Nourish - Lauren Stokes

05/09/2025

Found this website with great recipes!

Create your own kitchen essentials with our homemade staples. From nut butter and sauces to healthy bread and wraps, these recipes will help you stock your pantry with healthy, homemade options.

03/09/2025

The G.E.M.M. protocol uses dietary changes and supplemental sulforaphane (to begin with), which triggers genes within each cell to fire up their natural healing mechanisms.

This results in each cell functioning better, healing quicker and becoming more resistant from damage (like infection, toxins, stress etc).

Upregulating cellular health is the key to improving the function of all organs - beginning with the gut.

02/09/2025

As I prepare to advertise Term 4 Yoga, thought it would be good to share snippets from current students/yoga practitioners about what Yoga does for them. If Yoga has touched you in some way, please could you write a few short words that I could share?

Eg: Yoga for me is my escape, my exercise, my downtime and my spirituality. It leaves me feeling strong, relaxed and calm, more able to take on the challenges of the day.

What is Yoga for you?

Will be annonymous

01/09/2025

Yoga Nidra = Yogic Sleep.

The ultimate meditation, the ultimate relaxation and recharge.

Join Sal on the Full Day Yoga Immersion to experience an incredible sense of calm. She will set us up and guide us into the best meditation you will ever do..

Yoga Nidra is special :-)

Details:
Sunday October 19th 10-4
Methven Memorial Centre
$85

For more info: lauren@nourishnaturalhealthcare.co.nz
Or see event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19LyTumT1A/

01/09/2025

We have 5 places available for this event, for more info see:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1SgQ7c9b6A/

30/08/2025

Traditional Yoga practices incorporate some fascinating philosophies called the Yamas and Niyamas.

These philosophies and principles which promote health, harmony, inner discipline, personal growth and contentment.

Some examples:

Tapas: Motivation, discipline, inner drive towards what we know is good for us and away from what is not

Svadyaya: Self study. Practicing awareness of our own thoughts and actions, and our motivations.

Santosha: Contentment through acceptance.

During the Full Day Yoga Immersion we will sit together and discuss these ideas - see how they fit for you!

Details:
Sunday October 19th 10-4
Methven Memorial Centre
$85

For more info: lauren@nourishnaturalhealthcare.co.nz
Or see event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19LyTumT1A/

29/08/2025

Just completed a course which has me very excited. Dr Christine Houghton is a PhD Nutritional Biochemist and Naturopath who has been studying cellular biology, and has made some amazing discoveries in relation to how gut health affects overall health. This training has taught me a protocol which has the potential to permanently treat gut issues, immune and skin issues, and all metabolic concerns like diabetes, cardiac disease and more.

Essentially through diet and gradual supplementation of nutrients which upregulate genes responsible for healing, we heal the gut, balance the microbiome and therefore balance the immune system which involves managing inflammation which is responsible for most health concerns.

This is exciting, I'll try it on myself first and let you know how it goes!

28/08/2025

Pranayama is the sanskrit word for breathing practices (not literal translation, the breathe is the tool to create pranayama)

The way we breathe effects every system of the body. It is the quickest and most profound way to:

- Calm stress and mood swings
- Aid sleep
- Relieve anxiety
- Strengthen lung capacity
- Quiten a busy mind
- Find self connection and put things in perspective

Join me on the Full Day Yoga Immersion to enjoy a journey into breathing. We will go through several practices some common, some not to common. Some you will enjoy, some you may not - but you will leave with at least one that you love, and can bring into daily life.

These breathing practices are amazing - the effect on the mind and body is immediately felt. Something everyone needs to experience!

Details:
Sunday October 19th 10-4
Methven Memorial Centre
$85

For more info: lauren@nourishnaturalhealthcare.co.nz
Or see event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19LyTumT1A/

27/08/2025

Although the retreat is sold out, cancellations are common, so if you would like to join us in November for a weekend of awesomeness, jump on the waitlist!

26/08/2025

Love this part of our physiology...

When we eat the energy is broken down in a glucose molecule, which needs to enter each cell to produce energy. The glucose can't get in on its own though, it needs a key called insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas. The insulin unlocks the cell and allows the glucose to enter and make energy. Amazing!

But... if we eat a diet regularly high in sugar and refined carbs, our blood sugar levels will remain high, requiring more insulin to be produced and constantly bombard the cells to enter. The cells get sick of this and can become 'insulin resistant' - basically telling the glucose/insulin team to bu**er off.

So they do - they carry on circulating in the bloodstream, which over time causes damage and health issues like diabetes.

We can decrease blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity by:

- Eating low sugar and carb diet - go the meat and veg! Generally avoiding processed foods and drinks.
- Aim for 3 meals a day rather than 6 - reducing the number of times glucose/insulin head to the cells for entry
- Include foods which are great for blood sugar regulation such as cinnamon, garlic, and flaxseed. Fibre in general (veg, nuts, seeds, wholegrains) slows down blood sugar absorption.

There are also some well proven herbs which are scientifically proven to be just as effective as antidiabetic medication such as gymnema.

Interesting ay!