Quirky Cooking Chats

AQJ 81: Adjusting to Good Health

Today’s guest is none other than Damian Kristof: naturopath, chiropractor and co-founder of the Wellness Couch, the podcast network that brings you this show. On this episode, we get into Damian’s philosophy on health and healing and unexpectedly cover some new ground. Damian talks about the history of chiropractics, its unique place in holistic health, and its synergies with the other modalities such as naturopathy. We also cover a very important and topical issue regarding the current state of politics around private health care insurance and how it’s reducing access to natural health therapies, and most importantly, what we can do about it.
Read about the cutting of private health insurance for natural therapies and sign the petition to protest this decision here.
Learn more about Damian Kristof on his website: https://damiankristof.com/.
Visit Damian’s clinic, Vida Lifestyles, in Melbourne: https://www.vidalifestyles.com/
Try Damian’s Forage Cereal: http://www.foragecereal.com/
Use the code QUIRKYJOURNEY when ordering from Weleda Australia to receive 10% off your order. (Orders over $90 will also receive free shipping.)
Use the code 10QCP to receive 10% off orders of Solidteknics Aussie iron pans from our partners at quirkycooking.com.au/solid.
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AQJ 80: Treating MS and Autoimmune with LDN

Fouad is back from his trip overseas to Singapore and Lebanon and he and Jo have a good catch up, discussing everything from Fouad’s food experiences overseas, the struggle to eat organic whole foods when living in a city, food security, and the rise of diabetes in Singapore… to Jo’s recent experiences at the Gluten Free Expo in Melbourne and her thoughts on the difference between eating a ‘free from’ diet and a ‘healing, whole food’ diet.
They then move on to the main subject of the podcast, where they discuss the fascinating topic of low dose naltrexone (LDN) – a medication being used effectively to treat a large variety of chronic illnesses around the world. Very few people have heard of this potentially life-saving drug. Jo and Fouad interview Linda Elsegood, the founder of the LDN research trust, who shares her incredible journey of recovering from paralysing Multiple Sclerosis to becoming the most vocal advocate for LDN education. Linda is also the author of The LDN Book. This is an eye-opening podcast for anyone struggling with autoimmune issues or chronic illness.
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AQJ 79: Hormones & Fertility with Nat Kringoudis

This week Fouad is overseas visiting his family in Lebanon, so Jo decided to have a ‘girly’ chat with fertility expert and hormone revolutionist, Nat Kringoudis, on the show! Nat shares her story, and answers many women’s health questions asked by readers in the Quirky Cooking Chat Group, the Quirky GAPS group, and the Quirky Cooking for Gut Health program group on Facebook.
Learn about the three main keys to unlocking the door of healthy, happy hormones, and the answers to questions like:
– Is there any way to balance your hormones without having to take expensive medications all the time?
– Why have my periods become so heavy after having children, and what can I do about it?
– What are the best options for natural birth control?
– How can I make natural birth control methods work with broken sleep cycles?
– How can I naturally lower my oestrogen levels?
– Are AMH levels a true indication of fertility?
– What are the pros and cons of getting your tubes tied from a hormonal perspective?
– Is there a link between parasites and endometriosis?
– Can menopause cause an increase in auto-immune symptoms, and if so what can you do about it?
Nat Kringoudis is a doctor of Chinese medicine, Acupuncturist, Author, Speaker and all-round natural fertility expert. She’s also the founder of Melbourne women’s health clinic, The Pagoda Tree, creator of Yo’Nuts and producer of HealthTalks TV.
You can find out more about Nat and the work she does at http://www.natkringoudis.com/ and on her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/nataliekringoudis/.
Nat’s books are available here: http://www.natkringoudis.com/e-books/
Nat’s e-courses are available here: http://www.natkringoudis.com/e-courses/
Find out more about Solidteknics wrought iron and stainless steel, non-toxic Aussie pans here: quirkycooking.com.au/solid (use the code 10QCP to get 10% off)
Find out more about Weleda non-toxic body products here: weleda.com.au (use the code quirkyjourney to get 10% off your order, and don’t pay any shipping if the order is over $90)
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AQJ 78: Whole Food with Jude

What does ‘whole food’ mean, and why is it so important? Is ‘whole food’ just another trendy phrase we use without really understanding it? We all want to be healthy, but are we confused about what ‘healthy’ really is?
What makes the food we eat wholesome and healthy? And what makes it ethical and sustainable?
Listen in as Jude beautifully shares her thoughts on whole, living foods – as well as nourishment, deliciousness, health (mind, body and spirit), ethically raised food, sustainability, love, and community.
Learn more about Jude here: http://wholefoodcooking.com.au/
Read Jude’s thoughts on what good food really is: http://wholefoodcooking.com.au/good-food/
Get yourself some non-toxic pans from Solidteknics: quirkycooking.com.au/solid (use code 10QCP for 10% off)
Swap your body products over to organic, biodynamic, non-toxic products from Weleda: http://www.weleda.com.au/ (use code quirkyjourney to receive 10% off, and free shipping for orders over $90)
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AQJ 77: Holistic Dentistry

