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I’m setting up an integrated nutrition practice to kick off in April this year. As a dietitian I provide Medicare, DVA and private health fund rebates for consultations, however I differ from other dietitians in that I blend clinical and holistic approaches to give you the best chance of achieving your optimal level of health! 

My goal is to bring a complementary light to clinical dietetics, using natural therapies backed by a growing body of evidence, and applied in safe, practical and revolutionary ways to improve wellbeing and inner peace. 

Your health is your most valuable asset. Without optimal health you can’t enjoy your career, wealth, relationships and the plethora of experiences life has to offer as fully nor as consciously.

Everyone knows nutrition is key to health. But when people want nutritional advice, it’s not always straightforward who to ask. There are nutritionists, naturopaths and dietitians. There’s also that guy at the gym or health food store selling supplements.

Let’s not forget GPs, pharmacists, Traditional chinese medicine practitioners, herbalists, raw food coaches, personal trainers, and other people working in the health industry that, qualified or not, are all privy to handing out nutritional advice.

What to choose… Medical or Holistic?

In the world of nutrition, my experience has been that the approaches used by nutrition professionals tend to fall under one of two labels: mainstream science and naturopathic. Alternative, holistic, complementary and natural are terms used interchangably with the naturopathic approach.

Those who practise in line with mainstream medical science use the objective evidence-base as a foundation for their entire approach. This is the realm of dietitians, who in addition to their qualification in human nutrition, have undertaken training including substantial theory and professional practice in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service management. Dietitians are trained to use both food and artificial supplementation to correct medically diagnosed diseases and carefully calculated deficiencies in patients.

On the other hand, a naturopath‘s approach to nutrition tends to be more “holistic”, and encourages minimal use of surgery and unnecessary drugs. The ideology focuses on naturally-occurring substances, minimally-invasive methods, and encouragement of natural healing. Naturopathic treatments range from standard evidence-based treatments, to homeopathy and other practices sometimes characterised unfavourably by the medical profession as pseudoscience.

Naturopaths who also call themselves nutritionists are generally less conservative in their approach to nutrition than dietitians, in that they may use unconventional diagnostic tools, and prescribe vitamin mega-doses, nutrient supplements and strict diets which are not accepted by mainstream medical and nutritional science.

As the burden of chronic disease expands, it is predicted that consumer demand for both medical nutrition professionals and alternative/naturopathic/holistic therapies will continue to grow. Although the public still largely trusts dietitians and often turns to them for the Medicare reimbursement advantage they provide, more and more consumers are digging into their own pockets and reaching out for alternative nutritional therapists. The body of scientific evidence for many alternative therapies is also growing.

The need for a new paradigm

Integrative medicine is a term used by a growing body of health practitioners and is defined as the best possible combination of conventional medicine and natural therapies to meet each client’s needs. Due to increased consumer demand, more Australian GPs, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals are currently undertaking or have already completed further study in alternative modalities on top of their base of clinical or hospital-based studies.

Integrative Nutrition, the combining of clinical western approaches with alternative (frequently eastern) dietary modalities, is not currently a widely-available option to Australians looking for something beyond a purely clinical or a purely naturopathic approach.

So far in Australia, naturopath/nutritionists and accredited practising dietitians have tended to oppose each other in both their capacity and approach to nutritional therapy. In the United States there is a growing trend towards integrated nutrition professionals, in the same line as doctors, physiotherapists and other allied health practitioners. Such an integrated service specifically for nutrition and offered by an APD is a very young concept in Australia.

My Vision

As an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist, I have a clinical background and apply evidence-based principles which many clients still depend on for safety and peace of mind. I have also undertaken studies and have practical experience in natural nutrition, raw food therapy, Ayurveda, Chinese nutritional medicine, Yoga, and Ka Huna Bodywork.

