Evolutionary Health New Zealand

19/11/2023

Koanga gardens have released a couple of amazing packages to get you into having a garden with all the vegetables imaginable to keep you supplied all year round, with a full set of seeds and instructions https://mailchi.mp/koanga.org.nz/revival-survival-kits-401278?

Apologies for the double mail out, in our excitement we forgot to add the links! We have now added them for easy viewing.  We soft launched this to our members last week and it sold out within 24 hours.  Its an incredible new product and would make the absolute ultimate gardening Gift or Christma...

19/07/2023

https://regenerationsummit.co.nz/

The Regeneration Summit - a live global online event - is a platform where the voices of visionaries, experts, and change-makers converge. It is a place where the seeds of inspiration are sown, nourished and shared.

The summit is an online quarterly event that brings together the world’s most inspiring doers and thought leaders in the regeneration arena through engaging conversations.

It is an immersive, interactive event with live Q&A.

Each quarterly event presents a diverse array of speakers who bring their expertise and wisdom to the forefront. These include seed saving, soils, forests, agriculture, water, health, fitness, movement, quantum health, food production, ancestral eating, rongoa, breathwork, and indigenous practices. By showcasing a broad spectrum of topics, the summit fosters a multidimensional exploration of regeneration, inviting participants to embrace a holistic approach to a regenerative future.

To be a part of the movement, join us at The Regeneration Summit and be inspired by the collective wisdom and innovative ideas of our esteemed speakers and hosts.

Reconnect. Rewild. Regenerate.

Welcome to the Regeneration Summit, a quarterly event where expert speakers share their knowledge on regenerative living & how to approach a regenerative future

21/05/2023

New Zealand feeds 40 million with its produce. Yet we have unprecedented demands from Foodbanks. As well we have most of our best food being sold overseas. This documentary explores the topic.

24/10/2022

An interview with environmental lawyer who worked alongside commercial and recreational fishers, mana whenua, and dairy farmers on a plan to revitalise the Hauraki Gulf. All agree that a series of marine reserves is the only way forward to stop permanent degradation. Please support this.

The sailor, author and environmental lawyer talks to Elisabeth Easther.

22/10/2022

Save the Hauraki Gulf – Speak up for more marine protection:
The Hauraki Gulf is in a state of decline after decades of overfishing. Show your support for strong marine protection!

The Government is seeking feedback on a proposal for establishing 19 new areas to protect and restore the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui ā Toi. The result will be a network of "national parks", each protecting a small area, but all contributing to a more healthy, resilient and abundant Gulf. This may be our best opportunity to restore the Hauraki Gulf in a generation.

If you love the Hauraki Gulf, you must let the Government know before 28 October. Fill out the form on this webpage to send a submission supporting greater protection for the Gulf. Protect what you love!

https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/petitions/save-hauraki-gulf-speak-more-marine-protection?fbclid=IwAR1c0YOgrY_Ci9cMoqwlvKvA_5WecjbvgRr37aLpcG6c9OH6OGz-szLDNRc

The Hauraki Gulf is in a state of decline after decades of overfishing. Show your support for strong marine protection!

17/09/2022

How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature

Abstract

Since living in cities is associated with an increased risk for mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia, it is essential to understand how exposure to urban and natural environments affects mental health and the brain. It has been shown that the amygdala is more activated during a stress task in urban compared to rural dwellers. However, no study so far has examined the causal effects of natural and urban environments on stress-related brain mechanisms. To address this question, we conducted an intervention study to investigate changes in stress-related brain regions as an effect of a one-hour walk in an urban (busy street) vs. natural environment (forest). Brain activation was measured in 63 healthy participants, before and after the walk, using a fearful faces task and a social stress task. Our findings reveal that amygdala activation decreases after the walk in nature, whereas it remains stable after the walk in an urban environment. These results suggest that going for a walk in nature can have salutogenic effects on stress-related brain regions, and consequently, it may act as a preventive measure against mental strain and potentially disease. Given rapidly increasing urbanization, the present results may influence urban planning to create more accessible green areas and to adapt urban environments in a way that will be beneficial for citizens’ mental health.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01720-6

08/08/2022

If you look into regenerative farming in New Zealand, one interesting example that stands out. James Cameron, the movie director, who owns a large farm is using regenerative agriculture - hundreds of cows, in fact, to enrich the soil ready to plant in the future.

James Cameron was an executive producer on the documentary "Game Changers" which promoted plant-based eating for athletic performance.

The film director says Covid-19 has delayed plans to have the animals phased off the farm.

04/08/2022

And about clothing - modern fast fashion is a throw-away item, and so much of it is made from plastic that is not recycled. Most sports clothing is 100% plastic.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90763958/why-recycled-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle?

Most clothing is simply not designed to be recycled.

24/07/2022

Finding ways to deal with the imported waste in Nairobi. Landfills are spilling over with plastic from around the world.
One creative solution is this repurposing into fashion.
It's sad we don't have better ways to reduce the mountains of plastic produced in the world.

In Nairobi’s Warembo Wasanii—a program teaching women to create art from trash—upcycling was born to solve the problem of imported waste.

22/07/2022

Over the years as a group, humans' gut microbiome has decreased in diversity. Our current lifestyle, far from that in our evolutionary past plays a role. Cesarean sections, antibiotics, clean food devoid of any bacteria, lack of fibre and polyphenols as well as multiple medications all have an effect.
A clinical study carried out in the Sonnenburg lab found a combination of both fibre rich foods, and several servings a day of fermented foods increased microbiota diversity and decreased inflammatory markers.

Fermented foods may be valuable in countering the decreased microbiome diversity and increased inflammation pervasive in industrialized society.
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/07/fermented-food-diet-increases-microbiome-diversity-lowers-inflammation

17/07/2022

"Myopia is a global epidemic. It affects 2.5 billion people around the world. And if steps aren't taken, in 2050 that number will be 5 billion," warned Thierry Bour, MD, president of the French National Union of Ophthalmologists (SNOF). In France, the prevalence of myopia was 15% in 1950. These days, it's 40%. "In some parts of Asia, 90% of young adults are nearsighted."

Several factors influence the progression of myopia. There are environmental factors — from the ubiquity of screens and the lack of natural light to studying for long periods of time and engaging in near work. And these factors combine with genetic factors; a child is twice as likely to be nearsighted if he or she has one parent who is nearsighted and three to eight times more likely if both parents are nearsighted.

Furthermore, myopia brings with it an increased risk for glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. "We must act quickly to put the brakes on this epidemic. And we can do that by using things we already have: glasses, contact lenses, eye drops," Bour pointed out.

"In addition, we can promote prevention, in particular by encouraging people to increase their exposure to natural light."

"...the more time a child spends outdoors, the less likely they are to develop myopia.... time spent on near work should be limited, and at least 1 hour a day should be spent outdoors.

According to the survey, 3- to 6-year-olds spend 3½ hours per day in front of screens. For 11- to 13-year-olds, it's just a shade under 7 hours, and for 13- to 17-year-olds, it is 7½ hours.

"...preventive actions,...
.. prohibiting children from using screens, promoting outdoor activities, reducing the amount of time spent on near-vision work, and establishing early bedtimes."

The proportion of adults who are nearsighted may be as high as 60% by 2050, according to experts. Yet public awareness about risk factors and preventive measures is low.