I started consuming collagen daily back in 2015 and it’s one of the habits that I will never ever let go of, purely because of the health benefits I see and the positive impact it has on my skin.

But, be careful – there are lots of collagens on the market that claim to be something they’re not. It’s important to assess a brand and product in detail when you’re considering introducing a new ingestible supplement to your regime.

Some of the things to look out for are;

• Sustainability: The efforts of the brand/product to lower their environmental footprint
• Sourcing: Be mindful of where the collagen (fish) comes from, how it was raised, how it was fed, how it was caught. Make sure it’s been MSc approved and that it’s under strict management.
• Ingredients: What are the added extra ingredients in the product to make the marine collagen more bioavailable in your body.
• Potency: How much collagen is in the product per serving?

All of the above should play a key role in your decision-making when deciding on which Marine Collagen is best for you.

What is Marine Collagen, what does it do & why should I take it?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, but our bodies produce less and less of it with each passing year. Since most of us don’t get enough collagen through our diets, it can be beneficial to supplement with Marine Collagen.

Marine Collagen is derived entirely from fish collagen, either fish skin or scales. Marine collagen peptides are comprised of two types of collagen, types I & III. There are over forty different types of collagen throughout the body that vary in their composition and function, but Type 1 collagen is the most abundant collagen in our body. Because Marine Collagen has superior bioavailability it is absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently than other types of collagen, making it one of the best and effective types.

I think we are all, as a society and world, beginning to recognise the link and true effect between healthy skin and nutrition. It means, it really does matter in the long run what we choose to feed our bodies and how it’s reflected in our skin, particularly our facial skin as it’s a lot more sensitive and exposed to free radicals, sun, pollution and wear & tear from simply ageing.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with ageing – we all do – but I think we can agree on that we’d all love to age gracefully and feel good about ourselves and the skin that we’re in.

So if you are someone who chooses to incorporate an abundance of leafy greens, fresh fruit & vegetables and lots of water every single day, you’re already on such a good road for your overall health AND your skin health. Now, add a daily dose of Marine Collagen to the mix if you’d like better skin health along with healthier hair & nails, too, and you’re well on your way to setting your beauty routine up for success.

Because beauty really is so much more than what we choose to put ON our skin, it’s about how we feed our microbiome (gut) with the right nutrient so that our cell-turnover (every 30 days) reveals more luminous, glowy and plump skin.

Health & Beauty Benefits of taking Marine Collagen: 

• Skin Elasticity & Hydration
• Healthy Nail Growth
• Firms Skin
• Soft Hair & Hair Growth Increase

Isagenix Collagen Elixir:

I’ve been testing out this beautiful and newly launched Collagen Elixir from Isagenix for the last 30 days, after having long and in-depth conversations about everything from the vision & creation of this product coming to life, to understanding how the marine collagen is sourced, the product is bottled, the low impact it has on the planet and much more.
I was so impressed with the lengths Isagenix has gone to creating this product with so much thought & care and wanted to share the experience with you.

This is why Isagenix Collagen Elixir is different to what’s currently on the market and why I chose to partner with them for the launch:

1. Environmentally Sustainable:

Isagenix’s marine collagen is both ethically and sustainably sourced from the beautifully blue ice waters of the Scandinavian Sea, following strict environmentally friendly practices that help support marine diversity. It is manufactured in a Marine Stewardship Council certified carbon neutral facility. This certification guarantees the product has met a science-based set of standards that care for the ecosystems our wild fish are part of and handled with care throughout the entire supply chain.

Additionally, with 100% recyclable packaging, making the marine Collagen Elixir fully sustainable from sourcing through to disposal.

2. Key Botanical for Synergistic Effect:

Marine collagen is mostly used in cosmetic products because its collagen profile aligns closely with the collagen profile seen in humans, making it a great match to nourish your skin. But Isagenix hasn’t just used marine collagen. The key botanical ingredients included in the ‘daily shot of Collagen’ also serve a special purpose. These ingredients include; Goji Berries, Aloe Vera, Acerola Berry, Chamomile, Vitamin C & Zinc.

3. Quality Sealed & Preserved:

Each bottle is sealed in just 0.15 seconds to prevent the product from losing its efficacy from oxidisation caused by a gas exchange. By sealing in the freshness and preventing any gas exchange, Collagen Elixir maintains its premium quality without the need of any preservatives.

4. Collagen at The Forefront:

Every bottle of Collagen Elixir contains a total of 5g Synchronised Marine Collagen with Double Nutri Technology to assist with nutrient absorption.

… and, don’t worry – it tastes like a fruit-cocktail, nothing like fish and with no fishy aftertaste.

Who’s keen to get started?
(Find the Isagenix Marine Collagen here)

[This is a paid partnership with Isagenix ANZ, however the words, experience and opinions are those of my complete own].

The post Why Marine Collagen is Your Best Friend if You Want Glowy & Healthy Skin appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

I know deep in my heart that a big part that trickled in, has absolutely been my battle with eating disorders coming and going since I was a teenager. When it really started taking over my life again and running the show, I was only about 24 years old..

This was also the time when my body said “NO MORE – I’m reserving what little energy I have left in me to preserve your vital organs and I’m not shedding any blood or allowing your reproductive hormones to work because I need to keep you alive”. And at this low-point in my life, was when I stopped having my periods all together.

I’ll be honest, being so young and not getting your period is pretty ‘handy’.. I also was in no frame of mind to truly consider whether I wanted kids or not – I didn’t have a partner at the time and I felt like I was still a kid myself. So I just went along with it. The not having your period ‘thing’ – I’m a little ashamed to say that, but it’s the truth..

Speaking the words above, I do want to sincerely emphasise the fact that is is not normal to not get your period and it should not be looked at something being ‘handy’ or convenient. We, as women, are so truly blessed with having a monthly cycle with 4 different phases that help us with so many things in life because of a ‘little’ thing called hormones.

