Dr Joe Unplugged

Dr Joe Unplugged is your home for open commentary on health, wellbeing and life in the broadest sense. We will explore diet, exercise, sleep and stress amongst other health matters as well as issues that may impact you and your wellbeing in direct or indirect ways....

It’s Christmas!

If Christmas did not exist it would need to be invented. Perfectly timed at the end of the year, it allows for many people worldwide to celebrate in some way, shape or form. This may be the formal religious celebration or simply a catch up with friends and family....

We Need Our Sleep

Human beings spend more time being asleep than anything else. It is estimated that at the turn of the twentieth century the average American slept nine hours each night. By the turn of the twenty first century this figure has dropped to under eight hours. Lack of...
Being Sorry Rather Than Safe

Being Sorry Rather Than Safe

It is winter in the southern hemisphere and with this comes the usual winter illnesses. The vast majority of these are caused by viruses and do not need antibiotics. Yet it seems that many people still want antibiotics for cold and flu like illnesses and many doctors...

Potato Salad

Potato Salad

You need: 4 white potatoes, steamed and diced medium 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 avocados, diced 5 ounces of mixed greens 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and wedged 2 tablespoons dulse flakes (optional) Lemon Garlic Dressing - recipe below To prepare: 1. Heat...

Learning To Let Go And To Forgive

Learning To Let Go And To Forgive

Is there someone who has wronged you in the past and whom you have not forgiven? Would you like to stop holding grudges and holding onto past events? Holding onto lack of forgiveness keeps you dwelling on the past and if your focus is on the past, you stay in the past...

It Is Our Responsibility!

It Is Our Responsibility!

Once upon a time personal responsibility was seen as important. Society felt the role of the individual was to live their lives as best they could. Hardship, at times, was accepted as a part of that life. Heroes were those who persevered through  finding ways to deal...

Surgery – The Ultimate Placebo

Surgery – The Ultimate Placebo

This will be a test of how unbiased I am. Writing a review of my own book (regardless of any bias) seems like shameless self-promotion, but what the hell, it's better than just saying "Hey, I wrote a book". In Surgery, the ultimate placebo Professor Ian Harris, an...

Spoof – Prescription Drug Commercial

Spoof – Prescription Drug Commercial

Set in the world of a spoofed prescription drug commercial, Nature Rx offers a hearty dose of laughs and the outdoors - two timeless prescriptions for whatever ails you. Side effects may include confidence, authenticity, remembering you have a body, and being in a...

From The Cellar

From The Cellar

Regular readers will know that I rarely discuss my personal life. It is not the purpose of this blog, which is about ideas on health, wellbeing and getting more out of life. However this week, one issue has seen an intersection between a personal interest of mine and...

Perfectly Pureed Apples

Perfectly Pureed Apples

Makes: about 4 x 8oz ball jars worth of sauce You need: 1 kilo apples (any variety ) 1.5-2 cups water 3 Tablespoons lemon juice 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons ground cloves To prepare: 1. Roughly chop apples into pieces, removing...

Woman And Weights

Woman And Weights

  Many women worry about doing resistance training. There is no need to. In fact there are many reasons to do so as Tom and I discuss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nOZ1LLpID8

New Thinking On Prostate Testing

New Thinking On Prostate Testing

Whilst testing for prostate cancer can be beneficial, there are risks of over diagnosis and treatment, which does not extend or improve life.   [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ena7t1v4Xrs[/youtube]    

The Happy Healthy Mind Tonic

The Happy Healthy Mind Tonic

AAGHH - deadlines, appointments, school runs, family commitments, work pressures. To do lists increasing, days flying by and the year diminishing. When you think about everything you have to do in your week, how do you feel? Cool, calm and collected or stressed,...