Hey Nina, can you give us a brief rundown of your journey so far? 

My passion for health and nutrition started around the time I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes where I essentially had to relearn how to take care of myself and notice how much of an impact what I ate had on how I felt. I was also swimming competitively during high school which further fuelled that fire. Unfortunately I took my desire to get things ‘perfect’ with my health and food too far, and ended up developing an eating disorder which I struggled with throughout high school, which almost cost me my life. Recovering from my eating disorder and going on to study nutrition, followed by sports nutrition, gave me a whole new understanding, appreciation and respect for the importance of nourishing and fuelling my body properly, and what ‘health’ really means.

What are your morning rituals? 

What inspires you? 

We love your passion for fitness, what are your top 3 tips for working out in winter?

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?

What’s your favourite thing to make with our Mylk Bases?

One thing my mum once said to me was ’no one is coming to save you’. And that really stuck. It was in the context of my eating disorder where I was stuck in the same destructive habits and vicious cycles, getting all the treatment available to me yet not actually taking onboard any of the help. It made me realise that no one could magically fix my problems for me and it wouldn’t suddenly get easier or go away, it was me that had to make those changes and face those fears for things to actually change for the better.

Make sure you check out Nina’s website and follow her on the ‘gram! 

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These microbes reside within us – there are approximately 100 trillion micro-organisms residing within the gastro-intestinal tract {1} and on us – our skin has a diverse range of micro-organisms whose key function is to ensure that the structure and integrity of the skin barrier remains in tact {2}. The micro-organisms that make up these hundreds of trillions of microbes is predominately bacteria and different bacteria have different functions within the body.

In my opinion, the human microbiota is governing our health status. More and more research is confirming that this is actually the case. Modern science is calling the human microbiome the virtual organ of the body – isn’t that mind blowing?! I completely geek out on this ?

So, without further ado, here are 5 things you may not know about the human microbiome.

1. Our DNA is more bacteria than human!

The human genome consists of about 23,000 genes. The human microbiome encodes over 3 million genes! {1} The majority of our genetic make up is bacterial!

2. Certain microbes are involved in the production of important brain neurotransmitters.

There is a bidirectional communication network called the brain-gut-axis and its function is to ensure balance for the brain and the gut. Mental health and wellbeing is related to our microbiome. Certain bacterial strains found within the gut are responsible for the production of the neurotransmitters found within the brain. These include serotonin and GABA; which are essential in regulating mood and anxiety {3}

3. Lactobacilli bacterial species help keep our vagina healthy.

Different species of bacteria are abundant in different parts of our body. Lactobacilli species are most abundantly found within the vaginal tract. Therefore, they play an important role in vaginal health. This species of bacteria have an important role of regulating the pH of the vaginal tract by keeping it at a pH of around 3.8-4.4. This pH level inhibits growth of opportunistic pathogens (the unwelcome little critters). Lactobacilli also produce hydrogen peroxide which acts as an anti-microbial {4} Thanks Lactobacilli! This can be a handy tip if you’re stuck on which probiotic supplement to choose – look at what strains are actually in there.

4. Our microbiome can protect against cancer

The gut microbiota play an essential role in the fermentation of indigestible dietary fibres. This process supports the growth of other microbes which produce SCFA’s – short chain fatty acids which are an energy source for colonocytes. These colonocytes induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) of colon cancer cells {5}. One of the reasons why dietary fibre is so important for bowel health!

5. Stress effects our microbiome.

There are many factors that can alter our microbiome, but did you know that stress is one of them? As well as stress  there are dietary choices, alcohol, coffee, refined sugar and certain medications such as antibiotics and the oral contraceptive pill.

So, there you have it! Other than being completely fascinated by these bugs, it highlights how everything is connected and interrelated. Because the vast majority of these bugs reside within out gut, what we put into our bodies are so important. I guess the take home here is that, if our microbiome is really the main driving force of our health and wellbeing and the majority reside within our gut, then diet is of the upmost importance. It’s not about completely avoiding certain foods (let’s face it, we are all human and enjoy a drink or a treat from time to time), it’s about balance. It always comes back to balance. We now know there is a direct link between gut health and mental health so our diet can and does affect our mood.

