Festive Herb-Infused Turkey with a Golden Glaze

Festive Herb-Infused Turkey with a Golden Glaze

 This turkey recipe not only incorporates the festive colours of green and red but also caters to a low histamine and low sulphur diet. Adjust the recipe based on your individual preferences and sensitivities, and enjoy a delicious and visually appealing Christmas dinner.

 

Ingredients:

Turkey:

  • 1 whole fresh turkey (size according to your needs)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

Cranberry-Orange Glaze:

  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • *Zest and juice of 1 orange
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Garnish:

  • Fresh rosemary sprigs
  • Fresh cranberries

 

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature for roasting turkey.
  2. Prepare the Turkey:
    • Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Season the cavity with salt and pepper.
  3. Herb Rub:
    • In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, chopped rosemary, thyme, sage, and minced garlic to create a herb rub.
  4. Rub the Turkey:
    • Rub the herb mixture all over the turkey, including under the skin for added flavour. Season the exterior with salt and pepper.
  5. Roast the Turkey:
    • Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Roast according to the weight of your turkey, following recommended cooking times.
  6. Prepare the Cranberry-Orange Glaze:
    • In a saucepan, combine fresh cranberries, maple syrup, orange zest, orange juice, grated ginger, and ground cinnamon. Simmer over medium heat until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens into a glaze.
  7. Apply the Glaze:
    • *During the last 30-45 minutes of roasting, baste the turkey with the cranberry-orange glaze every 15 minutes until the turkey is fully cooked and has a beautiful glaze.
  8. Check Doneness:
    • Ensure the turkey reaches a safe internal temperature. A meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should register 165°F (74°C).
  9. Garnish:
    • Once the turkey is done, let it rest for about 20 minutes before carving. Garnish the serving platter with fresh rosemary sprigs and scattered fresh cranberries.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Side Dish: Serve the turkey with a side of steamed green beans and roasted sweet potatoes for a well-balanced Christmas meal.

*Note:  Citrus is generally considered low in histamines; however, on rare occasions, it may trigger histamines in the body.

 

STUFFING SUGGESTION

You may want to elevate the flavour of the turkey with the addition of the following stuffing recipe.

For the Stuffing:

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa (cooled)
  • 1 cup chopped leeks (green parts only)
  • 1 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  1. Prepare the Stuffing:
    • In a skillet, sauté leeks and zucchini in olive oil until softened. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Combine the sautéed vegetables with cooked quinoa to make a low histamine stuffing.
  2. Stuff the Turkey:
    • Stuff the turkey cavity with the prepared low histamine stuffing.

 

Substituting Ham at Christmas Time

Processed and cured meats, including ham, often have elevated levels of histamine. The curing process involves the breakdown of proteins, which can release histamine. This can be a concern for individuals with histamine intolerance.

Ham may also contain sulphites or other sulphur containing compounds used during processing and preservation. Sulphites are additives that can trigger sensitivities in some people. 

If you’re following a low histamine and low sulphur diet, it’s advisable to choose fresh, unprocessed meats and avoid cured or processed options. Instead of ham, consider alternatives like fresh turkey, chicken, or fish, which tend to be lower in histamine and sulphur containing compounds.  Choose fresh, organic poultry. Opt for fresh, low-histamine seafood such as salmon, cod, or shrimp and avoid smoked or canned varieties, as they may contain higher levels of histamine.  Lamb can be a flavourful and festive alternative to ham, however, ensure that it’s fresh and prepared without high-sulphur additives.  Ideally,  preparing your own roasts using fresh, low-histamine and low-sulphur ingredients, gives you control over the ingredients and cooking methods.  Meats can be marinated with fresh herbs, olive oil, and garlic to add flavour without relying on high-histamine or high-sulphur ingredients.  The turkey recipe outlined below is a low histamine, low sulpha recipe that is a little bit extra special for Christmas celebrations.

 

 

 

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Berry Christmas Elegance

Berry Christmas Elegance

This delightful dessert requires no baking and can be effortlessly prepared and refrigerated the day before your special event, ensuring a refreshing treat for all to enjoy.

