Category: lifestyle

Veganism – what exactly does this term mean? According to www.vrg.org a vegan is: “A vegetarian who does not eat meat, fish, or poultry. In addition to being vegetarian, a vegan does not use other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products”. For many, this is a choice based on environmental benefits, ethical reasons or simply personal preferences. With so many nutritional benefits found in animal based products though, could a vegan diet deprive you of the key vitamins the body needs?

Ever heard the term “Survival of the fittest”? According to Susie: “This can take on a whole new meaning once the temperature drops, and the number of people suffering from bugs and flu increases!” So why do some people get sick, while others don’t? Susie’s advice: “A common mistake people make with their diets (that results in a poorly functioning immune system) is eating very well some of the time, while letting it go at other times. It is during these periods that you’re not eating the range of foods needed to give the body the key nutrients it needs to repair and regenerate damaged cells.” In this post, Susie explains the important role our immune system plays, and

Are you familiar with Myofascial Release? According to, Brian: “This is a technique used by Massage Therapists, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists which can bring immediate and considerable benefits to individuals suffering from skeletal muscle immobility and pain. It is a simple, do-it-yourself approach, which I would like to share with members and followers of HIF! In this post for our Healthy Lifestyle Blog, Brian teaches us how to perform this treatment (which can be used on all parts of the body) and explains why it is safe, gentle and effective for all ages and levels of physical fitness.

Do you know what an “All-on-4” procedure is? According to our resident dental expert Dr Emma: “This is a technique of placing four implants in both the upper and lower jaw which have no remaining teeth, to then fit prosthetic teeth in the form of a bridge or denture. It’s a procedure which requires a general anesthetic or sedation, plus regular check-up’s, so it’s not surprising that some people have concerns.” In her latest post for our Healthy Lifestyle Blog, Dr Emma offers her advice to a reader and advises him of the key points to consider.

This week Susie combines two Portuguese favorites, Kale and Sausage, and creates a simple, yet delicious casserole. This dish is the perfect option for a warm, wholesome evening meal!

“The diet starts Monday!” – sound familiar? According to Susie: “The start of another week inevitably sees many of us commit to a series of health and fitness promises to become leaner, fitter and healthier. Regrettably, due to factors such as peer pressure, a change in personal circumstances or a lack of willpower, we’re unlikely to sustain these goals!” Susie’s advice – “Why not consider incorporating some simple yet powerful dietary changes into your day to day lifestyle which will offer numerous benefits for your weight, health and well-being? In this post, Susie discusses her top 10 nutritional swaps in detail and offers her personal advice on how to achieve your long term goals.

Is your sporting injury progressing slower than you’d like? Last week, HIF Fitness guru, Brian Killian explained why ‘Fascia’ could be the source of your injury, and also detailed the causes of FASCIA dysfunction. Since then, we’ve received lots of great questions from members, including this one from Taryn in WA who is concerned about her recovery: “Hi Brian, I have been having treatment for a 12mm tear in my Fascia with my local podiatrist. My treatment after 3 weeks is not improving as swiftly as I’d hoped and my podiatrist is now recommending a cortisone injection. I'm not too keen on this idea, do you have any suggestions on this matter? I'm a keen tennis player and wanting to get

This recipe is from Russell Blaikie’s recently released cookbook Must Eat. Blaikie is the chef extraordinaire behind Must wine bar in Perth.

Do you have an recurrent sporting injury? Have you been to the doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, anyone who may hold the answer to that nagging injury but you still can’t shake it? If you think it’s simply old age, or maybe you’re just not made to exercise you could be wrong. In fact, according to HIF fitness expert Brian Killian: “The answer may be literally just under your skin and nobody has addressed it.” In this post, Brian defines the term ‘Fascia’, explains why this may be the cause of your injury, and more importantly details the causes of FASCIA dysfunction.

Tooth extraction – is it always necessary? According to Dr Emma: “Extractions used to be the cornerstone of dentistry. My nanna tells the story of being a child in the 1920s, given a coin to take herself down to the dentist to have an aching tooth pulled out, then walking herself home again. For lots of people today, it seems the obvious choice when a tooth is painful, and particularly when money is tight. Although, completely removing a tooth or teeth is not always the best option”. In this post, Dr Emma discusses the risks and benefits associated with tooth extraction and also explains the mental checklist she runs through before deciding to "pull it out…"

How many times a day do you think about food? 5, 10, 20, 50?!? If it’s the latter, you may consider yourself to be slightly obsessive but it’s ok, we all focus on food more than we should sometimes. According to Susie: “There are many common types of disordered eating, namely the restrictive eater, the emotional eater, the serial eater, the serial dieter, the night binger and the health enthusiast. However, unlike eating disorders, disordered eating is not a clinical condition and can often be managed with a few basic behavioural strategies.” In this post, Susie describes the different types of “disordered eaters” in detail and explains how each behaviour can be managed with a few basic behavioural strategies.