Written by Vasia; one half of Ulu Hye. I’ve got a Bachelor of Health Science & Naturopathy and I get so much joy out of sharing my knowledge and experiences.

1. https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k2179
2. https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/blog-post/microbiome-dermatology-focus-acne
3. https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/blog-post/gut-health-gateway-mental-wellbeing
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5384519/
5. https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k2179

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If you haven’t heard of veganism yet we can only assume you’ve been living on a deserted island with no internet for the past 5 years. Just in case you really have been hidden away all that time, let us fill you in.

Veganism means following a fully plant-based diet, avoiding all animal products and their by-products. So that means no meat, fish, dairy products, or honey. 

‘But what can vegans eat?!’

Loads! For instance, milk doesn’t = dairy. We can make milk from rice, oats, soy, and even nuts – just take a look at our range of plant based Mylk Bases! This even means we can make our own cheese using vegan milk. And guess what, vegetables really do taste amazing! You just need to know what to do with them. You’ll be shocked by all the amazing things you can do with whole foods. 

But being vegan means a lot more than just following a vegan diet. It covers everything – even beauty, clothing, and health products. This means avoiding products that are tested on animals or that use animal products. An easy way to find out if the products you are buying are vegan is to look out for the Vegan Society logo on the packaging. 

Are you interested in becoming vegan? Check out our blog post and find out the best way to transition to a vegan diet.

BEING VEGAN IN AUSTRALIA

Veganism is most definitely on the rise, all over the world! More and more people are making changes to their diets and lifestyles, restaurants are adding vegan items to their menus, and some countries are even starting to recognise vegan beliefs in law. 

In Australia, the number of vegan retail products are increasing by the day and it is thought by the Vegan Society that Australia is the second most popular country for veganism. So, we have a lot to be proud of!

Here at Ulu Hye it has always been our mission to live more consciously. Our Mylk Bases make veganism both more accessible and sustainable – cutting down on plastic consumption and challenging the dairy industry. Being vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on anything, especially here in Australia. Let us take you through some awesome vegan products and websites in Australia. 

SUNBUTTER

Love spending time in the sun but hate buying single-use plastic? Our friends at SunButter have you covered! Not only is their sunscreen vegan, cruelty-free and certified by the Vegan Society, their packaging is also plastic-free. Say what?! Yep, they package their vegan sunscreen in a tin which you can reuse once you’ve finished the sunscreen. Now you can finally say goodbye to those pesky tubes of plastic we’ve previously had our sunscreen in. 

Make sure to get involved in their awesome upcycling campaign once you have used all your sunscreen.

But that’s not all, SunButter Sunscreen is also reef-safe. SunButter was founded by Marine Biologists Sacha and Tom. They have seen first-hand the devastating effects of chemicals and pollution on the coral reefs and as avid surfers, they wanted to give back to the ocean. So they built their own sunscreen formula, free of chemicals. This means that their vegan sunscreen is kind to the environment and kind to your body. 

Being a vegan sun and ocean lover just got that bit easier!

ULU HYE

We’d be silly not to mention ourselves here. We are very proud of our products and how they’ve positively impacted our customers. Plant based milk is awesome, but just like dairy milk, most of the products available on the market rely heavily on plastic or single-use materials which can be difficult to recycle. 

We sell our Mylk Bases in glass jars. Not only does this allow you to make milk whenever or wherever you need it, but you can also reuse the jar when you’ve finished. 

Wondering what you can do with the jars? How about making your own nut butters, jams, or other preserves. You can even make up your own concoctions to store in them such as body scrubs, deodorants, body butters or even candles! 

Ulu Hye is all about sustainability and health. No matter what diet you follow, it is important to be fuelling your body with nourishing foods. You can use our Mylk Bases to make healthy smoothies, milks, and even baked goods. You can check out some of our tasty recipes on our blog. 

ONLINE VEGAN SUPERMARKET

That’s not all, you can also check out the fully vegan supermarket Flora and Fauna. You can rest assured that whatever you buy from Flora and Fauna is 100% vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable! 

Whether you are looking for beauty products, toiletries, baby items, or food, you will be able to find it on Flora and Fauna. They also have an amazing recycling program that makes them stand out from the rest. 