To my knowledge, I am the only Australian APD to take an active interest in alternative modalities and decide to integrate them into an evidence-based practice. There are a number of prominent nutritionists who apply an integrated or “wholefoods” approach but as a dietitian my goal is to bring a complementary light to clinical dietetics, using natural therapies backed by a growing body of evidence, and applied in safe, practical and revolutionary ways to improve wellbeing and inner peace. 

I want more people in this country to have access to integrated services through Medicare and health fund rebates, rather than having to fork out the entire consultation fee from their own pockets just for the privilege of accessing naturopathic and traditional nutritional wisdom.

Considering the workforce shortage in private dietetics addressing the needs of patients in the early stages of chronic disease, the increasing burden of chronic disease, growing consumer demand for alternative approaches to health, and the positive feedback I’ve received from a prototype service, I feel the need for an integrated approach to nutrition in this country is not only necessary but is pressing.

I would love to hear your comments as I work to make my vision a reality and set up one of the first integrated nutrition private practices in Australia. If you wish to be a part of this nutritional revolution and discover the benefits it may have for you, drop me an email at casey@greensmoothieyoga.com. I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas and opinions as I develop a new nutritional model for the 21st century.

Finding a nutrition professional wasn’t always an issue – once upon a time we didn’t seek out help with our diet unless there was a problem like diabetes. That’s all changed in the last three decades – partly because science knows more about how food affects our health, but also because of big changes in the food supply itself.

Global changes in climate and lifestyle factors have been linked to increasing food intolerances and allergies. Rapidly advancing food technologies and having more choices in food than we ever had before has raised more consumer questions than ever. The plethora of often conflicting nutritional information out there means some of us are over nourished – or nourished by the wrong things.

We often go looking for help as a result – but who to turn to? The most commonly consulted health professionals for nutritional advice are dietitians, general practitioners, nutritionists and naturopaths. Of these, formal training in nutrition can range from zero to four or more years at university. GPs have minimal formal training in nutrition and nowadays refer patients requiring nutritional therapy to dietitians.

An extremely brief summary

Nutritionists may or may not have any university qualifications in human nutrition. Accredited Nutritionists are qualified to use food and nutrition to prevent health problems, and Dietitians use food and nutrition to manage or treat, as well as prevent health problems. Naturopaths may include nutrition among other complementary modalities in their practice. Only Accredited Practising Dietitians are covered by Medicare. There is much more to this story, so read on if you want all the juicy details…

What’s the difference? The down and dirty

Accredited Practising Dietitians…

(who sometimes call themselves nutritionists) are accredited by the Dietitians’ Association of Australia (DAA). To qualify as an APD takes a minimum of four years’ university study in nutrition and dietetics, and ongoing additional training each year to maintain accreditation.

It’s the dietetics qualification that separates a dietitian from someone with a degree in nutrition science alone. In addition to or as part of their qualification in human nutrition, a dietitian has undertaken substantial theory and professional practice in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service management.

Obesity, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, gastro intestinal problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, insulin resistance, PCOS, diabetes, food intolerance, coeliac disease and allergies are some of the most common reasons for seeing a dietitian. Dietitians also work with people who are perfectly well but seeking expert advice in sports nutrition, vegetarian eating and stages of the lifecycle such as pregnancy.

In short, dietitians can work with you to treat or manage disease using nutrition, as well as prevent disease and maintain a healthy diet.

APDs are recognised by Medicare. This means you may be eligible for a Medicare, Department of Veterans’ Affairs or private health fund rebate on services.   

If you have a health problem that can be improved by diet – e.g. you’re at risk of heart disease or diabetes – you may be eligible for a rebate for up to five sessions with a dietitian under what’s called an Enhanced Health Care plan.

Nutritionists…

may be qualified nutrition scientists or biochemists or may not have any university qualifications in human nutrition at all. There is no government regulation for the term nutritionist.

