Seed oils can be making you ill – here’s why

 

Seed oils are vegetable oils extracted from seeds and are found throughout the modern food supply. Common examples include soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, canola, cottonseed, grapeseed and rice bran oils. They are widely used in packaged foods, baked goods, salad dressings, sauces, fried foods and fast food because they are inexpensive, versatile and generally have a neutral flavour.

But seed oils can make you very ill because they are toxic. Seed oils contain polyunsaturated fats, particularly linoleic acid which can cause inflammation and oxidation.

Which seed oils should you avoid?

The short answer is all of them. Better to not buy them and not cook with them. Also to stop eating ultra processed foods that are known to contain them. Start reading labels and let go of the deep-fried foods, those high in kilojoules and carbohydrates, salt and sugar. Your take away food is most likely cooked in repeated oils that in itself will promote oxidation and the formation of toxic products.

How do seed oils affect your body?

Linoleic acid is a precursor for oxidative stress. Polyunsaturated fats contain chemically vulnerable double bonds, which undergo oxidation under certain conditions. Oxidized lipids can produce reactive compounds that interact with cells and tissues. So, when you consume linoleic acid in this denatured world it can add to your inflammation or mitochondrial damage which probably already exists in your body. Saturated fats on the other hand are metabolised differently and therefore in many cases make the healthier choice.

One of the biggest concerns with seed oils is their high concentration of linoleic acid, an Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. Linoleic acid can become incorporated into cell membranes throughout the body, including the membranes surrounding mitochondria.

Linoleic acid has a very long half-life in the body, meaning that replacing it with other fatty acids can take considerable time. This is one reason why reducing ongoing exposure to seed oils is important.

Seed oils are also extensively processed. Industrial production can involve high temperatures, chemical extraction, bleaching, and deodorisation. Processing and subsequent storage or heating can contribute to oxidation and the formation of undesirable lipid compounds.

Another concern is that polyunsaturated fats are particularly vulnerable to oxidation when exposed to heat, light, and oxygen. Oxidized fats can generate lipid peroxides and free radicals, which may contribute to oxidative stress and cellular damage. Repeatedly heating cooking oils can further increase oxidation.

Seed oils are also heavily concentrated in omega-6 fatty acids. A diet dominated by seed oils and ultra-processed foods can contribute to an excessive intake of Omega-6 fats while providing insufficient Omega-3 fats. Maintaining a healthy balance between these fatty acids is important for regulating inflammatory processes in the body which is why you should never take an Omega 3 supplement on its own but in a combination of 3,6 and 9.

Seed oils and mitochondrial health

Mitochondria are often called the powerhouses of our cells because they produce ATP, the energy required for cellular function. The inner mitochondrial membrane contains a phospholipid called cardiolipin. If cardiolipin has an abundance of linoleic acid then oxidative stress can increase and the mitochondria become highly oxidised and disrupt cellular energy production. This can affect autophagy, protein transport, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitophagy which is the removal and recycling of damaged mitochondria.

When mitochondrial function is compromised, cellular energy production can suffer. This may contribute to problems such as fatigue, brain fog, poor metabolic function, sleep disturbances, and increased oxidative stress. Seed oils can also force your body into sugar-burning mode, damage mitochondria and speed up aging.

How to detox seed oils from your body

There is no easy solution for removing seed oils from your body because fatty acids can become incorporated into cell membranes meaning replacing them requires time. The goal is to stop adding more problematic fats while supporting healthy cellular and metabolic function.

1.   Eat a natural food diet

The first step is to eliminate seed oils from your diet. Avoid processed foods containing soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed, canola, and rice bran oils. This means eliminating chips, crackers, fried foods, frozen meals, cookies, muffins, cakes, margarine, packaged sauces, processed snacks, microwave popcorn, instant noodles, fast food, and other over processed foods.

Instead, focus on nutrient rich whole foods. Choose quality animal products such as grass-fed or pasture raised animal products, wild caught seafood, eggs, Greek yogurt, vegetables, herbs, spices, low-glycaemic fruits, avocados, olives, extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee. Also drink filtered water free from contaminants.