MORE VEGAN PRODUCTS

There are so many vegan products in Australia and we would love to feature them all, but it would be impossible to list them all. Which can only be a good thing! 

We’d love to hear about your favourite vegan products in Australia and beyond – send us a message! 

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Then something changed: I turned 30. Whilst I still stand by the notion that age is just a number, and you’re as old as you feel, I noticed some gradual changes. For the better – I knew who I was, what I wanted and I embraced that. For the worse – my skin started to look aged. Sunspots came out of nowhere, my skin was dry, that 20 something glow was gone and my skin became reactive to what I put in to my body and how I was feeling. With entering my 30’s also came more responsibility, so my stress levels went up immensely.

We can all have that youthful glow once more but to do so, we must understand that whilst you can choose your skincare wisely, glowing skin starts from within.

Here are our top tips for glowing skin.

1. Get your beauty sleep

Sleep may very well be the closest thing to the fountain of youth. There is a reason why they call it ‘beauty sleep’. The body’s time to repair and recalibrate is when we sleep. Blood flow to the skin is boosted when we sleep, delivering nourishment and nutrients to the skin. Sleep deprivation means this process in hindered. Ensure you are getting a minimum of 6 quality hours of sleep a night.

2. Drink plenty of water.

If sleep is the closest thing to the fountain of youth, then drinking water comes a close second. I cannot stress the importance of staying hydrated. The skin, like every other organ, is comprised of cells and these cells mainly contain water. If we are dehydrated, our cells simply cannot function at their best. By consuming plenty of water you are replenishing every single cell in your body, including your skin cells, and ensuring optimum function. Dehydrated skin is less resilient and more prone to dryness, tightness, flakiness and wrinkling. If glowing skin is what you’re after then a minimum of 2 litres of water a day is key.

3. Stop stressing, baby!

Let’s face it, we can’t avoid life. But we can choose how we respond to it. When you throw stress into any mix, it is a recipe for disaster. Countless studies have confirmed this.

When we are stressed our body is in flight or fight mode. Cortisol kicks in so that we can survive, and digestive and immune function is reduced as it is not essential in survival mode. Our ability to digest and absorb our nutrients is therefore compromised.

Cortisol is partly responsible in regulating inflammation. Prolonged exposure to stress alters the effectiveness of cortisol to regulate the inflammatory response. As immune function is decreased – another key regulator of inflammation – our body becomes chronically inflamed which presents a whole host of health problems.

Oh, and who else doesn’t sleep well when they are stressed? Yep, getting on top of this is key!

Can you allocate a few minutes every morning and every night to close your eyes, breathe deeply and mindfully and mentally list a few things you are grateful for and what things you achieved or want to achieve? Can you remind yourself that you are in control of how you feel in every situation? We always have a choice and every morning we have the opportunity to start over.

Find what activity reduces your stress and do it on the regular. Yoga, a bath, a walk along the beach, a dance in your lounge room, a cup of tea. Whatever works for you.

4. Look after your gut

Our skin is a mirror image of what is going on internally. The health of our gut will strongly impact the health of our skin and, all aspects of our health. In naturopathic practices, the gut will be the first line of treatment, no matter what the condition. If you’re interested in learning more about gut health, click here.

Ensure trigger foods are identified and eliminated. The most common triggers to avoid, or at least significantly reduce, when it comes to healthy skin are; dairy, wheat and gluten, sugar, alcohol, coffee and stress!

Start each day with ½ freshly squeezed lemon in warm water, or 5 ml of apple cider vinegar. This will kick start all aspects of digestion, including getting those bowels moving.

Be present when you eat. Sit down, breathe deeply and ensure you chew your food really well. If you suffer from bloating, pain, flatulence and/or indigestion, then adding digestive enzymes and probiotics into the mix to assist in digestion will greatly help.

5. Give your liver some love

We know that the liver is the master organ of detoxification. But some of us may not realise its important role in digestion. Under the guidance of the liver, bile is released from the gall bladder into the small intestine to digest fats. The liver also processes nutrients that have been absorbed from the small intestine.

