Quirky Cooking Chats

"OCD doesn't control me anymore." - Isaac Whitton Food is medicine! Jo's son, Isaac, shares his story of healing with food - how the GAPS protocol helped to heal his gut and mind, calming anxiety and OCD symptoms and changing his life. This interview is from Jo's "Quirky Cooking Health Reset" online program - watch the video here. Do you need a 'health reset'? Learn to slow down, refocus on your health, calm the chaos, reset your gut health with delicious, nourishing recipes, organise your life to create space for healing, simplify your cooking and bring calm to your kitchen! Learn more about the "Quirky Cooking Health Reset" program here: https://quirkycooking.com.au/gut-health-programs/ Follow Isaac's business page here: https://www.instagram.com/wavelengthtech/ 

Are you curious about what really defines a "Blue Zone" and how their longevity secrets can fit into your fast-paced, modern life? Perhaps you've embraced the Mediterranean diet, believing it's the key to a longer, healthier existence. Or maybe you've decided a plant-based, low fat diet is the ultimate answer. If you're interested in longevity and well-being and enjoy uncovering the wisdom of traditional diets, this episode will challenge what you think you know. Dr. Damian Kristof and Marcus Pearce, fresh from their immersive retreat in Ikaria and Sardinia, share surprising revelations that flip the script on common assumptions about Blue Zones and the Mediterranean diet. Discover how Mediterranean cultures truly ate before industrialization and why these time-honored eating habits may be the missing piece in your quest for vibrant health. Join us for an eye-opening conversation that might just change how you think about healthy eating and living! Listen to Damo and Marcus's podcast, 100 Not Out, here: https://100notout.com/podcast/ Visit Jo's website here: https://quirkycooking.com.au/

Episode 42 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2): Biological Dentistry & Nutrition Diagnostics... and Detoxing from Metals, Amalgams and Root Canals. [Learn about my gut-healing retreat in the Italian Alps, June 2024] A year or so ago, I realised that two root canals I'd had done years ago were both infected. I knew they were affecting my health and needed to be removed. However, after one removal, a bone graft, and a bad experience in the dentist's chair which resulted in my face and right side of my body being paralysed for hours, I decided to fly 2000 kms to the nearest biological dentist for help... From June to October 2023, I worked with Eric Davis Dental and Nutrition Diagnostics in Brisbane and had a 'total dental revision'. My dental health and body chemistry were reviewed in great detail (blood tests, mouth swabs, urine tests, energetic testing and more) and the links between the whole mouth and the health of my overall system were examined and explained. It has been fascinating and I've learned so much! After months of working to detox metals (old amalgams, environmental toxins), reduce inflammation from the infection under the root canal-filled teeth, improve sleep and insulin resistance, and balance my overall body chemistry, I was able to have the surgeries needed and continued with the protocol to heal. In this podcast you will get to sit in on my last appointment with Nutritionist Owen Davis BHSc (NutMed) as he goes through the results of my 'before and after' blood tests. He explains for my listeners the how and why of the healing protocol I've been doing for the past months, talks about the mouth-body connection, and explains the importance of balancing body chemistry to detox and heal. Takeaways from this episode... Don't underestimate the importance of dentistry in respect to your immune system! Read "Disease Starts in the Mouth" It doesn’t matter what the disease or the symptom we’re working with, when the chemistry is out of balance, we’re susceptible to disease and the first thing that goes wrong is tooth decay and gum disease. When body chemistry is in balance, you have resistance to disease. A large part of balancing body chemistry and healing dental disease depends on diet. Read "Reverse Tooth Decay by Changing Your Diet" Animal protein and good fats are vital for dental health, for a healthy immune system, and to help the body to heal and detox. Read "Why a High Fat, High Protein Diet is Best for Your Teeth" A food-based, natural Vitamin C is also very important - read this article for details plus the recipe for Nutrition Diagnostic's Vit C Energy Drink Root canals are never a good idea. Read "Root Canal Treatment: The Hidden Dangers" Learn more here... Eric Davis Biological Dentistry and Nutrition Diagnostics Visit the Quirky Cooking website for gut-healing recipes, retreats and more!

