What is Vedic Meditation:

Vedic Meditation is also known as Transcendental Meditation or simply TM. Despite the numerous names, they are all the same form of silent mantra meditation developed by Spiritual Leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi back in 1955 where his teachings began.

The meditation practice itself involves the use of a mantra and is practiced for 20 minutes twice per day while sitting with one’s eyes closed – you will meditate upon waking in the morning before your day starts, and you will sit in stillness and meditate in the afternoon (around 4-5pm).

The mantra you’ll be reciting as you meditate will be given to you by your Meditation Teacher. Your mantra will be based on your life cycle and where your human body is currently at in this world. It’s important to remember that you absolutely cannot share your mantra with anyone but a meditation teacher. Your Mantra is sacred and should be treated with absolute privacy. Do not write it down anywhere either. Your mind will remember it; trust me..

What does it ‘do’?

As my meditation teacher, Jeff Kober, so beautifully says:

As one meditates, the mind settles down to a state of Restful Alertness where one has a direct experience of the level of Being, the level of Bliss, the place of fulfillment. Like a wave settles down on the ocean, one’s individual self stands aside to make way for the larger Self and one begins to experience life as a place of joy and possibility rather than as a place of suffering.

It’s important to remember that the practice of the technique requires no change in one’s beliefs, meaning the practice is for everyone despite culture, religion or heritage. It has no judgment or segregation of humanity, but only acceptance, kindness and compassion to give if you allow it to.

Meditation will bring you an exponential increase in your awareness of the Self. You will start to build a bridge to your Truth through daily meditation, allowing you to gravitate towards what is real and what is not.

Through meditation you will learn to embrace the stillness, you will learn to embrace the pain & suffering. You will learn that everything is possible to overcome, and you will learn that we often solve the ‘problems’ by coming back to our breath, to our stillness, to our peace & joy, to our truth within.

So, how do I learn?

You will have to do a meditation course in order to be able to become a Vedic Meditator.

I will suggest going to an Intro-talk so that you can understand the the commitment you’re signing up for, but also to understand the practice deeper and how it can change your life.

I will also suggest following your gut-feeling and pay attention to your connection towards your teacher.

To me, it was a very special moment in my life, and I felt held, understood and supported through my journey of becoming a meditator – both through Jeff but also the people in my group, as it was all friends in the intimacy of our own home over 4 days.

If you decide that Vedic Meditation is for you, you normally have to invest 4 days to learn how to meditate. These 4 days will normally only be around 90 minutes each day consisting of a talk and then a group meditation along with any questions that may arise or mantra-check (it’s very normal to forget it, and then suddenly, it sticks!)

Know, also, that there is an investment in learning how to meditate. A few people have asked me what that goes to? Well, meditation teachers live in the same world as us; we all have bills to pay, and they’re taking the time to teach you how to meditate, a practice and study that doesn’t come easy, but has taken years in order to be able to share with students.

I don’t believe in you having to pay $2000 in order to learn how to meditate, but something around $700-$1000 (to me) seems fair.

The reason why you also pay is to honour your commitment to the practice; anything we’re often given freely tend to hold ‘less’ value to us, and we end up scoffing it off. If you’re serious about wanting a better life for yourself, the investment should be the least of your concerns.

A few notes:

1. During the first few weeks of learning how to meditate you’ll be exhausted. I’m sorry, there’s no else way around it. Why? Because meditation is a huge stress-release for your body and mind, and it takes an incredible amount of energy to release your thoughts and feelings into the nothingness.

2. Be kind to yourself during this time (just as you should be, always) and treat yourself with gentle exercise forms that encourage an even deeper connection to yourself like yoga.

3. Start journalling every morning after your meditation. It will help you further in channeling your mind and letting go of what is not real.

4. Ask friends who are meditators who taught them to do so. It often helps to receive a close friends advise.

5. Finally; embrace it, let go, surrender and enjoy the ride.

–Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Anna xx

The post Embracing the Stillness; My Practice of Vedic Meditation. appeared first on Anna Groth.

Well, fast forward 4 weeks and, yep – I’m still standing. And not even just standing, I’m thriving more than when I was on the coffee-bandwagon – a band-wagon that nearly half the population (46%) of Australia is on – for better or worse.

Now, I’m not saying that coffee is bad for you, or in anyway unhealthy – unless you load it up with creamer and white sugar in teaspoons – actually, coffee is and can be a very healthy, hot drink – what it comes down to is how you take it (straight?), but more importantly, how your body reacts to it – something that a lot of people fail to notice.

Which leads me to the point; Why did I stop drinking coffee?

I’ve had a very sensitive gut for many many years. Genes, illness, eating disorders, poor eating, too strict eating – you name it – it’s all contributed to the very sensitive stomach I deal with today.

One of the problems (for me) with a very sensitive gut, is that I get incredibly bad reflux or heartburn. It’s so bad, that if I do a downward-dog and open my mouth, chances are, that the stomach-acid will be coming up and straight out of my mouth. Sorry for the visuals, however, I want you to understand how much a sensitive & ruined gut can wreck havoc on your life.. Not to mention the pain it causes.

My poorly-functioning gut also shows up like bad skin (breakouts and dullness), poor sleeping patterns, a lack of energy, depressive mood-patterns, dry body-skin, thin and fine hair, non-clear eyes and much more.

