Healthier Homes and Living

Today we have back nutritionist, film maker, best-selling author, international and TEDx speaker, and founder of Changing Habits and the Nutrition Academy, Cyndi O Meara.

In May, we spoke to Cyndi about the changes in agriculture, the chemical food system vs regenerative farming, the importance of community, what wheat is today?, glyphosate, its registered use in Australia and spreading the awareness and manifesting what you want.

Today we, delve deeper into food. We explore our anthropological origins and how that historical knowledge can inform us of how to nourish ourselves properly.

Cyndi also generously shares an in depth look into some of the topics covered in her nutrition course and how knowledge gleamed from the course will not only empower you to nourish yourself but also those around you as well.

Today's episode also explores some of the rising fear amongst some people in the current climate and Cyndi shares her Top 15 Tips on what you can do to build yourself up instead of being afraid.

There are lots of actionable and empowering gold in today's episode but there is also some new topics around the current climate mentioned too, we ask that if you so wish to explore those further, that you explore them with an open mind and with critical thinking.

We enjoyed todays chat with the passionate, genuine and generous Cyndi O Meara. And we hope you do too.

Join us for a chat about:

• Why the Nutrition Academy- how Cyndi’s Nutrition Academy course helps you work out what is what with food?
• The benefits for individuals to improve their own health with food
• Anthropological principals and how it influences us today
• The body’s innate ability to respond to the right ingredients
• The ability to be a critical thinker once you have a philosophy
• The gut connection to our immune system and its importance of feeding the gut and what it needs
• Diet, heart health, cholesterol, sugar, ketogenesis
• The importance of feeding someone properly and how the state governments ridiculous $2.50 allowance per person in homes is inadequate
• The empowerment of a mother (and graduates) in completing this course and then being able to nourish herself and her family and thereby positively impacting her family’s health and the planets
• How the course enables graduates to support, consult and educate others because not only do they have the knowledge but the course assists them with how
• The importance of being a ‘critical thinker’ especially for our health now
• The important “eat real food” message at the moment
• The importance of self education
• The benefits of courses to assist our growth and knowledge
• How to be part of the first intake and get ONN’s Healthier Homes course for FREE
• The FREE microbiome post graduate course for graduates of the nutrition course
• The Healthy Keto Way Course and how it can help you get out of the sugar-crazy-breakfast-cereal life and get back into control
• The problem with eating today and benefits of cyclical ketosis for most people
• How we should be focusing on what we can do instead of focusing on fear
• What FEAR stands for
• A personal account of a friend who contracted the virus on returning to Australia
• The Department of Health and Human Resources acknowledgment that COV-19 symptoms are enough for documentation of a COV-19 case without a test
• How wrong the Codral advertising of ‘soldering on’ is and people should stay home if they are unwell
• Its time to stop being afraid and focus on what you can do with Cyndi's Top 15 Tips

With people becoming more conscious of the benefits of lowering the amount of chemicals they are exposed to and searching for more ‘natural’ products, it is important to be discerning when choosing products.

You see when a company begins with the aim of it being low tox or healthier or green, it is important to look at the motivation and ethics behind it. As our interview with researcher and business owner Jessica Kiely last month highlighted, manufacturers are clever at including some of the buzz words when describing their products in order to get your attention, without them necessarily being better or best for us.

So it is not only difficult to filter through the jargon but it can also be notoriously time consuming when trying to access the information that helps us make informed choices.

That’s why we couldn’t wait to introduce our listeners to our conversation guest, Jane Vandermeer. Founder of Intuitive Whispers, Jane’s product range are up there with the best on the market in terms of health and doing what they say they do.

As a woman who has had a long and continued career in the fashion industry, she therefore knows what it is like to be on the go in high pressured environments and knows the need for products that perform.

With her own journey with many breast scares, research into product development and her unwavering stance on keeping her products high quality, so they do what they say they do, she is an inspiration to feminine beauty.

Beyond Jane’s divine range of personal care products, we believe it is important to highlight Jane’s expertise in the fashion industry where she still helps women as well.

We enjoyed our conversation with the gorgeous Jane and are sure you will to.

Join us for a chat about:

• Jane’s beginnings in fashion
• Women’s tendency to just ‘power through’ and ignore the whispers
• The importance of self-care for women
• What Jane takes from Eleanor Brayer
• Jane’s journey of suppressing the knowledge of toxins in personal care products due to the lack of alternatives that work
• Jane’s resulting breast lumps and heavy metal toxicity from the toxins in deodorants
• Jane’s message of being educated so you can make choices based on what sits ok with you
• Jane’s Breast Care deodorant and why it is a one of a kind product
• How Jane is actively supporting creatives and young women’s emotions as well as their personal care needs with her Young Woman Deodorant
• Jane’s product testing in different humidity’s and dedication to using what works
• Jane’s plan to support men too
• The Young Woman Deodorant’s angel wings and Jane’s special connection with her niece
• Jane’s love of French perfume and how that has inspired her to create her high-grade beautiful perfumes
• The benefit of purchasing the sample pack
• The inspiration for each of Jane’s perfumes “Pretty”, “Magnifique” and “Beauty”
• Jane’s nurturing work helping women and fashion
• Jane’s new monthly membership (opening Aug 2020) akin to an affordable ‘private stylist’ to support women further
• Jane’s realistic approach of focusing on our body shape and having key pieces as opposed to fast fashion

Here are the links to Jane's divine products:

Today’s conversation is with Joachim Herrmann.