Welcome to Episode 40 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2) Softening Your Approach to Healing - The Gut Health Formula Interview #3 Once more, Jo and Elyse interview a member of their online program, The Gut Health Formula, to share a beautiful and hope-filled story of healing. Jo and Elyse have been running their gut health program for the past five years and have seen the program impact positively on thousands of people's lives. Find out more about The Gut Health Formula here: https://quirkycooking.com.au/gut-health-programs-cooking-classes/ In this episode, Briony shares her story of learning to approach health and healing with a softer, gentler mindset. Adding in healing foods, reducing the stress load, and changing her focus from an 'all or nothing' approach to a 'step by step' approach made all the difference in her healing journey. Briony struggled with chronic diarrohea, digestive issues, exhaustion and confusion over which direction to turn. She felt embarrassed about her health struggles - as a natural health coach, she felt she should know what to do! Learning to lean into what her body was trying to teach her, letting go of the need to do everything perfectly, being kind to herself and enjoying a softer, gentler journey of healing has been life-changing for Briony. Listen in as Briony shares her story in this wonderfully inspiring interview. I f you need encouragement, guidance and support to heal and nourish yourself and your family, we invite you to join us for The Gut Health Formula - the 8 week program that made such a huge difference for Caitlin and thousands of others. THE GUT HEALTH FORMULA STARTS THIS WEEK. Find out more here: https://quirkycooking.com.au/gut-health-programs/ (We accept new members for the first week of the program as we believe in a soft start and allow members to work at their own pace.)

Welcome to Episode 38 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2): Healing JIA (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis). Over the next few weeks Jo will be joined by Elyse Comerford, Integrative Nutritionist, GAPS Practitioner, and owner of Well Belly Clinic, and they will be interviewing past members of their online program, The Gut Health Formula. Jo and Elyse have been running this program for the past five years, three or four times a year, and have seen the program impact positively on thousands of people's lives. They started to think they really should share some of the stories of the people who have worked through the program, because they know how powerful it can be to hear of someone else's healing experience. Hearing the story of someone who has healed health issues similar to yours can give you the hope and encouragement you need to begin changing your life. And Jo and Elyse are passionate about providing the practical 'how-tos' and support for those who are ready to make a change. Listen in as Jo and Elyse chat to Steph about her three-year-old daughter's story of healing from juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It's not the end of the story, but the beginning is already so beautiful and hopeful, it will bring tears to your eyes. If you know someone with an autoimmune disease, or autoimmune arthritis, we hope you will share this video with them and help them to find hope also. You can find out more about The Gut Health Formula 8 week program here: https://bit.ly/theguthealthformulaQC Visit Jo's Quirky Cooking website here: https://quirkycooking.com.au/ 

Welcome to Episode 36 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: Lucie McCullough (Interior Designer, Building Biologist) on GAPS, Mould Illness, Life in an Italian Village & Our Gut Health Retreat in the Italian Alps Join Jo for an inspiring conversation with Lucie McCullough - building biologist, interior designer and culinary medicine enthusiast. After a career in fashion that took her to Rome, Paris, Milan and London, with stints at Valentino, Ralph Lauren and Vogue, as well as a successful interior design business in Hong Kong, Lucie McCullough's personal health journey took her in an unexpected direction… Lucie shares her incredible story of healing from mould illness and infertility, and how that led to a passion for food as medicine, building healthy homes, and creating a school environment where children learn in nature with a focus on health and community connection. IN THIS PODCAST:  Mould illness, EMFS, neurological inflammation, infertility, anxiety, panic attacks, hormone issues, period pain… and healing with GAPS (Gut and Psychology/Physiology Syndrome protocol)  Lucie’s reaction to the wastefulness and the toxic building materials in the interior design world, and how it led her to study sustainable design and building biology  Why Lucie and her family moved from the USA to a small Italian village during the height of the COVID pandemic, where she co-founded the Waldorf-inspired ‘Village Forest School’  Renovating a 326 year old chalet in the Italian alps with totally natural materials (now luxury ski lodge, Baita 1697, where we will be holding our gut health retreat in June - see below!)  Life in a small village, and the importance of community and connection  The importance of food as medicine, teaching children to cook and eat well, and why nutrient-dense meals are served at Lucie’s school, cooked by chefs who follow the principles of Weston A. Price  The benefits of ‘learning by doing’ and about our gut health retreat at Lucie’s luxury chalet in the Italian alps Tune in to this episode to hear Lucie's inspiring story of natural healing and learn about her work at the Village Forest School and our upcoming gut health retreat! LUXURY HEALTH RETREAT IN THE ITALIAN ALPS: https://bit.ly/italyretreat23  Where: Lucie’s luxury chalet, Baita 1697, in Pragelato - a rustic village 1600 metres above sea level on the French-Italian border near Turin, on the edge of a beautiful national park  When: 31 May - 4 June, 2023  Food: a GAPS / Weston A. Price style menu - gut-healing meals using local, traditional, biodynamic foods including locally-made cheeses, wild boar, venison, seafood, a wide variety of seasonal produce, hazelnuts (which the area is famous for) and foraged, medicinal herbs. (Meals are adjusted to include specific dietary needs of attendees.)  Learning: daily cooking classes (GAPS/healing foods, cheese making, gluten-free sourdough, fermenting and traditional Italian dishes), ‘learning by doing’, and teaching about gut-healing topics by Jo, Lucie and Naomi Miller (naturopath, nutritionist, herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, healing diets and whole-food chef); ask your questions and get expert advice on cooking for gut health and healing naturally  Activities: foraging, walking, natural movement, cooking, exploring the local villages, visiting local producers/artisans, relaxing outdoors, fireside chats at night, hot tub on the roof under the stars, magnesium baths, relationship-building, community and connection  Included: transport to and from Milan or Turin, luxury accommodation, all meals from arrival to departure (catered to your specific needs), all workshops/classes and activities, personalised advice to help you begin implementing gut-healing diet and lifestyle changes that suit your unique family and situation, a ‘goodie bag’ with local gifts and a cookbook by Jo, resources to help you continue your health journey at home LINKS & RESOURCES: Gut-Health Retreat in Italy: https://bit.ly/italyretreat23 The Village Forest School: https://www.villageforestschool.com/values.php Visit Baita 1697: http://www.baita1697.com/ Lucie McCullough Interiors: https://www.luciemccullough.com/