Basically, your entire body-operating system takes place in the stomach and gut, and if that is not well, functioning and thriving, then it will not absorb the nutrients you’re feeding it, meaning it won’t be sending out all the good vitamins, carbs, proteins and other building-blocks it needs, in order for you to look and feel as great as you’re suppose to.

So, what’s this got to do with coffee?

As I mentioned to begin with; coffee isn’t bad for you. BUT, if you have a sensitive gut like me, then it could very well be your enemy.

I’ll tell you why:

1. GERD: If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it’s a good idea to avoid coffee as it stimulates the secretion of gastric acid, which can bring on the heart burn even if you don’t have a bad case of GERD. And if you do? It’s going to be much worse!
2. STOMACH ACID: Caffeine stimulates the stomach cells to release more hydrochloric acid, which can, at times, aid digestion, but regular coffee drinking, especially in the morning on an empty stomach, reduces the amount of stomach acid available for digestion later on.
   The main bacteria responsible for ulcers, prefers highly acidic environments. Combine this with the way coffee weakens the protective barrier of the stomach – the mucosal layer — and the risk of damage and ulcers increases.
3. GLUTEN: Coffee is like gluten, at least that’s what our bodies might think. If you have gluten sensitivity, then you should approach coffee with caution.
   Turns out, coffee is one of the most common cross-reactive foods. In other words, the body can mistaken coffee proteins for gluten. And that means, just like it would produce antibodies to attack gluten (thereby causing inflammation) it might do the same with coffee.
4. INFLAMMATION: Regular coffee consumption – more than half a cup a day – has been shown to increase circulating white blood cells and key inflammatory cytokines. So, when you regularly drink coffee you end up with inflammation-causing cells spreading throughout your body. That leads to chronic systemic inflammation, albeit low. But even at low levels, more inflammation is what you want to avoid if you have a sensitive gut.
5. FOOD ROTTING: Coffee’s known to encourage the stomach to release its contents into the small intestine before complete digestion has occurred. Food that doesn’t get fully digested often ends up sitting and rotting in the gut. This creates a toxic environment ideal for ‘bad’ bacteria to spread in the intestines, damages the intestinal wall, and leads to inflammation and an immune response to enzymes in the coffee.

Just remember, these things may not resonate with you, if you are the ‘lucky’ owner of a strong, healthy gut. But if you don’t, then keep reading on..

How did I do it?

Well, to be honest; there’s not really any tips, tricks or magical advice – I just went cold turkey. Part of me also wanted to prove (to myself), that it was simply just a habit having 2-3 cups of coffee a day. Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE COFFEE! And I love enjoying it whilst I work, sipping on it on a rainy day etc.. But it became a security and habit-blanket that was doing more damage than good.

The first 3 days are definitely the worst ones. I will have to be honest; I didn’t feel like I got those withdrawal-symptoms that a lot of people talk about. Rather, it was ‘hand’-withdrawals from not having that cup to grab after, however I quickly substituted it with tea & raw honey for sweetness – and now, more than ever, I’m obsessed with tea and will have 3-4 cups a day (if not more!).

After one week, I found it really easy to continue going. I wasn’t missing it, especially as I’d substituted my coffee-drinking habit with tea, which is actually helping my water-intake and soothing my tummy instead.

The hardest part was getting my regular coffee-spot (Cali Press) to understand I was OFF coffee after they kept asking ‘So, just your regular coffee, Anna?’ every day for a week (hah!) – they helped strengthen my NO-bone in my body

After 4 weeks off coffee I can genuinely say, my gut and stomach is so much happier.

In just those 4 weeks I have noticed a huge increase in:

• Far fewer days with reflux
• Less bloating and upset stomach
• Better and deeper sleep
• Less fatigue and tiredness – I have high energy into the early evening
• Better & more regular bowel-movements
• Better and clearer skin – my skin is glowing.
• My eyes are white, clear and not itchy.
• My mood has improved, and I don’t have as many mood-swings and depressive moments.

For me; these gains far outweighs drinking coffee – not only by my body feels, but also how I can now operate without feeling like I have an addiction running my life.

What do I drink instead?

• TEA, TEA, TEA! I’m now a huuuuge fan of tea. Pash has introduced me to Earl Grey which I’m obsessesing over with raw honey and a dash of almond or coconut milk.
• Also, peppermint and chamomile tea’s are calming for your tummy and nervous-system – too much stress can cause your stomach to flare up and get upset.
• I also have Turmeric Latte’s which are anti-inflammatory and healing for the gut (do half plant or nut-based milk with water).
• Water with Chlorophyll (I use one from Swisse) but you can get one from your local health-shop – it helps to detox your liver and keeping your insides alkaline. 

I’ll probably still have a coffee on a Sunday or one every-other week, just out of pure enjoyment, but my stomach will be able to process that far better, than the non-stop, mindless coffee-drinking on a daily basis.

So, maybe ask yourself; is it time to ditch the coffee-drinking because it’s purely a habit or could you even cut down on it? It’s food for thought, and you could be healing yourself further, if you have stomach-problems like myself. Or even just challenge yourself and your mind by quitting coffee, even if it’s just for a week or two.

Please, keep in mind that I’m not a health professional and this advice is purely from what I’ve tested on my own body – everyone is different and whilst some may work on my body, it may work differently on yours.

Anna x

The post Why I Gave Up Drinking Coffee For Good. appeared first on Anna Groth.

