• 

  Red 8 Soy Protein Isolate Chocolate - 450g

  NZ$30.00 NZ$24.90
• 

  Red 8 Rice Protein Unflavoured - 500g

  NZ$26.00 NZ$20.80
• 

  Red 8 Pea Protein Isolate Unflavoured - 500g

  NZ$26.80 NZ$25.47

Example smoothie recipe we use (using a blender or Magic Bullet type system):

Rice, soy or pea protein, 1x banana, water, 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil (good for vitamin E), a handful of frozen blueberries, 3x Brazil nuts (optional – good for selenium).

If you want to sweeten it up a bit you can add cinnamon or stevia, or include other sweet fruit such as apple or gold kiwifruit.

If you are vegetarian, not vegan you can substitute goat’s milk for water (it tends to cause less digestive problems than cow’s milk), and you can add honey to taste. We also add rolled oats into smoothies and they are a good source of protein and fibre.

Eye strain and the related headaches can be caused by wearing the wrong glasses or squinting in low light, by general muscle tension in your head and neck, by overtaxing your eye muscles (most often by holding them in a fixed position for a long time) or by a nutrient deficiency that makes your eyes work harder than normal (or doesn’t provide them the right vitamins to effectively function).

Before you go out and spend a fortune on some new trendy glasses, let’s look at what you can do to help improve your eyesight rather than living with eyesight deterioration. The first is to look at your work environment. Is your computer screen at a comfortable distance and height and not in a position which makes the lighting awkward (e.g. in front of a bright window)? If you can fix these you may find some improvement.

• 

  Clinicians VisionCare with Lutein - 60 Capsules

  NZ$31.90 NZ$19.90
• 

  Good Health Premium Vision - 60 Capsules

  NZ$69.90 NZ$55.90

The third way to improve your vision is to exercise your eyes. If you spend a lot of time looking only two feet in front of your face then you will be constantly straining the two muscles in each eye that have to work to make you focus close up. Your eyes naturally tend to focus in the distance and forcing them to focus on something an arm’s length away for eight hours a day is not natural. In fact, it’s like running a marathon without doing any training.

Simple exercises to build up your eyes’ strength include:

• Focus at least 300m away then focus 15cm from your nose. Repeat this 80-100 times, each time focusing for around 1-2 seconds.
• Look hard left for five seconds then hard right for five seconds. Repeat this 10 times. Then do the same exercise up and down and diagonally each way.
• Find a tree and count 100 leaves with your eyes – this works on helping you control your eye movements. If it’s winter you can do this with bricks on a wall, books in a bookcase or anything else where there are many smaller things close together.

So, the three things: get the right nutrition, make sure your environment is right and do your eye exercises. We’ve had clients who have improved their eyesight to the point where they have stopped wearing glasses for some tasks. Unless you have some underlying physical problem with your eyes you should notice an improvement within a week or so if you are doing all three suggestions above.

Our bodies need selenium and it is deficient in New Zealand soils. Many people don’t eat the right types (or quantities of the right types) of food to get what could be described as an ‘ideal’ dose.

The only way to reliably get the selenium you need is through supplementation. However, manufacturers know this and often load multivitamins/multiminerals and other combination products with selenium. If you are taking several supplement you might find yourself approaching 400mcg. Add a few Brazil nuts, seafood, eggs or other foods that contain selenium and it could tip you over the top.

Now, the occasional excess dose of selenium is unlikely to have any effect, but if you are repeated taking in large doses you might start experiencing fatigue, alopecia, or a number of other undesirable side effects. This level is indicated at around 800mcg/day. That is quite a lot – you would need to be taking many supplements for this to be an issue.

Our recommendation is for you to check the supplements that you are taking regularly and tally the total micrograms per day you are ingesting. Add a bit on the top to account for what you might get from food. If your intake is somewhere between 50-200mcg/day, there is probably no cause for concern (though you should consult a naturopath or nutritionist if you are concerned).

