Megan Crockart in Hawthorne, Queensland, Australia | Alternative & holistic health service

Megan Crockart

Locality: Hawthorne, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 417 679 287

Address: Vive, 36 Riding Road, Hawthorne 4171 Hawthorne, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.balancingnutrition.com.au/

Likes: 564

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• Medical and health
• Alternative & holistic health service
• Nutritionist

25.01.2022 Weekly Bee Fact... This week's fact is about honey production in the hive. Over the past few weeks we have covered off different parts of the hive and where the bees store honey for us to harvest from. Our hive at home is starting to show some signs of honey being stored in the super. With our Flow Hive you can see into the super to check on the progress the bees are making. This is something our 2 boys loving doing on a daily basis. If you look closely in the picture above t...he blue arrow, you can see one cell that is full of honey. Once the cell is completely full and the moisture content is below 18%, the bees will cap off the cell with wax so it can be preserved for later. A single teaspoon of honey will take 12 worker bees their entire life to produce as they visit up to 2,000 flowers per day. The average worker bee lives for 40 days and will produce only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey during her lifetime. Just take a minute to think about that while you a pouring honey all over your toast in the morning! #bee #bees #beekeeper #beehive #honey #rawhoney #busybees #workerbees #busybee #apiarist #apiary #flowhive #honeyproduction #hobbies

25.01.2022 Did you know that as humans we do not make any vitamin C in our bodies and our total requirements have to come from food or supplementation? #vitaminc #vitamins #supplementation #foodasmedicine #humans #wholefoods #citrus #citrusfruits #vitamincfoods

24.01.2022 Weekly bee fact... A couple of facts today about European Honey Bee gender and reproduction. So there is one Queen bee and the rest of the hive is made up of 95% of workers (female bees) and 5% drones (male bees).... The Queen bee mates for one time with up to 30 drones and then never mates again. Once the drone has mated with the Queen he dies But... unlike the female bees, male bees do not have a stinger, so can't sting you and die. Female bees die after they have stung you. Australian Native Bees also don't have stingers regardless of their gender. #beefacts #weeklybeefact #bee #bees #beekeeper #apiary #apiarist #queenbee #dronebee #workerbee #europeanhoneybee #australiannativebee #beesmating #beereproduction #beelifespan #hobbies

24.01.2022 I have shared this a couple of times as I love the message. You don't have to be "on a diet" to eat healthy. There seems to be a stigma around people choosing to eat healthy because they enjoy this style of eating. I have never understood this. If you feel better, have great energy and health because you eat healthy and love eating whole foods, why do some people seem to have a problem with this? I rarely "put" clients on "diets". Unless its a specific short term diet fo...r a particular condition, I really encourage people to change their lifestyle for good. Not just go on and off a diet when it suits them. Some "diets" are good to go on and off eg Keto, but it's always better to have changed your mindset ready to change your lifestyle when embarking on nutrition changes. This gives long term results. #healthyeating #eatinggood #eatingclean #cleaneating #eatingforhealth #eatinghabits #eatinghealthier #intuitiveeating #eathealthy #listentoyourbody #goodhealth #health #youarewhatyoueat #dietfads #dietfood #diettips #dieting #diets #diethelp #lifestylechanges #mindsetchanges #eatingforhealth #longtermhealth #holistichealth #holisticnutritionist #clinicalnutritionist

24.01.2022 We have bees!! Bee transfer from their travel box to their new home! 2 keen beekeeping helpers loving the experience. #bees #beekeeper #apairy #homegrownhoney #flowhive #hobbies #hobbiesareimportant #honeycomb #europeanhoneybee #beetransfer

