Page 5250 | Now To Love

Home Page 5250

June 1, 2009

What is beta glucan and why is it good for me?

Now to Love

Question:

What is beta glucan and why is it good for me?

Answer:

Beta glucan is a type of soluble fibre. Although it is found in all cereal grains, barley and oats are known to be particularly rich sources. Beta glucan and its benefits for heart health have been studied extensively. It is believed that beta glucan is heart-protective because of its ability to lower cholesterol, in particular, the re-absorption of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

How does ‘lowering cholesterol re-absorption’ work?

Cholesterol enters our digestive tract from the food we eat as well as from bile produced by the liver. Some choelsterol is then re-absorbed back into the body through our blood. Beta-glucan blocks the re-absorption of some of this cholesterol by ‘soaking it up’ and it is then removed from the body through our bowel motions. This means less cholesterol circulates in our system.

How much beta glucan do I need in order to get these benefits?

Although there are no recommendations in Australia for daily intake of beta glucan, the US Food & Drug Administration and the UK Joint Health Claims Initiative recommend that we consume three grams of beta glucan each day.

One hundred grams of rolled oats will provide around four grams of beta glucan. So, choose breakfast cereals that contain oats, add oats to your baking (delicious in biscuits and crumble), include barley in soups and casseroles and choose bread with added oats and barley.

This information is provided by The Sanitarium Nutrition Service

Your Say: Do you include oats in your daily diet? Tell us your best recipes and tips below…

Now to Love

I’m a certified gym rat and these are all the essentials I swear by

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Beyond the Oura Ring: trendy wearable smart rings you’ll love!

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Stay ahead of your running game with the best sneakers on the market

The Block’s Jasmin Neuwen is battling breast cancer

“I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child”: Ariarne Titmus sheds light on her ovarian tumour surgery

Steph Campbell speaks about how she was left with severe burns to her body after a hot water bottle started leaking.

Warning: Hot water bottle burns left me scarred for life

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Smash your fitness goals with one of the best treadmills to purchase in Australia

Aussie Olympian Harry Garside swears by these tips to help with sleeping habits

MasterChef alumni Tommy Pham welcomes TWO new babies into the world

Elton John opens up about battle with “severe” infection

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

June 1, 2009

Most Aussies are ‘closet-shoppers’

Now to Love

Financial times are tough. We may even be in a recession, however that doesn’t stop 80 per cent of Aussies from hiding purchases from their loved ones during times of economic crisis.

You could be forgiven for believing that the purse strings should be held a little tighter in the current financial climate, however most of us continue to treat ourselves to life’s little luxuries. Eight in every ten Australians are making purchases that they hide from their families, friends or loved ones with more than half of those admitting that they either hid or downplayed those purchases because they feel their loved one doesn’t understand the true value of the item.

This new research, comissioned by eBay, also shows that guilt is a driving factor behind retail indiscretions with 30 per cent of Australian’s surveyed saying that they felt guilty about their purchases. According to the research, 23 per cent of us feel guilty about exercising a little retail therapy because we believe we’re expected to save for a rainy day, or because we’re already too far in debt, while more than one in ten of us feels obliged to shop for better value.

eBay spokesperson Sian Gipslis said the global financial crisis and different interpretations of what was actually considered good value, seemed to be the main reasons why consumers were choosing to ‘closet buy’. Gipslis said “respondents felt it didn’t seem right to be spending money during a financial crisis as people continue to lose jobs, try to save money or reduce debt.”

Althought these findings appear to point towards a trend for frivilous shopping behaviour in Australia, the majority of Aussies surveyed (72%) said the main reason they made the purchase wasn’t because they are shopoholics, but because they couldn’t resist buying something that offered such good value for money.

Seemingly the majority of our secrect spending sprees occur online at auction sites such as eBay with 65 per cent of the survey respondents saying it offered better value for money, while more than half (53%) found it a convenient and discreet way to shop. Interestingly the research also revealed more men (48%) than women (33%) indulged in online closet buying.

