Tag Archives: #healthyeating

Summer News/Update

2022, what will this year bring us? I’m hoping for a much more relaxing year filled with lots of good food, family and friend time. How about you?

To help stay physically and mentally healthy, eat a good wholesome diet with plenty of blood type specific foods where you can, have a good exercise plan, and ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

Stress can start affecting our daily lives, particularly now, with so many changes and unusual demands put upon us. When you start noticing these changes happening, try and implement some tactics to help relieve the tension.

Here’s one of my blogs with some helpful tips: Sleepless Nights
Give some of the energy/stress supplements a go too to complement your regime.

We have the Bach Flower range available too and if you’re not sure how they work let me know, and I’ll help you choose the best remedies for you.

bach-flower-remedies

If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation, let us know.

From the EatingRightLivingRight team.

e: info@eatingrightlivingright.net
m: +64 272693558 – If there is no answer, I will call or text you back

Caring For Your Skin – Naturally

Keeping our skin looking good can be difficult and now that winter has almost come to end, let’s look at some simple ways to give it that well deserved boost. I have included natural skin care recipes for you to try that you can use as well as the best foods to eat and other great tips to help encourage healthy glowing skin.

What causes our skin to get such a hard time?
  • We are constantly being exposed to heating in some shape or form: at home, in the car, at work, when we’re out and about and then having to venture out in the wind and cold temperatures. The use of an electric blanket can even dry out the skin a little.
  • Taking hotter baths and showers than we normally would, which can be blissful at the time but actually takes moisture from our skin.
  • Layering up of clothing can block the pores so air can’t pass through the fabric, particularly if you choose man made fibres such as nylon and polyester. The best material to allow the skin to breathe is cotton. Try not to wear the man made fabrics next to the skin but as the second or third layer.
  • Nutrition can affect our skin health too as we tend to eat more carbohydrate rich stodgy foods and less of the healthier foods. We also end up drinking less than we really need.
How can we improve our skin health?

Start your daily ritual by dry skin brushing your entire body. Use a natural bristle brush and brush when your skin is dry, prior to bathing, in circular motions. This can help improve your circulation, get rid of dead skin and improve lymph flow which encourages detoxification and unclog pores.

I mentioned earlier that hot baths and showers were not recommended but at a reasonable temperature they can help be helpful to relieve stress, add nutrients to the skin and help the body get back to a warmer temperature.

Try adding these to your bath:

  • a combination of epsom salts and baking soda approx. 1/4 cup of each.
  • essential oils such as Lavender to help relax, Geranium to help with anxiety, adrenal exhaustion and as anti-inflammatory or Peppermint which is another nice soothing oil. Both Lavender and Peppermint are natural painkillers if you are suffering from any aches and pains.
  • carrier oils such as Jojoba, Rosehip, Almond or Apricot kernel, which are known more to assist and use along side essential oils, are much more beneficial as they are packed with vitamins such as A, C and E.   I will talk more about food for skin health too a little later.