23.01.2022 Do you waste food? This is one of my pet hates as I have always been mindful that across the world, not everyone has the abundance of food that we are so lucky to have in the Western World. We have very minimal food waste in our house as I meal plan, which can make a big difference. I keep an organised fridge and pantry, so things aren't spoiling by being in there wayyyyy to long. I use the freezer a lot too!! We grow some of our own veggies and by next winter we should ha...ve some great lemons, limes and mandarins to add to our mix. How much food do you throw out as it hasn't been eaten or it has gone way out of date or started to rot in your fridge? Speaking of out of date... Do you know that "best before" means it is better to eat before that date, but can still be eaten after that date (depending on it's condition). "Use-by" is the date that the manufacturer has deemed the product will no longer be edible.... But many pantry items (in particular) can last 6 months or more beyond the "use-by" date. Check your food's condition before you just look at the date and throw it out! #foodwaste #foodwastage #usebydate #bestbeforedate #useyourfreezer #don'twastefood #mindfuleating #mindfulfoodshopping #organisedpantry #organisedfridge #rotatestock #shoppinglist

22.01.2022 Food of the Week... Maple syrup It is the sap that is partially refined from the maple tree. And is only produced in North America and Canada. ... Make sure you buy organic pure Maple syrup and not maple flavoured syrup as this not maple syrup at all - you can definitely tell the difference! The more refined it is the more nutrients it looses, so try to get B grade maple syrup (or at least organic) which is high in manganese, calcium and zinc which are beneficial to the immune system whilst possessing antioxidant qualities. Better for you then refined white sugar (refined sugar is 82% sucrose compared with maple syrup which is 65% sucrose), so try this as a replacement to tea or coffee and due to its rich flavour you shouldn’t need as much. Also use in place of honey in meals/baking and enjoy the flavour. If you were replacing say 1 cup of refined sugar with maple syrup, the equivalent would be 3/4 cup. Although once you reduce your sugar intake you will find things too sweet, so you may not need this much! Remember maple syrup is still a sugar, so best in small amounts. This would have to be one of my favourite sugar alternatives that I enjoy in small amounts occasionally. #foodoftheweek #foodasmedicine #maplesyrup #realmaplesyrup #notmapleflavouredsyrup #mapletree #canada #canadianmaple #eatinmoderation #balancingnutrition #enjoyfoods #sugar #healthiersugar #listentoyourbody #sometimesfood

22.01.2022 I have some bad news for pregnant coffee lovers. A review of observational studies and metanalysis has concluded that there is no safe level of caffeine for pregnant women. The previous guidelines was a small amount of caffeine was fine while pregnant eg 1 coffee a day or 2 black teas.... The review shows maternal caffeine consumption is reliably associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and/or small for gestational age, childhood acute leukaemia and childhood obesity. There was no impact on preterm birth. As this concludes there is no safe level of caffeine during pregnancy not only is coffee and tea a no go, but also look at caffeine amounts in soft drinks and chocolate. And don't forget green tea and white tea also contain caffeine. Have a look here if you want to read the latest research https://ebm.bmj.com/content//2020/09/01/bmjebm-2020-111432 But there is a coffee alternative that tastes similar - Roasted dandelion and chicory. Worth trying it out! Carob can be potential chocolate substitute. There are options.

21.01.2022 What is better for you? Regular cheese or plant based vegan cheese? Well it certainly depends on what the plant based cheese is made with. There are now more plant based cheeses on the market than ever before. Once there was only soy cheese if you couldn't have dairy or wanted to eat plant based. Now there are cheeses made from various nuts/seeds, coconut oils, vegetables oils, soy etc. Looking at the ingredients is crucial, as there can be many extra things thrown in to... get that cheesy taste and texture that may not actually be all that natural. The less ingredients and the more food names you can recognise the better. Or better still, make your own plant based cheeses. There are tonnes of recipes on the internet. But don't be fooled to think that regular dairy cheese is just food and no chemicals, there is often a lot of preservatives added, especially to grated cheeses. (Grated cheese can take forever to go mouldy.... ) Plant based cheeses are available in various types to cater for hard and soft style cheeses. Soft cashew cheeses are one of my favourite. If you are not dairy or lactose intolerant and not vegan, don't forget to include goat, buffalo and camel cheeses into your diet to obtain a variety of nutrients from all of these options. And it never hurts to throw in more plant based foods either - variety is the key to health. #vegancheese #healthycheese #cheese #cowcheese #goatscheese #camelcheese #buffalocheese #saycheese #eatrealfood #wholefood #plantbasedeating #vegan