Other shopping secrets revealed…

NSW and ACT residents were the highest closet buyers in the nation, with 85% hiding purchases from loved ones, followed by VIC and WA (80%) and 78% of Queenslanders.
Residents from the Northern Territory scored the lowest in the nation with only 50% making closet purchases
100% of Northern Territory residents surveyed said they hide purchases from their partner compared to 83% of TAS, 81% of VIC, 81% of SA, 82% of WA and 80% of NSW.
ACT (73%) ranked the highest in the nation for the percentage of residents who hid closet buys because their loved one won’t understand the value of the purchase. SA (60%) and QLD (58%) were closely followed by NSW/ TAS (54%)
Northern Territorians surveyed had the most guilt with 57% surveyed saying guilt made them hide their closet buy. This was followed by VIC/ TAS (33%), WA (31%) and NSW (30%)
More residents in TAS (50%) shop online for value compared to NSW (43%), VIC (42%), QLD (39%), and ACT (36%)) WA (29%) survey respondents were the lowest in the nation for online value hunting.

Are you a closet-shopper? Tell us your secret below…

Now to Love

Woman showing off her Black Friday activewear purchase

Get ready to kick those New Year’s fitness goals with these Black Friday activewear sales

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Two women holding shopping bags, celebrating the buzz of Black Friday deals.

Our guide to shopping the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Group of men and women in activewear and a Big W store front

Finding high-quality and stylish activewear just got easier

Festive dressing: How to create a Christmas capsule wardrobe to keep you stylish throughout the silly season.

7 spring sandals to add to your wardrobe this season

Don’t sweat it: These summer pyjamas will keep you cool all night long

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Add to cart! Shop from our favourite lingerie brands

Spring’s Coolest Kicks for Kids Under $80

7 sunglasses brands to keep your eye on this summer

7 one-piece swimsuits to chase the sun in style this summer

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Kate Ritchie’s wedding joy

Now to Love

**By Angela Mollard

She’s finally found the perfect man, now Kate is on track to fulfilling her dreams.**

Kate Ritchie is overjoyed that she’s finally found the “perfect partner” and it appears she could soon be planning their wedding.

The two-time TV Week Logie winner recently celebrated her first year together with boyfriend Stuart Webb and has been unable to contain her excitement at finding the man of her dreams.

Kate says she knew the former National Rugby League player was “the one” when he first cooked her poached eggs for breakfast, and admits that they have talked about marriage.

“We do talk about it quietly together,” she said last month, enthusing, “He’s much more wonderful than I could ever have imagined.”

Kate has freely admitted that her relationship with Stuart is the most special of her life, telling the Sunday Herald Sun recently, “It’s all going extremely well with Stuart. There’s definitely something different about things this time around. Whatever that is, I’m not complaining. It’s very nice.”

Normally reticent about her private life, Kate, 30, is barely able to contain her happiness, sharing with listeners on her Nova 969 Sydney radio show the intimate details of her exciting new life and future with Stuart, 28. The pair now live together, since Kate took the plunge and left behind the security of her pad in Sydney’s east for a home with Stuart in Caringbah, in the city’s south.

Clearly loving the closeness, Kate has been unusually forthcoming about their life together ever since. A keen cook, she chatters happily about his attempts to teach her golf and how she is “a very good little wifey” and loves to bake him rhubarb slice to take to work for morning tea.

Now to Love

Sonia Kruger lists luxury Sydney home for sale

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

The Bachelor’s Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston are expanding the family

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Today’s Sarah Abo is married to her soulmate! But who is he?

Inside Johnny Ruffo and Tahnee Sims’ relationship and the unbreakable bond they forged

Richard Gere is leaving the US and moving to Spain, here’s why

2GB radio host Ray Hadley has announced his retirement after over 40 years

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

“I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child”: Ariarne Titmus sheds light on her ovarian tumour surgery

These pictures prove that Home and Away sweethearts Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds are the soap’s biggest success story

All the adorable snaps of Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli’s newborn son Lucius

Is this the end of Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little?