Keeping your facial skin and neck clean daily:
  • I was given a very helpful but simple tip to get rid of dead skin, many years ago, and that was to simply use a flannel each time you wash your face.   Use your normal cleanser and use the flannel to wipe away the cleanser and you’ll find your skin will look and feel so much better.   Don’t use hot water or scrub too hard and find a flannel that is not too coarse.   I use the flannel twice, once to wash off the cleanser, rinse it out and wipe the skin again. I then rinse a little cooler water over my face at the end to help close the pores.
  • Another way to give your skin extra nourishment is by using your normal base moisturiser and adding carrier oils, such as Roship oil, Almond oil or Apricot oil. Wheatgerm oil is another understated oil and is extremely high in Vitamin E but be aware that it is a dark colour and can stain clothes and it also requires refrigeration after use to reduce oxidation. I am currently using Trilogy’s Rosehip Oil and alternating with Antipodes Chia & Kiwi Seed. I also love to use Wheatgerm oil and Apricot Kernel oil. I just add a few drops but you can play around a bit to see how many drops suit your skin type.
  • Try Dr D’Adamo’s  Genoma Skincare range. The entire range has been blended with natural, wild-crafted and organic ingredients. We also have an amazing supplement designed to maintain healthy and youthful skin called Genoma Derma.
  • The Cellfood range, which we have recently added, is a small range but all extremely important for skin health, particularly the Cellfood Silica and the Oxygen Skin Gel are amazing.
Here are some other helpful tips to keep your skin looking good:
  • Use a body scrub once a week. Here is a recipe using the readily available ingredients you have in your pantry:
    Salt and Sugar Body Scrub – equal amounts, (approx 1/4 cup of each) of brown sugar, sea salt and either olive or almond oil along with a few drops of your choice of essential oils. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and apply to both body and face.
  • Use a nice soothing face mask weekly. The best natural face scrub I use is made up as follows:
    1/4 cup ground oats, 1 Tbsp honey, 1/2 avocado mashed 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp of Greek yogurt. Mix together and apply for 30 minutes then rinse off.
    You can also play around with these ingredients by alternating with different oils, adding a few drops of essential oils of choice or increase or decrease some of the ingredients to suit. Put cucumber or kiwifruit slices over eyes.

  • If you prefer to use store-bought products there are a lot of great natural ranges on the market today. I’ve just tried the new Trilogy Overnight Mask and I love it.
  • Try Lifestream’s Aloe Vera Mist for a great natural skin toner and also as a hydrating mist.
  • I adore the Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash. It cleanses and moisturises the skin so your skin feels nice and soft afterward. They also have Wild Rose, Lavender, Sea Buckthorn and Citrus.
    They are all made with natural ingredients so suitable for the entire family.
General but important tips for healthy glowing skin:
  • Making sure that your body is eliminating waste sufficiently is important for overall health and particularly noticeable in the condition of the skin. The liver, kidneys, and skin are the main eliminating organs and need to be functioning well.
  • Exercise helps the blood flow to the surface of the skin and it also encourages the skin to make more collagen and the body to absorb nutrients better.
  • Sleep well as your skin replenishes and repairs best when you are sleeping.
  • Reduce alcohol consumption as this not only causes dehydration but also bloating, cellulite and can give the skin a not so nice red hue. There are many articles out there, promoting the consumption of red wine for its antioxidant properties and beer as it’s high in silica and B vitamins but moderation is the key. I advocate the alternate or accompanying glass of water along with any alcoholic beverage.

Feeding your skin from the inside out:

Hydration is extremely important and remember that sipping rather than gulping is recommended as this makes it easier for your body to filter and ensures that we don’t flush the fluids out so quickly. This enables the body to utilise it better. Water is best but you can also include some herbal teas which are hydrating as well as high in many important nutrients. Green Tea – very high in antioxidants, Rosehip tea – high in Vitamin C, Dandelion Leaf tea for kidney function, Calendula Tea – anti-inflammatory properties and can help protect your skin from the environment. If you are not a fan of Green Tea, try White Tea as it is more subtle but still full of antioxidants. Oatstraw is not a very commonly used tea but extremely high in important minerals such as Silica, Magnesium, and Calcium. Horsetail is another understated herb which is also high in Silica and has amazing anti-aging properties. The herbal teas I’ve listed can also be obtained in capsule and liquid form but to use them as a tea is preferable as you will be hydrating your body and using these amazing plants in their natural form. I will be doing a blog soon on the benefits of using herbs in your daily diet so look out for it. All good Organic stores should stock these teas in loose form or tea bags and the more common ones you can find in your supermarket. The Planet Organic brand is a good quality brand.


There are so many foods that are trending right now and promise miracles but have in fact been around for centuries. You will notice the benefits if you keep with foods that contain high levels of compounds known as antioxidants. These protect and delay the body from cell damage which causes aging. The foods that are popular may not necessarily benefit you. Try and keep with your Blood Type compliant foods as per the Eat Right 4 Your Type book. I have listed many herbs and foods that may be compliant to you but just check first.

