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September spring clean

By Judy Davie

You’ll be jumping out of your skin with newfound energy if you stick to this detox plan. It’s the start of spring and there’s nothing better to put a new spring in your step. We’re eliminating toxins here, so don’t be surprised if you get a few headaches and feel worse before you feel better. The rewards for your efforts will be evident to everyone. More energy, improved skin tone, improved bowel function, stronger nails, clearer eyes and of course, weight loss are just some of the things to look forward to. Stick to the plan for the month — you’ll be glad you did.

This detox plan is rich in antioxidants, fibre and many disease-fighting, naturally occurring food chemicals. There’s sufficient protein for satiety and regeneration of new healthy body cells and the good fats from olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado carry fat-soluble vitamins around the body to detoxify and reduce bad cholesterol in the blood. What’s more, they are metabolised more efficiently in the body so there’s no need to worry about weight gain (as long as you eat the specified quantity and no more).

And let’s not forget weight loss — just another reward for sticking to the plan.

The diet is free of caffeinated products (excluding green tea)

Herbal tea and white tea (available from the supermarket) and two litres of water should be included each day.

Avoid tea, coffee, chocolate and alcohol

Avoid bread and cow’s dairy (the diet allows for one day of dark rye bread)

Notes:

Store rye bread in the freezer to keep it fresh.

Brown rice cakes are available from health food stores and the health section of the supermarket.

Day 1

On rising 1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast ½ red apple

1 kiwi fruit

½ cup strawberries

1 teaspoon sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon pepitas

1 tablespoon unprocessed bran

3 prunes

200g sheep or goats yoghurt

Lunch

1 small can tuna in brine (drained)

¼ cup haricot beans (drained)

1 cup rocket

1 medium tomato

4 slices avocado

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Juice of ½ lemon

Cracked black pepper

Afternoon Tea

¼ cup eggplant dip

1 small carrot

1 medium stick celery

Dinner

1 grilled chicken breast (220g)

½ cup steamed spinach

6 steamed asparagus spears

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

10 roasted almonds sprinkled over the top of the veggies

Day 2

On rising

1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast

Bircher muesli made with

1/3 cup raw oats

1 tablespoon unprocessed bran

soaked overnight in

1 cup apple juice

½ grated apple

3 chopped prunes

1 teaspoon sunflower seeds

Served the next day with up to 200g goat’s or sheep’s yoghurt (200g to be consumed throughout the day)

Lunch

3 brown rice cakes

3 tablespoons hummus

½ cup grated carrot

Sliced cucumber

¼ cup sliced chicken

Rocket lettuce

Dinner

Roasted garlic and beetroot (roasted in ½ teaspoon olive oil)

1 cup steamed broccoli

Grilled kangaroo fillet

¼ cup haricot beans

Served with an oil and vinegar dressing (1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar)

10 almonds and 3 apricot halves and ½ cup strawberries (served with any left over yoghurt)

Day 3

On rising

1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast

1 fresh carrot apple celery ginger and beetroot juice

3 brown rice cakes

2 tablespoon tahini butter

1 slices tomato

sprinkled parsley over the top

Lunch

1 cup miso soup

6 small pieces sushi with fish and avocado

Afternoon snack

Apple

3 apricot halves

10 raw almonds

Dinner

Beef and cashew stir fry with brown rice

1 tablespoon sesame oil

65g rump steak, cut into strips

1 small carrot, cut into strips

1 cup broccoli

10 snow peas

10 raw cashews

1 tablespoon sodium reduced soy sauce

½ lemon juice

1 glove garlic

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Served with ½ cup mixed brown and wild rice

Heat wok with the sesame oil. Brown the beef in small batches at a time. Add the carrots and broccoli and stir fry for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the snow peas and cashew and stir fry for a further 2 minutes. Finally toss through the soy lemon ginger and garlic for 2 minutes. Serve with brown and wild rice mix.

200g goat’s yoghurt with ½ cup strawberries and 1 teaspoon sunflower seeds

Day 4

On rising

1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast

2 Omega 3 fortified poached eggs

2 brown rice cakes

2 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 cup mixed mushrooms sautéed in 1 tablespoon olive oil

Lunch

2 falafel patties

1 cup tabouleh salad

Afternoon tea

2 tablespoons hummus

1 raw carrot

10 raw almonds

Dinner

Grilled snapper

½ cup cannelini beans pureed with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 clove garlic and 6 capers

1 cup green salad with 1 teaspoon vinaigrette dressing

1 cup mixed berries with 200g goat’s yoghurt

Day 5

On rising

1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast

Bircher muesli made with

1/3 cup raw oats

1 tablespoon unprocessed bran

soaked overnight in

1 cup apple juice

½ grated apple

3 chopped prunes

1 teaspoon sunflower seeds

Served the next day with up to 200g goat’s or sheep’s yoghurt (200g to be consumed throughout the day)