Be sure to have a generous bowl of freshly whipped coconut cream on hand, allowing guests to indulge in extra creamy goodness at their discretion.

Ingredients:

  1. Apples: Peeled and sliced (choose a variety that you tolerate well).
  2. Berries: Blueberries and raspberries (these are generally lower in histamine).
  3. Kiwi Fruit: Peeled and diced.
  4. Cinnamon Stick: For flavour (cinnamon is usually well-tolerated).
  5. *Lemon Juice: To add brightness and prevent browning.
  6. Maple Syrup or Honey: For sweetness, if desired.
  7. Coconut Cream: Refrigerated for 24 hrs then whipped.  Recommend PURE UHT Natural Coconut Cream.

 

Instructions: 

  1. Place coconut cream in refrigerator overnight.
  2. In a saucepan, combine the sliced apples, berries and kiwi fruit.
  3. Add a cinnamon stick for flavour.
  4. *Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fruits to add brightness and prevent oxidation.
  5. If desired, add a small amount of maple syrup or honey for sweetness. Adjust to taste.
  6. Simmer the mixture over low heat until the fruits are soft and the flavours meld together.
  7. Stir occasionally, being careful not to overcook the fruits.
  8. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  9. When cooled, remove cinnamon stick and place the stewed fruit in refrigerator to become cold.
  10. Place the coconut cream in a small bowl and beat until light and fluffy.  The cream must be extra cold for this step.
  11. Place the cold stewed fruit into cocktail glasses.  (Glasses can be rimmed, if desired. Instructions below.)
  12. Carefully place a large dessertspoon of whipped coconut cream over the cold stewed fruit.

Hint:  Stewed fruit must be cold to ensure the coconut cream does not melt.

 

Suggested Garnishes:

  1. *Grated Lime Zest

The addition of grated lime zest not only enhances the visual appeal but also imparts a delightful tang to this dessert.

  1. Whole fresh Mint Leaves
  2. Finely chopped fresh Mint Leaves
  3. Pomegranate Arils
  4. Cranberries
  5. Cinnamon Stick 

*Note:  Citrus is generally considered low in histamines; however, on rare occasions, it may trigger histamines in the body.

Instructions for Rimming a Cocktail Glass

Ingredients and materials:

  1. Cocktail glass
  2. Coloured sugar
  3. Egg white
  4. Small shallow dish or plate

Steps:

  1. Prepare the coloured sugar:
    • Mix regular sugar with a few drops of food colouring in a bowl. Stir until the colour is evenly distributed.
  2. Coat the rim with egg white:
    • Pour a small amount of egg white onto a small, shallow dish or plate.
    • Dip the rim of the glass into the egg white, ensuring that it is evenly coated. You can also use a pastry brush to apply the egg white if you prefer.
  3. Dip the glass into the coloured sugar:
    • After coating the rim with egg white, immediately dip the glass into the coloured sugar. Rotate the glass to ensure even coverage.
  4. Tap off excess sugar:
    • Hold the glass over the dish and tap it lightly to remove any excess sugar.
  5. Let it set:
    • Allow the coated glass to air dry for a few minutes. The egg white will act as an adhesive, helping the sugar adhere to the rim.

 

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Balancing Act: How to Celebrate without Triggering Histamine Reactions.

Balancing Act: How to Celebrate without Triggering Histamine Reactions.

For many of us, living with a histamine intolerance means birthdays, dinners out at restaurants, celebrations and the festive season can be a time of high-anxiety and potential feelings of disdain. Not knowing the ingredients or having control over the types of food served creates the risk of consuming things we know could add to or activate our histamine levels. However, worrying about this is a sure way to not appreciate our time together and our celebrations. So how can we enjoy ourselves at these celebrations, without compromising our health and ensuring how histamine levels stay at a healthy balance?