Ultimately, hormones control the function of entire organs, affecting such diverse processes as growth and development, reproduction, and sexual characteristics. Hormones also influence the way the body uses and stores energy and control the volume of fluid and the levels of salts and sugar (glucose) in the blood. Very small amounts of hormones can trigger very large responses in the body. Which means, we really need to look after our hormones and make sure they are balanced.

Another thing I’m seeing a lot of is girls and women going on the pill in order to combat acne, period pains or balancing their hormones – can I simply ask you to consider this; you’re filling your body with synthetic hormones and the ‘bleed’ you have once a month is fake.. It’s not real. And this means you’re simply putting a band-aid on your symptoms instead of actually getting to the root-cause of your issue. I started on the pill when I was only 14 years old, but I stopped it when I was 22. I know it’s been a huge cause in some of the issues I face today, and 8 years later I’m still ‘cleaning up’ after these ‘little innocent pills’. I feel incredibly strongly about finding more natural alternatives if you’re after birth-control.

I spent almost 6 years without a period. It would come back once in 2 years and then once again 1,5 years ago.. I’m proud to say that I’ve had 3 regular periods in a row writing this and each of my cycles have been perfect at 30 days. And I cannot tell you how happy I am about this. It means that my body is starting to work again, albeit, my hormones are still very imbalanced. You know why it also came back? Because I started letting go of control of being a certain ‘size’ and gained weight. Yep, my body needed the extra bit to feel safe and for my cycle to come back. It’s not been easy, but damn has it been worth it!

The fact that my hormones are still very imbalanced means that I do suffer with a lot of symptoms, including; ovulation pain, fluid-retention, lower back pain, swelling, bloating, mood swings, period pain and more.. I also find it important to tell you that these symptoms are NOT normal – no matter how much society wants you to believe that ‘PMS’ is part of being a woman, it’s complete BS and it’s simply just your body telling you that something is wrong and you should seriously listen to it.. This means working with a practitioner (holistic & natural, I’d suggest) to figure out why you’re experiencing these symptoms. Again, don’t just pop a birth-control pill and think you’re magically solving the issue.

I know, for me, through blood-works and working with a practitioner, it’s because my body is currently recycling Oestrogen, I have no Progesterone and my gut is still working hard on repairing itself. Gut health and Hormones are directly linked to each other, so be honest with yourself about the state your gut is actually in?

It’s definitely a journey, and not one that will sort itself out tomorrow, but in the mean-time, I’ve had to look into ways in which I can help soothe these painful symptoms whenever they arise, and I’ve listed a few of them below for you:

Water Intake: I know it sounds counterintuitive, but if you, like me, have a lot of swelling and fluid-retention one of the best things you can do as well is up your water intake. Aim to get 2-3 laters a day if you can and watch your salt-intake as well as too much salt & sodium will make your body hold onto more water. Ditch the salt and use spices to make your food more tasty.

Heat-Therapy: Such an old-school trick, but it really works. Especially if you also feel yourself getting constipated from your period or in the lead up to. Use a heat pack on your lower stomach and put your legs up against the wall or on a stool and just chill for 10 minutes. Do this in the morning as you get up and at night before bedtime.

Seed-Cycling: My nutritionist got me on to this and although I already eat all of these seeds, I’m making an effort to do so in accordance with my cycle. Seed cycling is a naturopathic remedy that claims to balance hormones by regulating the hormone oestrogen in the first half of your menstrual cycle and the hormone progesterone in the second half.

You want to eat 1 tablespoon each of freshly ground flax and pumpkin seeds per day for the first 13–14 days of your menstrual cycle, which is known as the follicular phase. During the second half of your cycle (day 15 – period), which is known as the luteal phase, you will have 1 tablespoon each of ground sunflower and sesame seeds per day until the first day of your next period when your cycle starts again (your cycle starts on the first day you bleed).

Natural Pain Remedies: forget about the Panadol (it screws up my gut!), and reach for natural pain relief like Abundant Natural Health’s Topical Magnesium Gel or Spray. This product has a 1000 uses if you get creative. I rub it on my belly when I’m bloated. I use it on my lower stomach when I get period pains. I use it on my lower back when I get lower-back pain from ovulating or when I have my period. I use it on my ankles when I’m holding too much fluid and on my temples when a headache is coming on. The 100% natural magnesium helps to soothe and relax muscles so you can get on with life again, knowing that you’re taking something that is healing your body instead of medicine in which just masks the symptoms.

Use CAROLINE15 for 15% off your purchase with ANH.

Movement: Have you ever heard of the Infradian Rhythm? If not, then I urge you to look it up. The Infradian Rhythm is a cycle that lasts for longer than a 24-hour period and studies are starting to show that, we women, should actually have different routines based on our 4 different cycle phases in a month. This also means that women should strongly consider having different training routines depending on what cycle they’re in. For example, you might be well equipped to do early morning cardio or high intensity workouts during your ovulation cycle but you should incorporate more yin-practices like yoga or slow-paced pilates when in your menstrual cycle and preferably later in the morning or afternoon.

It is completely possible to balance your hormones out with a natural approach and to live without pain.
But we do have to make an effort to get to that place and there’s never been a better time to start than now.

The post GREAT NEWS; An Update On My Hormones & Period. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

So let’s bring it back to basics so we can actually fully understand what the Microbiome is and what it actually does for us.

What is the Gut Microbiome?

The post 101 Gut Microbiome – A Beginners Guide To Understanding Your Gut. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Growing up with my older sister, I always felt like I was the child there was always ‘trouble’ with. Not in the sense of acting out or being a rebel, because I was (almost) an A+ student, but I always seemed to feel everything so deeply and spend a lot of time considering and going over things in my head – day in and day out.

Back then (in the 90’s) it was a lot more tabu to talk about mental health issues and, really, it wasn’t a topic that anyone really knew much about from the small town I grew up in or maybe even wanted to talk about.