In today’s podcast, we interview holistic dentists Louis and Susan Chan. Based in Sydney, Louis and Susan differ from mainstream dentists by looking at the body as a whole, the relationship between the mouth and the microbiome, physical issues that lead to developmental delays, and by integrating their practice with other health practioners such as chiropractors and ENTs. They also have a deep interest in chronic pain and sleep issues, which they treat in their practice. This is a great podcast with lots of new information and fresh perspectives.
Useful links:
Louis & Susan Chan, My Dental Care: http://www.mydentalcare.net.au/
TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre: http://www.tmjsleepcentre.net.au/
Solidteknics pans (use the code 10QCP for 10% off): quirkycooking.com.au/solid
Weleda non-toxic skincare (use the code quirkyjourney for 10% off): http://www.weleda.com.au/
Biological pecan nuts, pesticide and fungicide free: https://www.facebook.com/thebigpecan/
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AQJ 76: Eczema – Causes & Treatment, with Liezel Barnard ND

For many, eczema is the earliest sign of poor health. What are the causes of eczema and how do you treat it? Do antibiotics and steroid creams offer a cure? Is it enough to improve your diet, or can creams and lotions also help? In today’s podcast, we interview Liezel Barnard, trainer and naturopath at Weleda Australia. Liezel gives great insight about the genetic and environmental causes of eczema, and a good strategy to get over inflammation and keep the skin from experiencing flare-ups.
Find out more about Weleda’s natural skin care tips and products for eczema here: http://www.weleda.com.au/sensitive-and-eczema-prone-skin-care-tips/
Use the code QUIRKYJOURNEY when ordering from Weleda Australia to recieve 10% off your order. (Orders over $90 will also receive free shipping.)
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Fasting, Feasting, and “What the Health?”

“What the Health” is a new documentary on Netflix that shows the horrors of the industrial food system, and the influence of money on food policy; but it also claims that eating an egg a day is as bad as smoking 5 cigarettes, chicken causes cancer, and fat causes diabetes…
In today’s show, we separate fact from fiction, and also discuss a practice that is as old as time: fasting. Fouad goes on a one meal a day experiment and tells us about his experience!
Thank you to our sponsors, Weleda Australia and Solidteknics! Please use the following codes to receive 10% off orders with our sponsors:
Weleda Australia – coupon code quirkyjourney (plus free shipping over $90)
Solidteknics (via Emporio Organico) – coupon code 10QCP 
Useful Links:
What Fasting Does for the Brain (TedX talk, youtube)
“What the Health” Review: checking out the ‘evidence’ (article with studies linked)
The Vegetarian Myth (article by Lierre Kieth, vegan for 20 years)
The Hidden Cost of Veganism – (podcast interview with Daniel Vitalis and Lierre Keith)
Vegetarianism Explained (book by Dr Natasha Campbell McBride)
Weston A. Price website – traditional foods and farming
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AQJ 74: Ulcerative Colitis and Changing Your Mindset for Healing

On Today’s show, all the way from Seattle, we have with us nutritional therapy practitioner Lauren Geertsen from empoweredsustenance.com.  At Empowered Sustenance, Lauren shares beautiful GAPS recipes and holistic health tips and ideas to empower readers on their health journey. She believes vibrant health is everyone’s greatest potential, and her mission is to share the simple steps that freed her life of chronic pain and medications. Lauren is the author of Quit Acne and Quit PMS.
Jo has enjoyed Lauren’s delicious recipes over the last few years, and was interested to hear that the GAPS diet was the first step in Lauren’s healing journey. During our talk, we cover how Lauren got over her auto-immune condition, avoided a life-long relationship with a colostomy bag, and the mindset needed for healing. Lauren also shares a deeply powerful framework to understand the healing journey. Her framework is modelled on the work of one of Fouad’s favourite mavericks, Joseph Campbell, and his concept of the “Hero’s Journey”, so there was a lot of excitement during this talk!
We are also very excited to have Weleda join us to be our first ever podcast sponsor. Weleda is an incredible holistic care company which produces some of the most amazing skin and body care products on the market. Their formulas employ organic, biodynamic or wild-crafted plant ingredients and the results are incredible. Get 10% off your Weleda order by using the coupon code QUIRKYJOURNEY when you check out at http://www.weleda.com.au/
Links:
Find Lauren at empoweredsustenance.comand https://meoenergetics.com
Find Weleda at http://www.weleda.com.au/and use coupon code QUIRKYJOURNEY for your 10% discount
Listen to Joseph Cambpell’s lectures on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXameWHxm60IU
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AQJ 73: Recovering from Autoimmune Arthritis – Anne-Marie Raymond