Clearly it’s a subject that many women (and, some men) find incredibly interesting and relatable, perhaps due to our facial-skin being a touchy subject especially if you don’t have perfect skin – and, to be honest, who really has?

However, the skin is our largest organ and we owe it to take well care of it – from the inside and outside.

So, this month, I’ve decided to expand the subject to: ‘My Favourite BEAUTY Products of February’, to cover more areas like hair, makeup supplements, vitamins and much more..

Without further ado, keep reading for my favourite beauty products of February – all tried and tested by myself.

Banana Bright Eye Cremé from Ole Henriksen @ Sephora:

I love this little pot of wonder! Not only does it smooth on easily under your eye, with no irritation or stinginess, but it also feels velvety soft and smell a little bit like banana.
The creme instantly targets fine lines and wrinkles and reduces the look of dark circles, helping those age-concerns. Collagen-boosted, it firms and deeply hydrates. It’s also formulated with powerful vitamin C, to help revive and illuminate the entire eye area over time.

Bioactive Body Polish from Mukti Organics:

Following on from the Bioactive Body Elixir I tested last month, Mukti sent me the Body Polish to try in the shower.. And OH MY GOSH(!!), I’ve never had this baby-soft skin before! It actually makes your skin feel so soft, that it feels like you’ve shaven or waxed your legs – this is NOT an understatement!

I also love that the body-polish is slightly ‘wet’, compared to many other body-polishes that are too dry and everything ends up in the drain, making it a very expensive exercise.

Use it one to two times a week, and see your skin elasticity improve along with a noticeable difference in skin-scarring and stretch-marks! #winning…

Activated Charcoal Collagen Eye Mask from Arlo Blak:

I absolutely adore these little jelly-like eye-masks fro Arlo Blak. They help puffiness around my eyes and bring shine and glow to my under-eye area when I’ve had too little sleep, not been drinking enough water or just need a pick-me up ASAP!

I keep mine in the fridge so they’re nice and cool. Pop them on for 20 minutes and chill-out, whilst they work their magic. #amensister

They’re also great to bring with you on the plane, if you have a long-haul flight as they’re packed individually and you can arrive looking like an A-list celeb!

CytoPro Repair Powder from Eagle Natural Medicine:

I have a lot of Gut-Health Trouble (read here) so CytoPro Repair has been one of my absolute saviours. Gut-health issues also show a lot in the skin especially in the form of congestion (pimples and blackheads) and a dull complexion.

It’s a unique combination of propriety herbal extracts and nutrients with a high dose of Glutamine to support the structural integrity and function of the gastrointestinal tract. CytoPro Repair includes herbs used in Western Herbal Medicine to help support the relief of mild dyspepsia, to provide liver and detoxification support, to promote beneficial bacteria growth and to support healthy immunity.

I take 1 tsp morning and night, simply mixed with water. It’s helped my reflux, bloating and stomach soreness.

Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk from Klorane:

I love and adore Klorane. I grew up with the brand as my mum was a pharmacist, and Klorane was the French ‘uber-posh’ brand that everyone used. Fast-forward 20 years, and I’m still using it to this day.

I love that Klorane develop their innovative and effective plant-based active ingredients following a responsible approach and that they strive to reduce the impact of their products through the use of biodegradable formulas as well as recycled and recyclable PET bottles.

Their Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk is amazing for my fine, blonde hair as it doesn’t weigh it down, but keeps it fresh and flowy for days – I only wash my hair every 4 days or so, so dry shampoo is a big player in my life! I also use it to give my hair some volume and texture.

Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil by Elizabeth Arden:

After only trying this oil a few days ago, I’m absolutely obsessed with it and will use it on any occasion given me.

I have a special relationship with the Elizabeth Arden ‘Eight-Hour Range’ – it’s been used by most of the women in my family; from my grandmother, to my mum, to my sister and I, and now to my niece. It’s such a staple in our cupboards and the special smell reminds me of my childhood – I can never get enough of it. Think ripe fruit & lemon garden.. Mmmm.

Another YES, is that these products work – so well! They’re intensely hydrating, multi-tasking and efficient – everything a woman need these days, because ‘ain’t got time for much’!

This Miracle-Oil is a potent blend of moisturizing ingredients, including Tsubaki Oil, that combine to deliver intensive all-over moisture for face, body and hair. Clinically proven to moisturize for up to 12 hours, this multi-use formula leaves skin hydrated, smooth and looking luminous, without a greasy after-feel.

On The Glow Highlighter from Luma Cosmetics:

I’ve used this glow Highlighter from Luma Cosmetics, which is the brainchild of International model Jess Hart, for about 4 months now, and everyone always comment on my cheeky shine and glowy, dewy skin.

It’s a buildable, creamy formula containing crushed pearl for instant illumination and it’s easy to have in your bag to give you that ‘glow-on-the-go‘. In summer, you really don’t need much more than that – just pair it with salty-locks and you’re ready to go!

Use it on your cheekbones, collarbones, cupid’s bow, lips and anywhere else you can think of! I like to blend a bit of my shins, too, if I’m wearing a short dress or shorts, to make my legs look slimmer and longer.

Fractional Mesotherapy at Laser Clinics Australia Bondi Junction:

This is one of the newer natural treatments that will improve your skin dramatically without any downtime!