The liver is like the factory that processes everything. In terms of detoxification, there are intricate phases which break down toxins to more absorbable forms so that the body can efficiently excrete them. This includes toxins that we ingest, inhale and absorb from the exterior, but the liver also processes our hormones. When the liver is under functioning, its ability to process and eliminate excess toxins and hormones is compromised, which again can present as skin problems such as acne or breakouts, and menstrual irregularities in women.

A poor diet, high in saturated fats such as fast food and takeaway, and high toxic load can burden the liver and hinder its ability to efficiently detoxify.

How do we support a healthy liver you ask? Reduce your intake of processed, packaged and fried foods. Choose whole foods such as fresh produce, whole grains and minimal dairy and gluten (or cut out completely if you can). Eat a rainbow made up of fruit and vegetables every single day. Read your labels – if it’s full of numbers or something you can’t pronounce then don’t eat it. Become mindful of household items and skincare items that may be full of chemicals and start thinking about what you could swap for a cleaner, less toxic option.

6. Drink herbal tea over coffee

Caffeine has some excellent health benefits, but it doesn’t agree with everyone. I’ve found that those with a sensitive gut don’t tend to tolerate coffee very well as this only exacerbates their gut sensitivity. What is actually going on when I say ‘gut sensitivity’? Our gut lining is inflamed and irritated. Our ability to absorb and utilise nutrients is compromised and a poor functioning gut will often present as break outs and dull skin.

Why not replace coffee with herbal teas that will support gut and liver function, as well as promote clear skin?

Dandelion root – considered a liver tonic, it is a great alternative to coffee due to its slight bitter taste. Dandelion root has been shown to increase bile flow and support the liver in its detoxifying function. As a result, it is an excellent tea to assist with clearing skin.

Nettle leaf – renowned for being rich in minerals, nettle leaf is anti-inflammatory and increases urine output which aids in the elimination of toxic build up within the body and taking the burden off the skin.

7. Strict skincare regime

Since your skin is not working hard to defend itself from harsh UV rays during the day, at night, it heals. Blood flow is increased for this purpose. Our skin is more receptive at night. We also lose more water from the skin at night, so having a solid skincare regime, especially at night is key.

The skincare industry is booming and, in my opinion, takes the piss a little bit. We don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on skincare – a few good products will do the trick. The type of products/regime I would suggest having as your staples, are as follows;

Day

A good quality cleanser, one that is free from foaming agents such as SLS’s and SLE’s etc. These dry out the skin which cause the skin to over compensate the oil production and strip our natural barrier function of the skin.

A hydrating moisturiser with SPF. If you are outside during the day, this is a must. UV rays are the biggest culprit for premature ageing of the skin as well as fine lines and wrinkles and dehydrated skin.

Night

Cleanse. Really important at night, to remove all the impurities from the day, and unclog your pores so they can breathe. If you wear make-up – cleanse twice.

Hydrating serum: A combination of hyaluronic acid and B5 is great. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found within our skin cells and encourages cell renewal. It’s amazing at retaining water too. It’s an antioxidant, therefore leaves your skin feeling hydrated and plump. You can use this morning and night, but I think it works best at night to assist with repair and prevent water loss. It will also end up a lot cheaper for you as you will go through it faster if you use it morning and night. Remember, glowing skin starts from within.

I think the jury is out on night creams… They are incredibly expensive and I am just not convinced they are necessary. Some of the leading experts in skincare recommend only using a hydrating serum at night after cleansing and that’s it.

If you would like something more, why not try a few drops of jojoba oil or hemp oil? The essential fatty acids will help regulate your skins oil production, and leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Youthful skin is not just in your genes. There is plenty we can do. Remember, glowing skin starts from within!

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If you have someone in mind that you’d love for us to interview then drop us a line.

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If you have someone in mind that you’d love for us to interview then drop us a line!

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Eating seasonally is really important, and something we should all be doing. When you see a certain food in the supermarket that isn’t in season, it raises a few questions – how far has this food had to travel to be available to us this time of year? Has it had to be sprayed/coated with anything to keep it in such great shape knowing the distance it has travelled? How large a carbon footprint has this food created just to appease our tastebuds?

These scenarios can’t be good for us, or for our environment. Something has had to suffer for us to enjoy a food that shouldn’t be available to us – the carbon footprint, the nutritional status, and/or the vitality and taste.

