The best healing and wellness support system we have is Nature. Yes, Mother Nature! 

Here is the latest edition of 1 thing I’m doing, 2 things I’ve learnt and 3 things to explore lovingly created so you can live a happier, healthier and longer life. Much love, Sandy xx

1 THING I’M DOING

Water is Life: Why You Shouldn’t Drink Unfiltered Tap Water

Filtering my tap water isn’t just a passing habit or a trendy wellness fad for me; it’s something I’ve been faithfully doing for over 15 years. The quality of what we eat and drink directly impacts our overall health and wellbeing, so ensuring my drinking water is as pure and clean as possible is a non-negotiable in our house.

We’ve been told repeatedly, “Australia has the best tasting water in the world”, “Australia has the safest water in the world” and sure, the quality of our tap water is undoubtedly better than many parts of the world. But, that doesn’t mean it is completely safe or healthy just because we’ve been told it’s so.

Tap water might seem harmless, and just because we can’t see the concoction of contaminants for our self, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Our tap water contains everything from chlorine and heavy metals to microscopic pollutants and pharmaceutical drugs. It’s not as pure as it may look or we have been led to believe.

By filtering my tap water, I am reducing my risk and my family’s risk of exposure to these poisons and contaminants. I can ensure that every sip we take is health promoting, rather than health destroying.

Water is life. It is a fundamental pillar of great health and foundational to our daily wellness practice. Water is the most important substance we will put into our body, besides oxygen. 75% of your body is comprised of water. Your brain is 92% water and water is found in every single cell, bone, muscle, organ, joint, tendon in your body.

Water holds memory, it holds our intention, our dreams our hopes. Water makes up 99% of our cerebral spinal fluid, the watery liquid that circulates around the surface of our brain and spinal cord and through our brain’s hollow cavities. This fluid washes out the impurities from your brain. It transfers nutrients and provides protective cushioning to your brain and spinal cord. Water is not something we should just gulp from the tap mindlessly. It is more sacred than that and your body will thank you for the pure water you nourish it with.

Filtering our tap water is something everyone can do. I appreciate it takes some investment but we are talking about ensuring that something essential to human life is as safe and as pure as can be. We need to prioritise what goes into our body and just like we wouldn’t water our garden with polluted water, we definitely shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best for our own bodies or those of our loved ones.

✔️ Action Item – Make a huge positive change in your life and filter your tap water. It’s an action with profound benefits that you won’t regret.

 

2 THINGS I’VE LEARNT

The Hidden Nasties & Chemicals In Your Tap Water

Did you catch the Channel 9 News story about PFAS contamination in our tap water called “Calls for action after cancer-causing chemicals found in Australia’s drinking water”?

As you know, I don’t usually watch mainstream media, but a friend shared this story with me, and I was genuinely surprised. Not about the information. But that Channel 9 would cover something like this. Naturally, the Health Minister assures us that our drinking water is safe—the government would never admit otherwise. However, they referenced studies from a 2011 report. That’s hardly what I’d call up-to-date.

Now comes a little tough love: the government isn’t going to save you from the toxins in our food, water, and environment. You cannot rely on them because they do not have your back or your best interests at heart. It’s up to you to take charge of your own health. We all need to become more aware and educated and I’m here to help you on this journey.

What are PFAS and Forever Chemicals?

PFAS, also referred to as PFOS and PFOA, stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are synthetic compounds used in various industrial applications and consumer products. Namely used for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, you can find them in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, paint, personal care products and firefighting foams.

Sadly, PFAS have also been detected in our water supplies – all around Australia. To make matters worse, the nature of PFAS is that it is bioaccumulative. This means you can’t actually get rid of it and over time it just builds up in your cells and organs causing damage and illness. There have been a number of health risks associated with PFAS, even at low exposure levels, so much so that it is now believed there is no safe minimum exposure level.

Potential Health Implications of PFAS Contamination.

There are a number of studies that show PFAS associated with a number of health risks including:

  • Cancer – Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers
  • Immune System – Impaired immune response, reducing the body’s ability to fight infections
  • Hormonal Disruption – Interference with natural hormone levels, impacting growth and reproductive health
  • Liver Damage and Thyroid Disease – Elevated levels of liver enzymes indicating liver stress or damage and thyroid disease
  • Developmental Issues – Adverse effects on foetal development during pregnancy

What Other Contaminants are Found in Unfiltered Tap Water

In addition to the nasty PFAS forever chemicals found in our tap water, other contaminants you’ll readily find in your unfiltered glass of tap water include:

  • Chlorine, Copper, Cadmium, Mercury
  • Lead, Zinc, Iron, Arsenic, Aluminium
  • Fluoride
  • Chemicals – from pesticides, weed killers, commercial & domestic waste
  • Nitrates – from fertilizers & or sewage contamination
  • Trihalomethanes – responsible for around 10% of rectal & bladder cancers according to The American Journal of Public Health
  • Chloroforms
  • Bacteria, E.coli, microorganisms
  • Pharmaceutical drugs

By addressing the presence of PFAS and other contaminants in tap your water, you’re taking a massive proactive step toward a healthier you and life. I’ve got some great water filter brands for you to check out so keep on reading.