Fractional Mesotherapy is an advanced sking perfecting treatment that delivers the highest calibre collagen induction therapy to improve skin texture, smooth wrinkles and fine lines while softening scars including acne scars. 

This unique process combines micro needling with Mesotherapy (the introduction of various vitamins and complex ingredients to the dermis).

This minimally invasive process creates micro channels to the dermis (skin) for the enhanced delivery of actives where they will havea  cell regulating function, thereby improving skin appearance, texture and tone.

I have had facials with Laser Clinics Australia Bondi Junction for almost two years, and their treatments have improved my skin dramatically – click here to read more about my treatments and battle with acne. 

During the treatment.

Immediately after – redness will fade after 1 hour.

Those were my recommendations for February – don’t forget to check back next month to see what’s in store for March!

Please let me know in the comments if there’s something you’d like to see more of (in particular) or any other feedback you may have.

Anna xx

The post My Favourite Beauty Products of February.. appeared first on Anna Groth.

Port Douglas or ‘Port Doggie’ is a town on the Coral Sea in tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. It’s known for its beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to biodiverse rainforest.

Pash and I travelled to Port Douglas on a Tuesday afternoon. We caught a Virgin Australia flight directly from Sydney to Cairns – it only took us 2,5 hours and we were in tropical Queensland.

We decided to rent a car and drive down to Port Douglas, which is about an hour drive from Cairns Airport – it’s super quick and you have beautiful views driving all the way along the coast-line of the Coral Sea.

As we arrive into Port Douglas, we’re heading straight towards QT Resort Port Douglas where we’ll be staying for 3 nights.

The Resort; QT Port Douglas

Port Douglas is mainly resorts with huge swimming pools. One of those reasons are that in Summer-time, you can’t swim at the beaches as Stingrays stay close to shore as well as crocodiles (yep!).

We stayed at QT Port Douglas as they’re now offering a Fitcation package. This means you basically go away, but still exercise and keep fit, as you would do at home, but with all the relaxation on the side-line, too.

In the Fitcation package a PT-Consultation, a Workout Session, a Yoga class and a visit to the SpaQ is included, which we both fully took advantage of. QT Port Douglas also has 2 tennis-courts, and a lap-pool which we swam in every morning. Nothing beats starting your morning with exercise!

After our morning exercise we proceeded to the buffet-breakfast at BAAAZAR – QT‘s in-house restaurant – to have eggs, fresh fruit and loads of smoothies. There’s everything your heart desires along with daily papers so you can keep up-to-date with the world, however, I feel like Port Douglas is a place where you want to settle into the peace ad quietness and forget about everything else for a few days.

We also spent lots of time floating on bean-bags in the pool (YES!) and practicing acro-yoga, playing ping-pong in the reception and having midday naps in the hammock under the trees.

The staff at QT Port Douglas was also incredibly friendly and helpful with local knowledge and recommendations for restaurants and sights around Port Douglas.

The Nature:

This was one of my favourite things about Port Douglas; The Nature surrounding you.

Regardless of what direction you’d look in, the view would keep getting better and more beautiful than the previous one you’d just laid eyes on

A few standouts and must-dos’s:

Four Mile Beach: This is just so stunning. Especially if you head down for sunrise. The water is completely still and the sun is peaking up over the water and throwing sun-rays through the beautiful tree’s surrounding the beach. A grea spot for a morning meditation or yoga. There’s also a ‘fenced’ swimming-bay within the beach thats patrolled by lifeguards and is safe to swim in.

Mossman Gorge: Nestled in the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge contains the oldest, continuously surviving rainforest on earth. Take the little bus from the centre up to the Gorge and be prepared to swim in what is some of the clearest and cleanest water you’ve ever faced. It’s also beautifully cool combined with the very hot and humid air-temperature that rules in North Queensland. It’s a stunning walk from the bus, through the rainforest and to the Gorge itself, and there’s heaps of opportunity to spot wildlife everywhere you look.

Sunset Sailing The Coral Sea: Pash surprised me with going sunset-sailing on Valentine’s Day, which was just absolutely perfect and so relaxing. As it’s so hot in Port Douglas in Summertime, getting on the water and feeling the air slowly cool you down is incomparable! Soak up the peace and tranquility of a tropical sunset over the Coral Sea with spectacular mountain views and prepare to walk off the boat feeling ZEN!

The Food:

It was a bit hard to experience Port Douglas to it’s fullest as we went in their off-season. Most restaurants and cafe’s close down over Summer because it’s simply too hot in Port Douglas.

However, we did get to taste a bit of the local seafood which Far North Tropical Queensland is known for, and if you do end up heading into town a few places to visit on your list should be The Little Larder for breakfast or lunch and Hemingway’s on the pier for a sunset dinner and drinks.

I can’t wait to head back to Port Douglas and Cairns in general – there are so many more places in the surrounding area I want to visit and experience the beautiful nature in our country. I also think Port Douglas would be amazing to visit in their high-season which is during Winter – they’re promising a balmy 27 degrees then. Sign me up!

Anna x

The post Getaway to Port Douglas appeared first on Anna Groth.

I absolutely love that Hemp is such a versatile seed. I use it across all my cooking. Whether it’d be breakfast in the format of a Hemp Protein Powder, for my salads in form of Hemp Hearts or for my dinner when I use the Hemp Seed Oil for dressings or creating a dip, just like this hummus.