Lunch

1 cup rocket or English spinach

¼ cup canned chickpeas

1 small can salmon in brine

1 tomato

Vinaigrette made with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon vinegar

Afternoon tea

10 almonds

2 dried apricots halves

Dinner

2 grilled lamb chops (fat trimmed)

1 cup steamed spinach

½ cup dry baked pumpkin

2 tablespoon mint sauce

1 cup mixed berries with remaining yoghurt from breakfast

1 tablespoon dry roasted coconut flakes

Day 6

On rising

1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast

¼ red apple

1 kiwi fruit

½ cup strawberries

1 teaspoon sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon pepitas

1 tablespoon unprocessed bran

3 prunes

200g sheep or goat’s yoghurt

Lunch

Chicken breast

4 slices avocado

1 tomato

½ cup rocket

3 brown rice cakes

Afternoon Snack

1 kiwi fruit

3 Brazil nuts

Dinner

2 grilled tuna steak

¼ cup hummus (warmed)

6 slow-roasted tomatoes

1 cup steamed green beans

1 baked green apple stuffed with dried apricot, prune and currents

Day 7

On rising

1 glass warm water with lemon juice

Breakfast

Fresh carrot apple celery ginger and beetroot juice

2 Omega 3 fortified eggs

½ cup steamed English spinach

1 grilled tomato

2 slices toasted dark rye bread

Lunch

Chicken and watercress salad

1 cup watercress

5 slices raw carrot

1 stick raw celery

½ green apple, sliced

¼ cup sliced chicken

1 tablespoon toasted walnuts

Dressed with the juice of 1 lime and ½ teaspoon maple syrup, ½ clove garlic and chopped lemongrass

Afternoon tea

2 tablespoons hummus

2 brown rice cakes

1 tomato

Dinner

Grilled eggplant, capsicum and mushrooms (brushed with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 clove garlic)

1 large grilled veal steak

200g goat’s yoghurt

1 cup rockmelon and ¼ cup strawberry

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Blind cat

Question:

I have had my cat for the past 16 years after finding her abandoned at the local video store. I’ve noticed she is now blind. How will this affect her in her daily life? Could you also tell me what the average lifespan is for cats?

Michelle

Answer:

There are many reasons cats go blind, including detached retinas (where the reflective screen at the back of the eye comes free). This is often associated with high blood pressure causing excess pressure on the blood vessels in the back of the eye and can be due to kidney or thyroid disease. Cataracts or growths in the eye can affect vision, as can plain old age. It would be worth having her checked by a vet to make sure there is no obvious treatable disease process going on.

The good news is that animals cope extremely well with vision loss and often it isn’t 100 percent impairment. Luckily our pets use their other senses way more than we do and don’t just rely on sight. Smell is very important to them (probably more than vision), so this helps them adapt. Don’t move furniture around and have her bowls, bed and litter tray in obvious places away from clutter and she will manage fine.

Obviously, don’t let her outside, as that would be a danger to her, but at 16, it sounds like you are doing a great job of looking after her. And while there’s no doubt she’s in her twilight years, cats can occasionally live into their late teens and even early 20s, so she may kick on for a little while yet!

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Barking in the car

Question:

My dog barks at everyone (especially other dogs) walking or riding past my car. While I don’t mind it, I am expecting my first child in 13 weeks time and want to still be able to take my dog everywhere with me. But he won’t be able to come if he keeps up this barking. Please help.

Berenice Lawrence

Answer:

This is very common indeed — it is territorial behaviour. The car is his territory! I wonder if he is also like this when people come to the house? Depending on how old he is and how long he has been doing this, it will take some time to deal with and may not be sorted out by the time bub comes along. But you will have your hands full then for a while anyway!

You need to re-train him out of this behaviour and firstly understand why he is doing it. Is he desexed? If he isn’t and is young, it’s maybe a male territorial behaviour that is responsive to castration. It might, however, be aggression due to anxiety and feeling unnecessarily threatened, in which case you need to manage this anxiety. If he has an anxiety disorder, you may find he becomes very clingy when bub comes home, as he will inevitably not get as much attention from you. Talk to your vet about these possibilities.

Basically, you need to reward him with treats and praise when he behaves quietly and calmly in the car and ignore the barking (he gets no attention or reward for this). Teach him that he gets a reward when he is quiet in the car and that there is no reason to be afraid. Now, this all sounds easy in theory, I know. It will take time and patience.

Only take him out for small trips and not to busy places, which are going to make him worse. Keep him restrained in a harness or in a caged area at the back, as reducing his vision of passers-by may help. Do this often while you can. An assessment by your vet would be good now in case things get worse.