Be sure to eliminate canola, soybean, peanut, corn. Safflower, grapeseed, margarine, cottonseed oil and hydrogenated oils. Replace these with good old butter, tallow, ghee, coconut milk or oil, avocado oil, olive or fish oil and eggs. Those are all natural fats that your body uses more easily.

2.   Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting can support autophagy, the body's natural cellular recycling process. Autophagy helps the body identify and recycle damaged cellular components.

Begin by gradually increasing the overnight fasting period from dinner to breakfast. If your last meal is 8pm then to achieve metabolic health and cellular repair start with a 12-hour overnight fast and have breakfast after 8am. Then you can gradually increase the fasting window as appropriate to a 16 hour fast. Remember to check with your doctor or naturopath before you start especially if there are already health concerns such as diabetes etc. Fasting may be inappropriate for some people with some conditions.

3.   Exercise

Regular movement is another important component of supporting metabolic health and cellular renewal. Walking, resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, stretching, and other forms of physical activity can support circulation, mitochondrial function, and autophagy.

Combining strength training with cardiovascular exercise provides a comprehensive approach to maintaining metabolic and cellular health.

4.   Sleep

Sleep is essential for tissue repair, cellular renewal, metabolic regulation, and overall recovery. Aim for approximately seven hours each night. Support your circadian rhythm by getting natural light during the day and reducing bright artificial light and close down all screens 2 hours before you sleep. Create a calm nighttime environment and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

5.   Saunas

Heat therapy and sauna use can stimulate heat-shock proteins and cellular stress-response pathways. These processes can support cellular maintenance and autophagy. Saunas also facilitate detoxification, improve blood glucose levels, increase growth hormone, reduce inflammation and improve circulation. Infrared saunas are amazing and if you haven’t tried it yet, please do. It would be good to make it part of your regular wellness routine. Remember again to check with your doctor or naturopath if this is safe for you depending on other health issues you may have.

6.   Cold exposure

Have you ever had a warm shower and then just turned on the cold for a second? Instantly your energy field will respond and your body also. Cold showers and cold plunges can stimulate responses that can influence mitochondrial activity and cellular recycling. Start with brief periods of cool and gradually increase the duration.

The most effective strategy though is to stop consuming seed oils regularly and replace ultra-processed foods with nutritious whole food alternatives. Include all of the above in your wellness routine and within months you will begin to see some results. Remember your body needs time to detox from any artificial poisons so give it a bit of time.

Here at www.stressfreehealthmanagement.com we specialise in finding what is right for you as part of your wellness plan. Our combined naturopathy, nutrition, counselling, energy and spiritual healing, meditation and other services all make one big bundle to get you healthy and keep you healthy. These are all included in your session. Perhaps it’s time you brought some great positive change into your life! Give us a call today to find out how we can help YOU!

What Is Smudging All About?

 

(pic thanks Samantha Hurley)

In our increasingly busy technological world, many people seek simpler ways to create calm, restore balance, and cultivate positive energy in their daily lives. One ancient practice that continues to resonate across cultures is smudging which is the use of smoke of sacred herbs to cleanse and refresh people and spaces.

This use of smoke has been used for centuries. Whether it be in religious traditions with the use of incense burned during church services, temples, or other sacred ceremonies. Smoke has been for a long time a symbol of purification, prayer, and connection to something greater than ourselves.

Among many Native American traditions, smudging is a sacred cleansing ritual used to clear stagnant or unwanted energy and invite wellbeing, clarity, and harmony. Smudging typically involves burning dried herbs or plant materials in a shell or clay bowl while offering prayers, gratitude, or positive intentions. The smoke is then gently directed around a person or throughout a room using a hand or feather. Traditionally, this process is believed to help remove negativity, emotional heaviness, stress, and energetic blockages.

When to smudge

People often use smudging before ceremonies, after difficult conversations, when moving into a new home or office or in unison with Feng Shui to create positive energy flow in any area to reset your environment and mindset.