Hemple has a selection that is growing across the entire section of HEMP products which is 100% Australian Grown #supportlocalfarmers.

Just to put the myth to rest; no you won’t get high from eating Hemp Protein.. Marijuana is what will get you high, Hemp won’t. Although they share similar genetics, the big distinction is that hemp is superior in the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), while marijuana is bred to have a higher ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The cannabidiol that’s great for wellness is CBD, but it’s the THC in marijuana that gets you high. Agricultural hemp grown for food also contains no or very low levels of THC, and gives the best seed yield.

So if you want a protein that contain a complete protein profile, vitamins, minerals and polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, HEMP should be your go-to!

Enough about what this wonder-product actually is and does for you – although if you’re further interested, read here for my article on ‘The Health Benefits of Hemp”.

But without further prolonging this conversation, let’s get down to Hummus-business.

PS: scroll down for your code to get 15% off HEMPLE!

Hemp Seed Oil Hummus

Ingredients:

– 1/2 can of chickpeas
– 1/2 can of butter-beans
– 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
– 1/4 handful fresh dill
– 1 clove of garlic
– Salt & Pepper
– 30 ml of Hemple Hemp Seed Oil

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender or food-processors
2. Blend until smooth
3. If it’s too thick, add a little water or more Hemp Seed Oil if you want a stronger flavour
4. Add to a bowl and refrigerate for 30 mins before serving.
5. Serve with a salad or just use as a dip with crackers and vegetable sticks

Get your Hemple Hemp Seed Oil Here

Use the discount code “HGROTH” for 15% off purchases with Hemple!

The post Hemple Hemp Oil Hummus Recipe appeared first on Anna Groth.

But, that said, I am still a girl and I do love discovering new beauty-products and especially if I find they work! The working-part and making a difference is the whole point. Amiriiiiiite?

Getting older also (I just turned 28), makes me want to take better care of my outsides. After all, our biggest organ is our skin and we often tend to neglect that. Nurturing it from the inside is vital through our diet and training, but when we talk beauty there are lots we can do to compliment the outside as well.

Below are a few of my favourite beauty products I’m currently using and can vouch 100% for as I use them every single day myself.

Gentle Cleanser & Glycolic Cleanser from Skinstitut @ Laser Clinics Australia Bondi Junction:

I use these two cleansers every night after a long day. I don’t wear much makeup, so there’s not much to come off. I start with the gentle cleanser to remove any makeup and then continue with the Glycolic Cleanser to exfoliate and deep-cleanse my skin to remove any impurities and add to quicker cell-turnover for softer, clearer skin.

* Read about my treatments at LCA here.

Hygge HydraClay Detox Mask from Ole Henriksen @ Sephora:

I’ve grown up seeing Ole Henriksen on tv, in magazines and using his products. I remember it being the biggest thing for acne-skin as a teenager, and when I moved to Australia I got the pleasure of meeting Ole Henriksen himself. He’s just as knowledgable and kind in real life as he comes across elsewhere.

I love this clay mask and even more so because it’s the epitome of the Danish word HYGGE. I pop it on when I have a pamper night, kick my legs back and let it do it’s job. It’s comforting and helps reduce the look of redness, whilst drawing out dirt, oil, and impurities with a deep cleansing action, leaving my skin with a refreshed and nourished glow. Just like Ole himself.

Bioactive Body Elixir from Mukti Organics:

I absolutely love this golden oil of goodness for your body!

It feels really light, but penetrates your skin quickly, leaving it feeling moisturised, hydrated and smelling like you’ve just been through a herb-field. Amazing!

Not only does it hydrate your skin, but it actually aims to get rid of cellulite (I know, we all get it girlfriend!), stretch marks (yep!) and imperfections of the skin. Hydrating essential fatty acids, phytonutrients and phytoceramides are hand blended to enhance and stimulate cell turn over, elasticity and protect against free radicals which helps all of the above if those are any of your concerns. If not, it’s still a beautiful, 100% organic elixir to use to deeply hydrate your skin.

Face Cheat Moisturiser + Glow from Cinch.:

Absolutely bloody cannot live without this facial-mist. It’s a 72-hour moisturiser in one.

I spray it on top of my makeup to ‘set it’ and give it an über-glow or I’ll just use it on bare skin to moisturise it and get it that ‘just slept for 4 days straight’-glow..

It makes your skin tingle a little bit once you spray it on (close your eyes), as Cinch’s added superhero ingredient, Superox-C™ is there to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and make skin super luminous.

You just have to try it yourself, I promise you’ll be blown away!

Age Prevention Superfood Eye Cream from Youth to The People @ Sephora

I know you’re all thinking; ‘Eye Cream, but I ain’t that old!’. Well, I’ve got news for you – we should all start using eye cream as soon as we get closer to our mid-twenties. Delusional or not..

Since the eye area is the first to show the signs of ageing and gets a lot of wear and tear from smiling and squinting, it’s important to give this area some TLC. So better to start sooner, rather than later.

I love this little pot of goodness from YTTP that feels velvety soft on your skin and soaks in straight away and delivers vital nutrients with a proprietary superfood blend, soothing aloe, ultra-emollient sunflower oil, and an army of reparative vitamins. Tripeptide 5 is proven to help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, support natural collagen, improve elasticity, and prevent the signs of ageing.

