A note given to me by my beautiful daughter recently. A reminder of what is really important to her as a 5 year old. We are parents. Solo…
Parents are often bombarded with negative stories and imagery about the internet and it’s no wonder they are confused about how they should manage it in the home,…
Cloth nappies are fabulous. They look super cute, come in amazing designs and are soooo much better for the environment. I’ve used them with both of my girls…
What I really recall most about my early parenting years with four young boys, is that I wanted to be the very best parent to my kids. Maybe…
How did I get here? My journey to physical health transformed me from a firm believer that the only way for babies was the rigid way of the…
Healthy families have a warm emotional tone, where there is affection between family members and parents are role models for their children by being positive, handling upsets in…
As a nutritionist who is passionate about food, I believe the joy of food, and a healthy relationship with food, is something all children should experience. Teaching kids…
It’s almost Easter and the smell of chocolate is in the air! I thought it would be good to have some Easter crafts for kids that you can…
Angelina Ballerina, the star of some twenty popular children’s books and an animated TV series, will soon be appearing in towns throughout the country in Royal New Zealand…
The weather is getting cooler and even on sunny days you know that winter is not far away. I’ve been thinking about fun craft ideas for my girls…
The All New Coca-Cola Easter Show is just around the corner – taking place in Auckland from Thursday April 5th to Monday April 9th at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds.
There’s nothing nicer than cuddling up with your kids and a book and sharing a great story together. I’m sure that all of you have had the experience…
Auckland Natural Fertility Associates (ANFA) is the conceptual umbrella of two great natural fertility names – Naturally Fertile (www.naturallyfertile.co.nz) and Soul Fertility (www.soulfertility.co.nz).
Hooray! Kiwi Families, together with Citywrigglers and the Southern Cross Garden Bar bring you Family Forum at the Southern Cross. We have a fantastic line-up of forums once…
As the first day of February dawned, I realised with horror that my youngest daughter Emily turned 9 in less than a month and I had done absolutely…
Homemade is certainly the new black and there’s nothing better than a custom-made piece, designed and made just by you. Whether it’s jewellery, clothing, homeware, art or quilts…
My congregation got smaller last year.
Hi Everyone So first of all – a big congratulations to Kiwi Families (and Rochelle in particular) for the launch of the new website. The site has really…
Things always seem to pick up pace this time of year. It’s back to school; back into routine; and back into our usual habits. As the kids head…
The New Year is well and truely upon us and the kids have trundled off to the school-yard. Curricular-a-plenty will be firing up, to fill your kid’s brains with who-knows-what.…
It goes a little something like this: Start with a great breakfast, chase kids ’til lunch, grab something quick to eat, kids again through til 4 when hunger…
So the kids are heading back to school- what about the under fives? The “right” childcare option would have to be one of the most difficult choices for…
Money, routine, lunches, childcare and peace are the words at the forefront for the solo parents I spoke to.
Back to school is a busy time of year and there are always thousands of pieces of paper! I got this idea from a craft website and not only…
Do you know what your children want to be when they grow up? Maybe a doctor? A pop star? Or perhaps captain of the All Blacks? ChildFund, through…
A large part of my role as an Authorised Financial Adviser is actually meeting people in the community. As we take a holistic approach to our client’s financial…
I saw a version of these rainbow biscuits in Pinterest and I couldn’t resist having a go at some myself… they looked so pretty! But my three year…
A common complaint we hear in the naturopathic clinic is hair loss. Do you think that hair loss is a condition that only affects older men or a…
Hotels and restaurants, and education lead the field in burn-out. One in ten workers suffer from burn-out. In the hotel and restaurant sector the proportion of people suffering…
Many people are desperate to lose weight to look “hot”, and some actually even want to become healthier! It is unfortunate that we live in an age where…
If you know that you are overweight, there are some great reasons to consider losing weight.
