Enova Energy Signs Up First Customers
POWER TO THE PEOPLE: The Enova team ready for roll out. Photo contributed
BYRON Shire based Enova Energy began rolling out energy plans to shareholders and early supporters this week, signing up its first customers.
As part of the initial roll-out, Enova announced a unique energy plan to establish a renewable energy initiative to support communities who want to build their own renewable energy generation.
Shining a Light on Cycling Safety
SEE AND BE SEEN: Dr Peter Roger giving away 30 sets of bike lights. Photo Christian Morrow
Cyclists often have no headlights or tail lights, no helmets and from time to time they can be seen texting as they pedal.
For one local doctor and keen cyclist, Dr Peter Roger, safety is paramount.
Is Eating ‘Activated Charcoal’ Safe?
This food fad could be putting your health in danger, warns nutritionist Fiona Tuck.
PHOTO: Getty/Stock.
With growing consumer interest in healthy eating, we are seeing a concerning increase of non-qualified health advice on social media. ‘Extremism’ in so called healthy eating is leading to diet fads and nutritional deficiencies as we see more and more people cut out complete food groups such as dairy, wholegrains, legumes and even fruit. The replacement of these food groups can lead to an overdose of the same food such as nuts and coconuts. We are all literally going nuts for nuts with nut milks, nut butters, nut cheeses, nut flours and nut creams. This can lead to nutrient imbalances and food sensitivities.
Before you jump on the latest health craze bandwagon be sure to do your own research and be mindful of some of the latest craziest health fads out there.
One such fad is ‘activated charcoal’
Activated charcoal is a form of charcoal that is used in medicine. It is regular charcoal that has been treated with gas to create to multiple tiny internal spaces within the charcoal. These tiny spaces within the activated charcoal “trap” toxins and chemicals almost like a sponge.
Activated charcoal is used in medicine primarily to treat poisonings such as alcohol poisoning but is also used in water filters to purify water, and in tablet or powder form to help reduce flatulence, and alleviate symptoms of traveller’s tummy bugs and dysentery.
Because activated charcoal is so good at trapping chemicals it does this with the majority of substances it comes into contact with not just poisons. This means that the current detox trend of adding activated charcoal to juices, smoothies or food negates the nutrient content of the food. Adding activated charcoal to healthy food and juice drinks is therefore completely pointless. A study on the *“Effect of Activated Charcoal on Water- Soluble Vitamin Content of Apple Juice” in the Journal of Food Quality found that apple juice with charcoal added resulted in considerable reduction in vitamins C, B6, B1 and niacin than the untreated control sample.
Activated charcoal can also bind to medications decreasing their effectiveness and can lower nutrient absorption, a particular risk for those with anaemia, underactive thyroid conditions, malabsorption gut issues such as IBS and Crohn’s disease and pregnancy. There are even side effects involved with taking activated charcoal such as diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation.
Whilst activated charcoal certainly has a beneficial role in professional medicine, taking it regularly to detoxify the body by adding it to juices and foods is misleading. There is simply no demonstrable evidence available to support the notation that a regular dietary intake of activated charcoal is beneficial or helpful in any way. Charcoal’s effects are limited to the gastrointestinal tract; it is not capable of extracting toxins from the rest of your body however its effectiveness in extracting money from your wallet, well that’s yet to be determined…
Zucchini, Parsnip and Celeriac Pasta with Broccoli Sauce
A simple way to score your five-a-day
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchinis, shredded
- 3 medium parsnips, peeled and shredded
- 1 small celeriac (celery root), peeled and shredded
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- finely grated parmesan and small basil leaves to serve
Byron Central Chemo Unit “Really Lovely”
Ann Kerrigan, one of the first patients receiving oncology treatment at the new Byron Central Hospital. Deb Challis photo.
Bay local, Ann Kerrigan is one of the first patients to be treated in the Byron Central Hospital’s Chemotherapy unit.
Ann receiving treatment in her own private cubicle at the new BCH. Deb Challis photo.
Ann used to travel to the Tweed Hospital Oncology Ward every week for treatment, a 140 kilometre round trip, 50 minutes each way.
“The set up is really lovely, and being able to duck out to our new hospital is so much more convenient,” said Ann.
“It saves us so much time and petrol.”
Ann’s daughter Deb Challis also said the view out the window at the new hospital is much improved over the brick wall at Tweed.
“The view out the window is absolutely beautiful at BCH,” she said.
“And each patient has their own private cubicle for treatment.”
Ann still has six months of further treatment and we wish Ann all the very best for a speedy recovery.
Mono Makes 7 Inspirational Surfers List
Our very own Byron Bay surfing World Champion, Mark “Mono” Stewart has been featured in Grind TV’s prestigious list of 7 of the most inspirational surfers on the planet.
“I’ve been waiting 35 years for this event and finally … wooh!” That was Mono’s comment after winning a gold medal in the ISA World Adaptive Games last September.
Greens Will Grill Candidates to Weed Out “Sus” Candidates
Cr Rose Wanchap during heated debate at last Thursday’s Byron Shire Council meeting. Photo Eve Jeffery
A prominent Byron Greens member has broken the party’s silence over the selection, election and subsequent defection of prominent real estate agent Rose Wanchap on Byron Shire Council.
Tom Tabart, a former Byron shire councillor and Byron Greens convenor, has written to Echonetdaily to finally apologise and hopefully put to bed the sorry saga that has plagued the party and the council for four years, resulting in a massive lurch to the right against voters’ intentions.
Bangalow Weir Repairs to Finally Go Ahead
Artist’s impression of the remodelled Bangalow Weir.
Since January 2012, the town of Bangalow has been steadfastly standing by its failing weir.
That community spirit has finally paid off, with the announcement by Byron Shire Council this week that the remediation works are finally set to start thanks to $100,000 funding support from the state government’s NSW Environmental Trust
Byron Shire Council will also provide an additional $50,000 towards the works.
Australian Marble Championships in Brunswick this Weekend
ARE you a mibster? Then get your cat’s eyes ready, flex your fingers, and get yourself to Brunswick Heads for the Australian Marble Championship on Sunday.
The marble competition is held annually in conjunction with the Old and Gold Festival, but due to the overwhelming popularity of the event, has been moved to the next day, June 12.
Still time to sign for BK classic
SUITING UP: Byron Bay Boardriders trying on their new Rails/Trip-a-deal rashies. Contributed.
PICTURED above suiting up are Danny Wills, Jed Fasso, Kirsty Zoric, Leihani Zoric all trying out the new Ben King Memorial Rails/Trip-a-deal competition rashies.
Danny has entered the Open Division and will be one of the favourite after taking out the NSW State title last weekend.