My parents truly did their best with what they knew how to. But parts of me felt that as much as I ever tried to explain my pain and sorrow, neither of them really truly ever understood how it felt to be me. Little Anna on the outside, but with a pain twice as big as herself on the inside. I don’t blame them – being emotionally equipped and developed enough to deal with what I went through for years on end, surely isn’t an easy task.

When I got into my teenage-years it felt like I escaped my inner demons, thoughts and feelings for a few years. But they were only substituted with drinking, smoking, partying and searching for love in guys. Not your ideal scenario, but I was also a teenager coming into adulthood – well, in all honesty, I had to grow up when I was 8 pretty quickly to deal with a divorce and many other things that I won’t dive into because it’ll be too lengthy – so I was almost ‘excused’ to behave out a little bit, and I don’t think my parents ever questioned that too much.

Albeit, one time when I’d been partying into the morning and I was visiting my mum (I’d moved to Copenhagen by this point), she looked me in the eyes and said; “are you on drugs?” One thing that I never ever got into that was drugs. Thank God.

But partying and drinking had become a way of numbing my pain and myself to no existence. Whilst studying, trying to build a career, buying an apartment and being an adult – all at the age of 18 years old. I was drowning and I was drowning fast.

You see, what you don’t know from the above is that I was in a very non-serving relationship a few years before this. This along with a multitude of other family things and my mental health issues of depression got me to a point where I din’t want to live any longer.. And so, sadly, one day I decided that I didn’t when I was just 16 years old. And I’ll never forget that day or those following months. Luckily, I’m still here – and thanks for my mum and doctors I got another chance at life.

I’m skipping over the above because it doesn’t deserve more time or words than that. I don’t regret what I did back then, because I can stand outside of my own body now and look back at that poor little girl and still feel the pain she was in. I understand why she did the way she did. Because she didn’t feel like she had any other choice to escape it all. But, now I know that I do.

The above story is definitely part as to why I had my first ‘run-in’ with my true self. The reason why I moved to Australia in the first place. To me, Australia signified freedom and a new start to life. A place where I could potentially finally find and be myself without having to apologise to anyone for being who I was and to actually get a go at doing ‘life’ for the first time ever.

So, with 25 kg’s of luggage I set off towards the other side of the world, and for the first time in my life, it felt like I was heading in the right direction. Australia gave me hope and I for once felt truly alive. 

… I’m sorry I can’t give you the fairytale ending we all grow up to be taught and believe in, because that’s not how my life unfolded..

Australia is my home and I love it dearly. I’ve found my place in this physical world of where I want to grow roots (but never to deep to still stay free), but my almost 9 years here have been far from easy.

However, what moving to Australia catapulted me onto was my spiritual path and slowly wakening up to connecting with my true self.

I was diagnosed with depression when I was only 14 years old. I was put on anti-depressants when I was 16 years old. My entire life I’ve tried to numb myself from the calling that I have inside of me, but I never knew how to deal with. I will never discount the word Depression because feelings turned into emotions can become all-consuming and our ego will run with it til our days end, if we let it..

But, what I think us people who has or who still suffer from ‘depression’ is, are simply put ‘Ultra Fine Tuned Souls’ having a human experience in which the soul has taken residence in a physical shell where it’s still fighting the human ego from ruling instead of it’s natural born state of peace, love and joy.

I know wholeheartedly that I will always be a sensitive, all-consuming soul that feels everything so very deeply. What is up to me is whether I will let that work for me or against me – but the choice is completely up to myself.

When I take steps towards living a clean life full of fresh, organic produce, free-range animal products, natural supplements, little alcohol, self-care, exercise.. – I create a clear path of connection to my true self. It becomes untainted and strong and life becomes a little easier to deal with. It becomes less overwhelming and much more manageable – day by day.

I choose to show up every day, even though there are many days where I don’t feel like it. Trust me, my ego can always find an excuse to not get out of bed, to not train, to not eat healthy, to not be loving, to not be accepting.. And the list goes on.

But my practice, our practice, is to choose to continue to go against those thoughts and emotions, and choose to show up for ourselves every single day, so that we can continue to take steps towards finding true freedom within.

Anna xx

The post Mental Health Awareness Day – My Personal Story Through Light & Dark. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Luckily, it’s a little bit easier with The Beauty Chef Glow Powder as I’ve taken this for over 2 years now, and I’m utterly obsessed with it because I can see it truly does make a difference in my skin and overall glow. It’s one of those things that I notice goes away after a week or two, if I stop taking this beauty supplement.

Let’s dive into a bit of a review since I’m partnering with The Beauty Chef for the month of September for their #30daystoglow challenge which is all about kickstarting your inner beauty journey towards a healthier, happier gut and gorgeous, glowing skin!

Even though we’re into September already, you can still join us on a journey to radiant skin – simply take 1 teaspoon of GLOW Inner Beauty Powder every day for one month – that’s it!

What is GLOW Powder & what does it do?

GLOW Inner Beauty Essential is developed in order to, not only support gut health, but also collagen synthesis, and beautiful skin, hair and nails, thanks to the presence of more than 20 bio-fermented, whole food ingredients including zinc and vitamin C which support skin health.

GLOW has been developed with The Beauty Chef’s exclusive Flora Culture fermentation process which helps to increase the bioavailability of the formula and create a live, broad-spectrum probiotic for a healthy & functioning gut.

It actually tastes GOOD – the berry-flavoured formula also contains prebiotics and is packed with easily digested, supercharged nutrients that are absorbed quickly and effectively by your cells and vitamin C to continuously support collagen synthesis and healthy skin.

What are the KEY benefits?

• Rich in vitamins and minerals: GLOW is a bio-fermented blend of easily absorbed Certified Organic superfoods, vitamin C and zinc, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients.

• Supports healthy skin: Antioxidant-rich ingredients such as Dunaliella salina, maqui berry, queen garnet plum as well as vitamin C and zinc support healthy skin, helping to reduce inflammation, calm skin irritation and sensitivity.

• Assists collagen production: Contains vitamin C which supports collagen synthesis, resulting in healthier skin.

• Feeds your microbiome and supports gut health: Contains prebiotics to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Our exclusive Flora Culture fermentation process also creates a live, broad-spectrum probiotic to support digestive health.

• Supports skin function: Zinc is important for supporting healthy skin, hair and nails.

• Certified Organic: GLOW is Certified Organic, which means the ingredients used in this formula are grown organically without any herbicides or pesticides

Can anyone take it? 

Yes, it’s suitable for everyone, however pregnant women should always consult a medical practitioner.
It’s also 100% free from; GMO, Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Eggs, and Artificial Ingredients (preservatives, sweeteners & flavours).

How do you feel on it?

In my personal experience, I feel great on it. As you know I’ve had a long gut-health journey that is far from over (when is it ever really?), so I speak from 1st hand experience – I’ve never had any trouble with taking GLOW Inner Beauty Powder from The Beauty Chef even when my gut was at its most sensitive stage. It didn’t bloat me, didn’t create heartburn or reflux or any other pain.

If you do have a sensitive gut, I suggest trialling it out for a few days and noting down how you feel an hour or two after you’ve consumed this to be 100% sure.

How quickly do you see/feel results?

I’d say after a week or two on Glow Powder you will start to see a difference in your skin as well as feeling it in your stomach and overall body. It won’t take months before you get results, your body will notice it straight away and pick up on the goodness.

Remember though, that this isn’t a powder that will make you GLOW if your diet is made up of purely burgers, pizza and soft-drinks. But eating a well-balanced diet (including cake and chocolate, still) and drinking lots of water to help flush your system as well as moving your body most days, will give you the best results – physically and mentally.

If you have any other questions regarding the Glow Powder from The Beauty Chef please feel free to email me or find me on Instagram for a chat.

Anna xx

The post The Beauty Chef GLOW Powder REVIEW – 30 Days To Glow appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD normally approaches when the months become colder and there’s less light exposure during the day. People who are ‘diagnosed’ with SAD produce more of a chemical called SERT, which lowers levels of serotonin, the happy hormone. So it’s even more important for people who experience these seasonal changes to get outdoors more and get exposed to as much natural light as possible. Something like infrared sauna’s and light-boxes that imitate natural light, if you live in an area that is mostly dark, can be really useful, too.

Whilst this disorder is becoming a lot more known, what I really want to talk about today is how & why Seasonal Changes affects our entire body & mind and why something like Bio Individuality comes into play and should be a known way of life by a lot more people than what it currently is.

Bio-Individuality:

Bio-individuality is the concept that no one diet or lifestyle works for everyone. People have their own unique needs and will have a way of eating and living that works best for them. Your perfect diet could make someone else gain weight or feel lethargic, while someone else’s morning run could leave your body feeling weak and depleted.

In addition, your needs will likely change over time. Exactly what you’re doing now probably won’t work in the same way as you and your life evolve. You’ll have to keep checking in to see what’s working for you as you go through changes like moving, getting a new job, or having children.

Some factors to consider when seeing what works for your bio-individuality are lifestyle, occupation, geographic area, available resources, body type, age, culture, and religion.

Your health is a journey not a destination, and this is where Bio-Individuality comes into play more than ever. It is a lifestyle that adapts to your changing needs and the world around you.

Bio-Individuality & Season Changes:

This is where I believe bio-individuality is more important than ever throughout the year. If you’re anything like me and feel the season changes on your own body and mind very deeply, this could be a new approach that may work very well for you.

For me; bio-individuality and season changes mean that I adapt my lifestyle to the changing nature around me.

It’s officially Winter in Australia tomorrow, and in some ways we’re lucky to mainly have warm months instead cold. However, we do get cold winters in Australia – today it’s 5 degrees as I got up this morning. We also don’t have insulation or radiators like they do in Europe, so it’s very cold inside and out for 3-4 months, roughly.

It makes sense to change your lifestyle to fit with the nature around us, for the pure and simple reason that we ARE nature ourselves. When we adapt and bring ourselves into our natural state of consciousness, we’re aligning ourselves with the vibrations of the earth and the frequency of the universe.

 – We FEEL better when we’re eating as close to a whole food diet as we can.

 – We feel more alive when we get exposed to sun, rain & wind.

 – We breathe deeper when we take a moment to centre ourselves and fine-tune our connection with our deep truth within, which is the same frequency that aligns with where you come from; The Universe.

Whenever we consciously choose to honour the nature around us and look to it for guidance, I truly believe we feel happier and healthier as physical human-beings. Our mindsets, too.

If you still find it hard to believe that seasonal changes and the nature around us has a say in how we feel, how about this:

– The Moon has gravity of its own, which pulls the oceans (and us) towards it. 

 – The Sun warms our seas, stirs our atmosphere, generates our weather patterns, and gives energy to the growing green plants that provide the food and oxygen for life on Earth.

 –  All life on Earth is calibrated to the frequency of the planet. Everything from our brain waves and biorhythms to our states of consciousness are directly correlated to the Earth’s frequencies.

How can we adapt?

It’s not as hard as it may sound. Just like the bears go into hibernation over winter, we as human beings needs to do something a little similar. Now, I know that we can’t go away for 4 months and just sleep, but taking inspiration from animals around us, as we are simply an extant member of of the subtribe Hominina (chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans), the more I believe our bodies will thrive, especially in the colder months.

So, think about slowing the overall pace of your life down. Substitute habits and foods with something else that will serve you more in winter. It’s not about eliminating things or making restrictions, it’s about finding what works for you and your body.

