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yourNaturopath with Robert Reeves
Naturopath, Herbalist, Nutritionist
2 L and Still Dehydrated?
The destruction of south west native forests in WA
by Patrick Wier and Eugene Chattelle The continued assault on South West Native Forests under the proposed forest management plan due to be signed this year by the Minister for the Environment will further degrade forests that are already under severe stress and threaten a number of endangered species. If implemented the plan would establish a logging rotation of just 57 years. This timing would not allow the forests to recover. Jarrah forests need a rotation time between logging of 200 to 300 years if the trees and the ecosystems were to reach stability and maturity. On a recent tour of the Ashenden Forest in the upper reaches of the Canning River, just outside Roleystone the ‘Forest Legacy’ of W.A, saw first hand the mismanagement of our forests. Native marri trees had been poisoned to make room for a monoculture of jarrah, which destroys the fine balance required for our native animals, birds and insects ( bees in particular are reliant on our Marri tree’s ) to survive and flourish. Grass trees hundreds of years old (which are protected), had been bulldozed to make way for machinery and 300yr old jarrah trees cut down only to be seen as not viable due to cracking and therefore left to rot on the ground, when they could have been left standing. This kind of activity has to stop, we have to make a stand for the preservation of our forests and realize that they are irreplaceable! It takes many hundreds of years for forests such as these to grow to maturity and we behave as if they are in endless supply and we only look at their value in terms of dollars not ‘sense!’ Western Australia is the driest state on the worlds driest continent, only one small area, less than 1% of the state, has tall forest. Remarkably this area in the south‐west of Western Australia is listed as one of the world’s 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots because of its large numbers of endemic species and the serious threats to its biodiversity. 36 Scientists with knowledge and understanding of the forest ecosystems of the south‐west of Western Australia, recently signed a document stating that they have concerns about the future of these ecosystems and believe that improved protection and management is essential for this internationally recognised, biologically rich and highly valued landscape. Is it OK for a society to knowingly destroy the habitat of species of plants and animals leading to their extinction or is this a sign of a society so focused on it’s own needs that it cannot see the needs of other species? What value do we place upon a
tree, what does a tree provide for us? Well according to the US department of Agriculture “One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.” Trees control climate by moderating the effects of the sun, rain and wind. Trees also lower the air temperature and reduce the heat intensity of the greenhouse effect by maintaining low levels of carbon dioxide. They are the lungs of our planet and crucial to our survival and yet we constantly overlook their value in terms of our survival and continue to clear vast tracks of land leaving it barren and open to erosion. With what we know about the importance of trees to the existence of all living things, to continue to do this is actually a form of insanity! How can we put a price on the millions of birds that make their homes in trees? The insects that could not survive without the roots, branches and leaves of trees and the animals that rely on trees for their food? The only way we can really appreciate the impact of the loss of one tree in any environment is to live into, through our imagination, what it is to be a tree and to consider life without them. We are in danger of destroying the very planet that suppor ts us. We have all the information we need in order to turn this devastation around, and it begins with saving our old growth forests that provide the seed stocks and the genetic blue prints for the land on which we live. Patrick Weir, Coordinator, Forest Legacy Project t. 9496 0514 m. 0414 418 353 e. patrick@maggieburke.com.au www.forestlegacy.org.au Patrick has played a significant role in the debate over the way in which our South West Native Forests are managed. In 1995 he organised the ‘BIG FOREST RALLY’ held on the Pe r t h E s p l a n a d e and attended by an estimated 20,000 people. Several years later he organised the ‘OLD GROWTH FOREST - UMBRELLAS RALLY’ in the forecourt of the Perth Concert Hall. Patrick was instrumental in Designing the ‘BUY PASS BUNNINGS’ pledging system and also the ‘Feathaleaves’ that you will no doubt see around the state in the lead up to the ‘LAST STAND FOREST RALLY’ at midday on the 19th of October in Forrest Place Perth.