Let’s start with some of the more commonly used foods as ideally, you don’t want to have to go to extremes to locate all these amazing foods when you already have most of them in your kitchen. There are some foods that you’ll find are seasonal but that is good because eating foods that are in season should be fresher and they also go with the natural rhythm of what our body requires during that particular season.

Here’s a list of some of the more important foods to encourage healthy glowing skin:
  • Broccoli – contains Vit A, C and Zinc and Lutein. It also assists with hormone balance, which can affect the condition of your skin.
  • Walnuts – high amount of Omega 3 Fatty acids and Vit E. I add these to my muesli. They’re tasty and add a nice crunch. They are also great added to a salad.
  • Avocados – use the fruit or oil in your daily diet. Contains Vit A, E and D. It is also great to add to a face mask or base moisturiser.
  • Dark Chocolate – a little sugar-free 70% plus dark chocolate contains anti-aging properties.
  • Watermelon – contains the antioxidant Lycopene and a high water content. Lycopene is converted by the body into Vitamin A
  • Carrots – high in beta-carotene which converts into Vit A, an important vitamin for skin health.
  • Olive oil and Flaxseed oil – if you don’t use it in your food, take it from a spoon. I take a dessert spoon each day of Extra Virgin Olive oil and use it in salads and just before the end of cooking a stir fry.
  • Strawberries – High in Vitamin C and can help revitalise and nourish the skin. Particularly good at helping balance oily skin.
  • Kiwifruit – also high in Vitamin C and in encouraging the production of collagen.
  • Other foods to include are eggs, salmon, other nuts such as almonds and pecans, pomegranates, celery, and berries.

You will find all the foods I’ve listed below contain high amounts of the following nutrients:
  • Vitamin A & Beta Carotene (which converts into Vit. A) – one of the main anti-aging vitamins which promote the production of collagen. It is also an antioxidant so helps the body get rid of the damage from free radicals or oxidative stress.
  • Vitamin C – also important for promoting the production of collagen which helps keep the skin supple.
  • Vitamin E – very important for skin health and found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and also in other fruit and vegetables.
  • Zinc – great for acne prone skin and also reducing scarring.
  • Selenium – anti-aging by supplying the body with antioxidants to fight the free radical damage.
  • Silica – the main component of collagen is Silica which makes it extremely important for youthful supple skin and helping keep it moisturised. A very understated mineral. Check out the Cellfood Silica.
  • Lutein and Lycopene – protect the skin from UV damage which can cause premature aging. These are not made by the body so must be found from food sources or supplements.
  • Omega 3 Fatty acids – important for keeping your skin moisturised, reducing sun damage and fighting inflammation.

There are so many more helpful tips for that gorgeous glowing skin but, unfortunately,  I can’t include all of them.  I have included, what I hope, is the most useful and easy to adhere to information which I’ve both experienced personally and gathered during my many years in my profession as a Medical Herbalist and Natural Health Practitioner.

If you have any other helpful tips you use or if you’ve tried any from our blog, please let us know as we’d love to hear from you. You can visit our Facebook page, or contact us.

Sleepless Nights

Having trouble getting a good nights sleep? How many hours sleep do you feel you need to be able to function normally? It’s not the same for everybody. Let’s look at some healthy tips and suggestions to help get your sleep patterns back to how they should be.

Do any of these sound familiar?
  • Having trouble falling asleep
  • Unwanted thoughts swimming around in your head stopping you from relaxing
  • Falling straight to sleep but waking up an hour later
  • Waking up in the early hours of the morning and unable to get back to sleep
  • Waking up feeling un-rested
In turn, these sleepless nights could cause:
  • Brain fog or lack of concentration
  • Emotional problems such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression
  • Headaches/migraines or other aches and pains
  • Fatigue and lack of motivation
  • Weight gain
  • Reduced libido

There’s a lot of talk right now about having a healthy gut for optimum health and wellbeing and how a sluggish, congested digestive system can cause both physical and emotional problems.  Well, this could definitely be a contributing factor to irregular sleep patterns.  The body needs to be able to absorb and metabolise nutrients which includes Tryptohan, an essential amino acid, which has a calming effect and helps induce sleep. Let’s start by eating a healthy balanced diet, including olive and flaxseed oil, sufficient fibre such as ground flaxseed, compliant grains and other compliant foods recommended in the Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type book. If you are not sure what your blood type is purchase one of our Home Blood Typing Kits. It only takes a few minutes to get the results.

