Fragrant Fennel & Recipes
Walk through many home gardens across the Eastern Bay and you’ll spot silverbeet (chard ), lettuce, broccoli and maybe rhubarb. But fennel? That still feels a little exotic to many New Zealanders. Why is that? Partly because fennel has long been associated with...
A Healthy Gut
“All disease starts in the gut”, this is a refrain that has stayed with me since my training over a decade ago. What does it really mean? We often take the body for granted, especially when we’re young. We push through, late nights followed by early starts, playing...
The Good Dirt on Figs + Recipes
By Paula Sharp, Nutritional Therapist There’s something quietly luxurious about a ripe fig. Split one open and you’ll find a jewel-like centre, soft, fragrant, and naturally sweet. Figs are far more than a seasonal treat, they have a long history, impressive...
It’s All About Persimmons + Recipes
By Paula Sharp, Nutritional Therapist There’s something quietly luxurious about biting into a perfectly ripe persimmon. Sweet, smooth, and almost honeyed in flavour, it’s a fruit I’ve loved since I was a little girl. When we moved home from the UK, my children took...
The Calming Power of Lavender: 7 Evidence Based Ways to Use This Timeless Remedy
Lavender has been used for over 2,500 years—and now modern research is catching up.
From calming the nervous system and improving sleep to easing pain and supporting hormonal balance, this simple oil can be a powerful addition to your daily routine, when used correctly and sourced well. In this article, I break down 7 evidence-based benefits of lavender, how to use it safely, and why quality matters more than most people realize. If you’re looking for gentle, natural ways to support your body, this is a beautiful place to start.
Accepting Your Current Season (Even If You Don’t Like It)
By Paula Sharp, Nutritional Therapist & Mindset Coach Some seasons of life feel expansive. Your energy is good, your habits flow, and things seem to click into place. And then there are the other seasons. The slower ones. The uncertain ones. The ones where nothing...
Tomatoes: Summer Nutrition & Recipes
Juicy, vibrant and bursting with goodness, tomatoes are a true summer staple across Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki. Whether picked from your own garden, bought from a roadside stall or added to a shared family meal, tomatoes are one of those foods that quietly support health...
Colour Therapy & Nutrition: The Surprising Science Behind Eating (and Seeing) the Rainbow
We’ve all heard “eat the rainbow.” But here’s what most people don’t realize: the colours around you — the light in your home, your clothing, your environment — directly affect your brain, hormones, energy, and emotional health.
Broccoli: a winter hero
As the cold settles into our gardens and kitchens, one green vegetable continues to thrive: broccoli. Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp introduces this winter hero, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits. Published by OrganicNZ here. This pretty...
Raising Adventurous Eaters: Helping Toddler’s Enjoy Healthy Foods
Do mealtimes with your toddler feel like a battle? If you’re searching for “toddler fussy eating help” or wondering how to get your child to eat vegetables, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk gentleness, strategies, and success. Why Are Toddlers So Fussy—and What’s...
Love Leeks! A champion winter vegetable
Love Leeks!
A champion winter vegetable
Nutritional therapist, Paula Sharp loves leeks. Here she introduces this often-unsung hero, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.
Sleep: The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had
If you’re looking to transform your health, there’s one simple, often overlooked habit that can make a huge difference – sleep. However, in our 'always-on' culture, it’s often the first thing we sacrifice. Dr. Matthew Walker, one of the world’s leading sleep...
Cooking with oil. Which one is good for you?
Trans or saturated, polyunsaturated, or monounsaturated? What’s the difference between cold-pressed and virgin, light and refined? Paula Sharp smooths out the choices of what is best for our bodies in terms of fats and oils.
How’s your gut?
Does disease start in the gut?
Kev Dowman – The Soil Improver who wants to solve the problem
OrganicNZ Magazine - July/August 2023 Biochar: The soil improver that could solve the problem. Kev Dowman tells Paula Sharp why we should be producing biochar on a commercial scale. He says it is an investment for our future, specifically, the future of New Zealand’s...
Hydration is KEY
Our bodies are made up of 70% fluid. The list of what these fluids are is extensive and ranges from blood and lymph to gastric juices, mucus, salvia and ear wax right through to menstrual blood, breast milk, sweat and tears. In order to keep these fluids flowing,...
What is Collagen & why is it useful?
In a nutshell, what is collagen & why is it useful? There is so much more to it than skin elasticity & a youthful appearance.
When did the self love wane?
Like every relationship, self love does change & alter, dare I say it ... wane. Other things take precedence; careers, partners, children, parents, home & homemaking, our health, others health & our place in society. Often self love changes to self...