The term Accredited Nutritionist can be used by members of the DAA who are also Accredited Practising Dietitians. Therefore, in Australia, all dietitians are considered to be nutritionists however, nutritionists without a dietetics qualification cannot take on the specialised role of a dietitian. ANs generally work with patients to prevent chronic disease and encourage everyday healthy eating.

Because Nutritionists are not qualified in medical nutrition therapy as dietitians are, they are not recognised by Medicare, so no Medicare, DVA or private health fund rebates are available on services rendered by a nutritionist.

Naturopaths…

are complementary and alternative health practitioners who often also call themselves nutritionists. They have varying lengths of training in nutrition, and their training is not strictly evidence-based, sometimes falling outside “accepted” nutrition and dietetic practice.

Naturopathic philosophy favours a holistic approach, and, like conventional medicine seeks to find the least invasive measures necessary for symptom improvement or resolution, encouraging minimal use of surgery and unnecessary drugs. The ideology focuses on naturally-occurring substances, minimally-invasive methods, and encouragement of natural healing.

Naturopathy comprises many different treatment modalities of varying degrees of acceptance by the conventional medical community; these treatments range from standard evidence-based treatments, to homeopathy and other practices sometimes characterised unfavourably by the medical profession as pseudoscience.

Naturopaths who also call themselves Nutritionists are generally less conservative in their approach to nutrition, in that they may use unconventional diagnostic tools, and prescribe vitamin mega-doses, nutrient supplements and strict diets which are not accepted by mainstream medical and nutritional science.

There is no state licensure in Australia for Naturopaths, rather the industry is self-regulated. There is no protection of title, meaning that technically anyone can practise as a naturopath. The only way to obtain insurance for professional  indemnity or public liability is by joining a professional association, which can only be achieved by having completed an accredited course and gaining professional certification. Currently the only registered modalities of natural medicine in Australia are those relating to Chinese medicine, and only in Victoria.

In summary, Nutritionists may or may not have any university qualifications in human nutrition. Accredited Nutritionists are qualified to use food and nutrition to prevent health problems, and Dietitians use food and nutrition to manage or treat, as well as prevent health problems. Naturopaths may include nutrition among other complementary modalities in their practice. Only Accredited Practising Dietitians are covered by Medicare.

Integrated Nutrition – the best of both worlds

I offer another choice for the modern, health-conscious individual seeking person nutritional advice:  integrated nutrition. As an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist, I have a clinical background and apply evidence-based principles which many clients still depend on for safety and peace of mind. I have also undertaken studies and have practical experience in natural nutritional therapy, raw food, Ayurveda, Chinese nutritional medicine, Yoga, and Ka Huna Bodywork. For more information on integrated nutrition and what I do, click here.

Check out the Lesson Plans tab on the right for more videos!

Acrobatic yoga fun from Koh Tao, Thailand with bendy friends Ea and Gunnar. For more yoga videos, check out the Lesson Plans tab on the right :)

The sounds of windchimes in the bamboo grove

When the seabreeze blows.

Rustling of palm leaves

Singing of crickets

Trickling of raindrops from the canopy

Croaking of frogs

Hissing of snakes

Hooting of owls,

All this deepens the mystery of dark,

The whole of creation is awake,

Even the stones and plants meditate.

Inner peace for the modern yogi

It’s dusk as I type this in my tiny jungle bungalow, the perfect time to share some insights from my current journey on real ways you can experience inner peace. It has taken me a while to return to the place where I first felt true stillness and presence, but I am here again, at my personal rebooting station on a small island in the Gulf of Thailand.

After a two years masters degree to cap off eight convoluted years of tertiary study, countless house moves, my fair share of relationship failures and a solid dose of hospital work, my return to Koh Tao couldn’t have come sooner!

Don’t get me wrong, life has been incredibly good to me. But the need for a change of scenery, a mostly raw tropical diet and medicinal doses of jungle, ocean and sunshine was no longer deniable. Maybe you could do with the same!