On today’s show, we have with us Anne-Marie Raymond, an amazing woman with an amazing story of recovery. At the age of 40, Anne-Marie was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) – a progressive form of autoimmune arthritis which causes severe system inflammation, primarily affecting the spine and over time fusing the vertebrae together. It causes extreme pain and makes daily tasks like walking, sleeping, getting into a car or lifting a small child an exercise in agony. Despite her doctor’s insistence that diet had absolutely nothing to do with the disease, Anne-Marie tenaciously walked the path of wholefoods to regain her health. First beginning with Paleo then moving onto the GAPS diet, Anne-Marie has now managed to reverse her symptoms and gotten off her medication. If you’re feeling down and that life is too hard, this is one inspirational episode you don’t want to miss.
Show notes…
Anne-Marie has recently started blogging about her condition. You can read more about her journey here: http://www.livingwellwithas.com/
Anne-Marie’s AS facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/211791165975927/
Guest blog post Anne-Marie wrote for Good Mood Food: https://www.goodmoodfood.net.au/single-post/2017/03/30/Hope-for-Healing-auto-immune-disease
And here are links to our upcoming events and helpful resources…
Our upcoming gut health retreat: https://www.quirkycooking.com.au/life-changing-food-gut-health-retreat/
Life-Changing Food cooking class & seminar in Melbourne: (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-changing-food-seminar-cooking-demo-melbourne-tickets-34742560935)
Life-Changing Food cooking class & seminar in Thirroul: (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-changing-food-seminar-cooking-demo-thirroul-tickets-34680726988)
Our online gut health program: http://gaps.quirkycooking.com.au
Life-Changing Food cookbook: http://www.quirkycooking.com.au/order-life-changing-food/
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AQJ 72: Marcus Pearce – It’s Not Just About the Food You Eat!

Studies have shown that a happy, healthy social life and a supportive family and community are just as important as a healthy diet – if not more so. A healthy life is more than just keeping your body functioning well – it is also about finding your life purpose, connecting with those around you, balancing your work and family life, nourishing your soul and spirit, and so much more.
Marcus Pearce loves to speak on this subject, and has developed a program to help people learn to make the very best of they lives they have, called the ‘Exceptional Life Blueprint’. Jo and Fouad talk with Marcus about his ideas, and some steps we can all take to create a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Find out more about the Exceptional Life Blueprint Live Event in Melbourne, 3-4 June, here: http://melbourne.marcuspearce.com.au/quirky/
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AQJ 71: Mary Kelly- Healing with GAPS when you can’t tolerate many foods

Salicylate intolerance. Amine intolerance. Anaphylaxis. Sensory processing disorder. FPIES. Eosinophilic oesophagitis. Candida. Parasites. Mary’s son had them all. And Mary was so stressed out at the thought of having to resolve each and every one of those issues individually that she gave up and did nothing. Because how do you even start to fix all that?? But then her son nearly died in hospital, and their GAPS journey began… and lo and behold when his gut healed, ALL of these issues went away.
So how do you heal the gut when the food intolerances and allergies are so overwhelming that it seems impossible to even eat the most basic foods recommended for gut healing? Mary broke it down for us in this talk at our recent Life-Changing Food Gut Health Retreat, and we just had to share it with you all.
“But I have the MTHFR gene mutation!” Then heal the gut. “But I’m depressed!” Heal the gut. “My son has anaphylaxis!” Heal the gut. Focus focus focus on that, and everything else comes right, says Mary.
Mary has helped many, many families move forward in their quest for healing. Her approach is motherly, loving and encouraging, with plenty of humour, and now and then a bit of a kick up the backside… you just can’t help sitting up and listening when she speaks!
You can learn more about Mary Kelly on her website, www.goodmoodfood.net.au.
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AQJ 70: Fouad Starts GAPS!

Fouad drops a bombshell in this episode… He has decided he needs to get more serious about gut healing, so he has started GAPS Intro!
Fouad has been eating a whole food, gluten free, mostly paleo diet for about 7 years, but realised he had deeper healing to do. It all became clear to him when he decided to quit coffee (his best friend of 20 years!) and realised the coffee had been masking symptoms like tiredness, histamine reactions, and body pain. Tests showed his body has been struggling with an autoimmune disease and a major dust mite allergy, so GAPS was the obvious next step in his healing journey.
He’s been on GAPS for 4 weeks now and is on stage 2, taking his time to heal properly. We talk about how it feels to begin GAPS, how to know when to move on to the next stage, what some foods are that he’s loving and how he’s getting creative with the recipes, and the improvements he’s already seeing in his health.
There’s lots of laughs in this episode as Fouad talks about getting serious with gut healing while still enjoying your food (despite ditching the coffee!). Join Jo and Fouad for a bit of fun and lots of inspiration in this ‘back to basics’ gut health episode!
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