It’s also formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, added colour, and fragrance and is completely vegan.

8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant from Elizabeth Arden:

I’ve grown up with this little multi-tasker since I was a little girl, and there’s certainly a reason why it’s such a cult favourite and has been through decades.

It works in so many different ways; on dry & chapped lips, as an eyebrow setter, glow on your cheekbones, on eczema, dry feet and elbows.. The 8 Hour Cream world is literally your oyster!

I always keep one in my bag and one at home so I never miss out on it.

Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash from Aēsop

I absolutely love and adore the handwashes from Australian-born & bred Aēsop. 

I’ve got pretty sensitive skin and especially the skin on my body seems to dry out quite easily, even more so in winter, so this light and gentle formulation with essential oils like orange, rosemary and lavender cleanses effectively, but also hydrates my skin leaving my hands soft and soothed.

You can also easily use this on your whole body and keep it in the shower. Massive kudos to the design – I love the vintage apothecary feel as it just looks über-luxurious in the bathroom.

Body Lotion Santal 33 from Le Labo @ Mecca Cosmetica

This is one of my favourite perfumes in a body lotion form.

Originally it was more meant as a men’s scent, but it soon became a very strong unisex-perfume, and I’d think that this sent would be the bestseller of the Le Labo fragrances without a doubt.

It has notes of Sandalwood, Cedar, Cardamom and Amber and is a hydrating lotion that nourishes and repairs the skin. It’s also enriched with Vitamins A and E as well as moisturising Aloe Vera, Coconut and Olive Oil which means it’s a lightweight formula that absorbs quickly into the skin.

Mmmmmmm..

Hope you liked my little selection of what I’m currently using this month of January – I’l bring an update of new and tested products in February.

Anna x

The post My Favourite SKIN Products of The Moment .. appeared first on Anna Groth.

Hemp is, in fact, so much more than just a plant. While it may look like marijuana, the hemp plant is actually a different specie of cannabis and contains very little of the active ingredient, THC – or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol – that gives marijuana its reputation. And the hemp seeds, loaded with healthy fats, protein and essential nutrients, offer a number of benefits and make a healthful addition to your diet.

If you’re looking for a vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids, hemp seeds make a good choice.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that help reduce inflammation, and incorporating more into your daily diet, may help to reduce your risk of heart disease.
They may also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, if you suffer from this.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in concentrated amounts in the brain, and plays an important role in helping memory and cognition.

When Hemp seeds are made into protein, it’s actually an incredibly high-fibre supplement to add to your diet, especially if you’re a vegan.
It’s considered to be a superior protein source due to its above-average digestibility, which also makes it ideal for athletes. If you want more persuasion, additional benefits of hemp protein include potential immune enhancing and anti-fatigue properties, as well as kidney-protective effects.

It also contains:

– High levels of arginine, which has anti-inflammatory advantagess
– Hemp seeds are great sources of Vitamin E and B, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc
– Over 30% fat – hemp seeds contain exceptional amounts of two essential fatty acids (Omega 3 & Omega 6)
– Again, arginine, to lower blood pressure which can lower risk for heart disease and/or stroke.
– Oils present in hemp seed that is able to penetrate the innermost layers of the skin in order to promote the growth of more skin cells, alleviating dryness and leading to smoother, healthier skin due to its polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), omega-3 and omega-6.
– High levels of protein: a mere 30 grams of this seed can provide about 11 grams of protein, which constitutes nearly 25% of its total calories.
– Gamma-linolenic acid which produces a hormone that can reduce the symptomatic effects of prolactin, which is notoriously known as premenstrual syndrome.
– The THC in hemp seeds, although very minimal, is seen to be having possible beneficial effect on cancer due to its supposed inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.

Need I say more?

Hemp is now also FINALLY legalised in Australia, meaning we can all integrate this beautiful natural seed into our lives and diet in multiple ways.

Enter; HEMPLE..

Hemple is a Bondi-born & bred brand that focuses on all the good things in life; health, nutrition and being the very best version of yourself!

They’re big supporters of the hemp-protein, because, they themselves, have cultivated and praised this seed for years, integrating it into their own lifestyles and want to share the benefits with the community and the world – a business I’m 110% supportive of, always!

As most of you know, I’ve lived in Bondi for over 7 years, and it truly is where my heart belongs. Working together with a brand that are brothers and friends of some of my closest friends is something that makes my burst full of love and gratitude. I absolutely love and adore being able to support local businesses, especially when they’re trying to spread a vital and important message around, not only nutritional and physical health, but also mental health.

Hemp isn’t only good for the body in it’s physical form and ability, it’s also incredibly strong and powerful when it feeds the brain and emotions. I’ve, for a long time, taken CBD-oil for my anxiety and it has helped me tremendously. I also put the oil on my breakouts, and when I get a bit of eczema during the colder winter-periods.

It truly is a magical seed, and if you don’t have it in your life already, I suggest you order online ASAP!

Incorporating Hemple into your diet:

I wanted to share a very simple and easy way to incorporate Hemple and it’s protein into your diet – a fool-proof recipe that we can all whip up super easy & quickly – it even has anti-inflammatory benefits, and it’s perfect for a hot summer morning when you just feel like something cold that will fill your tummy up in the very best way!

Ingredients:

– 1 cup frozen fruit (mango, banana, pineapple, papaya)
– 1 handful fresh spinach
– 1 handful icecubes
– 3 tbsp RAW HEMPLE Protein
– 1 tbsp coconut yoghurt
– 1/4 cup bone broth
– 1 tsp macadamia butter
– 1 tbsp pepitas
– 1 tsbp flax seeds
– 1/4 cup coconut milk

Method:

Blend it all in a blender, and pour into glass. Decorate with a few berries for sweetness, a few extra pepitas, a dollop of nut-butter and a sprinkle of Hemple protein on top. Serve straight away or leave in fridge for up to 2 days.

Hope you love it as much as I do!

Cx

*Find more of my healthy recipes here.

The post The Magical Health Benefits of Hemp Protein appeared first on Anna Groth.

You know what’s also fun? Brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush that’s so sparkly and beautiful it makes you feel like a million dollars!

.. well, now you can!

Oral-B GENIUS 9000 Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush, the world’s smartest toothbrush, now comes in a trendy new rose gold hue. The brush combines position detection technology and a whitening mode with a dentist-inspired 3D whitening round brush-head, to achieve whiter teeth from the get-go.

The position detection technology is designed to sense and recognise areas of the mouth that are being cleaned via sensors built into the brush, so you never miss a zone (in your mouth), including those areas that are most often overlooked.

The whitening round brush-head has a unique polishing cup to help polish away surface stains for a whiter smile plus you can also use the floss action brush head (shown) to make sure you are giving your teeth the complete treatment. The brushing system connects via Bluetooth to the Oral-B App (downloadable via the App. Store) which offers up to five dental care journeys through your smartphone.

The result? Healthier gums, by removing surface bacteria found in your mouth! Not only this, but the toothbrush helps you protect your delicate gums with the proprietary SmartRing and Pressure Control technology that reduces brushing speed and alerts you to be gentler if you brush too hard.

Last but not least, Oral-B GENIUS 9000 Rose Gold comes with a lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 12 days with 1 charge (winning!) and it even comes with a beautiful travel-case that holds the shaft itself + 2 brush-heads PLUS a charger that plugs into the travel-case. I mean, come on, toothbrush-luxury anyone? 

My experience with the Oral-B GENIUS 9000 Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush:

I grew up using an Oral-B Electric Toothbrush. It was the best thing in the house. My sister and I got to pick our coloured rings to put on our very own toothbrush – I always chose pink, and apparently still do to this day – making brushing teeth incredibly fun growing up. Touchè mum & dad!

Brushing teeth isn’t the funnest thing in the world, albeit probably one of the most important things to do, however.

I’ve always been lucky to have very great teeth growing up, although I also took pride in the cleaning-routine I had for my teeth and gums, and never missed a dentist-appointment or brushing my teeth.

I never had a cavity until I turned 20, never had braces, never had anything go wrong… Until I got a bit older (25) and my teeth started taking a toll due to sickness. All of this resulted in me getting my upper teeth veneered 6 months ago, and getting invisalign on my bottom teeth.

Even more so now, it’s important for me to keep my teeth ultra-clean along with my gum I’m a very ‘hard’-brusher, and normally need to buy a new toothbrush every 3 weeks..

What I love about the Oral-B GENIUS 9000 Rose Gold is the fact, that when I press the handle too hard, it lights up in red and tells me to ‘back off’ – basically.. Very simple, but incredibly useful! Most of us use too much ‘power’ when we brush our teeth, and all we need to do is hold the electric toothbrush and it’ll do the rest of the work for you!

It also has 5 settings, including; Daily Clean, Deep Clean, Whitening, Massage, Sensitive and Tongue Cleaning.

AND, this may be the coolest feature and what sets it apart form anything else; when you connect to your smartphone with the Oral-B app it shows you where you brush and guides you to cover all areas of your mouth for a thorough clean!

There’s a reason why Oral-B is recommended by dentists all over the world. It’s both effective and FUN brushing your teeth.

It’s the perfect Christmas Gift this year, because there’s nothing better than giving a gift that can contribute to your overall health.

You can get the Oral-B GENIUS 9000 Rose Gold from ShaverShop

Your smile is your best business-card.

Merry Christmas,
Anna xx

The post Christmas Gift Guide: The World’s Smartest Toothbrush – Oral-B GENIUS 9000 Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush appeared first on Anna Groth.

A surprisingly simple concept, FreshPaper is a small piece of recyclable and compostable paper infused with a secret combination of organic spices, which has the ability to keep your fruit and vegetables fresh for up to four times longer.

FreshPaper’s founder, Kavita Shukla, discovered the active ingredients after accidentally drinking some tap water in India when she was a teenager. Her grandma gave her a home remedy – a mixture of spices – that prevented her from getting sick and it is these spices that began the FreshPaper journey.

Food Wastage in Australia:

Australians are wasting nearly $10 billion per year on food waste, with the average household chucking away 14 percent of food bought.

The whole reason why Australians are so wasteful… is because we’ve lost our connection to food and where food comes from. There’s relatively low prices, there’s an overabundance and people don’t have time to get back to basics and cook that much anymore. We Australians seem to no longer understand the process of where our food comes from and the consequences of wasting it.

Want more stats to understand just how big this problem is?