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Don Lane’s son: I gave up my career for Dad

Now to Love

**By Dylan Howard/Crocmedia and Lucy Chesterton

PJ Lane tells why he’s turned his back on a bright future to be with his ailing father.**

At 24, PJ Lane was preparing to take his place on the world sporting stage, playing top league basketball in the USA and Europe. With his formidable talent and poster-boy good looks, success in the NBA was becoming a tangible reality for the son of legendary entertainer Don Lane.

But at a time many talented young players would be looking towards a future with top pay cheques and possible world fame, PJ has given it all up to move back home to Australia to be close to his famous father as Don fights the unpredictable ravages of dementia.

Contrary to reports, PJ says his dad’s health is stable, but admits the family “doesn’t know where it could be in a year”.

And it’s for that reason the loyal son has put family first by choosing to settle in Sydney where he can pay daily visits to his ailing father instead of continuing with his sporting commitments. “For now, Dad is still in good spirits and recognises everyone who comes to visit him,” PJ says.

“He is walking and running around and still making jokes. But he has a condition which worsens over time, which will ultimately have an effect.”

Illness isn’t preventing Don from taking pride in the achievements of his son, who — after years of training in sports — has now revealed for the first time that he’s planning to follow in his father’s footsteps by forging a career in entertainment.

For the past 12 months, PJ has been quietly making inroads into the performing arts, debuting, without fanfare, as a presenter at last month’s glittering TV Week Logies ceremony in Melbourne.

And with showbiz in his genes, PJ could well be the next “Lanky Yank”. “For the last few years, Dad has been nudging me in the television direction and he was really happy to see me on the small screen,” PJ says.

Now to Love

Sonia Kruger lists luxury Sydney home for sale

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

The Bachelor’s Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston are expanding the family

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Today’s Sarah Abo is married to her soulmate! But who is he?

Inside Johnny Ruffo and Tahnee Sims’ relationship and the unbreakable bond they forged

Richard Gere is leaving the US and moving to Spain, here’s why

2GB radio host Ray Hadley has announced his retirement after over 40 years

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

“I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child”: Ariarne Titmus sheds light on her ovarian tumour surgery

These pictures prove that Home and Away sweethearts Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds are the soap’s biggest success story

All the adorable snaps of Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli’s newborn son Lucius

Is this the end of Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little?

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Bindi and Bob’s Disney adventure

Now to Love

Terri and her young warriors take time out from spreading the eco message in the US.

From Australia Zoo to Disneyland, life’s one big adventure for pint-sized wildlife warriors Bindi and Bob Irwin.

The two kids and their mum Terri, usually more at home surrounded by crocs and kangaroos, left the bush behind as they enjoyed the world’s most famous theme park.

The Irwins have a big reason to celebrate, too, with Bindi now in the running for her second Emmy Award. The bubbly young star will compete against US characters Telly Monster and Elmo as they vie for the position of most outstanding performer in a children’s series at the Daytime Emmy Awards in August.

Last year Bindi became the youngest winner in the category ever for her role in the ABC series Bindi: The Jungle Girl.

While the two may be household names, Bindi, wearing her own Bindi Wear range, and her five-year-old brother Bob, in a South Sydney Rabbitohs’ cap, behaved just like any other kids as they hopped on the rides at the park in Anaheim, California.

Now to Love

Sonia Kruger lists luxury Sydney home for sale

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

The Bachelor’s Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston are expanding the family

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Today’s Sarah Abo is married to her soulmate! But who is he?