What does it mean?

The elements of the natural world can be taken into account as in the bowl represents water, the herbs earth, the feather and the movement of smoke represents air and the flame to light the herbs represents fire. These are symbolic of balance and harmony.

How to smudge

Often such herbs as sage, sweetgrass, cedar, and even tobacco can be used. Sage is perhaps the most widely recognised smudging herb associated with purification and cleansing. Sweetgrass is valued for its sweet smell and is traditionally used to invite positive energy and blessings. Cedar is linked with protection and grounding, while tobacco can be seen as an offering and a vehicle for prayers.

Your intention is one of the most important ingredients. The ritual needs to be done with mindfulness and presence. Begin by gathering a heat-safe bowl or shell, dried herbs, and a lighter. Open windows for fresh airflow and for stagnant energy to leave. Light the herbs and allow them to burn before gently putting out the flame, leaving only the fragrant smoke. Start with yourself, slowly guide the smoke around your body while focusing on calm breathing and positive intentions. You might silently reflect on gratitude, clarity, peace, or renewal. You can use the smoke to clean each of your chakras in a clockwise direction and have a friend do the back of your body as well.

Next, move through your home, allowing the smoke to drift into the corners. Focus on these more than around furniture, and near doorways. As you do so, pay attention to how the space feels. Many people find the process itself creates a powerful sense of letting go and connection.

When you have finished allow the herbs to fully go out. Traditionally, any remaining ashes are returned to the earth as a gesture of respect and gratitude.

What does it do?

Whether viewed as a spiritual practice, a mindfulness ritual, or simply a way to refresh the atmosphere smudging offers an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with the natural world. It reminds us that creating a positive environment is not only about the physical space around us but also about the energy, intention, and awareness we bring into it. In this way it provides a meaningful way to cultivate balance, encourage positive energy, and create a sense of renewal in both home and spirit.

What else do we offer?

This clinic offers courses in Feng Shui online, personal Feng Shui charts for your home or office, space clearing, chakra cleansing and courses in meditation and mindfulness. Go to our website to see all the rest of what we have to offer and give us a call to discuss your needs. www.stressfreehealthmanagement.com

What to Do If You Suffer from Psoriasis, Hair, Skin or Nail issues

 

Nourish Your Skin, Hair & Nails from the Inside Out

Psoriasis is more than just a skin condition. It’s your body’s way of signalling that something deeper may be out of balance. The good news is that the foods you eat every day can play a powerful role in calming inflammation, supporting healthy skin, strengthening hair and nails, and improving your overall wellbeing.

While there’s no single psoriasis “cure,” many physicians and nutritionists agree that a healthy, anti-inflammatory lifestyle can help reduce flareups while also lowering your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke which are more common in people living with psoriasis.

If you’re tired of covering up irritated skin, struggling with brittle nails, or feeling frustrated by constant flareups, your kitchen might be one of the best places to start healing.

Feed Your Skin with Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Psoriasis is driven by inflammation in the body, so choosing foods that naturally calm inflammation can make a noticeable difference in how your skin looks and feels.

Omega-3 Rich Foods are Skin Soothing

Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and tuna are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids which are healthy fats with anti-inflammatory benefits. These oils help support an overactive immune system, which is closely linked to psoriasis symptoms.

Aim to enjoy fish at least twice a week for healthier skin and a healthier heart.

Colourful Fruits & Vegetables Lead to a Glowing Skin

Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that help fight inflammation from the inside out.

Some standout choices include:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Squash
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Mangoes
• Figs

Blueberries are especially good as they are low in calories yet rich in vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants that support skin health, memory, and heart function.

The more colour on your plate, the more nourishment your skin receives.

Healthy Grains help more than your waistline

Whole grains like oats, brown rice, wholegrain bread, and quinoa provide fibre and antioxidants that can regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation.

Stable blood sugar levels are important because spikes in sugar can worsen inflammation throughout the body including your skin.