Histamines are the chemicals that your immune system makes to help rid your body of potential danger (allergens). The word ‘allergies’ covers everything from eczema to hay fever to food or drug allergies. These allergens tend to cause symptoms all over the body. Common allergens include but are not limited to; food, drugs, insect bites, mould, pet hair, pollen and other environmental triggers. Histamines are part of our body’s defence, causing you to itch, sneeze, or tear up in order to expel the allergens from your system. They are there to protect us. However, when our bodies are overloaded with histamines, that’s when things start to go wrong. When our body sees the trigger (pollen, pet hair e.tc) as a more serious threat than it is in reality, our immune system reacts accordingly, releasing higher levels of histamine to try and eliminate these dangers.

Histamines are stored in our mast cells, and the body sends a signal to these mast cells to release histamines. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that contains compounds that play a role in immunity. Histamine is one of these compounds, as well as leukotrienes (which also plays a role in allergies), ATP (our primary energy source), inflammatory cytokines and certain enzymes. It is the mast cells’ job to carry these compounds around the bloodstream, releasing its different contents when triggered. If mast cells release these contents all at once, the person will have anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. Mast cells are found in your skin, blood, gut, lungs, nose and mouth. After the histamines are released from the mast cells, they cause blood flow to the area in which the histamines travelled to, causing inflammation. 

Histamines, therefore, are an essential and natural part of our body’s defence system, so how come there are those of us who are intolerant? First of all, histamine intolerance does not mean we have a sensitivity to histamines, but rather we produce too much of it. Our bodily systems believe us to be nearly constantly under threat, meaning we can have a constant and high release of histamines all the time. Although the symptoms vary depending on the individual, some of the common reactions to high histamine levels are; itchy skin, dry or irritated eyes, hay fever-like symptoms, runny nose, bloating, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, headaches, irregular menstrual cycle, hives, anxiety, acne, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

High-histamine foods and alcohol are two of the most common triggers for histamine reactions (aside from pollen and pet hair), which makes the foods we eat a big contributing factor to our health and how we feel. This fact creates difficulty during times of celebration or the festive season and can often be a source of stress for people. 

This blog hopes to share with you a few ways you can still enjoy yourself during these periods, without having to compromise your health. As a naturopath, Charmaine D helps her clients daily suffering from histamine activation and histamine intolerance, and it is her hope through consultation with her, you will feel powerful and in-control of your life and your health, while still participating in things you enjoy.

Histamines are broken down by the Diamine Oxidase enzyme (DAO) which is primarily in the gut, but also in other tissues. This means that when eating foods that activate histamines a higher level of DAO is required in order to be break down the histamines. As the DAO is found in the gut and meant to break down the histamines we consume, the support for this process is as simple as a DAO supplement taken with meals. This provides us with the enzymes we need to break down the histamine in the foods we are consuming at the time, ensuring our body isn’t activated or overloaded with histamines we are unable to break down.

Quercetin and Vitamin C are two other supplements that can be taken to naturally stabilise your mast cells.

Considering the role the gut has to play in nearly all aspects of our health, ensuring our gut microbiome is balanced and healthy is essential to low levels of histamine. Leaky gut syndrome can be contributing to high histamines, and resolving this ailment will prevent further issues from occurring. Charmaine D can create a bespoke program for you, to rebuild your gut lining and prevent further issues due to an imbalance of the gut microbiome. 80% of our immune system lies in the gut as it produces an antibody called IgA which is our body’s first line of defence against alien substances. In order to produce adequate levels of IgA the microbiome of the gut must be balanced.

Ensuring adequate functioning adrenals is another area to look into, as high stress can lead to high levels of the hormone cortisol which can also lead to lower levels of IgA produced. A personal story from my client, with approval to share here with you today, shows the importance of tackling the source of high, persistent stress in managing overall health. After experiencing chronic stress for months on end, her body began to increase in cortisol levels consistently, creating an array of problems. Her histamine levels rose higher than usual, she broke out in eczema which is something she doesn’t typically suffer from, she had thrush and a stye in her right eye, all within a day or two of each other. Her body was so acidic from the cortisol that it caused health issues far beyond what she had suffered. Additionally, her fatigue came back in full swing as her adrenals weren’t able to act properly. With low-working adrenals, her body wasn’t able to heal with issues (eczema, thrush and a stye) that her high cortisol levels had caused. 
This personal note from my client is to showcase the holistic nature of the body and how one issue can lead to a domino effect of other issues.