21.01.2022 Food of the Week... Asparagus Asparagus season is now! It starts in October in Australia.... The tips are actually little flowers! Good amounts of vitamin C (if eaten raw), Vitamin A, folic acid and potassium. Also very high in sulphur. Some people may notice an unusual smell to their urine after eating asparagus which is due to the amino acid asparagine not actually the sulphur. Also contains some iron, calcium, magnesium, iodine and zinc. Relatively high in protein and fibre. Some great antioxidants too! When cooking, instead of cutting the woody end off, simply work your way along bending it slightly until it snaps, this will ensure you don’t get the woody end. Although fresh young asparagus shouldn’t be woody! I love them either grilled or roasted in the oven. Steamed asparagus isn't as yummy as the grilling/roasting brings out a nutty flavour. I grew asparagus once and it's quite a commitment as you have to wait 2 years for your first harvest. Growing your own vegies is rewarding, but it take a lot of time! #asparagus #foodoftheweek #foodasmedicine #homegardener #homegrown #growyourown #vegetables #veggies #greenfoods #freshvegetables #eattherainbow

21.01.2022 Food of the Week... Mushroom There are many varieties of mushrooms ranging from white, button, field, portabello, shiitake, reishi, oyster and the list goes on and on... ... They are high in protein, iron and selenium. Contain good quantities of B vitamins, but don’t get trapped in thinking they contain B12 as this is usually just from the compost they are grown in and not in the actual mushroom! Shiitake and Reishi have had extensive studies in regards to being immune supportive being anti-viral and anti-bacterial. But don't discount the health benefits of the ol' button mushie - they can help decrease the fat level in blood, rid the respiratory system of excess mucous, they have antibiotic properties, can increase white blood cell count to help increase immunity against microorganisms, and can promote appetite, among other things. Mushrooms can be a good meat substitute for vegetarians but should be avoided if you have yeast sensitivities or mould allergies. It is not advisable to pick wild mushrooms as there are varying degrees of how poisionous from stomach upsets, paralysis and even death. Have you ever grown your own mushrooms? #mushrooms #foodoftheweek #foodasmedicine #mushies #shiitake #reishi #immunesupport #homegrownmushrooms #mushroomkits #organicmushrooms #meatsubstitute

19.01.2022 Yes! You are in full control of you! #motivationalquotes #quotes #motivation #positive #positivity #yourmindisapowerfulthing #selfcontrol #beincontrol #takeresponsibility #dontrelivethepast #youchoose #youdecide

18.01.2022 Bowl of berries and cherries! Yum!! Can you guess which one is my all time favourite fruit!? #berries #blackberries #raspberry #blueberry #cherry #raspberries #cherries #fruit #antioxidants #fibre #morningsnack #bowlofberries #yummy #realfood #wholefood

18.01.2022 Do you know that excessive consumption of sugar can have a similar effect on your liver as alcohol!? This is called non-alcohol fatty liver. This condition can be reversed, but if left and nothing is done about it, then it can lead to cirrhosis, which is unfortunately irreversible. Are you eating or drinking too much sugar? Perhaps now is the time to check on that.... #sugar #excessivesugarconsumption #sugaryfoods #sugarydrinks #nonalcoholfattyliver #nafl #fattyliver #liverhealth #guthealth #holisticnutritionist #clinicalnutritionist #functionaltesting

18.01.2022 Good ol' Dr Seuss! #motivation #motivationalquotes #youareincontrol #takeresponsibility #inspiration #postive #positivequotes #positivity #yourchoice

17.01.2022 Food of the Week... Spinach/Silverbeet Did you know its a specific remedy for nosebleeds as it stops bleeding!? ... Its a great treatment for constipation and urinary difficulty. It contains rich amounts of iron and chlorophyll and has abundant vitamin A. Cooked spinach may contain some more minerals than raw due to the oxalic acid which binds some of the calcium and other minerals like potassium, magnesium, copper and zinc. Although cooked spinach looses the vitamin C that raw spinach contains. Baby spinach can be a great alternative to lettuce. Eat spinach with vitamin C containing foods for better iron absorption if you don’t eat meat! What's your favourite way to eat spinach/silverbeet? #silverbeet #spinach #babyspinach #eatyourgreens #leafygreens #guthealth #foodasmedicine #foodoftheweek #ironrichgreens #chlorophyll #youarewhatyoueat #eatinghealthy #vegetables #greenvegetables #lotsofvegies #eattherainbow