To avoid further behaviour problems down the track, make sure you include time for him to go for a walk every day (get someone else to do this if you can’t) and some quality time and attention. Gaining independence from you is a good thing as the reality is you won’t have as much time for him as you used to. (I know — I have three pets and a seven-month-old!)

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Microdermabrasion

Question:

I’m thinking of getting microdermabrasion as I have a few minor acne scars. However, I’m under 21 and my skin is fairly sensitive. Is microdermabrasion recommended for any age?

Kathryn

Answer:

Microdermabrasion is quite safe as long a qualified technician performs the treatment.

I can highly recommend a clinic in Bondi Junction, NSW.

Phone: (02) 9386 1533

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I seduced the apprentice

Just married and embarking on our own business, my husband Jack and I were excited and optimistic about our future. Jack and I bought a panel shop in the suburbs since this was his previous occupation and lifelong dream.

I wanted the job of receptionist so I could be with my husband every day. But he said it would be better to hire someone with previous panel shop experience and besides, we were thinking of starting a family and he knew I wanted to be at home with our baby. So I decided I’d be happy to be the book-keeper and leave the hiring up to Jack.

On the first official day of business I walked into the office and was furious to find a gorgeous young lady with a huge chest behind the counter. “Hi, I’m Emma,” she said, before Jack interrupted and informed me she was our new secretary. Jack later assured me it was strictly a business decision and he was not attracted to her in any way and to trust him.

But whenever he worked back late or on weekends I let my mind run rampant with thoughts of Jack making love to Emma.

I decided I’d had enough one night when he was late home from work and had his mobile switched off, so I hopped into my car and drove down to the shop. I ran inside and was beside myself when no one except the third year apprentice, Tom, was there, sweeping the workshop.

He told me Jack and Emma had just left for drinks and he was the only one there. Seeing red, I decided to get my revenge and pulled Tom to me by his overalls and kissed him. Thinking this was a joke on him, he pulled away.

I then took his hands and put them around my waist and assured him this was no joke and I wanted him. He excitedly led me into the back of a car and we made love. It was over so quickly and then my head was spinning. I felt sick at what had just happened. I grabbed my clothes and fled home.

When I arrived I found Jack and Emma sitting at the dinning table with a handsome man. It turned out Emma and the man had just found out they were expecting a baby and wanted to invite Jack and I to celebrate over dinner. Realising my grave mistake, I made an excuse that I was feeling ill and went to bed, not wanting to face Jack.

The next morning I got a wake-up call from Jack to see how I was feeling. He said he would be home a little late from work because the apprentice Tom had quit and he had no one to put the cars away or clean the workshop. But he promised to make it up to me when he got home. I hung up and cried from sheer relief and absolute shame.

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Getting ahead

I worked for some years for a freight company in the city. I had taken the job more out of necessity than anything else and I didn’t really like it. My boss was a lady by the name of Jenny, who enjoyed socialising with the male staff — if you know what I mean. It was something of a non-PC environment where anything went and speaking up on workplace issues was thought to be “against the code”.

Most of the guys either shrugged off Jenny’s attentions as being “in good fun” or enjoyed the attention. I worked closely with Jenny and her flirtations seemed harmless enough — I didn’t want to make waves so I ignored them. One night at our end-of-year party, the booze flowed freely and Jenny became more and more forward. People started leaving and soon it was only Jenny, Nicola (who worked downstairs at the reception desk) and I left.

Nicola was busy packing things away and Jenny asked me if I would like a cabcharge to get home. I was a little drunk and agreed that it would be best. She asked me to come into her office whilst she retrieved one from her desk drawer. She told me that I was her favourite staff member and that even though it was obvious that I didn’t really enjoy the job and my performance wasn’t crash hot, there were “other ways” of getting ahead. She also told me that she enjoyed working with me, especially as I gave her something nice to look at each day.

I was flattered but began feeling a little uncomfortable when Jenny closed the door and invited me to join her on her two-seater lounge for a night-cap. She ran her hands over my thigh and asked what I liked in a woman. I mumbled something about needing to get home. She asked which of the girls in the office I liked best and I said that she was very nice-looking, thinking that was what she wanted to hear. Jenny was attractive but I didn’t like the idea of getting involved with my boss as things would inevitably get a little strange in the office down the track. Soon she was unbuttoning her blouse and, my resolve weakened by alcohol, we started to get a little hot and heavy.

Afterwards, she told me that I should be a man and not mention this to anyone. In return she offered me a job in another department with better pay and conditions that I accepted and which ended up suiting me much better. I initially felt awkward about the way that I had attained the new position and have never told anyone about how it came to pass. I have since been given a managerial position but ensure that my staff get their promotions in the appropriate way. I still think of Jenny, who has since been transferred, and often battle psychologically with the details of my own transfer. I’m happy enough now, although I often feel a little cheap when I think of what I did to get ahead.

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How to have healthy bones

By Annette Campbell

When it comes to keeping ourselves healthy, sometimes we don’t think that much about our bones.