If you are not taking a selenium supplement, symptoms of deficiency are a bone of contention among practitioners and we recommend you get some professional advice.

• 

  Good Health The Ultimate Multi - 30 Tablets

  NZ$25.60 NZ$22.70
• 

  Clinicians MultiVitamin & Mineral Boost - 90 Capsules

  NZ$28.90 NZ$24.60

Clinicians SlimWaist - 50 Capsules

NZ$73.90 NZ$55.00

Congratulations to Karyn Kerrisk, from New Plymouth and to Linda Travers, from Tauranga! They are the lucky winners of the prize draws for Clinicians MSM Flamm and Clinicians SlimWaist respectively. Clinicians is a New Zealand-based company that develops a wide range of nutritional products, including vitamins, minerals and products designed for specific purposes to help you achieve health in a more natural way. Get your favourite Clinicians product straight to your door with discounts up to 31%. If you want to be the winner of the next First in Health contest, join us in Facebook and you will receive alerts about prizes, products and discount coupons.

• 

  Clinicians MSM Flamm Nasal Spray - 25ml

  NZ$19.90 NZ$18.10

• Helping to keep the nasal passages clear
• Supporting inner ear health
• Countering allergens

What do you have to do to participate? Your task is simple; fill in the form below and you will automatically be entered into the draw.
If you want to try out MSM Flamm Nasal Spray – 25ml right now, it’s on special for only $18.10 – that’s 9% off the retail price –click here to get started.

The winner will receive 1x Clinicians MSM Flamm Nasal Spray delivered straight to their door.
Deadline for entries is March 15. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions.

First in Health ‘Win a Clinicians SlimWaist supplement’ Terms and Conditions:

• The First in Health ‘Win a Clinicians MSM Flamm Nasal Spray’ competition is only open to residents of New Zealand. The product must be shipped to an address in New Zealand.
• Only contestants over 18 will be eligible. Winners will be selected by the First in Health team.
• Non-compliance with the competition criteria will disqualify entries.
• Prizes are not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Special conditions (clearly stated in sponsors’ award vouchers) may apply to non-cash prizes, e.g. they may be subject to availability.
• Deadline for entries is 5:00pm (NZDT) March 15, 2012.
• No entries will be accepted after this date.

I always explain to my clients that to start with two presuppositions:

1. That everyone is different, because I have found that everyone is different.
2. Most weight management strategies are based on theories.

Still, there is one basic rule that appears to be consistent (to a greater degree):

Energy in – energy out = plus or minus energy reserves (fat)

Modifications due to a person’s individual metabolism often due to age and thyroid function can change this slightly. That said, it still is possible to loosely group weight management strategies into three basic categories.

1. Suppress the appetite
2. Speed up the metabolism
3. Manage blood sugar levels and maintain satiety (feeling of fullness)

Let’s examine each one individually…

Suppress the appetite

• 

  Super African Mango 1200 - 60 Capsules

  NZ$49.00 NZ$32.00

African Mango is the new king of appetite suppressants and also has the added benefit of encouraging the body to use stored fat as a source of energy. It is extremely well-priced, too. This product is popular worldwide and has plenty of scientific research to back it up.

Speed up the metabolism

• 

  Mutant Shred FX - 60 Capsules

  NZ$109.90 NZ$66.00

Mutant Shred is one of the strongest metabolism enhancing formulas on the market and is useful when for short periods to get past a plateau one often encounters when trying to achieve weight goals.

Managing blood sugar levels and maintaining satiety

• 

  Red 8 Whey Protein Vanilla - 500g

  NZ$31.95 NZ$25.50

Red 8 proteins are un-denatured and less a refined form or protein that helps keep it fresh and nutrients available in their most natural form. They come in multiple flavours, and multiple types depending on your preference – pea protein, rice protein, soy protein and whey protein. Adding nutritional powerhouses like Lifestream spirulina and fresh fruit can begin to turn this into a meal replacement and in-between snack.

• 

  Good Health - Svetol 2800 - 56 Capsules

  NZ$39.95 NZ$32.60

Of course it must be mentioned that to improve our little Energy In – Energy Out equation, exercise and activity should be employed. You don’t need to go nuts (although they are a good food to have), it may just help tip the balance of the scales in your favour, along with a sensible eating plan of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Employing just two of these strategies is a good way for you to take back control of your weight. I would recommend either strategy 1 or 2 coupled with 3 will help keep your body balanced and not on a sugar rollercoaster. If you do experience any health problems when trying to lose weight, then contact your healthcare professional.

So, with this all said and done, it is important to realise that these are my personal hypotheses, and one strategy may work better for you than your friend.

If you would like a private weight loss consultation, please call us on 0800 224488. We can evaluate your goals and help you with supporting information to help you achieve the weight you’d like to be.

Anyone who suffers from pounding head pain knows that it is one of the most awful situations to be in and usually happens at the most inconvenient times.  Some people are lucky enough to know when one is coming, usually because they see aura-like colours, and can take steps (usually medication) to prevent a full-blown attack.  Migraines are likely to affect more women than men, and many people are unaware of the triggers that can cause them.

The most often overlooked triggers are grains, especially ones that contain gluten.  Grains are such a staple food for the world that we sometimes consume them without ever giving a second thought. However, for many people, proteins such as gluten a can be an irritant to the body.  White flour also has the effect of acting on the body’s opioid receptors.  That’s right, these are the same receptors that uptake morphine and heroin!  White flour can literally give you a high before sending you into withdrawal.

What is happening physiologically is that the blood vessels in the brain constrict causing restricted blood supply.  Ironically, when opioid receptors are stimulated, the blood vessels dilate giving a sense of relief.  So wheat may simultaneously relieve and cause the problem, setting up a vicious cycle.

Rotating a diet and keeping a food diary may be useful to determine what triggers these migraines for you.  After a couple of weeks with a food diary you may discover a link

Of course wheat and grains may not be the only trigger, or even your trigger.  Other common factors can be:between what you eat and what you feel.  Elimination of certain food groups can be the easiest way to determine what you are reacting to.  For example, try not eating bread and cereals for just a week and see how you go.

• Caffeine – coffee, colas, chocolate and black/green tea.
• Tyamine – a breakdown of the amino acid tyrosine, present in many foods.
• Environmental elements – weather, perfumes, pollutants.
• Hormone fluctuations
• Stress

In fact the body can respond to any of these elements as though it were “allergic” to them.  These days the word allergy, or sensitivity, does not just imply atopic reactions such as asthma, eczema or dermatitis.  Headaches and other pains can also be thought of as your body reacting to different environmental stresses.  I even believe that an allergy to stress is possible, since some people succumb more violently to its effects than others.

• 

  Radiance Digest Gluten - 60 Capsules

  NZ$39.90 NZ$31.50

• 

  Clinicians MigraDol - 60 Capsules

  NZ$31.65 NZ$28.50

We also have a clinic available that identifies what foods and things you can address to help treat the root cause by modifying your body’s response to food, environmental chemicals that you are reacting to and with a simple and painless process, thereby changing the reaction cascade.

Book an initial naturopathic consultation to run the full test.

For example, if you weigh 70kg and you are 1.7m tall, then you square 1.7, which equals 2.89. Then divide 70 by 2.89, which gives you 24.22.

Being of normal weight is considered healthy and an ideal to strive for, however there are some factors to consider.

1. Muscle weighs more than fat: Because muscle holds more water than fat does, the same area of muscle and fat weight differently. If you are a trained athlete, then the BMI scale may not be accurate for you. Probably most of the All Blacks would be considered obese in this scale

2. Age: Children have a slightly different scale. Consult your healthcare professional if you have any concerns.

Being overweight or obese have been linked to almost all health problems and has received much press recently due to an increasing number of people falling into a category of being overweight.