Here are some suggestions:

• Swap Cold Foods for Warm Foods: think soups, stews, casseroles. Think steaming, boiling, stir-frying, heating, baking. Transition over to cooked foods instead of raw and cold foods.
• Warm Energy Foods: Eat foods with warming energy like walnuts, sunflower seeds, turmeric, nutmeg, coconut, dates, clove, fresh ginger, coriander, cinnamon, red capsicum, rice milk, parsley, cayenne.
• Warm Drinks: avoid cold drinks and opt for room-temperature water and warm fluids that will keep your body balanced. Think broths, herbal teas and matcha/turmeric lattes.
•  Up Your Protein: make sure you have enough protein as protein is an important source of energy & heat. Make sure, if eating meat, that it’s organic and/or free-range and if you’re vegetarian or vegan, make sure you get enough quality plant-based protein.
• Change Your Workouts: this may not go for everyone, but I enjoy slowing down my pace in Winter to give my body some time & rest to adjust to the colder weather and to allow it’s energy to be spent on my mood and heating up my body. I swap some of my HIIT classes for hot yoga flows, pilates or barre classes.
• Rise With The Sun: as the winter-sun rises much later, so should we, if we have the option to do so. Letting your body rise naturally when the sun awakens, is the best possible way that you can let your body & mind start the day. Sleep without the blinds, so that the sun can start to trigger the serotonin levels in your body as soon as it rises and in return, let you feel nice and rested when you wake up.
• Get Outside First Thing In The Morning: we need the morning-light to trigger our serotonin levels so that we can both wake up, but also feel ‘better’ for the day ahead. As there’s far less light and a decrease in the strength of light, too, we should be going for a walk or spend a bit of time first thing in the morning, if possible.

Now, I know that all of the above may not be feasible for everyone, but that’s where bio-individuality comes in again. You have to consider so many underlying factors as before mentioned like lifestyle, occupation, geographic area, available resources, body type, age, culture, religion etc.

But what I CAN say is that I’ve felt an incredible shift when I do honour the nature around me and allow it to help me transition through the seasonal changes – body, mind and spirit wise.

Anna xx

The post How Seasonal Changes Affect Our Body, Mind & Spirit. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Seeing we’re now mid-way through May, I wanted to update you all on my Gut Health Journey so far. You can read about my beginning right here if you haven’t read it already.

For the last 6 months I’ve focused on healing my gut the natural way. I could take the ‘easy’ way out and go on antibiotics to ‘kill’ the bad bacteria in my stomach, but western medicine and treatment are part of the reasons as to why my gut has been ruined in the first place, so it hasn’t been an option I’d like to take.

My motto has been “Food is Medicine” and in the last few months I’ve really realised how true this is. Coming from a past of disordered eating, this has really helped me understand even further that what we put in and on our bodies plays a massive role in how we feel – emotionally, psychologically and physically.

Through this journey, I’ve been confirmed even further in the fact that the gut is the epicentre of our overall health and wellbeing. Everything originates from there, and chances are, if you have anything wrong with you, whether it’d be eczema, psoriasis, cystic acne, hormonal imbalances, mood swings, PMS, arthritis etc., there will be a link back to you gut microbiome and the state it’s in.

My first step has been an elimination diet to starve the bad bacteria in my gut and introduce foods that would promote good bacteria + a 500 billion/day prescribed probiotics treatment. Again, you can read more about that here.

I was following this diet strictly for 8 weeks. Which, in the beginning was easier than what it became. As I wasn’t ‘allowed’ starchy vegetables, grains, dairy, gluten, fructose (fruit) or any sugar at all, it made it very hard to be social and eat out. As you all know, I’m a huge foodie and I eat out multiple times a week. I did find myself retracting quite a lot, and so I discussed these symptoms with my Nutritionist Katherine Hay to come up with a solution that would work for me and my gut, but without being so compromised.

It was important for me to catch this early, as I do come from a disordered eating past and it can still play mind-tricks on me from time to time.

Instead we agreed on that a little bit here and there was better than ruling it out completely for my mental health. It just meant that my gut-healing would take a little longer, but in the overall grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter.

I genuinely cannot express how amazing I felt on this ‘diet’. Cutting down on starchy vegetables, grains & bread (in particular), sugar and fructose made me feel a million bucks. I also quickly realised how addicted I was to sugar and this would go for most people. Without the bread and grains and heavy carbs my energy levels would rise and I wouldn’t feel so sluggish and tired like I used to.

I want to summarise really efficiently what I’ve focused on the last few months:

• Eating a varied, mainly, plantbased diet with the addition of fresh fish & sometimes chicken.
• Keeping starchy vegetables to a minimum and only having grains once or twice a week. Best options for me is quinoa, a bit of brown rice, and sprouted bread.
• I’ve had a bit of fruit here and there and have tried to keep it at berries, pineapple and low-fructose fruits.
• No gluten and dairy – if I have this, I can feel it the next day instantly. I’m either on the toilet all the time or I can’t go at all.
• Taking the right strain of probiotics is so important for your gut. If you take the wrong one, you could add fuel to the fire if that’s the wrong strain for your gut health.
• Supplementing is necessary for healing. I can’t rely on food only although it’s my approach. Natural supplementing has to take place and in the right manner in order for my gut to heal and function properly.
• Current supplementing includes: Calcium D-Glucarate, Digestive Enzymes, Probiotics, Zinc, GI Powder, Collagen, Adaptogens, Medicinal Mushrooms.
• Topical Magnesium from Abundant Natural Health has been a lifesaver when I’ve been bloated or had stomach cramps & pains. It’s also helped rebuild my gut-lining, making it stronger when it’s come to viruses and bad bacteria. I’ve been using the Gel, Spray & now Bath Soap Bar that is so convenient and easy to carry with me.
• Aloe Vera Juice is amazing for soothing the stomach if I have a stomach-ache.
• Stress is a massive culprit in my life and I know when I let stress get to me, my gut suffers, so remembering my self-care routines like meditation, time alone, walks in nature, cuddles with my dog Archie, intimacy with Pash and so on, is really important for my presence and mindset.

I’m doing another assessment round with Katherine Hay (clinical nutritionist) soon to see what we now need to focus on.