So to coincide with National Healthy Bones Week (August 7-13), Judy Stenmark — the CEO of Osteoporosis Australia — shares with us her top tips for bone health.

“It’s important to have healthy bones, to help avoid things like fractures and osteoporosis — when bones become fragile and brittle and break easily,” she explains.

“We reach our peak bone mass (how strong our bones are going to be), around the age of 20, so there’s a great window of opportunity for kids and teens to maximise their peak bone mass by building strong bones in childhood.

“And it’s crucial to then maintain bone strength through to menopause and beyond.”

Judy says the key ingredients in terms of building bones and keeping them strong are:

Calcium

Great sources are all dairy foods, including low-fat products. While dairy is a quick and easy source of calcium, there are also other options including fortified foods and drinks.

Exercise

Bones need the stress of our body’s weight through them, to grow and remain strong. So weight-bearing exercise is crucial. This includes activities such as walking, skipping, jogging, netball, etc. It’s also important to include weight-training, as there is a direct correlation between muscle mass and bone strength.

Sex hormones (oestrogen and testosterone)

Women need oestrogen in their body for bones to take-up calcium. So anything that interferes with our oestrogen levels (such as having been a young, anorexic teenager; or an elite athlete whose menstruation ceased) means we’re at greater risk of osteoporosis. Lower testosterone levels are also a risk factor for men.

Vitamin D

The presence of vitamin D assists our bones in absorbing calcium. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight (there’s not as much in foods and it’s not as well absorbed). This doesn’t mean sunbaking … it’s important to stay sun-safe. But about 6-15 minutes of incidental sunlight, four or six times a week, supplies an adequate dose.

National Healthy Bones Week is August 7-13.

This year the theme is “Make It Milk”, encouraging primary school-aged children to enjoy milk as a quick and easy source of calcium and other nutrients.

For more information visit: www.healthybones.com.au

Or contact Osteoporosis Australia: www.osteoporosis.org.au; 1800 242 141.

Picture posed by model.

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Osteoporosis

Arthritis

Starlight Children’s Foundation

Ask our experts about your medical symptoms at ninemsn health

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My dog watches TV

Question:

I have a two-year-old British Bulldog cross Red Heeler who watches TV 24/7. She just sits in front of the TV and watches — she even has favourite ads. Is it normal for a dog to watch TV?

Rebekah

Answer:

The colour and movement of TV is very eye-catching to dogs and cats. To them the movement resembles that of prey and often cats will paw or pounce at the screen. Dogs will make associations with certain sounds (more than sights — just like they do when learning obedience commands) and they will recognise and remember things.

In this day and age, in most households, TV-watching is a major family past-time, so it’s not surprising pets do it as well. What I would say is that there are better ways to stimulate and enrich the environment of your pooch, so make sure she is getting plenty of exercise and spend quality one-on-one time with her. Maybe throw a ball or have a game with her instead of watching it on telly!

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Bunny pants

bunny pants

These gorgeous bunny pants are suitable for a two-year-old.

Download the pattern. Pattern pieces are shown at 25 percent of original size, so please enlarge by 400 percent.

MATERIALS

  • 60cm x 150cm-wide polar fleece in cinnamon, for pants

  • 40cm x 150cm-wide lightweight polar fleece in cream, for bunny

  • Matching machine threads

  • DMC Perle thread #8 in cream colour #712 for pocket

  • DMC Perle thread #8 in cinnamon colour #841, for facial stitching

  • 20mm-wide elastic for waist

  • 15mm button for front waist

Note: All seams are 15mm unless otherwise stated. Hems and waist casing are 30mm.

METHOD

STEP 1: Cut two back pants in cinnamon. Cut two front pants in cinnamon. Cut two bunnies in cream.

STEP 2: With right sides of fabric facing, sew together centre back seams of pants, and centre back seams of bunny. Finger-press seams open.

STEP 3: Turn under 10mm around the outside edge of bunny, and baste. With marking pen, put in facial features of the bunny.

STEP 4: Pin, then slip stitch bunny in place, matching the centre back seams. Sew bunny features on right side, with cinnamon thread, using stem stitch. Make 6 straight stitches on top of each other, between markers, to form the eyes.

STEP 5: Machine fronts of pants to back panel. Top stitch this panel at 10mm, with seam facing towards the back. Running stitch imitation pockets on pant fronts, using cream thread and following the placement line on pattern.

STEP 6: Sew centre front seams together and finger-press open. Sew inside leg seams together and finger-press open. Sew 30mm hems on pants with 2 rows of stitching, 12mm apart. Sew a casing around waistline, leaving a small opening to insert elastic.

STEP 7: Thread elastic through casing and adjust to fit waist measurement; stitch to secure. Stitch button at centre front of waistline.

From the August 2003 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly

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