There are herbal formulations in both liquid and tablet form that can be prescribed for the individual by a naturopath that assist in addressing underlying causes as well as being anti-histamine. This can be taken throughout the day as symptoms arise or consistently to maintain low-levels of histamines, regardless of the pollen or food-induced histamine additions. Unlike pharmaceutical, over the counter anti-histamines, these naturopathic formulations do not burden the body. Additionally, they actually target the cause of the issue, rather than just blocking the symptoms.

Clearing up your diet, ensuring you have adequate nutritional support, will help your body to heal and avoid undue stress on any of your bodily systems. Formulated herbal supplements and tonics can assist this healing and nutritional support and can be created uniquely for you and your needs by Charmaine.

Another avenue is limiting foods you know you are highly sensitive to, while still enjoying other histamine foods. Everyone has different triggers and not all foods affect people the same. A list of classically high histamine foods are; tomato, avocado, all dairy (except ricotta), spinach, strawberries, alcohol, aged cheese, fermented foods, leftovers (especially chicken), preservatives and refined sugar.

It is likely not all of these foods will trigger you to the same intensity, for example if tomato and dairy are high triggers for you, avoid those so you are able to dabble with the other foods. The levels of histamine in our body is accumulative, so ensuring a low-histamine diet leading up to your celebration can also be beneficial.

Continuing with foods, another method could be food substitutions. In order to feast throughout your celebration of festive season, try making some food swaps to eliminate the risk of a reaction. Some of these substitutions could be; Tomatoes → red capsicum, Spinach → kale, Strawberries → blueberries, blackberries, Pears → apples, Milk → coconut milk, Smashed avocado → smashed pumpkin, Yoghurt → coconut yoghurt, Sugar → honey, Coffee → peppermint or herbal tea.

These substitutes may provide you with the ability to eat what you want without any adverse reactions, and often taste even better than the original! Tweaking recipes to suit your needs is a must and knowing substitutions can help you with that process.

If you suffer from allergies, it is likely you have a high toxic burden on the liver. In order for your body to eliminate them, they need to be altered in some way and this alteration usually happens in the liver. If there are too many toxins, then there becomes a build-up, and your body increases its reactivity to things that usually would be harmless. Liver support is also a contributing factor to lowering histamines and can play an important role in your overall histamine levels, as well as many other health benefits such as gut, liver and kidney health.  These can all be discussed with naturopath Charmaine D who can guide you through supporting your liver. Clients who book a consultation with Charmaine gain access to a program created to help support you and your liver health.

Another supplement to consider is Luteolin. Luteolin is found in various foods and medicinal plants worldwide possesses remarkable pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-allergic effects. This, paired with quercetin can act as a highly effective, overall histamine balancer. Charmaine has sourced these products in formulations and are available in her clinic.

The microbiome of the skin can also be affected by histamines and create skin issues such as acne, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. Treating skin issues both internally (with supplements and proper food) as well as externally with creams and sprays can ensure a lowering of skin issues caused by histamine levels. Charmaine D’s skincare range is a high-performing, botanically based skincare program formulated with an understanding and belief that plant ingredients are safer, gentler and better for human health than synthetic chemicals. Many of her products can topically aid in the lowering of histamines in the microbiome of the skin and can protect and prevent histamine-reactions on the skin.

Working with Charmaine D as a naturopath and an expert in histamine imbalances, one can be sure that throughout the festive season, birthdays or celebrations, your health can be prioritised while still ensuring a balance of freedom and enjoyment. It is recommended by Charmaine D that you work both before and after the festive season to create a strong foundation and healthy balance, so you can go into the celebrations healthy, and come out healthy too. 