As I’m currently sick with the flu & a chest-infection, I’ve had to succumb to antibiotics as it just wouldn’t budge for 2,5 weeks. Because I’m doing antibiotics and they kill everything in you (unfortunately it doesn’t just pick the bad bacteria), I’m doing another round of the intensive 14-day 500 billion strain probiotics treatment to help my gut recover from the antibiotics.

For me, my goal this year is to continue working on my gut-health, I’ve just started studying Health & Nutrition and am excited about helping others heal. Another goal of mine is also to keep challenging my thoughts and ideas around food and clean out in old thought-patterns around diets and health.

I am so passionate about gut-health and helping others feel their very best selves. I know, from my own journey, that it’s not easy figuring out what’s wrong with yourself and sometimes you wonder if it’s all in your head.

I’m telling you this; it’s not all in your head and if you are questioning your health and if you’re feeling okay, chances are you are not. Don’t delay seeing someone about this, because a happy gut is a happy body.

The average Australian sees about 8-10 specialists and spends thousands of dollars before they’re diagnosed. I know this and my friend and clinical Nutritionist Katherine Hay knows this, so to help you in your journey and getting to the bottom of the root-cause of your health issues, we’ve created a GUT HEALTH EVENT that’ we’d love for your to come along to.

It will be a very informative & intimate 2 hours with Katherine & myself, so that you can walk away feeling supported and knowing how to tackle your gut-health issues moving forward.

We also have an amazing goodie-bag lined up for you worth over $350.

You can get your tickets here

The post My Gut Health Journey Halfway Through 2019. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

The mushrooms I’m talking about, are those of the safe kind & well-studied – also known as Medicinal Mushrooms.

These mushrooms are a special group of mushrooms which have incredible healing qualities. Out of an estimated 5.1 million species of mushroom, 270 species are classified as having medicinal qualities.

Medicinal mushrooms aren’t just another superfood fad, their use extend way back to the Han Dynasty in China. From the performance-enhancing cordyceps to immunity-boosting chaga, each medicinal mushroom brings a unique combination of healing compounds unlike anything else found on earth that can have an incredible beneficial impact on your health.

Personally, I’ve gone in and out with trialling mushrooms over the last few years. I especially incorporate many more when I’m in LA, simply because I feel that quality-mushrooms are easier to buy, as opposed to in Australia, however, that said, a few brands in Australia are really starting to add to the market. I’ll outline those later, so that you can check them out if you’re interested in incorporating ‘shrooms’ into your everyday health-diet.

While much attention in recent years has focused on various immunological and anti-cancer properties of certain mushrooms, they also offer other potentially important health benefits, including antioxidants, anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering properties, liver protection, as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties.

If you’ve been using adaptogens, you can sort of compare mushrooms to this.

So, to make this as underwhelming as possible, as I know a new area quickly can take overhand, below is a brief description of the most popular medicinal mushrooms & their benefits:

Lion’s Mane:

Feeling a little foggy or slow? Lion’s mane is most often studied for its benefits on cognitive functions, with new studies pointing to its powerful abilities when used by people who have Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. But it’s also great for gut health! Consuming Lion’s mane regularly can help support digestive health and the circulatory system.

Lion’s Mane can help with:

• Mental Clarity
• Brain Fog
• Concentration
• Promotes Digestion
• Protects GI-tract against environmental toxins

Shiitake:

These mushrooms are particularly good for the heart. Shiitakes contain compounds that inhibit the absorption and production of cholesterol in the liver. These nifty shrooms also contain phytonutrients, which aid in preventing plaque buildup and, as shown in a rat study, maintain healthy blood pressure and circulation.

Shiitake can help with;

• Boosting Immune System
• Cardiovascular System
• Lowering Cholesterol
• Heart Health
• Blood Pressure & Circulation
• Liver Function
• Antioxidant Defences

Reishi:

In Ancient Chinese medicine Reishi is referred to as the “spirit herb”, known for its ability to improve mind, body and spirit. Reishi is also known as the mushroom of long life. The Reishi mushroom contains several bioactive compounds. These compounds include specific polysaccharides, with triterpene being one of the active polysaccharide compounds of Reishi mushroom. It possesses potent anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic and hypolipidemic properties. Triterpenes from Reishi are associated with cancer cell death as well. Reishi is also associated with toning the blood, reducing phlegm, eradicating coughing and wheezing, strengthening the visceral organs, and promoting restful sleep.

Reishi can help with:

• Boost Digestion
• Boost Immune Function
• Calming, Restful Sleep
• Reduce Anxiety, Depression & Paranoia
• Increase Oxygenation of Cells

Chaga:

Chaga has been used by traditional cultures for its health benefits, for hundreds of years.

This mushroom presents as a hardened, blackened, crusty formation, with the appearance of a bursting tumor on the trunk of a birch tree. Chaga’s most important components, betulinic acid and melano-glucan complexes are derived from the bark of the birch trees the fungus grows on. Chaga is traditionally used as a tea and has been shown to prevent and treat cancer, support the immune system, is anti-viral and reduces inflammation. For those of you that want to fight disease and continue to look and feel young (yes please!) this mushroom is for you

Chaga can help with:

• Mental Health
• Boosting Energy
• Detoxification
• Regulating Blood Sugar
• Strengthening the Heart
• Boost Digestion
• Works as a probiotic
• Immunity

Cordyceps:

Cordyceps fight free radicals (compounds that cause damage to cells and DNA in the body), infection and inflammation. They also help with fighting stress and fatigue. They’re great for those of us with a busy lifestyle – if you workout regularly or are always on the go and maybe feeling a little worn out, cordyceps is for you.

The main health benefit from cordyceps is increased energy because they help to deliver oxygen to the body at a cellular level. Due to their ability to increase metabolic efficiency, many athletes utilise cordyceps for increased efficiency of energy metabolism.

Cordyceps can help with:

• Boosting Energy
• Low Libido
• Anti-Fatigue
• Kidney Function Improvement
• Adrenal Health
• Immune Defence
• Increased Oxygen to Cells

Turkey Tail:

Turkey tail mushroom is best known to stimulate immune function and reduce inflammation. It has a long history of use in Asia among practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, who used formulations of turkey tail to promote general health, strength and longevity.