17.01.2022 I shared this pic quite a few years ago and it's even more relevant today! #organicfood #eatfreshfood #healthyeating #nojunkfood #unprocessedfood #realfood #wholefood #eatforhealth #guthealth #skinhealth #nutritionist #brisbanenutritionist #clinicalnutritionist #holisticnutritionist #mumofboys #nutritionistmum #youarewhatyoueat #foodmatters #foodasmedicine

17.01.2022 Food of the Week... Green Beans Also called string beans, these are part of the legume family. ... Generally legumes are drying and are a diuretic. Specifically green beans are beneficial with those with diabetes who experience frequent urination and thirst. They can also be good for diarrhoea, but can worsen constipation. They are a rich source of vitamins A, C and K, as well as folate and a good source of fibre. Due to this high level of fibre, they are good for supporting heart health and helping reduce cholesterol. They contain a good level of protein for a green vegie! They also contain a good mix of minerals including magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium. I remember cooking these as one of the first things I cooked in high school cooking class. We blanched them to retain their green colour. But I do remember older generations cooking them until they were nearly a grey colour. I prefer my beans raw! Here are beans fresh out of our vegie garden this week! Very happy with our harvest from this crop. They are super easy to grow and taste even better straight out of the garden. Do you enjoy green beans? #greenbeans #greenbean #stringbean #stringbeans #vegies #greenveg #vegetablegarden #homegrown #vegiegarden #vegiepatch #foodoftheweek #foodasmedicine #legume #legumes #vitaminrich #vitaminsandminerals #goodprotein #vegetableprotein #wholefoods #plantfood

16.01.2022 There is a big focus on testing temperature at the moment and I thought I would give some insight into our body temperature. Normal body temperature ranges from 36.1 to 37.2 degrees Celsius. A fever can be considered anywhere between 37.2 to 38.3 degrees. Mayo clinic says a fever doesn't require medical attention until 39.4 degrees. There are many reasons why someone could have a higher body temperature that doesn't include a virus. Some examples include:... Infections including: An abscess; infective endocarditis, urinary tract infection, lung infection, kidney/bladder infection etc Malignant disease - lymphoma, leukaemia, carcinomas Vascular disease - Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, blood clots Sunburn/heat exhaustion Side effects of some medications including vaccines, illicit drugs Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Hormone issues such as hyperthyroidism But what if your temperature tests low? Mild hypothermia is deemed between a core temp of 32 to 35 degrees. Some examples of why your body temp may be low if you aren't experiencing hypothermia: Hormonal conditions relating to thyroid, adrenals or pituitary gland Nervous system disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, brain or spinal cord injury, brain tumours, MS Infections like pneumonia or meningitis can present with low body temp Chronic vitamin B1 deficiency Psoriasis and some dermatitis conditions Side effects of medications Not everyone taking temperatures has been trained as to what they mean, so if you do have your temperature taken make sure you ask what the reading was and do some investigations if it's not within the "normal" range, especially if it is low. The most accurate type of thermometer is an ear or rectal thermometer. The forehead thermometer is not as accurate and there's proof this type should be used on the wrist or elbow rather than the forehead for safety. #bodytemperature #thermometer #normalbodytemperature #education #bodyselfawareness #knowyourbody #bodyawareness #wearenotallthesame #individuals #temperatureranges #fever #pyrexia #causesoffever #highbodytemperature #lowbodytemperature