Book a virtual online, or in-clinic 30- minute everyday ailment consultation today and enjoy your festive celebrations with more control. It will be your best $55 investment in yourself.

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Is Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract more beneficial than resveratrol itself?

Is Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract more beneficial than resveratrol itself?

And how can the skin and body benefit from this amazing extract?

Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract (GSE), is making its debut as a superior antioxidant and is gradually proving to hold it’s own in contributing towards today’s sophisticated environment of natural health and beauty remedies. 

Winemaking can be dated back to about 8,000 years ago in Georgia, a country in the Caucasus region between Asia and Europe.  It is now practised worldwide.  In the past, grape seeds were disposed of as a waste product.  Recently, many seedless varieties have been introduced and have become extremely popular.  Despite this, the future is proving to be far from grim for these little seeds as studies progressively reveal that the seeds could actually provide many of the health and beauty promoting benefits of grapes.

Too many free radicals in our body can create an imbalance, leading to oxidative stress and problems such as tissue damage and loss of collagen.  We may feel fatigued; suffer from muscle or joint pain, inflammation or blocked arteries; experience brain fog; or our skin might start to display fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots or loose, sagging skin.  Free radicals can occur naturally in the body or can be introduced from outside by things like pollution, and can damage cells and contribute to the ageing process.  We need some assistance to protect against them and to fight them off with an aim to naturally stimulate our internal defence systems.  Introducing antioxidants into our health routine is an ideal way to introduce some armour and weapons for this task.

Oxidative Stress – What is it? | Advancing Health Naturally

As an aside, many of the Cell Defence products contain Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract. Due to the research on its great benefits mentioned above and below.

Why is Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract (GSE) so superior?

It has been reported that:

  • phenolic compounds are the main components of GSE;
  • an overwhelming 92% to 95% of these phenolic compounds can consist of oligomeric proanthocyanidins1 ;
  • Proanthocyanidins have displayed greater antioxidant capabilities than either of Vitamins C or E 2 (14) and
  • Proanthocyanidins have shown to reduce the lipid oxidation of the cellular structure of the skin and inhibit the production of free radicals (Markus and Morris 2008). 

GSE also contains Vitamin E, Linolenic acid, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Phosphorus, Calcium and Zinc. 

It has shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded the vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract to be safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics.

All this makes it an even more powerful and safe weapon to help relieve many symptoms and to enhance and maintain skin integrity.

Safety Assessment of Vitis vinifera (Grape)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics – Monice M. Fiume, Wilma F. Bergfeld, Donald V. Belsito, Ronald A. Hill, Curtis D. Klaassen, Daniel C. Liebler, James G. Marks, Ronald C. Shank, Thomas J. Slaga, Paul W. Snyder, F. Alan Andersen, 2014 (sagepub.com)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Heart Disease

Grape seed extract has displayed the ability to help manage symptoms of cardiovascular disease by strengthening the defence systems against this disease and neutralising free radicals.  Studies have shown that GSE has cardio protective effects as well as the ability to minimise oxidative stress.  This is done firstly by lowering the oxidant levels and secondly by improving the antioxidant levels in plasma.  This results in helping to modify the existence of oxidation of the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) which is the bad cholesterol.  This process can help minimise the risk of heart disease by addressing the build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries and assisting with the prevention of blood clotting.  It can also assist in reducing leg swelling and edema and alleviating inflammation.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract induced mitochondria-ass… : Chinese Medical Journal (lww.com)

Effect of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin on the Antioxidant Status and Lung Function of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – PMC (nih.gov)

Fatigue

Studies have shown that there is an association between

fatigue generated by exhaustive exercise

and

oxidative stress injury, inflammation and abnormal functioning of the mitochondria.

