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Mediterranean diet health benefits update with new info

The Greek Herald
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Mediterranean diet health benefits update with new info

By Lisa Radinovsky from Greek Liquid Gold.

The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have earned it widespread fame, from social media and TV to cookbooks and conferences. For eight years, U.S. News & World Report’s panel of nutrition scientists and public health experts have ranked it the Best Diet Overall. Read on to learn what’s in it, who cares, why it matters, and what it can do for your health.

The Mediterranean (Med) diet is the healthy eating pattern traditionally found in the olive-growing areas around the Mediterranean Sea before the 1960s. Scientists now associate it with a wide range of positive impacts for both people and the planet.

The Med diet includes:

  • plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices
  • seafood at least twice a week
  • eggs, poultry, and dairy products daily to weekly
  • wine in moderation, usually with a meal
  • little or no red or processed meat or sweets

The American professor Ancel Keys led the first major study that began to uncover the Mediterranean diet’s health benefits in the 1950s, when the diet on the Greek island of Crete offered the most impressive results. Over the last few decades, study after study has supported claims about the benefits of the traditional Med diet. 

“It is rare to have such consistent evidence of the beneficial effects” of a diet as what scientists have discovered regarding the traditional Mediterranean eating pattern, according to Dr. Antonia Trichopoulou, one of the creators of the original Mediterranean diet pyramid in 1995, now Head of the Center for Public Health Research and Education at the Academy of Athens and Professor Emeritus at University of Athens School of Medicine.

Recognition of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle 

In 2010, UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, recognized the Mediterranean diet on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As UNESCO implies, this is actually a lifestyle as well as a diet: the “Mediterranean diet involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning crops, harvesting, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, processing, cooking, and particularly the sharing and consumption of food.” Far more meaningful than simply ingesting nutrients, “eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and continuity of communities throughout the Mediterranean basin.”

While many of the Mediterranean diet’s health benefits come from foods that contain valuable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the relaxed, sociable, active lifestyle of the region also reduces stress and offers a host of additional advantages. Trichopoulou agrees with many scientists that this is “a diet that maximizes longevity, improves health-related quality of life, and is ecologically sustainable and environmentally friendly.”

The Mediterranean diet’s health benefits, for the planet and its inhabitants 

There is substantial evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet is kind to the earth. This is part of the reason the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0 recommends a Planetary Health Diet, which is exemplified by the traditional Mediterranean diet, as a nutritious, sustainable diet that can help us feed everyone on earth while improving the health of the planet.

Like the Planetary Health Diet, the Med diet encompasses considerable diversity, since there are numerous culinary traditions in the Mediterranean region. Seeking to expand the benefits of the Med diet worldwide, scientists also propose various Mediterranean-style diets, fusion diets that mix desirable ingredients and flavors from two or more healthy diets, and the creatively named Planeterranean Diet, which can include traditional heritage diets from Latin America, Africa, and Asia that offer similar nutrients and benefits to the traditional Mediterranean diet, using locally available ingredients and reflecting local traditions and cuisine.

While many scientists continue to consider the Mediterranean diet the eating pattern with the most evidence for its health benefits, some also endorse the idea that flexibility regarding dietary choices is likely to translate to wider-ranging gains globally.

The Mediterranean diet’s health benefits, based on scientific evidence 

As some of the world’s most renowned specialists on the Mediterranean diet have written, “a large body of evidence from prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, and mechanistic studies consistently supports the benefits of the MedDiet for the prevention of chronic diseases, particularly cardiometabolic diseases and the improvement of healthy aging.”

A variety of studies indicate that there is scientific evidence that greater adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet is likely to reduce the symptoms of:

  • ADHD
  • depression
  • osteoarthritis
  • type 2 diabetes
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • inflammatory bowel disease

Improve:

  • oral health
  • brain function
  • healthy aging
  • cognitive health
  • athletes’ endurance
  • likelihood in vitro fertilization will succeed

Lower the risk of:

  • cancer
  • strokes
  • obesity
  • brain cancer
  • breast cancer
  • type 2 diabetes
  • colorectal cancer
  • premature mortality
  • frailty in older adults
  • metabolic syndrome
  • gestational diabetes
  • chronic constipation
  • macular degeneration
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • some of the deadliest impacts of Covid 19
  • atrial fibrillation (irregular, often rapid heartbeat)
  • neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. cognitive impairment, dementia, & Alzheimer’s disease

The Mediterranean diet’s extensive antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective benefits come from many types of natural bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, in foods such as extra virgin olive oil and wild greens and herbs—among many others.

At the Tomorrow Tastes Mediterranean conference in October 2025, Dr. Ramon Estruch of the University of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Diet Foundation agreed with many presenters in emphasizing that “the Mediterranean diet should be regarded as the healthiest and most scientifically supported dietary pattern, promoting longevity, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being.” With its centuries of history and tradition and its roots in olive groves, the Mediterranean diet’s eco-friendly aspects and wide range of wonderful flavors make this an especially appealing choice for health-conscious individuals.

*Originally published on Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (greekliquidgold.com). See that site for recipes with olive oil, photos from Greece, agrotourism and food tourism suggestions, and olive oil news and information.

Rare 3rd millennium BC burial discovered during excavations in Rafina, Attica

The Greek Herald
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Rare 3rd millennium BC burial discovered during excavations in Rafina, Attica

A highly significant Early Bronze Age pithos burial, dating from 3200 to 2000 BC, has been uncovered in Rafina during rescue excavations conducted by the Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica, amna.gr, has reported. The investigations, underway since 2024, precede works to define the boundaries and stabilise the banks of a local ravine.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the large storage jar was set into a pit cut into the clay soil on the southern bank of the stream. Measuring 1.74 metres in height, the pithos features horizontal handles at its widest point and the distinctive rope-like relief decoration around its neck and handles. Its opening was carefully sealed with a robust semicircular wall of river pebbles, while two large stones with smaller slab stones between them formed a symbolic doorway complete with jambs and a threshold. Inside the vessel, the remains of two individuals were found resting on a bed of sand and pebbles and covered with large stones that filled most of the interior.

Objects accompanying the burial included a bronze tweezer, an oval slab-like stone, obsidian points and ceramic vessels. The careful construction of the grave indicates a high level of respect for the deceased. Although organised cemeteries from the same period are known at Tsepi and Mati in Marathon, Agios Kosmas in Elliniko and Asteria in Glyfada, this isolated burial adds important insight into the range of funerary customs in Attica during the 3rd millennium BC, as well as Cycladic and eastern cultural influences.

Approximately two metres southeast of the pithos, archaeologists also identified a large circular pit showing evidence of prolonged use and burning. In its upper layers, a bucranium and pottery fragments were discovered alongside bronze coins from later historical periods. Near the base of the pit, within a thick burnt deposit, the skeleton of an equid and bones from smaller animals were uncovered. Ongoing archaeological, zooarchaeological and scientific analyses are expected to clarify whether these finds relate to ritual animal sacrifice and to assess the site’s long-standing sacred significance.

Seventy-five years after Dimitrios Theocharis revealed Early Bronze Age settlements near the ancient harbour at Eleftherios Venizelos Square and on the Asketario peninsula, the new discoveries along the stream’s banks provide fresh evidence for understanding the social organisation and funerary beliefs of Rafina’s prehistoric communities.

Source: amna.gr

Greece rolls out digital passport system to speed up applications and boost security

The Greek Herald
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Greece rolls out digital passport system to speed up applications and boost security

Greece has introduced a new digital platform that modernises the way passport applications are processed, aiming to deliver faster, more secure and more efficient services for citizens at home and abroad, according to tovima.com.

The system, launched on December 31, 2025, enables all Passport Offices and document intake points across Greece to transmit application files electronically to the Directorate of Passports and Security Documents of the Hellenic Police. The platform was implemented under a joint ministerial decision and, according to the Ministry of Citizen Protection, was developed at no cost to the state while fully complying with Greek and EU data protection rules.

Authorities say the new process is already cutting processing times by one to two days by eliminating the need to send paperwork by post or courier. Automated links with other government databases also reduce errors, as personal details are prefilled digitally, lowering the number of rejected applications caused by missing or incorrect information.

Several supporting documents are no longer required. Applicants no longer need to submit a copy of their Greek ID, proof of payment for government fees, or certificates related to lost or stolen passports, as this information is now retrieved electronically. The shift is also expected to generate savings by reducing reliance on physical mail.

Security has been enhanced through the digital collection of higher-resolution facial photographs, improving the accuracy of biometric data and making passports harder to forge.

While the platform is currently in use within Greece, it is set to be extended to Greek embassies and consulates in 2026. Once implemented abroad, officials estimate passport processing for Greeks overseas could be shortened by up to 30 days.

A transition period allowing paper documents will remain in place until January 31, 2026. Authorities have also confirmed that from August 3, 2026, applicants must hold the new Greek national ID card.

Source: tovima.com

From Kythera to Boston: The Greek pianist setting fire to classical music

The Greek Herald
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From Kythera to Boston: The Greek pianist setting fire to classical music

By Anna Cominos

At 25, Alexandros Kyriakopoulos has already carved out a career that places him amongst the most promising Greek pianists with international acclaim. 

His ambition remains clear and humble: to prove that classical music does not belong to a privileged few – it belongs to everyone and deserves to remain vital, contemporary and spiritually up-lifting.

Alexandros has already appeared on many world stages. His repertoire spans from Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Chopin, Prokofiev to many Greek composers.   

At selected moments, improvisation serves as a breath of fresh air, a reminder that music remains alive and unpredictable. 

For Alexandros, “classical music is not a staid museum piece. It is actually the language of life that cultivates imagination, focus, critical thinking and spiritual awakening. I am not interested in simply playing technically correct. For me what matters is creating that moment where the listener feels something enliven within.” 

Born in Athens and raised on the beautiful but remote isle of Kythera, just south of the Peloponnese, Alexandros was fortunate to witness the power of staggering natural beauty throughout his childhood. 

The son of Tamworth born Australian-Greek magazine publisher, Metaxia (Sia) Poulos, and Arcadian born Construction Supervisor, Dimitri Kyriakopoulos, Alexandros has a unique vision of the human experience. Having been influenced by two distinct worlds that melded together, Alexandros has developed a heightened listening ability that transcends his bicultural ethnicity. 

By the tender age of five, Alexandros embarked on his musical journey commencing his first piano lessons at Kythera’s Odeion (music conservatory). 

Later, driven by his commitment to excel, Alexandros and his family made the decisive move to Athens in order to pursue an advanced music and high school education. His remarkable skills and talent earned him a Diploma in Piano with Distinction from the Greek Ministry of Culture at the age of 18.  

In the year 2020, Alexandros successfully auditioned for Boston Conservatory in Massachusetts, USA, where he earned a tuition scholarship and additional financial support from the Leventis Foundation and the Nicholas Aroney Trust. 

Alexandros’ presence in the United States, at this high-level musical community, allowed him to build on his music foundations, develop an extensive repertoire and most importantly perform continually as a concert pianist in Boston, New York City, Italy, Spain, Puerto Rico, Australia and throughout Greek cities such as Athens, Alexandroupoli, Karditsa, Kythera, Larissa, Trikala and Thessaloniki. 

His musicality has resonated across international borders. With every performance, Alexandros leaves a lasting mark on his audiences captivating hearts and souls with his extraordinary artistry.

Alexandros believes that “art is not decoration; it’s a structural element of society.”

This philosophy permeates both his performances and educational work where he helps students and music lovers of all ages gain an insight into the power of the piano. He believes that classical music is a mode of freedom and expression and not a culturally elitist art form.

John Doulgeridis’ Carlisle Homes among Australia’s quiet profit giants

The Greek Herald
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John Doulgeridis’ Carlisle Homes among Australia’s quiet profit giants

The Australian has presented a list of billionaires behind some of Australia’s best-known brands, generating hefty profits and returning vast dividends to owners who remain largely out of the public eye.

Spanning home builders, century-old department store chains, industrial manufacturers and shopping-centre barons turned bond investors, they are quietly amassed fortunes that few Australians know much about.

According to The Australian, John Doulgeridis is among a new wave of reclusive entrepreneurs whose success has only recently been quantified, placing him among Australia’s wealthiest individuals.

The Victorian builder has collected numerous industry awards, yet until recently little was known about the scale of its financial success or the man behind it. Carlisle Homes was founded in 2004 by its quietly spoken managing director, John Doulgeridis, now 53, who had completed a bachelor of planning and design at the University of Melbourne a decade earlier.

In recent years, Carlisle’s earnings have accelerated sharply, allowing the company to distribute more than $233 million in dividends to Doulgeridis, its sole shareholder, since 2019.

The business has constructed more than 15,000 homes across Melbourne and Geelong and in 2025 reported revenue of $915 million and a net profit of $88 million.

Source: The Australian

Greece moves up Europe’s mortgage rankings

The Greek Herald
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Greece moves up Europe’s mortgage rankings

Greece ranked among the five most affordable countries in the euro area for mortgage borrowing in November 2025, as lending rates continued to ease and housing credit returned to growth for the first time in more than a decade, according to tovima.com.

Latest figures from the European Central Bank show the average interest rate on Greek mortgages with fixed terms of up to five years fell to 3.04%, well below the euro-area average of 3.35%. This placed Greece fifth in the league table of cheapest mortgage markets within the single-currency bloc.

The improvement reflects a rapid shift over the course of 2025. At the start of the year, Greece was ranked ninth, with average rates at 3.44%. Since October 2023, when borrowing costs peaked at 4.04% following the ECB’s final rate increase, mortgage rates have dropped by a full percentage point.

November also marked a symbolic milestone for the Greek housing market. Data from the Bank of Greece show that the annual growth rate of outstanding mortgage loans turned positive, reaching 0.4% — the first expansion recorded since October 2010 after years of contraction linked to the country’s fiscal crisis.

Malta topped the list of the euro area’s cheapest mortgage markets in November, with an average rate of 1.79%, followed by Portugal (2.73%), Croatia (2.75%) and Cyprus (2.85%). Greece rounded out the top five.

At the other end of the spectrum, Latvia recorded the highest mortgage rates at 8.68%, ahead of Estonia (7.04%) and Lithuania (4.74%). The Netherlands followed at 3.70%, while Germany and Belgium shared fifth place among the most expensive markets at 3.56%.

Across the rest of the euro area, average fixed mortgage rates ranged from 3.46% in Ireland to 3.13% in Finland, underscoring the improving borrowing conditions across much of the bloc.

Source: tovima.com

Ancient temple rich with gold and ritual altars unearthed on Evia island

The Greek Herald
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Ancient temple rich with gold and ritual altars unearthed on Evia island

Archaeologists working on the Greek island of Evia have uncovered a previously unknown ancient temple containing richly used altars and a trove of precious objects, adding to a series of major discoveries in the area, popularmechanics.com, has reported. The find dates to the 7th century BC and lies close to the famous Temple of Amarysia Artemis, according to Greece’s Ministry of Culture.

The newly revealed structure, fully excavated in 2023, measures about 30 metres in length, a scale typical of early Greek temples. It preserves sections of its outer walls and a western arch, but the most striking discoveries were made inside. Researchers identified multiple hearths that appear to have functioned as altars, indicating intensive ritual use over long periods.

Among them was a distinctive horseshoe-shaped altar. Thick deposits of ash containing charred animal bones point to repeated sacrifices, and pottery from the site suggests some ritual activity may predate the temple itself, extending back to the late 8th century BC.

Alongside the altars, archaeologists uncovered a wide range of offerings, including Corinthian alabaster, Attic pottery, locally made ritual vessels, and jewellery crafted from gold, silver, coral and amber. Amulets from the eastern Mediterranean and bronze and iron fittings were also found.

The temple was built with mudbrick walls on a dry-stone foundation, reflecting the swampy conditions of the landscape at the time. Evidence of fire damage shows that parts of the structure were later reinforced and expanded, likely in the late 6th century BC.

Earlier layers revealed bronze figurines of bulls and a ram from the Geometric period, as well as a Mycenaean clay bull’s head. Excavations also point to human activity on the site as early as the 9th century BC, suggesting the sanctuary’s religious importance developed over centuries.

Source: popularmechanics.com

Fresh Federal Court challenge filed as Cyprus Community NSW legal dispute continues

The Greek Herald
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Fresh Federal Court challenge filed as Cyprus Community NSW legal dispute continues

A fresh legal challenge has been filed in the Federal Court of Australia, continuing a long-running series of court proceedings involving the Cyprus Community of NSW and its assets, this time directed at Cyprus Community of N.S.W. (Holdings) Limited.

Court documents filed in December show that Dr Costas Costa has commenced proceedings under the Corporations Act, seeking to invalidate or bring to an end the voluntary administration of Cyprus Community of N.S.W. (Holdings) Limited, which entered administration on 29 September 2025 following the appointment of administrators.

The application is supported by an affidavit sworn by Dr Costa, alleging that the directors’ decision to appoint administrators was made for an improper purpose and should be declared invalid. In the alternative, the application seeks orders terminating the administration and requiring a meeting of members to be convened.

A dispute spanning multiple court actions

As previously reported by The Greek Herald, the Federal Court filing forms part of a broader pattern of litigation connected to the Cyprus Community and its assets, including the Stanmore property.

Court proceedings involving Dr Costa and his sister, Dorothy Bassil, date back to early 2024, following the rezoning of the Stanmore site in May 2023.

In the period that followed, multiple general meetings of members were convened to consider the future of the property, including whether it should be sold or redeveloped. Those meetings did not proceed after a series of court applications, including applications for injunctive relief, were commenced seeking to restrain members from meeting and voting. As a result, members were unable to convene or exercise voting rights during that period.

Community notices referred to in court proceedings indicate that meetings were scheduled for 26 November 2023, 11 February 2024 and 25 August 2024. The February 2024 meeting was halted following applications by Dr Costa and Ms Bassil, with Dr Costa later withdrawing from those proceedings.

Subsequent attempts by the Community to progress an expressions-of-interest process and convene a further meeting in August 2024 were also met with court action. Members were to vote on proposals including a $64 million offer from a Coles-related group, a $54 million offer from a Woolworths-related group, and a $53 million offer from Futura, each involving provision of a replacement club.

Dr Costa and Ms Bassil commenced further Supreme Court proceedings seeking to restrain members from meeting and voting. None of the injunction applications proceeded to a final hearing to test the affidavit evidence.

The cumulative effect of these proceedings was that the Community was repeatedly unable to convene members, exercise control over its assets, or make decisions about its financial future.

Receivership period and operational impact

In August 2024, after three failed attempt to convene members meeting and vote, Cyprus Capital Ltd – board consisting of Dr Costa, Ms Bassil and John Stassi – sought orders to backdate and register additional security over Community assets and to appoint a receiver.

The Community has stated it did not have the funds to oppose those applications.

On the eve of the hearing, the Community appointed voluntary administrators, citing insolvency and the need to protect assets and members’ interests. A receiver was subsequently appointed by Cyprus Capital Ltd.

The Community has said that, as a consequence, a number of planned and publicly advertised cultural and community activities were cancelled during that period, which it maintains caused operational disruption and reputational harm.

Earlier Supreme Court findings

Challenges to the administration were previously brought before the NSW Supreme Court by Dr Costa and Cyprus Capital Ltd, seeking to remove the administrators while retaining the Cyprus Capital Ltd receiver and reinstating alternative governance arrangements.

Those claims were rejected, with Justice Black finding that the Board was lawfully constituted, that the Community was insolvent at the relevant time, and that the appointment of administrators was lawful. Costs were ordered against Dr Costa and Cyprus Capital Ltd.

In later proceedings, the Supreme Court considered issues relating to the necessity and outcomes of the receivership, including costs and the extent to which assets were realised.

Operational impact and shareholder concerns

Some of the earlier proceedings arising from the Cyprus Community dispute were commenced by Dr Costa in his capacity as a director of Cyprus Capital Ltd.

The litigation has prompted shareholder scrutiny of legal costs, the absence of full distributions, and the transparency of litigation and receivership expenses. Shareholders have queried why a receiver was appointed to operate a non-revenue-generating charitable entity, whether that role served the interests of creditors, and how it was intended to contribute to repayment of the outstanding debt.

Shareholders have questioned whether the legal steps taken were necessary, noting that existing mortgage security was ultimately sufficient to enable repayment through the administrators without prolonged receivership or further litigation.

Dr Costa, Ms Bassil and Mr Stassi are scheduled to appear before the Local Court at the Downing Centre on 20 January 2026 in proceedings commenced by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission relating to alleged breaches of statutory financial reporting obligations.

Current position unchanged

Despite the latest Federal Court filing, the administration of Cyprus Community of N.S.W. (Holdings) Limited remains in place. No hearing date has been set, no interim orders have been made, and the administrators continue to manage the company’s affairs pending further directions from the Court.

The Greek Herald will continue to monitor developments and report on any material changes.

‘Don’t take anything for granted’: Nomiki Hourdas’ story of hope after Multiple Sclerosis

Despina Karpathiou
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‘Don’t take anything for granted’: Nomiki Hourdas’ story of hope after Multiple Sclerosis

When Greek Australian Nomiki (Monica) Hourdas was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2009, she was told her life would never be the same. Doctors outlined a future shaped by wheelchairs and immobilisation.

But Nomiki, an active member of south Sydney’s tight-knit Greek community, wasn’t ready to surrender her independence – or her hope.

Now, over a decade later, she is marking 10 years of living drug-free with MS.

MS is a long-term condition that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibres, leading to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. This can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, difficulty with balance, and vision changes. Currently, there is no known cure for MS.

Nomiki’s symptoms began long before her formal diagnosis.

“Like many with this disease, I had signs of MS earlier – mine started as early as my teens,” she explains.

Some of her first symptoms included fainting without warning and for no apparent reason.

“I was lucky enough, after some time, to have an MRI scan approved. A lesion was found on my brain, but no explanation was given, as I was deemed too young to have anything seriously wrong with me,” she says.

MS often begins with relapsing-remitting episodes (RRMS), and Nomiki’s family tried to make sense of the strange episodes she was having – relapses, as it turned out.

They thought: “Maybe I’m just tired,” or “It must be stress,” or “I’m so unfit.”

“It’s hard to pay attention to the changes that creep up on you – some aren’t even noticeable,” Nomiki says.

nomiki hourdas
Nomiki and her family.

Symptoms can disappear for a while and then return.

“In the beginning, I noticed them one by one. Unfortunately, it’s the nature of the beast,” she says.

Throughout her senior school years, Nomiki recalls a “very uncomfortable sensation” – like ants crawling all over her body.

“No amount of scratching would give me relief,” she remembers.

Soon, she began experiencing numbness in her upper and lower extremities.

“Again, I ignored it. I dealt with it the best I could and kept going with my life,” she says.

Health and fitness were always important to Nomiki – she hated being idle. But eventually, family and friends began noticing that she was walking more slowly. Some even made fun of it.

