Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease affecting thousands of young Australians. At the moment there isn’t a cure, however initiatives such as the Big Dinner Party hope to change that.

The concept behind the Big Dinner Party is simple – rather than going to a restaurant, invite friends and family over for dinner during March. Guests donate the money they save to the MS Society.

The MS Society provides essential support to MS sufferers to enable them to live as full a life as possible at home and work.

Whether it’s a three-course meal or a simple barbecue, by donning an apron and entertaining friends during March you can join the fight against MS.

To register click here.

The body is considered to have seven of them, all of which govern a different psychological property. The lower chakras represent instinct while the chakras located higher up the body are reflective of our mental health.

All are believed to contribute to the overall health of an individual. The ideal state is when chakras are balanced but they are often under-active and some over-active, making the body unstable.

The seven chakras include:

1. The Root chakra represents the feeling of acceptance.
2. The Sacral chakra represents feeling and sexuality.
3. The Navel chakra represents the ability to assert yourself in a group situation.
4. The Heart chakra represents love, kindness and affection.
5. The Throat chakra represents self-expression and talking.
6. The Third Eye chakra represents insight and visualization.
7. The Crown chakra represents wisdom and being one with the world.

Chakras are often the focus of yoga practice and meditation. For techniques that are used to balance the chakras, click here.

Try the following tips to reduce food consumption without increasing your hunger pangs:

• Eat food with more fibre. Fibre is very slow-burning, meaning that it takes much longer for the body to feel hungry when it has eaten fibre-based foods. These include dried beans, bran, vegetables and whole grains.
• Don’t overfill the fridge. People tend to overeat when they are bored and the food is available to them. Prevent this by keeping only what is necessary in your fridge and pantry. This should help to reduce snacking during the day.
• Drink plenty of water. This is not only important to maintain hydration and health, but additionally can be an appetite suppressant.  Ensure you get the recommended six to eight large glasses of water per day.
• Enjoy each meal. It generally takes about 15 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it is full. If you rush a meal, you are more likely to be overeating and can feel overly full afterwards. Instead take your time to appreciate each bite, chew your food slowly and enjoy some conversation while eating. You are also most likely to better appreciate the taste and aroma this way.

For portion control tips, click here.

Dark leafy green vegetables are one of the best sources of nutrition as they are loaded with multiple minerals and vitamins.

Vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli and lettuce contain iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium, vitamins K,C,E and several B vitamins.

This helps to keep immunity high against illness and disease. The nutrients provided by greens are said to not only improve immune function but protect eyes from age-related disease and reduce the risk of breast and lung cancer. Vegetables such as cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli are particularly loaded with nutritious elements.

Green vegetables are also known to assist in weight maintenance and weight loss. Naturally low in carbohydrates but rich in fibre, they take time to digest, making you feel fuller for longer.

For tips on cooking green vegetables, click here. 

In such environments, it is easy for alcohol consumption to get out of hand, leading to health risks. If you wish to stay health conscious this year, try the following tips to reduce your alcohol intake:

• Set limits for yourself. If you are aware of how many drinks you plan on consuming, it will make it a whole lot easier to say no to offers.
• Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (particularly water to ensure that you stay hydrated).
• Drink slowly. Savour each drink and remember that they are a treat that should be had occasionally. Also, try not to drink when you are thirsty or hungry as you will be inclined to consume larger amounts much faster.
• Eat beforehand. It is important to line your stomach before you begin drinking. This will help to reduce its effects.
• Take a break. Your body will need to rest after continued amounts of late nights and alcoholic beverage consumption. Refrain from drinking at least two nights a week – you may be able to build this up gradually.

For the national guidelines of alcohol consumption, click here. 

Late nights often lead to sleeping in, getting up late and rushing to work in a frenzy. The easiest way to eliminate this morning rush is to become an early riser. Try the following tips to make waking up earlier an easier task:

• Have a good reason to get up. It can be important to convince yourself why you are waking up earlier. Perhaps write down a to-do list to attempt before work and outline the things you need to accomplish in this extra time.
• Be productive. Make sure that you are waking up earlier and using that time to its best advantage. If you do not follow through in tasks, you can often feel regretful instead of feeling inspired.
• Go to bed earlier. If you plan on getting up an hour earlier, adjust your body clock so that you get to sleep earlier in the night. No matter the workload, your body will still need the same amount of sleep to stay healthy and work properly. Try to go to sleep when your body acknowledges you are tired.
• Don’t sleep in. That extra 10 minutes may seem like a guilty pleasure but it can actually do you more harm than good. It can make you more sleepy and less alert. By jumping out of bed you are more likely to wake up and stay up, as well as leave no doubt about your intentions to get your day underway.
•  Have something to look forward to. Thinking positively is always great motivation, so have something you enjoy, such as time to eat a full breakfast and read the paper, allocated in your extra time.
• Arrange to meet up with someone. If you are committed to meeting someone for an early breakfast or to go for a jog, you are more likely to stick to it.