“Mitochondrion is the place of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation. The human body needs more ATP to maintain muscle contraction and movement during exercise. However, exhaustive exercise can lead to damaged mitochondria that further cause skeletal muscle damage and fatigue.” 3 (38)

The anti-oxidant capabilities of GSPE have shown to assist with fatigue created by exhaustive exercise and also play a part in protecting against oxidative stress.  Studies have also suggested that GSPE has the potential to improve mitochondrial dysfunction and there is a possibility that it could be used to treat uremia toxin-induced injury.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract supplementation affects exhaustive exercise-induced fatigue in mice – PMC (nih.gov)

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=grapeseedextract

Cancer

GSE may have an anti-oxidant effect which could have the potential to lower the risk of certain cancers.

GSE may also be able to help with type 2 diabetes 4 (15) , alzheimers disease and reducing iron levels of people with hemochromatosis.

Grape Seed: Health Benefits, Nutrients, Preparation, and More (webmd.com)

BENEFITS FOR SKIN

Protection from Ageing

Today, a large majority of the population want to maintain a youthful appearance.  The harmful effects of the sun and the environment can make this an arduous task.  Unfortunately, the facial skin is more prone to UV radiation, often resulting in photo ageing and giving skin a sagging and wrinkled appearance.  Grape Seed Extract can help to counteract this process by giving some extra support against the harmful UV rays.  Grape seed extract can increase hydration and help maintain collagen, revealing a smoother and more supple complexion.

Assessment of viscoelasticity and hydration effect of herbal moisturizers using bioengineering techniques – PMC (nih.gov)

Wound healing

Studies have indicated that Grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract (GSE), with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may have the potential to advance wound healing.

Topical grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract promotes repair of full thickness wound in rabbit – PubMed (nih.gov)

Grape seed extract: having a potential health benefits – PMC (nih.gov)

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Do you have your oxygen for life working for you – is your pep in your step still there?

Do you have your oxygen for life working for you – is your pep in your step still there?

Have you lost your oxygen for life? Your zest for life? The pep in your step? And if so, how? Do you have the ability to approach your medical practitioners to gain a better understanding of your health and why it’s not as you wish it to be? Read on if this is of interest to you.

The secret to a brighter, healthier future is looking back over your timeline to find where you may have lost your oxygen for life. Now is the time to take responsibility for your future to ensure your health, your oxygen for life, can flow through your mind, body and spirit.

Charmaine D understands. Her oxygen for life has been lost many times over throughout her life span. By investigating and researching her family background, illnesses, operations, how she was raised and how she lost her own identity and applying her genetics and epigenetics understanding she is now finally in the process of reclaiming her own life and regaining her oxygen for life.

This is Charmaine’s story – what’s yours?

We will start with this – and finish with it:

Charmaine D is not your body and skin saviour – that’s you. Rather, she is the investigator that can bring together your past, present, looking towards your future, and finding your suitable pathway to assist your health so that you can do the saving.

Charmaine D can assist you in finding the source of how and where you lost your oxygen for life. Through personalised consultation, investigation, research, discovery and application of your personal circumstances with your genetic and epigenetic background in mind, she can hypothetically pinpoint areas of concern along your timeline, from conception to present, and evaluate where you may have lost your oxygen for life. From here, an individualised program can be developed to rediscover and regain what you’ve lost.

Health concerns, big and small, all stem from the oxygen you have for life. So answer this question;

Why wouldn’t you see a naturopath? Charmaine D is someone who doesn’t just diagnose a condition, but rather searches for the root issue, the cause behind the symptoms. She won’t prescribe you with something to smother or cover up the problem, but rather get right to it, learn about it, understand it and assist in solving it or supporting it. Pinpointing not only why you’ve lost your oxygen for life, but why you?

Seeing a naturopath provides a completely holistic approach to assist the healing process, to better understand what is actually happening to you and why. It may only take one or two consultations with Charmaine D to gain a better understanding of yourself and what went wrong with your personal oxygen for life.  This then can make working with medical professionals easier for you, as you have the knowledge and power to know what you need and how they can help. Working hand-in-hand with a naturopath, like Charmaine D, and a medical professional  may combine the best of both worlds for you and make for a comprehensive and integrated approach to your health journey.

Charmaine D, as most naturopaths are, has a government accredited  Bachelor of Health Science degree in Naturopathy, a health professional in her own right – is this how you see them?

A professional in her field, a naturopath such as Charmaine D can assist you in determining where your oxygen for life went, and guide you to ask the right questions from other medical professionals. The answer to your health concerns is not “it’s just the way you are”. Charmaine can dive deeper. Acne – why you? Rosacea – why you? Psoriasis eczema – why you? Constipation or diarrhoea – why you? Allergies, intolerances or sensitivities – why you? Any condition, acute or chronic, Charmaine asks “why you?”

Before a consultation, Charmaine provides you with an in-depth, thorough consultation form to fill out. This is so, prior to meeting with her clients (client, not patient!), she can piece together the jigsaw puzzle of your timeline and find out when your oxygen for life may have become dysfunctional. Which means when you attend her clinic or have a telehealth consultation, the investigation process has already begun, and you are able to dive right in on the specific healthcare plan that may assist you.

Charmaine D believes oxygen is a key factor with all of her clients’ various ailments – why is their oxygen not as it should be?

She believes this so firmly that her skincare range, Cell Defence, focuses on bringing oxygen to the skin tissue, creating life and energy for the skin cell receptors. For more information on this, see our blog on Plant Stem Cells, antiaging, oxygen for cell renewal and many more over the upcoming months.

At the core of all Charmaine’s naturopathy work is the focus on where has the homeostasis – the balance of organs functioning together – gone wrong. Why you? What’s happening? Every tissue and organ in the body is dependent on oxygen to function effectively. Therefore, oxygen homeostasis is maybe the critical element to everyone’s health. Whether it’s hyperoxia (over oxygenation) or hypoxia (under oxygenation), it all creates oxygen dysfunction, leading to issues with your health.

With COVID-19 as our new reality, we have all been witness to when dysfunctional oxygen levels can create ill health. It affects people in different ways depending on the core of the person’s health at the time. Our oxygen levels control us and our health, so learning about oxygen for life with Charmaine D can open our eyes and answer our unanswered questions.

Questioning is at the epicentre of all Charmain D’s naturopathic work. It can determine what happened and why. For example, when working with weight management – is it actually about stagnation, and why? How can we turn it around? Or when working with skin and the lymphatic system, Is it stagnation? How is the blood and lymph carrying oxygen and waste through the body and eliminating it? Is it eliminating the by-products of cellular energy or respiratory energy? Is there a bacterial or viral toxic release? If yes, is this decreasing your oxygen for life and, therefore, lowering the level of oxygen in your body?

For more in-depth information about Charmaine D’s passion, the lymphatic system and how stagnation plays a huge role, see her future blogs.

Consider the following;

With every breath, oxygen is carried through the lungs to the capillaries and then ultimately into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, the oxygen is fused to the protein haemoglobin and diffuses into tissue for energy and nutrients. The oxygen delivered to your cells is balanced with just the right amount of myoglobin present to distribute the ideal amount of oxygen.

  • The oxygen fused to each molecule of haemoglobin is referred to as haemoglobin saturation
  • Each of these haemoglobin molecules are able to carry four molecules of oxygen
  • Oxyhaemoglobin is formed by the binding of oxygen to haemoglobin
  • Deoxyhaemoglobin is when haemoglobin is not bound to oxygen

Hypoxia is defined by a deficient amount of oxygen reaching the tissues and is characterised by inflamed, injured or infected tissue. With reduced levels of nutrients and oxygen, immune cells are then able to penetrate the tissues. Environments of low-oxygen are a breeding ground for most bacteria and viruses. This can occur for many reasons, including but not limited to; ageing, stress, sleep apnea, smoking, sedentary living, high intensity exercise. Oxygen levels play a crucial role in many of our bodily functions and ailments such as; mood and mental health, inflammatory bowel disease, learning and memory issues, hormonal imbalances, immunity, type 2 diabetes and headaches. There is also evidence that indicates the weakened muscle tissue, impairing oxygen metabolism, affects the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia.