Welcome to Episode 34 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: A Healthy Perspective on Fats and Cholesterol, with Dr Damian Kristof Dr Damian Kristof of Vida Lifestyles (chiropractor, naturopath and nutritionist) answers common questions about fats and cholesterol in this game-changing podcast! Listen in to understand more about the role of cholesterol in the body, why we need it, how it's made, and how we can help our bodies to create the GOOD cholesterol that feeds our brain, hormones, and every cell in our body. Should saturated fats be a part of a healthy diet? Do they cause high cholesterol and/or heart disease? What is the 'cholesterol myth' and how did it become so ingrained in our modern society? What DOES cause high cholesterol? How can we reduce our LDL and triglyceride levels? What traditional diets are 'heart healthy'? Is a vegetarian diet the answer? What fats and oils should we use and how? What's the link between high cholesterol and diabetes? What are the basic principles to keep in mind around the healthy consumption of fats? What's some examples of daily meals for a heart-healthy diet? Damian's Links: About Damian Kristof: http://vidalifestyles.com/about/dr-damian-kristof/ Damo and Marcus' Podcast, 100 Not Out: https://thewellnesscouch.com/shows/100-not-out Visit a 'blue zone' with Damo and Marcus! Ikaria Trip: https://100notout.com/ikaria/ Previous podcast with Damian, "The Philosophy of Health & Wellness": https://youtu.be/24G7ke-9aCo Jo's Links: Quirky Cooking website: https://quirkycooking.com.au/ The Gut Health Formula program: https://quirkycooking.com.au/gut-health-programs-cooking-classes/ Jo & Lucie's Luxury Health Retreat in the Italian Alps: https://quirkycooking.com.au/2023/01/luxury-health-retreat-in-the-italian-alps-2023/ Sign up to Jo's newsletter: https://quirkycooking.mykajabi.com/newsletter-sign-up 

Welcome to Episode 32 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: Healthy Habits for the New Year - Journaling [Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PFn1AuJhF1k] For the next few weeks Jo will be sharing “Healthy Habits” she's working on this year and her best tips to gradually build good habits into your everyday life. In this episode, Jo chats about easing into the new year gently, without stressing yourself out with huge expectations and unsustainable goals... just small steps towards good habits that will last a lifetime. JOURNALING: "A fresh, new year and a fresh, new journal - what a great feeling! But do you feel a bit hesitant to start writing in your lovely, blank notebook because you don't want to mess it up? It's kind of the same as the feeling of starting a new year… it's so new and unblemished and we don't want to ruin it. But hey, that’s life - messy and beautiful and never quite to plan - right? So let’s just embrace it and jump in! 😊" - Jo Whitton So, why journal? Journaling is a wonderful creativity boost and also works like a “brain dump”, helping to reduce stress as you get things off you mind and onto paper where you can set it aside until you’re ready to think about it further. Listen in and learn how journaling helps with mental health, motivation, creativity, organisation and more... and get some ideas for how to begin if you've never done it before. USEFUL RESOURCES: Creating Healthy Habits (video): https://youtu.be/GWSZdNPimOg Gut Health 101 - Elyse Comerford & Jo Whitton (video): https://youtu.be/pe2GV8IIWo0 The Gut Health Formula (8 week program with Elyse & Jo): https://www.wellbellyhealth.com.au/the-gut-health-formula NAC study (How supplementing with N-acetyl-cysteine can improve motivation: https://mindd.org/research/10-7554-elife-77791/?mc_cid=5f034f9bf4&mc_eid=009475d5fb Meat Stocks vs Bone Broths (video): https://youtu.be/bo4KLoiKTv4  FIND HEALTHY RECIPES AT: www.quirkycooking.com.au 