Joachim is a pioneer in the Australian Building Biology industry who originally studied the German Building Biology course in New Zealand. Passionate about biology, ecology and social studies he has always been interested in making connections.

It is no surprise then that when he conducts home and office consultations throughout NSW to improve health and productivity, he often works in conjunction with other holistic healing professionals like allergy specialists, child therapists, naturopaths or integrative medicine practitioners.

In today’s conversation Joachim explains why he created the Healthy House Australia certification and what it encompasses. We also delve into some of the important factors Building Biologists look for to help their clients and discuss many tips that people can start to consider or adopt to assist them on their journey to establishing a healthy home.

We love that Joachim is a positive individual that is dedicated to providing empowering messages to help people on their journey to health.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Healthier Homes and Living with veteran Joachim Herrmann.

Join us for a chat about:

• -  Joachim’s beginnings in Germany
• -  The beginnings of Building Biology and Building Biology Standards in Germany
• -  Joachim’s Healthy House Australia Certification
• -  Joachim’s aspiration to provide people with Healthy Homes
• -  Issues overlooked with 6-star energy homes that are sealed
• -  The importance of ventilation and “breathing homes”
• -  Joachim’s simple steps to creating a healthy home
• -  How our cars are important spaces that shouldn’t be overlooked
• -  Some extreme findings Joachim has come across recently
• -  Why government standards for radiofrequencies varies between countries
• -  How the Australian standard for radiofrequency exposure is based on thermal effects and why it is inadequate
• -  Joachim’s passion for providing homes as a person’s sanctuary where they can rest and grow
• -  The importance of personalising homes by taking into consideration occupant’s individual needs and health
• -  The silver lining of lockdown allowing people to connect back with their homes
• -  Where to find Joachim

Visit our WEBSITE for the full show notes and products mentioned in this episode.

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Today we are chatting to Raphael Siket the director of Ecolibria. Ecolibria are a Building Biology science company that assess existing buildings and indoor environments as well as offer building design consulting for new builds and renovations.

Over the last 12 months or so, Raph has been undertaking an exciting project of retrofitting a volume-built house with Passive House and Building Biology principals. In today’s conversation Raph shares some of his insights, learning and tips inspired from his journey.

There are many useful takeaways from this interview which we have documented in the show notes for you.

We enjoyed today’s chat with Raph and we are sure you will enjoy it too.

-  Raph’s journey to Building Biology

-  Where Raph’s passion for Building Biology comes from

-  Common issues Raph finds that impacts Indoor Air Quality in residential and commercial buildings

-  Briefly what passive house design is

-  Raph’s journey to passive house and what he discovered

-  How Raph has gone about retrofitting his volume built 2005 home

-  Some discoveries after stripping back the house

-  Details Raph has documented during the process and how it may help inform

-  Some of the challenges Raph came across during the retrofit

-  Considerations needed in making material choices

-  Advice if you are using a volume builder to build your home

-  The issues of carpet and how to get around some of the potential health issues they create

-  The material Raph has reconsidered and why

-  The importance of being site responsive, practical and functional for the occupants when selecting materials

-  Tips for people retrofitting a home

-  The importance of glazing/windows and insulation

-  Raph’s favourite parts of the journey

-  Raph’s favourite 3 elements of the build

-  Where to find Raph

Head to our website for all the FULL show notes and links from today's podcast.

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Today we lighten things up with lovely social entrepreneur Jessica Kiely.

Jessica has been immersed in the green beauty and low-tox world for the last five years and created the WORLD’S FIRST online shop for natural perfume and today we chat about natural perfumes and what green beauty really means.

At The Natural Perfume Collective, Jessica doesn’t just showcase and promote natural perfumes she and the natural collective, research and review natural, ethical, vegan and cruelty free perfumes that they’ve tried and tested themselves, all to help us access the most inspiring and uplifting brands available globally that live up to their claims.

Today’s conversation is with Building Biologist, Kara Kieley.

Kara has a Bachelor Degree in Health Sciences, experience in the Natural Health industry and further to herBuilding Biology qualification, she has specialist training in Advanced Electromagnetic Field Radiation testing.

She has developed a passion for lowering Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) in environments since noticing the correlation between certain symptoms and exposures. Her new venture with Marco at Spectral Design is their combined passion of not only providing comprehensive electromagnetic frequency testing but also building design for low EMF environments and healthy living using Building Biology principals.