As mentioned above, an imbalance between oxygen level and demand is known as hypoxia. The oxygen level required for standard physiologic processes is known as normoxia. And hyperoxia is the state of elevated oxygen levels.

The disassociation we have with our body’s health is where Charmaine D steps in. Where in your timeline did you lose track of your health? And how is this connected to self love?

With the absence of self love comes the need to draw that love from external sources – usually other people. This means maybe your life’s oxygen is no longer coming from within. Loving others before loving yourself may be detrimental to your health and the oxygen of your life. Where in your time-line did you lose your self love?

Before diving further into self love, let’s get back to oxygen in health and disease.

Cellular function is determined by the level of oxygen in your cells so let’s look more closely at the crucial role of oxygen for health.

This lack of oxygen may be causing a stagnation in your cells, tissues, organs and whole-body function. Why is this happening to you? Have you ever stopped to think “why me?” What is it your body is struggling with? Lack of blood flow? Is it stagnation, broken capillaries, rosacea, histamines? Lack of nutrients in your blood? Is it malabsorption? You may not be getting the benefits of the food you eat. Removal of waste products, kidneys, liver, gut function, bowels, respiratory, endocrine, the list goes on..

It would be unusual for you not to feel overwhelmed. This is why a naturopath like Charmaine D is essential on your health journey. Someone who doesn’t just diagnose your condition, but helps you find the core issue and pinpoints the moment you may have lost your oxygen for life.

A huge contributing factor of our body’s health and mental wellbeing is the food we are consuming. What goes into your food? What does your body excrete (process of elimination)? And what happens in between (digestive system)? If what goes into your body is insufficient, or what comes out is insufficient then what happens in between will also be insufficient. This combined with genetics, epigenetics, life, balance, acid alkaline balance, movement, sleep, nutritional values and more is the recipe for assisting health concerns and a possible lack of oxygen for life.

Let’s use food as medicine. What might we need more of? Less of? Why does movement help? And what kind of movement do our bodies actually need? Why does overexertion make it worse?

How can we overcome the neurotransmitters that have gone wrong? How can we balance couch-potato with athlete? What has triggered the imbalance and how can a naturopath help?

There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer to any question asked in this blog, because you are you, solely (and soul-ly) you. Spiritual, physically, we meet you where you are at, no judgement, just you. There is no one machine or test or blood sample that can determine why it is you who has been on your individual health journey. But rather, in-depth consultations, follow ups, a holistic approach to your health care journey and an individualised plan, curated by a professional who cares.

Throughout this blog we have touched on many of the possible reasons for oxygen for life depletion, but there are still so many more; exogenous imbalances, environmental disturbances (mould, dust, pesticides), hormones, emotional disturbances (good emotions and challenging situations). It is all so complicated. So let’s uncomplicate it. Let’s work with people who can help you dissect the complex causes and help you to move forward. But how do you know who you should listen to and figure out what you need to know? Mediators such as Charmaine D can help to balance the nutrition, delivery systems, elimination systems and bring it all together to aid your overall health. To help you understand that within you is the ability to assist your healing and the ability to control what happens to you, from plate to toilet.

Are you wanting to conceive? Pregnant? Just had a baby? Infant, child, teenager, young adult health? Early 20s? 25-35? 35-45? 45-55? 55-65? Over 65? Then ask yourself “what can Charmaine D do to assist me?”

Have you been diagnosed with an acute disorder? Have you been diagnosed with a chronic disorder? Then ask yourself “what can Charmaine D do to assist me?”

Do you have a multi-system dysfunction? Persistent respiratory condition? Persistent gut condition? Persistent iron deficiency? Are you lethargic? Lacking energy? Is your skin ageing? Then ask yourself “what can Charmaine D do to assist me?”

Charmaine D is not your body and skin saviour – that’s you. Rather, she is the investigator that can bring together your past, present, looking towards your future, and finding your suitable pathway to assist your health so that you can do the saving.

So ask yourself “what can Charmaine D do to assist me?”

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