Many dietary ideas have been proposed over the decades. Some work better than others for some people, however generally it is energy in vs. energy out. Sugar and refined carbohydrates usually correlate with increased weight gain equals increased consumption. Sugar, for many people, can be disastrous for adding the pounds as it give no other nutrition to the body apart from pure glucose energy. Saturated fats are high in energy and will also add to your daily calorie intake. Moderating saturated fat can prove to be beneficial for many people too.

Use the calculator and have fun with working out your BMI! It goes up to 30. Anything beyond that and you should be seeking either help from a professional to help with your diet and any other associated conditions (note that it might be hormonal, not diet-related, in a number of cases).

First In Health has many weight management solutions to help achieve your desired goal. Everything from detox kits to Clinicians SlimWaist, Good Health green coffee extract Svetol and the all-powerful Mutant Shred.

• 

  Super African Mango 1200 - 60 Capsules

  NZ$49.00 NZ$32.00

Check the descriptions of each one to find what product is best suited to your situation. Or if you are not sure, send us an email, and we’ll be glad to help you.

You might still be suffering from those extra Christmas pounds, so now’s the time to take action and get started on an effective weight management program. Clinicians SlimWaist contains Caralluma adscendens var. fimbriata which has been traditionally used for hundreds of years in India, the Canary Islands, Arabia, southern Europe, Ceylon, Afghanistan and more. Caralluma naturally helps to:

• Inhibit appetite
• Assist you to maintain a healthy weight

What do you have to do to participate? Your task is simple; fill in the form below and you will automatically be entered into the draw.

If you want to try out SlimWaist right now, it’s on special for only $55 – that’s a huge 26% off the retail price – click here to get started.

The winner will receive 1x Clinicians SlimWaist delivered straight to their door.
Deadline for entries is February 28. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions.

First in Health ‘Win a Clinicians SlimWaist supplement’ Terms and Conditions:

• The First in Health ‘Win a Clinicians SlimWaist supplement’ competition is only open to residents of New Zealand. The product must be shipped to an address in New Zealand.
• Only contestants over 18 will be eligible. Winners will be selected by the First in Health team.
• Non-compliance with the competition criteria will disqualify entries.
• Prizes are not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Special conditions (clearly stated in sponsors’ award vouchers) may apply to non-cash prizes, e.g. they may be subject to availability.
• Deadline for entries is 5:00pm (NZDT) February 28, 2012.
• No entries will be accepted after this date.

The joy of growing and sharing food in communities has been within cultures for centuries.  Often home-grown food tastes better – for example the tomatoes that I grew this season and just started eating – and is often looked upon as healthier than commercially grown food.

One of the ways in that home grown food is different is that most people do not heavily spray their own crops which helps to minimise pesticide exposure.  However another factor that some may not be aware of is that the food is picked and eaten when it is ready, ripe and used straight away.  Commercial practises these days not only store food in almost freezer-like conditions for months, but they pick their produce when it has not fully matured, a practice called “green harvesting”.

When fruit and vegetables are green harvested many of the nutrients have not had time to develop, and the plants’ natural defence mechanisms are still very active.  For example, a tomato that is green contains less nutrition and remains high in salicylates.  Salicylates are the tomatoes’ defence mechanism against predators.  In concentrated form, they irritants to the human body cause inflammation with many people being allergic to them.  The rise in allergies, especially to that of salicylates (present to some degree in almost all food), is notable.

Back to home grown food.  This type of food can help with nutritional deficiencies and economic health if we buy from farmers markets and trade with our neighbour.  However if it becomes difficult or even criminal for people to grow and sell, then how can you get optimal nutrition?

• 

  Lifestream Wheat Grass - 100g

  NZ$25.90 NZ$23.20

• 

  LifeStream Bioactive Spirulina - 100g

  NZ$25.50 NZ$22.50