Happy Christmas!!

From all of us here at Penshurst Chiropractic Centre we wish you a very Happy Christmas and a safe and healthy 2014!

We look forward to helping you meet your health goals next year!

With love,

Alisa, Chris and Terri-Ann

 

'Tis the Season!

With the Christmas season well and truly upon us, it can be easy for us to become panicked, stressed and just plain worn out at this time of year.

The role that our emotional health plays in our wellbeing cannot be underestimated. If you are stressed your body may respond with feeling tired or you may be short tempered or irritable around loved ones.

So what are some ways in which we can look after our emotional health during this busy time of year?

1.    Breathe deeply – not only does deep breathing feel good and encourages us to calm down, it increases the oxygen flow to the brain, heart and other major organs. This enables our bodies to cope with increases in stress and maintain good function during busy times. Taking a few moments throughout the day to stop and breathe deeply can help focus our attention on any muscles that may need relaxing and also stop our minds from racing.

2.    Look around – take time to notice how your mood may impact on others in your family. Perhaps your young children are showing signs of being irritable? Could it be that they are feeling the effects of your stress? Perhaps a cuddle on the lounge or a tickle fight could dispel some of the stress and keep you and the kids connected. And we all know that children are far more compliant when they are happy and relaxed! 

3.    Is it too much? – are you putting unnecessary expectations on yourself for that “perfect” Christmas? Does it really matter if the serviettes don’t exactly match the table setting? Do you need to spend hours looking for the perfect gift for Aunty Joan or would a book voucher be just as appreciated? Take time to revaluate the things that matter most to you at this time of year.

4.    Be thankful – think of the North American tradition of Thanksgiving which is traditionally used to celebrate the blessing of a bountiful harvest of the previous year. We can use this season of Christmas to look back on our year and be thankful for the blessings we have had. Perhaps you could spend some time during your family Christmas meal telling each other about those blessings and what you are looking forward to in the year ahead.

How are you handling the emotional strain of the season? Do you have any strategies that work well for you?

White Christmas

White Christmas is a treat that many of us can remember from our childhood. Sweet and tangy, it conjures up memories of being in Nanna’s kitchen, where she didn’t mind the mess you made whilst “helping” her and licking the spoon was mandatory!

The recipe for this iconic Australian slice, traditionally uses loads of sugar, imitation cherries and Copha (which is a trans-fat made from hydrogenated coconut oil with added preservatives).

We went looking for a delicious White Christmas recipe that was free from those ingredients that aren’t kind to our bodies and we found just the right one!

The lovely Bianca at www.wholefoodsimply.com has kindly let us share her tasty recipe that uses easy-to-find ingredients and the kids will love making too. Without refined sugar, preservatives, gluten or dairy, this White Christmas has the sweetness of honey and coconut and the tasty zing of goji berries.

It’s an easy treat to make as a gift, serve with coffee or even keep for yourself! J Enjoy!

 

 

1 cup desiccated coconut (most commercial brands contain a preservative so use an organic brand such as Macro from Woolworths)

1 cup raw cashews

1/2 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 cup goji berries

1/4 cup pistachios

Place the coconut and cashews into your blender or food processor and blend until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Gently mix in the vanilla and honey until combined. Add the berries and pistachios and pulse until chopped and combined. Press the mixture into a silicon loaf tin and put it into the fridge for several hours to set. Cut and enjoy!