The Gut Health Pack which contains Polyflora, Deflect and Live Cell for each specific blood type, will assist the body to cleanse and detoxify.   I also have a full herbal dispensary including three of the most effective nervine herbs, Valerian, Skullcap and Passionflower along with the Thorne practitioner products Magnesium Citrate and 5HTP.   If you’d like any of the practitioner products or a consultation please contact us.

To help this cleansing and balancing process start adding some of the following foods to your diet, which are high in Tryptophan, particularly with the evening meal or in a small snack before bed:

  • Nuts – almonds *, pistachios
  • Seeds – chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds *
  • Protein-rich – turkey, beef, fish, eggs
  • Quinoa
  • Soy products – tofu, sprouted soybeans, soybeans
  • Dark chocolate *
  • Green tea
  • Turmeric, coriander *

To help the body convert the tryptophan it is best to include a little carbohydrate-rich food such as sprouted whole grain bread or crackers along with the above or other complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, carrots or legumes.
Some of the above foods are also very high in Magnesium (I’ve marked these with an asterisk) which is an important mineral to help relax the nerves and muscles. Other foods high in magnesium are walnuts, kale, figs, spirulina, bananas, and molasses.  Try blending some of these ingredients together to make some sleep bliss balls. Click here for one of our recipes.

Here are some other helpful tips to encourage a restful nights sleep:
  • Follow a nightly routine to let your body know when it is time for sleep and try to go to bed at the same time each night.
  • Try not to have too many stimulants such as coffee, alcohol or sugar-rich foods or a heavy meal at night.
  • If you think something in particular is causing your sleep problems try and alleviate that obstacle. If it’s emotional stress, try journalling or talk about your stressors with a friend, family member or a professional if need be.
  • Sleep in a dark room or use an eye sleep mask. Too much light in the bedroom can effect the body’s circadium rhythm.
  • Eat enough as sleep problems can occur from having an empty tummy.
  • Do you worm yourself regularly as having parasites on board could cause sleep problems? There are a number of anthelmentic herbs and foods you can try such as Garlic, Pumpkin seeds and Wormwood and Black Walnut or try Vermox from the pharmacy.
  • Enjoy a cup of Chamomile or Vervain tea before bed
  • Ensure your body is not too warm or too cold when you go to bed and that you haven’t got cold hands or feet as this can stop you falling asleep. The body is busy keeping our vital organs like the lungs and heart warm during colder weather and this can cause less blood flow to the hands and feet. If you’re able to, get an electric blanket.
  • Have a nice hot bath with epsom salts and lavender oil

  • Some find reading just before bed helpful.
  • Include a good form of exercise in your daily routine. Yoga, Tai Chi or meditation are helpful particularly if you feel that stress is a contributing factor.
Wake up happy and rested.

If you still find that you are experiencing problems after trying these suggestions, contact your GP or other professional for help. Don’t let lack of sleep affect your quality of life.

Keeping Happy, Healthy & Warm this Winter

The winter months are upon us and can be a struggle for some but if you can look at the positives about the cooler weather and make yourself as comfortable as possible, it can make it a lot easier. I hope you enjoy these tips to help keep you healthy, happy and warm this winter.

1. Food is usually what we think about the most in Winter. I certainly seem to feel hungry alot at this time of the year but it’s what we eat that can be the key. Get the slow cooker or casserole dish out and start making those nice warm nutritious dishes. They aren’t only full of nutrients but are easy to make and digest. Try to include herbs and ingredients that are warming and great for the circulation, such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon and chilli. Soups are also simple to make and a staple in the cooler months. Genoma Cardia is great for the Cardiovascular system.