The last two weeks were marked by torrential rains, a head cold and mandatory bali belly scattered in between joyous moments of aerial silks, flying trapeze, acrobatic yoga, silent meditation and play with friends old and new. I’ve finally started loosening my grip on the past and am feeling more present and clear than I have for quite some time. So I thought I’d share some hints for inner peace with you, even if you’re not on holiday!

Too busy driving to stop for fuel?

It’s amazing how being busy, taking care of a family, building a career, taking care of ourselves as best we can, and/or trying to stay on top of deadlines and due dates, can deduce our experience of the present to just a series of things to get done.

The practice of yoga can help us deal with the pressures of everyday life and it has helped me enormously, but the degree of benefit you get out of yoga really depends on how you practice it. When practised consciously and diligently, yoga builds self-power and creativity, and allows you to live more and more of your life in a state of grace.

In the west, asana or physical postures form a large part of the practice of yoga, however there are many types of yoga aside from asana. To me, yoga (and its hundreds of subtypes) is just one of many paths we can follow to access the infinite creativity, freedom and bliss within each of us, and the field of pure consciousness available to everyone. I adore a good physical practice and am the first to admit this is one way to reach a highly attuned and peaceful state.  But it’s not for everyone.

If yoga isn’t for you, or you’re a yogi looking for a little something extra, a daily practice of meditation, silence and non-judgement can also work a treat, as can spending time in nature.

Take a silent breather

When you’re busy it’s not always easy to take the time each day to be silent, to just be. But if you manage to prioritise some regular, uninterrupted quiet time just for yourself, you may start to find that the chaotic movement around you can never overshadow that solid sense of stillness and equanimity within you.

Even when you’re boyfriend dumps you, phones are ringing and you have to make ends meet, just sitting silently for five minutes, or however long you can manage, can start to shift your perspective. Taking a few deep breaths and closing your eyes before bed, in traffic, in the shower, ANY where (I’ve even done it in the toilet!) can noticeably change your day for the better.

We all need a space to just be. (Even if it is the toilet at work.)

Holidays can be a great opportunity to re-dedicate some silent time to yourself. Staying alone in my bungalow and having a beautiful yoga studio to meditate and practice in have undoubtedly made it easier, and have reminded me of just how huge a difference silent time can make to the quality of your life. But you don’t have to wait until you’re on holidays to close your eyes and take a few silent ones. You can do it while you’re looking at this screen. Go ahead, no one’s watching. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths…

Commune with nature

Taking time each day to commune with nature and silently witness the intelligence within each living thing is another way to practice yoga, or union with the divine. Ever notice how chilled out old surfer dudes who spend their lives in the ocean are? Take the time to watch a sunset, listen to the sounds of the ocean, or smell the scent of rain on the earth, even if it’s just during your lunch break.

Enjoy the ecstasy of these little moments and you’ll start to hear the life throb of ages, and perhaps feel a connection with something greater than yourself. For me, nothing beats hiking through the forest, jumping into the ocean or playing with a dog to clear my head and slam my priorities back in order.

Practice non-judgement

Judging people and situations takes up a tonne of time and energy. Most of us constantly evaluate things as right or wrong, good or bad, hell I do it more often than I care to admit. But this constant criticising, classifying, labelling, analysing, resisting and judging creates a lot of turbulence in your internal dialogue. It constricts the flow of energy in your body, narrows your vision, squishes your awareness and caves in on your inner peace.

Try going for an hour, or even ten minutes, without judging things, people or situations. It can be hard at first, but after a while it’s like taking a breath of fresh air (which you can also do!)

You don’t need a regular asana practice to try one or all of these peace-giving gems. You just need an open mind and a willingness to relax into the present. Both you and everyone around you can benefit from your developing a little inner peace.

Kahuna massage, based on the ancient lomi lomi is a whole body massage like no other. It is gentle but also deep flowing form of massage that will relax, revitalise, and revive you.