It’s been used as early as the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty in China. The Japanese, who reference it as kawaritake or “cloud mushrooms” due to an image of swirling clouds, have been well aware of the benefits of this super, power-filled mushroom, with researchers noting its health benefits, particularly in boosting the immune system. In fact, the cloud-like image symbolises “longevity and health, spiritual attunement and infinity” to these Asian cultures.

Turkey tail is high in the protein-bound polysaccharides PSK and PSP, which is thought to explain its ability to elevate both surface and core immunity against dangerous pathogens

Turkey Tail can help with:

• Prevent & Treat Common Cold & Flu
• May help combat cancer (consult with your Specialist)
• Boosting Qi (chi)
• Supports Bone Health
• Improves Gut Health
• Stress Management
• Liver Function

It’s easy to incorporate these mushrooms into your diet. They normally come in powder or liquid form – don’t worry, you won’t be chewing on a mushroom as per say :)

I like to have mine throughout the day, usually in warm tonics like coffee or a hot cacao, because it’s another way to also help me to sit down and take a ‘breather’. You can even add them in smoothies, on your cereal, in your porridge, soups, stews or sprinkle on salads. The ideas are endless.

Below are some brands for you to check-out if you’re wanting to try medicinal mushrooms:

• Lifecykel
• Superfeast
• Orchard Street
• Shoku Iku
• Four Sigmatic

Hope you’ll love incorporating medicinal mushrooms as much as I do

Anna xx

The post The Healing Power of Medicinal Mushrooms appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

I know a lot of people struggle with the same issue and some are lost as to why they’re experiencing this and even what to do about it to alleviate the pain.

So, let’s look at what it is, what it stems from and how we are able to possible treat it.

What is TMJ & Bruxism?

TMJ or The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is commonly known as the ‘jaw joint’. It’s where the lower jaw connects to the base of the skull. The position of this joint is located in front of the ears. It can be felt by opening and closing the jaw, while gently pressing this position.

TMJ causes pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. It can cause pain or locking in one or both hinge joints (temporomandibular joints). These joints are located between the lower jaw and the temporal bone.

TMJ can also cause an aching or throbbing pain and feelings of tenderness in or near the ear, jaw, and face. Chewing food may increase feelings of pain. Chewing may also produce a clicking sound or grinding sensation.

Then there’s Bruxism. Or also known as Teeth Grinding. There are two types of bruxism — one where you clench your teeth while awake — awake bruxism — and one where you clench and grind your teeth at night, termed sleep bruxism. Often, daytime teeth grinding occurs when you are under stress, experiencing anxiety, or it may be simply a bad habit.

Sleep bruxism, on the other hand, is considered a sleep-related movement disorder, classified similarly with restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements.

What are some of the causes to TMJ & Bruxism?

Researchers have found a direct relationship between the presence of an anxiety disorder, and the onset of bruxism & TMJ, indicating that anxiety can cause the hallmark symptoms of clenching, teeth grinding and gnashing. 

There is also evidence that suggests some people may begin grinding their teeth as a natural response to pain. These episodes may be temporary. This typically subsides when the pain or discomfort is relieved.

The causes of teeth grinding & TMJ may be caused by one of the underlying factors below:

• Sleep apnea
• GERD (reflux)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Unresolved anger or frustration
• Stress
• Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth
• Certain psychiatric medications and antidepressants
• Ear Infections
• Injuries or fractures to the jaw joint
• Autoimmune Disorders

How can TMJ & Bruxism be treated?

1. Occlusal Splint Therapy:
Occlusal splints are one of the most widely accepted treatments used to treat bruxism. More commonly known as a mouthguard. They’re used to relieve pressure from the jaw joints and teeth and are mainly worn at night. The purpose of the splint is to keep your teeth apart, resulting in the muscles relaxing and less tension being generated. They also protect your teeth from damage caused by grinding, as they protect the teeth surface.

2. Alignment Correction:
If the problem is caused by improper alignment of the teeth, correcting the alignment, before too much damage is done, is a great long-term option. A dentist or orthodontist may recommend using braces, crowns, oral surgery, or reshaping the chewing surface of the teeth to make the teeth align properly.

I recommend Dentist Dr. Luke Cronin in Sydney

3. Botox Injections:
Cosmetic injections administered directly into the masseter muscles can relax the muscles. The treatment generally needs to be repeated every 5-6 months, in order to gain optimum results and to best manage ongoing bruxism. Muscle relaxation treatments can be a highly effective alternative to occlusal splint therapy in patients that have difficulty sleeping wearing a mouth guard or simply don’t like wearing it.

I recommend consulting with Laser Clinics Australia Bondi Junction if you’re considering this.

4. Stress Management:
To stop grinding teeth when you are suffering from stress or anxiety requires you to learn to manage and release your stress. Techniques like regular physical exercise, meditation, yoga and essential oils can be very calming & soothing for stress. Of course, a healthy, balanced diet is also important, and avoiding any foods that may trigger an allergic reaction is vital.

5. Magnesium:
A couple of the common signs of a magnesium deficiency include anxiety, irritability, insomnia, restlessness and hyperactivity.  Adults can take 400 milligrams of a high-quality magnesium supplement OR use a Magnesium Sport Spray on the jaw before bed to improve the quality of sleep.

I recommend Abundant Natural Health Magnesium Sport Spray

6. Vitamin C:
As a compliment to stress management techniques, boosting your intake of vitamin C can be beneficial when learning how to stop grinding your teeth. Vitamin C is used by our adrenal glands, affecting our response to stress. It is also essential in the making of dopamine, which helps to regulate moods.Vitamin C rich foods include guava, black currants, red peppers, kiwi, green peppers, oranges, strawberries, papaya, broccoli and kale.

7. Heat Packs:
Heat packs applied to the area can sometimes provide temporary relief of symptoms. This heat therapy treatment will help relax the jaw muscles, as it’s the muscle contraction that causes jaw pain.