2. Keep a good selection of herbal teas on hand. They will help keep you warm and hydrated but are also medicinal, such as Rosehip tea which is high in Vitamin C, Dandelion leaf and Nettle which are not only highly nutritious but great to help your urinary system. Lemon and honey or blackcurrant drink served hot can work wonders. Try some of our Immune & seasonal supplements 

3. Ensuring you get adequate exercise can be difficult when it’s cold and rainy but essential in keeping your circulation working well and to help your body absorb nutrients. Try and get outside if you can even, if the weather is nasty. A brisk walk can be very grounding and uplifting. If it’s not possible to get outside then try and set up a regular exercise routine indoors. There are many apps and videos available to make this a whole lot easier. Exercise such as Tai Chi and Yoga can be helpful and also remember to stretch before and after exercising to stop any ligament pulls or tears ocurring which is much more common in the colder weather.

4. The two things I dislike the most about the Winter is getting out of my nice warm bed in the morning and getting out of a lovely hot shower or bath. A bathroom heater can make a huge difference as can putting a heater in your bedroom on a timer so when you get up in the morning the room is nice and warm. They are two simple things but could make a big difference to your day.

5. Do stuff that makes you happy. Listen to some of your favourite music, read a good book, watch a video, have a device free day, get a new hairstyle, have a nice bath in epsom salts and essential oils, burn candles, contact an old friend you haven’t heard from in a while, get a face mask or even better, make your own. The Oatmeal, Banana and Milk/liquid yoghurt face mask is amazing. Simply combine and blend together thoroughly 1 tablespoon of grounded oatmeal, 1/2 ripe banana and 1 teaspoon of milk/liquid yoghurt to form a lump free paste. Leave on the skin for 10-15 minurtes.

6. Feeling anxious or stressed is very common in Winter. Try jounalling as it’s a great way to help improve your mental and emotional wellbeing. It can take a little bit of getting used to at first but you’ll be surprised at how affective it is. Talking to family or a good friend about how you’re feeling can help too or to a councillor if you feel it’s getting worse. There are also many supplements available in the Fatigue & Stress category on our site to help support you.

If you’d like some extra help I am available for consultations both distance or face to face and offer the Blood Type Diet consultation or the full Swami Pro, which involves the use of Dr D’Adamo’s software programme.   I am trained to help with both emotional and physical wellbeing and would love to be of assistance where I can.  Please contact me if you’d like to talk more on

I hope you get to try some of my suggestions and that they help you enjoy Winter that much more.

Welcome to our Brand New Website with Reward Points

Welcome to our new updated website!!   You will find it much easier to use plus we are very happy to offer customer rewards points for all purchases made.

All you’ll need to do, as a returning customer from our old website, is to reset your password using the ‘lost password’ link on the My Account page. Use the same email address you used to create your account on our old website. Once that is done you’ll be able to log in and update your contact and delivery details and shop as usual. If you are a brand new customer, a warm welcome to you. You will need to complete your details as required.  If this is difficult to follow, I’d be happy to help.  Also, remember to always log in as this will enable you to view some of our special product sections that you can’t see unless you are logged in.

Winter is most definitely upon us and what better way to support our immunity than with the Immunity & Resistance packs or take a look at the other individual products in the Immune & Seasonal category. Keep an eye out for my regular blogs which will contain information on the blood type diet and the relevant supplements but also general information on natural health and wellbeing. My next blog will be on keeping ourselves healthy and happy during those cold winter months.

If you are living in the Auckland area we would love to hear from anybody interested in hosting a Blood Type Diet Party at their home. This will involve getting together some of your family and friends to attend and we will come along and do some demonstrations and talk about the BTD, the supplements and try some recipes out for you. You will be rewarded for your time and effort.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do email me on info@eatingrightlivingright.net or call me on 027 269 3558.

Thank you again for all your support.

The Team @ EatingRightLivingRight
Mob 027 269 3558