Eating seasonally means the produce you are consuming is at its most vital state; meaning the nutrients are at an all-time high. Not to mention cheaper as they won’t have had as far to travel to reach our home.

It also means you are in line with the environment around you. You know how mother nature provides us with everything we need? Well, she really has our back. We are slowly but surely coming into winter; a time for colds and flus to run rampant.

Let’s take a quick look at what foods are currently in season:

Kiwifruit, beetroot, bok choy, broccoli, carrots, capsicum, grapefruit, pumpkin, paw paw, lemons, oranges, fennel, leek, rhubarb, turnips, silverbeet, zucchini and tomatoes.

Would you like to know what all of these foods are really high in? VITAMIN C. Perfect timing really, isn’t it?

Vitamin C plays a huge role in supporting immune function. Not only is vitamin C antiviral, but it stimulates T lymphocyte and B lymphocyte proliferation (these are our soldiers that fight infection). Vitamin C stimulates our natural killer cell activity, reduces histamine and has a mucolytic effect (expels excess mucous), just to name a few.

Garlic, nature’s antibiotic, is also in season. It’s antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial. It has been shown in countless clinical studies to reduce the severity of cold and flu symptoms as well as work preventatively.

Lastly, mushrooms are also in season right now. Mushrooms have huge medicinal properties. They are immune modulating, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer.

When doing your next grocery shop think about the foods that are currently in season and try to make them the staples in your diet. Not only will they taste better, but you will be using food as medicine to its highest capacity to protect against the inevitable cold and flu season.

Stuck for ideas? Here’s a few meal ideas that we’ll be cooking up:

• Healthy apple and rhubarb crumble
• Garlic, potato and leek soup
• Strawberries on your cereal, in your smoothie
• Lemon, garlic and olive oil as a dressing
• Roasted pumpkin, carrots, turnips and tomatoes with fennel using the above salad dressing
• Fresh juice; orange, lemon, carrot, grapefruit, silverbeet
• Warming mushroom curry with chopped greens

Happy shopping and happy cooking!

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If you’re inspired by Corinne’s story and/or you’re going through a similar health crisis, Corinne offers programs and support. Check out her website www.corinne.nijjer.com

Corinne also has a wonderfully inspiring podcast. You can find it on iTunes and Stitcker: When life gives you lemons, GO VEGAN!

You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter under Corinne Nijjer.

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You can see a pattern here. The earth is not merely a platform in which we reside on. It is a living being, as are we, and we are a part of each other. Its health is our health.

When seasons change, our environment undergoes a major transition. Now, coming into autumn you may notice the weather is a little cooler, the mornings a little darker, the trees and plants around us also begin to transition and transform. They shed what they no longer need in preparation for new growth in the spring.

If we maintain the notion that we are a part of the earth, and the earth is a part of us, is it then safe to say that we also undergo a similar transition? Our changes are a little more internal but they are there all the same.

In winter, you simply cannot consume the same foods you did during summer. Cold slows everything down. Our digestive system slows down too and this is why we need well-cooked warming foods during winter, foods that are easy to digest.

In traditional Chinese medicine there is a major and minor organ associated with each season. The lungs are associated with autumn. They are the one organ that connects the outside world to the inside and vice-versa. The lungs bring in oxygen, transform it, transport it around the body, and eliminate what the body no longer needs. The minor organ associated with the lungs, and autumn, is the large intestine. The end stage of elimination of what we no longer need. Rather fitting, isn’t it?

Can you align yourself a little more with the environment around you, and use this time to shed what no longer serves you? Is there something you need to work through in order to let go of? Can you invite the intention of new beginnings? The lungs are our biggest organ of transformation, and the emotion associated with the lungs is grief and sadness. Can you breathe a little deeper, and allow some stuff to come up and clear? Tears are so powerful, cleansing and healing.

Autumn is all about transitioning and transforming. Therefore, it is the perfect time to transform. Because, after a period of transformation, there is new growth.

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Check out Eloura’s channel on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCra3HM-B6-Qm9aQn-N-JZag

If there’s someone you’ve love to learn more about, please email through a suggestion with the subject ‘people we love’. Or just comment below.

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