Legumes like lentils, beans, and chickpeas are also excellent additions to a psoriasis friendly diet because they’re rich in fibre and protein.

Choose Better Proteins for Clearer Skin

If you eat meat, focus on lean proteins such as chicken or turkey rather than fatty red meats.

Many people with psoriasis notice their symptoms improve when they reduce red meat intake, as high-fat meats may contribute to inflammation in the body.

If you occasionally enjoy red meat, choose leaner cuts like sirloin.

Not All Fats Are Bad

Healthy fats are essential for beautiful skin, shiny hair, and strong nails.

Good fats include:

• Avocados
• Walnuts
• Flaxseed
• Olive oil
• Fatty fish

These nourishing fats help support skin hydration and overall health.

Try to avoid trans fats and heavily processed saturated fats, which can increase inflammation and contribute to flareups.

Foods That May Trigger Psoriasis Symptoms

Everyone’s body is different, but some foods are commonly linked to worsening psoriasis symptoms.

Dairy Products

Some people find that reducing dairy helps calm their skin. If you suspect dairy may be a trigger, try eliminating it by using lactose free or dairy free products temporarily and monitor how your body responds.

Gluten

For people with gluten intolerance or sensitivity, removing gluten may improve psoriasis symptoms.

Note that when we test for inflammation here at Stressfree Management we find that almost all our tests come back with people being wheat, yeast, gluten, dairy and lactose intolerant. That’s why I always tell people, even before they take the test, to attempt to eliminate these completely from your eating plan. It is amazing how healthy people become when they do this.

Fried Foods

Fried foods offer little nutritional value and are known to promote inflammation throughout the body. Regular consumption worsens psoriasis while also increasing the risk of heart disease and weight gain.

Sugar

Sugar is one of the biggest hidden triggers for inflammation. Too much processed sugar can not only increase inflammation but also promote weight gain, aggravate psoriasis symptoms and deeply affect skin quality and ageing. It is important to be mindful of hidden sugars in packaged foods, sauces, and snacks. In fact, better if you just take processed foods off your shopping list completely.

Alcohol

Alcohol may trigger flareups and can interfere with certain psoriasis medications.

If your psoriasis feels difficult to manage, reducing or eliminating alcohol may help improve symptoms.

Nightshade Vegetables

Some people report sensitivity to nightshade vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes and peppers. It is important for you to pay attention to your body’s reactions and triggers as everyone is different for other underlying causes.

Healthy Skin Starts from Within

Your skin reflects what’s happening inside your body. Nourishing yourself with anti-inflammatory, nutrient rich foods doesn’t just support psoriasis management. It will also improve your skin clarity, hair strength, nail health, energy levels, digestion, weight and overall confidence.  

There’s no one size fits all approach to psoriasis, but small, consistent dietary changes can make a meaningful difference over time.

If you’re ready to support healthier skin, hair, and nails naturally, we can work with you to create a personalised plan that fits with your body and lifestyle. We can help you absorb your nutrients better and even build you up with the right minerals that you may not even know you are missing. For example, silica, vitamin E and other minerals and supplements for your hair, skin and nails (in the right dosages to specifically suit you). Give us a call now to find out more. www.stressfreehealthmanagement.com

A Healing Perspective on Mind, Energy, and Balance through understanding the Gunas

 

Ancient Indian healing traditions teach that true wellbeing is not something we “fix,” but something we remember. Beneath our shifting moods, habits, and identities, there is a natural intelligence always moving us toward balance. One of the clearest ways to understand this movement is through the wisdom of the three gunas.

The gunas are subtle qualities of nature that shape our energy, mind, emotions, and consciousness. They are always present, always changing, and always interacting within us. When we learn to recognise them, we gain a powerful lens for self-healing, emotional regulation, and spiritual growth without force or self-judgment.