For tips on how to wake up feeling refreshed, click here.

Similar to tai chi, it incorporates elements of martial arts and spirituality but, with roots in Chinese medicine, it is considered to be a practice that balances the qi, which some believe to be our intrinsic life energy.

According to Chinese history, when the qi is blocked, sickness and pain will follow. Qigong exists to eliminate this problem via a combination of controlled breathing exercises, focused concentration and gentle physical movements. It is thought these exercises remove the blocks and help to increase the flow of energy through the body.

Qigong has gained popularity in the Western world as an alternative medicine or meditative practice. Qigong can be interpreted and created with a specific illness in mind. Different options include: medicinal qigong, alchemical qigong and immune qigong. Each use different movements and gestures so as to target specific areas of the body and qi.

Click here for information on qigong in Australia.

The simple solution to this problem is to take a few short cuts and create a couple of extra hours for yourself whether for work or relaxation. Try the following five suggestions to save some time in your day:

1. Use a planner. To-do lists and daily planners can help to prioritise the things you wish to accomplish daily. It can help to write things down, whether shorthand or on a computer or phone.
2. Group similar tasks together. If your mind is already attuned to a specific task, it will be much easier for you to continue with something similar, rather than to chop and change onto something else.
3. Organise your space. This may apply to your bedroom or your office, but attempt to take some time out of your day to organise your things. Make things you use everyday easy to reach. Organising yourself before the next morning will help to save time and prevent you from rushing out the door unprepared and frazzled.
4. Make waiting productive. When you have a few minutes to spare, don’t just sit around – use this time to your advantage. It may help you get the job done quicker and help you get out the door to even faster.
5. Eliminate distractions. The easiest way to get tasks done according to a schedule is to eliminate the possibility of any distractions whether that means turning off phones, computers or music.

A sore stomach can be brought on by a variety of causes and situations, including stress, period pain, food poisoning and indigestion.

These remedies might help to ease stomach cramps:

• Regularly sip water to keep your fluids up.

• Try some gentle yoga postures to help ease stomach cramps, and take your mind off the discomfort.

• Determine the cause of your stomach cramps. Have you taken medication on an empty stomach? Talk to your medical practitioner if you can’t find a logical explanation for the pain.

• Peppermint tea might help to ease a queasy or cramping stomach, and is also known to reduce stress levels, which may prove helpful during a bout of nausea.

• Steer clear of spicy foods, and stick to small and plain meals.

• Ginger is a natural remedy for upset stomachs. Try sipping chopped-up ginger in hot water or take ginger tablets.

• Place a hot water bottle on the affected area, which can also help to settle the pain. Always wrap the water bottle in a tea towel or cloth, to avoid burns, and never fill it with boiling water, as it might scald the skin. You can substitute a hot water bottle with a wheat pack if needed.

For stomach cramps that are not related to a muscular problem, you might find some of these exercises helpful during cramping.

For persistent stomach ailments, talk to your GP or naturopath for professional advice.

It has multiple nutritious benefits, the largest of which is its ability to cleanse and detox the liver. This is a significant benefit as the liver has an incredibly important role as cleanser and filter of the bloodstream, fat metabolism regulation and cholesterol regulation.

LSA includes the following essential vitamins and minerals: protein, fibre, omega 3, Vitamins A, E, D and B1 as well as magnesium, calcium and zinc.

The recommended daily dose is one to two tablespoons, and this can be taken with your morning cereal or porridge, added to yoghurt and smoothies and fruit. Alternatively, it has found popularity in baked goods, but be warmed that cooking can remove some of its nutritional value.

Found in most health-food stores and supermarkets, LSA should be kept cool in the fridge. This will help to keep the fatty acids stable and protect its nutritional benefits.

To make cashew, brown sugar and LSA cookies, click here.