16.01.2022 Food of the Week... Potatoes They get a bit of bad publicity. Yes they are a high carbohydrate food having an extremely high glycaemic index of 95 (which can be reduced when eaten with other foods such as good fats). They can still be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet if they aren’t only eaten as french fries or creamy bacony potato bakes the basic potato is extremely nutritious. ... They are actually low calorie (between 100-150 calories per potato), contain a very high level of potassium which makes them great for people with high blood pressure or those consuming a diet high in salt. They contain good amounts of B vitamins and moderate amounts of magnesium, manganese, iron and zinc. They are abundant in phytonutrients - rutin and quercetin. They can be used to reduce inflammation, its juice is full of vitamin C (if not cooked/heated) can be applied to the skin to heal burns or if drunk can treat stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers, calm the intestines and reduce bloating. Potatoes also help to establish beneficial intestinal flora. They are good source of resistant starch, especially when eaten cold after cooking the night before. This is a great form of starch as it can't be broken down and makes it's way down to the large intestine to feed your microbiome. In the past a poultice of grated raw potato was used for many skin ailments such as eczema. They can be bought in many colours and have different textures which are more suited to different types of cooking. They are versatile and can be baked, steamed, boiled, fried, cooked in soups/casseroles/curries etc. BUT be wary of those that have green parts! This is a sign that the toxin solanine has been excessively produced in the potato. If eaten can cause headache, nausea, diarrhoea and fatigue. Either throw away or replant. #potato #potatoes #foodoftheweek #foodasmedicine #guthealth #guthealing #skinhealth #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahealing #eczematreatment #eczemadiet #eczemawarrior #resistantstarch #goodguthealth #maintainingguthealth #guthealthmatters #gut #guthealthy #gutbrainconnection #gutfriendly #gutmicrobiome #gutbacteria #gutflora #healthygut #leakygut #skinfood

15.01.2022 Waking up to this amazing fog! Do you love foggy mornings? I've always loved a good foggy morning! #fog #foggymorning #mist #misty #mistymountains #weekendgetaway #cattlefarm #miniholiday #reset #relax #holisticnutritionist #holistichealth #evenineedabreak #birthdayweekend

14.01.2022 Food of the Week... Quinoa (pronounced keen wa). This has become very popular in more recent times, although the Incas have been eating this as a staple food for thousands of years. ... Quinoa is technically a seed but is used like a grain. It has the highest protein content of all grains and it has a higher calcium content than milk. A great source of iron, B vitamins and vitamin E. It can be used in the exact same way as rice or couscous, added to salads, you can buy it as a flour or as flakes (great as porridge) and it comes in white, red and black seeds for varying colour. Nutritionally and taste are the same. The red and black ones have a few more antioxidants. Although it is a gluten free grain, it does contain a protein called Lectin that can cause some digestive disturbances. Often people taking up a gluten free diet will consume a lot of quinoa and find they have similar symptoms to when they eat gluten. Rinsing quinoa and then cooking in water will reduce the amount of lectins and make it easier to digest. I enjoy quinoa, especially when I am doing vegan dishes for the extra protein and iron. Do you eat quinoa regularly? #foodoftheweek #foodasmedicine #quinoa #glutenfreeseed #seedorgrain #glutenfreealternative #plantprotein #lectins

13.01.2022 As a mum of two young boys (3 and 4 years old), I try to give myself some care and attention too. Thanks to some wonderful friends who gave me a voucher, self care was made even more important (eg they made me take time out for myself ). Today I used my float tank voucher and had an hour of silence and darkness floating in a warm bath of magnesium. Absolute bliss when you have kids!... Here's my tank @innerblissyoga It was a wonderfully relaxing experience! Have you floated? #floattank #floating #selfcare #selflove #relaxation #magnesiumbath #floatpod #mumofboys #holisticnutritionist #innerbliss #bulimba #lookafteryourself #selfcaresaturday

12.01.2022 As we now have bees at my place I thought I would do a weekly bee fact. Now that it is Spring, bee numbers within the hive are increasing so you may notice more bees out and about in your garden. Did you know that bees are more attracted to purple flowers than any other colour?... My favourite colour is purple too! Perhaps I was a bee in my former life ;-) #bees #beefacts #spring #purpleflowers #beeslovepurple #beehive #beekeeper #apiary #hobbies #hobbyfarmer #weeklybeefact