Much more likely – remember what we said about the insulin sensitivity and inflammation. But, carbs are not the main reason you get fat, they are a large…
People often ask me the same questions: “How do I lose weight ?”, “Should I be on a high or low protein diet to lose and maintain my weight…
It is surprising how common ulcerative colitis is today, I used to see a case every two to three months in the late 1980’s, but now I see…
Have you ever noticed how some people have an inner calm about them? They appear serene like a calm pond whilst others seem more turbulent like Cook Strait…
Eric’s first article on Osteoporosis covered the Causes, Risk Factors, Signs, Symptoms. This article overviews the Prevention of and Treatment for Osteoporosis, including diet, exercise, vitamin D, nutrient supplements, and…
The NZ Orthopaedic Association President Professor Geoffrey Horne, said the predicted burden of osteoporosis on the NZ health system generated by the over 60s was alarming. The numbers…
Osteoarthritis is like any chronic ongoing health complaint you may have, it will be aided by superior nutrition. Nutritional factors are very important in the successful treatment of…
The term “arthritis” means inflammation of a joint, and there are as ways that people can experience arthritis as there are types of arthritis. There are literally dozens…
Now, we will take each of the above cognitive distortions and discuss some powerful coping strategies that will help you dispel the blues before they even start.
Mood Disorders may involve different foods, food allergies and intolerances, heavy metal poisoning, methylation, and brain inflammation.
Neurotransmitters are a group of at least forty water-soluble hormones (proteins) formed within nerve cells called neurons. These hormones relay messages between nerve cells throughout your body. Understanding…
Which came first, the depression or the pessimistic thoughts? The answer may surprise you. In many cases, depression actually is the result of habitual negative thinking.
It is best as always, to focus your efforts on having a fresh and healthy diet, when it comes to improving any aspect of your mental and physical…
I have often thought to write about how diet and nutrition affects the mind, and about my experiences in the clinic over the years treating patients with all…
In the 21st century, guys are working harder than ever, are under more stress, become less active as they age, and many still smoke and generally consume more…
I wanted to originally research and write an article on cognition as well as memory, but on closer inspection found that memory is such a huge topic in…
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped bi-lobed gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. Every single aspect of your metabolism, from the rate…
You only get one set of kidneys. It is important to take care of your important organs, such as the kidney system which plays an important role in…
Gout is one of those conditions which can be aided considerably with a change in diet and lifestyle, and is a form of arthritis which is normally associated…
If clients come in with suspected gallbladder problems I always ask them if they’ve lost weight recently, been on a fat-free diet, or regularly consumer sugary drinks. By asking…
Gallbladder disease is one of the leading causes of problems with digestion that result in hospital admissions. Did you know that around 10% of the New Zealand population…
At least 50% of adults who seek medical treatment in New Zealand self-diagnose themselves as being afflicted with fatigue. This article will go into detail about one of…
In this article we’ll explore some causes and effects of constipation, and I’ll also give you 16 natural ways to reduce constipation; a common complaint in the Western world.
Here are 10 simple tips to guide you in what to look for when choosing a health-care professional:
Are you a parent or a caregiver of a child, interested in his or her health and wellbeing? If our children are to enjoy optimal health, they must…
In recent times, there seems to have been significant growth in the number of people developing Coeliac disease. Some of our food and lifestyle changes contribute to this.
In my last article, I started to outline some of the steps to beating candida and here I give you some more steps towards beating it!
James came to see me about a very itchy skin complaint affecting his face and around his armpits. He had the complaint ever since coming back from Dubai…
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world today, and are the leading cause of impaired vision in New Zealand, with a large percentage of the…
Now that designer coffee, hip caffeinated energy drinks and exotically flavoured teas are quickly becoming the hallmarks of urban consumerism, the downside of increasing caffeine consumption is easy…
Do you have breast lumps? Breast lumps can be grouped basically into two categories: Cysts or lumps, generally benign in nature, the most common. Malignant tumours: generally breast cancers.