At its heart, Kahuna connects mind body and spirit. These three aspects to humans are linked, and through our neglect of any or all of them in daily 20th Century life, we often disconnect them. Kahuna massage is a starting point to help reconnect and balance the three so you become more aware of all that you are.

Huna philosophy – the 7 principles

IKE the world is what you think it is – “I’m aware”

KALA No limits – everything is one – “I’m free”

MAKIA Energy flows where attention goes – “I’m focused”

MANAWA Now is the moment of power – “I’m here”

ALOHA Love is to be happy – “I’m happy”

MANA All power comes from within – “I’m confident”

PONO Effectiveness is the measure of truth – “I’m positive”

What to expect

Prepare to experience new wonders. Kahuna massage will relieve stress and fatigue, reconnect you to your physical self, and revive circulation throughout the body. Kahuna involves long, deep pressure strokes and movements rather than pointed, isolated pressure as in other forms of massage.

Kahuna is suitable for all ages, and people in all states of health.

Your Healing Space

We offer Wednesday massage sessions at The Colonic Clinic on James St, Burleigh Heads. On other days, we can come to your home, or you can come to us at The Green Smoothie Yoga Retreat. Wherever we meet, we will create a relaxed, safe and caring environment for us to work in.

The Hunas believed that you cannot force tension out of the body, but by working with the breath the client releases their own tension. On the surface a massage might seem like a completely passive experience for the client, this is not the case at all. Your ability to engage with the experience and work with the breath directly affects the “depth” of our work together.

Experience the depth and physical, emotional and spiritual transformation of kahuna massage today! To book your experience on Wednesdays at The Colonic Clinic call 07 5520 3887. For available sessions on other days, call 07 5533 0639, or text 0432 618 279. 

Delicious, flavoursome comfort food at its healthiest!

You wouldn’t think it, but this dish abides by natural laws of nutrition, such as proper food combining and use of simple plant-based wholefoods. This makes it easy to digest and assimilate the nutrients, leaving you free of bloating and with stable blood sugar levels afterwards. Oh, and a huge smile!

Serves 2 starving yogis after an intense practice, or 4 as a side dish.

Ingredients

• 8 desiree potatoes
• 3 carrots
• 3 red onions
• 1 head Garlic
• 1 bunch kale
• 1/2 bch dill
• 1/2 bch parsley
• juice from 1/2 a lemon
• 1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 3 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tbsp rice bran oil
• white pepper and celery salt to taste *

What to do

Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees C. Separate garlic cloves leaving the skins on.

Wash and cut potatoes into wedges. Wash carrots (peel if you want, we don’t – there is too much goodness in the skin!) and cut into pieces the same size as the cut potatoes.

Peel onions and cut into wedges leaving the core intact to keep it together during cooking.

Place all ingredients into a baking tray and add oil, paprika, nutmeg, salt, white pepper and mix softly.

Hint – Palasis always sits the potatoes on their skins during baking to stop them from sticking. It gives them more colour and more love!

Roast vegetables for 30 mins or until cooked depending on what size your vegetables are cut.

Meanwhile, remove stalks from your kale (they’re a bit tough) and cut or break into large pieces. Chop parsley and dill roughly.

Once veg is cooked mix everything together gently while still warm and add the lemon juice.

* Celery salt is made by drying celery leaves in the oven at 100 degrees C for about 20 mins then crushing with natural rock salt or himalayan salt in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. It’s an amazing and natural seasoning for anything. Casey’s favourite application is using the salt sprinkled on sprouted essence toast smeared with avocado… heaven!

Cook with love, chew your food fully and experience the wonderful tastes and grounding properties of the root vegetables.

More recipes like this coming in our first cookbook Conscious Cooking, coming shortly! YUMaste xxx

Gone are the days of cooking and eating for taste at the expense of health. Learn how to lovingly create nourishing, delicious meals from simple, fresh wholefoods and give yourself and your loved ones the gift of natural health and vitality!