• The Government estimates food waste costs the Australian economy $20 billion each year.
• 4 million tonnes of food ends up as landfill, enough to fill 8,400 Olympic sized swimming pools.
• One in five shopping bags end up in the bin = $3,800 worth of groceries per household each year.
• 35% of the average household bin is food waste.
• Nearly three million people are living in poverty, one quarter are children.
• Over 644,000 people now receive food relief each month, one third are children.

So, what is the solution?

First and foremost, understanding the problem (above), acknowledging that we all have a part to play in solving the issue and the toll it takes on the world, the economy and our nature around us… And then actually doing something about it!

1. Only buy what you need and remember to use it up.

2. If you buy fresh fruit & vegetables try FreshPaper to keep your produce fresh for longer be it in the fridge or on your kitchen bench.

3. Write a shopping list, plan meals and look what’s in your fridge before you go shopping for new produce.

4. Store your leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge, or freeze them for a later date.

5. Shop local produce from the markets and help our farmers – fresh produce stays fresh & vibrant much longer and will help you to consume it all in time.

6. Donate your left-over items to charities that ‘rescues food’ for the less fortunate.

Why FreshPaper?

1. FreshPaper is so simple – just toss a sheet into your fruit bowl, crisper drawer or berry punnet and it will keep your fruit and vegetables fresher for longer

2. Each FreshPaper sheet lasts for three weeks when you use it!

3. For smaller items like your strawberry punnets, cut your piece of FreshPaper in half and place it underneath the fruit – double the usage out of one sheet!

4. For as little as $2 a week, this piece of paper has a secret combination of spices that keep your fruit and vegetables fresher for up to 2-4 times longer

5. FreshPaper is good for the environment and reduces waste – helping solve a worldly problem!

Got your attention? I hope so!

Check out FreshPaper here

The post Review: FreshPaper – a simple piece of paper changing the way we store fruit and vegetables appeared first on Anna Groth.

The problem with sleep deprivation:

The way you feel while you’re awake depends in part on what happens while you’re sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.

The damage from sleep deficiency can harm you over time. Ongoing sleep deficiency can raise your risk for some chronic health problems. It can also affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others throughout the day.

Your immune system relies on sleep to stay healthy. This system defends your body against bacterias and outer factors. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way in which your immune system responds. Have trouble fighting common infections? You may be sleep deprived..

Mental health issues, such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders.
Speak to people who suffer from depression and you often hear them complaining about sleep quality and lack of it.

Sleep deprivation to me:

.. Is all about coming back to natural remedies, like sleep tea.

I, personally, don’t like to fill my body with prescription medicine, when I know there’s a better way and approach to treat what we’re facing (in this instance; sleep disorders).

I have for many years gone in and out of sleeping-disorders. I’ve suffered from insomnia for long periods of times, and I’ve always been a very light sleeper which certainly didn’t help, either. I’ve also never been a huge fan of sleep as I always felt it was a ‘waste of time’..

Growing older and becoming more aware of my body and my mind, I see how much a lack of sleep or disturbed sleep has on my day.

On the days where my sleep has been poor, I make far less good choices for myself. I eat worse, I eat too much, I am irritable, I get overwhelmed and often anxious, and I run out of energy around midday.

In contrast; on the days where I sleep incredibly well, I make good choices like eating the right amount, I eat healthy, nutritious foods, I am smiling and happy, I have time for everything and everyone and I can go til late night.

An addition to the solution:

Sleep Tea.. And in particular WelleCo Fortified Calming Tea.

I’ve trialled this delicious Sleep Tea for a week now, and I absolutely love it. I’ve made it a stable in my cupboard (next to my Super Elixir) and I’ve had a cuppa (or two) most nights around 8.30pm as I tend to hit the sheets around 10pm (to fall asleep around 10.30pm).

I’ve also had the tea on days where I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed and anxious, as it’s helped me to take a step back and slow down my breath. I also had it before a late-night Yin session and would often brew a batch in a on-the-go tea-bottle so I could sip it whilst getting zenned out.

I quite quickly noticed the calming effects of the tea, and how it would make my heart feel like it slowed down ten notches, my eyes calmer and softer, and my tummy light and comfortable – ready for bed.

It didn’t take me long before I’d fall asleep, and I also noticed how I’d sleep a lot more restfully through the night instead of the tossing & turning I quite so often do (poor, whoever, once get to sleep next to me..). However, the best part, for me, would be the feeling of waking up refreshed and energised very early in the morning (I wake between 5am – 5.30am naturally) and being able to have an even more restful first meditation of the day (I’m a vedic meditator).

So, what’s in the tea:

Lots of good stuff (of course!) – and all completely natural!

The Fortified Calming Tea is a special blend they’ve created in-house and some of the standout ingredients to pay attention to and the benefits of them are below.

Key Unique Ingredients:

• Skullcap: a powerful medicinal herb used in a wide range of nervous conditions including insomnia and anxietys
• Valerian Root: a very common remedy for insomnia, this herb may enhance sleep quality,  the speed of falling asleep and encouraging deep sleep
• Hops: when combined with valerian, this flower extract is widely used as a mild sedative for anxiety and insomnia

Do you have trouble sleeping? This could be a very good try for you, if you, like me, enjoy natural remedies to help bring the very best out of yourself.

Read more about WelleCo’s Fortified Calming Tea here and you can use the discount code CAROLINE to receive FREE SHIPPING.

Anna x

The post The Benefits of Sleep Tea appeared first on Anna Groth.