Anxiety: feelings of fear, dread, and perhaps an uneasiness that may occur as a reaction to stress. A person with anxiety may perspire a lot, feel restless and…
Most people are now familiar that mild to moderate consumption of red wine reduces the risk of heart disease. This article will explore the risks as well as the…
Now that Christmas is over, it’s time to run and hide from your bills, right? It’s probably harder to stick to your budget during the Christmas holidays than…
Technology and the latest gadgets are sure to be on many wish lists this year for teenagers. SMART phones are becoming the norm and although the iPhone is…
When you’re planning a family Christmas holiday there’s lots to think about, including where to stay, what to do, and how much to spend. Here is some useful…
We all know that Christmas is the time for giving, remembering and thanking our family and friends by way of a small gift. But, lots of small gifts…
Well it’s a scary thought but Christmas is almost here. Are you ready? I’m not sure I am! Every year I tell myself that next year I’m going…
The holidays are on the horizon. Whether you get a long break or a short one, take some time out. Summer is the perfect time of year for…
It’s not fair, you set out on a plan to get yourself in shape and keep on track pretty well then… The Silly Season, with weeks of temptations…
The Christmas and holiday break is a time when most people throw caution to the wind. Credit cards are drawn to their limits, budgets are thrown out the…
Stability and balance training can often be forgotten amongst our workout schedule. After all, a gentle stability training session is not a big fat burner and it doesn’t…
This month’s theme is ‘Get Active’! Most people will think this applies to your health and fitness – But here at Goodlife, we’re applying this to your financial…
Are you doing endless crunches and core exercises, feeling a pain in your thighs and in the lower back and not a lot else? Are you starting to find…
Resistance training is basically any formatted exercise we do that overloads our muscles, so it’s not just going to the gym and using dumbells; exercises involving bodyweight and…
Cardio exercise, when we get our heart rate up, tends to be where we spend the largest part of our exercise time, so let’s take a look at…
Being active is so important no matter what your age or stage is. It’s about staying fit for your life but also about following your heart and staying…
So, if you are one of those people who have joined a gym and never visited or don’t have room in the budget for a Personal Trainer then…
Warmer weather jolts many of us into action. Whether it is spring cleaning or just tidying up in the garden, it makes us feel good knowing we are…
With a little planning, you don’t have to spend a fortune on nutritious food. Have you been shocked by how much you have managed to rack up at…
In March and April, Knowledge Networks asked 535 pairs of parents and their teens a number of questions about Internet use. The results were interesting:
Is that green as in ‘green around the gills,’ feeling ill, sick? Or green as in immature, naïve? Perhaps green with envy or jealousy? Or even, gone green,…
‘Living Green’ means looking after ourselves as well as our planet, and this means taking care of our bodies and our minds. Most of us experience being ‘down’…
Do you know that many confectionery items include wheat glucose syrup? If you’re intolerant to wheat, eating these items can cause problems for you. I’m intolerant to wheat…
The importance of family traditions. Family rituals and traditions bring us together; they connect us and become part of each family’s identity. Birthday celebrations are amongst the most…
Lots of us parents get to a stage where we’re not coping well, struggling to stay afloat, physically and emotionally. You may even feel at breaking point some days. It used…
Kid’s birthdays are wonderful; endless parties, family events, over tired toddlers, a house that looks like a bomb’s hit it… While we love celebrating our wee one’s milestones,…
If colouring books and pencils aren’t enough to keep the kids busy during the holidays, then these website ideas might do the trick. We’ve pulled together the top 10 educational…
Whether you are the lucky person hosting Christmas dinner this year or not, chances are your fridge will be filled to almost overflowing over Christmas and New Year.…
Have you ever sat down to eat something in front of the TV and then wondered what happened to it? Have you suddenly realised you didn’t even taste…
Osteoporosis is a silent disease affecting more than half of women and nearly a third of men over the age of 60 in New Zealand. World Osteoporosis day…
Arthritis week this year starts on the 21st September. According to the Arthritis New Zealand website more than half a million New Zealanders will have arthritis in their…
A vegetarian diet can be very healthy, but care needs to be taken to achieve a well balanced diet to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients. In a…
Many studies have supported the evidence that vegetarians have a lower risk for developing health issues such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and diet related cancers. Overall vegetarians…
We have all heard the message that we need to reduce our fat intake. Fat is the most calorie dense nutrient we can eat with each gram providing…
How many times have you blamed your weight on your metabolic rate? A sentence that I hear quite frequently is “I think I have a slow metabolism”. But…
Worried about your tummy and the funny things it does? You are not alone. While there can be many causes for different gut symptoms one of the conditions…
Do you need a cup of coffee to get going in the morning, or as a “pick me up” in the afternoon? You will not be alone. Caffeine may be…
For some people the thought of dried beans and legumes is not appealing or perhaps the challenge of getting other family members to try something so different just…