• Learn a way of cooking & eating that will give you more energy for your family
• Lose weight and regain vitality
• Save money on food and on future health bills
• Create impressive, healthy masterpieces for social gatherings
• Rediscover long lost principles of natural nutrition
• Enhance your sense of wellbeing and body awareness

Class 1 – Secrets of the Orient

Tasty, exotic and simple cleansing cuisine. Click here to book!

Menu

Starter: Thai Vegetable Soup

Excellent cleansing soup that tantalises your taste buds with each mouthful. Light, Refreshing and Very Easy.

Entree 1: Carrot and Daikon Salad with Miso Dressing

A delicate salad with an equally refreshing kick

Entree 2: Black Bean Noodles with Black Eye Pea Cassolet and Chinese Greens

Black eye peas make an excellent protein base to accompany the black bean noodles. Influenced by Chinese vegetarian sauces & wines.

Dessert: Raw Vanilla Ice Cream
Sweetened naturally with vanilla and maple syrup, this Green Coconut dessert is practically guilt free.

When:

Wednesday Nov 30th, 6 – 8pm followed by dinner.

Where:

Green Smoothie Yoga Retreat, 114 Reynolds Rd, Currumbin Valley

Class 2 – Vegetarian Christmas Feast

Skip the indigestion, keep the flavour! Feel lighter & brighter this festive season. Click here to book!

Light and Zesty Watercress Salad with Shaved Fennel, Grated Zucchini and Pomegranate dressed with a Red Wine Orange Vinaigrette

Centrepiece Jap Pumpkin filled with a Chick Pea Casserole
 
Baked Rainbow Vegetable Terrine with Salsa Verde 
 
Ginger, Macadamia, Coconut, Carrot Cake with Crème Anglaise

When:

Tuesday 6th Dec, 6 – 8pm followed by dinner.

Where?  

Class 2 will be held at The Uncooking-Cooking School, Burleigh Heads State School, Lower Gold Coast Hwy

All classes vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free!

Cost?

Adults $75 per class. Recipe booklet included with every class to take home.

Places are limited. To book your ticket to one of these classes, click here. 

For enquiries, contact palasis@greensmoothieyoga.com, or call 5533 0639 or 0414 014 000.

Despite much searching over the past 5 days, we have been unable to find a suitable space in the same time slot given that these things usually need to be booked up several weeks in advance. We are learning many lessons from this journey but thankfully we still have our amazing YOGA + BRUNCH on Saturday mornings in Mermaid Beach.

To our dedicated students, both new and regular, we would like to offer the following yummy treats to ease the blow of losing our yummy Thursday yoga classes!

Treat No. 1

As a way to make up for the loss of Thursday classes, we are offering a 2-for-1 deal for anyone who has attended any of the thursday night classes.
Bring a new friend to this Saturday morning’s class (November 5th) and they get the class for free, or you can split the price. This includes the delicious breakfast after class. The friend must be a first-timer to Green Smoothie Yoga. We hope this soothes the pain just a little bit!

The cost of Saturday morning Yoga + Brunch classes is still just $25 / $22 concession. We hope you can join us for another four fantastic weeks of invigorating yoga and yummy natural food, on the 5 Elements of Yoga course continuing this Saturday at 9am @ Mandala Organic Arts Cafe!

Treat No. 2

As a reward for those who attend all five Saturday morning classes, including the Saturday just passed, we are offering a 60 minute Ka Huna massage gift certificate, valued at $80, for only $40.

Kahuna massage is a rejuvenating form of Hawaiian temple massage that works on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels of our being. If you’ve never had one before you are in for a delightful healing experience! The massages are a pleasure to give and receive.

Please email casey@greensmoothieyoga.com, or call 0432 618 279 or 5533 0639 to book your spot at our Saturday morning classes. For more information on the 5 Elements course, click here!

Here’s to stretchy & delicious Saturdays!