Inside Johnny Ruffo and Tahnee Sims’ relationship and the unbreakable bond they forged

Richard Gere is leaving the US and moving to Spain, here’s why

2GB radio host Ray Hadley has announced his retirement after over 40 years

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

“I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child”: Ariarne Titmus sheds light on her ovarian tumour surgery

These pictures prove that Home and Away sweethearts Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds are the soap’s biggest success story

All the adorable snaps of Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli’s newborn son Lucius

Is this the end of Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little?

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Brad and Ange’s trial separation?

Now to Love

The Hollywood couple are spending time apart in the hope that they can save their relationship.

Following months of tension, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have decided to spend some time apart to take stock of their four-year relationship.

The former lovebirds’ decision to call time out on their roller-coaster romance comes as little surprise to those close to the pair, who reveal that Brad, 45, and Ange, who turns 34 on June 4, have spent nearly 200 days apart since twins Knox and Vivienne were born on July 13 last year. Much of this time away was not work related, but the result of blazing rows that ended with one of them walking out.

Now the troubled pair will live on opposite sides of the US — Brad in LA and Angelina in New York — and only intend to reunite for the sake of their six children. They came together for their daughter Shiloh’s third birthday last week, but insiders say it was not a happy occasion.

“The relationship is really strained, and Brad is saying that he wants some time out but feels trapped,” a friend of Brad’s tells Woman’s Day.

“They are both determined to split time with the children and for the children to be able to see them together. But they will spend a lot of time apart.”

The break may help Brad and Angelina resolve their issues or it could just as easily tear them apart for ever, says Anne Hollonds, Vice President of Relationships Australia.

“Some couples use a trial separation to reconnect and rebuild their relationship,” she says. “They use the time to re-evaluate what they like about the relationship and how to improve it. Sadly, not all people use the time constructively — that can lead to long-term separation.”

Now to Love

Sonia Kruger lists luxury Sydney home for sale

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

The Bachelor’s Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston are expanding the family

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Today’s Sarah Abo is married to her soulmate! But who is he?

Inside Johnny Ruffo and Tahnee Sims’ relationship and the unbreakable bond they forged

Richard Gere is leaving the US and moving to Spain, here’s why

2GB radio host Ray Hadley has announced his retirement after over 40 years

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

“I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child”: Ariarne Titmus sheds light on her ovarian tumour surgery

These pictures prove that Home and Away sweethearts Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds are the soap’s biggest success story

All the adorable snaps of Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli’s newborn son Lucius

Is this the end of Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little?

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Charles the credit crunch prince

Now to Love

Thrifty Prince Charles is the king of wardrobe recycling.

He may still be waiting to take the British throne, but Prince Charles appears to have earned another honourable title — king of the penny pinchers!

As he stepped out last week in patched-up, 40-year-old shoes, the frugal royal proved that he’s an expert in making his clothes last… and last.

Charles was 20 years old when he bought his beloved Oxford lace-ups from legendary cobblers Lobb of St James’s Street, London. And after shelling out the princely sum of $5000, he has made a point of getting his money’s worth.

While his taste in fashion isn’t exactly cheap, the 60-year-old royal is a firm believer in cost per wear. He has worn many of his clothes for several decades, and it’s believed one of his tweed coats belonged to his grandfather, George VI.

And he’s not afraid to show off his threads. When Italian designer Donatella Versace joked to Charles in 2001 that she hoped his suit was Versace made, he proudly told her it was made by Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard, and was at least 20 years old.

Regardless, Charles still earns top marks from leading style mavens.

“Charles is the ultimate town-and-country man,” says British GQ editor Dylan Jones. “Look at his ties. Charles was doing skinny neckties years before Pete Doherty caught on. And no-one puts their hands in their pockets with quite the same casual insouciance as our future King does.”

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day — on sale June 1, 2009.

Now to Love

Sonia Kruger lists luxury Sydney home for sale

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

The Bachelor’s Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston are expanding the family

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Today’s Sarah Abo is married to her soulmate! But who is he?