11.01.2022 One of our family favourite dinners - fish and chips! This would be one of my favourite fish too - flathead. Tastes better and cheaper than takeaway.... What's for dinner at your place tonight? #easydinner #healthydinner #fishandchips #flathead #homemade #homecooked #madefromscratch #eatfresh #eatwholefoods #bakednotfried #whatscooking #familyfavourite #familydinner

11.01.2022 Did you know that commercial mouthwashes have so much alcohol that they kill all the bacteria in your mouth?! As our mouth is the start of our digestive tract, this too has it's own microbiome of bacteria. We do have beneficial bacteria in our mouths and these mouth washes come through leaving nothing left behind. But a fantastic natural alternative mouthwash is making a strong green tea (and once cooled) swishing this around the mouth. It actually feeds the good bact...eria that we want in there and balances out the bad guys. We don't want a sterile mouth! #greentea #greenteabenefits #naturalmouthwash #mouthwash #mouthmicrobiome #microbiome #digestivetract #mouth #mouthhealth #badbreath #guthealth #balancingbacteria #goodbacteria #foodasmedicine See more

09.01.2022 Weekly Bee Fact... Did you know that the texture of honey is determined by its glucose/fructose levels? All honey has both glucose and fructose, but runny honey is runny as it contains a higher amount of fructose. Whereas harder creamy honey has a greater amount of glucose as glucose crystallises. ... The amount of these sugars depends on what flowers/nectar the bees have visited! #honey #fructose #glucose #runnyhoney #weeklybeefact #bees #bee #rawhoney #flowhive #beekeeper #apiarist #apiary #honeyfacts

03.01.2022 Guess that food! Who can tell me what these are? If you can tell me, have you eaten them and how do you cook them?... #guessinggame #foodfun #nutritionistsfun #bitoffun #knowyourvegies #knowyourfood #whatfoodisthat #trynewfoods

03.01.2022 Who loves a good BBQ? BBQ'd meat can be one of the tastiest things (if you aren't a vegetarian/vegan ), but it has been given some bad press lately with studies showing barbecuing meat can create carcinogens (cancer causing agents). Cooking meat, especially barbecuing so that it becomes charred produces heterocyclic amine (HCA) in the meat. But do not fear! You don't have to pack up your BBQ and become a vegan (unless you really want to). A lot of research has gone into h...ow HCA can be reduced to lower the carcinogen production./effect Here are some simple ways that can reduce HCA formation: 1. Decrease cooking temperature 2. Increase cooking time 3. Marinating and dry rubs Ingredients such as garlic, rosemary, fruit pulp, spices, seasonings and anything rich in vitamin E can inhibit HCA formation by as much as 70%!! Also using yoghurt or beer in your marinade can lower HCA formation. So don't give up BBQ'd meat, but have it less (if you are a regular consumer) and make sure you marinate it or put on a dry rub! What is your favourite BBQ food? #meat #bbq #meatandcarcinogens #meatcausescancer #weekendbbqs #barbecues #aussiebbq

01.01.2022 Lunchbox prep done for kindy tomorrow. Who does their lunchboxes the night before, or do you prefer it done the morning of. I would prefer the freshness of the morning of, but mornings are too chaotic to worry about lunchboxes. So those with school ages kids - who cant wait to go back to doing school lunchboxes next week!?... What do you put in your kids lunches? Check out my article on my website about what my kids eat! #lunchboxes #lunchbox #lunch #lunchboxideas #healthylunch #healthylunchideas #mumofboys #mumlife #nutritionistmum #organisedmum #organisedparent #parentlife #organisedlife #feedingtwogrowingboys #twoboys

01.01.2022 I have been working with food intolerances and food allergies for close to 10 years. I get asked a lot of questions on this topic so I have written a piece on the differences between a food intolerance/sensitivity versus food allergy, what symptoms would indicate testing, the different ways to test, the approximate current costs involved and what to do if your test result shows a food intolerance/allergy. Have a read of it - it's in my bio! ... #foodintolerance #foodsensitivity #foodallergy #foodallergies #testingforfoodintolerance #functionaltesting #holisticnutritionist #clinicalnutritionist #allergysymptoms #intolerancesymptoms #commonfoodallergens #allergens #foodallergytesting #foodallergytests #foodintolerancetesting See more