Welcome to Episode 30 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: Healthy Travel Food Ideas, with Nutritional Therapist Tori Collins Thinking of doing some travelling over the holidays? Wondering how you’ll manage to eat healthy meals while you’re on the road? In this podcast Jo chats with her young friend from the UK, Tori, who is backpacking in Australia for a few months. Tori is a nutritional therapist with a passion for good food (and good coffee!) and she shares her tips for eating well, on a budget, while travelling. Jo also shares her advice for healthy eating while travelling, gleaned from years of travelling around Australia and overseas for her health and cooking workshops. Jo and Tori understand the struggle for those travelling with special diet needs. They both eat mostly gluten free (apart from the occasional good quality sourdough!) and Jo has also travelled extensively (and eaten well!) while on the Intro GAPS diet (think no gluten, grains, dairy or starches) - without a kitchen to cook in! Both Jo and Tori have some great tips to help simplify your travel food and keep it healthy. Topics covered: backpacking: travelling light, must-haves for your 'food bag', filtered water bottles, food storage ideas cooking in hostel, hotel and BNB kitchens: what to use instead of the teflon pans, tips and tricks for cooking in communal kitchens, food storage, one-pot meals buying ingredients in small amounts for 1-2 meals so you don't waste food reducing plastic waste: reusable food wraps, snack bags, travel cups, containers and utensils to take with you tips for keeping blood sugar levels balanced while travelling to keep energy up and avoid snacking on junk food what to buy when you're in the middle of nowhere and can only find truck stops or a small store with few healthy options how to order when eating out with special dietary needs camping food: ideas for camping without refrigeration food to take on flights and coach trips keeping it simple and travel food on a budget spice it up: seasonings to take with you that will jazz up your meals! and so much more!! Give Tori a follow on her new nutrition page on Instagram, @toricollinsnutrition, and keep updated with her travel and food adventures as she explores Australia! Helpful Resources: Listen to a podcast from Jo's archives about travelling in Spain and her tips for travelling and eating out when gluten-free: https://youtu.be/Nr1aqE1RKWA Healthy, grain-free granola & breads that are perfect for the road: https://primalalternative.com/ A delicious nut milk base that doesn't need refrigeration, just whisk into water as needed: https://florafoods.love/pages/mlk The filtered water bottle Tori uses: https://www.aussieberkeyshop.com.au/sport-berkey-water-filter-bottle For recipe ideas for travel snacks, check out Jo's cookbooks here: https://quirkycooking.com.au/shop/brands/quirky-cooking/life-changing-food-simple-healing-food-quirky-cooking-cookbook-bundle/ Visit Jo's blog for hundreds of free recipes and tips: https://quirkycooking.com.au/ 