Inside Johnny Ruffo and Tahnee Sims’ relationship and the unbreakable bond they forged

Richard Gere is leaving the US and moving to Spain, here’s why

2GB radio host Ray Hadley has announced his retirement after over 40 years

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

“I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child”: Ariarne Titmus sheds light on her ovarian tumour surgery

These pictures prove that Home and Away sweethearts Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds are the soap’s biggest success story

All the adorable snaps of Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli’s newborn son Lucius

Is this the end of Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little?

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Luna Park tragedy 30 years on: I lost my whole family

Now to Love

**By Glen Williams

On June 9, 1979, seven people died when a fire engulfed a ride at Sydney’s Luna Park. We speak to Jennifer Poidevin, who lost her husband and two young sons — and is still searching for the truth.**

Her gentle smile hides three decades of unspeakable grief. Tears have never been far from Jennifer Poidevin. Tragically, those tears were borne from a magic place many of us acquaint with laughter, fun and good times — Luna Park.

Jennifer, her husband John and their two sons, Damien, 6, and Craig, 4, had spent the evening of June 9, 1979 — the final day of a well deserved holiday — at Coney Island.

Jennifer, a young mum from Warren, NSW, had been dangerously sick much of the year, recovering from a brain haemorrhage that kept her hospitalised and separated from her family in Sydney for three months.

“We made the most of that last day,” Jennifer, now 56, recalls. “John and I wanted to give the kids the time of their lives. We spent the day at Taronga Zoo, then headed for Luna Park in the evening.”

As they emerged from Coney Island, Jennifer and John realised they had four tickets remaining — enough for one last ride.

“We asked Damien and Craig what ride they’d like to go on again,” she remembers. “They chose the Ghost Train. Little did I know…

“For some reason, suddenly I felt like an ice-cream. I asked the others if they wanted one, but they said no. I asked them to wait for me, but when I turned around they were gone.

“I don’t know why they didn’t wait for me, as we’d been on every ride together that night. It still haunts me to this day. Something spiritual took over. Divine intervention? For some reason, I was not meant to die that night.”

Jennifer recalls walking over to the Ghost Train and being confronted by “thick, heavy, smothering smoke”. As she stood there, the whole building burst into flames.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day — on sale June 1, 2009.

Now to Love

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009

Amazing surgery: I had a face transplant

Now to Love

Five years ago, Connie Culp’s face was destroyed by a shotgun blast. Now, at last, she can smile again.

When Connie Culp was shot in the face by her husband Thomas, the once pretty brunette was left horrifically disfigured. Blasted from just over two metres away by a shotgun bullet, she amazed doctors by clinging to life despite her extensive injuries.

After undergoing 30 operations to reconstruct her shattered face, the mum-of-two’s appearance was still so shocking she hid away, embarrassed about her looks.

But five years later, Connie has become the recipient of the world’s most extensive face transplant. The courageous mum and grandmother, 46, recently unveiled her new look at a US press conference, praising the family of the donor that allowed her transplant to become possible.

“While I know you all want to focus on me,” she told reporters, “I think it’s more important you focus on the donor family that made it so I could have this Christmas present.”

Connie’s husband of 26 years inflicted her with near-fatal injuries in September 2004 after becoming jealous of her going out with her friends, then turned the gun on himself. He too survived, but managed to escape with minimal injuries before being sent to prison for seven years.

Unfortunately, Connie wasn’t so lucky. Her nose, cheeks, one eye and the roof of her mouth were shattered, leaving a large hole in the middle of her face.

After emergency surgery to save her life, a tube was inserted into her windpipe so she could breathe by herself. Doctors couldn’t remove the hundreds of shards of shotgun pellets and bone that were embedded in her face, leaving it distorted. Left blind and only able to eat liquid food through a straw, Connie’s life as she knew it was over. But she was determined to make the best of her situation. “It’d take more than a gunshot to take away my spirit,” she said.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day — on sale June 1, 2009.

Now to Love

Home Page 5250

May 31, 2009