“I didn’t realise it until it was pointed out to me. I felt like I was moving as fast as I could, but I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. It took so much effort. Looking back, I realise my mobility was already disintegrating,” she says.

More symptoms surfaced, but one moment changed everything. Just before a written exam for her pharmacy course, Nomiki lost her vision.

“I couldn’t see the page. I couldn’t make sense of it. Lo and behold – it was optic neuritis. That’s a common and telling sign in diagnosing MS,” she says.

Unfortunately, her MS rapidly worsened. She was prescribed nearly every Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT) on the market. Some worked, others didn’t.

“I developed complex partial seizures and lost my car and motorbike licence because of that. At least I graduated, and life carried on the way it was meant to,” she recalls.

For Nomiki, MS took over the last 15 years of her life. But today, she is in a far better place than she was a decade ago. Back then, her future felt bleak.

“I knew what kind of journey MS could take a person on, and what it could do to you – and to your loved ones. I lost my independence, self-worth, confidence, my legs, my eyes, my voice, my ability to shower or feed myself. I lost my ability to plan for tomorrow, let alone a future,” she says.

“I don’t take a single day for granted. Every morning, I glorify my God and Creator, that when my bare feet touch the floor, He allows them to work for another day. I roll out of bed each morning feeling grateful to see another day with my family, friends and loved ones.”

nomiki hourdas
Nomiki rolls out of bed each morning feeling grateful to see another day with my family, friends and loved ones.

In a moment of desperation, Nomiki and her family made the decision to travel to Russia for a ground-breaking stem cell treatment – one not yet approved in Australia.

At that time, her MS was progressing rapidly.

“I was desperate, in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centres all over Australia. There were no new DMTs available to stop the progression,” she remembers.

Although the MS clinic she was at in Australia offered HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation), it was still in its experimental phase. Nomiki was told she was “too disabled” to qualify for the trial.

There was a two-year waiting list. But thanks to a miracle, the doctors in Russia accepted her application – and just two weeks later, Nomiki arrived in Moscow.

“I have a few friends who had HSCT in Australia, and we noticed the treatment overseas seemed to be more effective. I believe the protocol is different,” she says.

The treatment was a success. Nomiki returned to Australia in late 2015 and has lived drug-free ever since.

A major part of her healing journey has been her diet.

“I eat full fat, protein, plenty of good fats, greens, whole eggs, etc. Our brains are made of cholesterol – we need fat to function. A balanced diet with good, organic food works best for me. I try not to follow diet fads. I do what works for me now,” she says with a smile.

“I don’t under-eat anymore. I’ve learnt firsthand the value of eating for energy. It plays a massive role in managing my chronic fatigue, brain fog, and cellular health.”

Nomiki’s advice for people newly diagnosed with MS is simple but powerful: “There is always hope.”

“Get involved with others who have MS. Share your story, learn about others’ journeys. If that brings you down, surround yourself with people who lift you up. MS is just as much an emotional and mental disease as it is a physical one. Try to limit chemical, physical, and emotional stressors,” she says.

And above all – educate yourself.

“This is your body. Doctors and specialists mean well, but we are all human – and your opinion matters most. No one knows your body like you do,” she says.

Looking ahead, Nomiki’s goals are simple: to be as healthy – physically and spiritually – as she can.

“That’s my commitment to myself,” she concludes.

Australian Ambassador hosts diplomatic talks with key partner nations in Greece

The Greek Herald
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Australian Ambassador hosts diplomatic talks with key partner nations in Greece

Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, last week hosted a meeting with ambassadors from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Five Eyes nations for discussions on shared priorities and initiatives for the year ahead.

Focus was placed on strengthening cooperation and coordination between the embassies, with a particular emphasis on forward planning and diplomatic collaboration in 2026.

During the gathering, the ambassadors welcomed new colleagues Kimberly Guilfoyle and Sonya Thissen, while also farewelling Jackie Frizelle, who is preparing to return to New Zealand following the completion of her posting.

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