Welcome to Episode 28 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: Local Food, Coffee & The Bush Beef Project - Oliver James. {Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/26q3KZarJzs} Jo interviews Far North Queensland hospitality creative, Oliver James, about his experience in the Australian food and coffee scene and his involvement in the "Bush Beef" project with the indigenous owners of Normanby Station in Cape York. Oliver (Olly) James is a World Barista Competition Judge (and founder of the Tattooed Sailor Coffee Roasters) and is a keen supporter of local, indigenous produce and direct farm-sourced ingredients. Recently he was invited to help showcase the *Bush Beef from Normanby Station and help to get this uniquely flavoursome, sustainable meat out to the market. Jo and Olly discuss subjects ranging from the amazing variety of produce grown in Far North Queensland, locally-grown coffee and wild 'bush beef', to vanilla, seasonal cooking and how a trip to Ethiopia opened Olly's eyes to a wider definition of local food. Olly started making coffee at 9 years old in his Father’s NSW countryside, garden-to-plate restaurant. In 2009 he opened his first cafe, Caffiend in Cairns CBD. Since then, Olly has opened several cafe venues, and currently operates Caffiend, Guyala Cafe, Newell Street Cafe, Tattooed Sailor Coffee Roasters, Cairns Coffee School and his hospitality consulting business. You can find out more about Olly's work, his cafes and the Bush Beef project below:  Guyala cafe (https://www.guyalacafe.com.au/) and Caffiend cafe (https://www.caffiend.com.au/). Food inspired by indigenous ingredients and an international culinary influence. With a World Barista Competition Judge at the helm, the coffee is a focus at both cafes! Tattooed Sailor Coffee Roasters & Coffee School + Newell St Cafe (https://www.tattooedsailor.com.au/). Specialty coffee roasters sourcing delicious coffee from Far North Queensland and all over the world. Tattooed Sailor coffee is made from sustainable and ethical green beans wherever possible, keeping in mind the impact that purchasing decisions have on coffee growing communities. Bush Beef (https://www.normanbybushbeef.com/) originates from some of the cleanest and most remote paddocks in the world and is an ethical choice since herds aren’t confined; they live freely, roam freely and eat freely. This produces sustainable clean meat, free of preservatives, chemicals and hormones from any commercial process. (Jo will be sharing more about this project on the podcast soon!) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jo Whitton is the founder of Quirky Cooking (https://quirkycooking.com.au/) and the author of three best-selling cookbooks. She lives on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland, where she runs her online business, develops recipes that often feature local ingredients (including produce from her backyard garden) and teaches whole-food cooking classes (online, and throughout Australia and overseas). Her recipes reflect her passion for food that nourishes and heals, with plenty of flavour and fun!

Welcome to Episode 26 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: Arepas, Empanadas & GF Venezuelan Cooking, with Elena Rangel. {Watch this video on the Quirky Cooking YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/xvc2jsceVSI} Join Jo as she visits a small cafe in Yungaburra, Far North Queensland, to learn how to make arepas, empanadas and patacon maracucho (plantain sandwiches). Jo's friend Elena (owner of Coffee & Clay cafe) loves to share the dishes she learnt to make growing up in Venezuela and explains that traditional Venezuelan breads and baking are naturally gluten free, made from cassava, cornmeal and plantain. Watch and learn how to make these simple and delicious recipes, and if you need detailed instructions you can find similar recipes linked below. Visit Elena's "Coffee & Clay" cafe in Yungaburra, FNQ https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeAndClayYungaburra/ Recipes: Arepas: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-make-arepas/ (use olive oil rather than vegetable oil) Empanadas: https://www.thewhiteiguana.com/en/post/empanadas-good-and-crispy-venezuelan-fried-corn-pies Patacon Maracucho (Venezuelan Plantain Sandwich): https://cookgem.com/patacon-maracucho/ Annatto Oil (or Achiote oil - annatto seed is also known as ‘poor man’s saffron): https://www.food.com/recipe/annatto-oil-109238 Guasacaca (creamy avocado Sauce): https://www.seriouseats.com/guasacaca-recipe Pica de Gallo (fresh salsa): https://hispanicfoodnetwork.com/pico-de-gallo/ Visit Jo’s website: https://quirkycooking.com.au/ 

Welcome to Episode 24 of Quirky Cooking Chats (Season 2), with Jo Whitton: "Building a Business with Heart" - Helen Marshall of Primal Alternative    Helen Marshall is the brains (and heart!) behind the successful grain-free baking business, Primal Alternative. Jo and H have been 'business besties' for years and love to chat about all things business, food, health, working from home, family, gardening and life in general, and in this episode they let us in on one of their chats.  Listen in as Jo and H talk about:   H's story of transitioning to a healthier work-life balance  time management when working from home   an important lesson H learnt through her work (which everyone needs to know!)  her favourite productivity hack   three podcasts she loves on the subjects of business, health and life   Jo’s trainee, Bea, joins in with a few questions of her own about the Primal Alternative baking business, such as:  what’s a ‘Primalista’ and what do they do?  what does a usual baking day look like for a Primalista?  what products do Primalistas make and how many hours a week do they need to work to make a good profit?  what kind of training and support do they get when they buy a Primal Alternative licence?    There’s lots more info and fun topics covered in this podcast - if you have an interest in home-based businesses and doing what you love, listen in!  You can find out more about Primal Alternative and starting your own healthy baking business at home by downloading an Info Pack here https://primalalternative.com/info-pack   Or visit the Primal Alternative website here: https://primalalternative.com/