✔️ Action Item – If you haven’t already invested in a water filter for your home, there wouldn’t be a better time than right now.

 

Are You At Risk of PFAS Contamination?

Whilst we’re all at risk of PFAS contamination in our drinking water, some areas are at higher risk than others. Want to know if you live in a PFAS hot spot and one of those areas?

Here is an Australian PFAS Chemical Map. Aimed at helping Aussies stay informed about the location of PFAS in our environment, you can easily zoom in to your suburb to see if there are any high-risk hot spots in your suburb.

PFAS chemicals, been also been called “the next asbestos”. Sadly, due to corporate greed and government negligence, they are ubiquitous in our environment and there is no going back now.

What we can do is raise our awareness, educate ourselves and try to reduce our exposure to these toxins through filtration. Filtering your tap water is your solution with the filters I recommend below filtering 99.9% of PFAS from your water.

✔️ Action Item: Check out the Australian PFAS Chemicals Map to see if you are living in a PFAS hot spot. Whether you do or not, I always recommend filtering your tap water, not just because of PFAS but because of all the contaminants found in our drinking tap water.

 

3 THINGS TO EXPLORE

The Best Water Filters & Water Filter Brands in Australia

If you don’t have a water filter and you’re ready to take one of the most important steps you can when it comes to the health of you and your family, here are two great brands that I’d love for you to explore.

Our Trusted Choice: The Zazen Water Filter

In our home, the Zazen water filter is a staple and one of the most used items every single day! This reliable baby ensures that every drop of water we drink is pure and refreshing. I’ve been using Zazen for over 15 years—back when it was known as Nikken—and it has never let me down. The water always tastes like clean, fresh spring water.

The Zazen filter system is remarkable. It creates alkaline mineral water naturally and utilises a 10-step filtration process. It’s BPA-free, gets rid of most fluoride and is super easy to clean and maintain. And when it comes to those troublesome PFAS (PFOS & PFOA) chemicals, the Zazen Alkaline Water System meets Global NSF 53 standards with a 99.9% removal rate.

Zazen is one of those beautiful brands you admire for their commitment to quality. The company is incredibly meticulous, investing heavily in research, testing, and data to create a water filter of the highest possible standard. With over 700 five-star reviews and more than 4,100 natural health practitioners across Australia using Zazen, you can’t go wrong with this choice.

Waters Co Water Filters – Australia’s Most Trusted Water Filter

Another great Aussie water filter brand Waters Co. They offer an impressive range of water filters for your home, including Benchtop Filters, Water Jugs, Portable Water Filters, Shower Filters, and more. With over 40 years of experience in Australia, they’ve amassed a tonne of awards for quality and have achieved the highest level of endorsements from various associations. In fact, they even won the APAC Insider Australian Business Award for Most Trusted Water Filter in 2023!

I started with Nikken, which became Zazen, and I’ve never felt the need to switch. But looking at Waters Co and knowing the company as well as I do, you’re in safe hands with either brand. The key takeaway? Just pick one and start filtering your water. Yes, it is an investment, but what price do you put on your health? Trust me, you won’t look back.

Just a heads-up—in regards to reverse osmosis, I’ve recently been reading that it might not be the healthiest option for our water. Water is a complex, living element, and reverse osmosis is a harsh process that changes its structure. I’ll dive deeper into this topic another time, but for now, know that filtering your tap water is a huge step forward.

Take control of your health today by choosing the right water filter for your needs. You’ll be glad you did.

✔️ Action Item – Great news!! As a Waters Co partner, I’d love to share some EOFY specials with you. You can check them out here but don’t wait. Your health isn’t worth risking and the EOFY is only one week away!

Fresh, clean, uncontaminated water should be a fundamental right in every household in Australia. If our Government isn’t going to ensure this for you, you have to.

 

Revealed: How To Poison A Planet

In April this year, Stan released the documentary Revealed: How To Poison A Planet. Featuring award winning actor Mark Ruffalo (who I don’t mind at all) and in collaboration with Walkley Award winning journalist Carrie Fellner and The Sydney Morning Herald, it spans from the US, all the way to a small Aboriginal community in Australia.

Showcasing a real-life David and Goliath battle, the documentary exposes the shocking contamination of toxic chemicals from a seamlessly harmless firefighting foam, the cancers these have caused and the fight for justice. It uncovers the disgusting unethical behaviour of corporate companies like 3M and reinforces how important it is for us to become the CEO of our own health. Sadly, Governments and Corporate companies are not going to protect our health.

✔️ Action Item – Snuggle up inside and watch the Stan documentary Revealed: How To Poison A Planet. Just remember, if you are watching TV after sunset, don’t forget to put your circadian friendly blue light blocking glasses on.

 

Awareness

“Awareness is key. In the absence of information, none of us know what is happening and what could be jeopardising our health”. – Erin Brockovich

However once we do know, we have an obligation to act. Once we know better, we should do better and if you’re like me, you can’t un-see what you see.