Yes’ because all sweeteners whether we are referring to sugar or honey or xylitol or stevia trigger certain neural pathways that stimulate the release of insulin and certain neurotransmitters in the brain. As humans, we are conditioned to crave…
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How to read Food Labels
Do you know how to read a food label? It can seem like quite a daunting task when you first look at a food label. There’s A LOT of information packed into a very small space! STEP 1: INGREDIENTS The first thing to do is check the ingredients. They are generally listed in the order…
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Apple Cider Vinegar
Have you been wondering whether apple cider vinegar could benefit your health? Or, perhaps you already incorporate ACV in your life but would like to know more about other ways to use it? When one of my patients told me she was drinking apple cider vinegar in her water to lose weight, I was skeptical…
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Early bird or Night owl?
ARE YOU AN EARLY BIRD, NIGHT OWL OR SOME OTHER CREATURE? Do you love waking up early in the morning, before anyone else is awake? You relish seeing the sunrise and feel invigorated in the early hours? Is your energy at its peak before noon? Or, is the morning a bit of a struggle but…
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Cholesterol
Did you know that you NEED cholesterol? Although cholesterol has a bad reputation for causing blood vessel disease, it is an essential molecule with very important functions. Cholesterol is involved in the production of certain hormones and vitamin D. It is also found in all cell membranes and is used to make bile acids which…
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How can you achieve beautiful healthy skin?
Have you ever considered how much of you is SKIN? Your skin is the largest and heaviest organ in your body. It makes up approximately 15% of your body weight. For the average adult, that’s around 11kg! Your skin keeps you alive – literally. Without skin, you would evaporate! Besides the obvious aesthetic function, your…
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Should you do a Food Elimination?
A Food Elimination can be a powerful tool to discover whether foods you eat are causing you to feel unwell. Food can cause symptoms and health problems ranging from allergies to mood instability to digestive issues and inflammation. Many of my patients ask for food intolerance or food allergy tests. These tests can be helpful…
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October is Breast Health Awareness month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s always a good time for a reminder to check your breasts (men too!) The most important question is whether you have noticed any CHANGE in your breasts or the areas around your breasts. Signs that are more concerning include: Skin changes: Dimpling / redness / flaking /…
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September 29th was World Heart Day
Your heart beats about 100 000 times every day (that’s more than 35 million beats a year) and it keeps you alive with every single beat. Here are some tips to keep your heart healthy and happy… Eat plenty of vegetables: Fresh vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that help to regulate blood pressure and reduce…
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Insulin Metabolism
Understand this hormone and take control of your energy, appetite and weight. Insulin is released by your pancreas, which lies just under your ribs on your left side. When you eat or drink anything that has the potential to raise your blood glucose level, your pancreas responds by releasing insulin into your blood. Insulin is…
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What’s the BEST exercise for health and vitality?
Dancing, of course! I am biased, I admit. I LOVE dancing. But, there is scientific evidence to prove that dance has some amazing benefits for your body and mind. Why is dancing so good for you? Anyone can dance. Really. Even if you have two left feet, you can move your body to a beat. …
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Juicing vs Smoothies
What’s the best way to enjoy fresh fruit and veg? Have you thought about whether juicing offers more health benefits than smoothies? Juicing has become very popular and I get this question all the time: ‘Is it good to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice every day?’ Well, you have to understand the pro’s and…
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Inspiration for your goals
Could you use a little inspiration to help you achieve your goals? At the beginning of each year, millions of us make a list of resolutions. In the past, most of my resolutions dissolved into meaningless nothingness within a week… because I didn’t have a strategy for achieving them. Here is a story that inspires…
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What does it mean to detox?
At this time of the year, many people come to office and proclaim: ‘Doc, I need to detox!’ After the festive season, many of us feel that we need to make a few adjustments to recover well from the period over-indulgence. But, what does it actually mean ‘to detox’? ‘Detox’ comes from the term detoxification…
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Breakfast… yes or no?
Is Breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Yes. And, no. ‘You can’t go to school on an empty stomach!’ ‘Eat something before you go to work!’ ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!’ You’ve heard these phrases over and over. But, is breakfast really the most important meal of the…
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Happiness Hacks
Do you ever feel you could be happier? Apply ‘Happiness Hacks’: Despite circumstances, there are ways to ‘Get Happy’. While happiness is not something we can see or accurately measure, we all know the feeling of elation when things are going well, and you are feeling great and life is good. All of us will…
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