As the warmer months approach we must become more conscious about our water intake. Yes, you always hear about drinking 2L per day but recently I’ve discovered that you could still be dehydrated! No, I’m not asking you to drink even more water. Just make a few little adjustments to your drinking habits so your body can make the most of the fluid you drink. I’m a naturopath, so I understand our nutritional requirements. This includes water, and so water forms my primary beverage. I drink glasses and glasses every day and even more when I’m at the gym. Yet it wasn’t until a recent, unexpected trip to hospital that I discovered drinking all this water wasn’t working the way I thought it was. You see drinking water is one thing, but allowing your body to make use of it is a whole different ball game. When you exercise you sweat and when you sweat you lose fluid. Did you know that even just sitting down or sleeping also loses fluid? You lose around 1L of sweat every day and even more if you visit the gym. And so we have our drink bottles in hand, we make sure we drink more when the weather is hot, but we forget about a very key ingredient – electrolytes! Spor ts drinks contain electrolytes but they also contain artificial sweeteners, flavours, colours and who knows what else. I don’t recommend drinking these as your source of hydration. Let’s instead take a look at ways we can make our own electrolyte drinks and give our body exactly what it’s asking for. Electrolytes are microminerals that give water an electric charge. This allows your body to absorb the water and use it in various metabolic processes. If you lack electrolytes you with experience muscle aches, pain, headaches, twitching, muscle cramps and spasms, difficulty concentrating, and restless sleep. Certain foods contain excellent amounts of electrolytes. Two of these are lemons and limes. So you can add a good squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice to your water for a refreshing electrolyte replacement. I add them to my morning juices since they also help alkalise the body by clearing away acids and inflammation. They are highly antioxidant and will protect your cells from damage. There is also some vitamin C present that will help with your general health. One of the more complete sources of electrolytes is good quality, natural sea salt. It contains all the minerals of the ocean and is jam packed with microminerals. Sea salt is completely different from table salt so you cannot use table salt as a substitute. Table salt is just sodium and chloride, where as sea salt can have over 80 different minerals. Look for Himalayan, Celtic, or Atlantic sea salt at your local health food store. It’s a good idea to get a nice drink
bottle too. This not only helps you keep track of your water intake, but it also means you only have to mix up your solution once per day. Glass bottles are the best for your health as they don’t leach impurities into your water. Consider buying a nice spring or mineral water that comes in a glass bottle. Once you finish it just continue to refill it with your own mixture. Some companies have started to sell glass drink bottles. They have a glass interior and then a protective housing to prevent breakages. You can also consider stainless steel drink bottles that are quite safe and less likely to cause a mess if dropped on the ground. Fill your water bottle and add to it a tiny pinch of natural sea salt. You only need a few grains as you don’t want your water to taste salty. If the salt is coarse you can crush it in a mortar and pestle, or by placing it between two spoons and pressing firmly together. Take a pinch of this powdered salt and add it to your water. Give the bottle a good shake to make sure all the granules dis-
solve and disperse. I’ve forgotten the important step of shaking and have gotten to the bottom of my bottle only to end up with a mouth full of salt water! You can add an extra layer of electrolytes by including a slice of lemon or lime in your bottle. By drinking this solution your body absorbs and utilizes the fluid you drink. I’ve found since then my body feels much better. I no longer have soreness after the gym, in fact my endurance is better. My mind is clearer, and I’m adequately hydrated all day long. So try this method for a couple of weeks and notice how you feel. As the weather heats up ensure you drink plenty of electrolyte enriched water.
All of the preceding information is meant as a guide only and is not meant to replace proper medical care. Please speak with your health care professional before under taking any of the above mentioned advice. Robert Reeves is a Naturopath and best-selling author of Flower Therapy. He blends herbal medicine with his psychic abilities to help his clients reach their utmost potential. He gives self-help workshops, and runs a successful natural-therapies clinic. Phone: 1300 668 772 Web: www.RobertReeves.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/ RobertReevesNaturopath