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Brookfarm Macadamia Oils

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April 26, 2012 By 2 Comments

Brookfarm is a rather remarkable company founded 13 years ago, back in 1999 by Pam and Martin Brook. Brookfarm is Australia’s leading producer of premium quality, award winning Macadamia products – including nuts, oils, mueslis and bars. Each product is created with the 3 P principals in mind – Passion for Quality, Passion for a better environment and Passion for great tasting healthy food.

Macadamias are hardly a stranger to most people’s diets – I think just about everyone has sampled these divine tasting nuts at one point or another. And we all know by now (or I should certainly hope so) that nuts are an essential part of our diet – a good way of getting our daily recommended intake of healthy fats. But what are the benefits of Macadamias?

Macadamia Oils

  • Macadamias are an excellent source of protein, calcium, potassium, dietary fibre and antioxidants
  • Macadamias are very low in sodium
  • Macadamia are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids
  • Is highly resistance to oxidation and hence has a good shelf life
  • Contains a large range of minerals including iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Macadamias also contain significant levels of zinc, copper and selenium.
  • Macadamias are also rich in vitamin E, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2, niacin and also contain pantothenic acid (B5) and folate.

Macadamia Oils

In my pantry I have sitting proudly on display three bottles of Brookfarm’s exceptional Macadamia Oils – Premium Grade Macadamia Oil, Lemon Myrtle Infused Macadamia Oil and Lime and Chili Infused Macadamia Oil. The premium grade Macadamia Oil is an excellent choice for stir-fry’s, baking, salad dressings and marinades. It imparts a sweet, nutty taste that doesn’t distract from the flavour of the food. The Lemon Myrtle (perhaps my favourite of the three) goes well with chicken, fish, lamb, pasta dishes, mayonnaise, pestos and all vegetable dishes. Last but certainly not least, the Lime and Chili infused is good for sauces, seafood, and vegetable and noodle dishes. It can also be used to marinade meats and poultry dishes. The citrusy lime adds a light tang while the chili has a pleasing warmth.

The recipe page on the Brookfarm website is highly worthy of a read – I especially recommend the Lemon Backstraps with Lemon Myrtle Cous Cous (for those gluten-free like me, Cous Cous can be substituted with Quinoa) and Macadamia Pesto .

Brookfarm is a company that I’ve been personally purchasing from for the past couple of years – with their excellent, high-quality, nutrient-rich products and exceptionally enthusiastic customer service; I will definitely continue to be a willing customer.

RRP –  $10.95 for 250ml bottle

Stockists – For stockist information please visit www.brookfarm.com.au for details.

Filed Under: HEALTH, LIVING Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Kapai Puku

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March 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’m sure you needn’t be told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your body hasn’t eaten for eight hours or so and is begging for a nutrient, fibre rich breakfast to prepare you for whatever your ever-busy schedule of the day is.

With so many breakfast choices out there to consider (eggs, cereals, toast, porridge, muesli, pancakes…) it does get a little confusing. Especially seeing as a wide variety of products contain unnecessary amounts of processed sugar which isn’t quite the healthiest way to start the day. Luckily for us Kapai Puku have taken us under their wing and created what they claim to be “One of the highest fibre breakfast cereals available today” and can also help to “exfoliate and clean your intestinal tract, increase your metabolic rate, and suppress your appetite. It’s simple, unprocessed food – medicine the way Mother Nature intended.”

Naked Blend

I’ve been testing out the “Naked Blend” which consists of buckwheat (which is a member of the rhubarb family, and it’s completely gluten-free, despite it’s name), sunflower kernels, sesame seeds, linseed(a fabulous source of omega-3 fatty acids), millet seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds (one the richest plant based source of omega- 3, dietary fibre, protein and antioxidants), poppy seeds, rice bran and amaranth(a good source of all essential amino acids.) This delightful cereal is also 99% sugar free and gluten free.

Kapai Puku can be introduced to your diet in many ways – whether you choose to have it simply as a cereal, porridge (in place of oats), combined with your other breakfast cereals, used in baking, added to stir-fry’s, omelettes, salads… the list goes on. I’ve enjoyed including this in my daily eating routine – cleverly adding it to my morning muesli – and I can certainly say it is most fulfilling. With so many uses and health benefits, it’s definitely a worthy addition to anyone’s pantry.