These three energies shape our inner world

The understanding of the gunas can be found in many Indian traditional texts such as the Bhagavad Gita. The gunas are basically three in nature. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and each of these have different functions. Colours, food, water, in fact everything around you, carries these gunas. If you eat junk food it makes you feel heavy and tamasic, if you use the colour red that is rajasic, if you eat onions, they are rajasic and if you sacrifice something to help another that is sattvic. So, there is a subtleness to the gunas that you will discover as you become more aware of how they work in you.

Tamas is the most dense and heavy

Tamas is the energy of heaviness, stillness and rest. At its best, it allows deep sleep, stability, and recovery when you need it but as an extreme it causes stagnation. You will notice it perhaps as fatigue or numbness, depression or apathy, confusion, doubt or avoidance or emotional heaviness and attachment. Energetically it feels like you are blocked and there is no flow.

Rajas is your fire, your passion, your movement

Rajas is the energy of activity and change. It fuels ambition, creativity, and desire but can also easily tip into excess. You may experience rajas as restlessness or anxiety, overthinking or stress, emotional intensity or irritability or being constantly driven with no rest. Rajas is nervous system activation. It can fuel your passion which is good but is not often in balance.

Sattva is when you have clarity, harmony and a lightness

Sattva is the energy of balance and awareness. It brings coherence to the body, steadiness to the mind, and openness to the heart. You may feel sattva as a calmness of presence, emotional ease, compassion and empathy, a quiet joy and trust or a sense of being “at home” within yourself. Sattva is the state in which healing integrates and insight arises naturally and for this reason this state makes for easy mindfulness and meditation.

Everything Is a Blend

No emotion, thought, or action is purely one guna or the other. So, they are not purely tamasic, rajasic, or sattvic. Each moment carries a unique blend of all three. What matters most is which energy is leading. This is why change is always possible. Even within anger, there is a clarity waiting to be uncovered. Even within darkness and heaviness (tamas), there is the seed of movement (rajas) and light (sattva). The key to dominion over the gunas is not suppression but awareness and intention.

Healing through conscious awareness

Traditional Indian healing systems recognise that we are nourished on many levels not only by food, but by also by actions and thoughts. Your whole being is constantly being fed by what you eat and drink, what you see, hear, and scroll, the conversations you engage in, the environments you spend time in and the thoughts you repeatedly return to in your head. Each of these carries a guna quality. In order to take control and self-care after any experience, gently ask yourself if you feel more open or more contracted? More clear or more scattered? More alive or more depleted? Just noticing these things is a powerful act of self-care.

Attention Is Energy

You may not control which thoughts or emotions arise but you do shape the inner landscape by where you place your attention. What you dwell on grows and what you resist often intensifies. If you stay present however and work through it your presence softens negativity. In this way from an energetic perspective, attention is a form of nourishment.

Living and Acting in Sattva

Action also has also an energetic signature. Sattvic action feels aligned rather than forced, thoughtful rather than impulsive, grounded in integrity rather than urgency. Before acting, try asking ‘What is moving me right now? Is this coming from fear, desire, or clarity?’ When intention and action are aligned, the nervous system relaxes and energy flows more freely.

Moving Gently Towards Balance

When energy feels heavy or shut down, begin with movement (rajas) such as walking, gentle exercise, breathwork, moving in a routine and being out in fresh air. This movement restores your circulation both physically and energetically.

When life feels overstimulating, begin to soften by including meditation, time out in nature, journaling, more presence and less stimulation and slow down your breathing. The stillness will nourish you.

In general, the idea is to reduce stagnation, balance your activity and move towards cultivating greater clarity. This is achieved through the above internal methods by learning to be still yet ‘still present’ in the world and it fosters a greater sense of kindness, discrimination and ease in how you live your life.

So that heaviness (tamas) and movement or intensity (rajas) is not something to eliminate as it is a natural rhythm of being human. It is something to notice and again and again balance. Healing comes with the awareness and that awareness can build a strength in your being to see with clarity and understanding. Try is and see how it affects you and if you need assistance we are always here with our classes in mindfulness, meditation and techniques to assist you to bring a quality of calmness and flow to your life. www.stressfreehealthmanagement.com