8. Kinergetics:
Kinergetics combines healing energy and Kinesiology (muscle testing). By relaxing the jaw muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is correctly reset. Over 80% of the electrical messages from the brain to the muscles and back to the brain are affected by the TMJ. Even a fractional imbalance of the jaw muscles may cause confused electrical messages to the other muscles.

I recommend Alexis Hamer in Sydney.

Do you struggle with TMJ & Bruxism?
If yes, what have you done to alleviate the pain?

The post How To Stop Jaw Clenching (TMJ), Teeth Grinding & Bruxism. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Everything in your body is linked, and your gut has a huge influence on your health. I think we’ve established this already?

If you are new to following me, then you might not know that I’ve been dealing with poor health and, gut-health in particular, for about 14 years. I’m now on the road to recovery and continuing to unveil & discover more as to why I’ve been feeling & acting a certain way for years, due to the destroyed natural flora in my microbiome by doing much more testing and working together with dedicated gut-health specialists.

You can read more about that here..

The Brain-Gut Connection:

Your gut is not only responsible for the breakdown and absorption of food, but everything, really. Incredibly, your gut has neural tissue and neurotransmitters in the gut-lining-walls, that make and release hormones such as serotonin (happy hormone). Your gut microbiome is just as fascinating: the colony of bacteria cells that live in your colon actually outnumber the entirety of your human cells by 10 times.

Your gut and brain communicate in two main ways:

• Through the vagus nerve – it’s the longest nerve in your body, extending from skull to your stomach. The vagus nerve is communicates both sensory information and movement commands. As it lines such a large section of your body, the vagus nerve has many functions, including the stimulation of the muscles in your heart to make it beat. But the vagus nerve also stimulates the movement of your gut in order to digest food.
  Your gut also uses the vagus nerve to send information up to your brain. The brainstem of the vagus nerve interacts with your hypothalamus and limbic system which then controls the regulation of your emotions. This is why there are studies done on anxiety & depression being higher in people with gut-health issues.

• Through hormones. Your gut microbiome also has a say in triggering the release of hormones or producing them. The bacteria can communicate with your nervous system, and certain types affect your production of serotonin. By reducing your serotonin levels, the gut bacteria can interfere with your sleep. Your brain and your guts can enter a vicious circle when it comes to sleep, as poor sleep can have a bad effect on your gut health.

As you can see, the gut-brain-sleep connection goes both ways. If you have a few days of bad sleep it will ultimately start to impact your gut-health and, if continuous, spread to your overall health. Likewise, if you’re dealing with poor gut-health you might find that your sleep is lacking as well. This can be the start of a never-ending cycle that will only continue to worsen unless you become aware of it and take action.

How to improve your gut-health & sleep:

1. Eat foods that support a healthy microbiome & aids in the production of melatonin (the hormone that helps us fall asleep:

What to eat: Walnuts & almonds, green leafy vegetables, fish & seafood, variety of good fats, bone broth, Vitamin D supplement
What to avoid: refined sugars, caffeine, dark chocolate (because of the caffeine), heavy & greasy food, alcohol.

In order for us to produce melatonin, we have to produce serotonin which is an important building-block in melatonin itself. And as we’ve learnt, serotonin is the ‘feel-good’ hormone that is also produced in the gut. It’s all linked.

2. Regulate your circadian rhythm:

As humans, we work on an internal body-clock. This clock or righteously, Circadian Rhythm, is what determines our sleep, wake-up times, when we eat and even our cognitive skills (memory, orientation, attention etc.).

Interestingly, research is now beginning to show that our microbiome has a cycle of its own, which is generally synced up with our circadian rhythms. Disruptions in our own rhythm, in turn, affect the rhythm of our microbiome. This can impact the balance of our microbial friends and cause gut disturbances.

What to do:

– Shut off your TV & Phone at least an hour before bed. The light from the screen of your computer, tablet or phone is blue spectrum light, and it’s particularly dangerous because it tells the brain to stop producing melatonin.

– Create a peaceful bedroom where you can relax and rewind. Keep phones out of the bedroom if you’re one of those who have a hard time letting it go, and sleep with only light blinds so that the sun can naturally wake you up as it rises.

– Use the help of lavender – either fresh or as an aromatic oil – to make you feel relaxed. Or have a warm tonic of some relaxing Ashwaghanda or Holy Basil (adaptogens) to help you de-stress before bedtime. Chamomile-tea will do the trick too.

3. Relax your stressed brain & gut:

Chances are you’re a bit of a stress-head, but then again, who isn’t in this day & age we live in? It’s sometimes hard to get it all done, and as emotional beings, we take a lot of stresses home with us.

What to do:

– Have a magnesium bath & use magnesium gel to help you relax. Magnesium is absorbed much more efficiently through the skin than taking it orally, so combining a magnesium bath + a magnesium spray afterward on your gut can really do wonders for a good sleep.

– Write down your worries & concerns and then leave them in your diary. Ask yourself; will this really matter if I don’t deal with it right now? Alternatively ask yourself; will this really matter or have an impact on me in 1, 3, 5 years time? We tend to get too caught up in the moment, so take a breath and realise that (most) things aren’t as important as we make them out to be in our heads.

– Go for a light walk around the block after dinner. It can really help your mind to connect with nature but it will also help your digestion to move a bit around before bed-time. If we eat too much and our digestion is a bit sluggish, sleeping with an overfull tummy won’t help our sleep. So, if you can, walk barefoot around the block, and give yourself time to breathe.

– Have an evening-meditation, breathing exercise or stretch. Sitting in stillness and/or stretching your body lightly before bedtime can help reduce stress and bring your heart-rate down enormously. Incorporating a few yin-poses before bedtime can even help signal to your brain that it’s time to hit the ZzZz-button.

Happy Snoozing xx

The post Why Sleep & Gut-Health Impacts Each Other + Tips To Improve Both. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.