RRP – $15.50 for 450g

Stockists – Visit www.kapaipuku.com for more information

Filed Under: HEALTH, LIVING Tagged With: , , ,

Euca Laundry Powder

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September 1, 2011 By 3 Comments

I have been lucky enough to try out a new laundry product this week and not only will my children and my backyard be thanking me but so will my washing machine.

New isn’t actually the right word to describe Lightning Euca Laundry Powder because Lightning Products was established in the 1950′s in Victoria as a distiller of Eucalyptus oil, now they offer a broad range of environmentally friendly cleaning solutions.

Filed Under: HEALTH, HOMEWARES

Pure and Green Organics Teeth and Gums Mint Toothpaste

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July 7, 2010 By 1 Comment

Packaging

“It’s toothpaste” I hear you say, “what could they possibly do?” I’ll tell you what, smarty-pants. They can start with a recyclable plastic squeezy tube. They can pop a pump-top on the end, one that deposits the perfect amount onto your toothbrush, giving it a high-end toothpaste look. Then, they can do some lovely minty green and soothing tonal prints on the packaging. This is haute couture toothpaste, people. And my, it makes me feel special!

teeth_group

Product

I admit I am a little biased here. I know what goes into regular toothpaste and let me tell you, I wouldn’t give it to my worst enemy (ok, maybe just a little bit). Nasty stuff, and it goes right onto your gums and tongue, where the membrane is so sophisticated and is designed to absorb straight into the blood stream. What’s more, the SLS in regular toothpaste makes one look like a rabid dog, while actually doing nothing. NOTHING. Oh, except leaching toxins into your mouth.

I have tried many types of natural toothpastes. But I ‘speshally like this one. Number one: it is certified organic, certified vegan, and certified cruelty-free. Number two: it is chock-full of excellent, healthy ingredients including coconut oil, peppermint and spearmint oil, sodium bicarbonate, clove bud essential oil, and stevia. Number three: No sugar, no fluorides, no SLS, no palm oil. Zero nasties. Fantastic ingredients to help with gum disease (gingivitis), and bad breath. And of course to makes your little pegs sparkle like dewdrops in the morning sun.

Despite all the oils, it isn’t oily at all. The spiel on the tube describes it as a mousse, but to be honest it is more of a clear / yellow gel. The minty freshness is captivating (yes, CAPTIVATING), and I love the fact that it doesn’t have that overly saccharine, fake sweetness. It’s just fresh and clean. I think it would be perfect for kids who are partial to swallowing their toothpaste.

Cost / Usage

Two pumps is the perfect amount for an adult. It has been 4 weeks and I still have half a tube left. That’s with two people using it twice a day. Pretty good, I reckon! I know that regular toothpaste is pretty toxic, and so to me (and my meager wage), I think the price is worth it. It is your mouth, after all!

FROM: Australia
SIZE: 70ml
RRP: AU$15
www.pureandgreenorganics.com.au

Filed Under: BODY, FACE, HEALTH Tagged With: ,

SIGG Drink Bottles

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April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

SIGG drink bottles are not only functional and stylish, they are also environmentally friendly. A celebrity favourite, they are made from aluminium and are 100% recyclable.

SIGG bottles are safe for the whole family as they are BPA and Phthalate free, and there is no lead or toxic materials used. By reusing your drink bottle you are helping to reduce the use of plastic bottles and it is a good money saver too!

While the materials used in these Swiss must haves keep the planet happy, the process of creating them also deserves a mention.

* The power to create a SIGG bottle comes from 99.9% renewable hydropower
* The water used to create a SIGG bottle is free of pollution and meets drink water quality after it leaves the factory
* The air used to create a SIGG bottle is free of pollution after leaving the factory

Celebrities snapped using their SIGG drink bottles include:

Cameron Diaz

Jessica Alba

Kate Walsh

To find your nearest stockist please call: (03) 8742 3322

Or visit: www.siggaustralia.com.au

Filed Under: HEALTH, LIVING