Kara is extremely knowledgeable and has a way of explaining a sometimes complicated topic like EMFs in easy to understand terms. Our conversation today is a great starter for anyone who has been wondering what all the hype is regarding EMFs however it also provides some insights for people who are already familiar with the issues surrounding EMFs.

We hope you enjoy our chat with Kara and her mesmerizing Canadian accent.

Join us for a chat about:

-Kara’s background

-Why Kara chooses to focus on EMFs

-What EMFs are

-What to be aware of with ‘so called’ smart meters

-Austria and electro hypersensitivity

-What ‘smart cities’ will enable and potentially what we need to be aware of with them

-Dirty electricity and what contributes to it in our homes

-Some of the issues with solar

-Things to be aware of with shielding materials, gadgets and clothing

-Conductive and non-conductive clothing

-Adverse health effects clients often report to Kara

-Common issues Kara finds in her work

-3 tips that may help minimise your exposure to EMFs

Today's quick but informative chat is with Nicole Bijlsma. 

Nicole Bijlsma is passionate about environmental medicine. Nicole was a former naturopath and acupuncturist with 15 years of clinical experience who changed her career pathway to become a building biologist after noticing a strong correlation with many of her patients illnesses and health hazards in their home.

Today’s chat is with nutritionist, film maker of ‘What’s With Wheat?’, best-selling author, international and TEDx speaker, and founder of Changing Habits and the Functional Nutrition Academy.

Yes you guessed in this episode we were excited to be chatting with Cyndi O Meara.

Cyndi is a passionate, determined and highly educated speaker on health issues and uses her education and experience to help others improve their quality of life so they too can enjoy greater health and longer lives.

She is not your typical nutritionist and driven by a concern for our health system and the lack of educated consumers, Cyndiexplores relevant and sometimes confronting issues and asks people to make a personal informed choice about what they are willing to consume.

She educates people on how to read food labels, why diets don’t work, and how drugs can affect your total well-being and vitality.

Her groundbreaking book Changing Habits Changing Lives (1998) became an instant best seller and its accompaniment ‘Changing Habits, Changing Lives Cookbook’,

In our chat today Cyndi shares how she has grown a successful organic food company and the makings of her farm, a 60-acre organic food bowl which will be used as an education centre for sustainable and regenerative farming practices.

We enjoyed todays chat with the lively, genuine and warm Cyndi O Meara. And we hope you do too.

Join us for a chat about:

·  Cyndi’s childhood

·  Mechanistic and vitalistic medicine

·  The changes in agriculture and beginnings of convenience

·  “The one pill wonder”

·  What a well balanced ‘diet’ looks like and how to get it

·  The chemical food system vs regenerative farming

·  The importance of community

·  Quality, Processing and Seasonal

·  What wheat is today?

·  Glyphosate and its registered use in Australia

·  Councils current use of glyphosate and registering your sensitivity

·  Making noise and spreading the awareness

·  Being an activist in your own home

·  Knowing what’s in your food and medicines

·  Regenerative Farming and its synonym with vitalism

·  Manifesting what you want

Head to our website at healthierhomesandliving.com.au for all of the links to Cyndi's courses, books and documentary as well as all the people and books she mentions in this podcast. 

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Healthier Homes and Living Podcast

Over the last decade you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘going Low Tox’, helping us launch our first podcast episode is creator of ‘Low Tox,’ educator & Low Tox coach, Alexx Stuart.

Akin to us, Alexx has an inquisitive nature that needs to research and find out everything there is to know about her subject matter. It is therefore no surprise that she is recognised as a trusted authority on living a Low Tox life.

Low Tox life started in 2009, initially as a blog centred around recipes, gf cooking and food ingredient awareness information. It has quickly grown from being a blog to include six e-courses, three smaller guide courses (i.e. going gluten free), Low Tox coaching course, her own podcast and a best-selling book. Links to Alexx’s courses are below.

One of the many things we love about Alexx is her positive supportive nature. And if you have ever taken one of her courses you know what we mean. To quote her “Perfection doesn’t exist”. If you haven’t already delved into your Low Tox journey or you have started but what guidance on where to next, Alexx’s courses not only have something for everyone but you will be supported every step of the way.

Healthier Homes and Living & Alexx Stuart chat about:

·  03.00 Alexx's beginnings of her awareness of naturopathy, food awareness, questionable ingredients and environmental toxins

·  Why you should care about going Low Tox

·  18.00 Alexx’s challenges in her business & how she overcomes them

·  21.30 Alexx’s CIRS journey & importance of shining awareness on the condition

·  24.43 Challenges in Low Tox awareness the importance of clean indoor air

·  29.20 Alexx’s wins

·  31.40 Alexx the teacher, her heart-centred business & her aim to make change her way

·  35.10 Alexx's quick 3 tips/wins for how to start your own Low Tox journey

·  41.00 Alexx's courses at Low Tox Life, Thrive & Low Tox Method starting June 1st, 2020

Here are the products/habits Alexx mentions in the interview to get you started on your Low Tox journey: